August Reads Round Up
Summary of my August reads with links to the full reviews:
Pavel by Brianna West
Full Review: Pavel.
I gave this book 5/5. A brilliant follow on to book one in the series. Steamy scenes, hunks, kick ass heroines, and fast paced action kept the pages turning. Paranormal romance at its finest.
Bury the Living by Jodi McIsaac
Full Review: Bury the Living.
I gave this book 4.5/5. A captivating Irish historical fantasy. Well rounded characters, a budding romance, and cleverly woven narrative of factual Irish conflicts interwoven with folklore and fantasy. Time travel in the style of Outlander.
Dead by Morning by Kayla Krantz
Full Review: Dead by Morning.
I gave this book 3.5/5. A terrifying antagonist with satanic and narcissistic tendencies, who is not just dangerous in reality but also in ‘Dreamworld.’ Sometimes, the narrative was a little unbelievable, but you keep reading to make sure the antagonist gets his just desserts.
Parallel by Shana Chartier
Full Review: Parallel.
I gave this book 2.5/5. A 10k word short story that can be read in one sitting. A good concept, but little time to apply everything thoroughly. Lack of character development made the characters cliche and predictable. Making this into a novella may have helped.
The Aurora Stone by G.S.Tucker
Full Review: The Aurora Stone.
I gave this book 3.5/5. A YA book that would have done better as a children’s book. A vast array of imaginative creatures, prophecy, and realms. An engaging read that middle grade children may enjoy.
The Making of Gabriel Davenport by Beverley Lee
Full Review: The Making of Gabriel Davenport.
I gave this book 5/5. A brilliantly written tale of good verses evil. Subtle characters that leap from the page and a narrative that hooks the reader from the first page until the last. If you like fantasy, supernatural, and a touch of horror. Get this book!
Dark Secrets by Leeah Taylor
Full Review: Dark Secrets.
I gave this book 3.5/5. A fast paced novel with a large cast of supernatural characters. Sometimes my mind was awhirl with information, but I enjoyed the expected paranormal romance tropes: insta-love, romance, action, and the unexplainable.
A Boy Made of Blocks by Keith Stuart
Full Review: A Boy Made of Blocks.
I gave this book 3.5/5. A raw, honest portrayal of a father’s struggles to connect with his autistic son and how he hits rock bottom in his personal and work life, only to be saved by his son’s love of a certain video game. A little slow for my liking.
Collective Ramblings by Various Authors
Full Review: Collective Ramblings.
I gave this book 3/5. Some intriguing stories, but many felt unfinished and left me unsatisfied as a reader. Four specific genres, and each story brought something new to the table. Great concepts, but more solid conclusions needed.
When Time Comes by Cat Nicolaou
Full Review: When Time Comes.
I gave this book 3/5. A novella that plays on the fantasy of women who have ever had a pop idol. Some cliche narrative choices, but a sweet, happy ending. The Mina storyline didn’t interest me and was a little far fetched, yet it did make the conclusion all the sweeter.
Mirror Mirror by Anthony. M. Strong
Full Review: Mirror Mirror.
I gave this book 4/5. The best short story I have read in a long time. The idea was a little cliche, but the narrative development and writing style allowed me to overlook that. Ends on a cliffhanger, so I hope there is a second installment.
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E.Schwab
Full Review: A Darker Shade of Magic.
I gave this book 4/5. A great tale of magic and parallel worlds. Believable, unique characters, and a made up language. Slow starter, but action picks up. Kell and Lila reminded me a little of Kelsier and Vin from Mistborn and I couldn’t shake the image.
Mad Woman by Kat Savage
Full Review: Mad Woman.
I gave this book 4/5. An anthology of honest, blunt, raw poetry. Savage lays herself bare in over forty poems of love, pain, and loss. If you are a lover of dark poetry, then this is the anthology for you.
Germination by Jamie Thornton
Full Review: Germination.
I gave this book 5/5. A 92 page novella that adds a unique POV to the zombie/ infection outbreak genre. Great character development in such a small space of time. Will definitely be downloading the sequel.
Content belongs to KJ.Chapman
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