What I am reading and what I think about it...
I read loads and will be sharing my reads here, I want to promote the authors I love in my own special way.
Gwendolyn vs The Band Of Barren Hearts
What a beautifully tragic story. This has become one of my favorite books so far this year. I absolutely love how Mary can write such darkness with grace. I fell hard for these characters and "Worthless William Welch" is burned into my heart and and brain.
Watch out for more from this lady!
Indebted #4
Third Debt by Pepper Winters
Pepper Winters is trying to kill me!
I am sure she is!
This series will be the death of me!..... HOW COULD YOU?
I cannot write anymore I wont't spoil this for anyone! Five Stars all the way
The Emancipation Of Love by Mary E Plamerin
Wonderful William Welch
When I read the last few lines of book one I was gutted. I so badly wanted for a happy ending, I don't always need one but good lord I wanted one this time.
The thing is I had fallen so deeply into the broken lives of Gwen and Welch that I didn't want to leave I didn't want to wait for the next book. I needed answers. I just plain needed more.
I love broken people, the more broken and irreparable the better. I see beauty in the darkness that seems to cloud these broken souls. I was very excited when Mary sent me an ARC of The Emancipation Of Love (which has to be the best title ever for this story) I devoured it, I highlighted 52 quotes in this story.
“The monster I always knew that I was is just now being birthed.” ~ Welch
We pick up the story after the end of book one and start out by seeing inside the world of William Welch as he finds his way in the world. He has a job, a friend, a home and ache in his heart that only Gwen could ever soothe. He is broken, though he seems together on the outside he deeply wounded by the past. I want to say that his flaws are a thing of beauty, but his actions are those of a man carrying the ghosts of his past with him. I was once again left hoping against all hope that Gwen would find him and save him, but can such a damaged soul be saved? Do they deserve to be saved?
The twists, and emotional turns in this story took me from anger to tears and dragged some heartbreak in the middle. This book took me to hell and then yanked me back again. I wondered how this story would end? I got my answer - Perfectly.
Mary’s ability to shine a light through into the lives of characters drowning in darkness is truly amazing. Gwen and Welch are two characters I will carry with me forever they have made themselves at home in my heart. I have to say that this series will be added to my best reads shelf and I will be quietly waiting for what’s next from this author.
Five star read.
Disclaim by Pam Godwin
This series should be read in order, Deliver, Vanquish and then Disclaim. This series is DARK so don't pick it up if that's not your thing.
Pam Godwin has been on my favourite list for a long time and Van from book two in the series is the one book boyfriend I might actually fight over. I took a day or two to think about my review, honestly I couldn't wait to get back to this world and these characters. Early in the book we get to see Van and Liv and I had goose bumps... This story is about Camila the first slave that Liv freed and her vendetta against the buyers and sellers. I love her, she is fierce and absolutely nothing will stop her. Well, almost nothing, because once upon a time before she was taken by Van there was a boy... Matias.
The boy became a man with some pretty big secrets, some of them the very things Camila fights against.
Cartels, Trafficking, Lust, Love, Forgiveness... so many beautiful dark and twisted things all wrapped up into a story that had me lost in the pages till the bitter end.
What I loved the most, the forgiveness that Camila showed Van and Liv. The connection between her and Matias and his secrets. Pam has this ability to simply emerge me into the world where her characters become everything and it is is the best type of reading for me. I have missed this raw style of dark, angsty, twisted story and was very glad to get it back in Disclaim.
I have to give honourable mention to a secondary character Fizz... OMG... I want to know the why of this man?
A riveting read that complimented the series I already loved so well. I hope there is more.
Fear You by BB Reid
It is not very often I rate the second book in series higher than the first, I really enjoyed Fear Me and couldn't wait for Fear You. I love a good cliff hanger it makes me want the next book that much more so I was dying to get my hands on this.
I am always drawn to broken flawed characters that cannot be redeemed. For me they are the ones I fall in love with every time, in saying that ... I didn't love Kieran in book one (not even a little) but Lake and her unbreakable silent determination was enough to keep me wanting more from the story. While he doesn't redeem himself I felt more drawn to him in the second book as we got more and more of his past.
The writing in Fear You shows the confidence that the author has gained since her debut and made the experience that much more enjoyable - I could tell she loved writing this book.
The undercurrent of revenge and fear carry into the second book, only this time it is not Lake that is afraid. I loved every twist and turn that the story took us on - I write spoiler free reviews so there will be no story telling here! Go read it! I love that she never changes their true selves real happiness can be found without redemption.
I ended the book, relieved and happy and still thinking of the characters which is all I ask from any book - MAKE ME FEEL IT!
BB Reid is certainly an author I will continue to follow (or stalk if we being technical about it) and i look forward to what comes next... there is little peek in the end just make us all want more!!
Five very satisfying stars from me.
The Bandit by B.B. Reid
My new favorite B.B. Reid book... yes I said that!
The writing was superb, the story carried me away and left my heart pounding and most importantly I got the FEELS! B.B. has done it again, only better.
LifeGames Corporation
by Michael Smorenburg
This is a completely different read for me, it took me out of my reading comfort zone but was still a fabulous book.
With a futuristic and slightly paranormal feel to it LifeGames is a unique story, well written and carefully constructed. My followers know all to well that I don't read paranormal books so to impress me enough to get four stars it's well worth your time to read it.
