A Review – Vanished by Jade Madden

There's something I absolutely love about short stories, and that is that they always help me get back into reading after a reading break.

The last two days (before I'm writing this) I haven't been very well, and have been lying in bed, watching YouTube videos and napping. Today, though, I woke up feeling better, and wanting to read, but not wanting to dive into a long book because I don't have the brain power for one currently.

I haven't read a book in probably weeks, but after reading this short story, I can't wait to get back into reading more.

Let me introduce the book, and then I will share my review!

An FBI Agent. A missing hiker. And a secret to die for...

FBI Agent Faith Black was damn good at her job.

But considering the events of her last case, she is lucky to still have her badge.

Her latest assignment lands her in a sleepy backwoods town where people are disappearing.

She’s less than enthused.

She partners with the local sheriff who's desperate for answers. They agree that their only option is to retrace the footsteps of a college grad who recently vanished while hiking.

Together they scour the hiking trail over 87 miles through the thick mountain forest. They can't shake the eerie feeling they are not alone.

Whatever was lurking in the shadows wants them gone.

And nothing could have prepared them for what they find.

It was a secret that the ominous forest has been hiding.

A secret only the dead knew...

Vanished is the prequel to the Faith Black FBI Crime Files series; it can be read as a standalone.

Disclaimer: This book is for mature audiences and contains mild profanity and violence.

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

June Robinson was eager to get going on her hike, but a downpour on the second day, and a chill that settles in her bones, slows her down. She finds her seven day timeframe destroyed as she grows sick, and has a difficult decision to make – does she press on, even through she barely has any energy, or does she try to turn back, even through the way back would be difficult. Without cell service, June is stuck by herself.

FBI agent Faith Black is lucky to still have a job after a mistake she made on a previous case, so she can’t complain too much when she is assigned a missing person’s case in a quiet town. The town has had multiple missing people reported, but none of the cases have yet to be solved. The most recent is a young girl, June Robinson, who was last heard from when she called her parents at the beginning of a hiking trail, before she inevitably lost cell service. Teaming up with the town’s Sheriff, James Hollow, Faith heads into the woods to retrace June’s path in the hopes of finding her alive and well.

I have an immense love for short stories, but there is one problem when it comes to writing reviews – there’s always so much I want to talk about, but I can’t because it’ll give away too much of the plot! There is so much packed into this book, with Faith trying to solve a mystery that the reader already knows the truth behind. I have always found crime/mystery books creepier when there is the perspective of both the victim and the law enforcement, because you know the dangers that the law enforcement characters are in, even when it doesn’t seem to them that they are in any trouble. There are certainly moments in this book when I was scared for Faith and James’ lives, and they had no idea about how concerned they should really be.

This book is not without some gore, but everything that happened, no matter how much it might make me cringe at the mental images, added immensely to the story and depiction of the characters. I felt like I thoroughly understood all the characters, not just the good guys. The author has done a wonderful job at adding backstory to everything, without overwhelming the reader in such a short amount of time. Every single character is perfectly fleshed out, and they all seem incredibly real, even though the realness of certain characters will creep you out.

This is only the prequel of a series, but it is more than enough to get you hooked on the characters. I can’t wait to read more about Faith, and her cases. The length of the book, along with the pacing, almost makes it feel like the first episode in a very binge-worthy television series – as soon as you finish episode one, you immediately want to click through to episode two. Except, this is a prequel, and book one isn’t out yet. You must wait for the next instalment, but it is a series to bookmark, so you can immerse yourself in the next part as soon as it is available! 

Faith is a wonderful character, who I connected with immediately. The reasons she has been assigned to this particular case, and what exactly went wrong before, are revealed slowly throughout the story, so you have time to get to know who she really is before you judge her on past mistakes. Even through she feels a missing persons case is beneath what she should be doing, that doesn’t mean she is any less dedicated to the case than any higher profile case she might’ve been assigned to. Finding June is her number one priority, and she puts her all into it. I really enjoyed following her, and definitely look forward to joining her again in future books.

This is an excellent start to a series that promises to be just as gripping, exciting, and well developed as this first book. I read this book in one sitting, in just over an hour. It is well and truly unputdownable. 

And done!

