Dangerous Secret by Jessica Lauryn

 

Dangerous Secret is a romantic thriller and the first in the Pinnacles of Power Series created by Jessica Lauryn.

Abigail MacKenzie is a pretty, sweet, and hard-working young woman with her own share of pain and grief. All she wants is to put those pain behind her and be a great teacher. But when she learns about a murder that recently took place, everything comes back to her. And as if she is being shoved to a specific direction, a stranger with thick black hair and deep blue eyes leaves something that reminds her of the elusive justice her father is owed.

When the stranger, Ryan Newberry, turns out to be her new boss at the Washington Valley Hotel, things get tricky for Abigail. Then, tricky becomes chaotic, and then dangerous.    

This is an exciting and suspenseful romantic thriller that urges the readers to keep reading. The author successfully makes the readers to want to find out the who’s and the why’s. Details are dropped a little at a time making the story interesting and suspenseful. It is difficult to choose the most likeable character as there are many. Some readers may opt for the sweet, tough, and brave Abigail who is willing to do everything to get the justice she deserves, while others may cheer for the secretive and protective Ryan who is hell-bent on keeping Abigail safe. In general, this is one enjoyable romantic thriller.

However, other readers may find the romance part a bit cliché, especially the frequent arguments and the endless secrets between the male and female protagonists. Furthermore, the cliffhanger ending may be a bit of a put off for readers who prefer more palpable conclusion even for a book series.

Congratulations to Jessica Lauryn (@JessicaLauryn_) on a suspenseful and exciting book! For more books by the author, click HERE.

How a Monster is Made by RaShell Lashbrook

How a Monster is Made is a provocative and heart-wrenching psychological thriller by RaShell Lashbrook.

Randall Carter is the only son of Pearl and Wyatt Carter. He grows up in a dysfunctional family. His father is an alcoholic who couldn’t keep a job and his mother is absent for the most part of his life. Consequently, he is detached, antisocial, and abusive. Strongly influenced by his selfish and self-entitled father, Randall has little respect for authority, and no respect for women.

Generally, this is a good book. It shows the great impact of family dynamics to the personality of an individual. It depicts the feelings of isolation, detachment, insecurity, hate, and anger of a neglected child. It portrays the effects of the lack of warmth, interaction, and support while a child is growing up.

As I was writing this review, I discovered that this book is actually a prequel. Since I have not read the other book, it would not be fair of me to say that this book’s ending is inconclusive and has too many loose ends. Having said that, I guess I could say that though this book can be enjoyed as a standalone, it is necessary to read the other book first in order to fully appreciate the story.

The plot is quite common but still interesting because it’s prevalent in real life and almost every reader is familiar with the situation and can sympathize or even relate. The descriptions are painfully vivid that the scenes can be difficult to read at times and the characters seem so alive you can almost see them in your mind. Though the ending is a cliffhanger, the readers can simply read the other book for the conclusion.

I wish I could say I enjoyed this book but that would not be entirely true. Admittedly, this is a good book. It is interesting and provocative. It is also well written. However, it is a very painful book to read. If that is the objective of the author, then, I could say she is quite successful. Needless to say, it is not for faint-hearted readers who prefer happy endings and feel-good stories. It is a serious book about abuse, pain, suffering, anger, and hate.

Congratulations to RaShell Lashbrook (@PoppyJuiceBlog) on such a good book. For more books by the author, click HERE.   

Wild-Born by Adrian Howell

Wild Born is a suspenseful, young adult, paranormal, thriller and the first book in the Psionic Pentalogy created by Adrian Howell.

When an accident renders twelve-year old Adrian immobile, he begins to develop telekinetic ability, that he has long suspected he has but not proven until now. Shortly after, however, his home is attacked and he finds himself separated from his sister, Cat.

He soon learns that he is a psionic, a human with special ability, and that there are more like him. After the catastrophic night that changed his seemingly normal life, Adrian ends up a fugitive depending heavily on his wit and undeveloped ability for survival and hunted by paranormal factions, each intent on having him on its side.

This is an exciting and suspenseful paranormal thriller that easily calls X-Men to mind. It portrays various human traits, emotions, and behaviors such as compassion, kindness, and unconditional love. It also depicts bigotry, prejudice, and discrimination. It shows that family is not limited to blood relations but those who are with you when you need them the most.

