literary_lioness's reviews
259 reviews

Tomb of the Queen by Joss Walker

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

4.0

Jayne Thorne is a book nerd. Obsessed with the smells and history of the old books, her favorite place to be is working in the vaults of longstanding libraries. When her fingers gently caress the calligraphy of an ancient text and she steps into another realm, her whole world is flipped upside down.

 

As she learns the fantasies she read about are actually real, she quickly understands that she is in fact one of the strongest wielders of magic. Needing her strength, she is recruited by the TCO to help foil the plans of a magical group with dark intentions. Will Jayne be able to absorb how to use her new found skills, go undercover as a CIA operative, and stop this group from destroying the planet? 

 

Reimagine the lay of the land through Joss Walker’s imagination and enter an atmosphere filled with enchantment in Tomb of the Queen. A tale consumed with questions, clues, and misdirection that will have you thinking you know the answer, just to be smacked with another unbelievable moment. This story will keep you scratching your head even after you have finished reading. 

 

Yet, there is an excess of borderline profanity as well as references to not so borderline use that bring this novel’s rating down. Add a couple sexual references and a 4 out of 5 stars is the result.

 

Please read with caution if any of the following may cause distress: ocular migraines, death of parents, alcohol and drug use, divorce, drowning, fire related trauma, cults, paranoia, cancer, murder, war, hallucinations, kidnapping, hostages, enslavement, brainwashing, psychological warfare, deceit, betrayal, exploitation, stroke, hand to hand combat, homelessness, terrorists, anarchists, extremists, and thievery.

 

An introductory novel to the Jayne Thorne, CIA Librarian Series, Tomb of the Queen, engages readers with a standout mystical mystery. Cannot wait to continue this journey when the second book, Master of Shadows, releases in Summer 2022. 

 

Thank you to #TombOfTheQueen, #JayneThorneCIALibrarianSeries #JossWalker, #AlishaKlapheke, and #TwoTalesPress for the opportunity to read this book and give my honest review.

 

*Co-writer: Alisha Klapheke

 

Original Post found at: https://www.literarylioness.net/post/tomb-of-the-queen-review

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Greasers vs. Socs. Rich vs. Poor. East side vs. West side. The list goes on and on, and for Ponyboy, his brothers, and his friends, this was everyday life. A consistent battle, between being true to oneself and loyal to the gang, Ponyboy’s journey is difficult. Then when his life is at risk and a friend sticks up for him, all things quickly change. As Ponyboy starts questioning the why behind his and his friend’s actions, he wonders if this is as good as it gets. 

 

S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders, was a reread for me to better assist my eighth grader. At first, I was a little shocked with the content and was baffled this was an assigned novel for middle school. Beginning with a slew of violence, followed with borderline profanity, and unrelenting disrespect for authority, there was no way this could be appropriate for thirteen- and fourteen-year-olds.

 

Then I took a step back, and looked at this story not from a parental point of view, but through the eyes of a child going through these horrific challenges, and it hit me. My own kid, and/or classmates, could potentially be one of these characters being written about, and it clicked. That was the point S.E. Hinton was portraying. Pulling from her own truth she wrote an epic tale that could resonate with all youth. However, continuing to stay with my rating template, a 4 out of 5 stars is given.

 

Since this story is a tale where gangs are at the forefront, some actions may cause distress. Please read with caution if affected by any of the following: muggings, hand to hand fighting, knife and gun violence, gangs, bullying, school dropout, self-defense, court hearings, imprisonment, juvenile detention, underage drug and alcohol use, mangled and bloody bodies, death of parents, and murder.

 

A time-honored classic circling around family, community, and issues associated with coming of age this is a book for all to enjoy. 

 

Thank you to #TheOutsiders, #SEHinton, and #PuffinBooks for the opportunity to read this book and give my honest review.

 

Original Post found at: https://www.literarylioness.net/post/the-outsiders-review

Lost Wolf: A Lost Fate Bonus Scene by Alana Ash

adventurous dark emotional sad fast-paced

4.0

A war has rained down on yet another pack. Determined to save as many of his own, a picker scrounges for the wounded to take them safety. Numerous rouge wolves have found refuge within their ranks yet for some reason his inner wolf does not like them. How many will he be able to save before there is no one left?

 

Alana Ash’s Lost Wolf, is a twenty-two-page excerpt to the prequel Lost Fate. A quick look from Erebus’ point of view, Alana draws the tragic picture of war. One can feel the anguish of Erebus as he scavenges for his family, his pack, causing the words on the page to consume their reader.

