Review: The Light Over London by Julia Kelly

Goodreads Blurb

Reminiscent of Martha Hall Kelly’s Lilac Girls and Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale , this sweeping, entrancing story is a must-read for fans of remarkable women rising to challenges they could never have predicted.

It’s always been easier for Cara Hargraves to bury herself in the past than confront the present, which is why working with a gruff but brilliant antiques dealer is perfect. While clearing out an estate, she pries open an old tin that holds the relics of a lost among the treasures, a World War II-era diary and a photograph of a young woman in uniform. Eager to find the author of the hauntingly beautiful, unfinished diary, Cara digs into this soldier’s life, but soon realizes she may not have been ready for the stark reality of wartime London she finds within the pages.

In 1941, nineteen-year-old Louise Keene’s life had been decided for her—she’ll wait at home in her Cornish village until her wealthy suitor returns from war to ask for her hand. But when Louise unexpectedly meets Flight Lieutenant Paul Bolton, a dashing RAF pilot stationed at a local base, everything changes. And changes again when Paul’s unit is deployed without warning.

Desperate for a larger life, Louise joins the women’s branch of the British Army in the anti-aircraft gun unit as a Gunner Girl. As bombs fall on London, she and the other Gunner Girls relish in their duties to be exact in their calculations, and quick in their identification of enemy planes during air raids. The only thing that gets Louise through those dark, bullet-filled nights is knowing she and Paul will be together when the war is over. But when a bundle of her letters to him are returned unanswered, she learns that wartime romance can have a much darker side.

Illuminating the story of these two women separated by generations and experience, Julia Kelly transports us to World War II London in this heartbreakingly beautiful novel through forgotten antique treasures, remembered triumphs, and fierce family ties.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

It is a fantastic novel of love in wartime, loss, secrets, betrayal, and strength. Cara and Louise both went through heartbreak and betrayal. They might have been from two different time periods, but they both were determined and strong-willed. Cara found a diary that sparked her curiosity to find out who the writer was and how her life continued after her last journal entry. Cara had lost her parents and had a horrible divorce. Her grandmother had a secret that kept the readers speculating what that might be. I fell in love with both Cara and Louise’s story. It was great to read through each page, unraveling truth and secrets. I highly recommend you get swept off your feet with this wartime romance.

Author Biography

Julia Kelly is the international bestselling author of historical fiction and historical mystery novels about the extraordinary stories of the past. Her books have been translated into 13 languages. In addition to writing, she’s been an Emmy-nominated producer, journalist, marketing professional, and (for one summer) a tea waitress. Julia has called Los Angeles, Iowa, and New York City home. She now lives in London with her husband.

Cover Reveal: These Family Ties

BOOK DETAILS:

These Family Ties: An Extreme Taboo Anthology
Publication date: September 10, 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:Weave your way through the Complex Taboo love that’s Thicker Than Blood. Lose yourself in the Wrath and Ruin of The Loveless, and always remember that Daddy Knows Best how to pull you out of The Chaos Between illicit emotions as you Double Down on everything you feel.

These Family Ties is an extremely taboo anthology that is not for the close-minded. Due to the nature of these stories, it’s best to leave your morals at the door.
Authors:
Jay Leigh Brown
Emery LeeAnn
Ayden Perry
Nicole Blackwood
W.P. Woodbine
A. Roux
Ally Vance
Yolanda Olson

Pre-order: https://geni.us/thesefamilyties

Review: Dreadfully Ever After: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Steve Hockensmith

Goodreads Blurb

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and its prequel, Dawn of the Dreadfuls, were both New York Times best sellers, with a combined 1.3 million copies in print. Now the PPZ trilogy comes to a thrilling conclusion with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After.

The story opens with our newly married protagonists, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy, defending their village from an army of flesh-eating “unmentionables.” But the honeymoon has barely begun when poor Mr. Darcy is nipped by a rampaging dreadful. Elizabeth knows the proper course of action is to promptly behead her husband (and then burn the corpse, just to be safe). But when she learns of a miracle antidote under development in London, she realizes there may be one last chance to save her true love—and for everyone to live happily ever after.

