Hello, all.
No, I didn't die, though I have been absent for quite a bit. Various things going on in my personal life have kept me busy and I honestly haven't been reading as much of late. So in this post, I will share the few indie books I have read since April.
Before I get to that, let me plug my newest release that hit the market in July. Tantalizing Tales of the Horrific and Fantastic is a collection of short stories that span various genres.
Here is the blurb and buy links:
Sink
your teeth into this book of fantastical short stories that will leave
you wanting more. This collection mixes fantasy, science fiction,
horror, and more into one big boiling pot of tastiness. Stories may
include princesses, talking birds, alien species, magical items,
terrifying creatures, cyborgs, or assassins. You’ll get your fill of
thrills and chills.
BUY LINKS: Universal link - Amazon - Goodreads - Books2Read
Now on to the indie books!
Valkyrie on Planet Fury
by Lynne Murray
Rating: 5 Stars
Review:
Lynne Murray knocks it out of the park again!
It
had been a while since I read the first book Gravitas: Valkyrie in the
Forbidden Zone. I had almost forgotten what an amazing storyteller this
author is but two pages in and it all came rushing back. Her memorable
characters. Her own sci-fi take on various mythologies. Her amazing
building of complex societies. Everything about this book makes it such a
pleasure to read.
Though there are some editing issues, the
storytelling shines through as we are whisked away on another
edge-of-your-seat adventure with Sybil, our favorite oddball from Planet
Valkyrie. Tension, romance, devious plots, and sexy fun are in store.
We even meet Medusa!
I highly recommend this one.
American Darkness
by Garrison Kelly
Rating: 3 Stars
Review:
If you're looking for a
collection of short stories where everyone is pissed off all the time,
look no further. Each story certainly delves into the darkness of
humankind, showing how unreasonable and crazy some people can be. Though
most of the characters are over-the-top and violence is the word of the
day, there is usually a happy-ish ending in store. Be sure to listen to
some angry screamo while reading this one!
Once Upon a Fabulous Time
Various Authors
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
Here
are a bunch of random fairy tale stories from various authors put
together nicely in one anthology. Though I still didn't see how each
story tied into the main story throughout, I enjoyed this book more than
expected. I have to say that both Aliya DalRae stories were my favorite
of the bunch. "Where Darkness Lies" by Joanna Van Leerdam was my next
favorite. Their stories were the strongest and best written.
Though
some of the other stories were okay, my least favorite was Mr. Wizardo.
There was confusing head-hopping as well as scene jumping that would
jolt me out of the story. To be honest, I skipped the rest of the story
after Chapter Two. The author's need to slap the reader in the face with
a Wizard of Oz reference in every single paragraph got really old
really fast, especially when most references didn't come across as
making any sense.
Overall, a nice collection with a few tales I wouldn't mind seeing fleshed out into novel length stories.
Ghostly Writes 2017
by Various Authors
Rating: 3 Stars
Review:
An
entertaining collection of short stories. Only a few of the stories
were scary, though all contained some aspect of the supernatural. My
favorite stories were "A Grave Business" by Michael Lynes and "The Big
Escape" by Marjorie Hembroff.
Happy reading, all!
Hello my faithful readers! Tis I, Marie, your reviewer of indie books, here to give you another list of interesting books I read in January. So without further ado, here are the indies I enjoyed last month.
Undressed
by Karina Kantas
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
This
book delivers on everything the blurb promises: introductions to a
couple novels that leave you wanting more, flash fiction, and poetry.
Well written and full of emotion, this was certainly an enjoyable read.
Pretty Guilty
by K.L. Cottrell
Rating: 5 Stars
Review:
A perfectly beautiful story.
K.L.
Cottrell has such an amazing way with words. Her characters instantly
jump off the page and the story immediately draws you in. She makes it
so easy to fall in love with her characters, to feel their joy and
sadness as your own. This story is laden with life lessons and really
tugs at the heartstrings. 10 stars!
The Guardians
by Gina Moray
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
Equal parts thriller and murder mystery, this book will take you to dark places. I was reminded of Needful Things
by Stephen King, with the way a demon drove into town and made deals,
for a price. In the end, the price was too steep. Corpses and fields
overflowing with blood were all that was left.
Gina Moray certainly puts you in the middle of all the action and horror. A creepy read that is not for weak stomachs!
