phantomparagrapher7's reviews
111 reviews

Passage by Caroline Overington

hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

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

3.0

  

I was in a bit of a slump and knew I wanted to read something but I couldn't decide what I was in the mood for, so I picked up a quick read from Australian author Caroline Overington as I knew I would enjoy this one and again it would be a fast read. The book starts with us being introduced to Paul Bannerman who is the newly elected Deputy for the State of Victoria when a news release comes out about his past and his short time in the cult of the Jesus People run by Brother Ruhamah. As a young man, Paul didn't know what he wanted to do with his life and was just on a track of wandering. That was until one day at college, 17-year-old Paul met Brother Ruhamah at the college campus and he captured Paul's attention. Paul decided to up and sell what little possessions he had and go live on the commune and embrace the commune life which he did for a while until he came one day to the conclusion that he had gotten what he wanted out of it. This was a read that does get you wondering whether the life of a cult member is worth it as often the idea of giving up the fast life and living a simpler one does pop into people's minds, but in reality, would you give up your free will for total freedom? Exchange one for the other?

 

So We Lie by Willow Rose

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

 

Willow Rose has done it again with So We Lie, a riveting addition to the Eva Rae Thomas series that takes us back to where it all began. Published as Book #17 in the series, this prequel is a brilliant standalone that offers readers a glimpse into Eva Rae’s early days as an FBI profiler with the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU). Fans of Criminal Minds will find themselves right at home with this gripping, psychological thriller. 

The story kicks off with the mysterious death of Arlene Wood, a mother of two who crashes her car into a tree at four in the morning. While the accident seems cut-and-dry, the discovery of unusual evidence in the car’s wreckage casts doubt on the initial findings. When Arlene’s husband is convicted of her murder, the case appears closed—but questions linger. What drove Arlene to leave her home in the dead of night? Was she meeting someone? And if so, who? 

Fast-forward six years, and we meet a younger, more uncertain Eva Rae Thomas, fresh out of FBI training and ready to take on her first big assignment. As she revisits the case, Eva Rae uncovers a startling clue that could exonerate Arlene’s husband and expose the true culprit. But with her inexperience working against her and the odds stacked high, Eva Rae must summon every ounce of her determination to convince her team to reopen the investigation. The tension escalates as she races against time to catch the killer before they strike again. 

Whether you’re a long-time fan of the series or a newcomer, So We Lie is a must-read. Willow Rose delivers a masterclass in suspense, making this prequel an unforgettable addition to the Eva Rae Thomas universe. Prepare to be hooked from the first page to the last! 

Lotus by Jennifer Hartmann

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

 

Twenty-two years ago, Sydney and her best friend Oliver were playing and he went missing. He vanished without a trace. Sydney always hoped he wasn't hurt and that he was still out there somewhere, but as each year passed it seemed unrealistic. That was until recently when Oliver managed to escape where he had been captured and now made his way back to his family's home where his step-brother lives and next door to Sydney. He remembers some memories of Sydney whom he called Queen of the Lotus as when he was captured, he created some comics of his memories to keep him occupied. Sydney never stopped loving Oliver and even after all these years, the romance is still sizzling and we can see that these two are perfect for one another. We also learn why Oliver was taken in the first place and how it relates to an incident that happened to Sydney's sister when they were younger. This book also touches on the sexual abuse of a minor and how sometimes the people you trust most are the ones who are more likely to hurt you and cause harm. It's books like this that give us wake-up calls of how well we know our neighbors and family members. If you love edgy New Adult Romance and authors like Jessica Sorensen, Molly McAdams, Abbi Glines, and Colleen Hoover - then you will love Jennifer Hartmann's book "Lotus" which also gave me vibes of Colleen Hoover's book "Hopeless" which touches on a similar theme. I am now looking forward to continuing and reading the other titles by Jennifer Hartmann, as I have now read two books by her and enjoyed both of them. 

Then Things Went Dark by Bea Fitzgerald

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

 

A theme that I have always enjoyed reading for years is reality TV in books. I became a fan of this trope after reading years ago Dead Famous by Ben Elton which was a Big Brother-themed story with a murder. Ever since then, if I come across books with a similar theme I will give them a go. In Then Things Went Dark by Bea Fitzgerald which was a book exchange gift, we have six influencers or fifteen minutes of fame stars who need to either prove themselves or redeem themselves in society, and what better way to do that than on a reality TV set on a beautiful island and with an enticing prize pool of money. This show will push these contestants into revealing their deepest darkest secrets with the hope that the world will never hear them spying on their fellow contestants. On the island, there will be friendships formed, alliances made, sleeping with one another, and backstabbing of course. Nothing is sacred when the whole world is watching and money, fame, and redemption are all on the line. Even murder as by the end of the week, one of the contestants will be dead and the murder or accident - you decide, will be streamed on live television. As this book was a UK-based fiction, it is on the slower side of pacing, but if you love shows like Big Brother and thriller novels - then Then Things Went Dark by Bea Fitzgerald has something for everyone. 
 PS - I also have a cover crush on the above edition of this book. 

