Beautifully Broken: Good Girl, Bad Girl series by E.R. Stowell is a compelling story about one woman’s struggles through life, love, and her own self-worth.
Our protagonist, Sarah Cook, is the ultimate Good Girl, or at least, that’s what she has made herself believe.
Blood Voyager by Katie Collupy is a sci-fi/crime mystery set in space on the Voyager ship.
One of my favorite things about this story was the interpersonal drama. Each character had their own share of problems, their own personalities. They were three-dimensional in an intricately crafted world, where it was commonplace to be born on Mars.
Read MoreThe Eyes Of The Dragon by Stephen King follows the royal family of Delain as they confront the insidious threat of Flagg, the court magician and advisor of the king. Rife with intrigue and teeming with subterfuge, The Eyes Of The Dragon whisks readers to a believable, yet delightfully treacherous world.
Read MoreStained Mirror by Gianni Franco is an intense, graphic story about a serial killer cop.
This story starts strong with some awesome quotes and some interesting ideas on life as a crooked cop. Detective Frank Stark is haunted by past victims and his own stained reflection.
Read MoreWearing Skin: 12 Devilishly Dark Horror Short Stories by Simon Paul Woodward is a quick horror read with some stories that’ll stick with you for a long time afterward.
Woodward has a way of bringing the reader into his world with every story. Some of these tales are remarkably different from each other, but it works. I’m going to focus on my three favorite stories, “Children of Ink," “Still Lives in Motion,” and “The Galilean Manoeuvre.” Woodward has other great stories, but these spoke to me the most.
Broken Road by Shannon Lane is a sweet, contemporary romance with relatable characters and many surprises.
Our protagonist, Ellen Mannis, wants to escape her painful past and abusive ex-husband, so she finds a new job as a nanny and part-time assistant for one of the biggest names in Pittsburgh, Brennan Grant.
Read MoreAwakening by Jennifer Leigh Pezzano is a supernatural love story about Jezebel, a business owner woman haunted by her history, and August, a man who has lived for centuries, yet still recalls the past as if it’s right in front of him, constantly hurting him.
The two characters come together after August becomes Jezebel’s client, but it turns out he wants more than just the work she offers. He wants to take in some of her energy.
Read MorePretty Lies by Jessica Scurlock is a great debut novel with distinctive characters, action, and mystery.
Scurlock takes us into a world of totalitarian government rule. Our main character, Ivy, moves and flows through this world, believing herself to be kept safe by the Enlightened Society, once known as the United States of America. While sometimes certain aspects of the setting were difficult for me to believe, this was a fun read.
Read MoreNo Pain, No Game by Lucie Ataya is a dystopian novel that explores what would happen if convicts sentenced to death row were put up on reality TV and tortured to death.
I enjoyed this book, but just like hunger games or the movie “Purge,” the premise is a little unbelievable, sometimes breaking my suspension of disbelief. At the same time, however, who’s to say something like this WOULDN’T happen to society? We had public execution and torture during the middle ages; what makes us so different now? What TRULY separates us? Humans are still just as bloodthirsty. And if we got desperate enough, perhaps we would revert back to past mistakes.
Read MoreNo Strings by Virginia Babcock is an endearing sweet love story with some great character development.
The story tells the tale of two characters who meet for purposes other than for romance. Our female protagonist Emory (who is a complete badass) wants a baby, but she doesn't want to have a relationship to get it. Ten, our male protagonist, happens to be in the right place at the right time. This was a fun and very unique story. I was really pining for the characters, and while the ending was a little more old-fashion for my taste, I still enjoyed it.
Jurassic Park: The Lost World by Michael Crichton was a great read. Often, when I come across a sequel, I’m not that impressed. But Crichton’s knowledge of dinosaurs and advanced storytelling abilities left me wanting more.
Much in the same way that the first Jurassic Park starts, we discover dinosaurs on an island. Unlike the first book, where a park was coming to life, this story is about characters rediscovering the park long-abandoned.
Read MoreLate Night Shots: Intoxicating Mystery & Suspense Stories by Charlotte Valentine with a special extra story by Laura Cation is a collection of four quick, mysterious short stories--perfect for a nice night in.
We start strong with “Ghost Writer,” which centers around Alan, who at one point was a bestselling author, yet as the years passed by and Alan continues to drink more heavily, the words won’t come. Worse than that, Alan’s publisher and agent have grown agitated.
Read MoreThe Moonlit Road: A Collection of Short Horror Stories by William Stuart is a horror anthology. Each story has a slow build and an impactful climax.
Each story weighs heavy on meaning, and all could be unpacked a thousand-fold with new avenues of thought and ideas, but they need time.
Read MoreHer Infernal Name & Other Stories is a collection of short horror fiction from the mind of author Robert Ottone.
Each story takes us on a journey on a different sort of nightmare. From one about an Instagram Famous model in “Her Infernal Name” to “Playing God,” each story plays on the nightmares of our modern society.
I like this collection, but I found some of the stories a little predictable or cliche. If that doesn’t bother you, then you’ll get a kick out of these horror stories.
Read MoreThe Shadow of Hades by Paul Williams is a fantasy novel set in a world where practicing magic is possible for those who dare, but it is considered dangerous or evil by many.
The most notable characters are Pam, a drunk singer witch; Blake, someone who can walk between worlds; Alle, a rich witch who loses everything, and twin boys, Carlos and Daniel. Each character is different, with different personalities and different wants and needs.
Read MoreNow, this is by no means an “insert method of fixing everything” sort of article. I am not an expert in, well, anything. But that does not mean that we can’t write up an opinion piece to give some people a new frame of perspective, right? So, methods to overcoming writer’s block as a result of the world around you.
Read MoreElizabeth Suggs and Jonathan Reddoch will be performing LIVE tonight (December 17) on The Mugg Podcast.
The Mugg is a monthly virtual open mic, featuring poets, writers, and songwriters. Get your free ticket and more information here
Read More25 Gates of Hell: A Horror Anthology by John West et. al. is a horror anthology with twenty-five different horror stories that will lead you closer to the fiery depths of inferno.
If you like scary stories, especially ones with distinctive voices and styles, then this is the anthology for you. I was in awe of the different stories…
Read MoreThe Axion: A Varsian Kingdom Adventure by Jason Hein is a high fantasy stand-alone novel based in the world of Varsia. The characters in this book play important roles in the Varsian Kingdom Series. Hein emphasizes that while the fourth book in the Varsian Kingdom Series is not required reading to understand the story, it may help build the world of the book.
Read MoreUnkillable Joe by Joe Vallen is what happens when two realities collide, bringing in action with comical writing. This story is about Unkillable Joe, Joe’s “fictional” characters, the narrator, and a frog. If you’re not paying attention, the high-intensity back and forth may get confusing, and while this could be a detriment, I think it worked for this book. We start with the narrator who talks about Joe, a comic book creator and his comic book characters.
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