Written On The Apple Tree: A Mystery Psychological Suspense

I was given a free copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review

I don’t often read psychological suspense books, and the same goes for short stories. The first is because of how complex and subtle the genre is, and too often I found books disappointing, with their unclear ideas and messages. While I want to support all authors no matter what their genre is, I also prefer to enjoy my reading and not feel like I’ve read something that wasn’t quite well-rounded. As for short stories, I think it’s a different kind of craft, to put all the same meaning and depth into a small book, and so I mostly rely on other reviewers when I find a new short story author. Luckily, this book had those good reviews confirming that the author knows how to write good short stories; and the blurb was very, very intriguing.
I’ll say it right away: if you’re a fan of psychological mysteries, you won’t miss with this one. Yes, it’s only a short story, but it’s absolutely perfect just the way it is. It has the right kind of plot (gripping, edge-of-your-seat storyline) and romance that will make you crave for more. It has a deep, even overwhelming idea underneath it that will have you thinking about it for a long time after you’ve finished your reading. And most importantly, it has a great conclusion, a mind-blowing ending that’s richer for its many interpretations. (If you’re one of those people who like to exercise their minds, this story is for you.)
Also, I would like to say that despite the length of this story, the romance was well done. No insta-love, no one-layered characters; it was very mysterious, intriguing, inviting, honest, and somewhat dark.
I hope this book will find its reader! This short story is a real gem!

Fall, Leaves, Fall by Mike Driver

The book begins with a very emotional  prologue dated October 1978, where the protagonist Bridge is running through the park, out of breath and panic-stricken, fearing to be late..  We understand that something dreadful is going to happen but the prologue is over. What has happened? It turns out that Bridge’s friend disappeared that autumn day, and it seems like he feels guilty for it. Although at the beginning of the book he says that his heart already doesn’t stand still when he sees a newspaper announcement about children missing, later in the book it becomes clear that Bridge hasn’t become indifferent and cold-hearted after what has happened to him.  A 12-year old boy’s endured too much, and the memories of that day never let him go, haunting him in his dreams. Perhaps that episode of his childhood left an imprint on his character, made him timid and afraid of speaking up for himself.
The author knows how to hold the reader’s attention and he skillfully uses imagery and different descriptions to convey the feelings and the atmosphere. As you carry on reading the novel, you forget about everything happening around you and engrossed in the book. You feel fear, desperation; you imagine the dull life of the small provincial town and experience every shade of emotions the main character experiences.
It’s a really good read, although some motives of Bridge are not clear to me even after I’ve read the book. Still, it deserves a place on your book shelf!

Forgotten Relics (The Chronicles of the Kathya #1) by Tiffany Cherney

This is an example of good combination of sci-fi and fantasy genres, and perhaps those advocating for the purity of these genres could appreciate the result of Tiffany Cherney’s work. There is no mentioning of human race or the Earth in this short book (and it’s really too short for such a good idea). It is solely about other planets, other creatures. However, they seem very human-like. The main character, Rei, has no past, at least her past is practically unknown to us. For me, it only makes the protagonist more interesting, you start analyzing her actions and words, trying to grasp her motives and background, which played an important role in molding of her character. Being independent and strong, Rei chiefly counts upon herself. She gets away from her captors, steals a starship, becomes its captain and gathers a team of cast-offs which now sails the galaxy and robs anyone who comes across them. Although Rei found new family among these people, still, she’s always in search for answers, and that’s what made me empathize with her so much.
All in all, it was a good story. Yet, I hope the author will think about moving to the next weight category and expand the volume of the next book.

Girl Undone (TJ Peacock and Lisa Rayburn Mysteries #3) by Marla Madison

I was given a free copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review

This is what a really good suspense novel should be like – this thought came to my mind when I was in the middle of the book still puzzled and guessing. One moment Marla Madison makes you think that you got it, you figured it out and right after it you sit dumbfounded, who could ever think that it may turn this way? These are precious feelings which make a crime story worth reading.
The main characters of this novel - TJ Peacock, a private investigator, and Lisa Rayburn, a psychologist - try to catch a serial killer whose hunger for celebrity is so huge that he makes a popular criminal blogger to write about him in his blog. Finally the blogger asks TJ and his colleague for help, fearing for his life.
When all the characters gathered in one house, not knowing who the murderer is and who the next victim is, I remembered the feelings that I had reading Agatha Christie’s “And then there were none”. The tension so high, million thoughts swarming in my head I tried to solve the puzzle that glorious Ms. Madison had given. And I’ll tell you what – don’t even bother if you are not a Sherlock Holmes of our times. The twists and turns, billion details, characters.. the author knows how to bewilder the reader.
Marla Madison is a revelation for me, and I’d happy to continue the acquaintance with her works.

