Dream Walker Review Spotlight

 Welcome to the book tour for Brittany Gossin's Dream Walker! Read on for more details!

 Dream Walker is a young adult/coming of age romantic fantasy novel that will grip you from the beginning, but then allow you to settle in for a mostly engaging storyline. Get ready to meet Ella as she works to discover who she is and protect those she comes to care for, but only after tragedy strikes.

Dream Walker by Brittany Gossin is one of those books that lassos you from the beginning, hits you with some jaw-dropping moments and then shifts forward to the world we are all familiar with.

Dream Walker begins with a world at war. Nightmares are running rampant and destroying everything in their path. Their power has grown to the point that keeping them at bay is becoming harder and harder. A difficult decision for the Queen is at hand, and it is one that she must yield to...or else all will be lost.

The story transitions at this point to the Earth realm that we are familiar with. Ella is a high school student. She’s awakened from a terrible nightmare of her own. The scene that plays out will grip you and have you wondering...is this real? What happens if this thing that hunts her harms her in the dream? Will it transfer to the real world when she wakes? If she does at all?

Cue loads of tension and drama, right? Those are the best kinds of books the ones that keep you on the edge of your seat and page-turning to find out what happens next.

Of course, author Gossin allows the story to settle in for awhile after some chaotic scenes that play out. Ella suffers a horrific tragedy that forces her on the run, but with a little help she escapes death, but one question remains and it will continue to go unanswered for a time.

As Ella embarks on unlocking her magic she is going to have quite the road ahead of her. Accessing her magic won’t be easy and she’s already been given a clue that something will keep her from it. Of course, she doesn’t pay much attention to this mention because she feels overwhelmed in the moment.

While there are surprises along the way, the pacing of the story slows down quite a lot. We’re going to get moments of turmoil and chaos as Ella and others like her are thrown into the deep end to prepare themselves for the fight coming, but there is also a sense of underlying drama. There is someone looking to exploit them and this one safe place. Who is this mysterious person? And who is their inside helper? Like Ella doesn’t have enough on her plate to deal with. Things just keep piling up.

Wondering where the romance angle comes in? Well, it sparks pretty quickly. He’s older (by a few years), but wait! What’s this? Is there a second potential interest? Why yes! We think there is! Who will be the one who gets the girl?! Well, you’ll just have to read to find out. Though it is weird for Ella to talk about/think that Ethan has shared “so much” with her in private. He’s shared a thing or two here and there, but this girl needs to slow her roll. She’s acting like he’s been sharing his life story with her until someone else shows up. Not the case at all and it makes her sound...a touch delusional.

Ella is an interesting character, and she’s growing little by little, but I need girlfriend to get her head in the game and stay focused. She’s got a big fight ahead of her, and it’s coming from more than one front.

Dream Walkers has a lot of good things in it, and it’s an engaging story for sure. I loved the horror elements especially and the dynamic cast of fantasy characters. Readers who enjoy a good romantic fantasy novel will not want to miss out on the beginning of this new series.

Dream Walker (Realm of Dreams #1)

Publication Date: July 2, 2024

Genre Romantic Fantasy

• Found family

• Secrets and betrayal

• Closed-door spice

• Magic, fae, elves

• Dragons and demons

• Slow burn

In the aftermath of a harrowing nightmare, seventeen-year-old Ella Windsor must face a chilling reality as the wounds from her dreams appear on her body. To add to her terror, she witnesses the intrusion of a nightmarish creature come to life, lurking on her high school campus.

Faced with no choice but to escape the nightmares and search for why she’s the only one who can see them, Ella ventures into the mysterious Astral Realm. Alongside Ethan Wessex, a stunningly gorgeous Lieutenant of the Queen’s Astral Guard with his own air of mystery, Ella discovers a realm on the brink of war.

Azvameth, the King of Nightmares, harboring secrets of his own, seeks dominion not just over the Astral Realm but every waking world. With the assistance of other dream walkers, including the devastatingly handsome Cole, a Fae Prince, and Rhea, a feisty Elven female, each armed with latent magic, Ella may prove to be the missing piece in destroying Azvameth and saving her precious Mortal and Astral Realms.

In this epic romantasy, Ella grapples with love and betrayal, torn between the mysterious Ethan and the potential true love of Cole, all while embarking on a journey of self-discovery and found family. The nightmares have awakened, but so has she.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON & THE AUTHOR’S WEBSITE

 

Tour Organizer: @rrbooktours

Tenebrion Review Spotlight

Welcome one and all to the book tour for Tenebrion! Love a good horror story with gore, demons, and some seriously twisted elements? Then this is the book for you! Keep reading.

It's that time of year again. It's time for the annual Terrorfest competition, and everyone is piling up into the theater to see what the contestants thought up to try and win this year's contest. Some are excited, some are bored, and some are just ready for it all to be over with. But something dark overshadows this year's contest.

Death...

One of the teams didn't make it. Their final moments? Captured on film. It's evidence in an investigation, but that's not going to stop one of the hosts for Terrorfest from showing what he found on the film that he got. Horror is about to be unleashed...

Tenebrion is a horror novel by James H. Longmore. This story details a group of indie filmmakers looking to create a short film that could be their big breakout moment. Or are they? Could it be that someone in the group has something more in mind? 

Tenebrion has a slow start. This book is slow getting going, but once it gains steam and momentum you can expect a novel that will keep you glued to the pages to find out how not just how it all goes down, but what will happen to the characters you meet at the beginning. 

Page by page Tenebrion unfolds as the characters in this book go to an old abandoned school. This is a place of terrible tragedy. It's almost like a magnet for death and destruction. Countless lives have been lost and so, for Dave Priestley this is the place to come to for his epic film idea. 

