I Am Arcana Cover Reveal

RELEASING DECEMBER 7TH 2021

I AM ARCANA

A Tarot Inspired Poetry Collection from debut poet Kristy Nicolle

SYNOPSIS:

THE CARDS KNOW ALL…

From the Author of Award-Winning fantasy romance “simply dripping with poetic justice” comes a debut poetry collection inspired by the enthralling world of tarot.

Divided into the 23 Major Arcana cards of the traditional tarot deck, Kristy Nicolle presents a brand new poetry collection with fresh insight into the multiple interpretations of each legendary icon. 

From The High Priestess to The Fool, jump into a lyrical, poetic world of painful truth and natural beauty. A searing indictment of the world we know today, discover how the very mysticism which runs deep through our collective history is relevant now more than ever. 

Simple, evocative, and thought-provoking, the world of tarot has never seemed so tangible. Perfect for poetry fans of Nikita Gill, Julie Anne Addicott, Atticus, and Kate Baer. 

Sign Up To Kristy Nicolle News to get emails when I AM ARCANA goes live! @ http://eepurl.com/b0Y0yH

 

Keep up to date with Kristy Nicolle @ www.kristynicolle.com  

 

Follow Kristy on Amazon @ https://www.amazon.com/Kristy-Nicolle/e/B01EIQRTX2?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1635107053&sr=8-1

 

 

Deadsteam II Release Spotlight

 

It's release day for DeadSteam II, the terrifying follow up to anthology DeadSteam: A Chilling Collection of Dreadpunk Tales of the Dark and Supernatural. This collection would be perfect to curl up with tomorrow evening, though you may want to leave a light on!

DeadSteam II: More Dreadpunk Tales of the Dark and Supernatural

Publication Date: October 30th (Today 🎃)

Genre: Anthology/ Dreadpunk/ Dark Steampunk/ Horror

Just when you thought the nightmare was over, what was dead comes crawling back from the beyond. We warned you not to open that fateful tome. But you just couldn't resist, could you?

Back with more chilling tales of the dark and supernatural, the anthology of dreadpunk, gaslamp, and dark steampunk returns to haunt you with mummies, witches, vampires, gorgons, ghosts. The second installment in the DeadSteam series from Grimmer & Grimmer Books, DeadSteam II promises an even darker, grimmer gothic than the first offering.

DeadSteam II includes stories by DeadSteam alumni David Lee Summers (Owl Dance, The Brazen Shark), Karen J Carlisle (The Adventures of Viola Stewart), Bryce Raffle, Ross Smeltzer, C.C. Adams, E. Seneca, and Rob Francis, while also introducing newcomers to the DeadSteam series.

If you should sense someone lurking down by the river, some thing creeping through the forest, a sound from the attic, a strange pattern in the wallpaper that shouldn't be there, a cold gust of wind on your neck...don't look back. Just run. Run as far as you can.

But know this...we're still here.

Purchase your copy on Amazon today!

About the Authors

Edited By: Bryce Raffle

Stories By: DeadSteam alumni David Lee Summers (Owl Dance, The Brazen Shark), Karen J Carlisle (The Adventures of Viola Stewart), Bryce Raffle, Ross Smeltzer, C.C. Adams, E. Seneca, and Rob Francis, while also introducing newcomers to the DeadSteam Series: Artoria Sahnow, Renee MPT Kray, Melanie Cossey, RE McAuliffe, and Macy Harrison

DeadSteam

Book Release Blitz Organized By: 

R&R Book Tours

The Resurrectionist Book Blitz Spotlight

If you enjoy gothic tales, then look no further than The Resurrectionist by A.R. Meyering. A chilling tale inspired by real life events!

The Resurrectionist “Inspired by the true story of the Burke and Hare murders”

Publication Date: July 3rd, 2020

Genre: Supernatural/ Horror/ Fantasy/ Based on Real Life Characters

Scotland, 1854

On a skinny, forgotten road in Edinburgh stood a shop without a name—a shop that could be found only if one had previously been led to its door. William, who was blind, rapped his knuckles on the door. The shop owner opens the door and says, “I recognize you. You’re the thief who slithered away while your partner swung by his neck.”

