Review: They All Had A Fear: A past. A debt. A reckoning. A murder. (They All Had A Reason #3) by Michele Leathers

Review: They All Had A Fear: A past. A debt. A reckoning. A murder. (They All Had A Reason #3) by Michele Leathers

by Christina ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Amazon | Goodreads
April 23rd 2021
199 pages

The strange deaths and dead bodies surfacing in this previously quiet and quaint little beach town are terrorizing the local residents and tourists alike. Everyone is asking if it’s safe to go swimming in the ocean, but eighteen-year-old Winter Covington wonders if there is even more danger lurking on land. She will soon discover the answers to these questions, if she can avoid becoming the next victim, but that won’t be easy, because Winter’s new roommate may be a killer.

My Thoughts

(Note: This isn’t a fantasy but I’m leaving my review here anyway).

These books are consistently fast paced, a fact which keeps me coming back to this series despite the gripes I have with the characters/storylines. In every single book so far, I’m both entertained and annoyed. And yet… I’ll still read the next one.

My issues:

1) Winter. She gives off a very strong stench of “not like other girls.” She, in my opinion, was also way too quick about being suspicious of Tamara. It seemed like she instantly disliked Tamara at first glance simply because she’s one of those fake boobied girls. Tamara was really the only interesting character, again.

2) Just a lot of unbelievable-ness the first two books suffer from.

Review: Throne in the Sky (Crown City #1) by Angela Kulig

Review: Throne in the Sky (Crown City #1) by Angela Kulig

by Christina ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Amazon | Goodreads
April 23 2022
207 pages

To continue the royal bloodline, the Fae King that rules over the City in the Clouds must pick a consort.

Human, pixie, hell-sprite, seventeen-year-old Jewel assumes the king will pick the prettiest, shallowest, one of the lot, but the longer she stays in the competition to find the Culled Queen, the closer she comes to working off the debts of her family. The debts that keep them enslaved and improvised, the debts that lead to her mother’s death, and her brutally failed romance. The debt of being human.

Jewel doesn’t think she’s still capable of believing in love, but she knows hunger and darkness firsthand, so when the king’s attention turns her direction, she toys with the idea of keeping it—until the moment it slips from her fingers.

My Thoughts


I love books with this kind of premise. I will read anything that is similar to The Selection in terms of a marriage competition/a chance to marry royalty.

This is the first one I’ve seen that does this with fae, so bonus points there. My one issue is that I didn’t exactly enjoy the writing style (it was almost there but I don’t know how to explain it).

I might read the next book.
Cover Reveal: Shield & Blade: A Fate of Eyrinthia Novella (Fate of Eyrinthia #3.5) by Heather Frost

Cover Reveal: Shield & Blade: A Fate of Eyrinthia Novella (Fate of Eyrinthia #3.5) by Heather Frost

by Christina ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Amazon | Goodreads
July 14, 2022

His to protect

When Vera broke Venn’s heart, he was shattered. When she was abducted by mercenaries, he vowed to tear Mortise apart to find her. Now, reunited, he is determined to keep her safe–and win back her heart. Of course, things are never that simple.

Hers to defend

Vera has regretted hurting Venn ever since that fateful night in Wexon, but finding the right time to tell him is proving difficult. Traveling with him to Duvan should give her the perfect opportunity, but things take an unexpected turn when they find young children abandoned near a roadside.

Theirs to save

Helping the children isn’t in question, but the detour leads Venn and Vera into the heart of a sinister mystery. The truth they fight to uncover could change everything in Eyrinthia–and may cost them their lives.

Read the first book in the series:

Amazon | Goodreads | Bookbub

Clare made a mistake when she saved the princess’s life . . .

In one horrible night, Clare is forced to give up her life as a kitchen maid to become the princess’s decoy. Thrust into a dangerous new world of royals and deadly politics, she must learn how to be the princess’s perfect double to ensure her betrothal to an enemy prince. Desperate to survive, Clare throws herself into self-defense training, taught by her distractingly attractive bodyguard, Bennick. The spark between them is undeniable, though a relationship is forbidden. When a ruthless assassin begins stalking her, it becomes frighteningly clear that some will stop at nothing to end the tenuous peace—and Clare’s life.