Tenebrion goes for Blair Witch but in book form. You're getting the set up and the calm before the storm. But all is not as it seems. Author Longmore gives readers little glimpses into another's mind. This creature is plotting the mayhem that will befall these innocent lives. But first it will break them and break them down. 

The title ties into the story rather quickly which is really nice, and then it is tied even tighter to the storyline in multiple places to re-emphasize just who and what this story is about. It's absolutely fantastic. 

While this book has a slow start and takes time to find it's stride, it is a true page-turner. The author works just hard enough to keep your interest piqued. Once you're hooked though? Good luck putting this book down. You're going to be eagerly page-turning to find out what fresh horror awaits these characters. What will they be made to endure before the bloody end?

Tenebrion showcases how this author allowed his imagination to run absolutely wild. You think that you know where this story is going and then you get a surprise element or twist thrown at you. One thing is for sure and that is you're not going to be bored reading this book. 

You will be eagerly looking for more by this author and devouring everything in your path. Tenebrion is darkly delicious and a must read for readers who enjoy a tasty horror novel that will be sure to worm it's way deep into your mind. 

We dare you to read it in the dark...before you go to bed... 

Sweet dreams...if you do. LOL

5 out of 5 stars

Black Tide Book Tours

July 2-5

"The Devil is in the detail..."

Amateur filmmakers inadvertently invoke a demon when they break into an abandoned school to perform and film an authentic Black Mass for their entry into a short movie competition.

Dave Priestley and his crew film in Watsonville elementary school – the site of a horrific tragedy nine years before.

Tenebrion – the malevolent demon of darkness – makes preparations of its own within the dark recesses of Hell. The demon requires a specific set of circumstances and sacrifices to rend a fissure between the worlds and set free its brethren; it has manipulated humans for centuries to put things into place, and the moviemakers are the unfortunate, final pieces of its nefarious puzzle.

Priestley, ever the stickler for authenticity and detail, accidentally sets free the denizen of Hell.

While Priestley and his skeptical friends attempt to return Tenebrion to the pit of Hades, it hunts them all down – one by one – for inclusion in its hellish gateway.

Universal link for the book on Amazon

About the Author

James hails originally from Yorkshire, England having relocated with his family to Houston, Texas in 2010. He was honored to become a US citizen in 2022. He has an honors degree in Zoology and a background in sales, marketing, and business. James is an Affiliate Member of the Horror Writers Association.

An accomplished, published author (and publisher in his role as co-founder partner in HellBound Books Publishing LLC), and ghostwriter of popular fiction, James writes across an incredibly wide range of genres and subjects in novel, shorts story, and screenplay formats. To date, he has four novels, five novellas, and a whole slew of short stories published by various publishers (many can be found in his first collection, Blood and Kisses). He also runs and co-hosts the popular ppodcast/radio show (The New Panic Room), which is used to promote HellBound Books and indie authors, artists, audiobook narrators, and publishers of all genres.

James has been working full time as a freelance ghostwriter (and editor) for over a decade. He is quite the chameleon when it comes to writing: James is able to adapt to a wide range of styles and genres, is incredibly thorough in his research (he's renowned for his details, which bring stories leaping from the page!), extensive vocabulary, and he always keeps the client's "voice" when ghostwriting. Clients love him - especially with that Northern British accent (as an ex-pat, James is most proficient at writing in both UK and US styles – he also has clients in Australia who love his style!) and enthusiasm for every writing project he takes on.

https://www.jameslongmore.com
https://twitter.com/james_longmore
https://www.facebook.com/jameshlongmore1
https://mybook.to/jameshlongmore

Publisher's Social Media

https://hellboundbookspublishing.com/
https://twitter.com/HellBoundBooks
https://www.instagram.com/hellboundbooks

 

The Story of Evil Vol 1 Review Spotlight

We're excited to share with you today....The Story of Evil: Heroes of the Siege! Author Tony Johnson has created quite the epic with this story and series. If you haven't read it yet...you are in for a treat! 

 The Story of Evil: Heroes of the Siege is the first volume in Tony Johnson’s The Story of Evil series, and if you love an action packed story then this is the one for you.

Heroes of the Siege draws you in with a cover featuring a knight dressed for a joust or even possibly battle going full tilt. Decked in reds with blue accents the image is enough to excite you to witness the fight at hand for yourself. But what you don’t know is the chaos that is waiting to erupt...and that will spare no man, woman or child.

The Story of Evil: Heroes if the Siege sets the stage with a prologue that outlines the creation of Element, the planet our characters will call home. We get an interesting story of creation followed by a power struggle between two gods: Alazar and Zebulon. Cue the rise of a five headed dragon. Yes, people...five heads. Can we all say hydra? Well, the good news is...the heads don’t grow back. LOL! Once one head goes...it’s a done deal.

While the evil dragon, Draviakhan, is slain, it doesn’t mean that all is now well. King Zoran, the defeater of Draviakhan, reigns, but age is catching up to him. Meanwhile evil is brewing in his own kingdom, and chaos is about to be reigned down on the innocent once more.

Enter Steve! The warrior who will be representing Celestial in the tournament. He’s excited, and the people are excited as well. Steve is one of several characters who will take the stage in this beginning story. Steve is 19 years-old. He has no idea that this day of the tournament will be one of the longest and hardest for him.

Then meet Karia. She’s half human, half elf. She’s alone in this world, but she’s doing her best to survive and get by. She encounters her own problems when she crosses paths with a monster in the forest. This is a sign of things to come. Karia has repeatedly voiced how humans are taking too much by over hunting, but no one listens. Now, she faces the problem head on for herself.