 

With an absence of spelling or grammatical errors, it is unfortunate that the amount of profanity is abundant for so few pages of text. So, a rating of 4 out of 5 stars is the result.

 

Please note, even though this is a short excerpt, the foundation is about war. Therefore, the following may be triggering: stabbing, mangled and bloody bodies, PTSD, death of child, and murder.

 

A quick read from inside Erebus’ mind; one not only visualizes the gruesome details, but one feels the heartbreak as well. 

 

Thank you to #LostWolf, #ShifterZionNewGenesisWarSeries, #AlanaAsh, and #GosserPublishing for the opportunity to read this book and give my honest review.

 

Original Post found at: https://www.literarylioness.net/post/lost-wolf-review

 

Review of the prequel in this series, Lost Fate, can be found at: https://www.literarylioness.net/post/lost-fate-review

Lost Fate by Alana Ash

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

4.0

Abigale “Abby” has it all, even if she does not think so. She has a family that loves her, a best friend she does everything with, and her wolf that will develop very soon. Then one day, that all gets burned to the ground.

 

Waking up in a hospital with no clue how she got there and a man she has never met claiming to be her grandfather, Abby cannot understand what happened. Convinced she has been kidnapped, she attempts to run away only to be saved by, Erebus, a wolf that cannot change back to his human form due to his injuries. Yet, an instant connection is formed.

 

Once healed enough to be discharged, the truth about her condition comes to light. With her grandpa as her guardian, Ally is forced to not only leave the hospital, but Erebus as well. Will Abby ever be able to except this new reality, or will she get caught in an unrelenting vortex of unknowns?

 

Alana Ash’s imagination takes her readers to an epic dystopian world where werewolves are real and prophesies come true in Lost Fate. Alana’s use of elaborate descriptive words creates a vision that one cannot help but see. Combined with turmoil, chaos, devotion, and a touch of hope this story is difficult to put down.

 

Although Alana’s proficiency as a writer is apparent with the absence of spelling or grammatical errors, borderline profanity and sexual inuendo are used. In addition, the storyline took a while to get going, but when it did one should expect a great ride. All in all, a rating of 4 out of 5 stars is given.

 

With this being a shifter series during a war, some events may cause one distress. Please take caution if effected by any of these possible triggers: hand to hand combat, stabbing, abandonment, unconsciousness, medical induced coma, disownment, bullying, memory loss, kidnapping, mangled and bloody bodies, trauma, death of family, and anxiety.

 

An impressive prequel to the Shifter Zion Series, Lost Fate grabs hold and keeps one wanting more, but be careful, as this ends with one doozy of a cliffhanger. Cannot wait for the story to continue in Dormant Soulto be released in 2022. 

 

Thank you to #LostFate, #ShifterZionNewGenesisWarSeries, #AlanaAsh, and #GosserPublishing for the opportunity to read this book and give my honest review.

 

Original Post found at: https://www.literarylioness.net/post/lost-fate-review

Seer Today, Gone Tomorrow by Ada Bell

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

4.0

Aly and her brother have stopped keeping secrets; from each other that is. Now having a better understanding of their abilities, they are able to put time into what is important… bringing Katrina’s killer to justice. 

 

However, that is easier said than done. When an earthquake hits, a series of odd events occur. Well, odder than usual for the people of Shady Grove. Sidetracked with finding the owner of the newly opened pet store and caring for the distraught rabbit found at said pet store, Aly wonders if her sister-in-law’s murderer will ever be found. Toss in her powers going AWOL, and these may quickly become a couple of cases she may not be able to crack. 

 

Ada Bell has once again wrapped her readers in pure joy with Seer Today, Gone Tomorrow. The fourth installment to the Shady Grove Psychic Mystery Series, this story focuses more on the magic, family history, and the ever-growing plot revolving around Katrina’s death. Add in a lack of profanity, sexual content, nor spelling and grammatical errors, and Ada’s proficiency as a writer comes through.

 

Similar to Ada’s other three books, Katrina’s case flows throughout the series, while another incident is at the forefront. However, the situation of the missing pet store owner seemed a little forced, taking away from the fascination of the underlying storyline. Therefore, a rating of 4 out of 5 stars is awarded.

 

If any of the following actions may upset you, please read with caution: affair, divorce, kidnapping, hostages, earthquake, betrayal, deceit, death of mother, gambling, loan sharks, financial fraud, theft, vandalism, disappearance of loved one, involuntarily rehabilitation, assault, and murder.