The Guardian Chronicles: Guardian by E. Genelle Edwards

I was given a free copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review

Sometimes I open a book to get away from it all, to forget about all my troubles and turn off the reality that surrounds me to find myself in absolutely different place. I had exactly the same desire when I took The Guardian, and it completely fulfilled it. The storyline is more of a romantic novel with a note of fantasy in it, so the girl’s heart couldn’t resist it. Kendi, the guardian whose destination is to protect the human race from the Dominion, isn’t a typical hero who immediately wins your heart and you catch your breath, following his adventures. At the beginning of the book he is more of an anti-hero, he annoys by his boyishness and, maybe, even shallowness. But later on the character develops showing his other sides.
Kendi’s hatred towards people is understandable, as he sees nothing good from them. But it wouldn’t be a romantic fantasy novel if there were no girl who could break the ice of Kendi’s heart and melt this enmity towards the human race. Sarielle is a charming girl and there is no wonder that Kendi finally falls for her which brings out only the brightest colors of his soul.  
The Guardian is more of a teenage kind of read, but it vastly depends on the mood you are in, so go ahead and you may like it!

Blood Bound (Gallows #1) by Sharon Stevenson

I was given a free copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review

Snappy, sarcastic, thrilling and full of action – that’s Blood Bound by Sharon Stevenson.
While technically it’s not a YA book, this original vampire read has all the best traits of the popular YA paranormal TV shows. I’d like to say right away that those sick of romance vampire books shouldn’t avoid this one – it’s totally different and without any clichés.
I loooooved the different personalities of the two main characters: they reflected each other as much as they clashed in their opinions sometimes. While making two different siblings main characters of a book or movie is not a new concept, it was particularly nicely done here, without shoving their personal traits in the reader’s face. Their motivations were clear and their vision of their life easy to understand.
This book will take you on a wild ride from page one, and by the end of it, you’d crave more of these characters and their dangerous life.
If you don’t mind a dash of steamy romance, cursing, and violence; if you’re a fan of Buffy, True Blood, or Supernatural; if you prefer dynamic action to glittering vampires – this book is for you.
If none of the above applies to you – still give it a try, and don’t pretend that you didn’t have fun reading it!

Fate's Hand: Book One of The Celtic Prophecy by Melissa Macfie

Fate’s Hand is a wonderful debut novel that makes you fall in love with the author’s writing and look forward to her next book. If you’re into fantasy books full of mysticism, come join the club of Melissa Macfie’s fans. If you like action-packed, mind-twisting, but at the same time elegant and gentle novels, again, you won’t be disappointed. This book is quintessence of thriller and romantic novel, and it just couldn’t leave me indifferent. I sat to read a few pages before sleep and found myself turning page after page late at night, as it’s impossible to put the book down not knowing what happens with Brenawyn next. Judging by the book cover, you may think that it is about medieval times, but the heroine is a modern-day American girl whose life once changes drastically. She’s pursued by the gods and is believed to be the priestess. Her strong character deserves respect! And the love storyline complements the general plot very nicely. The author is generous enough to share with us some juicy details. The only thing I would change about this novel is its size, as 200 pages is almost nothing for a great book like this, so I wish the author inspiration and I will definitely read the next book!

Escape From B-Movie Hell by M T McGuire

Escape From B-Movie Hell falls into many genres. If I had to pick a few, I’d say it’s a British comedy sci-fi adventure, and plus, it’s also YA. The reason why I decided to give it a try is that I’ve been kind of tired of the usual YA books lately, and this sounded like a light, easy read. I was not disappointed!
First off, while the main protagonist here has to deal with a serious problem (annihilation of the human race, duh), the book has all the fun and cheerful tone of Futurama (which I love). Yes, sometimes it’s weird, but that’s the point, because it’s the ground for original humor. There’s a fine line between ridiculous scenes and subtle humor of the situation.
I totally enjoyed the diversity of characters here, and I’m not talking race or sexual orientation (which is kind of a hot subject in literature at the moment), but alien creatures that were well-developed and fun to read about. Eric would be my favorite. It’s just such a breath of fresh air, to read about a funny alien character! Andi’s great too – she’s strong and smart and witty, and to my relief, she didn’t turn out annoying, like it often happens in YA books. There must be something wrong with me – I just don’t like girls that much :D
There are some serious ideas in the book as well, and I always like that in a YA story, but they don’t overtake it, turning it into something tedious. The author definitely has a potential and a unique voice, and I hope we’ll get to read more great books for teenagers from her!