Then there is Ty, an Elf. Ty is depicted as the good looking carefree character who believes in living life to the fullest. Why? Well, the reason for that will be revealed soon enough. All we’ll say is that...family history as a way of repeating itself. So the question becomes...will Ty follow in history’s footsteps? Or will he finally break that chain?

Heroes of the Siege is a page-turner from beginning to end. This story reads like it is shorter than it actually is. You’re going to become so engrossed in this story that it’s going to be you “blink” and you’ve reached the end. LOL! You’ll be looking around like...”where is the rest of the story at?!” While volume one may come to a close quickly, the good news is that book two is available to go and grab up right now.

Author Johnson knows how to put together a story. We’ll say that. You get dynamic characters and gripping scenes. When the chaos and fighting breaks out with the surprise attack the drama and the hits just keep coming. Grab a breath when you can because the author is not going to give you many opportunities. Trust us on this one.

Story of Evil: Heroes of the Siege is going to be a must read for many a lover of fantasy novel. You’re going to get monsters, monsters and more monsters. You’re going to get good monsters who side with the humans, elves and dwarves. Then you’re going to have the monsters who side with evil. One aspect that we love is the uniqueness and layers that the author gives readers with this story.

You’re not getting “mindless” creatures in the monsters who just attack because they can. You get creatures that can think and rationalize. You can really expect a lot of grit and drama that will play out on the page.

You will also see a lot of heartbreak and loss as chaos breaks out with this surprise attack. Author Johnson doesn’t shy away from giving readers exactly what they will be looking for when it comes to this story. You are going to get the details, not gorey details, but you will see characters go from living and vibrant to be another tragic loss in the face of a cruel and unrelenting war machine.

Steve, Ty and Karia will truly shine in this story as they each manage to escape death more than once. You can prepare yourself to be pulled to the edge of your seat multiple times as the question of who will survive and who will fall. As the story moves closer to a close the hint of a bigger story begins to unfold. A prophecy that hints at something more. A king who carries a secret, but before he can give any clue as to what it is…

Readers who hate cliffhangers...for this series, you’re going to be willing to move past it. LOL! Why do we say this? Because the rest of the series is available to you. You’re literally going to want to sit down and binge read these books, because yes. That’s how good it is. You’re getting dragons, direwolves, gryphons, phoenixes, orcs, ogres, giants, elves, and so much more.

Heroes of the Siege is a must read and we cannot wait to find out what happens next.

5 out of 5 stars

Title: Heroes of the Siege

Series: The Story of Evil (Volume 1)

Author: Tony Johnson

Genre: Fantasy

Age Category: Young Adult

Page Count: 235 Pages

Publication Date: February 3, 2013

About the Book:

During an entertaining jousting tournament, a mysterious villain attacks the capital with his army. Three young adults decide to fight back against insurmountable odds despite knowing their slim chances of survival.

Follow Stephen Brightflame, a nineteen-year-old who aspires to become a knight, Tyrus Canard, an arrogant warrior, and Kari Quinn, a Halfling archer in this first volume in the five-part series, "The Story of Evil."

It has been raved for its “intense action scenes,” “riveting twists,” and a conclusion that “leaves you on the edge of your seat” (SPR and US Review of Books).

                                                              Grab your copy today! 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20352036-heroes-of-the-siege

Amazon: https://a.co/d/iOjnLex (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/9kXElTr (UK) https://a.co/d/8SBJgOY (Canada)

About the Author:

Tony Johnson is the author of the The Story of Evil, an epic fantasy saga. Tony is an avid reader. He enjoys fantasy, classics, and Christian literature. He is a fan of movies, television, music, videogames, and sports. From Batavia, NY.

 

The Siege of Corell Review Spotlight

 

Terin and company are back in The Siege of Corell. We hope you're ready and excited for what's coming, because it's going to be an epic ride! 

The Siege of Corell is book two in the Chronicles of Arax series. Terin and his friends are still fighting the good fight against Tyro, but there have been and will continue to be losses as innocents die at the claws and teeth of the gargoyles. There is only so much that they can do against the blood-thirsty creatures.

But the stakes are only getting higher! Book one left readers with a cliffhanger of "What is going to happen next." Terin now has Tyro's people hunting him because of a necklace that his father gave him. Cronus? He gets free from one problem and finds himself almost immediately in another. Will these people just let him go free? No? Okay, well, that just makes sense because we need and want a story. LOL! 

Cronus has managed to be freed from the dungeons. Great news, right? What is the next problem? Getting to safety. Oy-vee. That's not going to be easy, especially with another of the group of friends being hunted - Raven. Raven, you better watch out because Tosha is coming for you! Honestly, I don't know who he should hope to find him first, but I'm leaning toward Tosha. If it's one of Tyro's other minions then it won't be good for him, that's for sure! 

Noticeably less seen in this book will be Raven and the crew. It will be a bit disappointing especially since his crew tends to bring a good amount of drama, but some humor, too. We can't help but be fans of theirs especially when their android brings some unexpected wise-cracks so effortlessly. 

Author Sanford continues this series giving readers a wide variety of characters. Of course, with some losing their lives, and others being captured or simply being forced to go into hiding we get some new ones introduced to keep the storyline going and very much engaging. 

As in book one, this story traverses land and sea, and for some of these characters, by air, as they fight to keep Arax from falling completely into Tyro's vicious grip. The gargoyles continue to be a problem that will not be easily dealt with. They have been around for a long time, and appear to be the intended thorn in the side of the defenders. 

Terin especially continues to grow as a character. He's learning more about himself and the sword that he carries. His skill continues to grow and develop, but he's learning to not completely depend on the sword. Because what should happen if he loses it in the middle of a battle? If you've read book one, you'll know that might be a touch far-fetched to believe, but anything is possible. 

Author Sanford is going to throw in more than a twist or two with this book, so brace yourself. They will come in the most unexpected places and probably cue a jaw-drop or two. We personally delighted in every single one of them.

