Kameo Monson's Blog, page 3

No Ants In My Pants

Sheri groaned as the sun shone through her window and touched her eyelids. As much as she wanted to roll over and go back to sleep, she couldn’t. Not for a few more months anyway. Then a little one wouldn’t let her sleep at all.

She sighed. It didn’t matter, she’d slept in long enough.

Climbing out of bed, Sheri rubbed her eyes and stumbled into the hallway. She and her son, Noah, had gotten used to staying up late and sleeping well into the morning, though she did her best to hide that fact from the rest of the world.

After peeking into Noah’s room and seeing him sound asleep, Sheri stumbled the rest of the way into the kitchen and poured herself some cereal. Bowl in hand, she sank onto the couch and flipped on the T.V. More talk shows. Couldn’t Hollywood come up with something better?

Only a few minutes passed between the time she finished her breakfast and Noah waking up. Two-years-old, the baby slept in a twin-sized bed but hadn’t figured out how to lower himself to the ground.

Lifting her pregnant body from the couch, Sheri stepped onto the carpet in the next room. A shimmer of movement caught her eye, and her heart raced.

It crawled.

The entire floor crawled!

After lurching toward the hallway, Sheri orka-ed herself on her bed. Beached and drenched in tears, she howled in fear.

Ants–big ones, little ones, black ones, red ones–carpeted her carpet.
Dragging herself to the top of the bed, she reached for the phone and stabbed at the buttons, slowing only for accuracy. But what would her husband do?

Sheri hung up and hugged herself as concrete formed in her lungs. Shaking her hands, she flung her arms into the air and urged her thoughts to clear. Noah needed a fresh diaper and breakfast, and he was screaming from terror almost as loudly as her. She had to save her baby!

Boots from an old World War II German officer’s uniform caught her attention. Tall and commanding. They wouldn’t lose this war. She demanded that they not lose the war.

Throwing the boots on her feet, she rushed to Noah’s room where she hugged him tight. Once he sat safely shaking on the couch with a cartoon to keep him company, Sheri gathered the troops… or troop.

She got the vacuum out of the closet.

One foot touched the floor and the other lifted as Sheri plugged the vacuum in. A muttered prayer crossed her lips as she pushed the appliance back and forth over the carpet. Images of tiny soldier ants flying to their deaths and into the bag-of-no-return barely calmed her nerves.

Where had they come from? The unanswered question shot adrenaline to her heart. What did they want? She searched the floor but saw nothing. Seconds later, the wrinkled culprit came into view.

A single raisin.

Nothing more. Just a raisin. Noah must have dropped it. Still hopping, she scanned the battlefield. The enemy had been extirpated. At least, she hoped they had. Visions of their tiny bodies curled into balls or ripped in thirds began to fade. In their place, warriors rose from the dust to retaliate.

Ripping the bag from the vacuum, Sheri ran out the backdoor and to the alley, fear raising the bile in her throat. With the nausea swallowed, she continued. She could do this. She had to do this!

The dumpster, another ally, grinned at her as she fed it. Air flooded into her lungs, destroying the newly formed concrete, and she dashed to Noah. “It’s okay, little guy. They’re all gone.”

Sheri glanced at the battle-worn boots, then at the vacuum in the next room and nodded, muttering, “Until next time.”

Enjoy more stories from my life, both true and fiction at http://kameomonson.com/

Where Hope is Found: A Book Review

Rebecca L. Marsh, author of three women’s fiction novels, including Where Hope is Found, brings us wonderful stories about overcoming life’s trauma and the second chances that wait right around the corner.

My Thoughts on Where Hope is Found

What’s your worst fear in life? We’ve each been asked the daunting question since childhood. For a long time, people laughed at my answer: ants.

It’s true. Ants scare me. Though I’m doing much better now than I did in the past. And, really, being scared of ants is more of a phobia. Myrmecophobia, to be exact. I didn’t develop my true greatest fear until adulthood.

Losing my husband.

I’m a religious person. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that families are eternal. If I lose my husband in this life, I can be with him again in the next.