Scenes are carefully described in detail including chasing and fighting scenes. Characters are well-developed and accurately depicted like benevolent Cindy, naïve Adrian, and unpleasant Dr. Denman. Though the ending is less conclusive than my usual taste, it is understandably so.

Congratulations to Adrian Howell on such an exciting and enjoyable book. Some scenes, however, may be too violent for very young readers. For more books by this author, click HERE.

Derailed by Mary Keliioka

Derailed is an interesting and suspenseful thriller novel, and the first in the Kelly Pruett Mystery Book Series created by Mary Keliioka.

Private Investigator Kelly Pruett feels elated and apprehensive at the same time. She just meets the client that gives her her very first real private investigating job since she inherited the detective agency from her father. Though the idea is quite exciting and, somehow, heightens her level of empowerment, at the back of her mind, she isn’t altogether confident that she can actually do the job. However, her father’s dying request makes the decision for her.

As per her client’s request, Kelly needs to get to the bottom of a case viewed by the police as an unfortunate drunken accident. To find out whether the victim was struck by the train due to her inebriation or she was murdered, Kelly sets up a meeting with the sole witness at the bar where the victim was last seen alive. Sadly for Kelly, however, the witness does not show up.

This is a suspenseful thriller novel mixed with domestic issues, women empowerment, and a little bit of romance. Just like other books of this genre, the author develops the plot by presenting an insignificant amount of clues as far as the case is concerned, but with the protagonist’s unwavering determination and unbelievable level of tenacity, possible suspects and possible motives begin to surface. The author successfully keeps the suspense by introducing shocking twists and unexpected turns of events that culminated in a satisfying climax.

The characters are well-developed and are very relatable especially Kelly. In this day and age when more and more women are beginning to discover their self-worth, I can imagine a lot of female readers who can actually empathize with the main character. Scenes and settings are depicted vividly as well as the behaviors and emotions of each character.

All in all, this is a great thriller novel and I recommend it to fans of this genre.

Congratulations to Mary Keliioka  (@mary_keliikoa) on such a great and enjoyable book. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. For more information about this author, click HERE.      

Everyone Needs a Hero: Why Can't It Be You by Aimé Mukendi, Jr.

Everyone Needs a Hero: Why Can’t It Be You? is an inspiring and an encouraging book written by Aimé Mukendi, Jr.

This book is about the extraordinary transformation of the author from someone who is in love with his own ego to the person that he is today, a motivational speaker, life coach, social media influencer, entrepreneur, radio show host, blogger, and book author.

The author begins by narrating a life-altering event that happened to him a year ago. The event marks the death of something in him and the birth of something else. It is followed by a short story of his early life with apparent emphasis on the role of his hero, his mother.

The rest of the book, essentially, encourages the readers to find their purpose in life and offers suggestions on how to do it. Aside from his personal experiences, the author shares other lessons he learned in his own journey through life including Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues and Earl Nightingale’s spoken word record, The Strangest Secret. The book also features quotes by Abraham Lincoln, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Albert Einstein, and quotes by the author himself.

All in all, this is an encouraging and inspiring book. In this age and time when people find it easier to conform and people live to compete with others, it is a book that may help readers to focus on self-examination, and, consequently, self-improvement.

I find it perfect for young adults. Millennials who know LeBron James, Kanye West, Will Smith, and Kevin Hart would probably relate to the author and some of the things he went through while growing up.

However, those who have already read books by Napoleon Hill, Rhonda Byrne, Og Mandino, etc. may not find anything new from this book.

Nevertheless, I find this book very encouraging and the author seems to be very promising. Congratulations to Aimé Mukendi, Jr. (@SirAimezing) on such a well-written book. To learn more about the author, click HERE!   

The Reflecting Pool by Otho Eskin

The Reflecting Pool is an exciting and suspenseful crime and thriller novel written by Otho Eskin.

Homicide Detective Marko Zorn, of Washington DC Metropolitan Police, knows that the body of a Secret Service agent found in the Reflecting Pool is not a typical drowning victim. For reason, unfathomable even to himself, Zorn knows the victim is murdered.

Fueled by his desire for justice and his inherent disregard for rules and protocols, Zorn proceeds with his investigation. Curiously, his effort to get to the bottom of the case is met with discouragement, lack of cooperation, and even hostility from the departments he believes should, at the very least, show more keenness in catching the perpetrator.    

