The Great Santa Showdown by Glenn Quigley

Blurb:

It's two weeks before Christmas, and the official Santa Claus of the small town of Yuleboro is retiring. The town takes Christmas seriously, with year-round celebrations, themed diners and guesthouses, and a Santa Claus who makes regular public appearances.

Fifty-something bookstore owner Gregory has long dreamed of taking over the role. However, he's far from the only one. Grandfather and tree farmer John has been waiting his whole life for this opportunity and plans to seize it with both hands, despite objections from his daughter.

Alongside a host of other competitors, they’ll battle their way through a tournament designed to test the skills of any would-be Kris Kringles, and find it takes more than a belly and a beard to wear the red suit. As Gregory and John go head to head in the town’s first-ever Great Santa Showdown, will it be more than just the competition that heats up?

My Review:

Author Glenn Quigley has a way of creating a world that you fall into and fall in love with. This short story has everything you could possibly want for the holiday season. You’ll smile the whole time you read this story, even as you wipe away a tear or two.

If you want a sweet holiday masterpiece then this is the story for you. If the Hallmark channel is listening here’s your next gay themed holiday movie.

First Board Sons by Vincent Traughber Meis

Blurb:

A group of coastal Californians battle wildfires, racism, and their own demons in five distinct narratives set in late 2019 and 2020.

First Born Sons is populated by a cast of LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies who struggle to find love, comfort, and fulfillment. As the novel progresses, characters interact across the separate narratives and are brought together for a birthday and a disastrous Black Lives Matter demonstration. A man returning to the horrors that made him leave Mississippi, a blind gay man flirting with love, an FTM transgender starting hormone therapy, a woman struggling to protect her sons from her ex-husband’s surge to right-wing politics, and a teenager with two gay dads searching for his Black surrogate mom paint a disturbing tableau of modern-day America.

My Review:

There is a lot to unpack from this novel. First, I came into this novel not having read anything from Meis. So, that may have had me at a disadvantage. First Born Sons has several characters that we follow through out the story, which can be distracting at times, but overall all the characters are handled well, which I liked. Also, all the characters are related and intermingle through out the story, which made it much easier to follow. And I found that I liked each of the characters and felt like they were real people.

Typically, I don’t read contemporary novels (I prefer something fun to help me escape from reality) so this novel would not have been my first pick. That said, I’m glad I did read it. I found a lot of the characters easy to relate to and enjoyable to read about. I can’t pick out a favorite, because I don’t feel close to any of them, but I did enjoy learning about them. If you haven’t figured out from the blurb, this book takes place right before the pandemic and ends while the pandemic is still going, but things are opening back up and everyone is learning to deal with our new reality. Given the nature of the story, I had to wonder if the novel would stand the test of time, but then I figured that people could read this story to learn a bit about what the pandemic was like during this time.

First Born Sons, is well written and the tail is engaging overall, however I’m not a big fan of being hit over the head with a writer’s message or opinion. I prefer to have the message be vague and open to interpretation as well as come about naturally and organically, sadly First Born Sons is all about the message the author wants you to learn, which bothered me. I also, felt the book could be heavy handed at times with the message. Despite sensing what was coming I was disappointed to be proven correct. I think there may have been another way to achieve the author’s goal. I will say that I agree 100% with the message of the story, which made the constant beating of the drum bearable and, for me, forgivable. Perhaps this is my own bias and privilege speaking, so take it for what it’s worth.

In total if you enjoy gay contemporary stories that touch on a variety of lives with a clever weaving narrative, then this is the book for you. I highly recommend it.

Social Media Central (Tayler Book One) by Kevin Klehr

Blurb:

In an age where everyone lives their lives through a screen, no one has more celebrity status than fashion blogger, Madeline Q. In a chance meeting, Tayler, loner and geek, is introduced to her world of parties, fan worship, and seduction.

But as his own star rises, Madeline Q is arrested for murder. There’s just one problem—there is no corpse. Tayler soon learns that fiction blurs reality on Social Media Central.

My Review:

Social Media Central; A terrifying look into our future

Kevin Klehr offers us a peek into our future if we continue down our current path with our obsession with Social Media. The story follows Madi, Tayler, Connor, and Shaun as they navigate the world of Astra City and Social Media Central. Tayler is our POV character and we get to discover this world through his eyes, and it’s terrifying, not in what he sees and goes through (even though it’s pretty intense) it’s what this story shows us (the reader). Astra City and Social Media Central are where we are heading if we keep going down the rabbit hole of Social Media. There are so many references to current times and the power of our social media platforms, and what they are doing to society that it makes you stop and think. I especially loved the comments about people’s attentions spans shrinking. Movies are no longer 90 minutes to 120 minutes (or longer) they come in at 45 minutes because people get bored to easily. The news doesn’t exist anymore. People don’t read books, there are no libraries, no book stores. People live their lives in their homes chatting with and sharing ‘mirror meals’ with people on line. The people in Social Media Central don’t have personal contact anymore. Does any of this sound familiar?

