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Review of 'The Moon Children' by Kim Catanzarite

I must start by saying - I'm happy to once again be back in the Jovian universe!

Following the events of the third novel in the series, 'The Moon Children' focuses on how Jovians, clones, hybrids, and humans have all been affected after the showdown where Caroline showed her true self to the world. Now invaded by a different species called the Moon Children, old animosities and feuds have to be put aside to figure out a plan to fight them. This is of course easier said than done! Readers follow along through the perspectives of different narrators in a wild and harrowing plot which kept me on my toes the entire time.

As always, Kim successfully built this well-developed world; her ability to make me feel like there are actual multiverses (and who knows, maybe there are!) is still parallel to none. I wrote about this in my review for Bright Blue Planet; and as this book takes place in several timelines and planets, this ability was further highlighted throughout the plot.

I also loved how this story pulled so many emotions from me. While reading, I ran through a gamut of feelings - joy, extreme sorrow, anger, fear, and wonder. An author can rarely write scenes that evoke so many sentiments from me in one novel!

Another cliffhanger; but I'm sure it will definitely be worth it.

*A great many thanks to Kim Catanzarite for this ARC. It is important to note that I was not committed to providing a positive review; all opinions are undoubtedly my own.*

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Review of 'Pestilence' by Laura Thalassa

Though this was my second time reading this book, 'Pestilence' was my first introduction to the awesome author that is Laura Thalassa. I promptly went on an expedition to read any and everything I could find by her!

"They came to earth—Pestilence, War, Famine, Death—four horsemen riding their screaming steeds, racing to the corners of the world. Four horsemen with the power to destroy all of humanity. They came to earth, and they came to end us all." This main blurb enlightens people of what is to come - this novel is not one for those faint of heart and with stars in their eyes. A dark read, it begins with us meeting the main heroine, Sara, who has drawn the short straw and now has to commit to a grisly task: killing the horseman dubbed Pestilence. Seeing disease and sickness ravage the world, she does not shy away and thinks she is successful when she seemingly easily dispatches him. Of course, it couldn't be that easy to kill a horseman…right? Sara learns why Pestilence is an entity of the apocalypse. However, their forced proximity soon develops into something they both never saw coming - love. And Sara now has an even more impossible task, getting this harbinger of doom to see why Earth may be worth saving.

I love dark romances; sprinkle in some forced proximity and kidnapping and I will happily dance! This is the main theme of the book, as approximately three-quarters of it focuses almost exclusively on Sara as Pestilence's captive. Some will see this and say, how could this be real? It's obviously called fiction for a reason, people! The relationship between the two protagonists went from hate to love, proving the old adage true - they can change with the flip of a coin.

Upon reading this again, I can see one flaw in the plot - I wish that we had gotten some more backstory at the beginning of the apocalypse. We are dropped into the story years after it has developed and this is not my favorite thing. Fantasy novels need more world-building to fully appeal to me.

All in all, this is a solid 4-star for me. While I do wish there had been a little more world-building, the overall plotline was great and the push and pull between Pestilence and Sara was amazing. This is definitely a great pick if you are into dark reads!

A great many thanks to Netgalley, Laura Thalassa, and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a positive review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.

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Review of 'Terms of Service' by Craig W. Stanfill

Another review for onlinebookclub!

Check the full thing out here: https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...

Fantasy meets technology in this book by Stanfill - and I must say it was a very interesting read! As someone who often wonders what will happen when AI and robots become a prevalent part of society, this book helped strengthen those thoughts. A must-read if topics like these interest you!

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Review of 'Bright Blue Planet' by Kim Catanzarite

So happy to be back in the Jovian universe!

Kim Catanzarite is back with the third novel in this series. 'Bright Blue Planet' picks up several years in the future - Evander is now a grown man, with his own family. Having finished serving his three terms as US President, we see him floundering as he now has to find a new daily purpose. Added to this are the stress and worries of his family at home and some weird happenings with the Jovian oneness, and Evander feels at a total loss.

On the other end, we have Fran, who surprisingly has now been integrated into the Jovian world, and is now working for them. His son Max is all grown up, but seems to be lacking direction; so Fran hires him hoping it will spark something for him.