But what about the rest of this life? With faith, I know everything will work out. And I don’t doubt it, but when someone asks me what I’m most scared of in life. That’s my answer. Losing my husband.

In Where Hope is Found, Marsh explores one of the many possibilities that can happen when a person has no choice but to face their greatest fear.

The Good

I read Where Hope Is Found as a beta reader, and then read the finished product as well. Generally, when I reread a book, I like to space it out a little bit more. However, rereading this novel twice in a short amount of time didn’t bother me at all. Besides, it’s always nice to see how a story has grown through the writing process.

Where Hope is Found deals with some hard subject matter, including mental illness, in tasteful and appropriate ways. Instead of a main character who suddenly discovers herself healed from a trauma-induced mental illness, Marsh shows the long-term aspect, while providing the character and readers with the hope they want and deserve.

I have enjoyed reading Marsh’s other books, but Where Hope is Found shows tremendous growth in her writing and exhibits a skill not all indie authors have. The book is well-researched and free from error. While the book deals with serious and adult subject matter, it was not offensive to me and, in my opinion, is appropriate for older teenagers as well as adults.

The Official Blurb

One tiny moment in time can shatter your whole world.
A family beach vacation turns to tragedy and Marissa must find a way for her and her traumatized eight-year-old daughter, Maisy, to move forward and heal. But memories of what she lost surround her, threatening to take her to a dark place; a place she can never go again.

When her brother extends an invitation for her and Maisy to move in with him on Princess Island, Marissa thinks it might just be the fresh start she needs. But can she really find hope and healing on an island surrounded by the same ocean that broke her heart?

More info

Where Hope Is Found will be available on October 15, 2020, on Amazon.

Follow Rebecca Marsh on Facebook, GoodReads, and RebeccaLMarsh.com.

I received a copy of this book for free in exchange of a review. All opinions are honest and my own.

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No Ants In My Pants!

Sheri groaned as the sun shone through her window and touched her eyelids. As much as she wanted to roll over and go back to sleep, she couldn’t. Not for a few more months anyway. Then a little one wouldn’t let her sleep at all.

She sighed. It didn’t matter, she’d slept in long enough.

Climbing out of bed, Sheri rubbed her eyes and stumbled into the hallway. She and her son, Noah, had gotten used to staying up late and sleeping well into the morning, though she did her best to hide that fact from the rest of the world.

After peeking into Noah’s room and seeing him sound asleep, Sheri stumbled the rest of the way into the kitchen and poured herself some cereal. Bowl in hand, she sank onto the couch and flipped on the T.V. More talk shows. Couldn’t Hollywood come up with something better?

Only a few minutes passed between the time she finished her breakfast and Noah waking up. Two-years-old, the baby slept in a twin-sized bed but hadn’t figured out how to lower himself to the ground.

Lifting her pregnant body from the couch, Sheri stepped onto the carpet in the next room. A shimmer of movement caught her eye, and her heart raced.

It crawled.

The entire floor crawled!

After lurching toward the hallway, Sheri orka-ed herself on her bed. Beached and drenched in tears, she howled in fear.

Ants–big ones, little ones, black ones, red ones–carpeted her carpet.

Dragging herself to the top of the bed, she reached for the phone and stabbed at the buttons, slowing only for accuracy. But what would her husband do?

Sheri hung up and hugged herself as concrete formed in her lungs. Shaking her hands, she flung her arms into the air and urged her thoughts to clear. Noah needed a fresh diaper and breakfast, and he was screaming from terror almost as loudly as her. She had to save her baby!

Boots from an old World War II German officer’s uniform caught her attention. Tall and commanding. They wouldn’t lose this war. She demanded that they not lose the war.

Throwing the boots on her feet, she rushed to Noah’s room where she hugged him tight. Once he sat safely shaking on the couch with a cartoon to keep him company, Sheri gathered the troops… or troop.

She got the vacuum out of the closet.

