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!
Without Fear of Infamy by Jennifer Soule et al.
Available at Amazon in paperback only
Without Fear of Infamy*
Delightful Poetry Collection
I enjoy and have written poetry myself. I don’t read contemporary poetry as often as I’d like, so I was intrigued when I saw this particular book show up on one of my favorite book review sites. I am so glad that I chose to review it. let me tell you why.
First, I like the format of the book. In the PDF version I received, each poem is allowed its own page or two, as required, with plenty of white space around it so you can just focus on the poem. These poems vary in length, structure, and creativity with punctuation and other language effects. Honestly, that is what I love about poetry. I think it is the most playful of the word arts but can also be the most serious in terms of the subject. I love the heightened effect of language that the sparseness of poetry evokes. And when poets can actually make us see their world and feel their experience even with the economy of language, it is a beautiful thing to behold. I found many such moments in these poems. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection, and if you enjoy contemporary poetry, I suggest you give it a try.
Clairvoyant Clues by Paula Lester
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
Clairvoyant Clues*
Another Delightful Visit to the Sunnyside Retirement Community
I think that I have read every single book in this series, and I just adore every one of them. The author has created a zany, quirky paranormal world that I love to revisit whenever a new installment comes out. What’s not to like about a series centered around a retirement home for witches and other magical people? Can Zoey, the young woman who is the director of this community, keep them in line?
In this particular story, Zoey has a lot on her plate. Her mother is just only back in the land of the living but still is not responsive; her father thinks that she is just faking it. Zoey has a new love interest. But the mystery centers around a psychic who is planning to move into the community; she disappears before she can do so. Law enforcement believes that someone at the retirement community, either a resident or worker, had something to do with it. Suspects pile up as many haven’t been so happy with the psychic’s predictions. So, that is what needs to be sorted out in this particular installment.
As always, I enjoyed the characters who make up the retirement community. There is so much humor in this book because of the wonderful characters that the author has created; she has taken great pains to make so individual and relatable as well as zany. Most of these people have what I would say are good intentions, but in trying to help Zoey, they more often make a hash of it all—and quite often in hilarious ways. Since this series now has several books, we have gotten to know some of these characters over time, so reading the book is like visiting your crazy friends; you just know it will be insane but a lot of fun. I totally would like to be the director of this community; you would never be bored! While the novel is a part of a series, it can definitely be read as a standalone, although you will get much more from it if you start reading the series at the beginning. If you like paranormal cozy mysteries with humor and an exceptionally well-drawn cast of characters, you might enjoy this series as much as I do.
Gingerbread Bride by Jude Knight
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Scribd, Smashwords, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, and Indigo (Chapters)
Gingerbread Bride*
Short Novella Surprisingly Good Read
While I do enjoy quick fiction reads, I find the short format of a novella to be one that appears to be hard to master by authors. Often, rather than writing a story that fits the format, the author feels the need to do an information dump to set up the story rather than let it naturally evolve. Also, there doesn’t often seem to be enough time to develop the characters or the plot fully. Worse, though, is when authors try to shoehorn a novel-length plot into a novella; this makes for more telling than showing, which detracts from enjoyment because we want to get involved with the characters’ emotions or plight. This is hard to do if we are just being told the story rather than shown it through the eyes of the characters. So, I found this book to be a pleasant surprise. We actually do learn some background about the characters very quickly, but it is done within the construct of the hero and heroine meeting again unexpectedly. So we genuinely see that backstory through the character’s eyes as they reminisce mentally when they see each other again. And these reminiscences had some delicious humor that I found highly amusing and which made me smile more than once. (I love to some of these silly words the author incorporated, like collywobbles, as that added to the fun.) The author managed to create two very different but strong characters whose interactions were pleasing to follow.
