K.J. Simmill's Blog, page 12
October 13, 2020
Book review: Danny Bell – Playing Dead (@ElanaRuthBlack)
Chalsarda has a past darker and more haunted than most, but the past was behind her. Now she could look to the future, or she could, until history came knocking. The very person who betrayed her strikes at her weakness again, this time threatening the life of her apprentice unless she does something for him. To save Ann she must do exactly what he says and take down a battleborn. Easier said than done. These beings are, as their name suggests, born for battle, and she is not the only one hunting this quarry. For Ann she must find a way to overcome her competitors without losing herself or the person she cares for. Failure is not an option, victory is not assured, and so the quest begins.
Playing Dead by Danny Bell is a race against time fantasy filled with action, adventure, and magic. While it is the third book in The Black Pages series book in the series, having not read the others I can confidently state it works perfectly as a stand-alone read. The characters are well developed and vivid and Chalsarda’s quest it an entertaining journey that delves into her past and her acceptance of her newfound freedom and all that entails. I enjoyed the atmosphere conjured by the easy flowing writing which made it an extremely difficult book to put down. An enjoyable read, beginning to end.
October 10, 2020
Book review: C.A. King – Shattered Reality (@PortalProphecy)
Mudesa Black worked hard to get where she was. She helps people with their problems, hiding her own demons and secrets. She didn’t believe in magic, but insanity, that was something she understood. Her parents had conditioned her to the point she couldn’t even look in a mirror. They thought magic was real, but the only reality Mudesa saw was the error of their actions. She would never have returned to her hometown, she would have stayed away, pursued her dream, if not for an accident claiming her parents’ lives and the will stipulating she must return. Things in Knollville are ever as they appear, and memories from the past are not always what they seem. Can she discover the truth and her parents’ secrets before the past returns to claim her future?
Shattered Reality by C.A. King is the first book in the Summoned Book series and takes place in Knollville where magic is rampant and things are never quite as they seem. I enjoyed Mudesa’s character and her commitment to applying her own truth to a situation beyond her understanding. With the help of the P.I. Perry P and full reign of her childhood home you’d think she had all the pieces she’d need, so watching her try to assemble the puzzle without first opening her mind to other possibilities. Mystery and history combine to create a tight plot where the past and future clash to affect the fate of all.
The Dream Walker – Out now!
Great news everyone!
The much awaited final instalment in The Forgotten Legacies series has been released today.
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You’ll find this series finale free on Kindle Unlimited, or available for purchase at £1.99 ($2.99 to all you wonderful people over in the great USA)
It has been a long time coming, and I can’t express how thrilled I am to finally see it out there. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed crafting it.
Pick up your copy here: link
Have an amazing day x
September 23, 2020
Book review: Ivy Smoak – Empire High: Untouchables (@IvySmoakAuthor)
Brooklyn felt like an imposter from the moment her worn Keds touched the sidewalk outside Empire High, a school for the elite. She wasn’t here because she was rich, or because she’d earned a scholarship, no, she was here because her world had ended. This was the last place in the world she could ever belong, and thanks to the cruel twists of fate last place she had to call home. The only thing that made things bearable was her new friend, and him, Matt Caldwell, just looking at him was enough to lift the sadness, only she no longer wanted to look, she wanted to touch, and that was something no one could do. Matt and his friends were the Untouchables, and yet without exchanging a word he’d already touched her in the most profound way imaginable
Ivy Smoak has done it again, delivering an engaging emotionally gripping story in Empire High, Untouchables. My only regret with this book is not waiting until the second one in the series was out. Now I have to wait until October to find out what happens next. This book was an emotional roller-coaster, full of charm, sweetness, and so much heartbreak that there were times it had me in tears. I have read every almost every book written by this talented author, and she never disappoints. Well written, enjoyable from the first page to the last.