One foot touched the floor and the other lifted as Sheri plugged the vacuum in. A muttered prayer crossed her lips as she pushed the appliance back and forth over the carpet. Images of tiny soldier ants flying to their deaths and into the bag-of-no-return barely calmed her nerves.

Where had they come from? The unanswered question shot adrenaline to her heart. What did they want? She searched the floor but saw nothing. Seconds later, the wrinkled culprit came into view.

A single raisin.

Nothing more. Just a raisin. Noah must have dropped it. Still hopping, she scanned the battlefield. The enemy had been extirpated. At least, she hoped they had. Visions of their tiny bodies curled into balls or ripped in thirds began to fade. In their place, warriors rose from the dust to retaliate.

Ripping the bag from the vacuum, Sheri ran out the backdoor and to the alley, fear raising the bile in her throat. With the nausea swallowed, she continued. She could do this. She had to do this!

The dumpster, another ally, grinned at her as she fed it. Air flooded into her lungs, destroying the newly formed concrete, and she dashed to Noah. “It’s okay, little guy. They’re all gone.”

Sheri glanced at the battle-worn boots, then at the vacuum in the next room and nodded, muttering, “Until next time.”

Based on true events; names have been changed to protect the (not-so) innocent.



Learn more about myrmecophobia (the fear of ants).



Read more short stories on KameoMonson.com.

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The Void Wakes Up: Immortals and Men

My daughter, who would like to be called Void, and I are excited to bring you regular installments of her fantasy short-snippet series Immortals and Men. Void attends an online school and is a freshman in high school. She enjoys reading and writing fan fiction as well as creating her own fantasy worlds. Please enjoy the first installment of Immortals and Men, The Void Wakes Up.

The Void Wakes Up

The sludge was impossibly old. Compared to the others, however, it was hardly an infant. It was the only one of the others to have no solid form. As such, the sludge remained unseen and undiscovered by the life that roamed above the hidden cave.

  After lying dormant for so long, it was restless. The viscous liquid that made up its current form rippled as a nonexistent wind stirred the surface.

The eerie black fluid sloshed silently in the deep and well-worn lake before a large glob broke off from the whole. The inky substance defied all logic as it sluggishly trickled up and into a separate indentation.

  The hole deepened as the sludge pulled in the rocks around itself, following its nature–to consume, destroy, and make everything vanish.

The thick liquid began to change, surging upwards and taking on an animalistic appearance. Newly solid, it stood and opened its bright eyes, casting its gaze around the pitch-black cave. Lifting its head, it stared at the rocks above, dripping the dark substance.

  A roar tore from its new form, reverberating through the rock and to the world above. Instead of making sounds, all were silenced. The hum of bugs, the song of the wind through the trees, even the constant thrum of heartbeats vanished.

And the world knew.

  The Void was awake.

More to come

Watch for more of the short-snippets series Immortals and Men on KameoMonson.com

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The Last Monster Hunter: A Book Review

Australian Author, Luke Romyn is listed as a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author. So, it’s no surprise that his recently published book, the Last Monster Hunter, has plenty to offer the middle-grade fantasy world.

My Thoughts about The Last Monster Hunter

Fantasy is the epitome of imagination. It rewrites physics, life and death, and everything in between. Writing it terrifies me. Reading it, however, brings me an enormous amount of joy–at least when it is done well. And Romyn does it well. Considering the accolades he has received, that shouldn’t be surprising.

Obviously, I gave the Last Monster Hunter a shot… I almost didn’t.

I’ve mentioned the fantasy saturation problem more than once. The magic of the genre attracts most writers, but that doesn’t mean they should all write it. I’ve learned that titles can say a lot about what lies within the pages. The word “monsters” usually sends up red flags for me, but feeling benevolent or bored or in need of reading material, I decided to at least preview the Last Monster Hunter using the look inside feature on Amazon.

I’m glad I did. I’m not fond of the title, but the first few lines of the book proved that Romyn knows how to create a written visual. His hook was pretty good too!

