Reading Fanatic Reviews

Books to Add to Your TBR list... or Not!

Hey, ya’ll! I’m VERY behind getting my reviews up on the website! I’ve increased the reading and reviewing, leaving less of my leisure time available to update this website. I’ll do weekly posts with links to my reviews at Amazon; you can also check out my Amazon and Goodreads profiles.

By the way, I’m now a top 50 Amazon.com reviewer (#12 currently) and the top 8 US reviewer of all time on Goodreads (and top 9 in the world)… and the #6 US reviewer and #8 in the world in the past year. Cool stuff!

I hope to make updates to this site soon!

A Map for Wild Hearts by Andrea Hannah

Universal Book Link

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

A Map for Wild Hearts*

An Odd but Lovely Journey into the Heart of Creativity

This will probably sound weird, but I chose this book at my favorite book review site because I was perplexed by its description. I couldn’t really tell what the book was about from the blurb or the title and subtitle, so I was curious about what the book actually contained. In this book, the author leads you through making a physical map that expresses aspects of you and your creative bent. In the first part of the book, she goes over the obstacles to creativity. Once those shackles are off, she hopes to lead you on a creative journey of self-discovery that will help you in your future creative endeavors. It is a little hard to explain because the whole book is very right brained; the logical part of my mind is having a hard time pulling together all that this book is and what it intends to do. The author shares many personal stories throughout the entire book and provides a blueprint for making an actual physical map of what creativity means to you. Each main chapter has exercises to get you thinking about various aspects of yourself and the creative process. Even if you don’t want to make a physical map like the book lines out, some ideas she has you think about are worthwhile for anyone who engages in a creative endeavor.

The author doesn’t want to limit the types of creativity that her maps can be applied to, whether you see yourself as a creative making art (visual, literary, etc.), or whether you are just someone who likes to live life creatively (like someone who delights in their beautiful garden). If you see yourself as someone who is creative and would like to play creatively with your creativity :-), you might enjoy this somewhat strange but intriguing book.

Candy, Carpenters, and Candsticks by Paula Lester and Lisa B. Thomas

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Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited

Candy, Carpenters, and Candlesticks*

Halloween in Comfort Cove

Even though we’re several books into the series, it feels like Paige is still settling into her life in Comfort Cove. She has some new ideas for the bookstore, and a batch of used books turns up an old love letter. Things heat up when somebody connected to the letter turns up dead. The book is also about Paige’s relationship with her Italian boyfriend, Marco. When the book starts, he is still in Italy after his grandmother’s death; when he returns to Paige, they both want American Halloween to be special for him. Things certainly never run smoothly in this little town and certainly not for Paige. She seems to attract trouble, which of course is fun in a cozy mystery. I enjoyed the Halloween parts of the book, and I was amused that Paige was so happy about that holiday since she is an actual witch—even if no one knows that she is outside of her coven. I actually wish that there was a little more witchy-ness in this story, as I love paranormal cozies. As often happens in cozy mysteries, this book felt like it was more about Paige, her friends, and the community rather than the actual mystery. It’s a relatively short book, and in such a small amount of words, it is hard to get the balance between the cozy aspect and the mystery aspect. Still, I have enjoyed this series, and this installment was no exception.

Archdruid by Tiffany Shand

Universal Book Link

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Archdruid*

Sibling Rivalry Ramped Up to Fight of Good vs. Evil

This book picks up where the previous one left off. Urien is still at it, even though he is trapped inside of Xander’s body. I actually quite enjoyed the conversations that Urien and Xander had in their conjoined minds; much resembled conversation as you might imagine it would be between brothers as different as this. The novel takes sibling rivalry to the next level in the classic fight of good against evil. I loved Ann’s strength. The book is very action-oriented with lots of twists and turns that will take you for quite a ride. It ends, unfortunately, at what feels like a cliffhanger to me as it is in the middle of a pivotal scene. I didn’t think the end of the blurb was wholly accurate, which is disappointing. However, I’m definitely curious to see where the series goes next.

Embrace of the Shade by Amanda Muratoff and Kayla Mansur

Universal Book Link

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, 24 Symbols, Thalia, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, Indigo (Chapters), and Bol.de

Embrace of the Shade*

Backstory Woven in the Way it Ought to Be!

I’ll admit that I’m a sucker for just about any fiction novel that in some way has to do with a mysterious book or library. This one has both. I love the chemistry between Kin and Amarie. It sizzles from the start and weaves its way through the book in a delectable way, including well-written, contextual sensual scenes. The story had plenty of action to keep it interesting. I love how the authors maintain a certain degree of mystery about the main characters’ pasts. Fantasy, unfortunately, is the genre that most often falls prey to my most hated thing in genre fiction: the information dump, overwhelming the reader with backstory right at the start. This was not done here, for once—yeah! Instead, we get to know about the world and the main characters slowly as we need to better understand them. In fact, I think the way the authors did it is inherent to and necessary for the story itself. If we knew it all the beginning, the story would not have been so gripping, or the novel itself such a page-turner. So, well done, ladies! I look forward to the next book in this trilogy as well as the greater universe that the trilogy is the starting point for.

All Bets are Off by Kristi Rose

Universal Book Link

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Google Play, Kobo, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, and Indigo (Chapters)

All Bets are Off*

Plucky New PI Tries to Sort It All Out

Even though the author does tell us in the blurb what exactly happens to the heroine at the start of the book, I still was a bit shocked to read all of it, to see her world turned upside down so quickly–the money part especially got to me. Poor Samantha! But the heroine gets back on her feet as best she can as she tries to figure out the mystery of it all. I liked Samantha; she’s a great protagonist. Even though the world did its best to get her down, she kept getting up and fighting the good fight. I am usually ambivalent about private eye mysteries, preferring amateur sleuth mysteries to those, but I quite enjoyed this one, probably because Sam is a newly minted PI who doesn’t yet know her way around the business (much like an amateur sleuth). Enjoyable banter and humor were a surprising part of this book as well. This is the first book I have read of the series, and I might have to go back and read the first one.

