Review- Night Shift by Nalini Singh

Summary-

Four masters of urban fantasy and paranormal romance plunge readers into the dangerous, captivating world unearthed beyond the dark...

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh delivers a smoldering story with Secrets at Midnight , as the scent of Bastien Smith’s elusive lover ignites a possessiveness in him that’s as feral as it is ecstatic. And now that he’s found his mate, he’ll do anything to keep her.

In #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews’ novella,Magic Steals , when people start going missing, shapeshifting tigress Dali Harimau and jaguar shifter Jim Shrapshire must uncover the truth about the mysterious creatures responsible.

From Milla Vane—a warrior princess must tame The Beast of Blackmoor to earn a place among her people. But she quickly discovers that the beast isn't a monster, but a barbarian warrior who intends to do some taming himself. 

It’s seer Makenna Frazier's first day on the job at Supernatural Protection and Investigations, and her first assignment is more than she bargained for when bodyguard duty for a leprechaun prince’s bachelor party goes every which way but right in national bestselling author Lisa Shearin’s Lucky Charms .

Release date: November 25th, 2014

Published by: Berkley

Page numbers: 378

Review-

Note: This review is only for Secrets at Midnight by Nalini Singh.

I love the Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh so I was super excited for Secrets at Midnight. Secrets at Midnight is Bastien's novella. He is Mercy's brother whom we'd met before. I loved going back to the Dark River territory and seeing a few old faces.

Bas is kind of like a player in the Dark River territory. His mother is behind him for finding a mate and he has, he just can't catch her scent. I loved Bas. He was so sweet and strong and protective. When he meets Kirby, he knows she's his mate but there's just something he can't put his finger on about her.

I also really liked Kirby. She was a nice and shy girl but she still had a fierceness about her. She was quite unsure about her feelings about Bastien but as she gets to know him she can't help but fall for him. I liked the chemistry Bas and Kirby shared. They may not be my favorite but they were good for each other.

I also loved seeing Lucas with Naya and Mercy. I just love the DarkRiver pack and this novella kind of made me crave a full length book set in the Dark River territory. I also loved seeing Bastien's family, especially Grey and Sage. I hope they get books of their own. Secrets at Midnight was a good, short read.

Review- My American Nightmare - Women in Horror Anthology by Azzurra Nox

My American Nightmare on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

For Fans of American Horror Story, Stephen King, Joe Hill, and Danielle Vega.

America, land of the free, land of the brave, land of nightmares? A group of female authors come together in this collection of creepy tales and psychological horror stories to bring you chills and disturbing images that won't leave you long after you're done reading. From zombies to rural small towns, to the foggy New England to the glamour of Hollywood, each story focuses on a diverse aspect of living in America and the horror found in bullying, being the “new girl,” starting your first job, and navigating the murky waters of adolescence and all the terrifying changes that come with it. Bold and haunting, My American Nightmare encompasses daring stories from new voices in the horror genre. This collection will unsettle your nerves and linger in your mind, demonstrating that women can show you a nuance of horror that isn't always evident from the male perspective.

Dare to take a walk on the dark side.

Angela Sylvaine - Ballad of Sorrow and Lila 
Amelia Kibbie – We Kill The Skullman
R. A. Goli – Mr. Buttons' Tea Party 
Jamie Kahn – The Poison & The Ivy 
Rachel Bolton- The Girl & The Yellow Wallpaper 
Hillary Lyon - Boys' Night Out 
Nicky Peacock – She Looked Like Krystal Sparkle 
Spinster Eskie - Angie's Change 
Sheri Kreitner - The Pickman Sisters of Salem 
Sierra Ryan – Volunteer 
Kara Nelson - The Eye 
E.F. Schraeder – Night Moves 
Andrea Teare – 39 Days 
Heather Miller - The Stars 
Marnie Azzarelli – When Evacuating Pennsylvania 
Erica Ruhe - Perle 
Phoebe Jane Johnson - Ruby 
Azzurra Nox - Whatever Happened to Peyton Rose?
Kara Dennison - Billson

Release date: October 31st 2017

Published by: Twisted Wing Productions

Page numbers: 250

REVIEW: 

When author Azzurra Nox contacted me about My American Nightmare, I could not say no to reading it because I loved her Doll Parts and was waiting for something more ever since. One of the points that intrigued me is the fact that My American Nightmare is a collection of nineteen horror stories written by female writers, which is so cool and exciting. Now I tend to be a chicken when it comes to horror stories, but I knew I had to give this one a go, and I'm so glad I did because all the stories in this anthology were spine-chilling, super duper interesting and so well written.