Across the northern mountains, Prince Grayson is his father’s ultimate weapon. His name inspires fear in all who hear it, but no one knows his heavily guarded secret. He carries out every brutal order only because his father holds power over the one person he cares about. Grayson’s silent obedience is tested, however, when his father reveals plans to exploit the marriage alliance between two of their greatest enemies. If Grayson submits, the blood of thousands will spill. If he resists, the girl who means everything to him will die.

The fate of Eyrinthia hangs in the balance. Some want peace. Some want war. All will be thrown into chaos.

Royal Decoy is the first in the Fate of Eyrinthia YA fantasy romance series told from multiple POVs. If you like swoon-worthy romance, complex characters, and non-stop action with epic twists, then you’ll love the captivating world of Eyrinthia.

Author Bio

Heather Frost is a #1 Amazon Bestselling YA author who loves epic stories with breath-stealing romance. She is the author of the Seers trilogy and the Fate of Eyrinthia series. Her books have been Whitney Award Finalists and Swoony Award Finalists. She has a BS in Creative Writing and a minor in Folklore, which means she got to read fairy tales and call it homework. When she’s not writing, Heather likes to read, travel, and re-watch Lord of the Rings. She lives in a beautiful valley surrounded by towering mountains in northern Utah. To learn more about Heather and her books, visit her website: www.HeatherFrost.com

Review: Flame and Crystal Thorns (Fae and Crystal Thorns #1) by Kay L. Moody

Review: Flame and Crystal Thorns (Fae and Crystal Thorns #1) by Kay L. Moody

by Christina ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Amazon ~ Goodreads
May 10th 2022
307 pages

She vowed she’d never return to Faerie…
But vows were made to be broken.

As a human girl, Chloe is perfectly happy being back in the mortal realm where she belongs. She’s even become the town apothecary. When a fae from her past shows up begging her to return to Faerie, she utterly refuses.

But then she finds out an angry group of mortals are using iron to hold an entire castle full of fae hostage. And of course, the hostages include Chloe’s older sister and her sister’s beloved.

Reluctantly, Chloe packs a bag for what is supposed to be a short trip to Faerie.

But the mortals are more powerful than she expected. To fuel them, they have weapons, flames, and revenge. They won’t stop until they control every court in Faerie.

With the help of a new and mysterious magic and a devastatingly handsome fae companion, Chloe has to save Faerie before her sister and the other fae are killed.

If you like the rich world building of Throne of Glass, the enemies to lovers romance of Once Upon a Broken Heart, and the mythical creatures and twisty plot of The Cruel Prince, then you’ll devour Kay L. Moody’s breathtaking new young adult epic fantasy series.

Flame and Crystal Thorns is the first book in a new YA fae romance series. This is a spin off of The Fae of Bitter Thorn series by Kay L. Moody. It features a few appearances and minor spoilers from The Fae of Bitter Thorn, but it also stands alone as its own series. It can be read without any prior knowledge or reading of The Fae of Bitter Thorn.

~

MY THOUGHTS

I’ll read anything Kay L. Moody writes, so obviously I adore her words, worlds, and characters. Fae books have really grown on me the last few years and I enjoyed her other series The Fae of Bitter Thorn (read those books first), so I looked forward to reading Flame and Crystal Thorns.

As expected, I had a good reading experience. I like the set up of humans being the antagonists and the mysterious illnesses in the human village. I’m specifically, and oddly interested, in learning more about Ludo (he seems cool).

Now to wait, again, for more books.

Spotlight: Sun & Dream (The Channeler Trilogy #2) by J. Steven Lamperti

Spotlight: Sun & Dream (The Channeler Trilogy #2) by J. Steven Lamperti

by Christina ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Amazon | Goodreads
Coming May 7th 2022
301 pages

Anise has power in her dreams – too much power.

When your dreams can change the world, you need to learn to control them.

Anise’s uncle Sebastian takes her to the Academy, the school where the wizards of Liamec learn to use their powers.

But the people in Anise’s small village are not the only ones who notice the young girl’s abilities. Who is the Watcher, the malevolent presence Anise feels in her dreams, and why is Helios, the sun-god, protecting her?

While Anise studies the ways of the wizards, a dark secret that hangs over the founding of the Academy threatens to unravel reality and destroy the land of Liamec.