This story is a wonderful wakeup call to the world we are rushing towards. Pull your eyes away from your phones and read this book. Then re-evaluate how much time you spend on Social Media. Call a friend you haven’t spoken too in months or years, and meet up for coffee or dinner… oh and leave the cell phone at home.

Sundowners by R.L. Merrill

Blurb:

Vampire Creed Lowell drifts from town to town working with the elderly as a night nurse and looking to avenge his harrowing past. His youth and vitality make him a favorite of his patients and his gifts bring them peace. At long last he’s arrived in the place where he hopes to find the truth about those who betrayed him…but first he finds an unexpected love with a man who might understand him—or end him.

Grad student Roman San Angelo is struggling to handle his courses, teaching schedule, and research for his dissertation on an obscure cult. He spends every spare moment with his beloved yet demanding grandmother Frances who’s recently moved to an assisted living facility—and he’s fascinated by her night nurse, who is able to bring out the inner light which had faded during her battle with dementia. Something about Creed doesn’t add up, however, Roman finds himself fighting an undeniable attraction. His concerns multiply when Roman discovers a connection between Creed and a bizarre series of vampire-wannabe assaults in the area. A moment of weakness leads to a night of passion between them, and the promise of something more, and yet Roman can’t shake his concern that Creed is not what he seems.

Creed knows better than to bring a mortal into his world, even one who could help him find the link between the pack of violent vampires preying on the people of Santa Cruz and Creed’s past. When he discovers Creed’s secret, Roman is ready to step outside his comfort zone and accept everything a life with a vampire entails, and when Creed disappears, Roman will go to the ends of the earth to find the man who brought the light back to his grandmother and the warmth back to his own heart.

My Review:

Vampires in Santa Cruz…again

Hear me out. Sundowners is about vampires in Santa Cruz, CA. If you are thinking that sounds familiar you’d be right… the Lost Boys took place in Santa Cruz, CA back in the late 1980s, but don’t think this is some kind of retelling or some fanfiction story, because it’s not. The author, R.L. Merrill, addresses the Lost Boys several times in the story as a wink and nod to the readers. So, R.L. Merrill is fully aware that she knows, we know. Which helps with the charm of the story.

These vampires however, are not the vampires of lore and are an exciting fresh take on the genre. I loved that the author used locations and places most people would be familiar with, (the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, UC Santa Cruz, etc.) and if you live in Santa Cruz or the surrounding locations you’ll recognize many of the more local places, which makes the story that much better and grounds it all in reality. There are a lot of plot points in the first book. We get to spend a lot of time with our main characters getting to know them as their relationship begins. As I mentioned we also get a lot of new vampire lore in this story which I enjoyed.

The two main characters Creed and Roman are what you would expect for characters in a vampire romance story (which is my only complaint. They are both young, attractive and intelligent with baggage. This kind of bummed me out, but didn’t stop me from enjoying the story and enjoying the characters, because R.L. Merrill made them interesting and unique enough to allow me to put my pretty boy biases to the side.) I won’t get into the characters a lot because I don’t want to ruin things for you, plus you can read the blurb and learn all you need to know. I will also add, that the secondary characters are as interesting as the main characters, which really helped to bring this story to life.

If you enjoy vampire stories that are set in unique locations then this is the story for you. Be advised this story is book 1 so there will be more to come. The ending works, however it sets things up for the next book and the series. So, keep that in mind.

Dragged to Hell by J.P. Jackson

Blurb:

Nathan has a special gift that has been with him for as long as he can recall.

He can see the dead, and they whisper secrets to him. But his unique talent isn’t appreciated by everyone, nor is his flamboyant style. Growing up without a mother, raised by a single father, dressing fabulously, and being a seer of the invisible leads to all kinds of schoolyard problems. Despite his father’s never-ending support, Nathan finds comfort in his darker side.

When Nathan discovers his love of fashion, femininity, and fierceness, it’s only time before he evolves into Azadore Necrophilia Hex—the newest drag queen on the scene.

With dedication and study, and some spirits of the long-departed helping her along the way, Azadore soon becomes a local sensation. A big dark bear of man becomes a huge fan, and on their very first date, Azadore is introduced into the world of magicals, where she finally finds home.

My Review:

Fun, Creepy and Campy

I loved this wonderful short-story from J.P. Jackson. This is a nice take on a Drag Queen origin story. You get to learn a lot about Nathan (aka Necrophilia Hex) his life as a young boy, what happened to him, and how he took the events of his past and used them as a source of power. Even though this is a short-story it’s a great read and one that, once you start, you won’t put down. I know this story is part of a larger universe that J.P. Jackson is working on, and I can’t wait to see how this all comes together.

Use as Wallpaper by Glenn Quigley

Blurb:

Stuart is a reporter for a seldom-watched history channel, forty-one years old, and recently single. His latest assignment has taken him to the beautiful country of Georgia to film a traditional polyphonic choir—one of the last of its kind. The choir is run by Otar, a gruff man of strong opinions who is used to getting his own way.