August 25, 2020
Book review: Maggie Carpenter – Cowboy (@magcarpenter2)
Carly was desperate to escape the city, to work in a place that mirrored her own morals. When she came across Dream Horse Ranch it is like her prayers have been answered. There was, however, one draw back. The owner, a stud by the name of Keith, has a very strict discipline policy, although she’s not as opposed to the idea as maybe she should be. There’s a secret at this ranch, asking questions gets you punished, and yet she can’t help herself. She finds herself drawn to Keith like a moth to a flame, wanting to bare his every secret. But his secret could cost him everything, she could cost him everything.
Cowboy is a steamy ranch based romance written by Maggie Carpenter. There is a great combination here of romance, kink, secrets, and just a dash of the supernatural. There are many mysteries surrounding the ranch and Carly’s arrival has the potential to cost Keith dearly, but the moment he saw her ride he knew he wanted her, and as more than just the latest hand. The problem is, she asks too many questions. I enjoyed the mystery and gradual uncovering of secrets. Carly’s presence is a catalyst, not just for him but for the others on the ranch as well. This place was always a family, but everyone has secrets and her warm personality slips past everyone’s defences. With twists and turns, a whirlwind romance spurred by fate, and an uncertain future that hangs in the balance, this is a read that will keep you entertained from the first page to the last.
Book review: April Wilson – Vulnerable (@AprilWroteIt)
Shane had it all, money, his own business, a string of beautiful women. The one thing he didn’t have was something he didn’t even realise he was missing, not until he laid eyes on Beth. His company had been hide to protect her from the man responsible for her nightmares and the thought of anyone touching her made every rule he broke justifiable. She was his, no one would ever hurt her again. The problem was they had met under false pretences, and learning the truth could be her undoing, their undoing. Caught between love and duty, right and wrong, can he clear his head enough to know what is for the best, or will he let his heart rule his thinking?
Vulnerable by April Wilson is an enjoyable romance that combines trauma, vulnerability, and trust issues with a dangerous plot and consuming romance. Tension escalates through the plot as danger closes in and Shane fears he cannot protect Beth as much as he needs to. The characters are alive, deep with their own very real emotions and concerns which make this an engrossing read. Steamy, sweet, and dangerous with plenty of adversity.
Book review: L.J. Shen – In the Unlikely Event (@lj_shen)
Rory had never intended to end up in his bed. She had gone to Ireland to mourn her father. She hadn’t meant to fall in love, to leave a part of her there along with a contract, one that states she or Mal would not look for each other, but if their paths ever crossed again they would marry. Eight years have passed, she pursued her career but never forgot him. Never. Not for a second. When he appears at a work gathering she can barely believe her eyes. But he has moved on with his life, not only that he seems intent on destroying hers.
In The Unlikely Event is an enemies to lovers romance by L.J. Shen. It expertly combines, romance, humour, frustrations, and misunderstandings while fate manipulates events. I enjoyed watching past and present unfold as we come to understand why such dark feelings follow Mal and what parts of history have been manipulated to suit the needs of those involved. This is not just a romance, it is a tale of discovery not only of the self but of a past hidden and lies told. The emotions are deep and real, and the characters are vivid and relatable. A gripping read beginning to end.
Book review: Jay Veloso Batista – The Vardoger Boy (@JayVBatista)
In Jay Veloso Batista’s, The Vardoger Boy, Raga had warned Finn it was there, but not soon enough for him to evade the attack. He had been about to start his newest adventure, learning the way of the sea, aboard his uncle’s ship when the mast troll had attacked. He was done with the Realm Between, but it was not done with him. Not by a long shot. The troll demands a fare to allow them the use of the vessel he protects, a quest. He has no choice, not if he wants to stay beside his uncle. But Karl has his own worries, his own enemies, but he cannot help but notice all is not right with his nephew. Can Finn’s two worlds unite to allow him to do all he must, or is his quest doomed to fail before it can even start?