The next book in the series (Deceived: A Suspenseful Crime Mystery with a Shocking Twist (Faith Black FBI Case Files Book 1)) is due out on July 27th, so what better time to get your hands on this prequel, and introduce yourself to the series? It’s quite literally the perfect timing!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – A Bounty of Love by Willow Walker

Don't you just love short stories? All the emotion and action of a full novel, condensed down into something you can read in half an hour... I know I do!

Plus, who can turn down a pretty cover like this one?

I am grateful to have received my copy of this book through the review portal I joined (you can find out more/join HERE). I may be getting a little carried away with requesting and reading books, when I still have over 200 unread books on my ereader... never mind!

Let me introduce this book, and then we can delve into my review!

In another time, in a galaxy on the far side of another universe, you can find love between the stars.

Yeva Hawthorne is a bounty hunter looking to fill a bank account with 20 million credits to repay a debt.

Tobias Hawk is also a bounty hunter and he is going after money to fund a secret he has kept for over a decade.

They are going after the same bounty and things are about to get tricky.

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

Yeva Hawthorne is a bounty hunter with a debt to pay. She takes on jobs to build up the credits she needs to finally free herself of the debt. When one comes to her attention, an artefact hunt for a sum of credits much too high for a normal artefact hunt, she is drawn to the bounty. The bounty has been listed for six months, and presently, only one other person has claimed the bounty, and they have had that claim for over a month. The real mystery? The person who has claimed the bounty is none other than Tobias Hawk, the best bounty hunter in the galaxy.

When Yeva reaches the planet that the artefact is on, she checks the area for any signs of other ships, but finds nothing. If Tobias was really after the bounty, wouldn’t he be here? She lands on the strange, deserted planet, and sets about looking around. There is an old building, and that is about it. But, when Yeva approaches the building, she finds herself drawn into some kind of trance, and it is broken by Tobias Hunt, physically pulling her back into the present.

Tobias explains the situation to Yeva. He has been trapped on the planet for a month, his ship refuses to start in the atmosphere, and, now, neither will Yeva’s. There is something about the planet, something unfathomable. While on the planet, both Tobias and Yeva are incapable of lying, anything that comes out of their mouths is nothing but the truth. Vines keep growing over their grounded ships, trying to trap them, and there is a maze they must complete in order to collect the bounty, a maze that is constantly changing and giving them new puzzles to solve.

I loved the entire concept of two solo bounty hunters trapped together on the same planet, and going after the same artefact. They have no choice but to work together, and the more time they spend together, the less they can deny it – they like working together. They both have secrets, things they would rather keep to themselves, but with the workings of the planet, truths are spilled and they slowly find themselves not so concerned about being around each other.

I really liked the puzzle of the maze, and the ever changing things they have to figure out how to get past. It is difficult to talk too much about this book, as it is a short story, at only 56 pages, and I don’t want to give anything away. The puzzles, and the whole building itself, give this book a sense of mystery. Neither Yeva nor Tobias can figure out what runs the maze. It must be some kind of technology, but how old is it, and who put it there? Why is the bounty for the artefact so high, especially since the artefact itself seems to be fairly worthless? The questions seem to be endless, with no answers available to set things straight.

Again, I don’t want to spoil anything, but I adored the interactions between Tobias and Yeva, and where they led. The entire build up was fantastic and, with the help of their inability to lie, it was a delight to read about.

I read this book in one sitting. It was not difficult because of the length of the book, but I didn’t want to stop reading once I had started. I have not read (or watched) much science-fiction, but reading this definitely makes me want to consume more of this genre. If you want a quick, out of this world, read, this is one you should get. After all, what doesn’t sound amazing about finding love between the stars?

And done!

When I was writing this review, I had something in mind that I was going to write down here. That idea has flown away, never to be found again. 

So, once again, just pretend I wrote something really profound.

That's all for now...

Bye!

Celebrate the release of Embrace the Choice (The Choice Series, Book 2) with me!

It's Release Day!

Embrace the Choice (The Choice Series, Book 2) is out now! It is the second in a stand-alone series.

How do you deal with choices when you don’t know how?

Lena has always been a quiet and private person, who only talks to people she knows and doesn’t stray outside of her comfort zone. She refuses to admit to anyone but herself that she has a crush on Tyler, the roommate of a friend’s boyfriend.

