Blog Tour and Review: The Fortuna Coin

The Fortunata Coin

 

This is a slow read with some definite triggers that I will state at the end as to not spoil the story. This story is also about second changes and would we change our decisions. The caveat is that you have no memories of what happened and only some flashback of “the future”. Will that cause you to make some changes and prevent the tragic events that occur? I would not really classify this as a thriller, more romantic suspense with a hint of sci-fi. I did joy the book despite the heavy content early on. I give this 3.5 of 5 stars and thank Goddess Fish Promotions for the review copy of this book. As always my thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

 

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Audiobook Tour & Review: Freedom Lessons

Freedom Lessons by Eileen Harrison Sanchez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This review is for the audio version of this book.

Freedom Lessons isn’t an easy book to read. Told from three different points of view in 1969 Louisiana after the town is forced to end segregation, there is a lot of racism, brutality and hatred in this book, but it is a very well told story. Out three main characters, Colleen – a new teacher and the only white person at the school, Frank – a black football player concerned about the death of his father, and Evelyn – a veteran black teacher, all have their own very important view to tell us. The narrator for the audio did a good job with the story although I wish there was a little more emotion in the reading given the material, but I still recommend this format. It was interesting to learn that this is a fictionalized account of the authors experience teaching in Louisiana in the late sixties. I give this 4 of 5 stars and highly recommend! Thank you to Suzy’s Approved Book Tours and Eileen Harrison Sanchez for the review copy of this audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

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Blog Tour & Review: Walking Among the Trees

Walking Among the Trees by Frank M. Oliva

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was a great addition and perfect time for a spooky read. A case of demonic possession, a reluctant priest, what more can you ask for? This about more than possession and an exorcism and as we read, we learn more about Father Kerrigan, his past, and why he is so reluctant to perform this ritual. Told from Kerrigan’s POV, we learn through flashbacks about his past and his own demons. This was a very engaging book and a fast read. I recommend this for fans of the supernatural and psychological stories as well. 3.75 of 5 stars! Thank you to Suzy’s Approved Book Tours and author Frank M. Olivia for the review copy of this book. As always my thoughts and opinions are entirely my own. I look forward to more books by this author.



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Blog Tour & Review: Petrichor

Petrichor by Melanie Rees
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While this is a YA book, Petrichor handles some heavy subjects and is not for all YA readers. Clayton and his parents are trying to survive, they live in Australia where a seemingly never ending drought is decimating everything and crops are failing. The family situation is not great, his older brother Davao died and his parents refuse to talk about him. When Clayton is visited by a spirit, Waringa, in the form of a fox, he is told he must free the rain spirits being held by the Red King. Thought the story, we see Clayton and his journey, accompanied by his brothers dog Rusty. There are several difficult topics throughout the book, which is why I don’t recommend it for younger YA readers, I will list these at the end as to not spoil anything, needless to say, life isn’t always happy and we learn more about the family dynamics. I would classify this as YA fantasy and recommend it for more mature YA readers, both teen and adult. Thank you to Blackthorn Book Tours and Melanie Rees for the review copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own. 3.5 of 5 stars – CW for suicide, grief, animal cruelty

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Blog Tour & Review: The Extraordinary

The Extraordinary by Brad Schaeffer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an emotional read told from the first person POV of Wesley (Wes) Scoot, an autistic teen who has difficulty in communicating with anyone but his Marine father. When his dad is deployed and comes back damaged both in body and mind, Wes no longer has anyone who understand him. His mother is distant and cold, and his father now suffers from PTSD. There are some rough and violent moments and the treatment Wes receives is hard to read at times, but this is a story that should be read and many difficult topics are discussed. I recommend this book and give it 3.75 (rounded to 4) stars out of 5 and thank Suzy’s Approved Book Tours and author Brad Schaeffer for the review copy of this book. As always, my thoughts and opinions on this story are entirely my own.

