Shut Up and Book Up!

Book Review 5 out of 5 stars! "Great, I was stuck with the spoilt Barbie and the stuck-up fae." - Chandra Everything was going great until it wasn't. Chandra was on the trail for an item and almost had it in her grasps when things went belly-up. Now being reassigned to a mission she dreads I believe Chandra wishes she only had to deal with Barbie and the Fae. Instead, she has to help train and determine if the recruits are worthy of joining the guild. Not trusting anyone or allowing people to get close to her. Chandra faces things her own way. Until something happens while helping to train. . . Chandra's world may have just gotten a whole lot bigger whether she likes it or not. But will she tear down those incredibly high walls and allow people in? Trusting someone else other than herself? And when will she be reassigned to actual assassin missions? "Move me and you'll lose a limb, Witch." - Carro Chandra's a witch and I loved meeting her familiar! I...

Book Review 4 out of 5 stars! "We're just means to an end." - Irissa Irissa's not having a good week at all. With a family tragedy she's barely able to work through the emotions of loosing someone dear to her before an announcement is made. A betrothal announcement. . . A betrothal to Prince Nor. . .a minotaur. The enemy who's been raiding Irissa's kingdom! Not wanting to be a pawn or forced to marry the enemy, Irissa makes a scene until a reality slap hits her hard. With the focus of her people and her duty toward them, Irissa faces the minotaurs head on. Wasn't there a saying of grab the bull by the horns? She finds Nor isn't too pleased about the marriage either. Will the two be able to stand one another? Will their kingdoms truly have peace with one another? And did anyone consider the differences between minotaur and humans? Irissa's a very strong-willed and stubborn woman! But she has a big heart and cares deeply for her kingdom. I enjoye...

Book Review 5 out of 5 stars! "I believe we are capable of living full lives with only one half of a soul. The whole soul might be too much and suffocate us with love." - Val Growing up as practically orphans, Valeri (Val) has sworn to protect her sister. Being the one to go to sea to fish, Val tries ignoring the singing in her head. Something has always been there singing a song, calling to her. But she needs to ignore it! Until one eventful day out at sea she cannot. Diving into the ocean after the thing luring her in. Val soon finds herself on foreign shores! Not having a way back home causes her to comply to remaining at her new "home". Now surrounded by unfamiliar faces and a new world, Val has to navigate through to hopefully return to her sister. Everyone keeps mentioning that Val is something more than just a human. Something in her bloodline is awakening. Can Val fully awaken it and control it? Is there really something in her bloodline? And why does everyo...

Book Review 4.8 out of 5 stars! "It feels like I've gone backwards from happily ever after endings to witch-filled beginnings." - Jules Juliette's supposed "fairytale" came to a rude end when she found her beloved "prince" in bed with his secretary. . . Is there like a hot-secretary-you- will -cheat-on-your-spouse-with subscription somewhere? Broken hearted and not wanting to go home to the parents who may or may not know about her current life. Jules is stranded. Cue real prince charming, Elliot Carter! Only he's seven years older than Jules and her older brother's best friend. Meaning no. Off limits, yet something's always been there but because of several reasons, including legal ones. The answer was always N-O. But living under the same roof may just change things. Or will Jules have her heart broken again? Can she really find that fairytale with a happily ever after? This is Book 2 of the "Could Have Been Sweet RomCom", b...

Book Review 5 out of 5 stars! "Looking back now, I never would have guessed that the day I'd truly start to live would be the day I died." - Remi So. . . That's the first line of the book and if it doesn't just hook you and reel you in, then I don't know what will!  Remi's been forced into a life she never got the option of choosing. Missions and assignments she wasn't thrilled to take but the current assignment takes the cake! Teenagers. . . A whole academy full of them. . . The assignment is to track down a threat to the school and the kids in attendance. Remi doesn't like to "people" but now she has to. And to top everything off she's an art teacher! With actual students and everything. Remi has no idea what she's about to embark on. Things may just change in ways she never expected them to. Working alone all the time and ignoring your handler only gets you so far in life. Remi's about to discover more than just a dangerous...