When it’s suggested that Stuart get involved with the choir’s latest performance, he will have to quickly learn how to sing in Georgian, perform a traditional dance, and avoid butting heads with Otar. He probably shouldn’t drink too much wine the night before the show, either.

As Otar struggles to keep the past alive, can he help Stuart to leave his behind?

My Review:

I Smiled the Whole Time.

This is one of those stories that keeps you smiling the entire time you read it. Sometimes you never know what you are going to get with a short story and, for me, Use as Wallpaper was excellent. Author Glenn Quigley masterfully crafted this beautiful story set in the Georgian (the country not the US State) country side. As I read I felt like I was there with Stuart and Otar. The story is charming and sweet and doesn’t go crazy with the romance elements, meaning it’s not mm porn. The adult scene is tempered to not only match the characters but the flow of the rest of the story.

If you enjoy romantic short stories this is one to add to your list. It’s also a quick read which is nice. Well done Mr. Quigley, well done.

A Symposium in Space by K.S. Trenten

Blurb:

Phaedra and her lover, Pausania are invited to a dinner party. Only this won’t be like any party Phaedra has ever been to. Nor does Pausania want her to go. But Phaedra is determined, even if she has to find her own way to this symposium in space.

A fateful encounter with the spaceship of her dreams and the wandering philosopher, Sokrat, lead Phaedra to a unique gathering of individuals where thoughts of love are offered up…and consumed.

My Review:

Why Did I wait so Long?

 This was such a unique story and a great read. If you are looking for a fun fast read this is the book for you. What is so magnificent about this novella is that it takes a classic The Symposium written by Plato and gives it a fresh spin. Written from the perspective of women as they talk about love. The world building (or universe building) in the case of this story is top notch. K.S. Trenten takes this classic and modernizes the story for today’s readers. I definitely wanted more especially with the ending between Phaedra and Pausania. We need to see more from this author.

Cursed by J.P. Jackson

Blurb:

Cam Habersham is having a hell of a time keeping up with his fae studies in the Ancestral Lands because a certain werewolf constantly interrupts his thoughts. Everton Lilch is the wolfen beast who follows Cam around, but he pushes Cam away every time things get steamy.

The queen of the fae has had enough and tasks Cam with an impossible feat, an undertaking only Everton can help him accomplish.

Without his coven, Sparks Gemmell is a lost witch. In desperation, he casts a spell, hoping to reunite his brothers. But he doesn’t count on the wayward route magic often takes. He finds himself wrapped up in a mandate of the horned god and inserted into his Shadow Brothers’ relationship in order to protect his city from the darkest elements of the Shadow Realm.

As the darkness of the Shadow Realm descends, Cam and his werewolf, along with Sparks and his coven brothers, confront wraiths, mutant werewolves, and witch law enforcement. Chaos erupts in an effort to please queens and gods.

After all, it comes down to the ley of the land.

My Review:

Cursed is the second book in the Magus Malefica–The Coven Series. I should start by saying you need to read book one first. This is not one of those series you can jump in on and pick up everything that is happening. In this case, starting with Summoned (Magus Malefica #1) is key. I gave Summoned five stars; however, I can’t give Cursed the same high marks, which makes me sad. I loved the continued story, and the writing is amazing. The setting is brilliant and feels like an additional character. Locales are important to any story and when the author takes the time to introduce us to the characters’ location, I appreciate the extra work and investment. Now that I’ve read Cursed, I feel like I’ve been to Edmonton and have a sense of what that city is like, and I hope to visit there in the future, to see the places that are mentioned in the story. My issue with the story, and this is not the fault of the author, it might just be a me thing, is one of the main characters; Sparks.

Sparks is a wonderful side character, and I enjoyed him in the first book, but in this book, now that he is a POV character, well, I didn’t like him so much. Unlike Cam and Everton, who are wonderful rich characters, Sparks felt one note to me. His angst and worry over his continued friendship with Cam and Dev became too much. With everything happening around the characters, Sparks continually waffled back and forth on where their friendship would go and how he fit into the group. I certainly understand that the relationship was a huge part of Sparks’ plot, but we spent so much time and energy on this friendship, I felt like I was reading an angst-ridden teen drama, which bummed me out.

Despite my falling out of love with Sparks in this book, I believe in the character, and I cheered him on throughout the story. I continue to love Cam, Dev, Tully, Everton, and Uncle Bert (who is a wonderful addition to the series and I can’t wait to learn more about, because I have a feeling there is a lot more to explore.)

As far as a Dark Urban Fantasy Romance story goes, this novel ticks all the boxes, you have a wonderful story with rich well thought out characters, some beautifully written narration, settings that make you feel you are right there, and of course, some lovely sex scenes that will get the blood pumping. If you are expecting a basic romance with no plot or story and a bunch of bed hopping, this isn’t that kind of novel which I appreciate.

Cursed is a delicious follow up to Summoned and I am eagerly waiting for book 3. Well done J.P. Jackson, another outstanding book added to the collective of amazing works. Four out of Five stars.