True to form Author Sanford is going to leave readers on a cliffhanger when it comes to the end of The Siege of Corell. Things may have worked out well for our friends overall in this installment, but the future, for us, is unknown and we will have to wait and see what comes next for young Terin, Cronus, Raven and the others we have come to know throughout this series thus far. 

Pros: 

Page-turner

Great storytelling

Interesting characters

Twists and surprises

Cons: 

Some of the characters were lacking in appearance

5 out of 5 stars

AMAZON: https://amzn.to/3UnieN4 

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-chronicles-of-arax-benjamin-sanford/1141585286?ean=9781662457364

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-siege-of-corell/20730730?ean=9798988624929
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195882083-the-siege-of-corell
Author Website: https://stenoxpublishing.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14495555.Benjamin_Sanford iReads
Book Tour Page: https://www.ireadbooktours.com/blog---current-tours/bookstagrambooktok-tour-the-chronicles-of-arax-books-one-two-by-benjamin-sanford  

Of War and Heroes Review Spotlight

 

 Of War and Heroes is the first book in Benjamin Sanford’s The Chronicles of Arax. This fantasy novel will blend magic with some scifi but will absolutely take readers on ride of a story that will keep you coming back for more.

Of War and Heroes draws the reader in with a cover depicting a fight scene between two warriors front and center. Their swords flashing – one with a white light, and the other with the colors like a flame. It appears that they are doing battle at a castle as towers loom in the background. To the right, is are a pair of men wielding guns shooting the enemy appearing on the left side of the cover and the monsters coming in from the sky. This cover alone promises a gripping novel to check out.

As the reader delves into Of War and Heroes they will be taken to a scene of a small farm. There readers will meet young Terin. Terin is preparing to leave his family behind and travel to the city. There he is being sent to work as a scribe and apprentice to Torry ambassador, Squid. Terin does not wish to leave his family behind, because he knows the hardships that they will endure without him, but he is sent on his way as they hope for him to have a better life than the one he currently leads.

Of War and Heroes is told from the third person perspective. Terin is an interesting character, and he is one that will be easy for readers to like and be drawn to. Little by little readers will discover that there is more to Terin than meets the eye. Whether it is Terin himself or the sword that his father has given him. He will have quite the journey ahead of him.

Of War and Heroes alternates between a variety of characters. There will not be any distinctions to let readers know when a new character is about to be the focal point of the story. The only indication that readers will get will be a slightly larger than usual gap between the paragraphs. These will be your clues that the story is about to shift to another character and leave the one you are currently following behind for the time being.

Initially, these transitions were confusing, but as we got the lay of the story we knew what to expect when we came across them. The pacing of the story tends to be slower when not immersed in a drama packed moment, but it still manages to keep the reader engaged and curious as to what is going to transpire next.

Expecting horrific monsters to be harassing the good people of this story? Well, there really won’t be any of those – just monstrous gargoyles who will rip you to shreds and devour you. Author Sanford does an excellent job playing up the horrors these creatures wreck on the people of various towns.

Brace yourself for tales of horror and heartbreak as several of the characters (mostly side characters) will relate stories that will make you truly hate the gargoyles and their true cruelty.

Readers get a nice variety of characters in this book. You get people who hail from Earth – Raven and his crew, who came on a space ship and became stranded due to not having the parts to repair the ship. Then you have soldiers that Terin meets and befriends on his way to Rego to take up his new role as a scribe.

Author Sanford will tease readers with the fear that negative drama will unfold in the least inopportune of moments, especially in an early scene that plays out with Terin and when he meets Cronus after he, Terin, nearly gets robbed by an ocran thief.

The pace of this story is slower than we would have liked at times, but then things do ramp up and this book becomes a real page-turner. To be expected there is a lot of back and forth when it comes to the pacing. It could be that we were simply finding our stride in the story, or that is just the true pace, but it creates an interesting story.

Towards the end author Sanford begins to seed readers with the feeling that things are heading towards a cliff. Terin is about to find himself being hunted by the enemy, as will Cronus. How will this play out for these two characters? Terin is still learning and discovering more about his sword, but now more danger lies in store for him.

It will definitely be interesting to see where things go from here. Packed with fantasy, drama, some romance sprinkled in, an enemy on the march with the intent to dominate all, this book is sure to delight many a reader who enjoys epic fantasy!

Pros:

• Page-turner
• Good storytelling
• Dynamic
• Nice variety of characters
• Leaves you wanting more

Cons:

• Pacing was slow at times

5 out of 5 stars

                                                                       

Want your own copy? Click on your favorite book seller to grab one today! 

AMAZON: https://amzn.to/4di1JKO 

B&N: Of War and Heroes by Benjamin Sanford, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/of-war-and-heroes/20730727?ean=9798988624905  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195882224-of-war-and-heroes?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_16

Of Song and Darkness Review Spotlight

Of Song and Darkness is now available and we're thrilled to share it with you all this week!

 Of Song and Darkness is a standalone fantasy romance novel with plenty of Little Mermaid vibes, for readers who thoroughly enjoyed that movie/story. Just remember, this is not your typical “Little Mermaid” story. Of Song and Darkness is something fresh and new.

The god of the sea, Poseidon, is gone. Dead. Fallen from this world. What happened to him? Well, that is a question that will be something trails readers as they dive into this story. But with Poseidon gone, so is his protection. While he lived, Poseidon kept the Dark Water at bay. But with him gone, the Dark Water is plaguing the oceans and destroying everything that it comes across.

Many have said, “The Dark Water is a myth.” But Princess Rhea is determined to find out the truth, and truth she will find. Dark Water? It’s real, and little by little it is destroying everything in the ocean. There is only one way to destroy it, and this is not going to be an easy undertaking for Rhea. She must go and find Medusa...and destroy her.