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Blog Tour & Review: Death Perception

Death Perception by Lee Allen Howard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Death Perception is so far my favorite of Lee Allen Howard books that I have read (not that they aren’t all good but..) at about the 40-50% mark we see how Kennet’s “gift” is going to come in to play. You see Kennet can tell how people are going to die (after death) with a somewhat creepy trait, he toasts marshmallows over their cremains and eats them. Odd for sure, but so is Kennet in his own way, although I suspect that is more from his family history than anything else. And while this is a slower paced books, its still an engaging fast read, if hat makes sense. We get a lot of Kennet’s background and about is life in the earlier part of the book until he decides to use what he learned to try and find out what is going on and if his mother was a victim as well. Despite Kennet’s oddity, you get to like him, he really is a good kid just trying to get by on the raw deal he was dealt in life. I thoroughly enjoy this book and thank Blackthorn Book Tours and Lee Allen Howard for the review copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

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Blog Tour & Review: Two Winters

Two Winters by Lauren Emily Whalen

Two Winters is a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. This is one I have not read so I can’t say how comparable the retelling is but this is a great upper YA story. The story is told in two timelines, the first being 1987 when Paulina is 17 and her best friend Mia is pregnant and trying to keep it secret from everyone, including the father, Tesla. Paulina is also in a secret relationship with a school athlete, both are bisexual and not out. The second half of the book takes place in 2014, Perdita is 17, adopted, and really wondering where she came from. We also see some flashbacks in the form of letters from Mia and Tesla. This is an engaging book but does cover some heavy topics such as teen pregnancy, homophobia, and bullying, but it’s not so heavy as to be tedious. It’s also a story of choices and how they can affect our life and future. I recommend this and give it 3.75 of 5 stars and thank Suzy’s Approved Book Tours, Lauren Emily Whalen, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. My thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

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Blog Tour and Review: A Girl Called Rumi

A Girl Called Rumi by Ari Honarvar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This debut novel releasing Sept 21, is a difficult but beautiful story that I highly recommend. Taking place over multiple timelines between California and Iran this book tells the story of Kimia and her family and what the effects of war have on individuals and families. In addition to seeing Iran post-revolution in the early 1980’s we also see it in the early 2000’s where traumas still exist. We also experience some magical realism when Kimia encounters the Storyteller who uses The Seven Valleys of Love as a basis for her spiritual journey. Seeing Kimia and her family during these two times and how the past has affected them all is a testament to what the horrors of war and its aftermath can do to people and how they try to make peace with the past and heal. I give this 4.5 stars out of 5 and thank Suzy’s Approved Book Tours and Ari Honarvar for the chance to read and review this book.

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Blog Tour & Review: Buried Beneath

Buried Beneath by Debbie Baldwin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Buried Beneath is book 3 in the Bishop Security Series, a fun & exciting romantic suspense novel by Debbie Baldwin. New team member Cam, ex-seal & ex-CIA undercover gets drawn back into his old life when he is kidnapped by the Conductor, who wants to eliminate him and any evidence he gathered while undercover. While in his old persona he meets Evan (Evangeline), an archeologist who suspects there is something up with the island’s caves. This is an easy read and you will want to start at the beginning of the series, even though this can be read as a standalone. Be aware, this can get a little steamy! I’m not one for a straight romance (with some exceptions – CoHo), but throw in some suspense and action and I’m right there. This one doesn’t disappoint and I’m looking forward to reading more in this series. I give this 3.75 (rounded to 4) stars out of 5. Thank you to Suzy’s Approved Book Tours and Debbie Baldwin for the review copy of this book and as always my thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Blog Tour & Review: Her Perfect Life

Her Perfect Life by Hank Phillippi Ryan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved Hank Phillippi Ryan The First to Lie, so I was so excited to be on the book tour for this newest book. It did not disappoint. I like a slow burn story, which this definitely is. We have three different POV, we see Lily (the “perfect” reporter) in there day to day life, Greer, her assistant, and we also see a past POV from Lily’s sister who went missing when she Lily was a child. While there are some thinks that may make you go hmmmm, that is sometimes the point in domestic thrillers, you have to wonder why the people make the choices they do and what secrets they are trying to hide (because there are always secrets). So sit back and enjoy. I know I did.

Thank you to Suzy’s Approved Book Tours, Hank Phillips Ryan, and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the review copy of this book. I give it 4 of 5 stars and look forward to Ms. Ryan’s next book!

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