 

An addition to the ongoing investigation into Katrina’s killer, Seer Today, Gone Tomorrow brings much more clarity to the situation. So, make sure to snag it on December 6, 2021 when it releases.

 

Thank you to #SeerTodayGoneTomorrow, #ShadyGrovePsychicMysterySeries, #AdaBell, and #EmpressBooks for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy and give my honest review.

 

Original Post found at: https://www.literarylioness.net/post/seer-today-gone-tomorrow-review

 

Review of the first book in this series, Mystic Pieces, can be found at: https://www.literarylioness.net/post/mystic-pieces-review

 

Review of the second book in this series, The Scry’s the Limit, can be found at: 

https://www.literarylioness.net/post/the-scry-s-the-limit-review

 

Review of the third book in this series, Sight Seeing, can be found at: 

https://www.literarylioness.net/post/sight-seeing-review

Sight Seeing by Ada Bell

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

When Olive asks Aly to come with her to an estate sale for Mystic Pieces business, Aly does not expect anything out of the ordinary. Yet, as soon as Aly steps foot into the house, she is quickly overwhelmed with numerous objects reaching out. Soon she realizes it is the spirit of the deceased. After Aly gets a vision of the woman drinking poisoned tea served by her own niece, Aly understands how to help. Now she just needs to figure out how to prove the murder…

 

You know a story is fantastic, when the everything is swept away and all you want to do is stay in this other world and find out what happens next. Ada Bell’s Sight Seeing, does exactly that. Grabbing the reader’s attention with not one mystery, but two, and still being able to turn it into an easy-to-follow narrative is just one of the techniques Ada exemplifies.

 

Toss in her impressive skills as a writer and she ensures there is a lack of spelling and grammatical errors.  In addition, the absence of profanity and sexual content allows for readers of any age to enjoy. Accordingly, a rating of 5 out of 5 stars is given.

 

Please take caution if any of the following actions may cause you distress: poisoning, homicide, murder, suicide, betrayal, and deceit.

 

Another addition to the Shady Grove Psychic Mystery Series, Sight Seeing combines all the elements of magic, intrigue, and slow burning romance into a delectable tale.

 

Thank you to #SightSeeing, #ShadyGrovePsychicMysterySeries, #AdaBell, and #EmpressBooks for the opportunity to read this book and give my honest review.

 

Original Post found at: https://www.literarylioness.net/post/sight-seeing-review

 

Review of the first book in this series, Mystic Pieces, can be found at: https://www.literarylioness.net/post/mystic-pieces-review

 

Review of the second book in this series, The Scry’s the Limit, can be found at: 

https://www.literarylioness.net/post/the-scry-s-the-limit-review

The Scry's the Limit by Ada Bell

adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

5.0

Aly Reynolds has once again found herself caught up in another murder mystery. While on a walk, she happens upon a body buried in a shallow grave. When she gets a vision from a button near the body, she realizes she knows the victim. Determined to find the person responsible for the death of her favorite professor, Aly works on enhancing her psychic skills. Will she be able to control her abilities and find the answers she seeks?

 

Be enchanted as the small town of Shady Grove comes to life in Ada Bell’s The Scry’s the Limit. As with many murder mysteries, figuring out “who done it” is part of the enjoyment and Ada does not disappoint in this category. Constantly throwing one curve ball after the other readers are continually surprised. Mix in a combination of paranormal psychic abilities with a touch of romance and this story is difficult to put down.

 

Plus, add in an absence of profanity, sexual content, nor spelling and grammatical errors, and Ada excels in exhibiting her proficiency as a writer. Therefore, as deserved, a perfect rating of 5 out of 5 stars is easily awarded.

 

Given murder is at the forefront, please take caution if any of the following actions may cause you distress: house fire, racism, addiction, involuntary rehabilitation, homicide, murder, betrayal, deceit, and gun violence.

 

The second book of the Shady Grove Psychic Mystery Series, The Scry’s the Limit is an engaging mystery with a hint of fantasy and a twist of fun. 

 

Thank you to #TheScrysTheLimit, #ShadyGrovePsychicMysterySeries, #AdaBell, and #EmpressBooks for the opportunity to read this book and give my honest review.

 

Original Post found at: https://www.literarylioness.net/post/the-scry-s-the-limit-review

 

Review of the first book in this series, Mystic Pieces, can be found at: https://www.literarylioness.net/post/mystic-pieces-review

Mystic Pieces by Ada Bell

mysterious fast-paced

4.0

Aluminum “Aly” Reynolds is a scientist. So, when she touches an opal ring and is “transported” to the scene of a car accident, she does not quite believe the likelihood of being a psychic. However, when her boss is arrested for a murder, Aly wonders if her new found ability will help her find the true killer. Can she accept this new reality and solve the case?