When Tyler starts making excuses to spend time with her, she can’t help but like the attention, however awkward she may find social interaction. The problem is, Lena knows next to nothing about dating. Everything she knows has come from a romance book, and she is too socially inept to be able to act like the women in her books. Will she be able to summon the courage in order to go on the date she so desperately desires?

A quick read filled with friendship, love, and trashy romance books.

You can grab a copy now!

Amazon UK • Amazon US • Amazon CA • Amazon AU

To celebrate the release of book 2, Escape the Choice (The Choice Series, Book 1) is FREE for a limited time!

How do you make a choice when you don't want to choose?

Oliver's friendship may be important to Ali, after all, she's the only friend he's got, but that's all they will ever be – friends. When it comes to Noah, she can't help but hope their friendship will become something more. Her heart flutters when he is near, and her eyes always seem to find his.

Unfortunately for Ali, Oliver would make things very difficult if anything were to happen between her and Noah, and while Noah has never told her not to be friends with Oliver, his distaste for the man is quite clear. For Ali to resolve the ongoing dispute, she will have to choose between them. But how can Ali choose between the two men when her decision will mean she has to cut one of them from her life?

A quick read filled with friendship, love, and a deep adoration of coffee and muffins.

Amazon UK • Amazon US • Amazon CA • Amazon AU

Announcing Escape the Choice (The Choice Series, Book 1) by ME!

So I have a little bit of an announcement...

I won't talk for too long, and just get right into it...

I'M PUBLISHING A BOOK!

How do you make a choice when you don't want to choose?

Oliver's friendship may be important to Ali, after all, she's the only friend he's got, but that's all they will ever be – friends. When it comes to Noah, she can't help but hope their friendship will become something more. Her heart flutters when he is near, and her eyes always seem to find his.

Unfortunately for Ali, Oliver would make things very difficult if anything were to happen between her and Noah, and while Noah has never told her not to be friends with Oliver, his distaste for the man is quite clear. For Ali to resolve the ongoing dispute, she will have to choose between them. But how can Ali choose between the two men when her decision will mean she has to cut one of them from her life?

A quick read filled with friendship, love, and a deep adoration of coffee and muffins.

Escape the Choice is the first book in The Choice Series, a series of standalone stories.

It is a quick read, at just 40 pages – perfect for reading on a coffee break, before bed... whenever!

Escape the Choice will publish on March 1st 2022, but it is available for pre-order now at just 0.99 (the price varies slightly between countries).

You can pre-order a copy now!

Amazon UK • Amazon US • Amazon CA • Amazon AU

Feeling like an accomplished writer

Accomplishment

Every writer has doubts about their writing. It doesn’t matter how many times my Mum will tell me that my writing is good, there’s always a little thought in the back of my mind, wondering if it’s really that good. Plus, she’s my mother. She’s biased. 

But, sometimes, you will get someone you’ve never spoken to before leave a comment on a blog post, or on a tweet, saying just how much they loved reading your story. Sure, you will also get those saying that you should change your entire writing style, because they don’t think it’s an acceptable way of writing, but still. 

I had a bit of a moment, a few minutes before writing this, where I felt something I am not sure I have ever felt before – unquestionable faith in my ability to write a good story. And it wasn’t because someone told me they liked reading something I wrote, or because my Mum told me I was a great writer. It was simply because I spent nearly 17 minutes listening to someone read my own writing back to me.

I submitted a story to the podcast, Nonbiographical, which I wrote in its entirety on the evening I said I would write it. 2368 words, which then sat in a document, on my computer desktop for nearly two weeks before I opened the document again, checked it over, and sent it. I will admit, I had my reservations about the whole thing. The only place I have ever published my stories before has been here, on my blog, and I certainly have never had anyone read out anything I have written.

But then, I was sent a link, and I followed it to Spotify. I proceeded to sit in shock for the entirety of the podcast episode, and for a good few minutes afterwards. What I heard read out didn’t give me the experience I get when reading my own work. When I read the words I write, I hear my own voice in my head, reading them out. I skim the words, think about what would make it better, wonder if it’s any good. What I heard was something strange – I listened to my story as if it was the first time I was experiencing the words, even though I had read through all them at least ten times. I experienced my story as a reader might, reading the words for the first time, except I had the added aspect of ‘did I write this? Really?!’