Complete with romance, heartbreak, martial arts, cannibalism, and an army of shambling corpses. Dreadfully Ever After brings the story of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies to a thrilling conclusion.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Pride and Prejudice is very dear to my heart, and this book is my next favorite. I really enjoyed this book. Loved that there was so much action throughout the book. I was heartbroken after what happened to my lover boy Mr.Darcy but love and family are always there to support. I loved this book because of the action and that women fought just like men. They were trained zombie killers, utterly cool. It had a great plot and was written very well. I was happy with the action pack ending. Couldn’t stand Anne she got what she deserved and her mother. The book turned out in my favor. The bad guys got what they deserved, and my Darcy still survived. If you are looking for a book that will keep you at the end of your seat, you want to pick this book up.

Author Biography

Steve Hockensmith is the author of the New York Times bestseller Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls and several other novels, including the Edgar Award finalist Holmes on the Range. He lives in Alameda, California.

Review: Vampires of Manhattan by Melissa De La Cruz

Goodreads Blurb

The Vampires of Manhattan is “hipster horror”–the memorable characters from her Blue Bloods series are older and cooler than before, trying to build “Millennial” lives in the bustle of Manhattan while battling forces of evil and, of course, each other.

Hero of this sexy, paranormal action tale is Oliver Hazard-Perry, former human conduit, and Manhattan’s only human-turned-vampire, now the head of the Blue Bloods Coven. When his all-too-human lover is found murdered on the eve of the coven’s annual Four Hundred Ball–a celebration meant to usher in a new era in vampire society, and to mark the re-unification of the Coven after decades of unrest and decay–Oliver is devastated.

Now, not only is he trying to create a new world order for the immortal elite, he’s the prime suspect and is stalked by the newly installed head of the vampire secret police. Because according to the new rules, vampires who take human life can now be executed. Burned.

How can an immortal sentenced to die fight back? He has to find the killer–and the answers lie deep in vampire lore.

My Review: Rated 3 out of 5 stars

I haven’t read the Blue Blood series other than this book. I was having a hard time trying to get into the book. It wasn’t grasping my attention. I liked the last few chapters of the book because the book became exciting.

Author Biography

Melissa de la Cruz is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.

Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.

She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.

Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).

She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.

Cover Reveal and ARC Request: If You Loved Me by Brianna Remus

BOOK DETAILS:

If You Loved Me
by Brianna Remus
Publication date: April 26, 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

My parents would lose their minds if they found out their precious daughter lost her virginity to the town’s notorious bad boy and ex-convict.

Ranger Adams might have been a dangerous pariah after he was released from prison, but he was the only man I wanted. And after I convinced him to take me on a date, I got exactly what my body…and heart desired.

I spent my entire life trying to get away from my parents’ overbearing grasp. They’ve tried to control every part of my life, even down to the man I was supposed to marry. That was the price of being born into one of the South’s richest families.

The second I had a chance to get away, I did. Ten years of pissing them off and making my dreams come true was worth the sacrifice. No fun. No relationships. And no sex.

My life had been all work until Ranger came back into town. Everyone whispered about what he’d done to land in prison. But I didn’t care.

He was rough around the edges, wild, and free.

And I wanted every bit of what he was willing to give me.

AUTHOR BIO:

BriannaRemus is a Florida-based author who lives with her husband, three pups, and terrorizing cat. She started her writing journey in 2016 to ward off the woes of graduate school. The light-hearted hobby quickly turned into a passion filled dream that consistently distracts her from the real world.

When Brianna isn’t working as a psychology resident or writing books, you can find her getting lost in the worlds created by others (through writing and movies), spending a day at the ocean, or taking a walk in the forest. She loves to spend her days outdoors surrounded by the beauties of nature.

A true Tolkien nerd, she also spends a lot of her time immersed in Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, as well as praying that Amazon doesn’t completely fuck up the new LOTR series.

Author links:

https://www.briannaremus.com/

https://www.instagram.com/authorbriannaremus/

https://www.tiktok.com/@authorbriannaremus?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.bookbub.com/profile/brianna-remus?list=about
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19147144.Brianna_Remus

ARC sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScIJgkcVdZjIiRN01AsqT-7MpBLLfkI2aNMvXfDzISwIY3Zgg/viewform

Review: Wildalone by Krassi Zourkova

Goodreads Blurb

In this darkly imaginative debut novel full of myth, magic, romance, and mystery, a Princeton freshman is drawn into a love triangle with two enigmatic brothers, and discovers terrifying secrets about her family and herself—a bewitching blend of Twilight, The Secret History, Jane Eyre, and A Discovery of Witches.