Book Review 5 out of 5 stars! First and foremost! You must read Volumes One and Two before you dive into this book. The books follow a continuous arc and plotline. Meaning this review will contain spoilers if you haven't read, " Sword of Sorrow, Blade of Joy " and " Fangs of the Black Tiger " first. The first two volumes are excellent and you will not be disappointed! "They may have kept you alive, but what I am teaching you will make you truly great." - Li Ming "You can't be afraid to learn something unorthodox." - Tao Jun Li Ming's agreed to being Shu Yan's master and to train her. FINALLY! Only he's soon regretting his decision as ghosts from his past begin to haunt him. Worse than the on going nightmares ever have. Not to mention the impending duel with General Shazha Kui. . . Li Ming really doesn't have time to train an apprentice and he knows he isn't a great teacher. Yet he promised!  Shu Yan never wants to get ...

Book Review 5 out of 5 stars! First and foremost, if you haven't read Volume One first go and read it! The volumes go in order and end on cliffhangers. The next book picks up right where the first one ended, so there will be some spoilers in this review if you haven't read " Sword of Sorrow, Blade of Joy ". "A swordsmen, a magistrate, and a merchant?" Jingyi chuckled. "We sound like a bunch of heroes in a tavern story." Shu Yan's been taken and the swordsmen's trying to stay hot on the trail leading to her. But nothing is easy and Li Ming finds himself needing help. Maybe journeying alone isn't always the best. Having company makes traveling better, sometimes very entertaining. Even if the company can be annoying at times. Will Li Ming ever admit that he actually likes the girl? Will he be able to find and rescue her? "You're scared of your own fire." - Zhen Shu Yan's having to face her own array of problems. Having fo...

Book Review! 5 out of 5 stars! "Fifteen years on the cold trail of his master's murderer, and he was now babysitting. How had it come to this?" - Li Ming Who doesn't love a grumpy legend? Li Ming's trying to stay focused on his duty of tracking down the murderer. When he's rudely interrupted by Shu Yan, who's needing his help. Begrudgingly agreeing to help her they set out together. Though her having a deep purse isn't a bad thing for Li Ming's pocket. Little do the duo know that bandits and conmen will be the least of their worries. Their journey is long but will the two be able to stand one another long enough to see the end? Both having different motives. Nobody said babysitting a fourteen-year-old girl would be easy. Will Li Ming find the person he is after? And will Shu Yan ever get to see the legendary swordsman in action with his sword? This is a wuxia genre book! "Wuxia is a genre of Chinese fiction that features itinerant warriors of ...

Book Review! 5 out of 5 stars! First and foremost, this book is set around 200 B.C. in the Iron Age of Britain. Meaning you need to just toss the modern mentality of things into a box and save it. Enjoy this fun adventure and leave now's society and it's dramas behind. "Let it be known to all that one must rip himself from himself to form anew." - Vidav Brennus' life is a very simple one. Minding the farm for his oldest brother who wishes to keep Brenn from following in their father's footsteps. Only Brenn wants more from his life and to have everything his father did. But how can a youth who apparently has no backbone become a warrior legend like his father? Not to mention he hasn't been allowed to go into the tombs to claim his sword and be reborn a man. . . "Come to the Slighan Hill. . ." - Mysterious Voice Brenn's simple life changes in a course of a night. Hillmen, mercenaries, sidhe (spirits), and so much more. Brenn wanted a life of ad...