The Good

The Last Monster Hunter begins with twelve-year-old Theo, a smiling bedroom wall, and a mysterious doorway. The engaging writing pulled me right in, as did the idea that a twelve-year-old boy wasn’t frightened of such things. As the story continued, I found myself wanting to spend more time withing its pages. As is common with many fantasy series, the Last Monster Hunter is an introductory book–the book Romyn uses to build the kingdom; introduce characters; and create, or start creating, a hero.

He does this well. Readers learn about the main villain, the Orc King, as well as the basics of what a hunter does. As a reader who prefers figuring out what makes characters tick instead of having personalities handed to me, I appreciated the way the definition of a hunter isn’t spelled out. Not once does Romyn drone-on past a very basic explanation. However, he does show us through Theo’s actions.

The Last Monster Hunter is a middle-grade fantasy, and the characters’ development fits within that genre and age group. Adults shouldn’t read the book and expect supporting characters to round out as pages expose their strengths and weaknesses in layers. Not yet, anyway. They should read the book expecting a solid foundation to be laid as Theo grows up. This is great, because, while adults can enjoy the Last Monster Hunter, Romyn succeeded in writing a book at a level appropriate for the age group he strove to entertain. That’s a big plus.

The Okay

Nothing about the Last Monster Hunter struck me as bad. It also didn’t strike me as unique.

Theo, a boy unknowingly born to magical parents, finds himself whisked into an unknown world—saved from a sad existence with his horrid aunt and uncle. In an alley, he learns a little more about himself as he starts a new journey. After some time, he rides in a flying carriage to a school for hunters. He also discovers that his father was a hero and that others expect him to be as well. The list continues…

While the stories remain different, there are several surface similarities between the Last Monster Hunter and Harry Potter. Wonderful! If you love stories similar to Harry Potter. Not quite so great if you’re looking for a new way to experience fantasy.

That shouldn’t take away from the author’s creation. Many readers, especially young readers, search specifically for books similar to their favorites.

Romyn also uses similes to help build visuals for the reader. I, personally, prefer fewer than he includes. As the number of similies crept up on me, they became somewhat of a distraction. That said, the use of literary devices is highly subjective. So, what bothers me may not bother you and probably will not be noticed by a child.

The Last Monster Hunter Official Blurb

Theodore Beckett knows nothing of magic until his bedroom wall smiles…

… and then tries to kill him.

Doors to a whole new world suddenly crash open for Theo, a world filled with monsters, magicians, and dragons. His role in this secret society slowly unfolds when Theo learns he is the son of its lost hero. The man who defeated the Orc King. Elijah Dros.

A new war looms, and Theo realizes his introduction might not be a coincidence. He may well be the last Hunter. But with nobody to teach him, how will Theo ever learn to protect himself, let alone others?

More Info

Purchase your copy of the Last Monster Hunter on Amazon.

Follow Luke Romyn on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Goodreads, and LukeRomyn.com

I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

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Blood and Silver: A Book Review

Vali Benson may not be an Arizonan native, but living in Tucson, nearly in the Wild West itself, she may as well be. Author of Blood and Silver, Benson started and sold two successful businesses before turning her attention to writing. Periodicals such as History Magazine have published several of her articles. She is also a member of the Western Writers of America.

My Thoughts about Blood and Silver

For me, growing up in Arizona meant regular visits to Payson, camping, boating, and hiking. Believe it or not, I never saw the Grand Canyon until the end of my sophomore year of high school. It had been deemed “too touristy” by my parents. The same was true of Tombstone.

When my two oldest children were under five, I often talked to my husband about traveling to Tombstone. “We could watch some of the re-enactments and enjoy ourselves for a day,” I told him. But my oldest had reached the same age I had when I saw the canyon for the first time before we visited Tombstone. In June. On what became the hottest day of that year.

Still, we had a wonderful time, and my husband and I have stopped back for more fun a couple of times since then.

Obviously, the notion of reviewing Blood and Silver, a book set in an Arizona historic town that I enjoy, sounded perfect. And I had a good experience reading it.

