Reaching for the Light

Hello everyone!
I wanted to tell you about an upcoming publication that I am excited about. T.L. Katt and I have joined forces to bring you a book dedicated to mental health awareness. We each contributed a short story for Reaching for the Light, an e-book whose proceeds will be donated to NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness. As a person who deals with depression and anxiety on a daily basis, this is a cause that is near and dear to my heart.
Here is the book summary:

Mental Illness affects people in all walks of life, all countries and all nationalities. It does not discriminate. Those affected are friends, family members and you. The proceeds of this book will be donated to NAMI. If you’d like to know more about NAMI please visit their website. Authors Marie Krepps and TL Katt have opened their minds and imaginations to assist in mental health awareness, something they both feel passionately about. Follow their characters as they reach for their light.

High Heels & Ice Cream by Marie Krepps
Brianna suffers from depression and anxiety, but she won’t let it stop her from moving in with the chatty and attractive Carla. When her attraction to her roommate becomes something more, Brianna has to decide if she will let her inner demons win and run away as usual, or face her fears and admit her true feelings.

Bloom by TL Katt
At the hands of Jen’s husband, the man who should love her unconditionally, she suffers one nightmare after another. His bombardment of mental abuse leaves her a shell of a human and her mind unable to let go of the terror, she relives it again and again. Jen’s actions become more impulsive and dangerous.
Can she reach the light and find solace to begin her coping journey from PTSD?

Reaching for the Light comes out April 28th and is available for pre-order on Amazon here, but it will be available in other formats on sites like B&N and Kobo in the future. We will be having an awesome Facebook event to celebrate the book's release so stop by, play some games, and discover a new-to-you indie author. Please support our Thunderclap to help get the word out about this book that supports a cause we can all get behind, mental health awareness!

February Reads & Reviews

Hello, faithful readers! Being the short month it was, (and the fact that I published a book of my own) I didn't get as much reading in as I would like. Fortunately the books I did read were great so prepare yourselves! I will reveal more gems of the indie book world in this post.

Game, Set, Match
by Nana Malone

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
Though there are some cliche parts, this story had me hooked from the start. Humorous characters that leapt right off the pages and sexy scenes that sizzled, I had to read this entire book in one sitting

One to Keep
by Ev Bishop

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
A wonderful tale about taking a second chance on love after being badly burned. The characters were fun and realistic. I haven't read a book by this author that I haven't loved!

Ghostly Writes Anthology 2016
by Various Authors

Rating: 3 Stars

Review:
This collection of stories from various authors contains a wide range of tales. Some creepy, some amusing, and some just plain strange. Though there are some editing issues, I enjoyed diving in and immersing myself in each story.
My favorites had to be "Mother Called Today" and "Ruby Kisses."

The Boy With Words
by C.E. Wilson

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
I loved this book!
As a fan of CE Wilson's books, I knew I was going to enjoy these two stories. She has a real talent for creating unforgettable characters and this book was no different. I couldn't get enough of White and Kes's tale. A heartbreaking yet beautiful journey and a satisfying ending makes this one of my new favorites.
I highly recommend diving into this one!

The Light
by Kate Thomas

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
I really enjoyed this book. Seeing Ellie's struggle with her new abilities, and the men in her life, gave this story such depth. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.


So far, this year has been going well with my Goodreads Reading Challenge. 120 books is my goal. As of today, I have read around 30. So far, so good!
Happy reading!

August Reads & Reviews

Last month was really busy for me. I published one book for both of my pen names and read lots of great books! Let's take a look at the indie books I enjoyed in August.

The Ever-Burning Light
by K. L. Cottrell

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
Spellbinding! I absolutely loved this book. A perfect conclusion to a beautiful trilogy. The writing style was fun, humorous, and beautiful. The story was powerful and inspiring. I'll be thinking about this one for a while, I'm still completely immersed in that world of Light and Dark, of humans and monsters, and love and hate. A wonderful urban fantasy

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.

This is Me.
by C. E. Wilson

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
Wow! What a wonderful sci-fi romance! The question of what's real and what's not, what's alive and what isn't, is explored in this beautiful story about a woman, her robot companion, and her jealous love interest. Can a machine learn to love?
I had a hard time putting this down!