The BEK Curse by Jonathan Pongratz

Blurb:

"Just let us in. This won't take long."

Early retirees Maria and Richard Wilcox adore their new home out in the country. The past six months have been sheer bliss as they settled in and prepared for their golden years.

Until the night they answer a knock on their door.

The unexpected visitors are a pair of children. Richard tries to be cordial, but something about the kids is off. Something sinister, something menacing, something inhuman.

And then the children demand to be let in.

What do they want? Is this all a prank? Can Maria and Richard get them to go away, or will their dreams of a peaceful retirement together go up in flames?

My Review:

What can I say about The BEK Curse by Jonathan Pongratz, that won’t spoil the story for you. This is a creepy tail that will make you question everything you think you know about your wonderful offspring, well maybe not your offspring, but kids in general. Pongratz takes an urban legend and makes it so real that it’s heartbreaking and you have to wonder if, indeed, things like this happen and we are to scared to face the possible truth. So, we call people crazy and lock them up. If you want something that will make you run through the house and ensure all the doors and windows are locked, then this is the short story for you.

Peacemaker by E.M. Hamill

Blurb:

Third-gender operative Dalí Tamareia thought their life as an ambassador ended when they joined a galactic intelligence agency. When they’re yanked out of the field and tapped to negotiate the surrender of deadly bio-engineered warriors who crashed into hostile territory, Dalí is thrust headfirst back into the tumultuous world of galactic diplomacy.

My Review:

I'm very particular when it comes to Sci-Fi and I expect a lot in these types of stories. I want to be taken away, I want to feel like I'm part of the adventure, or at least sitting alongside the main characters as they have their adventure. Despite this being book two, I felt that the author EM Hamill did an excellent job of giving us enough backstory and history to ensure that the reader didn't feel like they were missing anything. I will admit that Dali is not my favorite character even with how richly they are developed, however that did not take away from the story, they were just not my favorite. Either way, the author provided a wonderful story filled with rich characters and a creative universe. This is a must read if you enjoy Sci Fi.

Summoned by J. P. Jackson

Blurb:

Devid Khandelwal desperately wants to experience the supernatural. After years of studying everything from crystals to tarot to spellcasting, nothing has happened that would tell him the Shadow Realm is real. And that kills Dev. As a last-ditch resort, he purchases a summoning board, an occult tool that will grant him his ultimate desires.

Cameron Habersham is Dev’s best friend. Cam loves Dev like a brother and will do anything for him, as long as he looks good doing it. So when Dev asks him to perform the summoning board’s ritual, he reluctantly agrees, but he knows nothing will come of it. Nothing ever does.

However, within a day, Dev and Cam’s lives are turned upside down as wishes begin to come true. They discover the existence of a supernatural world beyond their imagination, but peace between the species is tenuous at best.

Dev finally gets to see the Shadow Realm, meets the man of his dreams, and is inducted into the local male coven. But for all the desires that were summoned into existence, Dev soon realizes the magical community dances the line between good and evil, and Cam ends up on the wrong side of everything.

The old adage is true: Be careful what you wish for.

My Review:

What can I say about this amazing book? Well, first, let’s start with the characters. These characters feel like actual people you may know and see on the street, yes, they come across as a bit to handsome to be real, but we all know people like that. What the author does to counter their good looks is give them real problems and make them more than just eye candy. So, reading about all the handsome characters didn’t take me out of the story which was very much appreciated. The plot and the writing are what will keep you involved in this book. The author doesn’t use tired tropes or give you next to no plot. Everything feels fleshed out, which is a big plus. What is new for this author are the romantic elements, which are woven into the story and the scenes were the characters are engaged are honest and work within the story. Sometimes authors will only focus on the sex in these sorts of novels, but here you get story, character development, and sex. It all works out well. The violence also works in this story, it’s a dark story, and you need the darkness to make the rest of the story pop.

You need to read this story. It’s fantastic. Well done J.P. Jackson.

The Lion Lies Waiting by Glenn Quigley

Blurb:

Winter, 1780, and the solstice is fast approaching. Four months after the events of The Moth and Moon, burly fisherman Robin Shipp is preparing for his first Midwinter festival with his lover, the handsome baker Edwin Farriner. But when a letter arrives begging for help, they must travel with their friend, Duncan, to Port Knot on sinister Blackrabbit Island for a final confrontation with Edwin’s mother. Also visiting the island are Lady Eva and her wife Iris, with a stunning proposition that could change Robin and Edwin’s lives forever.

The snow-covered harbour town of Port Knot is a dangerous place. While there, Robin, Edwin, and Duncan explore the menacing rooftop settlement known as the Roost, mingle with high society in the magnificent splendour of Chase Manor, and uncover a violent conspiracy threatening the island’s entire way of life.

Old rivalries will flare, shocking secrets will be revealed, and as Duncan’s scandalous past finally catches up with him, will it ultimately destroy them all?

The men will be tested to their limits as they discover that on Blackrabbit Island, the lion lies waiting.

