Five-Star Review for Hexborn from Readers' Favorite

I'm thrilled to share this early, 5-star review for Hexborn, courtesy of Carol Beth Anderson from Readers' Favorite.

Hexborn: The Hexborn Chronicles Book 1 by A.M. Manay tells the riveting story of Shiloh Teethborn, a sixteen-year-old orphan. Shiloh is hexborn, accustomed to being an outcast due to the physical evidence of curses she received before birth. But not everyone rejects Shiloh. She has magical abilities, and the chief minister of the kingdom, Silas Hatch, thinks she will be of value to the king. Silas takes Shiloh from her small-town life and brings her to the capital to live in the palace, attend classes in magic, and serve the royal family. It doesn’t take long for Shiloh to attract attention, thanks to her considerable power. She must quickly learn to navigate the rocky paths of politics, relationships, and society. At every step, Silas is there to help her—but can she trust the man known as “the king’s hatchet”?

It’s been some time since I’ve found myself so intrigued by a new fantasy realm. The magical setting of Hexborn is drawn with vivid color and depth, and it’s populated by nuanced, fascinating characters. Shiloh’s vulnerability and strength join to make her immensely likeable, a character worth rooting for. Beneath the stories of intrigue and relationships, Hexborn presents deeper messages about prejudice, both societal and personal. I’m already eagerly anticipating the release of the second book of the series. When I’m lucky enough to discover an independent author with such storytelling prowess, I get a thrill out of it. This was one of those times. Discovering A.M. Manay’s writing was a delight, and I’m looking forward to reading her other novels. Go ahead and grab that pre-order if you haven't already.  Hexborn is going places!

Book Review: Manifesting Destiny by M. Pepper Langlinais

I was very excited to try something by talented multi-genre author M. Pepper Langlinais. As a lover of fantasy, I thought I'd start with her magical young adult tale Manifesting Destiny. I cannot tell you enough about how much I enjoyed it!

This YA fantasy is engaging, touching, and exciting.  In a world where most people undergo a startling metamorphosis upon reaching maturity, Cee and Marcus face the prospect of their close friendship being forever severed when they realize that they are transforming into members of enemy clans.  Accompanied by two friends, they venture into the wilderness seeking help only to find ever increasing danger.  They face the prospect of losing their very selves and find that their world and its inhabitants don't match what they've been taught to believe.

The writing is clean, modern, and vivid without being fussy or overwrought.  The characters are all realistically drawn, their flaws and strengths combining to render each sympathetic in her or his own way.  The world building is skillfully executed, communicating both the wonder of magical talents and the quotidian oppression of a dystopian society that the characters have grown up to accept. The plot is interestingly woven, and I impatiently await the sequel.

Check out the blurb below:

Sixteen-year-old Cee has a hopeless crush on her best friend Marcus. Unfortunately for her, he’s gay. In the wake of Marcus’s older brother leaving home to join the Aerie, Marcus has become increasingly distant. When Cee discovers she has a troublesome dragon named Livian living inside her things grow even more complicated.

Marcus urges Cee to go to the Magi to have Livian removed, but the more Cee becomes attached to Livian, the more she questions the decision. Should she change her natural self for the crush who will never love her anyway?

New Release: Swiftly Sharpens the Fang by Stuart Kenyon

Next week, my friend Stuart Kenyon is releasing his new thriller, Swiftly Sharpens the Fang. It is available for pre-order at only $0.99. This is the first book of his that I've read, and I was quite impressed.

The novel explores the global issue of radicalization from the intimate perspective of his protagonist, Joe.  With the passing of Brexit and the rise of Trump propelling white nationalism into the headlines worldwide, the story of a white Briton’s descent into the racist underworld of seems especially timely.  Joe is rendered susceptible by a variety of factors, including his grief over his father’s death at the hands of Muslim terrorists, his mental illness, and his generally miserable life.  Watching him be manipulated by others in the movement creates a sense of impending doom that keeps you turning the pages.  The story brings home the way that providing a sense of community can motivate extreme human behavior.  The author does an effective job of humanizing both Joe and the movement’s victims.

Stuart has previously published a series of dystopian thrillers, The Subnormal Series. I'll be interested to see where his writing career goes. He has both good ideas and solid execution, so I have high hopes.