The Good

In Blood and Silver, the twelve-year-old Carissa wants nothing more than to help her laudanum-addicted mother out of the life the madam tricked her into. Prostitution. In Tombstone, the kindness of others provides her with friends and a plan. Once she meets China Mary, Carissa receives all the help she needs and a little more.

Benson does an amazing job at recreating China Mary, the real-life woman who ran Hoptown (an area of Tombstone where the Chinese resided). China Mary may have dealt in grays by running opium dens and the Chinese prostitutes among other questionable business opportunities, but she also provided care for those who couldn’t care for themselves. Benson’s novel reveals this in a way that middle graders and teens can enjoy. Parents will appreciate the absolute cleanliness of the book. Something difficult to imagine considering the subject matter.

I enjoyed some of the fun ways Benson brought Tombstone into the novel’s pages. For instance, Carissa’s mother is Lisette–a prostitute addicted to laudanum. Though not the same woman, real-life Lizette the Flying Nymph worked at the Bird Cage Theatre and, like many of that era, had an opium addiction. I also enjoyed the way Benson included a particularly fun secret about the Grand Hotel in the story line of her book.

Blood and Silver comes to us as an easy-read that can all ages can enjoy. The writing is free from major error and keeps the reader entertained from start to finish.

The Not As Good

Blood and Silver includes many wonderful descriptions of Tombstone’s history. Most of them are so well researched that I immediately recognized the work Benson put into learning about the town. So it surprised me when she used a modern medical treatment for drug addiction. She may have chosen this anachronism on purpose. Especially since the treatments for drug addiction during that period of time were heinous and more likely to kill a person than help.

The addition of anachronisms isn’t new to writing or art. Artists and authors include them regularly. Sometimes on purpose, sometimes not. When I consider its use in Blood and Silver, I can understand why it’s there. Young readers aren’t looking for realism as much as adults do. And, as parents, we want them reading uplifting literature. If a book sparks an interest in something, even better!

I also discovered a couple of unlikely but possible scenarios that stuck out to me; however, they were minor and probably stuck out because of my own research obsession.

I vacillated about including the above thoughts, but the anachronism and a few other minor details affected how I read the book (ready to research at any moment), so I decided to include them. If you read the book with knowledge of these inclusions, I have little doubt that you’ll enjoy it.

The official blurb of Blood and Silver

What is a twelve-year-old girl to do when she finds herself in the silver boom town of Tombstone, Arizona, in 1880, and her only home is a brothel and her only parent is a drug-addicted mother? If she is Carissa Beaumont, she outsmarts the evil madam and figures a way out.

After tricking the madam, Miss Lucille, into summoning a doctor for her mother, Lisette, she discovers that Miss Lucille has been drugging her. She and the kind doctor make a plan to try to save Lisette by dosing her down on the drug.

Doctor Henderson tells Carissa that the only source for the drug is a Chinese immigrant named China Mary, who lives in Hoptown, at the other end of Tombstone. Carissa has no choice but to go to the powerful woman for help. Many say that China Mary is the one who really controls Tombstone.

China Mary admires Carissa’s brave spirit, and uses her influence to get her a job at the new Grand Hotel, which will free Carissa from her many duties at Miss Lucille’s. She will work along with Mary’s twelve year old niece, Mai-Lin. The two girls become fast friends.

More Info

Purchase your copy of Blood and Silver on Amazon.

Follow Vali Benson on Facebook, Goodreads, and her website Vali Benson.com.

I received a free copy of this book for review. All opinions are honest and my own.

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Book Spotlight: Justice Gone by N. Lombardi

Winner of five awards, including the 2020 Independent Press Award and the New York City Big Book Award 2019, Legal thriller and suspense novel Justice Gone maybe the next book you’ll want to read.

Justice Gone Official Blurb

An act of police brutality hurls a small town into a turmoil of rage and fear, igniting a relentless witch hunt and ending in the trial of the decade.

When a homeless war veteran is beaten to death by the police, stormy protests ensue, engulfing a small New Jersey town. Soon after, three cops are gunned down.