William begs the woman to break the curse that has been set on him that prevents him from dying. The curse, says the woman, cannot be broken, but it can be displaced. Is your death so precious to you that you would destroy one more innocent life to get it? The life of your own child?”

London 1895

In 19^th century Scotland surgeon Edgar Price has only days to live. He has become host to a revenant that will corrode both his body and soul. Edgar’s fatal mistake has not only doomed him, but also released six more of these malignant wraiths onto the world. In his remaining time, he has vowed to stop the revenants from claiming other victims. His perilous travels lead him to the Witches’ Wood, a haven for a sisterhood of powerful enchantresses. There he meets Ainsley, who is also racing against the clock to save her life and will go to any lengths to spare the life of her lover Colleen from the grief of losing her. Despite their mutual dislike, Edgar and Ainsley find that the only way to traverse the twisted, otherworldly labyrinths that the revenants have created is to work together. Their mission becomes further complicated when Edgar begins to develop feelings for Fana, the guardian goddess of the Wood in spite of Ainsley’s forbidding warnings to stay far away from her.

Though THE RESURRECTIONIST is a work of fantasy, many of the settings and elements are based on fact. Horror and fantasy intermingle in this novel inspired by the true story of the Burke and Hare murders.

From 1828-29, Irish immigrants William Burke and William Hare were responsible for the murders of sixteen people in Edinburgh. Their methods generally involved luring a victim to Hare’s boardinghouse, where they plied them heavily with alcohol before suffocating them. They were motivated by greed, selling the corpses of their victims to a local surgeon, Robert Knox. Each victim was publicly dissected, and Dr. Knox is largely thought to have been complicit in the crimes.

During their ten-month killing spree, William Hare’s common-law wife, Margaret Laird, was pregnant with their child. Hare was pardoned for his crimes due to his confession and condemnation of his accomplice Burke, who was hanged and publicly dissected as punishment.

After being pardoned, Hare, Margaret, and their infant are thought to have escaped to Ireland. It also has been rumored that William Hare was thrown into a lime pit and subsequently suffered blindness before becoming a beggar. The victims in THE RESURRECTIONIST are also based on real life people.

Reminiscent of Tess Gerritsen’s The Bone Garden, THE RESURRECTIONIST explores a real-life horror story through a riveting supernatural thriller that is guaranteed to hook readers from the very first page.

Available on Amazon

About the Author

A.R. Meyering was a graduate student studying philosophy. She has worked as an English teacher in a small town in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. Her dark fantasy novel, Unreal City, won a Literary Classics International Book Award gold medal for YA horror and a Moonbeam Award bronze medal in YA horror. While doing her undergrad in English she studied abroad in Edinburgh, focusing on Scottish occult literature and folklore. 

Sadly, A.R. Meyering passed away in 2021.

A.R. Meyering

Book Blitz Organized By: 

R&R Book Tours

 

Deck the Donuts Review

 

Deck the Donuts is the sixth book in Ginger Bolton’s Deputy Donut cozy mystery series and is the perfect holiday-themed novel to get you in the holiday spirit!

While this book is part of a series, it can be, in my opinion, be read as a stand-alone and be thoroughly enjoyed. Though I will warn you, that if you’re like me and have missed out on the delectable previous novels, you’re going to want to read them all to truly enjoy the full storyline that is weaved together with the connection that all of the characters have established a page at a time.

It’s Christmastime in Fallingbrook up in snowy Wisconsin, and everyone is excited. But some passengers on a tour bus are about to have their Christmas derailed just a bit with a scary accident that leaves them stranded, and the driver, later that night, murdered. Alcohol is suspected to be the culprit, but who was drinking? The driver? The tour guide? Both? They both deny it, but is there more to the story than what they are telling? When the driver is found dead, the questions are – who did it and why? Get ready for some twists as suspects present themselves and seem like viable candidates, but just wait for the proof to rise and the truth will surprise you.

Deck the Donuts is the first book that I have read by Ginger Bolton and let me just say, I was absolutely delighted with this novel. I loved this book so much that I fully intend to go back and grab the rest. They are that good! This book is packed with lots for readers to enjoy. Emily is a clever sleuth, but I love that she’s not too dogmatic about her part in the investigation. Of course, her husband used to be a cop, so she’s familiar with most if not all of the cops in Fallingbrook. But I appreciate her tact when she is asking questions and trying to figure out exactly what happened starting with the tour bus accident.