This is a suspenseful thriller that features a multitude of subjects including organized crime, domestic terrorist group, long-buried crime, and secret liaisons. The author is able to keep the plot interesting and suspenseful by throwing in seemingly unrelated scenes and putting them together in one explosive climax and a satisfying denouement. 

Moreover, the author is able to successfully describe, in detail, not only the scenes, ie police interviews, confrontations, chasing, and fighting; but also the behavior and personality of each character. Unlike other authors who use descriptive words to portray characters, Otho Eskin depicts people through their attitudes and manners of speaking. Finally, though Detective Mark Zorn is not my idea of an ideal protagonist, with his vanity, materialism, and moral code, I would say I have seen worse. And though it’s difficult to see past his character, I think that is what makes him, somehow, realistic and relatable.

Congratulations to Otho Eskin (@OthoEskin) on such an enjoyable book! For more books by the author, click HERE.         

The Roots Have Dug into My Heart by Peter Fugazzotto

The Roots Have Dug into My Heart is a touching horror and paranormal novella written by Peter Fugazzotto.  

After a disastrous evening at a bar that ends in a creepy auditory hallucination seemingly coming from the tall marsh grasses, Jessie wakes up with a terrible hangover made worse by the fact that her daughter, Maya, is missing. Racked by guilt about her inability to watch over Maya, Jessie goes through the marsh in search of her daughter vowing to never neglect her again. Naturally, she is overjoyed when Maya is found, seemingly, shaken but relatively unharmed.

However, Jessie’s elation is short-lived as she senses something different with her daughter.  Aside from the smell of the swamp that Jessie can’t seem to wash off Maya, her daughter becomes uncharacteristically quiet. Maya also seems to lose her appetite even for foods she normally loves.

Amidst her desperate need to be a better person and the best mother she can be, and the suspicion that there is something terribly wrong Maya, Jessie finds an unlikely ally. Armed only with very little information and unconditional love for her daughter, Jessie and her friend set out for the marsh to find out the truth once and for all.

This is a scary, suspenseful, and touching story about a bum of a woman who struggles to be the best version of herself. It depicts how someone overcomes her self-destructive tendencies for the most important person in her life. It portrays clarity in the middle of confusion and courage in the middle of fear. It displays the amount of determination needed to win the prize of redemption.

Though the story appears to be simply about an irresponsible mother who lost her child to paranormal entity, there is so much more than that. It tells of the difficulty of a person to rise above adversity with her only beacon of hope snatched away from her. It also shows the tendency to prejudge someone by the way he or she lives. Most importantly, the book features the multidimensionality of the world we live in and that things are not the way they seem.

This is a relatively enjoyable book. Relatively in that, some readers who are not into horror stories may not choose to read it. I, myself, am not a horror book enthusiast. As a reviewer, however, I find the book well written and easy to read. Jessie is very well depicted as a person who blames everything and everybody else for her unpleasant situation making her very relatable. Moreover, the author is able to maintain an eerie mood right from the beginning down to the last page. Finally, though I prefer a different ending to the story, I find the conclusion quite satisfactory.

Congratulations to Peter Fugazzotto (@PeterFugazzotto) on such a well-written book! For more books by the author, click HERE.

Thomas Wildus and the Wizard of Sumeria by J.M. Bergen

Thomas Wildus and the Wizard of Sumeria is a fantastical, an action-filled, an adventure-filled, and a magic-filled, young adult fiction, and the second book in The Elandrian Chronicles created by J.M. Bergen.

It’s summer vacation and Thomas Wildus and his friends Enrique and Akhil are doing what normal and ordinary boys do during vacation, having fun and hanging out, with girls. However, a mysterious message, a glimpse of a familiar, albeit frightening, face, and a visit from his mentors cut the summer fun short. Now, Thomas and his friends are back to the training room and preparing for a quest for a magical object and a confrontation with the ‘Sumerian’.

As magical as, as suspenseful as, and, probably, even more action-filled than the first book, this second installment introduces more characters both good and evil and presents more rigorous training, both physical and mental, for Thomas and Enrique. The author also offers surprising twists and unexpected turns of events that make the book even more interesting. Fighting and chasing scenes are depicted in vivid and minute detail and the conclusion is quite satisfying. However, I find some of the descriptions too gory and too violent for young readers.