My Review:

After finishing the first novel The Moth and Moon I instantly jumped on the sequel The Lion Lies Waiting. What can be said about this novel that hasn’t already been said. The writing is spot on, the characters are enjoyable, the story is easy to follow and continues down a path you would expect.

In, The Lion Lies Waiting the story continues (with Robbin, Duncan and Edwin as well as a few other favorites including Lady Eva who I adore) and opens us up to the greater world that Author Glenn Quigley created for us. We are no longer on the claustrophobic Island of Merryapple. The story takes place on the much larger island Blackrabbit in the city of Port Knot. The novel also moves us ahead about four months to the Winter Solstice. All covered in the first few bits of the tale.

I enjoyed every part of this story including all the cultural details that Author Quigley created for the story and characters. Many authors will bypass holidays and other cultural events so they don’t have to spend any time figuring out the details or taking a detour from the story, but not so for The Lion Lies Waiting, the Solstice is as much a character in the book as the hurricane was in the previous novel.

If you want a cozy enjoyable series to read then pick up these books. The only announce I have with this book is not the story, but the trigger warning. There is nothing graphic (violence, sex or otherwise) in the book. Anyone can read this and feel comfortable in doing so. Ignore the warning and enjoy the book. This novel earned every one of it’s 5-stars.

Conscience by Jonathan Pongratz

Blurb: 

Rory Bennels lives in a world ruled by a business entity known as the Corporation. For years he’s executed cerebral uploads for the recently deceased, but when the famed anarchist Epher Lore ends up in his lab, a series of events occur that shakes Rory’s world to the core.

My Review:

This is a wonderful SciFi/Dystopian short story that has excellent character development and a lush world that you want to explore more of. What is creepy about this story is how you can see where, if we are not careful, this world could come to be. In fact, I’m sure there are people out there who would argue that we are already there. You can’t help but cheer on and care for the main character.  This is an outstanding attribute of the author Jonathan Pongratz, he can suck you in with his incredible characters within the first few paragraphs of his story, which is needed for a short story.

I could see this short story easily adapted to Netflix or Hulu as a series.

The Moth and Moon by Glenn Quigley

Blurb:

In the summer of 1780, on the tiny island of Merryapple, burly fisherman Robin Shipp lives a simple, quiet life in a bustling harbour town where most of the residents dislike him due to the actions of his father. With a hurricane approaching, he nonetheless convinces the villagers to take shelter in the one place big enough to hold them all—the ancient, labyrinthine tavern named the Moth & Moon.

While trapped with his neighbours during the raging storm, Robin inadvertently confronts more than the weather, and the results could change everything.

My Review:

I both love and hate giving 5-star reviews. I love them, because the book is amazing and I worth every single star. I hate them because people don’t trust them (including me). That said, this book, this novel that Glenn Quigley crafted is worth every single star and then some. The story doesn’t focus on pretty young gays, but gays who have a few years and a few pounds behind them. Making it that much more real. You never doubt these people are real and at one time were alive. The story reads like a historical event from a time long since passed. For every trope this could have hit, it missed them all and created something special and unique. I don’t want to give the story away, so I want say much about it other than the symbolism in the story is wonderful and having everything happen against the backdrop of a hurricane was perfect. I can’t wait to read the next in the series.

And to top it all off, I read this book in four days. That should say it all right there.

Read this book!

Beware Mohawks Bearing Gifts by SA Collins

Blurb:

It’s 1847, New York.

William Matthias Hallett is a fashionable dandy of the Manhattan social set. His life is laid out before him: a world of soirees, riches, and luxury. Yet all he wants to do is find an adventure so deliciously wicked that it will satiate his soul for an eternity.

Disguised in a lower-class manner, into the notorious Five Points he goes, seeking that spark of adventure. That is until it greets him in the form of his old schoolmates from Dartmouth College—a pair of Mohawk warriors who will up-end his world and all he knew it to be forever.

My Review:

I had high expectation for Beware Mohawks Bearing Gifts by SA Collins as it’s an ‘own voice’ story about an alternate Earth were the Natives People of America have a promised nation of their own (this idea breaks from our own history where the Indigenous People of North America were indeed promised their own nation by the British, but in our reality it did not happen). The North American continent has the United States and Canada parceled pretty much on the eastern coast of North America, which I found exciting and wanted to learn more about (I’m hoping some of this will be explored in the rest of the planned series. There are going to be six books in all so we shall see). The author provides a map of North America as it’s reflected in the novel, which was a nice touch of detail, one that left me with more questions than answers.

As I’m a bit of a history dork (I had an amazing History Teacher in college who shared the dark side of history, the stories that most of us never hear about), so I came into the story with many questions and was hoping for all of them to be answered, but of course, that wasn’t the nature of the novel. I had to put my expectation aside. Regardless, I was looking forward to seeing an Indigenous Persons perspective on this kind of Fantasy story, what I got was not what I expected. I believe that to be a good thing. The author did not beat the reader over the head with their agenda nor their bias. Yes, they had one, we all do. But instead of taking the opportunity to tell a story where the evil cis gender white men destroyed an entire culture and people the author took a path I was grateful for, they told an epic fantasy story about good and evil with characters that were engaging and wonderful to read. None of them were perfect and they all had their issues. This book was the set up for the series, but even with that, there is a lot of info that the author left out and I pouted a bit when it was finished.