A multi-state manhunt is underway for a cop killer on the loose. And Dr. Tessa Thorpe, a veteran’s counselor, is caught up in the chase.

Donald Darfield, an African-American Iraqi war vet, war-time buddy of the beaten man, and one of Tessa’s patients, is holed up in a mountain cabin. Tessa, acting on instinct, sets off to find him, but the swarm of law enforcement officers gets there first, leading to Darfield’s dramatic capture.

Now, the only people separating him from the lethal needle of state justice are Tessa and ageing blind lawyer, Nathaniel Bodine. Can they untangle the web tightening around Darfield in time, when the press and the justice system are baying for revenge?

Accolades

The courtroom scenes are wonderfully written…the characters are well described and the author paints a picture of each in the mind of the reader…Strong plot, strong characters, and a strong writing style that I really enjoyed. This one is a definite “thumbs-up.” Strongly recommend! I look forward to reading additional works by N. Lombardi, Jr. Kim M Aalaie, Author’s Den

One of my favorite suspense novels of the year. It will make you question the legal system. The Eclectic Review

The courtroom action is excellent, trimmed to the most gripping parts of the trial, with plenty of emotionalimpact…a fairly realistic portrayal of the way small-town US society works…a fast-moving story with plenty of dramatic moments and a big twist in the final pages.
Crime Review 

Meet Author N. Lombardi Jr.

N. Lombardi Jr., the N for Nicholas, has spent over half his life in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, working as a groundwater geologist. Nick can speak five languages: Swahili, Thai, lao, Chinese, and Khmer (Cambodian).

In 1997, while visiting Lao People’s Democratic Republic, he witnessed the remnants of a secret war that had been waged for nine years, among which were children wounded from leftover cluster bombs. Driven by what he saw, he worked from leftover cluster bombs. Driven by what he saw, he worked on The Plain of Jars for the next eight years.

Nick maintains a website, the Plain of Jars, with content that spans most aspects of the novel: The Secret War, Laotian culture, Buddhism, etc.

His second novel, Journey Towards a Falling Sun, is set in the wild frontier of northern Kenya.

His latest novel, Justice Gone was inspired by the fatal beating of a homeless man by police.

Nick now lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Justice Gone Awards

2020 INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD
2019 NEW YORK CITY BIG BOOK AWARD 
2019 AMERICAN FICTION AWARD 
NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARD – Best legal thriller 2019
SILVER MEDAL 2019 READER’S FAVORITES AWARDS

Chosen by Wiki.ezvid.com among its list of 10 Gripping and Intelligent Legal Thrillers

More Info

Purchase Justice Gone at the following locations

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Book Depository
Waterstones
Kobo

Follow N. Lombardi Jr on Facebook and Goodreads.
Don’t forget to visit plainofjars.net.

I received no compensation for this spotlight. I have not read and do not personally endorse Justice Gone.

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Surprisingly Yours: A Book Review

Jessica Marie Holt writes books with incredible emotional pull, where each reader can find a message just for them. She also authors something a little less serious. The Granny Pact Collection—rom com. The kind of rom com that leads you to ask the one question you never thought you’d ask about the genre: Where has this been all my life? And like books one and two, Book Three, Surprisingly Yours, won’t let you down!

My Thoughts About Surprisingly Yours

“Make a list of the qualities that matter to you in a spouse.”

That’s what several of my youth leaders suggested.

Olivia, one of the main characters in Surprisingly Yours, would agree. In fact, she probably has so many qualities listed that Mr. Wonderful is still waiting for God to finish creating him. (Please excuse my blasphemy.)

Of course, I also had lists… Lots of them. And like the Match Mavens success stories (which sit at 100%), I managed the most important one… My husband loves me.

