Book Review: The Fix by Mia Sheridan

The Fix by Mia Sheridan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm starting to enjoy mystery and thriller reads. This is one of the top I've read.

I'll admit the beginning was hard. The kids are awkward as teens in high school and we feel that. But what was hard for me was when Cami returns home. It's hard to read. There are triggers here. If you can't do rape, don't read this.

The story then jumps ahead a short time where we see who they are looking at as one of the guilty party. Then we end up in the story 11 years later. This is when things really take place.

Cami bumps into the nice boy she talked to once as a teen. Rex has always admired Cami.

Rex is so understanding for all Cami went through. And such a great help for her now. He has the skills she needs and his soft heart where she's concerned, he agrees to help her with her "Do Over".

I really like the way things fit together to find the area they need to be. Interesting to see how it works out.

There's action and danger in this story with the suspense.

There's sections added in of another. It took me some time to figure out that the story is in a different time than we were in. But all comes together in the time frame at the end.

When I thought the story would be over, we got more. Which I'm glad we did! This ending tied up all the remaining things I wanted to see through.

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Audio Book Review: The Return of Supervillainy by C. T. Phipps

The Return of Supervillainy by C.T. Phipps
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

And we are back with Gary and the gang!

This time Gary is asked to join a group to find and save Mandy, thinking she's held hostage. Once things get going, there's more to it all. Helios maybe involved... or the problem.

I always look forward to the fun clips, the music references, the pop culture references, and so much more.

This is book 10 in the series, so there's many details given through the book of previous events, people, and more. Are they all important? Well, they maybe down a rabbit hole in a discussion but it really keeps everything interesting and makes me smile.

Some of the conversations take work to remember where we started. I feel like it's an ADHD conversation. lol. Goodness, the trips in conversations make me laugh and wonder, how did we get here? lol.

We get to see all those we have grown to love in this book, again. We even have those that have arrived in this world in a previous book. So much history between all these members.

These are always fun stories for me. The action, how Gary ends up in situations, and the references I grew up with. Fun!

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Audio Book Review: Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling

Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book. I really liked the character Elowen. She's not your traditional princess. She's broken, crafty, and she sees things with a wider mind. When she's faced with how things happen and not shared, she sees how it fits and why. She still reacts but it's reasonable and not just overreacting.

Oh Elowen's first birthday she's gifted dragon eggs, and a seers vision of her with the dragons. She grows up with her dragons, and loves them as family. But, there comes a time when her father, the king, sees they are a problem. They are locked away and eventually her too.

The book starts years later, after she's been broken out of the prison and grown. Elowen is kind of a female Robin Hood to her small hidden town. She's a little bit of a spy, fighter, and thief. All rolled into one and I like this blend.

I love how she met Cayden the first time. Cayden would like her help, to side with the kingdom he's a commander for and fight against her father. He'll help her get her dragons back.

This book has many pieces I like. There's growing trust, betrayal, fighting, and more. I love how Elowen handles it all. She seems to have a mind about her to view it all with an open mind.

This book left me wanting the next book. I love the characters and want to see how things ended here and where they'll go in the next book. I'm waiting for the library audiobook loan to come through.

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Audio Book Review: The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent

The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I like the way Carissa writes her books with levels to work through. She did that in each book in different ways. This book has levels to work through in it's own way. She works emotions and feelings into her words.

This book picks up exactly where the previous one ends. Mische is in the Underworld, as a soul after her passing with the end of the last book.

I'm surprised who appears to help Mische along the path she still has to travel. Her guide along the way is Vincent. Mische will need to climb back up, out of the underworld to help Asar. She's a soul that will have a form when she rises, but souls are to return to where they are from in time. So there's a lot to accomplish and maybe find a way to stay in the world of the living.

I wanted to be in Asar's head in the previous book. I get that HERE! We get to see through Asar's eyes in this book as well.

Asar can't forget the vision of what the other gods did at the end of the previous book. He feels the pain. He feels her.

There's something they need to do. Find pieces that could lead them through different places they've been and back to friends. Where they see how much the world is in trouble from what happened and what's happening to the Underworld.

This is a romance read. There's reconnecting and figuring new ways to be together.

The Epilogue leaves us ready for the next duo that we'll read about. And there's a huge change in the world.

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Audio Book Review: The Woman in the Cabin by Becca Day

The Woman in the Cabin by Becca Day
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a suspense read set in the real world.

The story starts at a turning point in Mary's life. She's lived with Cal for 10 years and she's feeling the isolation and see's he's noticing she's starting to get wrinkles. We see how the routine day goes for them. And there are read flags.