In a way, this story reminds me a bit of the first novel Eye of the World (the first book in the Wheel of Time series by the late Robert Jordan).

The main idea of this story, as I see it, is taking the legends and myths about a people many of us hardly know anything about and having an adventure exploring those myths. This is something the author does exceptionally well and I would love to read more about.

Could I sit here and nit-pick the story for being too wordy at times, and not wordy enough at others, of course, but that is a style choice of the author. It is there story to tell, so I will not pick apart how they choose to tell it.

If you want to read an epic fantasy story and learn a bit about the mythology of Native People then this is a must read. Beware Mohawks Bearing Gifts by SA Collins is heart fully thought out and well written. The deep dive into the character and their every thought can be a bit of a slog, but it’s manageable. I’m definitely looking forward to the sequel.

Imminent Dawn (Empathy: Book One) by R.R. Campbell

Imminent Dawn was a wonderful novel that was interesting to read and a lot of fun to read. I loved getting to follow each of the main characters through the story and seeing what their true motivations were. The world building that R.R. Campbell came up with impressive. The setting of the story was enough like our current world that it was easy to see the jump to the world he created.

Even though this is an LGBTQ Sci Fi novel, with a female gay lead, that is not the focus of the novel. The character being a lesbian never came into play, this story is more about everything else happening in the world. It’s so nice to see a novel where being gay isn’t the focus of the story, it is something we need to see more of in writing, especially Sci Fi.

The only reason for a 4 – Star is that this novel took me a bit to get into, I’m not saying it’s a slow start, it just took me a bit to get into, but once I was there I was there and I zipped through the book. Well down R.R. Campbell I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

Magi or Die (Inner Demons Book 1) by J.P. Jackson

Blurb:

James Martin is a teacher, a powerful Psychic, and an alcoholic. He used to work for the Center for Magical Research and Development, a facility that houses people who can’t control their supernatural abilities, but left after one of his students was killed, turning to vodka to soothe his emotional pain. The problem is he still has one year left on his contract.

When James is forced to return to the CMRD, he finds himself confronting the demons of his past and attempting to protect his new class from a possible death sentence, because if they don’t pass their final exams, they’ll be euthanized.

James also discovers that his class isn’t bringing in enough sponsors, the agencies and world governments who supply grants and ultimately purchase graduates of the CMRD, and that means no profit for the facility. James and his students face impossible odds—measure up to the facility’s unreachable standards or escape.

My Review:

This is one of those stories that will grab you and keep you reading until you finish. After reading the first novel by this author I had thought, wrongly, that this would be another ride into the regions of a twisted imagination (not a bad thing). What I got instead was a cross between; Harry Potter, Shadow Hunters, and Lost Girl. There was the right mix of tension, drama, and levity making this a fun read. Don’t get me wrong, it was dark and creepy and there are some images I won’t forget, but mostly it was a lot of fun.

I’m being nitpicky with this story because really I have nothing major to complain about. However, there were two things that bothered me. One, the love and enjoyment of smoking. Okay, I get it, people smoke and people enjoy it, but reading about it in this story and despite the fact that James, the main character, constantly called them cancer sticks and talked about quitting was something that I couldn’t get past to the point where it was a little annoying. Why even have them in the story? I didn’t see the need and James already had an addiction to alcohol, which I felt was more than enough to give him a wonderful character quirk. I know this is a ‘me issue’, but the whole smoking things bugged the heck out me.

Two, as good as the book was, the ending was a bit… I’m not sure I liked it. I understood and I appreciated the set up for the next book, but I don’t think it was really needed. I think the book could have easily ended a chapter sooner and I would have felt much more satisfied.

That all said I will certainly read the next book and whatever else this author has in store for us. I loved the character development and I was rooting for our ragtag group the entire time.

I’ve debated between four and five stars and wish I could give it four and a half stars because I’m really being picky with the story and that might not be fair to the author. Still I loved the book and I can’t wait for the next one.

A Knight in Distress by Barbara Russell

Blurb:

A knight in distress. A damsel in shining armor. A city to protect.

Knights are supposed to rescue damsels. So when Nathair, a knight in training, is rescued by the princess he's supposed to protect, he's annoyed. And when the princess proves she can fight like a knight? Well, that's enough for a boy to think about a career change.

My Review:

This is an amazing story that flips the whole damsel in distress on it’s head. The character Nat a knight in training has to go on a mission to save a princess Bryhannon. Before he can become a full knight. Neither character is who they seem to be and, just who is saving who? Along the way they are caught up in an adventure that if they don’t succeed could destroy their home of New Camelot.

I love positive stories with strong characters who can provide role models for young adults. This is that king of story. Oh, and, it even has dragons. So what’s not to love.