I didn’t think, though, that the book description accurately reflected the novella. Much of what was stated in the book blurb was actually what happened before the story began. I never like that. I think the book description should match the book. However, when I actually got into the novella, of course, I ended up enjoying the story and characters. The heroine has had a very different past than most heroines in historical romance. She has lived on her father’s ship since she was a child, and she only has now returned to England to live because of her father’s death. She is shipped off to one aunt, who has designs for her son to marry her because they want access to her inheritance. In running away from these machinations to see another aunt, she runs into the hero who just happens to be in the area (right around the time when she is very nearly set upon by ne’er-do-wells. He began working on her father’s ship as a young man, so they’ve been nearly lifelong friends. I loved some of the stories that were recounted about their childhoods. He was not only her rescuer and confidante, but he also taught her how to defend herself when needed. Because the heroine has always seen the hero through a child’s eyes, she does somewhat see him as a knight-in-shining-armor kind of man. So when they meet again as adults, will that turn into something more?
I don’t want to give away too much more away, but I so enjoyed watching the unfolding romance between the two characters. I love how the hero was so protective, even though the heroine could often take care of herself (because of all that he’d taught her earlier). But some rescues aren’t physical ones. I liked how the heroine was very independent-minded and intelligent. If you enjoy short Regency fiction where the heroine is just a little off the norm, you will most likely enjoy this book.
The Cure for Stupidity by Eric M. Bailey
Available at Amazon, Thalia, and Bol.de
The Cure for Stupidity*
A Case for Communication
I have an interest in neuroscience; it fascinated me while I was in nursing school even though I didn’t ultimately become a neuro nurse. So I was intrigued by this title when it showed up at one of my favorite book review sites. It is very easy to read compared to other books on the thought and communication. It felt almost too simplistic at times. But at least it is more accessible than many books I’ve read on the topic. In this book, the author explores concepts like perception, content, bias, and distractions. For me, this book felt too loosely woven together. It was hard to see the interrelationship between all the various parts of this idea. Because of my interest in neuroscience, this was not my first time hearing some of these concepts, so most were not new to me. I thought the title and the subtitle were a bit disingenuous, as neither really had much to do with the book itself. I didn’t really make the connection between the content of the book and stupidity (although it could be argued that not understanding the basics of human engagement could lead to some stupid actions or decisions) nor did I feel that the book was very heavy into neuroscience, as I hoped it would be. Also, too, the subtitle states that this is about communication in the workplace; again, this didn’t seem to be the major thrust of the book, which seemed more about the theories in general than a lot of practical information. The book at its core is about communication on a variety of levels, though. It is about aspects of thought and human behavior that can affect how we perceive, think, decide, and act. Despite some deficiencies, I did still find this to be a fascinating read. If you have an interest in communication, perception, or bias, this book might interest you.
Diamond in the Dust by Mel A. Rowe
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play, Scribd, 24 Symbols, Thalia, Smashwords, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, Indigo (Chapters), and Bol.de
Diamond in the Dust*
Take an Armchair Trip to the Outback
This is the second or third book that I have read by this Australian author. I remember so enjoying the first one because she really has a way of depicting what life is like in the outback with such clarity that you feel like you are there. This book is the same. From the first scene where the heroine is nearly run down by the hero while he’s driving a big truck, I swear I could taste the grit in my mouth and feel it in my nose just like the heroine. I think it’s really cool that the author was able to portray life so vividly as to make it seem real. Outside of the wonderful descriptions, this is a sweet and beautiful love story between two very complicated individuals. The heroine, we slowly learn, is still recovering mentally and physically from a traumatic accident that nearly took her life. While his backstory is not quite so life-and-death, the hero also is experiencing shifts and changes in his life. He has some grand aspirations that he pursues even though he knows his father would not approve. The hero and heroine, as you might imagine from my description of the first scene, don’t quite get off on the right foot, but they do have a fairly instant attraction to each other. This does evolve and become more profound, and it is a lovely process to watch unfold. I am glad that my Kindle has the attached vocabulary definition function as I had to look up quite a few Australian colloquialisms. But the author’s use of the uniquely Australian termed added flavor to the book. I recommend this book.