Still, I enjoyed this book a lot and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Congratulations to J.M. Bergen (@JMBergen1) on such a great and enjoyable second installment. For more books by the author, click HERE.

Madam Tulip and the Serpent's Tree by David Ahern

Madam Tulip and the Serpent’s Tree is the fourth in the Madam Tulip Mystery Book Series created by David Ahern.

With the help of her now relatively-famous best friend, Bella, Irish American actress Derry O’Donnell dons her Madam Tulip persona as part of the grand birthday celebration of a famous pop singer. Up in the Dublin mountains, Derry finds herself amidst the members of a musical band, each with his or her own preoccupation. A pushy manager intent on keeping the band together, a high-strung singer visibly upset by the sudden disappearance of a beloved and revered friend, an anxious songwriter keeping something from fellow band members, and a charming sax player fascinated by Vikings.        

Ever professional and discreet, Madam Tulip is privy to information pertinent to the future of the entire band, information that may explain the whereabouts of a missing shaman.

As exciting and as funny as the previous three books, Madam Tulip and the Serpent’s Tree features the private lives of famous and very promising musicians. It depicts their lives behind the glitter and adoring fans, their pain, their fears, their insecurities. But most importantly, for me, the book portrays the humans inside the celebrities, their longing for love, belongingness, and acceptance.

The book is, as all the other books I have read by David Ahern, funny and lighthearted. It is, first and foremost, an easy read. It is exciting and suspenseful, with carefully and vividly described scenes. In addition to Derry, Bruce, Bella, Jacko and Vanessa, the author includes a variety of characters that the readers would easily relate with. Though the ending is not as conclusive as I wish, it is no doubt satisfying.

Congratulations to David Ahern (@DaveAhernWriter) on another enjoyable book! For more books by the author, click HERE.  

A World Beyond by Marc Remus

A World Beyond is the sixth and final installment of the magical, fantasy, children’s book series Magora created by Marc Remus.

Holly O’Flanigan and her friends Amanda, Brian, and Rufus follow the evil Duke of Cuspidor and his army of Unfinished into a painting and enter a whole new world where a small group of creatures, the Cenamels, are hiding somewhere. These creatures are protecting a very powerful, magical item that may tip the scales in favor of Cuspidor and may cause the destruction of Magora.

Equally important to Holly as the future of Magora is the possibility of finding the double of her grandfather, Nikolas, who may hold the answers to Holly’s questions. Little does Holly know that there are far more shocking secrets waiting to be discovered.

More intense, more exciting, and more suspenseful than any of the previous five installments, this book offers fiercer and more matured Holly O’Flanigan. Moreover, it features more page-turning chasing scenes and more rousing battle scenes as well as scenes displaying advanced magic.

However, though I, immensely, enjoyed this final book in the series, it leaves me with a tiny pinch in my heart. First, I find Rufus’s participation very minimal compared with Brian’s and Amanda’s. Second, there are too many “how’s” and “why’s” that keep playing in my mind. Finally, I want to know more about what happened after. It seems like the author deliberately left it at that to give the readers the freedom to imagine how the story might have played out. If that were the case, then, the author successfully did just that.

Congratulations to Marc Remus (@MarcRemusArt) on such a great book! Though it would, undoubtedly, be enjoyed by young and old children alike, some scenes may be too horrid for very young children. For more books by the author, click HERE.             

Order of Seven by Beth Teliho

Order of Seven is an intriguing, suspenseful and mind boggling ancient historical fiction book by Beth Teliho.

Devi has been having strange and recurrent dreams. Orphaned at a young age, Devi and her brother Nodin are adopted by kind and wonderful parents. However, despite the loving environment they grew up in, Devi and Nodin have special abilities that they would never understand unless they find out about their biological roots. While Nodin has empathic gifts, Devi has visions and an attachment to a particular tree.  

Now, at eighteen years old, Devi’s visions and dreams are getting more vivid and more detailed, and her need to connect with her tree is getting more frequent. With the help of a friend and a newly-met energy healer that makes her heart flutter, Devi takes a step, previously inconceivable to her, and discovers a shocking revelation not only about herself but also about the world.

This is a very interesting, intriguing, suspenseful and mind-boggling book that integrates myths, legends, and ancient history with modern and contemporary setting by featuring teenage characters and modern technological devices. Characters are well-developed with distinctive personalities. However, though the likely favorites are Devi and Baron, mine are Ben and Mapiya. They are my type of modern mystics. Quiet but powerful.