Our two narrators aren't the only ones dealing with issues - the world, now fully aware of the existence of clones and hybrids, is on the brink of turmoil. Clones want more freedom of choice but humans are giving major pushback. It all comes to a head one day, with Evander and Fran both having to make difficult decisions to ensure the safety of their families.

I love the world-building of the Jovian universe; the author's ability to make it feel real even though you know it's not is unparalleled. Some fantasy novelists make the error of glossing over the world in an effort to add action, but this book juggles the best of both worlds by focusing more on world-building at first, then hitting readers with the action after! The overall pacing of the plotline also worked well, as the story flowed and I never felt lost while reading.

I also really liked seeing the evolution of the characters we were introduced to in the first two novels, especially Evander. I could not wait to read his story, though I will admit I missed Svetlana very much.

That cliffhanger at the end! I excitedly await the next book in this great series and plan to stalk Kim until it comes out.

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Review of 'Trail of Deception' by Amanda McKinney

The second novel in the 'On the Edge' series, 'Trail of Deception' takes readers back to the small town of Skull Hollow, Texas (sounds like a fantastic place to live, right) where we pick up with two characters we were introduced to in the initial book. Beginning with a bang, the plot opens with the search for a missing teenage girl. Tactical tracking expert, Beckett Stolle is deeply enmeshed in the investigation - and gets an unpleasant surprise when he finds her next to a dead body. In comes Jo Bellerose, a psychiatrist. hired to treat the traumatized girl, who, because of her different mannerisms due to autism, is a suspect in the murder. When the tracker and psychiatrist meet, sparks immediately fly, and we follow them on their journey to find a killer and clear Aria's name.

As with the first book, I enjoyed the mixture of suspense and romance; Amanda McKinney is skilled at bringing the two entirely different genres together. I also like that the suspense never gets lost in the romance - the mystery is always at the forefront and the relationship between Jo and Beckett enhances and builds on it.

I took away one star because the 'whodunit' aspect of the thriller was easy to solve for me; and while I still liked the overall storyline, it didn't hit the way I expect a thriller to do. I also felt there needed to be some more character development for Beckett - we learned a lot about Jo, which helped to identify with her, but I never felt like I understood what made Beckett tick.

All in all, 4 stars out of 5! The main characters carried the plot well, and I loved that we saw some more of Easton and Mia. While the conclusion of the suspense was easy for me to see coming, it did not take away from my overall enjoyment of the novel.

I definitely recommend this to those who love having some romance in their mysteries! Triggers include: violence against women and violent acts (murder). I am definitely eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series.

A great many thanks to Netgalley, Diana Wilkinson, and Boldwood Books for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a positive review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.

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Review of 'The Wife List' by J.A. Schneider

Gaslighting? Check! Conspiracy? Check! Murder? Check!

I'm sure by now we have all heard about the infamous Alfred Hitchcock movie, 'Strangers on a Train' - two men hypothesize about the perfect way to get away with murder; kill each other's annoying family members so no one will point the finger at them. This is precisely what the main protagonist believes is happening in 'The Wife List.' J.A. Schneider introduces us to Beth Kemp, the sole narrator in the novel. Readers get a first-person account of the plot through her.

A writer who suffers from severe asthma, she is trapped in an increasingly unhappy marriage with her husband, Brad. Living in New York City doesn't help matters, and she has begun feeling more and more crazed as the days go by. Then the unthinkable happens - her best friend and agent is murdered in a seemingly random act of violence and it rocks her world. Brad uses this to get them to move to the country, something he had been pushing for lately. Things take a turn for the worse as strange occurrences start happening more frequently and she realizes there is something very sinister afoot - and her husband is in the center of it all.

I must say that I enjoyed the uniqueness of this story. Murder mysteries are some of my favorite books and this one had all the requisite components to set keep me reading. The plot flowed well, making it easy to read and follow along. I also liked the plot twist in the last few chapters - Schneider's skills as an author showed here.

My biggest issue with this novel was the writing style; however, it's more of a personal one than anything inherently wrong with the novel itself. The prose was sometimes stilted, and Beth was a little unreliable as a narrator. Some of her inner monologues annoyed me to the highest. Also, the other characters were so unlikeable, I just didn't root for anyone and what's a story where you're not rooting for anyone?!

In the end, I give 'The Wife List' a rating of 3 stars - the overall plot was pretty good as it was believable as a mystery thriller, but the writing style and character list just didn't do it for me. If you enjoy books of this genre, this one will not disappoint!