Of Song and Darkness reads with a lot of elements taken from the Little Mermaid story with some pieces thrown in from a familiar cartoon from my childhood called, Pirates of Dark Water. Loved that show. Princess Rhea, like so many royals we read about, is being pushed into a bubble.

What bubble is that? Well, she’s told to “stay safe,” “Don’t wander off,” “Meet your new fiancee that you really have no say in wanting.” Cue that this guy was previously engaged to her now deceased sister, and yuck.

Okay, so he’s not ugly on the outside, but he’s giving ugly vibes on the inside. You’re going to get the sense that he’s truly angling for a shot at the throne, and that at the end of the day? Rhea is just a means to an end.

Rhea isn’t about to let her life be dictated to her, and so she goes on the hunt for answers. She’s quick to find them, which is good, because it speeds the storyline along. Also, it’s not like time is on her side. With each passing day the Dark Water creeps closer to where she and her family live. Her quest for answers takes her to...can you guess? Yep! A sea witch with her own goals and ambitions.

Is this sea witch setting Rhea up for failure? The odds aren’t exactly in Rhea’s favor. It seems like a simple enough thing to do as the witch demands, but things are rarely, if ever...THAT simple. Prepare to be pulled deeper into the depths of this story with each turn of the page.

Of Song and Darkness is a slow-burn romance fantasy novel. It definitely is giving and measuring up to the “enemies to lovers” trope. Kai is a monster hunter. He’s suffered loss and his zealous engagement in the hunting of the creatures of the seas hints that his loss is connected to one of them. Does that mean that all should pay for the crimes of one? Most would say no. Kai? Would say he doesn’t care as long as it’s a job that pays.

Rhea is an interesting character. She has some really nice engaging elements about her. She’s a siren, a princess, and she’s determined to protect her people. She doesn’t care what she has to do, but she’ll do what she must. Even if means partnering with Kai.

The romance sparks slowly between these two characters. It starts out with long looks, small amounts of admiration mixed together with irritation. Let’s be honest...that’s typically how it goes. LOL! Rhea showcases her bravery quite often in this story. Kai can’t decide whether to praise her or lose his mind.

Of Song and Darkness promises a HEA and absolutely delivers in that respect. This reader would have liked more drama and a couple more epic scenes with lots of intense moments, but all in all this is a story worth reading. Especially if you love retellings of some of your favorite classics.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to the author, Jessica Spruill, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book. We look forward to what comes next.  

Of Song and Darkness

Publication Date: June 3, 2023

Genre: Romantic Fantasy/ Standalone/ No Spice

🧜🏻‍♀️ Who did this to you
🏴‍☠️ Touch her and 💀
🧜🏻‍♀️ Enemies to lovers
🏴‍☠️ Sirens and pirates
🧜🏻‍♀️ Greek mythology
🏴‍☠️ Morally grey MMC
🧜🏻‍♀️ Fade to black romance
🏴‍☠️ Found family

Poseidon has fallen. The world won’t be far behind. Unless she can stop the rising darkness.

The world beneath the waves is in chaos.

Without Poseidon to hold it at bay, Dark Water is slowly spreading, devouring anything it touches. Even the mighty King Manta has given up hope.

But his daughter hasn’t.

Rhea, the siren princess of Aquarius, will do anything to save her world. Even if it means hunting down the mythical Medusa—and partnering with a notorious pirate captain.

Blackheart Kai has more dangerous secrets than Rhea can fathom. He’d rather kill her than help her save her people. She knows he can’t be trusted.

But knowing that doesn’t stop her from needing him…or wanting him.

With the survival of the seven seas hanging in the balance, can Rhea and Kai overcome their hatred and work together when it matters most? Or are they destined to share Poseidon’s dark fate?

Of Song and Darkness is a standalone fantasy romance with The Little Mermaid vibes and no-spice romance. Happily ever after guaranteed. Download today for a love story of mythic proportions.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

Tour Organizer: @rrbooktours

 

Welcome to Fae Cafe Review Spotlight

WELCOME TO FAE CAFÉ is like Holly Black’s tricky FOLK OF THE AIR schemes meeting your grandmother’s freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. With a sweet, comical romance and relatable slice-of-life moments colliding with manipulative fairy games and deathmatches, this book puts a spin on the typical fae stories readers know and love and aims to be the coziest rom-com fae book of all time.

 Welcome to Fae Cafe is a fantasy rom com that brings together a human and an assassin prince. Kate Kole is just simply minding her own business, scoping out the competition, when a rather aggressively rude male (turns out to be a fae) brings a dash of disorder to her day. Well, when things turn...physical, the situation goes left, and Kate is guilty of...muuuurder. *Gasp* Well, this is officially the beginning...of the end. No, we’re just kidding. This is the beginning of Kate’s and Cress’s story that buds an unlikely romance, with some rather humorous moments sprinkled throughout.

The blurb and cover for this book promise a lot of fun to be found within these pages. The book’s cover depicts a young woman, and a fae male sitting together drinking what we can assume to be coffee. The fae guy appears to be quite taken with the young woman. However, is it reciprocated? The cover definitely gives off cozy vibes, but will they be found within the pages of this story as well? Well, you’ll just have to read to find out.

Welcome to Fae Cafe by Jennifer Kropf is absolutely an interesting story, for the most part. As you read this book you get to learn about who Kate Kole is. Of course, you’ll have to exercise quite a healthy amount of patience since Kate flutters back and forth between interesting and just down-right annoying. Sorry not sorry but her abuse of adjectives is enough to drive a sane person to the nearest abandoned asylum. LOL! No, seriously. It’s like she doesn’t know how to simply pick up a dictionary. They still do exist in this fiction fantasy realm, right? Well, we hope they do anyways.