The conclusion I came to is that you can never truly judge your own writing, because you know the thought process behind every word, you know the struggle of trying to remember how to spell that word, and you know how long it took you to get over that plot hole. With the words on a screen, or a page, in front of you, you know that those two paragraphs were switched around when you were editing. You see the words, the concepts, the plans, you don’t lose yourself in the story. Take away the words from in front of you, close your eyes as you listen to someone read your story to you, and you see what inspired the story. You see the images you tried to put down into words, and you know that you succeeded. You brought those images, those feelings, to life, and they live within those words, even if you can’t see or feel them when you read it yourself.

And, of course I named this story something strange, a last minute addition to the email I sent, just to make sure the weirdness of who I am came across… ‘A Cup of Mint Tea, With A Side of The End of The World’. So aptly described by Nonbiographical as a ‘post-apocalyptic story about a young girl left to fend for herself after the end of the world.’ 

You can listen to A Cup of Mint Tea, With A Side of The End of The World on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

I really hope you experience what I did when listening to my story.

And done!

It really is rather odd to listen to a podcast of your own story. Nonbiographical is accepting submissions of short stories, if you are interested in writing one for the podcast. You can find out more by listening to the episode with my story, or you can get in touch with Nonbiographical on their Twitter.

That's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – The Man and the Crow by Rebecca Crunden

Who doesn't love getting new books, even when they have hundreds of unread ones, just begging to have some attention thrown their way?

I got my copy of this book, and read it the same day. And wrote the review, and made this post, the same day. I did not post it on the same day, I don't actually know when it will come out.

Hi, future people!

Anyway, let me introduce this book (the blurb is incredibly intriguing!) and then we can get into my review!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may get paid or receive a commission if you purchase through my link.

Some witches curse, others are cursed. And sometimes, the cursed want revenge.

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

In a world where magic exists, known only to those who possess it, witches and warlocks are not always the kind of people to use their powers for good. Sometimes, circumstances lead to the use of deception and curses, and while that’s all well and good for those doing the cursing, the cursed have another option about the whole thing.

Jessica’s roommate has always been odd, not the kind of odd who knows strange and disturbing facts, but the kind of odd who cooks strange things, and often brings home animals, who stay for a day or two, and then disappear. But, the one thing Jessica is not prepared to find when she walks through the door, is her roommate dead on the floor, and the murderer standing over her with a crow on his shoulder. Nor does she expect him to pay for a cleaning service for her, but that’s a whole other thing.

Enlil and Aris have been seeking revenge for centuries, hunting down those responsible one by one, in the hopes that if they are dead, the curse will be reversed. But, with Enlil a man and Aris a crow, there are obviously some things that have delayed their revenge. Conversation, for one. 

This is a story short enough to read in half an hour, but it is one full of intrigue, with a little mystery thrown in, and enough snark to keep you fully satisfied as you read. There is nothing better, in my opinion, than a pair of warlock boyfriends, going on a murder spree, and having every other sentence dripping with sarcasm. Both Enlil and Aris are characters you cannot help but love, for although their actions may suggest otherwise, they are incredibly likeable. Perhaps it is simply my love for sarcasm and snark, but I thoroughly enjoyed this peek into the lives of these two warlocks, and their mission.

Coming in at just 24 pages, you might think that there is simply not enough content to make up a story, but you would be wrong. There is plenty of drama, and the author has even managed to fit backstory and emotion into the short space. But, it is certainly not enough to leave you feeling like you have read a book that you can now put aside, and not completely obsess over the ending. It does not have a nice, rounded ending, but rather an open one, one that leaves you practically begging for more, but finding no more pages to turn to. I would love to know that there is more of Enlil and Aris somewhere, either written somewhere I do not know about, or hiding away in the author’s brain. The Adventures of Enlil and Aris is a novel I would love to read, even if it was just full of short stories, each one a different snippet of their lives.

This is the kind of book that will get you hooked on the writing, and will have you buying more of the author’s books, because you know for certain that you will not be disappointed, but rather that you will find new worlds that you can fall in love with. I can say with all honesty that I cannot wait to read more by this author – I implore you to grab a copy of this book, and read it, and I dare you not to love it.