A great many thanks to BookSirens and J.A. Schneider for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a positive review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.

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Review of 28 Disastrous Dates by Poppy Mortimer

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Review of 'I Know What You Did' by Cayce Osborne

Secrets and lies abound in this mystery! 'I Know What You Did' tells the story through the first-person narration of the main protagonist, Petal Woznewski. or Petta as she prefers to be called, is a self-proclaimed hermit who prefers the company of herself to other people. A simple job, junk food, the occasional smoke, and her sometimes boyfriend, Gus are all she needs to exist. The world has proven unreliable, so why risk getting hurt? One day, however, she is confronted with the news that shakes her life as she knows it - someone's written a book that names her as the killer of her childhood best friend! While it would be easier to keep burying her head in the sane, Petta realizes it is time to confront her demons. With all not as it seems, she maneuvers through dangerous moments which change her in unfathomable ways.

I really liked Petta's character - as an introvert, I definitely commiserated with her more often than not. Though afraid, she pushed herself outside of her comfort zone when confronted with no choice. She struggled, but she never gave up. I enjoyed the realism of her. The plot of this was also very different from the regular mystery read, as there was literally a book within the book! Such fun.

I took away a star from the overall rating because the 'whodunit' aspect of it was quite easy for me to figure out. However, this did not take away from my overall enjoyment of the novel.

In the end, I give 'I Know What You Did' 4 out of 5 stars as it was a great read, fraught with enough thrill and mystery to keep me engaged. The debut work by Cayce Osborne, the author has a fan in me as I will be awaiting more of her work in the future!

*A great many thanks to Netgalley, Cayce Osborne, and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a positive review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.*

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Check out the full review here: https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=269804

I am not usually a reader of memoirs, but one of the best things about onlinebookclub is that it has definitely made me step outside of my comfort zone. This was one of those times! 28 Disastrous Dates: A (Mostly True) Humourous Memoir is an absolutely hilarious anthology of stories narrated in the first-person by Poppy Mortimer. The author lists her series of dating failures through the ages of twenty and forty; the first encounter takes place after she has finished high school (secondary school for us UK system schoolers) and ends when she has established herself in her career and life. What can those different time frames possibly have in common? The terrible dates in between them! However, Mortimer manages to keep an optimistic outlook throughout by looking for humor in each situation while also learning more about herself.

I recommend this to anyone looking to pass the time reading a book that will truly entertain them. Women especially will relate to this as Mortimer’s descriptions were very engaging and real, and are definitely applicable accounts of what dating is like in the 21st century. Which woman hasn’t endured a terrible date?! This book was very well edited as I noticed only one minor grammatical error. There were no major instances of profanity as the author blanked these out or used other words to replace them. If you’re perusing this review and have never read a memoir before, this is definitely the one to take a chance on!

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Review of 'The Family Reunion' by Karen King

My first novel by Karen King, 'The Family Reunion' is one filled with mystery and intrigue. From the beginning, we realise that all is not as it seems with Mary's family. A recent widower, Mary is still mourning the loss of her beloved husband, Paul. While she has her two wonderful children to see her through, she feels adrift and decides now is the time to reconnect with the daughter she abandoned when she was a young teenager. A shameful secret she never shared with anyone, she soon finds Cathy and does her best to integrate her into the family. Of course, tensions soon arise, and shocking twists come to pass, leaving readers reeling from the storyline.

For the most part, the plot was easy to follow; you know from the start that there are going to be lots of lies and secrets revealed. However, I must irrevocably state - Ms. King got me GOOD with that twist at the end! After reading enough of these types of books, it is quite hard to catch me off guard, but this author achieved the impossible!

My one issue with this novel, and it is more of a personal issue than anything wrong with the story, is that I disliked every single main character. Mary was way too naive for a mature woman, Jason and Joanne were just icky excuses for children, their spouses were just as awful, and do not even get me started on Cathy…

In the end, I give 'The Family Reunion' a rating of 4 out of 5 stars; while I really enjoyed the overall plot, I could not connect emotionally with any of the characters. If you are a lover of suspense, this one will definitely not disappoint!

A great many thanks to Netgalley, Karen King, and Bookouture for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a positive review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.