Dating and Other Theories by Susannah Nix

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 

This particular series is one I have almost finished and enjoyed as each book connects to one of the members of a knitting circle. Each female is also part of the STEM community and eventually finds love. In Dating and Other Theories, we meet Esther who is an actual rocket scientist (this book was originally called Intermediate Thermodynamics) and she has one of those annoying next-door neighbors Jonathan who is a scriptwriter. When Esther's friend finds herself inching back to her ex, Esther steps in with an arrangement for Jonathan - she will help him with his movie script in return for three dates with her best friend. Jonathan reluctantly agrees, and we see sparks flying between Esther and Jonathan - rather than her friend who does eventually find her love with Esther's work colleague. I have to admit, part of Esther's character is frustrated but as we learned from her background - she has always supported her mother financially and had to grow up fast. She is also a cold character and one that doesn't show emotions and prefers things to be more on the logical side rather than following her heart as experience has shown following your heart can get you hurt and throw your life off track.  With Jonathan's help, can he soften Esther's heart and show her that sometimes love can appear most unexpectedly and that taking a risk based on love and feelings, isn't always a terrible thing? I know personally in my own life, if I had followed logically with love then I wouldn't be with my "forever" person as people did tell me I was wrong to give him chances and even initially I was warned off him. Here I am twenty years later and still happy with him and my decisions. If you love STEM romances and Ali Hazelwood's Love Hypothesis series or Penny Reid's Elements series, then you will love Susannah Nix's Chemistry Lessons Series. 

Lonely for You Only by Monica Murphy

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A

4.5

I am going to be sad to see the Lancaster Prep series finish as I've only got two more books sitting on my bookshelf to read until I am up to date with this series and have to wait for Monica Murphy to write more of the next generation of Lancasters. At the end of New Year's Day, we saw Scarlett Lancaster and Tate Ramsey on TV as he sang in Times Square as the ball dropped.  Lonely for You Only is their story and how their story began. It all started with Scarlett's 18th birthday party and her desire to impress and finally tell Ian how she felt about him, only for him to leave the party. Her father had hired Tate as a surprise as 13/14-year-old Scarlett had been in love with him and had his poster above her bed, now he is just a washed-up pop star but after singing at the party, he is now a viral act and the records and studios want him back as he is currently a hot commodity. The thing though is while he was at the party, the paparazzi caught him in a fake kiss situation with Scarlett Lancaster and the world went crazy and believed that these two are romantically involved. This couldn't be further from the truth but the studio wants them as a package deal. Now Tate has to convince Scarlett to become his fake girlfriend, it helps though that there is chemistry between the pair of them as we read sparks flying between the pair. What will happen though when the record company wants him to choose between Scarlett and his music? Who will he pick? The girl he loves or his music dream finally coming true again. He messed up once before and made the wrong decision, can he choose the right one this time around? I have to also admit, that I loved Scarlett's parents Fitzgerald and Gloria Lancaster, something that I never thought I would say about Lancaster's Parents but they were "the nicer" Lancasters and you could see that they cared and loved their daughter and wanted the best for her. I do wish though that we had seen a bit more of Scarlett's twin siblings as it felt in this book that in parts, she was treated as an only child and then you were like Oh, that's right - she has two younger siblings.
 I am now excited to continue in my Lancaster journey by Monica Murphy but will be sad when it ends. 

Crave by Morgan Rice

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

3.0

 

As a fan of Twilight and Vampire/Werewolves novels when I was in my late teens to mid-20s, reading Morgan Rice's Wish series brings back those memories. In Crave, we read that Isabel aka Jane was kidnapped by the evil side and her blood was about to be used in the ceremony to bring back to life the Demon. However, it was learned that there was a sixth piece hidden - the heart of the demon. Now the ceremony has been put on hold until they can find the sixth piece, this leads to disaster as people are slaughtered and Taylor is accidentally shot by the headmaster and caught by the "evil ones". As the Blood Moon Hybrid, she is lucky as though her blood was used in the demon ritual - it didn't kill her and now the demon isn't as strong as he should be as long as she lives. I did like the part though where Jane's foster parents came back and Taylor's Dad came to rescue them. I also found it interesting that the girls could hear their mum Eloise's voice and I can't wait till we meet her hopefully in later books and learn why she dumped Jane with her friends and disappeared. As we know too is that Taylor's Dad is Vampire which makes their mother a Werewolf. I also loved how Taylor and her friends Quinn, Beth, and Jesse are all direct descendants of the supernatural’s who first managed to conquer the demon and scatter his body parts and so it's now up to this generation to do what their ancestors did, but this time - kill the demon once for all and make sure this time, nobody ever finds it's body parts. If you love YA Supernatural reads that were big in the 90s and early to mid-2000s, then Morgan Rice's Wish series is right up your alley, and even better is that the books aren't too long and are quick easy reads. 