Olivia and Julio, the main characters in Surprisingly Yours, find their true loves, too, but unlike in the movies, they don’t recognize it right away. Why would they? After all, the Match Mavens are smarter than those young’uns think. The grannies know love doesn’t come at a glance—unless you’re Maddie. No, love comes through interaction, understanding, and a houseful of fabulous family with empanadas (skip the prietas). More than that, the Mavens know that opposites don’t always attract, and rarely are they opposites.

Only Good

Holt has created some of the funniest characters in her Granny Pact collection. June and Ellie, aka the Match Mavens, created out of love for her own grandmothers, take kooky to a whole new lovable level as they scheme up ways to turn two singles into one couple. If you’ve read Reluctantly Yours and Accidentally Yours, then you know exactly what I’m talking about.

But she doesn’t stop there. Each one of Holt’s characters is lovingly created. This time, she brings stylishly handsome, happy-to-be-single, “suave” Julio together with list-making, responsible, “cute” Olivia. Together, they explore a bit of the Chilean culture—one Holt has experienced and loves.

This author hasn’t lost her way with words, either. I laughed my way through each chapter and fell in love with two more characters who totally deserve each other. (By the way, they are my favoritest couple so far!)

The official blurb

The grannies are back and ready for their next challenge!

Julio Rivera is happily unattached, but his family desperately wants him to get serious about his future and his love life. When they find a Match Mavens flyer in a supermarket window, they decide that this mysterious method is worth a try.

Ellie and June are all too happy to help. After all, it’s unnatural—maybe even criminal—for a handsome and charming young man like Julio to be single. Something must be done about it, and they are just the ones to do it.

Julio proves reluctant to give up his slacker ways, and the Mavens must come up with a clever solution for his unique problem—or risk marring their perfect matchmaking record.

More Info

Purchase your copy of Surprisingly Yours on Amazon.

Follow Jessica Marie Holt on Facebook   &  Goodreads

I recieved a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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Royal Decoy: A Book Review

YA author Heather Frost published her first series, the Seers Trilogy with Cedar Fort, but her for her second series, Fate of Eyrinthia, she’s decided to give self-publishing a try. Royal Decoy: Book One brings the action of fantasy and the emotion of romance and entwines them together for a fast-paced adventure everyone can sink their knives into!

My thoughts about Royal Decoy

One of the wonders of fantasy other genres often don’t adopt is multiple story lines with various points of view. The layering effect that takes place brings extra depth to a story, especially with a mystery involved. A mystery such as: Who is attempting to kill the princess?

Royal Decoy includes two paralleling stories in the world of Eyrinthia. Clare becomes the decoy for the brash princess in Davendra. Why? To protect the peace treaty and subsequent marriage between the princess and the prince of Mortise. Prince Grayson of Ryden spends his time doing everything his father, the king, asks, no matter how much he despises it. All to keep seeing the one person who brings him joy–the King’s prisoner, Mia.

To give insight into the minds of the characters, several points of view come into play. Frost marks who you are following at the beginning of each chapter, making it easy. Some of these points of view come in later than others.

The Good

Within the first few pages, this book had me hooked. In fact, it was the word hitched that made me swoon. Frost used the word this way: hitched to her feet.

Hitched doesn’t mean stood up. It doesn’t mean rose. But it works! I knew exactly what Frost meant, even though she’d changed the entire definition! I loved the way she used it.

But that isn’t all Frost does well. Her understanding of how the emotion within both fast-paced action and love scenes made me bring my Kindle downstairs–on my birthday–to sit and read Royal Decoy. Keep in mind, I write and read regularly. When I want to relax while reading, I only choose books I’m totally invested in. And I couldn’t wait to see what happened next in this book!

Oh, and I had no idea who the “bad guy” was at the end until Frost divulged the information. The idea of this character being the “bad guy” hadn’t even crossed my mind. But it all made sense. She’d even dropped breadcrumbs. I just hadn’t studied them well enough. THIS IS RARE for me. I almost always guess in advance and correctly. By the time I reached the unveiling, I’d ruled out most of the characters I’d considered, dropped a major breadcrumb, and was totally off.