As you can guess, things are not as they seem. Things start to unfold as the story goes and Mary finds journals of another woman.

I don't want to give the story away. Mary is one strong lady. She's creative as well. There's a lot that she will go through. Her strength will push through it all.

We do get a full closure in the end of the book to what happens in everyone's lives. There is abuse in this story, but also about overcoming it.

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Audio Book Review: The Tree of Azathoth by C.T. Phipps

The Tree of Azathoth by C.T. Phipps
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Back into the world with John Henry Booth. The world is coming to an end. But there's another he can go to.

To The Dreaming City. Life is different here. Kinda has the feel of gangster time with tech. It's an interesting blend here and how people live or pass here. They are all from different parallel universes. But how it's all run is the interesting thing. You have to see how it's crafted and held together.

We've seen John as the one of action, especially when he needs to be. But he can be the overthinker and thoughtful on events and life too. He has philosophical things to say and thoughts on things.

John is on the case. As John digs deeper I see that this story is definitely set in a fantasy world. Some of the items are out there in the thought process. The thought process is shared and I'm impressed with how we get there. That's what you get with blending Cthulhu and Dreams. Hold on while you take this adventure and keep an open mind.

As I love with C.T. Phipps's books, we touch on a few books and themes. It's interesting how it all ties together with the Dream world concept.

I listened to the audiobook and Cary Hite does a nice job here.

There's also a bonus short story at the end of this one. It's a case that John takes. A sorority needs his help.

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Book Review: Fate of the Fallen by Kel Kade

Fate of the Fallen by Kel Kade
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I'm all for books where there's an underdog and even where people fail. That could be so interesting!

However I was expecting more from this book than what I got.

When the prophesized hero dies I was all here for the story that was to come. This book had many elements I would enjoy.

But when the person who raised him told his closest friend, like a brother in life, to cut his head off to prove to the king the hero is deceased... I was shocked. And then he does it! There was no previous setting to have this fit the world. And the characters do things that just don't fit them or act like they know where they are when never left home.

I wanted to DNF this book with the events with the character that just does as told. The one decision I thought would be the hardest for him to do wasn't. But, Aaslo does seem to have his own obstacle since doing it. He talks to the spirit of Mathias but I don't think it's really the spirit as it's him mentally struggling with what he did.

The author's writing style isn't my style. I felt the world building could have been preempted a little bit in the beginning of events and what people were doing. Kind of setting us up for what was to come. I felt like the author had a few things they wanted to write and added them into the book, which didn't fit with the story or character.

I did push through and finish the book where I did enjoy the last two chapters. Maybe the last quarter of the book was good for me but it isn't enough for me to pick up the next book.

I do enjoy the magic struggles. I really liked that the gods are playing games of their own with the people. That's a big thing in fantasy and it's always something interesting to see on how they twist things too their benefit.

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Audio Book Review: The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic by Linsey Hall

The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic by Linsey Hall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was an audio book listen I did with the book club.

This book was a quick, easy listen. The story was of Aria and Callan, both having times that are their point of view. They met when younger, Aria was just under age. Aria is asked to return to her home town to compete for the special garden, her family feels she'd be perfect for winning it when Lionel Sparrow retires. This could also save Aria's family magic shop.

Aria doesn't have magic like others. But can still compete. She just doesn't know if she'll win with Callan competing too.

Aria and Callan are a slow growing romance through the book. They learn to like and trust each other. Even help each other. And the secrets that each have.

The narrator felt slow so I had the audio book on double time. Early on I felt like the author was working too hard to create a moment. Too many words to describe where feelings would be enough.

If you enjoy a book that has neat challenges in a magical way with a cute romance growing, this might be a book for you to try.

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Audio Book Review: A Bargain So Bloody by Vasilisa Drake

A Bargain So Bloody by Vasilisa Drake
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this fantasy set story with a vampire twist. Samara lives in a prison, helping the guards, for what she did years ago. There's a new prisoner brought in, with copper manacles instead of the usual iron used on witches.

Samara has a choice to make... help him escape and go with or leave him here.

As we set out on the escape across land to a country that will keep Samara and Raphael, Samara gets to experience new things. We start to see experiences from when she was young and her bad experience with a vampire.

The story starts and mostly is narrow to two people, Samara and Raphael, in Samara's point of view. There's good reasons to stay together, for Samara. I think there's more to Raphael's reasons though and that has me curious.

Then Raphael offers a mission to keep Samara near. One that she could help him with. It's an interesting mission and they grow closer as they go. Samara is helpful in deciphering things. But she likes staying near him too.

There's more to Samara. Raphael is holding a few secrets back. These have me curious about what the details are. There is a slow burn romance between the characters.