My Dark Desire by L.J. Shen, Parker S. Huntington

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

 

This book was WOW and just hit all the right spots from the most gorgeous book cover #covercrush right there to the fact that this book summed up feelings that were reminiscent of Cinderella movies like Hilary Duff's  A Cinderella Story. This book starts with Zach experiencing his father's death as a young boy. This caused Zach to grow up to become someone who didn't like to touch and lost all senses of feeling as he was a cold human being with no experience of sensation. He especially hated touching another person. That was until he met Farrow who he has struck a bargain, that she come and work for him and be his cleaner. Farrow was caught trying to break into his house as she was there to steal back her father's pendant - the one her stepmother sold along with the rest of his belongings when he was killed in a freak accident. As the book goes along, we see sparks fly between Zachary and Farrow, but of course, his mother Constance has different plans during the majority of this book is the storyline of an arranged marriage with Eileen Yang that his mother is busy setting up but us readers are in anticipation and hope that  Zach will finally stand up to his mother and be with Farrow -the one girl he can stand to touch and the only one who has allowed him to be himself and help him grow. She also has amazing banter with Zach and his friends. I also loved how she finally got justice for her father and got what was hers all along. I have to admit, I didn't have high expectations for this book at first but even after reading it a few days ago, I am still thinking about it, and because of that the rating has moved from 4Ps to 5Ps for me. I am now excited to read Oliver's story, though reading the preview - I was very surprised to see that it wouldn't be with Frankie but with another female, which was a tad bit disappointing as those two have had flirtatious moments and chemistry in the first two books.  If you love Cinderella-themed movies, then My Dark Desire should be at the top of your reading pile for March 2025.
 

Her Final Confession by Lisa Regan

adventurous challenging dark hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated

4.5

 

One of the things I love about being a book reader is that I can donate my books to the second-hand bookshop in Tauranga - Xanadu and then as a bonus get credit to grab new second-hand titles that sound like they could be up my alley.  I had seen a few of Lisa Regan's on Netgalley and read a couple of her thrillers, so was excited to see one of her titles on the shelves at Xanadu. This book was one I picked up after my first title was a DNF and wow, this one moved so quickly and I was surprised at how fast I managed to read it. The book starts in Portland in 1993 where we see Billy meet biker Lincoln Shore and then the book jumps to the present time where Josie and her partner have been called to a crime scene where a young man is dead and a twist - the house belongs to Detective Gretchen Palmer; someone they can't seem to get a hold of. How is she connected to this we soon learn that Gretchen was a victim of a serial killer and the only survivor. The killer was someone the newspapers called The Soul Mate Killer and he was dormant until now with Gretchen the only one to recognize him, he is determined to cut all ties and finish what he started many years ago. The thing is that Gretchen has a dark secret as she also fell pregnant with twins and now Gretchen must work against the clock for not only protect herself but also her twins who were adopted out as babies. If you love thrillers and crime stories, then check out Lisa Regan's Detective Josie Quinn series - another great thing about this series is each book can be read as a standalone. 

Captured Love: A Hockey Romance by Emery Paige

hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

 

Once it was Baseball stars and then it was Football and now currently, we are in a sports romance era where Hockey Players are all the rage.  As someone who used to play Hockey in school, I have been enjoying these reads and I have always wanted to personally see an ice hockey match. Though I am not much of a sports person these days, I still love reading about them. Captured Love had captured my attention as the main female character Selene worked as a student librarian. This however was the extent of excitement for me with this book as I love my books with a bit more grit and that goes for the romances too. Maybe someone who will give it back to the main male character just as good like Elle Kennedy's characters or someone who has gone through a just as tragic or even more tragic life like Ava Harrison's characters.  Captured Love was what I would classify as a YA romance as it really was a sweet romance with not a lot of substance to it. Even Selene working in the library wasn't exactly a bookish character which is what you expect with working in the library and this comes from someone who is a former librarian. Selene has been texting with Ice Hockey player Knox who is a bit of a playboy and she sleeps with him. He acts all cold afterwards and she freaks out and gets angry and Knox must win her back. We also saw a little interfering from an ex-girlfriend but this storyline was pretty much brushed over which I had wished for maybe a stronger jealousy storyline like she freaking stalked them and all she had to do was say sorry and leave like WTF. Moving on, if you are wanting an introduction to the world of Ice Hockey or wanting a soft light romance read, then Captured Love by Emery Paige is the read for you and this book can also be read as a standalone like I did.