SEER by Ryan Beck
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
SEER*
One Could Almost Imagine It Happening…
While I enjoy the genre, I don’t read science fiction as often as I would like. I am continually on the lookout at my favorite book review sites for novels that I think will be interesting. I tend to like full-out space opera, humorous sci-fi romance, or technology-driven dystopian urban fantasy that is just a click or two off of our own capabilities. Yes, that is an odd grab bag of sub-genres to like, but what can I say? This story is one of the third variety. In this novel’s world, there is a ubiquitous technology that seems to anticipate an individual’s every want and need. This creates such a pleasant environment for people that they do not think about all the data that is being collected and what is being done with it. Having had some fairly recent scandals about what big companies do with our data, this particular plot seemed very on-point and applicable to our world. The author has added levels of technological complexity to it, compared to our world. (But I could totally see this kind of technology happening; it actually does in some limited applications.) The book focuses on one young woman who becomes a part of the rebel movement, though she does have some qualms about it. For a science fiction story, I thought that the characters were well drawn. Aside from the fascinating technology and modern relevance, I thought the author did an exceptional job with the plotting. The pacing was just right, with all the reveals and action seeming to happen at the precise time in the story to keep you turning the pages. I quite enjoyed this book, and if you like technology-driven dystopian sci-fi, you will most likely find it an engrossing read.
Highland Honor by Madelyn Hill
Available at Amazon only
NOT with Kindle Unlimited
Highland Honor*
Hero Hard to Like, More Violence Than I Thought
This is the third book in the series about the now-orphaned, but adult, MacAlister sisters. Their deceased father was the laird of their clan while they were children, but he died when the young girls were 5, 8, and 12. The heroine of this particular book is the girl who was five years old. Compared to the other two sisters, this one is decidedly feminine, compassionate, and kind-hearted, the type that wouldn’t kill a midge. Her older sisters, especially the oldest, believe this to be a weakness in her that she’s not quite so tough as the rest of them. But Honor is a Healer, so she has a much gentler spirit. She couldn’t imagine killing, hunting, or attacking as her sisters do. The book opens—after the same prologue about the death of father that was in the other stories—with a rather violent scene where she is assaulted and very nearly raped, but she is able to get out of the circumstance before it goes that far. But she used all of her strength to fight off the attacker, and she did receive a rather extensive wound on her back as she was pressed up against sharp rocks during the assault.
This is a long and complicated story, which they all seem to be in this series, so I’ll stop there in talking about plot point by point. Okay, maybe just a little more. Honor struggled and went back and forth, trying to decide if she should tell anyone what happened. But she didn’t want anyone to be harmed or murdered because of the assault. She still deals with immense psychological trauma because of what happened to her (although they wouldn’t call it that in those days). She doubts herself constantly; she doesn’t know what to do quite often (which is unlike her), and she struggles with her new reality of fear. Where she was attacked is a place that she often goes to gather herbs and other medicinal plants in the forest. As with book one, I had a hard time with this particular hero. Apparently, the heroine hasn’t treated him well in the past because they are at odds (he leading the brutal sparring practice and she stitching them up; so, he doesn’t treat her terribly well. Knowing what she had just been through, as a reader, I had a hard time seeing him treat her so poorly. Seriously, couldn’t he tell that something was amiss and be a little nicer? This made me have a hard time believing the romantic aspect of the plot.
Like the first book, this novel had some severe issues with grammar, punctuation, and usage. The book clearly was not professionally copyedited, as the same errors occurred over and over again—obvious ones that a good copyeditor would have caught if one had been used, like the missing comma that is required between independent clauses in a compound sentence joined by a coordinating conjunction. There are other issues as well, like some wrong words or misspellings. I believe this book has been out for some time, so it isn’t just that I received this book as a true ARC (which I think should be in the best shape that the author can provide anyway). Certainly if you have any issues around assault, near rape, or any sort of violence against a female, you will want to steer clear of this book. If you don’t mind Highland romance stories with more violence than usual and a hero that is hard to like—and grammar problems don’t bother you—you might enjoy this book.
