Tag: reading

  • Review: The Barista’s Beloved (River Hill #4) by Rebecca Norinne & Jamaila Brinkley

    Disclaimer: I am friends with both authors; however, I purchased this ebook for full price. The latest installment in this small-town romance series pairs up a whiskey distiller with a barista, and the fact that the distiller is the lady and the barista is a guy is only one of the many things I loved…

    Continue Reading

  • Review: Invisible Chains by Michelle Renee Lane

    Disclaimer: I am friends with the author, who provided me with an advanced electronic version of this book for review. This is the first book I’ve read in years to give me nightmares. Lane’s debut novel is an intricate and descriptive historical horror that encompasses some of my favorite tropes in speculative fiction. Jacqueline is…

    Continue Reading

  • New Release: Steel Shadows!

    Today, Steel Empires Book 5: Steel Shadows is released! That’s five books in five years. Time to party! Information about the book is below, including how to purchase your own copy and ways to celebrate with me. ABOUT THE BOOK The shadows are talking and they won’t take no for an answer. Victory has returned…

    Continue Reading

  • Author Interview with Nancy O’Toole Meservier

    I’m pleased to help celebrate the latest book in fellow author Nancy O’Toole Meservier’s superhero saga! Information about the book is below, along with some insights into her worldbuilding and writing processes and a short excerpt from the book. ABOUT THE BOOK The masks are off. Dawn Takahashi has achieved her dreams by becoming Bailey…

    Continue Reading

  • July Wrap-Up & August Goals

    Priority number one for August is to celebrate! Seriously, on August 8, I’m publishing my fifth book in five years — Steel Empires Book 5: Steel Shadows. That’s a pretty awesome accomplishment, and while it would be easy to focus on all the other projects I have (and am behind on), I shouldn’t let this…

    Continue Reading

  • Review: A Duke in Disguise (Regency Impostors #2) by Cat Sebastian

    It’s hard to distill this book into a short review, because it was chock full of elements I loved with surprising moments at every turn. Sebastian is fantastic at creating characters that go against expectations, either the reader’s or for their position in society. Verity and Ash follow the “friends to lovers” journey, but the…

    Continue Reading

  • Review: The Mathematical Gambit (The Galipp Files #2) by Jamaila Brinkley

    This story continues the adventures of a pair of professional spies — if only their income from the profession could support them. Instead, Simon works on his magical studies and Anastasia relies on the patronage of members of the peerage who know about her clandestine role. The partners reunite to solve another case involving rich…

    Continue Reading

  • Review: “Eidolon” (Whyborne & Griffin #1.5) by Jordan L. Hawk

    This short story takes place near the beginning of Whyborne and Griffin’s relationship, and reading it after seven full novels is an interesting trip into the past. In this story, there’s still a bit of relationship angst that I now know to be completely unfounded, but it’s not so angsty as to make me roll…

    Continue Reading

  • Review: Proper English (Think of England #0.5) by K.J. Charles

    I will happily read pages and pages of characters in a historical novel interact at a house party. Bonus points if half of them don’t like each other, the other half like each other a bit too much, and at least one person is outright rude. I enjoyed myself so much, following the point of…

    Continue Reading

  • 2019 Resolution Project: Magic Slays (Kate Daniels #5) by Ilona Andrews

    My 2019 Resolution Project over at my other blog, Speculative Chic, is to read the entire Kate Daniels urban fantasy series by Ilona Andrews, finishing up with a first read of the final book in the series. I’ve read the fifth book, Magic Slays, before, but never officially reviewed it. You can find my full review here. An excerpt: “So…

    Continue Reading

  • Review: Reverb (Twisted Wishes #3) by Anna Zabo

    Disclaimer: I consider the author a friend; however, I purchased this ebook for full price. The final book to follow the romantic escapes of the band Twisted Wishes focuses on bass player Mish Sullivan. She’s pretty much the literal definition of strong, independent woman who knows what she wants. But what she wants is different…

    Continue Reading

  • Review: The Baker’s Beauty (River Hill #3) by Rebecca Norinne & Jamaila Brinkley

    Disclaimer: I am friends with the authors; however, I purcahsed this ebook for full price. Sometimes my interest in the romance between two characters takes a backseat to my interest in the development of the characters themselves. This book was sweet and enjoyable, with all the traditional romance novel tropes, but I found myself much…

    Continue Reading

  • Review: The Distiller’s Darling (River Hill #2) by Rebecca Norinne & Jamaila Brinkley

    Disclaimer: I am friends with the authors; however, I purcahsed this ebook for full price. I felt a bit guilty enjoying a glass of port while reading this book, but I have a feeling that I’d have loved it no matter the beverage. Iain and Naomi have almost nothing in common on the surface, but…

    Continue Reading

  • Review: A Prince on Paper (Reluctant Royals #3) by Alyssa Cole

    I enjoyed the third book in the series just as much as the others, even if it was yet another take on the premise. I especially found the intersection between traditional fairy tales and modern royalty compelling. The character development paths of Nya and Johan sucked me in on their own, which is important when…

    Continue Reading

  • Review: Tiamat’s Wrath (The Expanse #8) James S.A. Corey

    After the rise of the Laconian Empire in the previous book, the crew of the Rocinante is spread across the universe once again. Naomi and Bobbie are both fighting an underground war in the ways they do best. These women continue to be my heroes and I adore them. This book especially shows the power…

    Continue Reading

  • 2019 Resolution Project: Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels #4) by Ilona Andrews

    My 2019 Resolution Project over at my other blog, Speculative Chic, is to read the entire Kate Daniels urban fantasy series by Ilona Andrews, finishing up with a first read of the final book in the series. I’ve read the fourth book, Magic Bleeds, before, but never officially reviewed it. You can find my full review here. An excerpt: “This…

    Continue Reading

  • Review: “Magic Tests” (Kate Daniels #5.3) by Ilona Andrews

    I first read this short story as part of the collection Small Magics. It also appears in the anthology An Apple for the Creature, edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner. My review is below: Because I’m always thrilled to learn more about Kate’s protege, I was delighted to read “Magic Tests” in this collection. Julie…

    Continue Reading

  • Con Report: In Your Write Mind 2019

    Last weekend, I spent four wonderful days at one of my favorite places on Earth. In Your Write Mind is a writing workshop hosted by alumni of the Seton Hill University Writing Popular Fiction graduate program, of which I am part. It’s the time of year when I recharge my writing batteries by surrounding myself…

    Continue Reading

  • June Wrap-Up & July Goals

    I just got home from another fantastic visit to Seton Hill University for the annual In Your Write Mind workshop. I had a blast. I’m exhausted. Let’s do this. In case you missed it, the cover reveal for Steel Shadows (Steel Empires #5) was announced this month! Isn’t it beautiful? Pre-orders are now available, and…

    Continue Reading

  • Review: Fallow (Whyborne & Griffin #8) by Jordan L. Hawk

    Whyborne’s angst starts out deep in this story, but after the revelations of the previous book, he’s certainly got a lot on his mind. Luckily, this book continues the trend of splitting the narration between Whyborne and Griffin. Griffin’s life isn’t exactly cheery at the moment, as he struggles to connect with his dour husband,…

    Continue Reading