Buy and read the first book of the series:

Amazon | Goodreads
February 15, 2020
177 pages
~ * ~ Moon & Shadow will be free to download on 5/7 and 5/8 ~ * ~

Immersed in uncanny magical forces he can’t understand or control, a young farmer’s world is shattered.

Standing on a cow pasture fence, Sebastian reaches up and pulls the moon down from the sky. So begins an adventure that includes battles with monsters, an epic journey, and, ultimately, a confrontation with a channeler of nightmares.

Transformed by the power of magical gifts from his fellow villagers, Sebastian fights a nightmare creature to save his small medieval village and the woman he loves from destruction.
Who is channeling nightmare beasts to attack a simple farming village, and why?

With the guidance of the moon goddess, Luna, Sebastian searches for the source of the deadly creatures that mirror our worst dreams.

Once he reaches and confronts the mage summoning the dark beasts, will Sebastian, the Knight of Moon & Shadow, be able to defeat him?

Spotlight: Rise of the Catalyst (Ancient Magicks Book 1) by Honor Raconteur

Spotlight: Rise of the Catalyst (Ancient Magicks Book 1) by Honor Raconteur

by Christina ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Honor Raconteur | May 31, 2022 | Raconteur House LLC
Steampunk Fantasy
ebook | ASIN: B09VCX18JV | $4.99
Amazon ~ Goodreads

One ancient mask with earth-bending powers searching for a bearer.

One magical retrieval expert who is determined to seal it back in its tomb.

At the moment, both are failing at their goals, but Arwen is not about to be bested. So what if she doesn’t know what culture it’s from or where to put it back. She’s smarter than a semi-sentient mask. Hopefully.

But if the thrice-cursed mask breaks out of her seal one more time, she’s melting it with prejudice, magical backlash be damned.

Find out more about Rise of the Catalyst and Honor Raconteur on Books Forward and on the author’s website.

Spotlight: vViIrRuUsS: I Never Forget, Rose: Future Heart, Hollow: A Love Like A Life by Jazalyn

Spotlight: vViIrRuUsS: I Never Forget, Rose: Future Heart, Hollow: A Love Like A Life by Jazalyn

by Christina ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Author’s Website ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon ~
~ Bookbub ~ Play Store ~ Apple Books ~ Kobo ~ BN
December 18, 2020
168 pages

A ghost spirit of dark’s universe falls in love with a ghost spirit of light’s universe, and while They cannot meet, for They wander around separate realms and spacetimes, They live Their love through a secret and sacred interaction.

They are light years APART.

But there is INVISIBLE possession.

A precious NEED bridges the range.

A SECRET LANGUAGE.

A SACRED ENERGY.

A distant BOND is created.

An EVOLUTION of the SOULS.

Will they ever MEET for REAL?

And in what FORM?

A supernatural paranormal romance poetic novel of mystical and spiritual time travel, epitome of confessional metaphysical and existential love that is seen in space opera.

I prefer the dark
And often I cry
But is it so sad?
You prefer the light
And you smile
But are you happy?

Our eyes see
Different things
But our thoughts
Are aligned
And I’m wondering
Why I love you
When we can’t live
The same life

Author’s Website ~ Amazon ~ Goodreads ~
BookBub ~ Play Store ~ Apple Books ~ Kobo ~ BN
December 18, 2020
226 pages

A socially underprivileged rose witnesses unpleasant events and behaviors that threaten Her inner peace and is determined to set life and love aside in order to find Her true, pure and moral parts of character.

30 petals of MOOD and STATUS.

A society full of INJUSTICES and UNFAIRNESS.

A ROLE She doesn’t want to play.

A RAGE. A RAVE.

A PAST that leads to HATE.

A RARE SOUL.

A wishful CHANGE of HEART.

She AROSE and She ROSE.

From IGNORANCE to STRENGTH.

A FUTURE that should lead to LOVE.

But can there be LOVE?

A dark fantasy magical realism poetic novel that endures urban social issues and inequality, and challenges self esteem, self help, self improvement, self development, healing.