The Vardoger Boy follows on from the first book in Jay Veloso Batista’s The Forerunner series and once again conjures images of a vibrant and well-defined world. Clearly a lot of thought and research has gone into creating this book and keeping it as accurate to the times as possible right down to the games being played. This is a tale of friendship and trust, warriors and honour. There is nothing more satisfying than when a book delves into the realms of folklore, magic, and the things legends are made of, and does it well. Filled with gripping action, engaging story arcs, and a plethora of characters you’ll just love to follow. I particularly enjoyed how the author skilfully sets scenes with vivid details aimed at providing a full sensory experience, it just makes it so easy to become lost on this world and the atmosphere. Action, adventure, fear and betrayal combine with real emotions, struggles and fantastical enemies to bring an epic adventure to your fingertips.
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August 17, 2020
Book review: A. Zavarelli – Stealing Cinderella(@AZavarellibooks)
When her father moved to England and married his new wife, Ella never thought she [image error]would be orphaned and left in her ‘care’, or that her only sanctuary would become the animal sanctuary where she spent every moment between her chores. The problem was, with so many stray and abused animals, the place was haemorrhaging money faster than it could make any. If things didn’t change soon it would be forced to close its doors forever. She could not let that happen. She had wrote to the royal secretary more times than she could count, approached every avenue she could in the hope to secure funding for this charity, all to no avail. She has one final chance, at the masquerade ball she must speak with the prince in person, pitch her case. She had one chance, but the person under the mask was not who she had expected, and she was not like all the other girls who had approached him that night. She thought she would never see him again, but instead he sought her out, but he didn’t sweep her off her feet, he stole her, and now she is a prisoner of the heir apparent everyone loves to hate. The man with a dark past and an even darker disposition.
Stealing Cinderella by A. Zavarelli is one of those books that’s going to keep you up all night until you hit that final page. On the surface it is a dark fairy tale romance, but there is so much more going on adding depth to the world, characters, and their situations. Ella and Thor have their own complicated pasts, their own ghosts. Both have been broken in different ways and they are, perhaps, the only people who cold make each other feel whole again. But Thor doesn’t want whole. He wants something that is purely his, a toy to dominate and hurt, a person to fill with the darkness he carries. He just doesn’t count of Ella’s light. He doesn’t care for it either, he had too much going on his life to give a damn about what his little toy is feeling, except…he can’t help but be drawn in, and the more she unravels him the more he makes her suffer. The dark erotic scenes of this book are penned with a skilled hand and take the reader through every torturous moment, every sweet surrender. I thought this was a great spin on the classic fairy tale and enjoyed every minute, so much so that when I crawled into bed last night to read I had no idea it would hold me hostage until that final page was consumed.
Book review: Nicole Snow – Still Not Over You (@NicoleSnowBooks)
For years Kenna had pined over her older brother’s friend. He had shown her kindness [image error]when no one else had. But all that changed the day she read his diary and discovered a darker side to the boy she loved. Their relationship was fractured forever, he hated she had seen that part of him, he didn’t just push her away, he launched her into an entirely different existence, one where they were enemies, where they couldn’t even bear to look at each other. She tried to move on, but her life was a mess. With her rent increasing, her newest romance book rejected, she couldn’t afford to stay living where she was. That was when her brother offered a temporary solution. Landon was leaving on business and needed someone to watch his beach house. Homeless or a brief moment of awkwardness, it wasn’t much of a choice. But as soon as she came face to face with him her walls crumbled. Running would be easier, but her heart tells her to stay, to try to repair the rift. The past is not over yet, the future is not written, and the ghosts from Landon’s past still haunt his present and guide his hand. Can Kenna repair their friendship, repair the man life had fractured?
Still not over you by Nicole Snow is an enemies to lovers romance penned with raw emotion, passion, and skill. Landon and Kenna are deep characters with some amazing chemistry between them and a life that has drilled into them all the reasons why what they have between them could never work. The push pull motion of this book as the characters deny and resist what is between them is beautifully written and the escalating sense of danger adds to the heightening suspense as Landon continues to chase after the darkness in his past, an act which could very well destroy everything he cares about, both the things he acknowledges and those he is hell bent on ignoring. Tense, suspenseful, steamy, and dangerous, this book will keep lovers of the romance genre entertained and turning those pages.
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