This story alternates between Kate and Cress. It’s easy to tell who the chapter is focusing on by the headings of each chapter that will either have a female depicted character, or a male depicted character. Though Cress’s were typically the ones we looked forward to the most since he got a sword and ivy swirls. Plus, honestly, Cress is just more interesting as a character.

As Welcome to Fae Cafe unfolds we get to learn about each of the characters in this book, but Cress’s story is more interesting. Cress’s story has more backstory and gives readers a better idea of who he is. Is he an arrogant character? Honestly, yes, he is. However, he isn’t the only one. LOL! To be honest, Kate is, too. They are the definition of two wrongs don’t make a right.

Cress has come to the human realm after one of his assassin brothers was killed. His agenda? Revenge. While Kate may be insanely incompetent, she has some helping nudges along the way that have her enslaving this fellow assassin brothers who came to the human realm with him.

There is some humor in what Kate does concerning them, but unfortunately, for this reader, it wears off rather quickly. The intended humor element we mean. Kate insists on taking things too far for our liking. She never stops to consider how she would feel if someone subjected her to the things that she forces them to do. Now, to be fair, the author does come back and have Kate express some remorse concerning her actions. But for us, it’s just too little too late.

Cress and his fellow brother assassins bring the majority of the humor to the storyline. Unfortunately, Kate just brings...more than a little annoyance. To be fair, there are moments of where we like her. But then she typically shortly there after does something that proves to be irritating and that little bit of liking we had towards her...evaporates like steam. Are we being biased against her? No, not really.

Typically with any book we come into each one with the intent to immediately like the FMC, but Kate just drives that dry pretty quickly.

Now! With that being said, Welcome to Fae Cafe honestly does have some redeeming qualities. The question begs though...why do the heavier rom com elements take place in the final 30% of the book?? We wanted more of it throughout! We wanted more give and take between the characters. As it is, it’s Kate giving in spurts, but doing most of the taking. Plus, we wanted more of her backstory. It just wasn’t enough. We also wanted more focus on her working to open the cafe. We get spurts of attention to this here and there, but it all ends up flashing by once she enslaves the assassins to do her bidding.

While this book was heading towards 4 star territory, the author probably had an idea that there would be readers like us who would be preparing a mildly scathing review. LOL! Well, this book has some major saving grace with some really well done twists, surprises and unexpected elements sprinkled thoughout this book, but especially towards the end. So just go ahead and settle in. Think that you’re getting to the point of putting this book down for whatever the reason? Just hang in there. You’ll be happy that you stuck with it.

We will warn you of this though...grab some tissues and just have them on hand. Don’t worry, nothing is going to happen for quite a while, but after the 65% - 72% mark of the story...have them nearby. You’re going to need them. This author intends to bring a tear or two to your eyes.

This book has an interesting ending, but the good news is that it seems like we’ll be returning to the Fae Cafe sometime in the near future. This is good news, because honestly, Cress has unfinished business and it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

Welcome to Fae Cafe is an interesting fantasy cozy rom com that despite the irritating behavior of certain characters, is a lot of fun to read. We look forward to returning to them in the future.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to the author, Jennifer Kropf, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book. We look forward to what comes next.  

Welcome to Fae Cafe (High Court of the Coffee Bean Book 1)

Publication Date: October 2023

Genre: Cozy Romcom/ Fae Fantasy Elements

There are ten golden rules if you want to survive an encounter with a fae:

1. Don’t ask their name.

2. If they ask you what your name is, lie.

3. Avoid looking directly into their eyes.

4. Don’t invite them to your book club.

5. Don’t instigate a snowball fight.

6. Never let them burn their mouth on coffee.

7. Don’t ask them where they’re from.

8. Don’t tell them where you live.

9. Never mention their queen.

10. Don’t try to kill them with an ordinary human gun.

If you fail to do any of these things, enslave them immediately.

On a cozy fall morning, Kate Kole is nestled in a coffee shop in the city of Toronto reading her favourite novel when she accidentally kills a guy who's being rude to the coffee shop's cashier. Unfortunately for Kate, the person she killed was a fae assassin of the North Corner of Ever, visiting the human realm in secret.

From there, four deadly fae assassins come to the human realm to hunt her down for breaking a fairy law and killing one of their own. Leading them is Prince Cressica Alabastian, the most feared and deadly fae assassin of the North and heir to the North Corner of Ever.

After the assassins arrive in the human realm, things go terribly wrong. To Prince Cressica's horror, his assassins unwittingly get roped into running a cozy café on Kate Kole's behalf. To blend in, the fae assassins are forced to learn how to do basic human activities like cleaning up after themselves, driving without road rage, reading popular fantasy books at book club without getting into alpha male fights over what they’re reading, and in general, be nice, all to blend into regular human society.

With a temper like no other, and deadly power that's unmatched, Prince Cressica seeks to get revenge on Kate Kole. But as he aims to strike where it will hurt her the most, the Prince finds himself enchanted by his human target in more ways than one. And when the darkness of the Ever Corners comes knocking at the human realm's door, he needs to make a choice that could cost him everything.

With coziness for days, WELCOME TO FAE CAFÉ is a new spin on some of the most popular fae fantasy tropes, in a setting where fae most definitely don't belong. If you like fantasy and you like rom coms, this may just be your cup of tea. (Or coffee.)

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON & OTHER FINE RETAILERS

Tour Organizer: @rrbooktours

 

Division X Spotlight

I’m not me when I kill people. At least, that’s what I tell myself. I wake up, and I know I’ve done something horrible. My hands are covered in blood, my clothes are gone, and my stomach feels full. I don’t remember what I did. All I remember is the pain. It’s impossible to forget...