This book is so well-balanced. It was a little slow for me in the beginning, and that might be because of my lack of familiarity with the characters, but like donut dough proofing, as it begins to develop and rise I found myself eagerly page-turning to get to the good stuff. The author gives readers a nice dose of everyday life as the investigation progresses, and in some instances stalls. When one lead falls through, a little digging reveals another that once again begins to move things forward. You get a nice amount of a variety of characters that help bring this book to delightful life. The author tempts you with thoughts of deliciously decadent treats that will have your mouth watering as you read and craving a donut or two. As a baker myself, I’m eager to look up some recipes for some of the treats talked about in this novel so that I can make them or create my own recipes. LOL! Yes, they sound that good!

Now, I pride myself on figuring out who the bad guy is before the big reveal, but the author kept me buried in drift with the way so many could have had a motive. It’s not until nearly the end that the truth is revealed! Let me tell you, I was caught off guard! LOL! With each potential suspect, I was sorting through the clues. With a couple of the characters, I was sure of their guilt in some form or another with certain things. With one character in particular though I was so sure that their motive was it, the truth is always something different. I have to admit I was more than a little delighted with how the author kept me on my toes and revealed who the killer is and they admitted their story.

When I say that this book is packed, I mean it is packed! You get the small-town feel of Fallingbrook. You get the holiday feel of the season with the snow, the celebration, the lights, and the decorations. You get the sweet hints of romance waiting to bloom that has slowly been developing and is now waiting for just the right moment. You get the mystery that will keep you page-turning, and the delightful donuts that will tempt you as the author include some tasty recipes at the end of her novel.

This book is so much like a tasty donut. The appearance is beautiful, but since it’s new, you’re hesitant to take that first taste. What if you don’t like it? What if it’s not as good as it looks? Then you take that first taste, and you're taken by surprise. It’s so good! But regrettably, so like when you only have the one donut, you have to restrain yourself from devouring it in two bites, so you draw out the donuts demise, but savoring each bite until that last morsel passes your lips. This describes Ginger Bolton’s novel perfectly. I enjoyed the book like the tasty treat that it is, but I’m sad that it’s over. LOL! The good news? There are more books to be discovered, tasted, and enjoyed and that is exactly what I intend to do.

I am rating this book a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars. I could not get enough of this book. Deck the Donuts is the perfect holiday novel to get you in the spirit for Christmas and to have you craving some delicious donuts as well. Packed with holiday cheer, delicious treats, a cuddly kitty, some sweet romance, and a tantalizing mystery this book is sure to keep you page-turning. You’ll enjoy this book from beginning to end whether you’ve read the entire series to this point, or just finding this author for the first time. If you have read the previous books, you’re not going to want to miss this one. If you are looking for a delightful holiday novel, but are new to the series, dive in! You’ll find lots to enjoy that will have you coming back for more. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.  

Wolf Trials Review

 

 Wolf Trials is the first book in Mila Young’s and R.A. Johns’s new paranormal romance novel, The Shadowmate series and you are not going to want to miss this book. Wynter is a hybrid wolf, part human- part wolf. She’s returning home for the first time since her father swept her away from the pack. His passing has her coming back home, but she’s not prepared for what is waiting for her. Her mother is the Alpha of three packs: the Sun Wolves, the Moon Wolves, and the Shadow Wolves. A dangerous cold-called the Deep is coming and the Fearless believe that the time has come to bring in a new Alpha in the hopes that returning to the old ways will help them face what is coming. Wyn’s mother has no intentions of relinquishing the power she holds. While Wyn must participate despite being “weak” her mother makes it clear that even if Wyn fails to win, that she will be mated to the winner. The Wolf Trials are nothing to sneeze at, and those initiates chosen will find out just how dangerous the trials and each other truly are.

Wolf Trials swept me away the minute I started reading this book. Wyn acts more human than wolf and it’s because of the fact that she has been sickly most of her life. I’m sad that she lost her father, but learning about her mother is like cold water to the face. It’s a shock. Her mother craves power and the authors pull no punches in letting readers know that she will do what she feels she must to maintain her hold on it. I like that the authors introduce readers to Ri first. He’s the dark horse so to speak of the two wolves who capture Wyn’s attention. Ri has a dark past and I’d love to dig deeper and find out exactly what happened to him and his sister.