Also, it is a great length if you don’t have long to sit down and read. You could read this while waiting for the bus, or while enjoying a hot drink, or before going to bed… the possibilities are endless!

And done!

My to-be-read pile is digital, so I am not in danger of a book avalanche, but it is no less of a big thing. Every time I get anywhere close to only having 200 books to read, I go on a new book spree and increase it again.

Am I complaining?

A little, but mostly no.

That's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – On the Doorstep by R. A. Hutchins

 

There are some books that you find on your ereader randomly, and have no idea what they are about, when you got them, or what they are. This is one of those books.

I started reading this book because my phone was dead and I had nothing else to scroll on. I am glad I did though!

Let me introduce the book, and then we will get into my review!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may get paid or receive a commission if you purchase through my link.

In her twenties, single and with the Covid-19 pandemic almost behind her, Abigail should be living her best life.

Which she is, as long as it’s within the confines of her own home.

The problem is, Abi can’t bring herself to leave the house. Suffering from agoraphobia, her life now revolves around her work as a freelance web designer, her art hobby business, and her infrequent chats with her attractive delivery driver, Sean.

When things progress towards a relationship, Abi’s happy to welcome him into her home, but what will happen when Sean wants to take her out?

A story of courage and limitations, of anxiety and baby steps, interwoven with sweet romance and more than a sprinkling of hope.

There are no miracle cures or quick fixes in this standalone novella, just support, understanding, and a whole lot of love!

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

Some phobias are small, but can feel big. Being scared of spiders, for example, comes on different levels. It can be that spiders make you a little uncomfortable, or that you freeze in fear whenever there is a spider around. Agoraphobia, though, is a little different. There are some things that people take for granted in this world. Warm clothes, a roof over your head, fresh air outside. But one that doesn’t seem to fit on that list is the ability to go outside.

While COVID-19 gave everyone at least a little concern over leaving the house, it gave Abi more than a little. The threshold of the front door is one that she cannot cross, and even the thought of doing so is enough to throw her into a panic attack. And, when she finally works up the courage to ask the cute delivery guy who has been bringing her art supplies out, she finally had to face the fact that people go outside on a regular basis, and while it terrifies her, it might become a necessity. 

I was not aware of the extent agoraphobia could get to. I was not wholly aware of the phobia itself, to be fair. To physically be unable to step outside, to only feel safe within your own home, but also trapped within it, is portrayed perfectly in this story. This is not a particularly long novel, you could easily read it within an hour, if not less, but that does not take away from the feelings or the story at all. Sean, the delivery driver, is the change in Abi’s life that prompts her to realise just how debilitating her illness actually is. It is normal for couples to go for a walk together on a nice day, but, scared to tell Sean about her inability to do so, Abi ends up coming up with lies, reasons to stay inside. Her fear that this man, whom she cares for, will turn and walk away when he finds out about her issues with mental health, is heartbreaking to read about. She is so scared that he will judge her and turn his back to her that she would rather continue to live a lie than to tell the truth. 

Sean and Abi are a lovely couple to read about. While Sean does not know about Abi’s agoraphobia for the majority of this book, he is no less of a wonderful and supportive man. Even when he barely knows her, he does what he can to make sure she is comfortable. He is not without his own issues, for a past relationship has left him with a guarded heart and a careful approach, but Abi’s beauty, both that inside and out, seems to be simply irresistible to him. Their relationship was so incredibly sweet to read. 

Once again, this is a very short novel and, sometimes, books this short can miss out on some of the emotion to make way for the backbone of the story. Not so, in this novel. There is not only emotion, it is felt by the reader as well as the characters. This book has been written with a certain touch that makes it such an incredibly experience to read it. There are some people who can decorate cakes beautifully, and in a way no person could ever replicate. This author has written the story version of that metaphorical cake. And it is one that you don’t want to say no to, but one that you must pick up eagerly, and simply devour it, every single word, until there is nothing left. Not even crumbs. 

And done!

I recommend you grab a copy of this book! It is short and sweet, and the chapters are wonderfully bitesized – perfect for a coffee break, five minutes of relaxing, or an hour curled up in a cosy blanket.