Every story in this collection is so unique and well done that it made me want to have each one as a separate novel because I either wanted to know more or I thought it would make for a great book. Not that the stories weren't great on their own; in fact, they were straight up breathtaking. Some of my absolutely favourites of the nineteen (and the ones I'd definitely reread in the future) are: The Eye by Kara Nelson, The Poison and the Ivy by Jamie Kahn, Angie's Change by Spinster Eskie, The Ballad of Sorrow and Lila by Angela Sylvaine and Whatever Happened to Peyton Rose? by Azzurra Nox. And if I am to shortlist two stories is that are an absolute must-read, they would have to the last two of the ones mentioned, although I really, really loved The Ballad of Sorrow and Lila the most; it was such an incredible story! 

My American Nightmare is a perfect October read and came as a refreshing read because usually anthologies are made up of romance stories or stories from a variety of genres. Azzurra Nox has really brought the best of the best together and packed amazing stories in this one collection, which is sure to satisfy any reader. Plus, the whole deal with having women writers on board... More power to women! These stories were really mysterious and sometimes so spooky that the chicken in me had to read them with a light on at night. But that is what horror stories should be like, so they served their purpose.

I would highly recommend this anthology. I loved it to bits and enjoyed reading it.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Azzurra Nox in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Guys! The book releases tomorrow, so make sure you grab your copy here! 

Buy the book: AMAZON (.in)/ AMAZON (.com)

Review- Up All Night: A Short Story Collection by Laura Geringer

Up All Night on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

A brush with the supernatural? A rock concert? A reunion? A poolside revelation? The need to know what's up? The confessions of a friend? The dream of escape? A sick pet? An English assignment? The rear-window view of a murder next door? The search for the mother you never met? What keeps you up all night?

This remarkable collection of award-winning and bestselling authors is thought provoking, insightful, heartfelt, and powerful. 

Release date: April 18th 2008

Published by: Laura Geringer Book

Page numbers: 220

REVIEW: 

Up All Night is a collection of six very unique and very interesting short stories, written by six very brilliant authors. In the collection, there are: Phase 2 by Peter Abrahams, Not Just for Breakfast Anymore by Libba Bray, The Vulnerable Hours by David Levithan (the reason why I decided to read the book in the first place), Orange Alert by Patricia McCormick, Superman is Dead by Sarah Weeks and The Motherless One by Gene Luen Yang (which is more of an illustration with dialogues, really). Aside from David Levithan, all the authors were new to me and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I relished both their story-telling and writing.

The book begins with a lovely introduction by publisher Laura Geringer, who has, very meticulously and poignantly, summarised every story in barely a line and it manages to both give a slight glimpse into the story and pique the reader's interest. I never really bother writing about introductions and all, but this one really stuck with me because it was done so well that I couldn't not say something about it. Besides, Geringer has published a really, really nice book with stories that are creative, touching and thought-provoking.

Coming to the stories, like I mentioned before they were all very well written and told. Some of my favourites are basically all of them, expect Not Just for Breakfast Anymore and The Motherless One, because while the former was very long as compared to the rest and slightly incomprehensible as well, the latter was fun to read, but a narrative would've been much better. Keeping that aside, however, the collection was varied and covered up a bunch of stuff.

Phase 2, The Vulnerable Hours (no surprise there!), Orange Alert and Superman is Dead were stories that I fell in love with because of how unique and splendid they were. These stories took up very daily and mundane events and turned them into something so extraordinary and special that it was difficult not to admire and appreciate them. I would love to summarise every story, but with short stories, there's always the fear of letting everything out and I'm no Laura Gringer to give perfect and on-point summaries.

Overall, I would highly, highly recommend this collection because it's easy to read and yet managedsto leave a heavy impact on the readers because of the way in which every story is portrayed.

Buy the book: AMAZON

Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway- A Pizza My Heart by Jolene Haley

A Pizza My Heart: An Anthology

by Various Authors

Genre: YA Fiction Anthology

Release Date: February 9th 2017

Hocus Pocus & Co.