The dynamics between the three packs are really interesting. The Shadow Wolves come off as outcasts or those who live...in the shadows. LOL! Then the Moon Wolves are the servants to the Sun Wolves, who are top dogs. I’m curious as to how this arrangement came to be. Each of the packs’ heads is different, but the two packs share a common theme – a craving for power. I look at Flint and I know that he’s going to be a problem sooner rather than later and that if Hunter goes against his plans (which I’m betting he will) that there will be dire consequences. I’m curious as to how Hunter is going to handle that because right now he’s blind to the looming danger in that direction.

My only real complaint about this book is – Wyn. Wyn is against participating in the Wolf Trials because she knows that it’s what her mother wants. When her mother threatens to put another younger wolf in her place, she balks but agrees. But then she turns around and thinks that her running away will help the situation. My irritation immediately pops up and asks, “On what planet is this a good idea?” Did she think that her mother wouldn’t turn around and do exactly what she has already threatened? Did she think that running away would save her friend from being the sacrificial lamb in her place? It makes Wyn look like a selfish child who doesn’t really take in the consequences of her actions. Now, don’t get me wrong, I despise the mother, but she has her role to play in all of this and is part of the driving force for this book. I’m more focused on Wyn because 1) she is the main female character and 2) she claims to care about this younger girl but then turns around and through her actions says she’s willing to put this girl’s life at risk so that she can run back to the human world. It’s disappointing.

Now! This book is seriously a page-turner and I absolutely devoured it. I like the beginnings of the romance between Wyn, Ri, and Hunter. I’m really hoping that this will be a reverse harem romance because my brain has already run off with what has happened thus far. Not going to drop any spoilers, you’re just going to have to read the book to find out what I’m hinting at. I’m rating this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. I’m taking off half a star for Wyn’s attempt at running away. If you love upper YA paranormal romance novels then this book is one to check out. The ending leaves things with a really interesting twist and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. I will neither confirm nor deny whether or not I page-turned through the ending pages to find a tidbit to tide me over until the next book. LOL!  

Behind Closed Doors Review

 

Welcome to the release of the North American edition of Behind Closed Doors by bestselling author, Catherine Alliott! Read on for my thoughts on this engaging novel!

Behind Closed Doors by Catherine Alliott is a beautifully written novel about a woman by the name of Lucy Palmer. Lucy seems to have a good life, but what goes on behind closed doors tells a different tale. Her husband is a philanderer and he is less than kind to her, but he never makes the mistake of physically lashing out at her. Instead, he keeps his cruelty toward her in the form of vicious words and attempts to shame her with his unfaithfulness. One night, after another nasty "fight" everything changes for Lucy and she's granted her freedom from the man that once she thought that she truly loved. Now, she's free to make her own path and be unafraid in doing so. But the big question becomes -- can she let love back into her life? Or will she allow what she went through to shut that door and lock it away?

Behind Closed Doors is the first book that I have read by Catherine Alliott and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The author sweeps me away into Lucy's life from the beginning with a bit of a wild encounter with her parents. I love how the author makes the parents still viable and active. They create some chaos here and there, but I love that they aren't infirmed and locked away in a residence for the elderly somewhere. There does come off the vibe that there might be some tension between Lucy and her sister, Helena, but it doesn't rise to the surface in a nasty way. 

This book is like a carefully recreated painting. You see a beautiful scene and you work to recreate it perfectly. Piece by piece this book comes together to create a beautiful image with the author's acute attention to detail and giving readers Lucy's story as to how exactly she came to be with Michale, her husband. I must say that the author does an amazing job invoking my emotions in this book as well. As the beginning chapters are laid out I can't help but want to empathize with Lucy. I continuously wanted to just go up to her, if she was a real person, and hug her. Tell her that it's going to be okay, and just be there for her. 

Granted! There are moments in this book where I honestly wanted to shake Lucy. Especially in her younger years when Michael is a literal walking red flag. I'd know, I've lived some of this, too. But I applaud her for the way that she protects and takes care of her children. I also appreciate that I get a better understanding of the relationship with her sister, and where some of the animosity comes from. It's disappointing but not that surprising, to be honest. 