Congratulations to Beth Teliho (@beth_teliho) on such a very interesting and entertaining book. For more books by the author, click HERE.     

Rose Hill by Pamela Grandstaff

Rose Hill is a suspenseful crime and thriller novel and the first in the Rosehill Mystery Series created by Pamela Grandstaff.

The peace and quiet of the pretty, little town of Rose Hill is disturbed when the murdered body of their most obnoxious citizen, Theo Eldridge, is found in the veterinary clinic. Upon investigation of the case, Police Chief Scott Gordon finds that there are too many people with scores to settle with Theo, and though his murder in not altogether unwelcome, it is, somehow, a relief. As the investigation progresses, the number of possible suspects rises up. Moreover, Scott realizes that his beloved Rose Hill is not as quiet and as pretty as it seems.

This is an exciting crime and thriller novel. It features multiple subjects including murder, blackmail, friendship, kinship, and illicit relationship, among others. By portraying the victim as a totally despicable and dishonorable person, the author elicits mixed emotions from the readers: extreme dislike, if not hate, for Theo; sympathy for Chief Gordon, empathy for particular characters like Ava, Sean, and Enid, and overall excitement for the case to be solved.

Though the premise is far from unique, the glimpse in the life and personality of each character is enough to keep the readers interested. Character development is well-done and complete with realistic manner of speaking and choice of vocabulary. Finally, though I find the ending a bit anticlimactic, it opens doors for possibilities and more promising books in the series.

Congratulations to Pamela Grandstaff (@RoseHillMystery) on such a great book. For more books by the author, click HERE.

U-10 by Sam B. Miller II

U-10 is an exciting and suspenseful science fiction thriller by Sam B. Miller II.

While on a mission to remove Insurgents from dusty settlements on the hills of Afghanistan, Lt. Ty Lavender and the rest of the Orion Squad stand witness to the thundering crash of an unidentified flying object. After finding a strange satchel and a box of cards from the crash site and getting rid of a few Insurgents sneaking on them, Lavender and his men leave and get into position around the perimeter of the crash site. Shortly after, a group of people wearing full coverage combat gear arrives and takes over the crash site.

Meanwhile, the lone passenger of the UFO is watching from a distance, near where his escape pod has landed. Extremely confident that the inhabitants of this planet are too primitive and too intellectually inferior to understand advanced technology, the passenger feels apprehensive when he sees the U-10 draped over the shoulder of one of the humans. Little does he know that there are much more to the humans than he knows.

This is an exciting and suspenseful, fast-paced and easy to read science fiction thriller. The plot is unpredictable and offers a series of twists and turns making the book a real deal page-turner. Though the concept of an alien aircraft crashing down the desert seems quite trite and overused, the introduction of U-10, a survival tool with multiple uses involving single-use cards that produce advanced and sophisticated but disposable weapons, is enough to put sci-fi fans on the edge of their seats. Characters are provided with sufficient back stories to make them life-like which makes it easy to visualize them as real people. Moreover, the author creates the perfect protagonist in Lt. Ty Lavender, the smart, brave, compassionate, and loyal soldier and leader. More than the vividly described scenes, I love the depiction of human attributes including loyalty, concern, and compassion as well as zealotry, greed, and narcissism.

Congratulations to Sam B. Miller II (@SamBMillerII) for another great book! For more books by the author, click HERE!

Brooding City by Tom Shutt

Brooding City is an intriguing and exciting paranormal thriller and the first book in the Brooding City Series created by Tom Shutt.

Detective Arthur Brennan works at Odols Police Department. Unbeknownst to his partner and to everybody else, however, he is a former Sleeper. Sleepers are individuals who can enter the dream of others and drive them to madness. They are people with extraordinary gifts and live among ordinary people.

Meanwhile, young Jeremy Scott discovers something special, albeit scary, about himself. He can access other people’s memories. With his newly-found gift, he finds out something that shakes his being to the core.

This is an interesting, intriguing, and an easy-read book. It explores the dream realm and subtly integrates it to the waking world. The story has two main plotlines, one features Detective Brennan who is presented with a murder case involving drugs, and the other features Jeremy Scott with his newly-discovered gift. The author creates intriguing characters including Detective Brennan himself, Uncle Rick, and Old Benjamin.