                                                                            Division X

Publication Date: October 2022 (First Edition)

Genre: Paranormal Horror

The monster killing business isn't all it's cracked up to be.

We all have a monster within... understatement of the year. For 24-year-old Randi Matheson, she quite literally does. On every full moon, it rears its hairy head. She wasn't always like this. Ever since her attack, the animal comes out to play. And on one full moon, the beast inside tries to eat her younger brother.

Division X, a paramilitary group hellbent on the eradication of monsters, intervenes and saves Randi's brother from being devoured. They take Randi far away and imprison her in a place no monster can escape. Held captive, Randi is given an ultimatum. Work for Division X as a new weapon in the fight against evil or be dissected. Without a real choice, she chooses the former and experiences the dark underbelly of reality as she faces off against vampires, demons, and redneck serial killers. Promised a cure to her condition along the way, Randi does her best to stay alive.

CW: Violence, gore, adult content

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City of Mirth and Malice Review Spotlight

 We are celebrating highly anticipated release of City of Mirth and Malice by Alexis L. Menard! The duology is complete!

City of Mirth and Malice is here and it draws to an epic conclusion the story of Nico and Camilla. 

Readers who enjoy an engaging duology are not going to want to miss out on this amazing novel as it is going to grip you from the beginning and keep you page-turning to the very end. 

Yes, City of Mirth and Malice is part of a duology. However! The author grants readers a boon. Haven't read book one yet? Want to dive into this book so that you can eagerly devour it and find out how it all ends? Read book one a while back and can't really remember the key aspects that left you breathless for book two? Well, good news! The author gives readers a delicious synopsis at the beginning of book two that catches you up or refreshes you on what exactly went down in book one. It's fantastic.

Now! For the book itself. We absolutely loved book two more than book one. Why? Balance. Simple as that really. LOL! In book one, A House of Bane and Blood, the story was very heavy on Camilla. She was the dominant character that the author chose to focus on. We wanted more of Nico. He had the more interesting storyline, and honestly...he was more sufferable. Camilla was...a pill to be frank. 

In A City of Mirth and Malice, we get to see a different side of her. Why? Well, the simple answer is this...she's in prison. The very same prison that Nico was released from...she's been sent there. But she's not a prisoner "on the books." No, she is there being kept in secret, but she's not the only one. There are others. But you'll learn more about them later. 

Nico is playing a big part on the outside. He knows his wife is still alive, and he is going to do whatever it takes to bring her home. Cue dramatic pause...a new order is coming to town! Whoop whoop! Get excited people! Nico knows that the rules of the old world are pressing down on them, but he refuses to stand by and allow it to happen. Not here. There will be equality for all, or there will be nothing. Cue intrigue and drama! 

What is going to happen next? Lots of amazing stuff! You're not going to want to miss out on this book. Camilla and Nico show a lot of growth throughout this duology, but book two surpasses book one by leaps and bounds. You're not going to want to put this book down as Camilla battles to stay alive, and Nico fights to do whatever it takes to get her back and bring her home. 

A City of Mirth and Malice is the amazing conclusion to this duology and it has left this reader an absolute fan of this author. We can't wait to read more in the future. 

5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to the author, Alexis L. Menard, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book. We look forward to what comes next! 

Eager to know what my thoughts are for book one? Stay tuned! Because that review is coming soon! 

City of Mirth and Malice (Order and Chaos #2)

Genre: Adult Fantasy Romance/ Gaslamp Fantasy

Some debts are not so easily repaid—or forgiven.

Nicolai Attano finally has everything he ever wanted: control over the Iron Saint Railway, safety for his family, and not a single rival syndicate to stand in his way. Never could he have imagined he’d want anything more than power—not until Camilla Marchese.

Six weeks have passed since the disaster on the train and his wife was kidnapped, but to get her back, he’ll need help. Nico struggles to work with a city poisoned against him and is instead forced to seek the aid of a disreputable black-market dealer. A simple bargain to ensure her rescue, Nico doesn’t think twice. A bargain is struck, and the cost is higher than ever. The collateral? His life.

Meanwhile, Camilla fights to gain control over her newfound powers as the alchemist in charge of her confinement puts her to the test. Forced to free what she’s held so close, the only light in this hellish prison is the hope to see her family again, and the husband who stole her heart. Three trials and three chances to find the source of her Chaos and use it to save herself, if it doesn’t destroy her first.

Cracks in the city draw lines between loyalties, and time is running out until everything comes crashing down. Return to Lynchaven in this action-packed and swoony conclusion of Nico and Milla’s story.

GET IT HERE

Tour Organizer: @rrbooktours

Necrosis Review Spotlight

 

The apocalypse has come. Not just your life is on the line, but the life of your 9 year old daughter. What are you going to do? What will you do to survive and keep your child safe? When every breath could be your last, in this world where the dead walk...Amy is in for the fight of her life. Literally.

Necrosis is a dark post-apocalypse horror novel that right from the beginning drops you right into the mayhem and chaos of Amy fighting for her life. She's already lost one person - her boyfriend of ten months. One wrong move, one mis-step and that was it. Distraction cost him, and her hesitation? Well, it didn't help. But...what can you do in the face of seeing someone you once loved...seeing that they are one of the undead? 

You'd think...the simple answer...don't hesitate. That person you once knew? They're gone. They are no more and they are seconds away from ripping your face off and eating you alive. Yet, Amy hesitates. Not the smartest move, especially when you have your child right next to you. Literally. Where will things go from here? One word...south.