The A-Little-Less-Good

I can’t label this section okay or bad. It’s nearly an indifference. And after finishing the book, I can’t wait to see how it all works out at the end of the series. But at one point, I thought, oh my goodness, everyone has a plan to destroy someone else!

This isn’t a book with one good side and one bad side. There are multiple groups with their own playbook. And I’m not entirely convinced I’ve run into all of them. This makes it hard to keep track of everyone. But I managed to do it, and I’m certain most readers can as well.

The Official Blurb of Royal Decoy

 SERVANT blackmailed into becoming a princess’s decoy.
A BODYGUARD determined to keep her alive.

A PRINCE forced to execute his father’s brutal laws.
A PRISONER used to keep him compliant.

A WORLD on the brink of war.

In one horrible night, Clare goes from kitchen maid to royal decoy. She has three months to become the princess’s perfect double so she can ensure her betrothal to an enemy prince. Desperate to survive, Clare throws herself into self-defense training, taught by her distractingly attractive bodyguard. The danger increases when a ruthless assassin begins stalking her, intent on ending the tenuous peace.

Across the northern mountains, Prince Grayson is his father’s ultimate weapon. He carries out the king’s harsh orders because the one person he cares about is his father’s prisoner. Grayson’s silent obedience is tested when his father plans to exploit the marriage alliance between two of their greatest enemies. If Grayson submits, the blood of thousands will spill. If he resists, the girl who means everything to him will die.

The fate of Eyrinthia hangs in the balance. Some want peace. Some want war. All will be thrown into chaos.

More Info

Purchase your copy of Royal Decoy on Amazon.

Follow Heather Frost at HeatherFrost.com and Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads.

The post Royal Decoy: A Book Review appeared first on Kameo Monson.

Adelia Burke: Author Blog Tour and Giveaway

A Guarded Love by Adelia Burke

The Perfect Match by Adelia Burke has been recently re-released as A Guarded Love. Now it’s time for bloggers and readers to party! Adelia has gathered the forces, rallied the book reviewers, and invited readers to learn more about her and her book. Read my review of A Guarded Love now, then follow the links listed below to read reviews from other bloggers. Leave comments on the blog posts and earn entries into the listed giveaway! YAY, prizes!!!

June 1st Crossroad Reviews
June 2nd Community Bookstop
June 3rd TBA
June 4th Bibilo Leviosa
June 5th Bonnie Gets a Say
June 6th Fire and Ice
June 7th TBA
June 8th My Book a Day
June 9th Baroness’ Book Trove
June 10th Movie Review Mom
June 11th Kameo Monson
June 12th LUW Romance Writers
June 13th Book.Amour
June 14th The Phantom Paragrapher

Official Blurb

An unsuspecting college student is inadvertently thrust into the paparazzi spotlight when a country music star mingles at a local karaoke club. After an unexpected photo surfaces online, the power of clickbait media sends two people from different worlds on a collision course with destiny.

A break from touring proves to be anything but relaxing, as Landon Ross navigates a whirlwind of tabloid manipulation, crazed fans and heightened security protocol. Each detail of his life is carefully structured and scheduled. But the unexpected arrival of a talented local music major makes him re-evaluate everything.

MORE INFO

Purchase your copy of A Guarded Love on Amazon.

Follow Adelia Burke on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and her website.

Adelia Burke: VIP Club

Sign up for Adelia’s VIP Club, giving you access to several great benefits.

Receive a free book when you joinGet advanced notice of upcoming releasesParticipate in character and plot developmentReceive sneak peeks of new chaptersReceive discounts on booksReceive newslettersReceive a birthday gift



GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

Win prizes by leaving comments on A Guarded Love review posts throughout the blog tour (follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter square below) and by visiting Adelia Burke’s Facebook group (use the link provided in the Rafflecopter square). Prizes include free online courses and eBooks. KameoMonson.com is not running this contest and is unaware of the specific rules. Please contact Trina Boice with questions or concerns at trinaboice@gmail.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Adelia Burke: Author Blog Tour and Giveaway appeared first on Kameo Monson.