However, though the plot is, understandably, vague with this book being the first installment, I still find it difficult to stay interested. It is just not easy to stay focused when the scene shifts every other chapter and the details are given in painstakingly gradual manner. Moreover, it is hard to connect with the characters. Despite the backstories, I still feel that something is being held back which makes connecting with the characters not easy. Finally, the ending is inconclusive which could mean the reader has to read the next book to enjoy it fully.

Still, this is a very intriguing book and some readers may find it enjoyable. Congratulations to Tom Shutt (@TomShutt) on such an interesting book. For more books by the author, click HERE.

The Chosen by Michael Mood

The Chosen is the first book in The Compendium of Raath Series created by Michael Mood.

Young and abused farm girl, Wren Hartfield, runs away from home. Helping a caged ape earns her a burning symbol on her forearm and most unlikely friends. Otom Aldenburg is a self-exiled Monk haunted by his past. He survives an attack on the Kilgane Monastery by monstrous creatures. Krothair Mallurin is an orphan who dreams to be a Kingsguardian. He is sent to apprentice under the legendary sword master. Halimaldie D’Arvenant is a successful businessman who is about to discover something he was never willing to believe before. Then, there is Cleric Domma of the Sunburst Temple whose power allows her to discover who attacks a patient under her care.

They are the Five Mages of Raath, a place where magical powers are earned for doing good deeds. Each of them travels to the Temple of Sin’ra for instructions from God.

This is an exciting and suspenseful book of magic and adventure. It has a consistently steady pacing and an unpredictable plot. Scenes are described in vivid detail and the suspense is maintained until the last pages of the book. Though the ending is, understandably, cliffhanger, common to books in series, it gives a certain feeling of closure to the readers. Most of the characters are endearing and all of them are intriguing making the readers want to read more.

Congratulations to Michael Mood (@michaeldmood) on such a great and enjoyable book! For more books by the author, click HERE.

Why Jihad? by Dr. Howard Shin

Why Jihad? : Religious Violence in IslamicHistory, Theology, and Jurisprudence is an interesting and educative book about Muslims, Islam, and Jihad written by Dr. Howard Shin.

The book has fourteen very interesting chapters in addition to the Introduction, Conclusion, and Bibliography, and tries to explain the root-cause for Islam’s prevalent violence. In consistently academic tone, the author discusses the conflicting views on Jihad and elucidates the readers by explaining Jihad as defined by the Qur’an, the Hadiths, the Islamic Jurisprudence, and the pre-modern Sufism.

The author shares a brief history of the Messenger of Allah and the proliferation of Islam in Asia, North Africa, and the Iberian Peninsula and features the most prominent proponents of Jihad.

This is, generally, a scholarly-written book, apparently well-researched and well-referenced. In carefully worded explanation understandable to laymen and, probably, to non-Muslim readers, the author explicates the difference between Greater Jihad and Lesser Jihad and hints at the ultimate implication of armed Jihad in the future of the world making the book a ‘must-read’ for diplomats and politicians.

However, this is not an easy read. Other readers may find it too academic and, somehow, overwhelming. It requires focus, undivided attention, and genuine interest in Jihad, Islam, and the Muslims in general. Moreover, there are several noticeable errors within the entire book, mostly typo errors, which detract from the overall reading experience.

Congratulations to Dr. Howard Shin on such an interesting book! For more books by the author, click HERE. 

Jealous of the Way He Treats Her by Can'Di

Jealous of the Way He Treats Her: A Revenge Story is an erotic urban fiction written by Can’Di.

Jasmine is deeply in love with Derrick. After a painful break-up with her ex-boyfriend Marcus, Jasmine is determined to make her relationship with Derrick work. On his part, Derrick is just as in love with Jasmine as she is with him. However, he wants more which he can get from somewhere or someone else especially if that someone else is just around.

Jasmine’s best friend Lykeysha is more than what she is in Jasmine’s eyes. She is ambitious. She knows what she wants and she has what it takes to get it, even if what she wants belongs to someone else.

Marcus lost Jasmine because of one night of indiscretion. Now that Jasmine is with someone else, all he wants is for her to be happy. He loves her more than she knew and he is willing to be anything she needs him to be, a friend, a lover, a protector. However, there is something about his life that he could not tell her.