ARC Review Set to Release August 23, 2022! 3.8 out of 5 stars! "How long had I been asleep?" - Thorne Once upon a time, a princess was placed under a curse of endless slumber. For her to wake from her dream like sleep she needed to be kissed by her true love. That's how the stories supposed to go right? Well, not this fairytale! Princess Thorne's awake, but after how long? And why is there a blade pressing into her instead of someone's lips? A spell gone wrong, a kingdom that's being threatened, and to top it all off? Unwelcome guests that could "potentially" help or they could make matters worse. . . Thorne's at a loss as to what to do but her clock is ticking down. Will she be able to break the spell turned curse? Can she trust her new "guests"? And why are these feelings for one of the guests coming up? It takes a lot of focus to break a curse, distractions are not needed! I loved the fusions of fairytales in this story! The story is...

Book Review! Set to Release August 20, 2022! 5 out of 5 stars! First and foremost! This is a three part series. The series goes in order so please read part one ( The Dropped Stitch: Part One - Transportation ), otherwise you will be utterly confused by what you read. Not to mention there will be so many spoilers! "Protection cloaks of this caliber can invoke certain feelings for the involved parties." - Orthus A bargain has been struck and both have agreed to it! Only there are a couple of conditions Cordelia didn't realize would be so intense. Having to stifle the fake attraction and draw to Orthus is harder than it seems! Does he feel the same way? Or is this just part of the bargain's side effects? Everyone keeps assuring Cordelia that she's the safest at the Summer Estate, everyone except for one. Vasileios' keeps stating she isn't safe and that she's in danger. How can that be true? The king's been nothing but kind, while Vas has been the opp...

Review 5 out of 5 stars! "Your soul is as limitless as your mind, and with those tools at your disposal, anything is possible." - Marvin Varin was perfectly content just being a mercenary for the crown. Even if the jobs involved creatures that he shouldn't have walked away from in one piece. Yet with the accomplishment of his last job and an encounter with the court mage his life's about to change. A series of events lead to him traveling away from the home he always known. Traveling to a kingdom that doesn't frown on non-humans or magical abilities. Yet can any of this be real? He's just a human, raised by human parents, right? Cateline's been a prisoner inside the castle for as long as she's been alive. Not allowed to venture out, finding comfort in an elven servant. One who's surprisingly survived her father's prejudice against elves. Only within a night her world changes. Soon she's pushed into a new destiny that involves hunting down a...

ARC Review 5 out of 5 stars! "Luck isn't for the optimistic; it's for the lazy and the desperate." -Raphael Raphael, Rafe, has always been a clear-cut man. Not believing in luck regardless of his trade of being an owner of a Casino. But when a red head enters one of his bars and wins a game to gain his watch. Rafe, will soon realize that luck is a thing and he is very unlucky person! Rafe knew he should have stayed as far away from the feisty woman as possible. Yet he keeps finding her everywhere he looks.  "What's that saying, again? Something about if you think of the devil, it'll appear?" - Raphael Penny wants nothing to do with Rafe, since she realized her mistake of walking into his bar. A mistake she should have never made since she knows better. Penny's luck is very much tested from the moment she acknowledges her misstep forward. Will she be able to escape the spider web? Can she have a normal life, go straight as they say? Will Rafe ever...

ARC Review 5 out of 5 stars! "You're champagne and I'm Witty's Pale Ale." - Rory Aurora Maguire's trying to grow her cupcake/wedding cake business. Having been tied into a promise she cannot break, Rory comes face to face with her ex. Not looking forward to the event at all she is luckily saved by a knight in a shiny suit. Only when it's announced that her knight is actually a real Prince, Rory nearly falls over. Hugh's the spare heir to the throne. Wishing to live a normal life and enjoy having his freedom. Only the red head with freckles draws him in like a moth to a flame. "It appeared to be the dreaded-ex-lovers-running-into-each-other scene, starring Brad, A.K.A. the douche canoe, and his new infatuation. . ." - Hugh Only Hugh's past is coming back to bite him in the rear when Rory background checks him. Will he be able to convince her of his feelings? Seeing past what the media has posted about him. Will she agree to an actual date ...