Book review: With Angel's Wings by Stephanie Collins

Talk about keeping it real!  This novelized memoir tells the true story of the author's struggles as a young mother of a severely ill baby and an older child with special needs.  She pulls no punches about the resulting exhaustion, anxiety, guilt, and depression.  Laura’s family, and especially her husband, are unable or unwilling to give her the kind of support she could literally die without.  You want to just go back in time and give the author all the hugs and everyone else a kick in the pants.  Thankfully, in the midst of all the heartache and second guessing, Laura finds love, and it becomes her lifeline.  And don't worry, there are heartwarming moments amidst the struggles.  I couldn't stop turning the page to see what would happen next, and my next stop may need to be the author’s blog so I can see how they’ve done in the intervening years.

This book can speak to anyone, and I think it would really be of benefit to parents of children with severe medical problems and their friends and family.  I think every NICU in the country should have a copy.  It provides validation of the hurricane of emotions parents in that situation have to deal with.  Even if you don't have a personal connection to such a child, the book gives you a glimpse into the reality of being a caretaker for the severely ill.  It fosters empathy in people with more ordinary life experiences.  This is a story than can touch any heart.

Book Review: The One Discovered by Yvette Calleiro

This YA fantasy novel follows the awakening of high school senior Sofia, who discovers that she is not the normal teenage human she always thought she was.  Half-brothers Angel and Ar’ch turn up in her small town, and all heck breaks loose.  They are on a mission to bring Sofia and her mother home, so that Sofia can save their people, the Diasodz. Naturally, some evil forces have a real problem with that plan.

I found Sofia to be a relatable, true-to-life, and interesting protagonist. I thought her relationship with her mother was touching and realistic. I appreciated the sensitivity that the issues of adoption, egg donation, and surrogacy were explored, specifically with how the author highlighted Angel's healthy, honest upbringing as compared to the unhealthy secret-keeping in Sofia's family.

Overall, the story is well-written and the characters sympathetic.  The pacing is good, and the ending sets you up to want to read the next installment.  The descriptions are effective, and the author reveals just enough information about the Diasodz to pique your curiosity, much like Ar’ch arouses Sofia’s own curiosity.  I will definitely be reading the sequels.

Book Review: Charms and Witches by Herb Mallette

Charms and Witches lives up to its title. It's truly one of the most charming books I've read in some time.

In a land where magic is real but somewhat rare, Cirie is a young charm maker eking out a living, struggling to pay down a debt incurred during her late master’s terminal illness. Though the grief and debt are a lot to carry, she manages to do so without bowing under the weight. Her somewhat monotonous existence becomes a lot more interesting when a traveling stranger named Lanton appears at the inn where Cirie lives and works. Immediately taken with one another, affection blooms over a board game and deepens over the revelations of Lanton’s secret mission. When the witch queen finds out what he is up to, it will take a remarkable love and determination to produce a happy ending. It is something of a romance within a romance, bright and diverting.

The author has created a fun and detailed world without resorting to dumps of exposition. The magic is described in a lovely yet unpretentious fashion. He has deftly drawn a cast of characters with whom you can't help wishing to spend more time, and for whom you can't help wishing for happiness. Even the money lender seems like an okay guy. Though the world is fantastical in its way, the characters behave like real people. There are no contrived conflicts between the romantic leads, which was a relief to me, as I am no fan of comedies of errors. It's also a bit of an achievement in this day and age to create an engrossing book containing no explicit sex or gory violence.

I loved this book, and I cannot recommended this author highly enough.

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Mediocre Fan Fiction

I love me some Harry Potter, so when Harry Potter and the Cursed Child came out, I was excited to read it.  I have to say, though, that I was disappointed in many ways.  If you haven't read it and desire to do so, take warning of spoilers and snark ahead.

There were some things I liked.  I liked Scorpius.  I liked that we had two Slitherin children who were basically decent people.  I enjoyed seeing beloved and not-so-beloved characters as adults.  I especially liked seeing Snape again in one of the alternate timelines.  That's about where the liking stops.

Let's talk Hermione.  In one alternate timeline the boys create with the time turner, Hermione and Ron never got together, and we're supposed to believe that without the power of their majestic love, Hermione winds up bitter and mean and miserable, teaching at Hogwarts. 

Seriously?  Ron's love is her salvation, and no one else in the world would have made her a happy and well adjusted adult?  Ron?  That Ron?  The redhead? 

Their getting together was already like those sitcoms where the idiot husbands have impossibly awesome wives, but I was willing to let that go at the end of Book 7 for the sake of sentiment.  I just find it obnoxious to imply that there were no other paths to happiness available to the most important female character in the whole series.  In addition, Hermione was a kind person throughout the series.  Are we supposed to think the lack of a suitable husband changed her basic personality? Don't break up with your high school boyfriend, kids, or you'll wind up like mean Hermione.  If you miss your chance at one true love when you're 17, you might as well pack it in. 