This is an intriguing and suspenseful book about envy, jealousy, revenge, and true love. The conflict is introduced early in the story which makes it a page-turner. Though the plot is not extraordinarily unique, the twists and turns of events make the book different from other stories with the same premise. Characters are well-developed and relatable and the readers would find it easy to connect with each of them. With her twisted way of looking at things, Lykeysha is every bit the villainess. She is despicable and, somehow, pitiful in her pathetic view of her self-importance.

Admittedly, I enjoyed this book more than I expected. It is interesting and unpredictable in that it is difficult to guess what would happen next. However, other readers, especially non-native English speakers, may find the use of the vernacular language a bit difficult to follow. Moreover, scenes of sex and violence may not be suitable for young readers.

Congratulations to Can’Di on such an enjoyable book!

Kendle's Fire by Ryan Field

Kendle’s Fire is a touching and memorable book about friendship, family, and self-acceptance written by Ryan Field.

Kendle is a smart, handsome, and gay ex-Marine who looks every inch a straight guy. As far as he is concerned, he is a man. He acts as a man. He thinks as a man, and he never wants to be anything or anyone else aside from who and what he is.

However, just like any man, or woman, for that matter, Kendle has secrets, preferences and fetishes, which he could not talk about with just anyone but only with those people who are closest to him and accept him for everything he is. Among those people is his best friend Dale. Though Kendle and Dale’s relationship has no specific definition that is understandable to the public, what they have is something special.

Trying to figure out which way his life would go, Kendle applies for a new, albeit, an unlikely job which leads him to meeting a new guy and opens up new possibilities for him to consider. However, as unpredictable life is, an unfortunate event takes place that shakes the foundation that Kendle is trying to build.

This is a touching and memorable book. Though the plot is seemingly common with gay fiction, being discriminated and difficulties fitting in, what makes the book special is the depiction of the ultimate realization of what someone wants. The author successfully illustrates something very important which is the fact that some people do not want to be what they are not, just to be acknowledged and accepted. They want to be accepted for that they are. That, for me, is a very powerful message.

The book is told in a consistently conversational tone that makes it an easy read.  In addition, the author creates a set of delightful characters including Dale, Walter, and Kendle’s mother. Kendle, for me, is the ultimate protagonist. He knows what he is. He knows what he wants. And he chooses to live his life in his own terms.

Except for some noticeable errors, I enjoyed this book a lot.

Congratulations to Ryan Field on such an enjoyable book! For more books by the author, click HERE.

Old Baggage by Toni Kief

Old Baggage: It’s Never Too Late for aNew Beginning is an interesting contemporary fiction written by Toni Kief.

It seems like an ordinary day for the Donovans, with Brad being his usual abusive self and Elizabeth playing her usual submissive role. What makes this day different, however, is that Elizabeth finally, after forty nine miserable years of marriage, fights back.

Surprising even herself, Elizabeth pulls out her suitcase and walks out of the only life she has ever known. However, contrary to what Brad thinks that she is a helpless, dependent, and stupid old woman, Elizabeth has so many cards up her sleeve and she has the astonishing strength and courage to use them to start a new life. But first, Elizabeth has to deal with a painful secret in her past before she could settle wherever she chooses and live her life on her own terms.

This is a very enjoyable book with sixty two chapters and told in the first person perspective of an amazing and remarkable old woman. Though the plot seems familiar with the protagonist, a victim of domestic abuse, having enough of the shitty life she has, the preparations Elizabeth has made as she waited for ‘the day’ would pique the interest of the readers, especially the female readers. Moreover, how she faces her new life, taking one baby step at a time away from her old, will make the readers cheer her on as she finds her way very slowly but with unwavering resolve and childlike wonder for the things she could actually do that she never imagined she could.

Needless to say, I enjoyed this book a lot. The plot is delightfully unpredictable and there are so many endearing characters. First of them, of course, is Elizabeth herself, the brave, kind, funny, and smart old woman who proves that age really doesn’t  matter and that every day is an opportunity to start a new life. And though I was expecting a different conclusion to the story, I still find the ending satisfyingly conclusive.     

However, though the paranormal part seems to make the story interesting, I, personally, believe that its exclusion wouldn’t make the book less so. Moreover, I noticed some errors within the entire book that detract from the overall reading experience.

Congratulations to Toni Kief (@tonikayk1) on such a great book! It is a depiction of woman empowerment at its best.

For more books by the author, click HERE.