Arriving at Princeton for her freshman year, Thea Slavin finds herself alone, a stranger in a strange land. Away from her family and her Eastern European homeland for the first time, she struggles to adapt to unfamiliar American ways and the challenges of college life—including an enigmatic young man whose brooding good looks and murky past intrigue her. Drawn to the elusive Rhys and his equally handsome and mysterious brother, Jake, she ventures into a sensual mythic underworld as irresistible as it is dangerous.

In this shadow world that seems to mimic Greek mythology and the Bulgarian legends of the samodivi or “wildalones”—forest witches who beguile and entrap men—Thea will discover a family secret bound to transform her forever . . . if she can accept that dead doesn’t always mean gone, and love doesn’t always distinguish between the two.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Very sad I am done reading this book, leaving me wanting for more. This book deserves more than five stars. It is absolutely enchanting from the very beginning. Each character left me wild, untamed, and trapped. This book had an urban/Greek myth. I finished this book in about three days straight and couldn’t take my eyes away from it. Each character had their own secret, which made it very interesting. As you read, you assume that certain characters were involved with Elza’s disappearance. The love that Thea has for Jake and Rhys is unexplainable. Too love a man who you don’t know, other than seeing him from afar and then start dating a man you assume is the same person would make any person confused and frustrated. Rhys is a character who rubbed off the wrong way. Felt like he was the man I would stay away from because he could harm me. Jake is smart, quiet, and loyal to his brother even when he is taking his happiness away. I was in complete shock when I discovered who Rhys was and what actually happened to Elza. I grew frustrated as I read because I really felt that Jake is her one true love, and a future life couldn’t be dealt with Rhys because of his commitment. Krassi did an amazing job in writing a book that kept me interested from the beginning, had mystery and secrets to be told. This story was written naturally just as a pianist touches each key without thought but with passion. Can’t wait to see what Thea decides for her future on the next novel. Thanks so much for letting me read such an amazing book. I highly recommend you read it.

Review: Fairest by Marissa Meyer

Goodreads Blurb

In this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles, Queen Levana’s story is finally told.

Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Who is the fairest of them all?

Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now.

Marissa Meyer spins yet another unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. This extraordinary book includes full-color art and an excerpt from Winter, the next book in the Lunar Chronicles series.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 Stars

I haven’t read any books in this series, but I really enjoyed this story. Levana only wished to be happy with a family that loved her. But because of the traumatic event that happened when she was younger, she wasn’t able to feel pretty as a result of her older sister. She just withheld envy, anger, and hate for everyone around her. She fell in love with Evret, who was happily married till his wife passed away during childbirth. How can she possibly think that his feelings could change towards Levana over night. She manipulated him in loving her and getting married. She felt happy just knowing he was there with her even though he didn’t love her. I was so angry at her for committing such a crime on her niece who would have been queen when she became a teenager. She definitely had no heart or any feelings. She didn’t feel any remorse when her parents were killed, when her sister died, and when she planned out her nieces death. I was utterly shocked at how this whole story ended. Would have never thought that she would plan on killing the only person she gave her heart to. Can’t wait to read the other three books to see the type of person Levana portrayed.

Author Biography

I live in Tacoma, Washington, with my husband and beautiful twin daughters. Represented by Jill Grinberg. Learn more about me and my upcoming books at http://www.marissameyer.com.

Review: The Queen of Zombie Hearts by Gena Showalter

Goodreads Blurb

I thought I had nothing left to give.

I thought wrong.

They started the war.

Now I will end it.

Alice “Ali” Bell thinks the worst is behind her. She’s ready to take the next step with boyfriend Cole Holland, the leader of the zombie slayers…until Anima Industries, the agency controlling the zombies, launches a sneak attack, killing four of her friends. It’s then she realizes that humans can be more dangerous than monsters…and the worst has only begun.

As secrets that may tear Ali and Cole apart come to light, and more slayers are taken or killed, Ali will fight harder than ever to bring down Anima—even sacrificing her own life for those she loves.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Wow, what an amazing book. I’m definitely finished with a huge bang. This last book in the series for now has left my heart broken. Could not ever imagine losing your best friend and having her turn into a zombie. I was very happy that Ali was so strong and was able to give in to such evil people. Stopping them at any cause was the best thing that they could have done. Ali is such a strong woman, and I love that this book portrays women as being the strong ones. She was able to save most of her friends. My heart stopped when the zombies exploded the house, and Ali was trying to find her friends. Could not imagine being in her place. I was happy about the way the book ended. Ali got her memory back and was able to blank Mrs. Smith memory. It has such an amazing turning point that Ali’s parents weren’t who she really thought, and she was the cure to all problems with the zombies. It should feel great that now no one has to use the zombie toxin in order to survive. Now, the zombies would be at peace after all. I’m hoping there will be another book to this amazing series.