One thing that shines out of Necrosis is the fact that despite all of the upheaval in the world that these characters are struggling through, they still try to maintain some sense of normalcy where they can. But it never lasts long. There are some sparks of romance, a moment of reconnection and dreams of a better future, but even those don't last long. It's mildly heartbreaking. We say mildly simply because...when chaos reigns...nothing lasts forever. 

This book ends with a twist that, on a level...you'll see coming, but you'll still cling to the hope that maybe...just maybe things will work out. But...not every book is going to have a happy ending, and Necrosis is one of them. No matter how you slice it...you're going to be glued to this book. So go ahead and settle in for the wild ride that is coming your way. 

Pros: 

• Drama packed
• Horror filled
• Page-turner
• Twisted ending

Cons: 

• None of merit

5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to the author, C.L. Schneider and Silver Dagger Book tours for the opportunity to read and review this book. We look forward to what comes next!

Keep reading for more about this book, and a chance to win a signed copy! 

Necrosis

by C.L. Schneider

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Horror

How far would you go to survive—when every breath could be your last?

Amidst the chaos and fear of an apocalyptic virus, a mother fights to protect her daughter from the rotting remains of society. Navigating a frightening new world where survival is paramount and trust is a gamble, infection is only a misstep away. Despite her doubts and imperfections, Amy’s love and resolve are without question. But are they enough? Can she shield her daughter from the violence and savagery, and keep them both alive another day? For, at the end of the world, there’s no second chance. With a single bite, necrosis will set in.

Sink your teeth into this zombie survival story with a twist ending you won't see coming!

**ebook On Sale for Only .99 cents until the end of April!**

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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61879560-necrosis

Necrosis Excerpt

Raspy sounds of hunger pushed from her rotted throat, washing over me with the smell of old blood and things long dead. I didn’t understand how breath still rattled in her lungs. How her vocal cords, exposed and moldy, were still capable of producing noise—a terrible wet, scraping that was so far from human. So far from her.

My mother had a sweet voice in life. Melodic. Powerful, when she wanted it to be. Her songs were one of my sharpest memories as a child. They were the soundtrack of my youth. Everyone used to say, “Bridgette could have made it big.” If she didn’t have four kids, two jobs, and a husband who cared more for drinking than working. Now she’ll never sing again.

For some reason, the thought struck me harder than the look of her gray, decomposing flesh and patchy hair; sporadic clumps of white strands, matted and darkened with bloody tissue.

Beside me, my daughter screamed, with all the gusto of a nine-year-old whose world had fallen apart. Her gaze darted from the horror inching toward us in the dining room to the real-time carnage of my boyfriend’s death happening in the kitchen, and she screamed louder.

I put a hand over her mouth, silencing the high-pitched dinner bell before it carried into the street and brought more of the undead in through the busted front door. “Shhh, Lila, please,” I whispered. “You know better.”

She nodded, tears streaming, and I removed my hand. Her shoulders shrugged in a fast, heavy breath. “Grandma…” It was all she could get out before burying her face in my leg.

I peeled Lila off me and shoved her toward the bathroom. “In there. Lock the door. Don’t open it for anyone but me. Go!”

Lila hurried off, messy, brown ponytail bouncing, as her short legs carried her down the hall and into the bathroom. The door closed. Locked. I imagined her hiding in the bathtub, curled up in a ball, clutching the dirty ladybug covered backpack she hadn’t put down since we left home. I raised the tire iron in my grip and vowed, as I had a hundred times, to do whatever was necessary to protect her. Lila was the only good thing I’d ever done in my life.

We shouldn’t have brought her here, I thought, watching my mother’s bloated jaw, snapping involuntarily, searching for a meal. My stare darted to the body in the kitchen, blood-soaked and twitching, as the mindless fiends bent over my boyfriend, devouring him alive.

It’s too much.

It's all too much. No child should have to see what we’ve all become.

We should have gone to the country like Rusty wanted. There’s too many in the city. Coming home was a mistake.

The outbreak was too widespread for an old, wheelchair dependent woman with a bad hip to survive on her own. If I’d gotten here sooner…. But there were too many states between us, and with the roads clogged and gas scarce and wandering bands of the undead everywhere, the trip became painfully long. My mother couldn’t run, couldn’t fight. But I let wishes override common sense, and convinced myself she’d be here, barricaded in, alive and well. Maybe, with Mr. and Mrs. Hitchens next door. Or the Walker family on the corner. It was a close-knit neighborhood. Everyone looked after each other. Particularly her, after my father left.

Yet, in my heart I knew better.

I knew I’d find her stricken with the virus, holed up in the dusty rooms of the ramshackle house I grew up in. I knew what she’d look like, flesh disintegrating and mind gone. I knew what I’d have to do. I’d seen, and killed, enough of the ravaged these last four months to be prepared.

Except, I wasn’t.

Her sallow, blood-stained eyes (once a soft brown) locked on me, not with the love of a mother, but with the malice of a starving predator. Her bloated fingers, tips torn down to the nailbed, dug into the floor as she crawled toward me. She wouldn’t stop unless I stopped her.

Book Trailer:

https://youtu.be/0IMEjDTRfc4

About the Author

C. L. Schneider is an award-winning author of immersive fantasy fiction, including The Crown of Stones Trilogy and the Nite Fire Series. While fantasy is her main focus, she also pens the occasional horror or apocalyptic tale. Born in a small Kansas town, Schneider resides in New York’s scenic Hudson Valley Region with her husband and two sons. To learn more about the worlds she creates, please visit her website www.clschneiderauthor.com or connect with C. L. Schneider on social media, where she is an active part of the indie author community.

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Author Links

Website: https://www.clschneiderauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CLS.Author

X: https://twitter.com/cl_schneider

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Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/C.-L.-Schneider/author/B00HO6FP62

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Signed copy of Necrosis,

$20 Amazon giftcard – 1 winner each!

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