As always I liked the bad guy, but the characters are fantastic and the way they interact keeps the reader engaged and deeply emerged in the story. If you are looking for something truly different, well written and original then I can definitely recommend this one.
*** I have specifically kept this review spoiler and detail free as this book is not yet released. I received and ARC from the author, but this has in no way affected my rating***
Sticky Fingers by JT Lawrence
Strong Medicine by Angela Meadon
12 Short stories I wish could have more of! No really, I wish I could dive into a full length novel for each of these.
Fantastic writing, unique plots and all wound up in a bite sized reads that can be squeezed into little snippets of stolen reading time. This is my first read from auth J.T.Lawrence but I have since gone off to investigate and buy some others.
My full review will posted on or closer to release day.
** Receiving a copy of this book from the author has not in anyway affected my rating, I will in fact be buying a copy as it is that good.
Well this one gut punched me with a real dose of home grown reality beautifully wound up in a brilliant story. Angela's writing style made for effortless reading that had me drawn deep inside the world of these characters right from chapter one.
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"The detectives laughed and Brits looked at me with pity in his brown eyes. “Canvas doesn’t hold fingerprints. There might be hairs and stuff, but you’re not Oscar Pistorius. If we send this to forensics, it’ll take five years to get processed and they wouldn’t get anything from it."
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A harsh South African truth told so very well. I fell in love with, mourned with and fought with these characters all the way through.
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"BZ: He told me he wanted the parts from a child, this high. He said he would give me R200 if I brought them to him. He said I must avoid killing, because the parts should come from a living person.
DT: What parts did he want you to get him?
BZ: He wanted the eyes and the fingers.
DT: Why should the parts come from a living person?
BZ: Hai! You know why!
DT: I want to hear you say it.
BZ: It makes the muti stronger. When they scream. DT: Did you do it? Did you get the parts? "
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Strong Medicine was a five star read for me, something different. An story that any mother living in SA could relate to, feel and fear.
Angela Meadon painted a real, truthful portrait of a broken police force in an even more broken country where people in trouble are forced to take care of their own.
Freakshow by Jaden Wilkes
If you know me, then you know... I don't read fantasy, paranormal, science fiction, shifters, talking animals or any of those things. I like real stories. BUT I have this infatuation with circus carnies that made me put all of that aside and read this book anyway. In fact i waited on bated breath for this release, I love Jaden's writing and desperately wanted to see what she did with the 'freaks'.
I was not sorry... you have write something pretty amazing for me to give an urban fantasy five stars and she did just that.
Olivia and Cairo were amazing, the secrets, mystery and undeniable connection I felt to the characters had me reading until 2am. I do not do spoilers, but I can say that my heart has been put through the wringer, i felt every emotion on the spectrum as i read this and I would recommend it over and over again. Even if you are not a fan of fantasy I think you would be surprised at how much you like this.
Brilliantly written, beautiful characters.
I loved it. Five Cirque Stars from me.
Come Back
To Me
by Tamsyn Bester
My story is not my own, it's ours.
Mine and Vaughan's.
Except I can't remember it.
Or him.
I only know who I was before, and when remembering proved to be too much, I moved on and started over.
And then the dreams started.
Vivid, and bold, filled with a face I didn't know.
But he was always there.
In my head. In my heart.
And when I decided to put pen to paper, I found him whispering, "Come back to me."
Some stories are meant to be written.
Others are meant to be relived.
FIVE STAR ROMANCE AT ITS BEST!!!!! MUST READ
Rock Bottom
by Josephine
Traynor
When you pick up a book and it has you from page one right to the end!
I absolutely loved the characters, humor and originality of the story. Reese and Madelyn were fantastic. A brilliant debut novel and an author who I will be following to see what's next.
FIVE ROCK STAR STARS
Unravel by Christine Bernard
The Wild by K Webster
Unravel was a fresh different read for me and an exceptional debut novel.
I thought I had the wtist all worked out, but I didn't really, and I loved that.
A good psychological thriller and fabulous debut, from an author I will definitely read again.
4 Stars form me.
Inferno by Yolando Olson
Yolanda scares the shit out of me!
I had to wlka away form this one for a minute at one point. But, you know what, to me that's a sign I am reading a good book.
This character... this character. OMG!
I don't read horror often, in fact i usually give it a sort of wide berth. But I am very happy i tried this one.
TABOO!
If you have acrrot up your butt don't read this book.
There was A LOT of drama over this book, and I read it twice so that I could give a fair honest review of THE BOOK not the person who wrote it.
It's no secret that this particular taboo is one I have chosen to tackle before, and I was excited to see what someone else did with it.
The story was cleverly crafted, well written, edge of my seat, cringe worthy and to me, absolutely fantastic.
Devon, reminds me of so many young teens. Full of shit, pushing limits and testing boundaries. I sat there and put myself into the story, into the setting and in all truth I could SEE THAT HAPPENING!
Reed, oh what a fabulously conflicted character. It was wrong, but it wasn't all the way wrong. It wasn't right, but it could have been. There's no black and white and I adore authors that write in the hazy grey area between.
This was a five star read for me, it was a good story, that challenged me, pushed my limits and made me wonder - what would I have done?
The book is now banned on all platforms - which I feel is a very sad reflection of the world right now. I do not believe in any sort of censorship. You should as a reader be able to self censor what you read - BE A GROWN UP!