This story moves at a good pace. I love the humor that is sprinkled throughout and how true to life these characters are. I almost believe that I could "hop across the pond" and meet them in their towns/cities. I appreciate that the author has Lucy taking her time to really move forward. Her relationship with her parents is well done and I like how things really come together and Lucy opens up. 

I practically devoured this book, and I must say that I'd love to read more by this author in the future. I'll definitely be checking out her previous works. I don't read a lot of contemporary fiction, but when I find a good author, I grab hold and dig deeper. LOL! If you are a fan of this author's work I encourage you to pick this book up. If you just love contemporary fiction/women's fiction then I encourage you to pick this book up. This book is so enjoyable and you're not going to want to miss out. I'm happy to rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. Well-deserved. 

Thank you to the author, Catherine Alliott and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book! 

Available on Amazon

About the Author

Catherine has sold over 3 million bestselling novels worldwide and is translated into eighteen languages.

The first of these novels Catherine started under the desk when she worked as an advertising copywriter. She was duly fired. With time on her hands, she persevered with the novels, which happily flourished.

In the early days she produced a baby with each book – but after three – stuck to the writing as it was less painful.

She writes with her favorite pen in notebooks, either in the garden or on a sofa.

Home is a rural spot on the Hertfordshire border, which she shares with her family and a menagerie of horses, cows, chickens, and dogs, which at the last count totaled eighty-seven beating hearts, including her husband. Some of her household have walk-on parts in her novels, but only the chickens would probably recognize themselves.

All her novels are published by Penguin Random House internationally, and by No Shooz Publishing in America.

Catherine Alliot | Instagram | Facebook

Be sure to check out my fellow bloggers/book reviewers as they share spotlights and their opinions concerning this engaging novel! 

Book Tour Schedule

October 18^th

R&R Book Tours (Kick- Off) http://rrbooktours.com

Liliyana Shadowlyn (Spotlight) https://lshadowlynauthor.com/

Stine Writing (Spotlight) https://christinebialczak.com/

@greeneyedgirl0704 (Review) https://www.instagram.com/greeneyedgirl0704/

October 19^th

@isbn_reading (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/isbn_reading/

@lianne_the_bibliophile (Review) https://www.instagram.com/lianne_the_bibliophile/

Paige Warren (Spotlight) https://paigewarren.Wordpress.com

Sue’s Musings (Spotlight) https://suelbavey.wordpress.com/

October 20^th

Nesie’s Place (Spotlight) https://nesiesplace.wordpress.com

Reads & Reels (Spotlight) http://readsandreels.com

Dash Fan Book Reviews (Review) https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/

Harley Wylde (Spotlight) https://harleywylde.blogspot.com

October 21^st

PoptheButterfly (Spotlight) https://popthebutterfly.wordpress.com

Bunny’s Book Reviews (Review) https://bookwormbunnyreviews.blogspot.com/

Books + Coffee = Happiness (Spotlight) https://bookscoffeehappiness.com/

Rambling Mads (Review) http://ramblingmads.com

October 22^nd

@bookishkelly2020 (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/BookishKelly2020/

Kristin’s Novel Café (Review) https://knovelcafe.wordpress.com/

@amyd_apa (Review) https://www.instagram.com/amyd_apa/

@biblio.jojo (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/biblio.jojo/

Book Tour Organized By:

R&R Book Tours

Book Spotlight: Rising Star

 

Welcome to the book tour for Rising Star by Michele Kwasniewski! Read on for more details and a chance to win a signed copy of the book!

Rising Star (The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart #1)

Publication Date: October 20th, 2020

Genre: Young Adult 

In the first book in THE RISE AND FALL OF DANI TRUEHART series, RISING STAR, fifteen-year-old Dani Truehart is living a life that is not quite her own. Driven by her mother’s desire for fame and fortune, she has spent her childhood dutifully training for a career as a pop star. On the brink of discovery, doubts begin to creep into Dani’s mind as she questions her own desire for fame, and she wonders whether she can trust the motivations of the adults who are driving her forward.

