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BLOG TOUR: The Qinali Virus by Valerie J. Mikles (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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99c BOOK BLAST: Thicker Than Water by Becca Seymour (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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SERIES STUFF: Begin the Begin
Series Stuff was inspired by this post by Paperback and Planners. It lists the series I’ve started, those I’ve finished, the ongoing ones and those I couldn’t be bothered with anymore.
I wanted to do everything all together then realized it was going to be one long ass post because I have too many series in my reading list. I decided to break it down into four separate posts. The first is about the series I’ve started on.
Click on the links for the reviews.
The Hawthorne Throne by Kaitlyn Adbou – the sequel is still nowhere near in sight. The Unseelie Prince was a 3-star book and I am sufficiently intrigued enough with Noah’s fate in the hands of the devious Fearghas to want to continue.
Tigers and Devils by Sean Kennedy – this is one of those sports romance books I actually enjoyed. Still waiting for that urge to pick up book 2 because I’m that terrible a mood reader.
Innocent by Victoria Sue – A historical series with only two books out. I don’t know if the author will continue this or if this is finished. I liked the first book, The Innocent Auction, so I will read the second book.
Death and Destruction by Patricia Logan – Another one of those action-packed partners-to-lovers thing I started on. Here’s hoping I’ll commit.
Snow & Winter by C.S. Poe – This series is an homage to Josh Lanyon’s Adrien English series with dare I say, a better, more likable love interest. I enjoyed the first book, The Mystery of Nevermore, so I’m looking forward to the next ones.
Sidekick Squad by C.B. Lee – The first book, Not Your Sidekick, was an OK take on the superhero genre with a cute FF couple and a trans secondary character. Who in turn is the star of the second book. Definitely will be picking that up too.
Signs of Love by Anyta Sunday – Leo Loves Aries was one of the best books of 2019 for me. I just started on the second book, Scorpio Hated Virgo, which was touted as an enemies to lovers story. Unfortunately, there wasn’t even a smidgeon of hate between the two protagonist to consider them as enemies. I don’t know, maybe I should go straight to the third book.
Psychic Detective Mysteries by S.C. Wynne – One of the many psychic procedurals on my reading list. I finished Shadow’s Edge mostly on the strength of Kale William’s narration. I’d willingly listen to the second book just to hear him again.
Green Men by K.J. Charles – Anybody who’s read the About Me page knows that Spectred Isle is my all time favorite book. Sadly, this series seems to have fallen into a limbo because the author has still not released the sequel. I’m keeping my hopes alive because I love the green men too much.
Tensorate by J.Y. Yang – I read The Black Tides of Heaven because I really love the cover art. The premise was super cool. The story itself was ok. Not sure if I would read the second book but I’m not writing this off yet.
The Kingston Cycle by C.L. Polk – I was enchanted by the alternate Edwardian world of Witchmark so I’m looking forward to the sequel.
Not Dead Yet by Jenn Burke – I’m not a particular fan of the MC’s narrative voice but this paranormal series has an interesting take on the ghost lover trope that’s worth exploring.
Marital Bliss by D.J. Jamison – This series is showing a lot promise. Surprise Groom was a really well-executed take on the fake relationship trope.
Out of Darkness by Britanny Cournoyer – This stalker series started off with a bang. Captivated was very riveting and suspenseful.
Ramen Assassin by Rhys Ford – I liked the premise. Book one didn’t blow me away but I liked it well enough to continue
The Hitman’s Guide by Alice Winters – The Hitman’s Guide to Making Friends and Finding Love was my introduction to Alice Winters brand of snark. I’m hooked.
Future Series by Kate Hawthorne & E.M. Denning – The blurb for book 3, Future Ex-Enemy, grabbed my attention. It turned out to be one of the best enemies-to-lovers stories I’ve ever read. Now I have to read the first two books.
Paranormal Princes by Charlie Cochet – The Prince and His Bedeviled Bodyguard was totally adorbs!!! But don’t tell Owin I said that. Now I just need to meet the other princes.
Hamarrson & Dempsey by Elle Keaton – Conspiracy Theory is a book with a cover that does not do it justice. Why put some random bare torso when you can put something more significant. Nonethless, it’s a good series opener that made me look forward to the next books
Lords of Discord by Jocelynn Drake – A family of musically-inclined vampires out to sow discord among their kind? What’s not to love? Claiming Marcus is a promising start. I’m super excited to read about the rest of the Variks
Cabrini Law by Parker St. John – My motivation for this series is Maksim. I wasn’t that impressed with Elliot’s book, Risk Assessment. Elliot and the other lawyers were all likable but Maks stole the spotlight whenever he’s on page.
This list is as comprehensive as it could get. I have a poor record of finishing series so I’m hoping I could finish at least half of those listed here. What series have you started on recently?