Lunatic Justice
by Garrison Kelly
Rating: 5 Stars
Review:
This
collection of poetry and songs will keep you on your toes and leave you
shaking your head at the world at large. Garrison Kelly not only
exposes the sad truths of mankind but puts them on display. The results
are sometimes hard to swallow, or hard to read, but will elicit an
emotional reaction from you. Whether that emotion is fear, anger,
sadness, or disgust depends on the reader.
My favorites of the
collection were "I Apologize," "My Body," "Thank You," "Rise and Shine,"
"Shadow Hawk," "Coasting," "I Still Remember," "Screaming Into the
Abyss," and "STEM Sell."
All four and five star reviews last month! Woohoo, that's some entertaining reads! I hope you find a title from this list that sparks your interest. Always remember to tip your waitresses and review the indie products you enjoy.
Happy reading!
Hello, fellow book lovers!
I'm back with a book review blog. Hurray! Prepare for lots of indie fun because I did some serious reading in November.
Jon Archer
by JB Taylor
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
A crazy, fun adventure that had me shaking my head and chuckling more than once.
The Distant Sound of Violence
by Jason Greensides
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
I
don't often read coming of age stories, but I was glad I decided to
pick this one up. An excellent story about how every decision can affect
your future and how real friendship doesn't die over time.
I
enjoyed the struggles of the main characters and how we witnessed them
grow and learn from them. Equally heartbreaking and enlightening, this
is a book I would recommend for teens and adults alike.
Vulnerable
by April Wilson
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
This
is your typical steamy romance. It doesn't offer much new as far as
stereotypicsl characters and circumstances, but the style of writing
draws you in and gets you hooked. Though I had read these characters a
million times in other books, I still found myself caring about them and
wanting to read more.
This is impressive for an author's first
published work. If you are looking for sexy and heartwarming, this is
the book for you.
Necrograph
by Garrison Kelly
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
I
have to give this book a solid 4 stars. The lyrics, though often angry,
are riddled with truths about modern society and our strange priorities
these days.
My favorites were "Chemicals," "The Meditation Song," "Micronism," and "Thou Shalt Not Steal."
A good read for anyone who lifts a middle finger to the world!
The Infinite: Witness for the Persecution #1
by Trevor Wooten
Rating: 3 Stars
Review:
A
lot of background info is thrown at you in this first installment that
may have been better to show us slowly throughout. It makes for a
somewhat confusing, yet still interesting, story.
Sinsual Delights
by Cinnamon Sin
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
Hot!
I enjoyed this short, sexy, erotic story. I need to read more of the steamy going-ons in this magical world. More please!
Catching Whitney
by Amy Hale
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
This
was a fun, warm-and-fuzzy read that had me smiling. Though there was
the usual "misunderstanding" between the couple that seems so popular in
romance books (I mean really, just talk!) this story was sweet and the
characters real and amusing.
Carved Wooden Heart
by Elizabeth Horton-Newton & Starla Hartless
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
Though
rather long and drawn out, this was a cute romance that left me
smiling. Cutting the excessive action details would have made it a
shorter and more concise read, though I wouldn't have minded hearing a
bit more about Jesse's life in those lost five years. Dani's character
was quite real and three dimensional. She made mistakes, grew a little,
made a few more mistakes, and still kept her head, and that had me
rooting for her.
All in all, this was an enjoyable read.
Full Exposure
by Amy Jo Cousins
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
Fun, sexy, and surprisingly deep.
I
definitely enjoyed this sexy little story. It's always fun when a
regular Joe gets to see the real side of a celebrity, and have amazing
sex as well. Well written and naughty, a winner in my book!
Merry Chris Witch
by CK Dawn
Rating: 5 Stars
Review:
Ho, ho, ho, and away we go!
What
a fun and cute holiday story. I'm with Chris on the holidays: Halloween
is my favorite and Christmas is kind of, eh. Good to know he found a
reason to enjoy the holiday besides his birthday!
I highly recommend this one.
Pirate Dave & His Randy Adventures
by Robyn Peterman
Rating: 5 Stars
Review:
Raunchy and hilarious!
If
you are looking for a quick read that will make you laugh, look no
further. Ridiculous, over the top humor and a silly story will keep you
entertained.
Only recommended for those with a twisted sense of humor.
Well folks, that's all I have for you this month. I hope I can reach my Goodreads reading challenge of 120 books this year. Perhaps not, since I am only at 102 right now, but hey, reading over 100 books in one year is enough for me.
I'll be back next year with more indie book reviews for you book worms out there. Have a wonderful holiday season, and happy reading!