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.

Never Kiss Me Goodbye
by Ranay James

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
Though it started off slow and repetitive, once the story got going, it was hard to put down. The constant twists, action, and sexual tension between the main characters kept me on my toes. And that ending was certainly not what I expected. Can't wait to read the next installment! 

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.

Point of No Return
by Ranay James

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:

Fasted paced fun! More twists and turns and great action in this second book in the series. I had a hard time putting it down! 

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.

What Once Went Wrong
by T. E. Hodden

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
A tragic but heartwarming tale of love and friendship. This story flowed like poetry of the sweetest kind. George's story of finding Happy Ever Afters for his friends was well written and inspiring. I couldn't put it down.

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.

Illusional Reality
by Karina Kantas

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
Grabbed me in the first chapter! Though this started out as your typical, "Oh by the way, you are unique and have to save our people" fantasy, it quickly became a more interesting tale. Thya discovers her true identity and though she tries to take it all in stride, it's obviously still really hard for her to let go of her life on Earth.
Though the Tsinians strike me as pretty naive (They have been constantly attacked by their enemy for decades and all of a sudden decide he is trustworthy? Really?) Thya isn't and doesn't play around when it comes to people she doesn't trust. She basically tells the guy who killed her parents, and now wants to marry her as part of a peace treaty, to stick it where the sun doesn't shine. We see her character grow stronger of mind and more confident as the story progresses.
Full of action, a budding romance, betrayal, and some really cool yet terrifying magic, Illusional Reality was a fun read that I just had to finish in one sitting.

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.


I also caught up on the most recent issues of I Hate Fairyland. Yes, it's crazy and bloody but I still love it.
Happy reading, everyone!

March Reads and Reviews

After having read very little in February, I tried to make up for it in March by reading a lot. A lot for a busy person like me, anyway. I read twelve books last month! The best part is, I thoroughly enjoyed every single one of them. Nothing under four stars this month!

I read more trade books than indie books this month so I will only be posting reviews for indie books in the YA or adult market. The children's books I read are reviewed on my other blog.

Jade
by Rose Montague

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
Action packed and fun! I loved the tone of this book and how Jade's true nature is kept a mystery for a time. A real page turner.
My only complaint is the pacing. It was a tad fast for my taste, I would have liked to slow it down and see more of the initial spark between Jade and Jane, let that romance build more.
Great read!

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.

Demon Within
by Julie Nicholls

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
I couldn't put it down!
This story was exactly what I look for in a romance. The author took her time introducing us to each character, leaving a bit of mystery to be discovered along the way while letting the reader become emotionally invested in their own stories. The action was exciting and the romance sizzling. Some twists were predictable, others less so, but all done so well that it felt genuine.
A great read that hooked me, reeled me in, and left me wanting more. 

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.

Five Seven Five
by C. E. Wilson

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
This story sucked me in from page one!
A colony that lives underground. Strict enforces of the rules, rules that no one really understands. A girl curious about the world above. A death that will change everything.
I couldn't help but to root for White from the start. Her character is flawed, headstrong, and endearing, everything I love in a protagonist. The vivid details and original story line made this book very hard to put down! Excellent read. 

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.
 

Stake Out
by Lily Luchesi

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
A great start to a promising series!
A killer on the loose, a doomed romance, and paranormal creatures functioning in modern society make for an exciting story. It has issues that usually accompany an author's first book like head-hopping confusion and showing versus telling, but the story itself shines through. I enjoyed the bit of mystery and romance just as much as the action and fight scenes.
Very well done and can't wait to read the sequel!

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.



A few other books a read include Hollow City, the sequel to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Excellent book, can't wait to read the third and final story! The Sandman Volume 9, which, geezus, almost killed me with that ending. I also finished off a manga series I started reading many years ago, Descendants of Darkness (Yami no Matsuei).  

All in all, it was a great month for reading!

January Reads and Reviews

I'm doing the Goodreads Reading Challenge again this year. Last year my goal was to read thirty-five books and I read eighty. This year my goal is one hundred books. I got this!