Following a brilliant audition arranged by her vocal/dance coach and former ’80s pop icon Martin Fox, Dani is thrown full-force into the music industry. She leaves her friends, family and scheming mother behind to move with Martin, who has become her legal guardian, into the Malibu compound of her new manager, Jenner Redman. Jenner, the former swindling manager of Martin’s boy band, leverages what’s left of his depleted fortune to launch Dani’s career.

Isolated from her life at home and trying to stay apace with her demanding schedule, Dani struggles to keep in touch with those she loves, connect to her withholding mother and find her voice as an artist. With Martin and Jenner at odds over their rocky past and finding herself unprepared to handle the pressures of her future singing career, Dani’s debut album and future stardom are at risk of falling apart.

Add to Goodreads

Excerpt

I walk back to the couch, sit down and stare at my parents.  I feel like I’ve aged a lifetime in the past few hours I’ve listening to my mom haggle over every detail of my contract like I’m a piece of meat at the butcher. “Mom, I’ve been working for this my whole life. Stop causing problems and let Martin do his job. You can’t threaten to stop me now after you’ve already given guardianship to Martin. Acting like a concerned parent this late in the game isn’t going to work. If you really wanted to protect me, you would have never handed me over to Martin.”

I shake my head and narrow my eyes at my mom, so furious I can barely speak. “I’m sorry that the money I make isn’t going directly into your pockets like you’d hoped. I promise the first thing I’ll do is to pay you and Dad back for all the lessons you’ve given me. You deserve some return on your investment. But if the past few hours have shown me anything, it’s why you really pushed me to do this all these years. I’m sorry that you won’t be getting the big payday you’d hoped for.”

My parents just sit there, stunned.

Tears stream down my face as I get up to leave. I’m a mess of anger and sadness, and I just want to be alone.

Available on Amazon

About the Author

After graduating from Loyola Marymount University with a BA in Technical Theater, Michele Kwasniewski spent over fifteen years in film and television production. Starting out as a film set assistant on movies such as INDEPENDENCE DAY, FACE/OFF, PRIMAL FEAR, and EVITA, she worked her way up to production manager on TV shows including BIG BROTHER, ADOPTION STORIES, EXTRA YARDAGE and MEET THE PANDAS. She is also a proud member of the Producers Guild of America. Michele’s colorful experiences in the industry inspired her to write THE RISE AND FALL OF DANI TRUEHART series. Michele lives in San Clemente, California with her husband, their son, and their disobedient dachshund. RISING STAR is her first novel.

Michele Kwasniewski | Twitter | Facebook

Giveaway: Signed Copy of Rising Star (US only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0e7c6a8f301/

Feel free to check out my fellow bloggers & reviewers as they share their own thoughts, opinions, and spotlights about this book! 

Book Tour Schedule

October 18^th

Reads & Reels (Spotlight) http://readsandreels.com

B is for Book Review (Spotlight) https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com

PoptheButterfly (Spotlight) https://popthebutterfly.wordpress.com

@booksintheirnaturalhabitat (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/booksintheirnaturalhabitat/

October 19^th

Rambling Mads (Review) http://ramblingmads.com

Gina Rae Mitchell (Spotlight) https://ginaraemitchell.com/

Books + Coffee = Happiness (Spotlight) https://bookscoffeehappiness.com/

October 20^th

Breakeven Books (Spotlight) https://breakevenbooks.com

Bunny’s Book Reviews (Spotlight) https://bookwormbunnyreviews.blogspot.com/

Stine Writing (Spotlight) https://christinebialczak.com/

Misty’s Book Space (Spotlight) http://mistysbookspace.wordpress.com

October 21^st

Liliyana Shadowlyn (Spotlight) https://lshadowlynauthor.com/

@happily_undignified (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/happily_undignified/

October 22^nd

The Livi Chronicles (Review) https://livibrooksbooks.wixsite.com/website

Owl Book World (Review) https://www.owlbookworld.com/

The Faerie Review (Spotlight) http://www.thefaeriereview.com

Book Tour Organized By:

R&R Book Tours

Fractured Lives Review

 

Welcome to the tour for another exciting Angela Hardwicke Sci-fi Mystery! This one is called Fractured Lives.

Read on to check out my review of this engaging sci-fi mystery!