Shoot, at least in the other, more dystopian, timeline where they aren't together, she's a badass rebel instead of Professor Umbridge 2.0. 

I just really felt this choice was tone deaf, showing a lack of understanding of the character's basic qualities as well as sending an ugly social message.  There were plenty of other things I took issue with, but this was the one that really got under my skin.  What did you think of the Harry Potter play?  Let me know in the comments.

Review of Rannigan's Redemption Part 3 by Pandora Spocks

At the end of Rannigan's Redemption Part 2, Pandora Spocks left us with a blooming romance between Maggie and Bobby and a cancer diagnosis for Michael.  She left us all desperate to know how those two issues will be resolved in Rannigan's Redemption Part 3: Ransoming Redemption.

In the new release, Maggie and Bobby deal with issues that face most new romances: work-life balance, meeting family, building trust.  Their progression is complicated by Michael's battle for his life.  Michael, in turn, has to adjust to his illness and to decide just what he wants to do with however much time he has left.  And Michael, as we know, doesn't do things half-way, especially when it comes to his best friend Maggie.  The pace is just right, and the resolution is both emotional and earned.

Spocks manages to combine explicit sex and real emotion in a very natural way and also executes the occasional rebellion against romance lit convention.  The whole series is very well done, and I'm a bit sad to see it go.  Get your copy while the getting's good!  

Review of Redemption's Requiem by Jolie Mason

I love Jolie Mason's blend of sci-fi and romance.  Spaceships, mechs, war, and love . . . how can you go wrong?  In her new release, Redemption's Requiem, Mason wraps up (for now, at least) the universe in which her Lancers Series resides.

This swan song focuses on Cat and Murphy of the Redemption.  Cat is a brilliant pilot with a lot of healing to do, and Murphy is the ship's captain who wants to help that along.  There is a big bad weapon to go after, and it's going to take a bunch of our old Lancers friends to go after it (Hopper, Dahlia, etc.).  Both the mission and romance plotlines move quickly and come to satisfying conclusions.  Mason once again brings good, reliable outer space fun.

If you've ever read any of Mason's work, this is one not to miss.  If you haven't, and if you liked Battlestar or Firefly, then what the heck are you waiting for?

Book Review: Rannigan's Redemption 2: Running Rogue by Pandora Spocks

Pandora Spocks is out tomorrow with her much-anticipated sequel, Rannigan’s Redemption 2: Running Rogue.  She left us with quite the cliffhanger last year, when Part 1 ended with a rift between Maggie and Michael just after they finally gave in to their mutual attraction.  Part 2 picks up right where the first installment left off.

I have to confess I have limited patience for the “A-hole Rich Guy” subgenre of romance novels, but Spocks once again manages to overcome my preconceived notions. It helps that Michael experiences actual consequences for his ridiculousness, and that Maggie never so much as entertains the notion of putting up with his misbehavior.  Maggie nevertheless shows her heart of gold when she is a friend to him when it really counts. Between her kindness, toughness, and potty mouth, Maggie may be my favorite romance main character of all time.

My favorite part of the book starts in about the 5th inning, when retired baseball player Bobby makes his appearance.  I don't want to give too much away. I'll just say that he's awesome, and I look forward to seeing more of him in book 3. Happy reading!

Book Review: Redemption Burning by Jolie Mason

I really enjoy all of Jolie Mason’s stuff. I adore her universe and the way she has built it up piece by piece over the many stories in both her series. I love the way the outside forces affect the romances and how the series are becoming intertwined. This new release, Redemption Burning, is no exception. It drops tomorrow, 2/08, and sci-fi romance buffs should pre-order now.

In the latest addition to the adventures of a team of mercenaries with hearts of gold, just as occasionally happens in real life, grief and romance co-mingle for Briar and Hercules. They juggle mourning their friend Beezer, accepting their blossoming feelings for each other, and fighting the evil alien hordes. You know, like you do. This is an exciting, heartwarming, and satisfying sci-fi romance, full of love and mechs and explosions. I’ve come to expect nothing less from Jolie Mason. So get on that Kindle and start downloading already!

Book Review: Jim Heskett's Nailgun Messiah

Reformed criminal and recovering alcoholic Micah Reed returns in Nailgun Messiah, the nail-biting sequel to last year’s Airbag Scars.  Heskett proves once again that he is the master of dialing up the tension.  In this story, Micah is hiding from a highly displeased drug dealer while simultaneously trying to save his sister from a bizarre cult. Micah never can stay out of trouble for long.