This month started the year out right with twelve books. That's right, super mom with four screaming kids squeezed in twelve books this month! (Though a lot of these "books" are those romance novels split in three. It's a thing people are doing now and it is annoying. It's short enough to be a short story. The three together could be one book. But yeah, let's call it a "series".) Let's look at my reviews for what I managed to read for January 2016.

The Everlasting Chapel
by Marilyn Cruise

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
Perfect ending to a great trilogy.
My only real complaint is that I think Scarlett fought too hard against Michael. Once she finally gave in to the inevitable, a happy ending was guaranteed. 

For more of Marilyn Cruise's books and buy links, check out her Goodreads author page.
 

Gravitas: Valkyrie in the Forbidden Zone
by Lynne Murray

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
I adore this book! Humorous, action-packed, and full of jabs at society, this book has everything I could want and more.

For more of Lynne Murray's books and buy links, check out her Amazon author page.

Dreamwalker
by Desiree Morgan

Rating: 3 Stars

Review:
The story was sweet but it felt too short for my tastes. I would have liked more detail leading up to the car accident. More scenes of them interacting in the dreams to show Chase falling in love with Emily. A few editing issues here and there but nothing too distracting from the story.
All in all, a good quick read but didn't draw me in as much as I had hoped.

For more of Desiree Morgan's books and buy links, check out her Goodreads author page.

Five Dates
by Amy Jo Cousins

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
Humorous, sexy, and fun! A great read that draws you into Devin and Jay's worlds and the realities of a relationship.  

For more of Amy Jo Cousin's books and buy links, check out her Amazon author page. 

Regina: The Monster Inside
by DM Singh

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
An exciting leap into a magical world unlike any other. This book is full of characters that are unique and interesting. The heroine isn't perfect; she is young, makes mistakes, and often doesn't think her plans through. All of which makes her easy to relate to. Though at times the pacing is a bit slow, the story is otherwise engaging. Great read, can't wait for the sequel!

For more of DM Singh's books and buy links, check out her Amazon author page.

Ready To Were
by Robyn Peterman

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
I really enjoyed this book. It has everything I could want in a were story: humor, heartbreak, action, sexy romance, and a kick-ass heroine. I was tickled pink by the no bullshit tone, the humor having me laughing my butt off quite often. I definitely can't wait to read the next installment! 

For more of Robyn Peterman's books and buy links, check out her Amazon author page.

Unmasked: Volume 1
by Cassia Leo

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
A dark and intriguing story. A mysterious start to a trilogy that promises more action and turmoil to come!

For more of Cassia Leo's books and buy links, check out her Amazon author page.

The Viscount's Christmas Temptation
by Erica Ridley

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
An enjoyable historic romance with original characters and a sweet story. 

For more of Erica Ridley's books and buy links, check out her Amazon author page. 

Chameleon Sea: Part 1
by Catherine James

Rating: 3 Stars

Review:
A good start to a series with vivid details and a sensuous story. 

For more of  Catherine James's books and buy links, check out her Goodreads author page.

The Girlfriend Wager
by Edward Davies

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
An amusing tale about a group of teenage boys who make a bet: Which of them can get a real girlfriend and sleep with her within a year? As we journey with them through their failures and follies, we are reminded of youth and how strange and awkward those hormonal years are.
A fun read with interesting and hilarious characters.

For more of Edward Davies's books and buy links, check out his Goodreads author page.


I also read the short story "The Battered Bride" and Volume 8 of The Sandman. I look forward to a year full of more wonderful reads to come by some amazing indie authors!

A Treat

I want to give you guys a juicy little bit from my published novel Love Me Today, Kill Me Tomorrow from the Some By Day, Some By Night series. These vampires are not to be toyed with!


I nod my head and concede. Of course I do. I can’t say no when she’s trying so hard to smile at me. Christ, we are both a couple of idiots. Hiding our true feelings behind fake smiles. Her eyes give her away. Do mine, I wonder?

She pushes me back in the bed, pulling the slightly ripped sheet over me. I lay back on the pillow I slept on last night, sighing, wondering how my life ever came to this. A couple of weeks ago, I was in the middle of this threesome where I tore the girls’ bodies to pieces as I killed them, their screams of terror making me laugh. Now I’m in a soft bed, half naked, being pampered by a suicidal rich girl.