There's magic in the world. I liked the magic cards those with money could afford them. They are neat.

The ending has me wanting more! There's a nice twist to things and I can't wait to read what happens in the following books.

I listened to this as an audiobook and really enjoyed the audio version.

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Audio Book Review: Weyward by Emilia Hart

Weyward by Emilia Hart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the story of three women of different generations of a family as they become stronger, learning to be their independent selves.

We follow Altha, Kate, and Violet through important moments in their lives. They all start in troubled times and live through difficult times. Will they come through their hardships stronger?

I liked Altha's story. It felt to have a slight touch of magic. She's on trial for a friends husband that died. They think she's a witch and behind it. Is she? Kate's story was hard for me. She's stuck in a relationship with a controlling man, that's dangerous for her. Violet is a young lady that's growing up like her mother, which her father struggles with. But when a cousin comes to visit from the war, more happens in her life.

I did have a cringe moment with Violet's story. I found parts to be slow moving for me. I did speed up the audiobook as this was one I read with the book club and wanted to get through it.

This one wasn't really one for me. I've heard many enjoyed it so do check out their reviews.

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Audio Book Review: Merry Christmas You Filthy Animal by Meghan Quinn

Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal by Meghan Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my goodness. This book is even better than the first! I laughed out loud at work while listening to Atlas (Max) with some of the events and conversations.

Max is historically known to be a little dramatic in his....well, in life. When he meets a beautiful woman on the sidewalk, they have a fun interaction. Not your usual meeting, which sets the tone for the book. But, he so learns that someone is building a tree farm that will rival his family's farm, which he's to inherit. And he's determined to not let it happen while his parents are out of town.

Max makes a few bad choices that lead to a humorous outcome, which may be embarrassing for him.

All to meet Betty who's new in town with her heart broken over having to close her Christmas shop where she's from. Her Uncle wants to hire her to create something amazing.

Max comes up with a terrible idea, with map and all, and Storee is in to help him. However, Storee has her own plan as she sees a spark in Max when talks about Betty.

Oh heavens. Talk about the awkward conversations between two awkward people who don't know what to say and start rambling. LOL! I laughed so hard are these two together. They are like similar minds and there's a deep hole they go down. And I absolutely loved it!

We have more to the story than the humor and building romance. There's unease with another in town from events when younger. We also get to see Storee and Cole with kids and the other family and friends.

I love the feel of this town. It's so cozy.

The narrators all returned for this book. Such a great crew. They were perfect with the voices.

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Audio Book Review: How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn

How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a fun listen. I enjoyed the humor with the romance in this story. I thought the writing was well done with the Christmas competition in Kringletown. The Christmas events were fun to live through. I'd love to see this as a movie. I think the humor would be great on screen too.

There's dry humor in Storee's thoughts. Off the bat, I like her humorous thoughts and kind of exasperated tone and feel. Cole is a grumpy one on the outside, but doesn't feel as such when you're in his head.

Storee and Cole knew each other when they were younger, but had a bad winter individually one year and they lost contact. So they know things about each other and they've lived through things that help with the other one. I like how they start out competition but things turn and they become amicable then friends and help each other all the way to more.

It's fun getting the story from both of their view points. And I love the who cast of friends and family around them. It's a hoot.

Be prepared for romance to come into the story. And have fun with the characters.

I listened to the audio and loved the cast of narrators! They had a great sound and blend together.

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Audio Book Review: Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the 2nd book in the series. This review may have items in it that could spoil the ending of the first book. I try to keep things vague, but this is your warning.







King Benedict has The Villain in his grasp and he's going to expose him to the public for the story of the land to come true. Evie Sage has her own plans.

I love the beginning of this with what Evie has planned on how she'll get into the king's castle to rescue The Villain. But, keep an eye on this event. It's fun buuuuut, there could be more to it than realized.

I think Trystan and Evie make a great duo. They work well together. They are out on adventures as there's more to the story of the land and it's connection to them. We start down the path of learning about Evie's family. Her mother and brother and what really happened that day. Then we learn about her mother and father. Oh wow. It's a wonder Evie and Trystan found each other. But then again... there maybe a reason they met.

I really enjoyed the writing in this book. I like how things are starting to fit together. We have our cast of people and seeing them all interact and help is great. They each have a piece or connection to share with getting to the end. Interesting seeing the world outside of the estate and Evie's home town.

There's a mention of undoing which has me curious. I also think it could be a different view than it's interpreted as in the book. So I want to see where it goes. I have a feeling....

I'll be listening to the next book when I can get it. (I'm thinking Spotify will be the fastest way.)

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