Dark Confessions of an Extraordinary, Ordinary Woman by Jenn Sadai

For young adult/coming-of-age readers, I have to say right away – this is a different kind of story. And I think it has that much more value for its realism, honesty, and personal character.
While I do like the usual fiction YA with all the high-school drama and love triangles, sometimes these books seem too sweet and refined. Predictable. They seldom touch the real problems, the hard ones, the dangerous ones; the ones that people prefer not to dwell on because of their depressing nature. This story is raw and gritty, and it’s that much more powerful because it’s based on the author’s personal experience. Of course, it’s a memoir, not a fiction, but it reads smoothly, and I never wanted to put the book down.
I think it’s important that teenagers and young adults read books like this even if they don’t have this kind of problems. It’ll give them perspective and understanding of how difficult it is to deal with something like this and how important it is to stop at any moment, no matter how much they already hate themselves for something they’ve done. It’s a reminder that there’s always someone out there who’s suffering more than you, and that there’s a way out for everyone. A way to love yourself and get inspired and forgive your mistakes so you can move on and find your confidence once again.
It’s also a book for those who are struggling with abusive relationships. I can’t say I’ve been there, but I did have an abusive boyfriend who was totally okay with verbal bullying and didn’t even notice just how awful he was. It was a much simpler situation, and I guess I needed it to remind me of self-respect and self-compassion. And still, I had some troubles letting go of the situation. I can’t even imagine how much more difficult it is with physical abuse.
Overall, I happily give this book 5 stars and recommend it to anyone who finds the subject interesting! 

Like Fine Wine: A Head-to-Toe Youth Restoring Makeover for Ladies Over Forty by Julia Black

I was given a free copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review

Like Fine Wine is a quick guide to a better look. It’s an easy read with short, simple chapters. While it’s not a detailed instruction, I think it’s very good in its own way. It’s a book that you can use to refresh your knowledge, pick up a few things, and research them further if you’re interested. That’s what I did: at first, I was just reading it; then the list of the things on my mind became too big, and I wrote them down.
This book has all those little things that many people overlook, like details of clothing that completely ruin any look, or bad makeup choices that you can only notice when someone else tells you about it. I liked how it wasn’t just about your typical beauty advice, but also about many simple details that are essential to looking top-notch.
I’ve learned a lot about beauty from my mother, who’s looked 10 years younger than she was since she was 35. From exercise to simple anti-wrinkle tricks like using ice when you wash up in the morning to keep your muscles toned, I’ve learned it all from her, even if I haven’t used some of those tactics yet. But I can definitely say that I’ve just picked up a lot more ideas for keeping my face and hair in better shape in the future.
I think this book is a must-read for every woman, and I bet you’ll find at least one thing you didn’t know about in this quick but helpful guide.

Shadow Dragon by Lance Horton

I was given a free copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review

If you’re looking for an atmospheric thriller with a touch of suspense and a fresh concept, this book is just what you need.
I generally avoid monster stories because of how overused some ideas are and how they repeat each other; but I believed the reviewers and decided to give this one a try, and I wasn’t disappointed. The author’s idea was fresh and believable, and it’s the first thing I especially liked about this book.
The second was the setting and chilly, mysterious atmosphere of the story. There’s something about wilderness that makes any horror story especially thrilling.
The third thing that I liked was the two main characters’ relationship, which is often too unrealistic in books and movies. They’ve just met, and here they are fighting evil together and falling in love at first sight. But in this book, the romance was done tastefully and never overtook the plot. The fact that the characters themselves had very attractive personalities made it even better – you know how any relationship is more intriguing when you actually want or don’t want things to happen between the two. Characters that can make you care about them are essential to any story and all parts of it, whether it’s action or romance or drama.
Overall, Shadow Dragon is a great debut novel that deserves 5 stars!