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Review of 'The Intruder' by Daniel Hurst

Get ready to be taken on a wild ride, with lots of plot twists and turns that will have your head spinning. 'The Intruder' by Daniel Hurst is my second book by this novelist- he lived up to his ability to write engaging and equally menacing characters.

The plot revolves around the affluent William and Maria Gallagher, power couple extraordinaire, who have everything going for themselves - a successful advertising company, beautiful children, and a lovely home. It all appears perfect; however, all is not as it appears. Cue disgruntled employee, David, who is set on enacting revenge on the duo as they have ruined his life. As the title suggests, he intrudes on their carefully constructed life, and what follows proves the old adage of not all that glitters is gold.

I enjoyed the fast pace of this novel; I was never bored and always looked forward to seeing what came next. The writing style was simplistic, but not so much that it lagged. I also liked the interchanging POVs, as this allowed for an all-rounded view of the three main protagonists.

I deducted one star as I easily figured out the 'whodunit' a few chapters into the book; this took away from the mystery element for me.

All in all, this was a great and quick read and I will definitely be on the lookout for more work from Daniel Hurst in the future!

A great many thanks to Netgalley, Daniel Hurst, and Inkubator Books for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a positive review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.

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Review of 'The Lucky One' by Jessica Payne

"According to my former therapist, the chance of falling victim to a serial killer is .00039 percent." The opening line for 'The Lucky One' by Jessica Payne immediately draws readers in, as you get immensely curious.

Ten years ago, the main female protagonist, Norah Silverton lived after a death-defying encounter with the infamous serial killer, Hansel. Her best friend, however, was not so lucky. Searching for peace, she moves and makes a name for herself as a popular MMA coach. After her father's death, she is forced to return to her hometown and is plunged into her nightmare- Hansel has returned. And he seems fixated on reuniting with her. What follows is a crazy rollercoaster ride as we see how wrong Norah's former therapist was!

I really enjoyed the pacing of this book; there were never many dull moments and it was almost always full of action. I also love 'whodunit' mysteries as it is always fun to guess the identity of the bad guy.

This did not receive a full rating from me because I found the mystery to be lacking- I had the plot figured out pretty quickly. I wish there had been more development of the thrill element in the novel.

Taking all of the above into consideration, I give 'The Lucky One' a rating of 3 stars. The book had the potential to be great; for the most part, I liked the overall storyline and Norah was a credible and strong main character. However, it was not a fully developed mystery as the conclusion was easily foreseen. This is most suitable for persons over 18 due to triggers such as violence, murder, and death of a loved one. In the end, it was a nice introduction to Jessica Payne's work and I look forward to reading more of it in the future!

A great many thanks to Netgalley, Jessica Payne, and Bookouture for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a positive review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.

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Review of 'Buried Deception' by Amanda McKinney

The first in a new series by Amanda McKinney, 'Buried Deception' is the first book I have ever read from the popular author but certainly not the last!

Danger and intrigue intermingle in the small town of Skull Hollow, Texas where multiple assaults against women have everyone on edge (haha, the name of the series is 'On the Edge'….get it). After a particularly brutal attack on a teenager, Dr. Mia Frost is called in by the local police department as she specializes in dealing with such cases. The police are also using the skills of Easton Crew, a former Marine who runs a tactical tracking company. Sparks fly when these two powerhouses meet; however Mia has a secret from the past which threatens to blow up her career and her burgeoning relationship with Easton.

I really enjoyed the pacing of this novel, from beginning to end there were many moments filled with action and tension. It perfectly fell into the genres of suspense and mystery, and I was never disappointed. I also enjoyed that the romance between our two main protagonists never overshadowed the main plotline; yes, their budding relationship was prominent in the book, but the overarching mystery was the main feature.

I took away one star from the overall rating because there were too many instances of drawn-out (in my opinion) explanations of scientific happenings. Yes, it is always nice to see that an author has done research to lend credibility to their novel, but I had to skip over some of these passages as they became a little tedious to read.

Taking all of the above into consideration, I give 'Buried Deception' a rating of 4 stars. I enjoyed this book for the most part, especially since it's in my favorite genre however, I wish there had been a little less scientific jargon. This is suitable for persons 18 years and older due to sensitive topics. There are instances of profanity and vivid sexual acts, further lending credence to suitability for adults. Trigger warnings include: rape and violence. McKinney has definitely made a new fan in me and I await the second book in this series with bated breath!