Snakes Among Sweet Flowers by Jason Huffman-Black

Two-time ex-con Camden Sanders has decided that Hog Mountain—an isolated community on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia—is the perfect place to continue running small scams without the threat of more prison time. But there are a few problems with this plan. One is the neighborly citizens of Hog Mountain thwarting his dirty dealings at every turn with their kindness. Another is Jackson Rhodes, a closeted Hog Mountain police officer who can see right through Cam’s good ol’ boy act and plans to catch him red-handed despite the attraction they both can feel. But the biggest problem of all is that Cam’s past is threatening to catch up with him, and it could mean trouble for more than just himself.

Ben the Bee Series & Jill & Jack by Kerrian Neu

Case 142 – A Bee to Remember
Official Junior Bee Detective, Ben the Bee, is on his first case. Movie star, Abbee Honeybee is in town for the premier of her new movie, "A Bee to Remember". Her cherished necklace turns up missing during all the festivities. With the help of his trusty assistant and best friend, Scooter, they scour the town of Beely for any clue to solve the case. Case 142 is also an Honorable Mention winner at the San Francisco Book Festival.

Case 163 – Captain Blackbee and the Hung for the Stinger Cave
Official Junior Bee Detective, Ben the Bee, is on his latest case. The town of Beely celebrates their annual harvest festival with rides, games and a frightening tale by Mr. Whetherbee. His tall tale of pirates and their treasure leads Ben and his friends on an uncertain adventure through a dense forest and a creepy cave.

Jill and Jack: Jill the Ninja
Jill and Jack are two cats that live the good life in their house at Lake Tahoe. They sleep, eat, play, and have active imaginations, especially Jill. She loves to pretend and try to convince her brother that she is more than just a cat. In this story, Jill battles chip-ninjas to protect her house, food and her brother.

Full disclosure: The author is my cousin, however, these are still amazing children’s book that should not be passed up

The Kurdish Connection by Randall Krzak 

Blurb:

KURDISH SCAVENGERS UNCOVER A CACHE OF NERVE GAS IN IRAQ AND OFFER THEM TO KURDISH FIGHTERS IN TURKEY. THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS BEDLAM ALPHA TEAM MUST SECURE THE WEAPONS BEFORE THEY CAN BE USED.

"You must swear by Allah never to say a word of what I'm going to tell you. This is the most important secret. Ever!"

In their daily struggle for survival, Iraqi Kurdish scavengers uncover a cache of chemical weapons. They offer the weapons to fellow Kurdish rebels in Turkey and Syria to assist in their quest to free an imprisoned leader and create a unified homeland. After receiving a tip from an unlikely source, the newly formed Special Operations Bedlam team is called to arms! 

Travel with Craig Cameron and his international team on their covert operation as they weave their way through war-torn regions seeking to locate and recover the weapons before they can be used to cause irreparable harm and instigate a world crisis. 

The odds are stacked against them. Can they manage to keep their operation hidden and prevent further clashes before it's too late?

My Review:

How could I have forgotten to review this book? I want to start by saying I’m not a huge fan for military mysteries (I guess that’s the way to classify this story), but the author Mr. Krzak has got my attention with both books in this series, with the third coming out. I’ve really enjoyed the characters and the story telling. This is one of those stories that you get so wrapped up in that you lose track of all time.

I don’t want to give anything away, but if you’re looking for a juicy series to get sucked into, this is for you. And if you’re like me and not so sure, well trust me, this story and the series are too much fun to pass up. 

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks

The Zombie War came unthinkably close to eradicating humanity. Max Brooks, driven by the urgency of preserving the acid-etched first-hand experiences of the survivors from those apocalyptic years, traveled across the United States of America and throughout the world, from decimated cities that once teemed with upwards of thirty million souls to the most remote and inhospitable areas of the planet. He recorded the testimony of men, women, and sometimes children who came face-to-face with the living, or at least the undead, hell of that dreadful time. World War Z is the result. Never before have we had access to a document that so powerfully conveys the depth of fear and horror, and also the ineradicable spirit of resistance, that gripped human society through the plague years.

Ranging from the now infamous village of New Dachang in the United Federation of China, where the epidemiological trail began with the twelve-year-old Patient Zero, to the unnamed northern forests where untold numbers sought a terrible and temporary refuge in the cold, to the United States of Southern Africa, where the Redeker Plan provided hope for humanity at an unspeakable price, to the west-of-the-Rockies redoubt where the North American tide finally started to turn, this invaluable chronicle reflects the full scope and duration of the Zombie War.

Most of all, the book captures with haunting immediacy the human dimension of this epochal event. Facing the often raw and vivid nature of these personal accounts requires a degree of courage on the part of the reader, but the effort is invaluable because, as Mr. Brooks says in his introduction, "By excluding the human factor, aren't we risking the kind of personal detachment from history that may, heaven forbid, lead us one day to repeat it? And in the end, isn't the human factor the only true difference between us and the enemy we now refer to as 'the living dead'?"