How to Get Your Boyfriend Back: From the Husband He Turned Into by Julia Black

I was given a free copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review

Have you ever wished you could go back in time to being crazy in love again? Or have you ever been afraid of serious relationship because you knew you wouldn’t be okay with boring married life? If the answer is yes, then you should read this book.
The first thing I want to say is, it’s not like many other books that keep feeding you instructions and telling you what you’re doing wrong and how hopeless your relationship is. No, this book is full of light and positivity, and it’s like a breath of fresh air. Besides, it’s short, and there’s no fact-dumping, so it’ll make for a great weekend read that will fill you with warm feelings and joy.
The second thing is, I liked how simple and real the author’s recommendations were. It’s not just some abstract, vague preaching on how things should be. It’s obvious that this book is based on real life and real experience.
If you think you’ve read it all already, this book can probably serve as a pleasant reminder of the things you’ve learned, but didn’t really get to try. I often find myself forgetting about the things I’ve just read about. We all get caught up in something, and it’s hard to remember about all the changes you want to make in your life. I think in this case, this book is perfect, because it’s not too heavy. It’s a quick guide, and it’s inspiring and relaxing at the same time. I can’t imagine anyone would ever be disappointed with this book! 

Writing Flash Fiction: How to Write Very Short Stories and Get Them Published by Carly Berg

I was given a free copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review

«Writing Flash Fiction» is for certain worth reading if you are a newcomer in this genre, because it's likely to bring out the best in you.
It's not just a book, it's a toolbox to use, to refer to over and over again. The content is well-structured into the 10 main chapters. It outlines the concept of flash fiction, provides the ideas where to gain inspiration, hints on editing and publication. The style is crisp and eloquent, easy to perceive - the author has extremely fluent pen. The best advantage for me is that the author offers not just comprehensive technical advices, but some kind of positive psychological motivation and attitude as well. I enjoyed the accumulated crystallized experience and tough practice that I saw behind it. Overall, I feel that after the patient examination of the book you'll definitely get the hang of flash fiction writing, that is supposed to be the author's intention.

Fated and Fateless by Alice Poon

 I was given a free copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review
“Fated and Fateless” is a tale of love and hatred, of the desire to break the social rules of traditional China, of ambitions and moral strength.
The author tells us a story about two women, beginning from their childhood and moving further on with their lives. At first sight the plot may seem a bit banal, showing one upper-class girl, Diana, who always gets what she wants without the need to stir a finger for it, and the lower-class girl, Wendy, raised in a dysfunctional family, who’s never relied on anyone’s help. But if you set aside your cynicism and read on, you’ll find much more between the lines of this book. You’ll get to know the life of the Chinese and how it’s changed with time.
The strongest character of this book – Wendy - isn’t lucky enough to be born in a rich family, and that’s where her strength is. She is the one who has to take care of her family, as her father earns money only for gambling and booze. That’s why Wendy gets to know the real, hard working life very early and even can’t continue her education in spite of being one of the best students. However, she decides for herself that it’ll all change some day, there’s nothing she can’t overcome. The wild desire for a better life drives her all the way up the social stairs. You can’t stay indifferent following Wendy’s life, and you can’t feel anything but pride and joy that she made it, she managed to reach her goals.
It is an inspiring and heart-felt book, and I’d be interested in reading something more by Alice Poon.

The Medium (Liminality #1) by M.R. Graham

I was given a free copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review

«The Medium» (a prequel to the «In the Shadow of the Mountains») from the very beginning makes you enjoy a insightful portentous story dedicated to the concept of ambivalent nature. Lenny, shy and innocuous guy, kidnapped by a bloody-minded vampire Sebastian, becomes just a stooge for him. Although Lenny is a medium and also a vampire there is no harm in him. One would think that he has a chance then to take a closer look at his own nature and not to come to terms with the circumstances and readers as well as if being in his shoes. However according to the plot it's a dead end with no light at the end of the tunnel.
Like in any well-written psychological thriller the whirligig seems to be fast-moving but easy to follow. M.R. Graham particularly gives an eye to the delineation of characters, which is the main strong point in the book. And the most intriguing thing that you can't even have a liking for any of «heroes», they provoke variety of feelings. Also you can't be satisfied with the pay-off which is a real author's feat to make you read her further stories.