Fractured Lives by Russ Colchamiro is the second book in his Angela Hardwicke sci-fi mystery novel. While this book is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone novel which I really appreciate it. 

Fractured Lives takes readers deep into this unique sci-fi novel as Angela is brought a case by a woman who is concerned for her daughter. Darla has been enrolled at this interesting college that has some even more interesting rules concerning anything and everything that is created there. You make an amazing piece of art? They get to keep it, sell, it and make a profit off of it. But it doesn't stop there. Things go deeper than they appear on more levels than one. 

The mother is sure that something is deeply wrong with her daughter, that she is fractured, but what can Angela really do? Her assistant jumps the gun a bit and agrees to take the case, but Angela was already leaning in that direction so onward they go. This case is going to take them on some serious twists as Angela works to delve deep enough to figure out -- what exactly is the Scarlet Raj? Is it something real and dangerous? Or is it just a myth that the students have made up concerning the college that has such a high dropout rate, but still is in high demand for students to want to get in. 

This book isn't your average sci-fi mystery thriller novel. It takes a unique twist that does a good job of keeping me engaged in what happens next. I like that Darla is really giving those around her concern to worry. The drawings are interesting on the one hand and disturbing on the other. The fracturing and then the unique draw to the two specific colored crystals add to the elements of this story. Especially when Angela and Whistler see someone utilizing something that fits the description of those crystals exactly. One that fractures you and then another that will heal the fractures back together making you whole once again. That is something worth delving deeper into and investigating more.

But this book doesn't just focus on the mystery swirling around Darla and her family, because not everything is perfect there either. Something more is happening at home that is impacting the entire family. But they aren't the only ones dealing with personal issues. Angela has her own personal issues coming back to haunt her and it all starts with the innocent return of her lover and father of her son, Caleb. 

This book has a lot of interesting elements and twists to it. I appreciate how the author has Angela delving so deeply into this case and into the college itself. While readers are essentially kept in the dark when it comes to the brochure of the school with Angela revealing the details through her investigation honestly makes it so satisfying to receive each piece of information at a time. I can't help wondering just how far the college would go to potentially push out a student who has created something truly inspiring so that they could then turn around and sell it to the highest bidder. Of course, those suspicions are best buried in the dark. Right? 

While this book does give readers a nice amount of mystery, I can't help but want more. I wanted the storyline to be more focused on that and give me a bit less of Angela's personal life. I understand how it comes together to play into the overall storyline because there is the meaning behind specific pieces of it, but I wanted more space and mystery. We get tastes here and there of the futuristic world, but I wanted this book to dive a bit deeper with that angle and give me more to really satisfy that craving for true futuristic science fiction. 

All in all, I enjoyed reading this book, and my interest is piqued in reading the first in this series. I look forward to what this author writes next in the future. For this book, I am choosing to rate it 4.5 out of 5 stars. I'm taking off half a star because I wanted more focus on the science fiction angle and the futuristic element of this book. If it weren't for reminders here and there throughout the novel, this book could have taken place in the modern or not-so-distant future with a hint of imagination. If you enjoy books that are mystery/thrillers with a hint of science fiction then feel free to check this book out. If you have read the previous book in this series then I encourage you to not miss out on this one.

My thanks to the author, Russ Colchamiro, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book. 

This book is currently available on Amazon!

About the Author

Russ Colchamiro is the author of the rollicking space adventure, Crossline, the zany SF/F backpacking comedy series Finders Keepers: The Definitive Edition, Genius de Milo, and Astropalooza, and is editor of the SF anthology Love, Murder & Mayhem, all with Crazy 8 Press.

Russ lives in New Jersey with his wife, two ninjas, and crazy dog Simon, who may in fact be an alien himself. Russ has also contributed to several other anthologies, including Tales of the Crimson Keep, Pangaea, Altered States of the Union, Camelot 13, TV Gods 2, They Keep Killing Glenn, Thrilling Adventure Yarns, Camelot 13, and Brave New Girls.

He is now working on the first novel in a new series featuring his hardboiled private eye Angela Hardwicke, and the first of three collaborative novella projects.

Russ Colchamiro| Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads  

Please be sure to come back and check out my fellow bloggers/reviewers as they share their insights on this sci-fi mystery novel.

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