Life is a hell of a thing.

Artus was a fun character to write. Sexy but deadly. All male but emotionally vulnerable. His personality made for some explosive, and sometimes hard to write, scenes. This novel is not for the weak of heart, but you may just fall in love.

Interested in finding out what becomes of Artus and his willing victim, Alexus? The book is available in paperback and Kindle format on Amazon. 

Until next time, my dears!

November - December Reads and Reviews

I last posted an update on the books I was reading in November last year. Let me catch you up to the end of the year so we can start this year fresh. I met my Goodreads Reading Challenge last year. In fact, I blew that goal out of the water. I intended to read 35 books and I read 80! 
Without further ado, here are the reviews for books I read from November 16th to December 31st, 2016.

Prince in the Mist
by Claudy Conn

Rating: 2 Stars

Review:
An okay read. I did feel that it lacked a lot of character detail and sensory detail, those small things that really draw the reader in. The story itself was good, if not predictable. The sex scenes fell flat.

For more of Claudy Conn's books and buy links, check out her Amazon author page.

Patriotic Duty
by C.J. Pinard

Rating: 3 Stars

Review:
Pretty decent story. The romance was sweet, sex scenes okay. I think my main complaint was the excessive action details. She opened a door, she locked a door, she relayed every single text conversation, etc. It was a good story but I think the fact that she was in denial about her feelings, and knew she was in denial, was overly stressed. I was just ready for her to admit her feelings and move on. Who could live for over a year that miserable?
A little more showing and less telling, and the main character being a bit more likable would have made this more of a memorable read. Not bad but not awesome. 

For more of C.J. Pinard's books and buy links, check out her Amazon author page.

Past Life Strife
by Christina McMullen

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
A great read with an interesting take on angels, demons, and everything in between! Though a bit slow in places, I was drawn into this story and it's characters immediately. A wonderful start to a series. 

For more of Christina McMullen's books and buy links, check out her Amazon author page.

Fang and Claw
by Markie Madden

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
I don't usually read the crime genre but this book was amazing! The strained relationship between Lacey and Colton is laid out in perfect detail. The supernatural element was almost irrelevant, the characters became so human in my eyes! Even during slow moments, the characters kept the story interesting, moving from forced kindness and stiff responses at the beginning to humor and playful banter by the end. And the mysterious case certainly kept me in suspense.
Great read! 

For more of Markie Madden's books and buy links, check out her Amazon author page.

Magic Resistant
by Veronica Del Rosa

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It has everything I'm looking for in a paranormal romance and more! The world-building was wonderfully done. The insight into the characters was perfect. The building of sexual tension between Julia and Jackson was delicious. Even a mystery at the end to leave you longing for more! Very well done, a marvelous beginning to a series. 

For more of Veronica Del Rosa's books and buy links, check out her Amazon author page.

Ride Me Hard
by Shari Slade

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
Sometimes when you feel like your life is going nowhere and you have nothing to lose, you make choices that any rational person would certainly question. Star just wants to lose herself with the sexy, dangerous biker who threatens her life. But will it be worth it in the end?
A hot, quick read that is a great start to a series. 

For more of Shari Slade's books and buy links, check out her Amazon author page.

Not For Sale
by Julie Nicholls

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
Short but hot read that had me hooked from the first sentence. 

For more of Julie Nicholls's books and buy links, check out her Amazon author page.

The Black Chapel
by Marilyn Cruise

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
I expected a quick, sexy read but was surprised by a well planned, emotional story that drew me in and kept me hostage! Great start to a trilogy, I must read the next book immediately.

The White Chapel
by Marilyn Cruise

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
Just when things are finally looking up for Scarlett and Michael, the shit hits the fan and the heartbreak begins anew. This author has a unique talent for drawing me into the main character's life and making me sympathize with her, even when she makes bad choices. Excited to read the conclusion!

For more of Marilyn Cruise's books and buy links, check out her Goodreads author page.



Besides indie books, I read volumes six and seven in The Sandman graphic novel series and also started a new-to-me series, iZombie. I love the TV show so I was thrilled to read the comics. Completely different but still great!

Until next time, guys, be sure to enjoy a good read now and then to escape into an adventurous new world.