Author Biography

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over seventy books, including the acclaimed Lords of the Underworld series, the Gods of War series, the White Rabbit Chronicles, and the Forest of Good and Evil series. She writes sizzling paranormal romance, heartwarming contemporary romance, and unputdownable young adult novels, and lives in Oklahoma City with her family and menagerie of dogs and cats.

Review: Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter

Goodreads Blurb

Zombies stalk the night.

Forget blood and brains. These monsters hunger for human souls.

Sadly, they’ve got mine…

Alice Bell has lost so much. Family. Friends. A home. She thought she had nothing else to give. She was wrong.

After a new zombie attack, strange things begin to happen to her. Mirrors come to life, and the whispers of the dead assault her ears. But the worst? A terrible darkness blooms inside her, urging her to do very wicked things.

She’s never needed her team of zombie slayers more, but ultra bad-boy Cole Holland, the leader and her boyfriend, suddenly withdraws from her…from everyone. Now, with her best friend, Kat, at her side, Ali must kill the zombies, uncover Cole’s secret and learn to fight the darkness.

But the clock is ticking…and if she fails at a single task, they’re all doomed.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Wow, this book was even better than the first. I just couldn’t put it down. Ali was such a strong person. She got dibilated by Z.A, but she wouldn’t let her take over her life and others. Cole never gave up on her and was really in love with Ali. He stayed with her through good times and bad. I was glad that the traitor wasn’t one of the zombies slayers. I would have been upset. They are all family. The doctor got what he deserved. He killed so many innocent people in hopes of saving his daughter. Ali was put through so much pain, and poor Jaclyn was malnutrition and tortured. I was really hoping for the zombies that he was controlling, which should have been the ones to kill him. I was so happy to see all slayers help Ali release that evil zombie Alice away from her body. Now they saw that they are able to cure themselves and be able to kill more zombies. This book had me at edge between all the fighting, torturing, escaping, and starvation. I’m going to be reading the next book in this series and can’t wait to see what will happen next.

Author Biography

Review: The Dark Realm: Feyland Book 1 by Anthea Sharp

Goodreads Blurb

What if a high-tech computer game was a gateway to the dangerous Realm of Faerie?

When a game…

Feyland is the most immersive computer game ever designed, and Jennet Carter is the first to play the prototype. But she doesn’t suspect the virtual world is close enough to touch — or that she’ll be battling for her life against the Dark Queen of the faeries.

Turns real…

Tam Linn is the perfect hero — in-game. Too bad the rest of his life is seriously flawed. The last thing he needs is rich-girl Jennet prying into his secrets, insisting he’s the only one who can help her.

Winning is everything…

Together, Jennet and Tam enter the Dark Realm of Feyland, only to discover that the entire human world is in danger. Pushed to the limit of their abilities, they must defeat the Dark Queen… before it’s too late.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 Stars

Received this book from the author in exchange for a review. I must say this book was out of this world. I loved it. It was the first book I have ever read that involved a video game or should I say a secret world. It grabbed my attention from the very beginning, with the Queen taking away Jennet’s soul. It was scary since video games have become a big part of our society, and who knows if a video game that feels real and appears in true life can happen? I was so hurt when Tam was taken into the game and spared Jennets life. I was so happy that the real true hero was Jennet, who gave all she had to save Tam from ending up like Thomas. This book really put fear in me. Having to go through the Goblins and hounds trying to rip them apart. I felt like I was living there fears too.The lyrics to the ballad were invigorating. I really loved how Anthea used the lyrics and the story plot into her book. The book was very easy to read and understand. I was at the edge of my seat, waiting to see what would happen next in the world of Feyland. Thanks for writing such an amazing book. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. All the books in the series have beautiful covers.

Author Biography

Growing up, Anthea Sharp spent her summers raiding the library shelves and reading, especially fantasy. She now makes her home in the Pacific Northwest, where she writes, plays the fiddle, hangs out in virtual worlds, and spends time with her small-but-good family. Contact her at antheasharp@hotmail.com, follow her on twitter, find her on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/AntheaSharp), and visit her website.