Highland Hope by Madelyn Hill
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
Highland Hope*
Punctuation and Spelling Error Hamper Enjoyment
I love a good Highland romance and especially enjoy a series set around sisters (being one of five myself). This is the first book of this series about the MacAlister sisters. The book opens with a prologue of the traumatic and dramatic scene that happened in the girls’ childhoods, the death of their father. His parting words to them set them each on a personal journey to fulfill his dream for the clan and them. The two younger girls are encouraged to explore their individual talents for the benefit of their clan, but the older sister—whom this book is about—has a much more cut-and-dried path. She is meant to become the laird of their clan. Before his passing, her father taught her about the business and managing aspects of leadership (which her mother carried on), and she also learned how to fight by joining in the sparring between the men and boys. After the prologue, this book starts with the girls’ mother’s funeral. Hope, the oldest, is still young, and she knows she’s going to have a fight with the clan council to retain her lairdship. Her father also had a requirement that she had to be wed before she could lead.
This is quite a complicated story, but I’ll stop here in describing it in detail. Suffice to say, a young man enters the story who bears a strong grudge toward the clan, though some of the council very much desire that he takes over (undermining the lady laird). I found the character of Hope to be a fasting one. It made me question whether or not women were actually called “lairds” if they held a position of leadership in their clan. I know that women sometimes did act as leaders when there was no male heir or the male heir was too young to take over. But would a woman actually be called a laird? It just seemed odd to me. But that’s not really super important. She is a super strong and tough female, both mentally and physically, a match for any man on just about any level. I liked her strength. I honestly didn’t understand why she made the initial decision that she did about the man in question. I don’t feel like there was enough reason or discussion/thought of the reason for it to truly make sense. It felt like it was just needed for the plot, and I don’t like it when plot points feel like that. I had a tough time liking the hero. He just had such a chip on his shoulder about what happened in the past and the way he kept negatively thinking about the heroine, well, it just all rubbed me wrong.
There are also some substantial issues with grammar, punctuation, spelling, and usage in this book. It doesn’t seem like the novel was professionally edited, and this book has been out for some time. Commas were used willy-nilly, sometimes added where they should not have been—causing problems with meaning, requiring a second look to figure out—at other times being completely omitted, like the required comma between independent clauses in a compound sentence joined by a coordinating conjunction. There are even some wrong words—sometimes just a typo but other times just flat out incorrect meaning as well. For instance, exulted and exalted were mixed up twice, so I’m thinking that was an error of understanding by the author. A spelling one was cursed versus coursed. For all these reasons, I do not feel like I can wholly recommend this book. If you don’t mind a hero who takes a while to warm up to or egregious errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and usage, you might enjoy this Highland tale.
Mission of Mercy by Amber Seraph
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
Mission of Mercy*
Short Western Romance Read
This is the first book that I have read by this author. It is very short, probably about half of the length of an average novella. But the author is able to pack a lot into it. In the beginning, I thought she described the setting in the circumstances very well so that they could be easily visualized; however, towards the end, I felt like things were more told than shown, especially about the development of the romantic aspect. I would have loved to have seen more of that. I do so enjoy watching characters fall for each other; that’s part of the fun of reading a romance. I also thought that perhaps the author was slightly preachy in how the heroine had beliefs about Native Americans that would have been rare in those times. It is so tempting to rewrite history to make it more aligned with our modern sensibilities, and I think that is what happened here. Still, all in all, I enjoyed this short, romantic read.
Not Another Nob by Anabelle Anders
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
Not Another Nob*
Fast, Funny Regency
This is a fun, super short read. It probably is the length of many romantic novellas out there, but it was just so pleasant and involving that it felt like it was over very quickly. What I enjoyed was the very humorous aspect of the story. It started on page 1 and continued throughout. I did think it was odd that the story is written in almost what I would call more of a contemporary style, with sometimes very short paragraphs of only maybe a word, a phrase, or a sentence. In general, I do not like that in historical romances. I like my paragraphs to be a bit more long and formal. But this author was able to make it work. Parts of it were very amusing. There is definitely a Romeo-and-Juliet vibe, as the families of the hero and heroine are sworn enemies. The heroine has a bit of an added difficulty in that her brother wants her to marry post haste; in fact, that is what the opening scene of the book is about. This novella is a delight if you enjoy humorous Regency romance.
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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