Violet Souls by Abbey MacMunn

Universal Book Link

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Smashwords, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, and Indigo (Chapters)

Violet Souls*

Violet-Eyed Aliens Among Us

How to classify this book… How about alien shifter romance thriller? Yes, this book has a lot going on. The heroine’s world is quickly rocked when she finds out that she is an alien. There is a bad guy after her because he craves power, and he needs her to get it. The heroin has a bonded mate, but she doesn’t presently know him or recognize him. But he knows and remembers her and seeks to protect her while helping her learn about their society and her powers. The book was a little awkwardly worded in places, but the author kept a book moving with lots of fast-paced action. I really liked Quinn and Lexie, the heroine’s little girl. Jane was a fun character, too. I hope we see more of all these characters as well as find out more about the home planet of Evox.

His Sweet Hellion by Tarah Scott

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Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited

His Sweet Hellion*

Anges Vengeurs

This is a relatively short novella, but my, what a story! Emma and Rhys are such well-drawn characters. The author evokes so much sympathy for both of them. They had been through so much before they met, and the drama only increased afterward. Rhys is haunted by the fact that he was the only surviving member of his unit at a terrible battle. Though his superior officer was the one who fled the battlefield on that fateful day, that man has labeled Rhys the deserter and coward. Emma has lost her father and only finds out about her brother’s death on that battlefield in the opening scene of the book. They both had lost so much in different ways, yet they both have strength, resilience, and compassion. If you like historical Scottish romance, this lovely little novella brings all the feels and may be right up your alley.

A Scoundrel’s Promise by Tarah Scott and Erin Rye

Universal Book Link

Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited

A Scoundrel's Promise*

Not a Scoundrel, Just a War-weary Second Son

I don’t see the hero as truly a scoundrel. Sometimes these historical romances are titled in ways the author/publisher believe will attract readers rather than actually reflecting the book. This is unfortunate because this novel is actually a lovely little romance; there’s no need for title prevarication. I quite enjoyed the heroine. She is a mischievous, fun-loving young woman who can be serious and brave when she wants or needs to be. I loved the hero; I’ll admit to a soft spot for the wounded warrior returning home. He appreciates the heroine’s nature but doesn’t feel worthy of her because he can’t give her what she thinks she deserves. I thought the book ended abruptly; I would have loved to see more beyond this scene. The last 15% of the book is a tease for the next book of the series. There were some issues with grammar, punctuation, and usage. I don’t think the book was copyedited because of some inconsistencies with these. However, I did enjoy this story.

Ballad of Discord by Tarah Scott and Summer Hanford

Universal Book Link

Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited

Ballad of Discord*

Political Intrigue, Personal Tragedy, and Romance in the Scottish Highlands

Elizabeth, her sister, and her close-in-age aunt are living a peacefully idyllic life in the Scottish Highlands. A Frenchman upends their world when he convinces their father into a crazy scheme to fight for the crown of Great Britain as a Jacobite descendant. While this story has romance as a key element, much of the plot has to do with this political intrigue, and the hero and heroine staying one step ahead of those who would do them, and Scotland, harm. The book is quite unusual, actually, but it is quite a page-turner because of all that is going on. At times, I didn’t like how the hero and heroine mistrusted or treated each other, but in all, I did enjoy the book. The authors have created three intriguing heroines; the next two novels of the series will feature them, I imagine. The story is fascinating, and I’m looking forward to reading more about what happens to this intrepid family of Scottish women.

Beware the Magician by Molly Mirren

Universal Book Link

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play, Scribd, Smashwords, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, and Indigo (Chapters)

Beware the Magician*

Marginally Better than the First Book

While I didn’t particularly like the first book of the series, I always give authors a chance or two beyond a first bad impression to see if they can change my mind about their work. So I started reading this book with low expectations. I am happy to say that the author did rise a little in my estimation, but unfortunately, there are still issues with the story.

So, what did the author do right in my opinion? Once Ben and Stella finally engage again, I found the story of the Ben-Stella-Tyler triangle to be well written, better than the first as there actually complications involved.

What didn’t I like? I didn’t like the big information dumps at the start of Stella’s and Ben’s respective first chapters. I also didn’t like is that Ben had this sudden meteoric rise to magical fame; it is necessary for the story, but it is so implausible that it just makes me shake my head. So, to me, the foundation of the story was rocky. Given what we knew of Ben from the last book and what he reveals himself to be in this book, it is out of character for him as well as atypical for the industry. Tyler is clearly a manipulative jerk, and I don’t like Stella’s reaction to him. Honestly, I just don’t understand it.

There’s just one more book in the series, I think, and I am curious to see how Ben and Stella’s relationship evolves because it has been quite a rocky road. But if that book has as many issues as these first two, I won’t be reading more from this author.

Jamie Brydone-Jack

Jamie Brydone-Jack

Reader, Editor, Writer

I’m an avid reader, for both fun and work/business. I enjoy a wide variety of books, including literary fiction, romance, thrillers, cozy mysteries, and fantasy for fiction and history, contemporary issues, philosophy, music, medicine, and cookbooks for nonfiction. I’m a freelance copyeditor who also does beta and alpha reading. I have two websites that are all about romance and mystery. You can also follow my reviews at Amazon, Goodreads, and Bookbub.

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The asterisks (*) by the book title denote the source of the book copy.

One star = I received it as a free advance/review copy or directly from the author.

Two stars = I borrowed it through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

Three stars = I purchased the book outright (sometimes for free).

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