A great many thanks to BookSirens, Amanda McKinney, and Montlake for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a positive review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.

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25 posts!

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Review of 'Caramel Obsession' by Maxine Henri

Spine-tingling drama, spicy romance, and some comedic moments come together to make for this excellent read by Maxine Henri. 'Caramel Obsession' is my introduction to this author, and I was not disappointed. Written entirely in the third person, the plotline is narrated by both main protagonists: Violet Holland, our heroine, who is initially in an unhappy relationship, but ends it when the dashing Arthur Mattison enters her life. There is no meet-cute between them though; Violet initially dislikes Art, but this does not deter him from sweeping her off her feet. However, their courtship is rocked on several ends, both testing and strengthening their love.

I really enjoyed the realistic portrayal of the relationship between Arthur and Violet; as stated earlier, there was no instant love connection happening between them. Initially, she could not stand him and there were some moments that had me laughing out loud. It was quite different from other books of this genre and that made it interesting to read. I also liked the good pacing of the novel, and while this may not be something that matters to many readers, I prefer when the storyline flows and makes sense.

There was a lot happening in this book; without giving spoilers, I can state that there was quite a lot of action. While this made for exciting reading, it also made me wish there was a little less of it and more focus on the character development of the main characters. Their backgrounds were glossed over, with little explanation as to what shaped and molded them into who they are.

With all of the above in mind, I give 'Caramel Obsession' a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Overall, this was a great novel, with enough edge and action to make it stand out from the usual romance. Triggers include profanity and violence and so this is more suitable for persons eighteen years and older.

A great many thanks to BookSirens and Maxine Henri for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a positive review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.

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Review of 'Wild Is the Witch' by Rachel Griffin

The best YA book I have read in a while, 'Wild Is the Witch' depicts the story of how everything can go absolutely wrong when a witch, a curse, and an owl all come together! My first read by Rachel Griffin, this was an absolute treat.

Narrated solely in the first-person voice by our heroine, Iris Gray, we learn early on about the tragedies she has already been subjected to in her eighteen years. Moving to the Pacific Northwest for a fresh start, she and her mother found peace in the picturesque area, and have reciprocated by opening an animal refuge for wild animals. However, Iris is no ordinary teenage girl- she is a witch. And though she has assimilated into her new home, there is one annoying issue she cannot get past- and his name is Pike Alder. An intern at the refuge, their relationship is contentious, as Pike's arrogance and confidence set Iris' teeth on edge. And worst of all his qualities? He hates witches. Using an inherited method from her deceased grandmother which usually helps balance her, she puts a severe curse on Pike, expecting that it would amount to nothing. Cue a series of unfortunate events! She now has to remove the curse, with Pike's help, all without him learning she cursed him in the first place. A trip through the forest brings unexpected knowledge, and Iris comes to realize there is more to her coworker than meets the eye.

As stated earlier, I really enjoyed reading this novel. Griffin's ability to describe the Pacific Northwest must be lauded, as I felt like I was trekking through the wild with Iris and Pike. The illustrations of lush greenery, mountain views, and wild animals (especially MacGuffin), all had me so immersed in this, that it was hard to put it down. Admittedly, I am a mummy of two small ones, so I never get to read the way I would like; however, when I did get the chance, I was all in! I also loved the evolution of the relationship between our two protagonists; that slow burn, enemies-to-lovers trope is my absolute favorite, and this time around was no exception. Pike was the perfect mixture of alpha and sweet, and Iris' idiosyncrasies spoke to me because they were so realistic-who has life figured out at eighteen, anyway?

I am hard-pressed to find negatives about this, as this was as flawless of a YA book as I would expect. As such, I give 'Wild Is the Witch' a rating of 5 out of 5 stars, for all the reasons listed above. I recommend this novel to persons who love fantasy and YA novels. As there are minimal descriptions of romantic acts, this is safe for people as young as early teens to read. There are no instances of obscene language or major triggers, so once again appropriate for the audience for which it is intended. Griffin has surely made a new fan, and I definitely plan to go check out what other gems she has written!

A great many thanks to Netgalley, Rachel Griffin, and Sourcebooks Fire for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a positive review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.