Note: Some of the numerical and factual material contained in this edition was previously published under the auspices of the United Nations Postwar Commission.

Through Rain and Missing Mantaurs (Elemental Rain #1) by Jeanne Marcella

This gritty dark fantasy pushes boundaries. It explores society's perception of people, taboos, and personal relationships. For mature readers. 

Pony is a bipedal half-centaur with no desire to waste tears on a history she cannot remember. She’s busy enough with her mail routes and package deliveries and floundering through an unrequited love for the beautiful and aloof elven courtesan, Mardyth.

Then, the mundane drudgery of her life shatters when Konstantine Bywater takes over as the new boss. He starts asking questions she can’t possibly answer, and stirs up a past better left dead and buried.

Running away is no longer an option. Not when Kon and his minions accuse Mardyth of an unspeakable crime. Pony will stop at nothing to uncover the truth—not only to prove her lover’s innocence, but to save herself as well.

The Swarm by Frank Schätzing,  Sally-Ann Spencer (Translator)

For more than two years, one book has taken over Germany's hardcover and paperback bestseller lists, reaching number one in Der Spiegel and setting off a frenzy in bookstores: The Swarm.

Whales begin sinking ships. Toxic, eyeless crabs poison Long Island's water supply. The North Sea shelf collapses, killing thousands in Europe. Around the world, countries are beginning to feel the effects of the ocean's revenge as the seas and their inhabi-tants begin a violent revolution against mankind. In this riveting novel, full of twists, turns, and cliffhangers, a team of scientists discovers a strange, intelligent life force called the Yrr that takes form in marine animals, using them to wreak havoc on humanity for our ecological abuses. Soon a struggle between good and evil is in full swing, with both human and suboceanic forces battling for control of the waters. At stake is the survival of the Earth's fragile ecology -- and ultimately, the survival of the human race itself.

The apocalyptic catastrophes of The Day After Tomorrow meet the watery menace of The Abyss in this gripping, scientifically realistic, and utterly imaginative thriller. With 1.5 million copies sold in Germany -- where it has been on the bestseller list without fail since its debut -- and the author's skillfully executed blend of compelling story, vivid characters, and eerie locales, Frank Schatzing's The Swarm will keep you in tense anticipation until the last suspenseful page is turned.

The Stark Divide (Liminal Sky #1) by J. Scott Coatsworth

Some stories are epic. 

The Earth is in a state of collapse, with wars breaking out over resources and an environment pushed to the edge by human greed. 

Three living generation ships have been built with a combination of genetic mastery, artificial intelligence, technology, and raw materials harvested from the asteroid belt. This is the story of one of them—43 Ariadne, or Forever, as her inhabitants call her—a living world that carries the remaining hopes of humanity, and the three generations of scientists, engineers, and explorers working to colonize her. 

From her humble beginnings as a seedling saved from disaster to the start of her journey across the void of space toward a new home for the human race, The Stark Divide tells the tales of the world, the people who made her, and the few who will become something altogether beyond human. 

Humankind has just taken its first step toward the stars.

Diary of a Quarterback - Part I: King of Imperfections (Angels of Mercy) by S.A. Collins

Born in America but reared in their father’s home of Torino, Italy, Marco Sforza has led a fairly idyllic life. The Sforzas are an ancient and powerful family with a strong ducal past. They run a vast global empire that allows Marco to enter halls of power that most men only dream of. Yet, Marco is a boy who lives in a bubble of his family’s making. 
  
When Marco returns to America to attend high school he grooms himself to become a rising star quarterback of the Mercy High Avenging Angels. He thinks his focus is his burgeoning football career. He is all to aware he is a boy made of pure light that is meant to be seen and noticed. He is comfortable there. Until he meets a boy who shines brighter than him. Elliot Donahey is that boy. But Elliot is a boy who craves shadow and darkness to keep himself safe through another hellish day of high school.  
  
Before he realizes it, Marco’s world becomes undone by this boy. Trapped in a script all jocks are meant to follow, Marco does his best to fit in and play along so he can play the game he loves, but this boy who hides in the shadows begins to consume his every thought and emotion.  
  
Despite the script he’s been given to date girls, have sex, and hang with his teammates and follow along, Marco finds himself on an emotional pendulum where following that jock script only brings him further away from that world to circle the boy hiding in the shadows. Can Marco find it within himself to push against what others expect of him to find his way into Elliot’s arms? Even with all the fame, money and prestige his family brings to the table, will it be enough to gain the interest of a boy who only wants to hide from everyone?

Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars (Mars Trilogy) by Kim Stanley Robinson

The Mars trilogy is a series of award-winning science fiction novels by Kim Stanley Robinson that chronicles the settlement and terraforming of the planet Mars through the intensely personal and detailed viewpoints of a wide variety of characters spanning almost two centuries. Ultimately more utopian than dystopian, the story focuses on egalitarian, sociological, and scientific advances made on Mars, while Earth suffers from overpopulation and ecological disaster.