What I particularly love about this book are the characters.  Micah is someone you cannot help rooting for, even with all his flaws, or perhaps because of them.  He’s a man with a past who is trying to make up for his mistakes and avoid making new ones, and his struggle to do right really draws you in.  The supporting characters are equally vivid.  Lilah, the principal antagonist, is terrifying and heartbreaking all at once. Nobody is a caricature.

While this is a sequel, you shouldn’t have any trouble following the story if you start with this one.  I guarantee that after you read it, you’re going to want more Micah Reed.  I’ve read a number of Heskett’s books, and this one is my favorite thus far.  Happy reading!

Author Highlight: Pandora Spocks

Is there a better pen name possible for a writer of literary erotic romance than Pandora Spocks?  In her real life, she lives in Florida and aspires to one day own a giraffe.  She has been spinning tales in her head for years but only recently has started sharing them with the rest of us, and we are certainly lucky she has.  Her brand new release (reviewed below) will join her first novel, Luke and Bella: Two Streets Over, already available on Amazon.

I was lucky enough to receive an advance review copy of her new book, Rannigan's Redemption Part 1: Resisting Risk.  The first volume of a trilogy, it focuses on a newly minted lawyer named Maggie and her boss, Michael Rannigan.  Rannigan is something of a player and doesn't know quite what to make of just how much he likes Maggie.

This book is excellent.  I don't even really like romance novels all that much, but this one is really well-done.  The writing is clean, and the characters are vibrant and interesting.  The sex is explicit and super hot, fyi, and the emotions are strong.  Spocks definitely knows how to bring the spice and tug on the heartstrings at the same time.  I love how confident, competent, and honest Maggie is, and I enjoy Michael's sweet side that only Maggie seems to bring out in him.  The ending definitely leaves me anxious for the next installment.  I am assured by the author that Part 2 is well on its way!

If you're looking for something to keep you warm over the holidays, Rannigan's Redemption fits the bill.  Happy reading!

Book Review: Airbag Scars by Jim Heskett

Airbag Scars is the first in a new series of thrillers by Jim Heskett. If you like crisp writing and interesting characters, this guy is for you. The main character, Micah, is an alcoholic struggling to make a new life after testifying against some very unsavory characters, one of whom has come looking for payback.

The novel is compelling from the very first page. Heskett knows how to pace the book, parceling out just enough information to keep you turning that page. I also enjoy how he varies the point of view. One of my favorite details in the book is that Micah's friend/boss/sponsor/father figure is African American. I like to see diversity in popular fiction. The villain illustrates that a criminal doesn't have to be smart or careful in order to be dangerous, much like Elmore Leonard's criminals. I like that the female lead is capable and full of fight though wounded by life, and that Micah is on a quest for redemption and renewal, however difficult that path may be. I'm glad this book is the start of the series because I want to see more from these characters.

Looking for holiday or airplane reading? Stocking up a new tablet or Kindle? Check out Airbag Scars.

Author Highlight: Guy Bailey

G.S. Bailey is an Australian farmer and indie author of romance novels.  With his new release, Kangaroo Crossing, he has completed his Mystery Loves Romance series  which includes a Man for Kate: Remains of a Local Girl, A Man for Claire: Secrets of the Widow Mulvane, A Woman for Jason: The Soccer Field Bones, A Woman for Blake: Lonely Desert Grave, A Woman for Matthew: The Trelor Sect Killings and A Man for Juliette: the Fontaine Children.

Guy Bailey’s books are super fun: a relaxing and entertaining escape from real life.  The main characters are always vivid as well as easy to root for and identify with.  His leading men are always good guys, and his leading ladies are always strong and beautiful.  The supporting characters are interesting and sympathetic, and the mysteries are engaging and well-paced.  With his books, you have the bonus of getting to take a little trip to Australia and learn a bit about its landscape and culture.

Kangaroo Crossing, his brand new release, wraps up a multi-faceted case that winds through a number of his novels, but you don’t necessarily have to read the others first.  Journalist Blake Malone is investigating a serial killer, and his journey takes him to Madeline’s rural ranch.  Her mother was murdered by the killer years ago, and both of them long to give closure to the families of the killer’s other victims.  Watching them fall in love as they work together is a pleasure, and the depictions of Australian ranch life add a wonderful sense of adventure.  If you are traveling this holiday season, or you need a break from the family and the stress and all the hustle and bustle, I definitely recommend Kangaroo Crossing.

Author Highlight: Jolie Mason

Jolie Mason is an indie writer of sci-fi romance / space opera.  This genre is an amazing amount of fun, and this particular author is especially enjoyable.  She has created a complex, multi-faceted universe into which the installments of two different series fit as precisely as puzzle pieces.  I have read 4 out of her 6 books, including her new release, and I’m chomping at the bit to get to the other two.  