I started reading this as a break time thing, but I stopped being able to put it down, so I didn't.

That's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – The Ghost Beside Me by Lee Hall

As we enter the 'spooky' season of the year, I thought I would, for once, join in the festivities, and read some supernatural/scary books.

While I do have a line up of scary books waiting to be read, I would not consider this book one. Instead, it is a glorious lead in to the season, and has more of a romantic theme of self-discovery.

Before I get into all of my review up here, let me introduce the book, and then we can actually get into the review!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may get paid or receive a commission if you purchase through my link.

“Even in the deepest darkest of voids one can find something truly worth having in life, or death…”

The paranormal is a subject that E. Neville holds with the utmost content. Being an introvert by choice, he leads a lonely existence full of torment and anxiety for his affliction of preferred solitude. In this diary account Neville shares much of his woes and while settling into a new living space he begins to encounter a series of night-time disturbances like no other. Soon after he faces a battle of self-doubt and belief that something could be reaching out. Is this all a dream? Or is a soul of the ‘departed’ persuasion trying to make contact for a reason? Eventually they make an acquaintance which becomes much more as the barrier of life and death is broken by the power of love.

*Includes a free sample of The Teleporter. 

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review

Edward Neville is a very secluded soul, finding anxiety and discomfort in social situations, and so preferring to walk through life alone. Focusing on his accountancy job, Edward works hard to try and achieve the promotion that would give him the title 'senior accounts clerk' while he moves into his new rooms at Martha's House. Edward is not a believer in the supernatural, and does not have time for the silly stories that he simply does not believe in. However, his residence in room 4 may just change that outlook.

When Edward's sleep is continuously interrupted, night after night, he tries desperately to find some logic in his situation. But he can't shake the feeling of being watched, of a presence joining him in room 4 at night. When he overhears the other residents of the building talking about the 'Silver Lady', Edward slowly starts to realise just what might be haunting his sleep.

This book may only be a short read, but there is nothing missing – in fact, there is more to this book than there can sometimes be in full length novels. Edward's aversion to human conversation, while relatable, forces him into a very sheltered life, and although he doesn't quite realise it, he is plagued by loneliness. So, when his somewhat monotonous life is interrupted by this strange new experience, Edward seems to obsess over it.

The style of this book is, in my opinion, incredibly unique, and reminiscent of Bram Stoker's Dracula. There is an introduction and a conclusion, as if the character, Edward, has written the book, but the rest of it, the actual story, is written in the form of diary entries. The style of these entires is written unlike most modern books, and it gives the book the feel of one of the classics, the description incredibly vivid, with the very formal language used. Once again, there is a nod towards Dracula, and I can't help but think there was a little inspiration drawn from the classic horror story.

This book has a very important theme, of how loneliness and being alone can affect a person, that human contact, or at least having someone to talk to, can positively affect your life. As Edward starts to learn more about the presence in his room, he starts to grow more outgoing in his day to day life, as well. Slowly, he starts to overcome his fears, and to live his life in a way he would love to be comfortable with, but has never had the courage to do so before. Edward found someone who could bring out the best in him, and he clings to them.

This is not a scary story. There are some times where there is tension, when Edward isn't sure what is going on, and grows rather concerned about what might be going on in his room, but it quickly grows to curiosity, rather than fear. This is not a book about a vengeful ghost, but a paranormal romance, a story of learning how to be the best you can be, and of helping someone else to do so.

This is not a particularly long book. I read it within an hour and a half, although that itself went against the suggested guidelines that Edward himself sets at the beginning:

'To achieve the true authenticity of my experience it is recommended that this account be read in a gradual manner by candlelight in the dead of winter."

It is the kind of idea that makes you wish you bought the paperback, when you only have the ebook version. But, I can attest, if you read a little of this book at a time, a diary entry an evening, it would certain create the kind of atmosphere that is the perfect lead in to both the spooky season and the winter months.

And done!

I have 217 unread books on my ereader, and I completely blame people who run free book promotions. I probably paid for maybe 10 of those books, if that. I have a problem. I see a book for free, and I have to download it!

I'm sure some other people also do this... right?!

Anyway...

Bye!