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MANGA: Tobari
Tobari – Ashida Kyou
Nagaoka Shunsuke lost his parents at a very young age. Since then, he opened his house for people who had troubles in life as a place of their own, their very own home without question. Then comes his newest tenant, a cheery boy named Tobari with a mysterious past!
Clever!!!
Well, here’s hoping my atrocious handwriting could save a life too…
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REVIEW: Tallowwood by N.R. Walker
Tallowwood – N.R. Walker
Cold cases, murder, lies, and an unimaginable truth.
Sydney detective August Shaw has spent the last decade of work solving cold cases. Since the death of his boyfriend eight years ago, August works alone, lives alone, is alone — and that’s exactly how he likes it. His work is his entire life, and he’s convinced a string of unsolved cold-case suicides are linked to what could be Australia’s worst ever serial killer. Problem is, no one believes him.
Senior Constable Jacob Porter loves his life in the small town of Tallowwood in the middle of the rainforests in northern New South Wales. He runs summer camps for the local Indigenous kids, plays rugby with his mates, has a close family, and he’s the local LGBTQIA+ Liaison and the Indigenous Liaison Officer.
When human remains are found in the camping grounds at Tallowwood Reserve, Jake’s new case turns out to be linked to August’s cold cases, and Jake agrees they’re not suicides at all. With Jacob now firmly in August’s corner, they face one hurdle after another, even when more remains are found, they still can’t seem to gain ground.
But when the body of a fellow police officer turns up under the same MO, it can’t be ignored anymore. August and Jake must trace the untraceable before the killer takes his next victim or before he stops one of them, permanently.
Another beautiful masterpiece from N.R. Walker!
Tallowwood is intense, gripping and moving with just enough fluff to keep things from becoming too dark.
August Shaw is a cold case detective working on an 18-year old serial killing case that nobody takes seriously, mainly because the victims were gay. One of them was his boyfriend, Christopher, who he found dead in their bathtub 8 years ago. It was made to look like suicide like the other victims. But August knew Christopher wouldn’t take his own life.
August ‘wears his grief like an old coat‘. He’s drawn into himself, he’s socially awkward, an asshole to others and very, very determined to prove that what were ruled as suicides were actually murders. He’s almost to the point of obsession. It took a small town constable with a winning smile to shed light on a little known fact: the gritty detective could be so damn adorkable!
Jacob Porter is a senior constable in Tallowwood who contacted August in order to consult him with a case that might be related to the detective’s. Jacob is a cheerful, very likable person who’s also smart and very good at his job. He is a ray of sunshine with a side of bossy. You have no choice but to love him.
The two men discovered they worked well as a team. They go over case files, visit families of victims, open old wounds, and sought fresh perspectives for that much needed break in the case. While doing so, they bond over food, small town life, Scarlet the cat, and kookaburras.
The book treated its subject with appropriate gravity and depth. It talks about grief, loss, needing closure and giving oneself a chance to move on. Even with these weighty themes, the story didn’t feel too heavy. The author was able to inject humor with perfect timing. It done so naturally without ruining the profundity of the moment.
My heart went out to August. I could feel his grief and frustrations pouring off the page. He’s one of those characters who badly needs a hug. I loved how Jacob showed him simple acts of kindness that worked so effectively. He made him feel safe and cared for. The romance was appropriately slow-burn and one of the best of its kind out there.
Tallowwood is a complex, well-written police procedural. I liked how it focused 80% on the mystery while still delivering a wonderfully done second chance romance. Not only was the mystery hard to solve but people in high places were placing roadblocks whenever they could. I thoroughly enjoyed going through the nitty gritty of the investigation. I was in the dark until the author dropped the big hints.
I loved how the author built up the suspense and brought everything together in an explosive climax. All loose ends were resolved completely and we were even gifted with a delightful epilogue. I couldn’t ask for a better ending.
This is the kind of book you’ll want to read non-stop from start to finish. I would have done so if not for the need to sleep. I recommend reading this on a weekend so you could binge. And remember to always watch the kookaburras.
Rating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfectSoundtrack: Dead Hearts
Artist: Stars
Album: The Five Ghosts -
SOUNDTRACK: Dead Hearts by Stars
Soundtrack to Tallowwood by N.R. Walker
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“When you lose someone you love, something in you changes. You can’t get the pieces to fit together again because the picture of you has been changed. They need to understand your pain and how it changed you before they can understand how the new you needs to be loved.”
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MOVIE FEATURE: Phoenix
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FIRST LINES FRIDAY 56: Familiar Business
“First Line Fridays” is by Hoarding Books and is all about the first line of a current/upcoming read. Friday 56 is a meme hosted by Freda’s Voice, where you turn to page 56 (or 56%) in what you’re reading a find a snippet that jumps out at you. The idea to combine the two came from Kat @ Here There Be Dragons“
I found this meme on The Writerly Way. And I’m doing this on a Thursday just to be difficult.
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BLOG TOUR: To Target The Heart by Aldrea Alien (Excerpt & Giveaway)