I never knew how to have
I’ve learned to live without love
And I can’t change all of a sudden
Something’s got to happen

Author’s website ~ Amazon ~ Goodreads
Bookbub ~ Play Store ~ Apple Books ~ Kobo ~ BN
December 18, 2020
200 pages

Three robotic viruses are released from unknown forces and compete with each other exposing crimes, with humanity’s scale of existence oscillating between total destruction and reinventing recovery.

A REVELATION of the THOUGHTS.

An AWAKENING for the HIDDEN reality.

A MADNESS pandemic.

A WAR of ESPIONAGE.

Whose VIRUS is which?

Is it too late for reinstating?

The PANIC button pushed.

An attempt to erase the MEMORIES.

Can an EVIL virus SAVE the world?

A post-apocalyptic techno thriller poetic novel that emulates psychological reactions of a serious medical and technological global emergency and provides philosophical insights on the world’s best direction.

It’s unfair
To be guilty
When no one
Is innocent

Review: Kingdom of Illusion (Kingdoms of Saelyn #1) by Aly Clark

Review: Kingdom of Illusion (Kingdoms of Saelyn #1) by Aly Clark

by Christina ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Goodreads | Amazon
April 18th 2022
212 pages

Newly re-released edition of “Kingdom of the New Moon!”

“Remember, Eli. She is the key to your honor.”

Eli, an aquatic, human-like creature, has always called the underwater Tognir Kingdom home—a kingdom subject to the mysterious Eltana, who demands a human sacrifice on each month’s new moon. He’s living the life of his dreams— capturing humans for the new moon sacrifice, commanding Tognir twice his age, and enjoying all the privileges his noble rank of Guardian promises, including the trust and respect of his doting father. But when Eli loses his rank and the bratty King Dominic endangers their entire civilization, his perfect world shatters.

As Eli struggles to come to grips with his dishonor and the disastrous threat looming over the Kingdom, he is called to a secret meeting with the King, who offers him a tantalizing deal to regain his rank. But as he embarks on the King’s dangerous mission, he is forced to confront all he’s ever learned about himself, the Tognir, and the humans they hunt. He must make a choice: Will he reverse the damage the King has wreaked on the Kingdom? Or will he strive for something deeper?

My Thoughts


Now this was something different.

Something so unique and good to the point I set my tablet aside to avoid reading the book in one night. I wanted the story to be longer but I’m sure there will be much more to learn about the Tognir world in the upcoming sequels.

The only thing I wished for was for more interactions between Dom and Millie (she could have been a little more fleshed out). Overall though, the story was enjoyable.
Spotlight: Little Wolf, Little Warrior by Kelley Christine Phelan

Spotlight: Little Wolf, Little Warrior by Kelley Christine Phelan

by Christina ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Amazon – Barnes and Noble
March 2, 2022
173 pages

With a gifted imagination and artistic soul, Kelley Christine Phelan was led down a path of intimate creative writing. A number of events led to a sudden shift in consciousness while she was at one of her lowest points, with a broken heart: self-realization, a Kundalini awakening. For a split second, she was brought into union with the creator and felt nothing but pure nirvana. During her dark night of the soul and transformative healing process, the only way out was in. Writing down her life experiences was a way to release the burdens of the ego and purge the darkness she had been carrying. Not only in this lifetime, but others as well. All poems in this book are her truth.

Find Kelley on Goodreads and on her website.

Spotlight: The Solar Realm by PM Black

Spotlight: The Solar Realm by PM Black

by Christina ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Amazon – Goodreads
December 5th 2021
332 pages

Dreams are fragile things. For the heir of the galactic throne, seventeen-year-old Jenanine Blackwater has never feared that her dream of wearing fabulous dresses and hosting lavish balls as the future Empress would come under threat. She wants to spread a message of peace and unity. She wants to soothe the rift plaguing so many within the realm. Destiny, it seems, is bloodthirsty and doesn’t care about the plans of a naïve girl. An ancient threat infiltrates like shadows in a growing storm, delivering a fatal blow to the current Empress. Hope escapes within the arms of her most loyal protector, the infamous Silver Slayer Kora. Stealing the Imperial Orb, the source of the Empress’ power, Kora’s flight takes her to Jena’s planet to find the musing girl and protect her against a league of demons and assassins that follow in Kora’s wake. Jena’s perfect world collapses. Enemies grow from the shadows until even those once considered allies become the very threat she may not be able to defeat.