ARC Review 3.8 out of 5 stars! "Just a man, standing in a forest, playing for a tree." - Emry Emry Karic's been struggling for a while with the bard career. Or not really one at all since he isn't a part of a guild yet. But his luck may just change! Only the gods have other plans for poor Emry. His only shot of impressing a certain guild may just go up in flames when his lute becomes possessed! Still aiming for his shot, Emry makes a deal with the spirit within his lute. Only little did Emry know this agreement would have him trekking across the land. Not to mention encountering things that should only exist in stories! Did I mention his ex girlfriend will be accompanying him as well? This is a fun adventure with a touch of romance. I enjoyed watching Emry's plans for his life change in the course of a night! How reuniting with his ex for this journey was difficult but the banter between the two was wonderful. I loved the author's interpretation on things and ...

ARC Review 4 out of 5 stars! "You don't always have to resent men when they flirt with you. After all, you can look quite cute in the appropriate lighting as well." - Danny O'Hara Amber Deering has been through enough with so called "men". She's more than content being a "nun" for the rest of her life and avoiding advances of the opposite sex. But while managing a new gig for her best friend and client musician, Danny O'Hara. She is brought face to face with a man she should run the other way from. Cue Caden Lockwood. He's a rich, play-boy who doesn't mind helping women to "have a great time". Amber's not his type in the least, yet something about this petite, fiery woman is drawing him in. But can he take the leap after what he has been through as well? Neither one wishes to cross the line and yet their paths keep crossing. Regardless of the close proximity because of business. A story of angsty, slow burn love! So mu...

ARC Review 5 out of 5 stars! "You might think being born with such a rare trait would be cause for revere and adoration. You would be wrong." - Sorrel Being born with hair of fire and freckles to boot is anything but a blessing. Sorrel's destined to serve a god of Death and the Afterlife until her time is up. Being cursed as a Soul Collector from the moment she took her first breath. Sorrel's world is full of simple minded people who look upon Soul Collectors as evil beings. Stealing souls and tearing apart families. Only this isn't true but who would ever understand her or wish to be close to her. Even just a friend to talk to would be nice. On one particular collection, Sorrel finds a soul that doesn't feel right. Causing her entire world to be questioned and flipped upside down! And is that a man's voice she's hearing in her head? Maybe she truly has gone crazy from being alone for so long. "Mankind's greatest downfall is his superiority co...

Review Story and Art by Oto Toda 5 out of 5 stars! Six short stories in one book, but I will just go over the four main stories! To Strip the Flesh What if you knew you were the wrong gender? Trapped inside a body that isn't yours but you were born with it? Having to remain so to make others happy. . . Chiaki Ogawa, knew from day one that he was male. Yet there are some in his life that don't want to believe that. But choices have to be made in order to breathe and be able to live. Having a life of freedom and happiness sometimes comes with consequences. Will he be able to accept the terms? This story hit me hard because of my personal life and experiences. Still going through some things and understanding what being Non-Binary means to me. What it looks like for me. Chiaki knew what being male looked like to him, yet family stood in the way. Having to tell a parent and show them that this is it, this is who you are. Seeing them decide whether to accept you or not is scary. Chi...

ARC Review 5 out of 5 stars! Walking into the five star hotel is everything Ella has wanted, but seeing the inside completely takes her breath away. Determination is what drives Ella, the need to make her dream a reality! Upon her initial meeting with the owner of the hotel her dream may or may not take shape here. But who could turn down a passionate, strong willed Ella? "It's important to be happy, Ella. You're a ray of sunshine here, always smiling. Whatever you've been doing in your life so far, it's working." - Chef Ford Only after meeting a certain Mr. Zeke Gage does Ella realize her life may change. The "particular", needs-help-communicating-man is drawing Ella in. Instant attraction on her side and a want to get to know him more.  "Hey, I haven't seen you in the restaurant before, and you haven't asked for any food to be brought up by me.  . . .  I'm starting to think you're a vampire or an alien or something." - Ell...