 

Swiftly get caught in the craziness that is Aly’s life in Ada Bell’s Mystic Pieces. A murder mystery with a touch of fantasy, this story will make you think you have figured it out, only to end up second guessing everything. Toss in a small-town flare, and you will instantly catch yourself falling for the citizens of Shady Grove. 

 

Aside from the two instances of profanity, a few formatting and grammatical errors, and a slightly slower pace throughout the middle, this story would have been a perfect 5 stars. Yet, staying true to the rating template used, a 4 out of 5 stars is awarded. 

 

Since this book revolves around a murder, some actions may cause distress. If any of the following may be triggering to you, please take caution. Car accident, shoplifting, psychotic break, hallucinations, brain damage, break in, murder, roofie, divorce, falsely accused, affairs, betrayal, kidnapping, and gun violence.

 

A cute and cozy introduction to the quirky and devoted characters, Mystic Pieces is the perfect first installment to the Shady Grove Psychic Mystery Series.

 

Thank you to #MysticPieces, #AdaBell, #Smashwords, and #EmpressBooks for the opportunity to read this book and give my honest review.

 

Original Post found at: https://www.literarylioness.net/post/mystic-pieces-review

Prayers and Po-Boys: A Cancer Survivor's Journey through Chemotherapy and Beyond by Larry Singleton

reflective slow-paced

3.0

No one ever wants to hear the three words “you have cancer.” Yet, these words are spoken to thousands of people around the world, and Larry Singleton was one of them. 

 

Through the power of prayer, determination, and a love for po-boys, Larry documents his chemotherapy journey in his memoir Prayers and Po-Boys. Follow along as Larry takes his readers inside the cancer center and details his interactions with his “team”. 

 

Expecting a heart wrenching, emotional, and faith inspiring story, this memoir fell short. Unfortunately, it was a collaboration of rambling and two-minute conversations between Larry and some of his support team. There was no context, no words to evoke feeling, and little to no transition to tie the events together. 

 

A missed opportunity to dig deep and bring readers in to a personal experience, 3 out of 5 stars is the result. Nonetheless, admiration is given to Larry for having the courage to share, and best wishes to him and his family.

 

Thank you to #PrayersAndPoBoys, #LarrySingleton, and #MascotBooks for the opportunity to read this book and give my honest review.

 

Original Post found at: https://www.literarylioness.net/post/prayers-and-po-boys-review

The Girl in the Ground by Stacy Green

sad slow-paced

3.0

Nicole “Nikki” Hunt returns to her job as an FBI agent after her three-month sabbatical following her ex-husband’s murder and daughter’s abduction. When human remains are found on her boyfriend’s construction site, followed by the disappearance of a pregnant female, Nikki becomes entwined within a web of evidence. Can she unravel the network of clues and solve the case, or will the case unravel her?

 

Take a look behind the scenes of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Stacy Green’s The Girl in the Ground. An elaborate story that gives her readers a glimpse into the intricacies of how seemingly unrelated events, can ultimately be linked. Mix that in with the internal struggles of the main character, and an interesting plot takes form.

 

Yet, unfortunately, this book was a lot of talk and a little action. The majority revolved around strategy and conversations discussing the next move. Granted, this may be how FBI agents actually complete their jobs, but it did not catch this reader’s attention. Add the confusion associated with constant name variances (use of last name, first name, and nicknames) plus the influx of profanity and a rating of 3 out of 5 stars is awarded.

 

Given this book is about an FBI detective and her vicious crime cases, some actions may be triggering. Please read with caution if any of the following may cause you distress: serial killers, kidnapping, murder, wrongful imprisonment, divorce, drugs, alcohol, sexual harassment, sex trafficking, foster system, missing persons, cheating, bullying, gestational diabetes, witness protection, abduction, molestation, abandonment, Alzheimer’s, depression, anxiety, physical and mental abuse, PTSD, pedophiles, suicide, and rape.

 

A continuation of the Nikki Hunt Series, The Girl in the Ground can be added to your collection when it releases on December 1, 2021. 

 

Thank you to #TheGirlInTheGround, #NikkiHuntSeries, #StacyGreen, #Bookouture, and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy and give my honest review.

 

Original Post found at: https://www.literarylioness.net/post/the-girl-in-the-ground-review