Jolie Mason grew up just off the Mississippi River on the New Madrid fault line, which she says may explain her proclivity for thinking disaster movies are comedy. She's returned there to live with her three children and a menagerie of strays and pets that just show up.  She calls herself a gamer mom, which is different from a soccer mom in that she drives a police car and not a mini van.

Her work is predicated on this question: What if society never really changed? What if all the technology in the world didn't change a thing, but only made the sandbox bigger? That theme carries through both her series: Home in the Stars and The 47th Lancers.

The Home in the Stars Series (Home is the Sailor, Home from the Hill, and Home from the Sea) follows the loves and adventures of the rotating crew members of a particular starship, each of them fascinating in his or her own way.  The 47th Lancers Series (Riding Redemption, Redemption Lost, and the brand spanking new Seeking Redemption) follows the exploits of a company of mercenaries with hearts of gold.  The denizens of her universe live under various threats, including greedy criminals, invading aliens, and their own increasingly desperate Imperial government. The main characters are uniformly both charmingly sympathetic and precisely portrayed.

Her new release, Seeking Redemption, has both action and romance, mortal danger as well as family drama.  It combines the hardness of science fiction with the softness of a kiss in a very appealing way.  There are enough ties to the other books that you can see the connections, but not so many that you can’t read this one without reading the others.  The novel takes place on a planet whose population faces threats from within and without and features a mech pilot and a planetary leader who share a passion for more than just protecting the planet.  I always love a romance where the two parties are both equally competent and equally in need of love.  Jolie Mason’s romantic leads totally fit the bill.

Basically, if you like mechs with your kissing or kissing with your spaceships, you owe it to yourself to check out Jolie Mason.  Happy reading!

Book review: Kismet by Shaheen Darr

I was lucky enough to receive an advance review copy of Shaheen Darr’s new novel Kismet: A Desi Rhapsody in London, due for release today
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The novel follows the fates of the members of two Pakistani immigrant families in the United Kingdom.  As an anglophile who married into an Indian family who immigrated to the U.S. before my husband was born, I was interested as soon as I saw the lovely cover, designed by Eeva Lancaster.  The deft treatment of the cultural conflicts between immigrant parents and children, as well as the tension between assimilation and cultural preservation, was both realistic and emotionally effective.  I also enjoyed the way she structured the novel, allowing us to see the events from various points of view.

The narratives are quite touching, exploring such themes as romance, betrayal, heartbreak, depression, tragedy, remorse, redemption, and, of course, kismet.  The idea of fate is a fascinating one to me, one that sometimes allows people to make sense of the events of their lives, and one that carries through all the storylines of this novel.

Kismet is a lovely book, one I highly recommend for its skillful writing, lyrical descriptions, emotional impact, and charming characters.  It is a book that will follow you out the door, like the smell of your mother’s house.

Review of So You Want to be an Online Freelancer . . . Now What?

My writer friend Eeva Lancaster has a new how-to book coming out this week, born of her own experience as an online freelancer in the world of writing and publishing.  I know a lot of my friends, especially stay at home mothers, are looking for something rewarding to do from home to bring in a little money and personal fulfillment.  If selling essential oils or beauty products isn't for you, you might want to give this a read.  It's a short and sweet guide with practical tips for how to sell your skills build a little business for yourself.

I found it to be full of specific, actionable advice, which I really appreciate.  I also enjoyed learning from the author's personal experience.  Overall, I think it's concise, informative, and valuable for anyone thinking of dipping a toe into the world of online freelancing.

Review of Her Master Protector by Sandra S. Kerns

My writing friend Sandra S. Kerns has a new release today, a mystery romance called Her Master Protector.  If you want to see how the pros of self-publishing do it right, you need to check her out.  Her novels are all entertaining and well-crafted.  The woman knows what she is doing.

First things first, you should know that the word "Master" in the title is there not in the bondage sense but because Masters is the name of a family in this series of books.   It is not Fifty Shades of Murder.

This is the last of the series, but the characterization and writing are so good that I didn't have any trouble jumping right into this one without knowing all the back story.  She fills in the background just enough.  It's kind of fun to discover a series at the end, because then you've got a whole lot more books ready to go without having to wait.  On its own, this is a fun and satisfying ride.

The main characters are both strong, smart, and adorable.  They work together to protect a witness, solve a mystery, and keep each other physically and emotionally safe.  That teamwork makes for a very enjoyable book.  

If you've never read an indie author before, she's a good one to start with.  Or, of course, you could start with me.  Then buy hers. ;)