Summary:

Gooey cheese and warm pepperoni, with a side of kissing and murder.

A Pizza My Heart is a quirky and fun anthology that crosses all genres. Fifteen extraordinary authors have united to tell stories of mystery, mayhem, romance, danger, deceit…and pizza.

Sometimes spicy, sometimes cheesy, but always delicious, A Pizza My Heart invites you to explore life, happiness, and the pursuit of pizza.

Stories Include:

A Slice of Adventure by Maria Carvalho

Between Slices by Andy Grieser

Fresh, Hot, and Deadly by Rena Olsen

KissingDancingPizzaMURDER by Darci Cole

Kneadful Things by Jenna Lehne

Love Pizza No. 9 by Vanessa Rodriguez

Madame Miraval’s Pizza Place by Kelly deVos

Password Is… by Jolene Haley

Pizza on the Brain by Emily Simon

Pizza Buddy by Brian LeTendre

Pizzamergency by Brett Jonas

Survival Pizza by Rebecca Waddell

The Last Stop at the End of the World by Jamie Adams

The Pizza Guy by Jessi Shakarian

Where There’s Pizza by Jasmine Brown

Add to Goodreads

Buy Link: Amazon

REVIEW: 

A Pizza My Heart sounded like a delicious read and from what I could make out of the title, I took it to mean a fun take on "a piece" of my heart, which is why I assumed it would be a collection of short romance stories, which I had no problem with. But once I started reading the book and realised that every story had something to do with pizza, I was completely blown away because I want to have something to do with anything that involves pizza. It was so creative to see how the various authors of the anthology incorporated pizza in their stories that ranged from romances to thrillers to mysteries to science fictions and what not.

A collection of fourteen absolutely unique and very well-written stories, A Pizza My Heart is a fun read that will make you hungry with the lovely descriptions of pizza in every story. While there were some stories that I didn't quite understand, some of my absolutely favourites were: Fresh, Hot and Deadly, Kneadful Things, KissingDancingPizzaMURDER, Pizza on the Brain, Pizza Buddy: An Orchard Pointe Story, Where There's Pizza, The Pizza Guy and Love Pizza No. 9. Seeing as I thoroughly liked and had a great time reading a total of eight out of the fourteen stories, it's easy to say that this collection was very interesting, unique and fun which I really appreciated.

What I liked the most about this collection was the way the contributing authors minds worked. It was so nice to see such different takes on pizza when all I am able to come up with is just pizza because let's be honest, once there's a mention of pizza, it's difficult to give anything else a thought. So yes, in that way, the collection as a whole and every story individually is great and a pure delight to read. Besides, being a bunch of short stories, it's super easy and simple to read, which is the biggest advantage.

I would definitely highly recommend this read because it's a quirky and amusing collection.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by YA Bound in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

About the Publisher:

Established in 2014, Hocus Pocus & Co. loves to bring unique voices and stories to fruition.

Publisher Links: Website│Twitter

Cover Design by Haley Crosby

Join the book buzz using hashtag #Pizzathology

GIVEAWAY:

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Blog Tour Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

Review- A Pizza My Heart by Jolene Haley

A Pizza My Heart on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Gooey cheese and warm pepperoni, with a side of kissing and murder.

A Pizza My Heart is a quirky and fun anthology that crosses all genres. Fifteen extraordinary authors have united to tell stories of mystery, mayhem, romance, danger, deceit…and pizza.

Sometimes spicy, sometimes cheesy, but always delicious, A Pizza My Heart invites you to explore life, happiness, and the pursuit of pizza.

Stories Include:

A Slice of Adventure by Maria Carvalho
Between Slices by Andy Grieser
Fresh, Hot, and Deadly by Rena Olsen 
KissingDancingPizzaMURDER by Darci Cole 
Kneadful Things by Jenna Lehne 
Love Pizza No. 9 by Vanessa Rodriguez
Madame Miraval’s Pizza Place by Kelly deVos
Password Is… by Jolene Haley
Pizza On the Brain by Emily Simon
Pizza Buddy by Brian LeTendre
Pizzamergency by Brett Jonas
Survival Pizza by Rebecca Waddell 
The Last Stop at the End of the World by Jamie Adams
The Pizza Guy by Jessi Shakarian
Where There’s Pizza by Jasmine Brown

Release date: February 9th 2017

Published by: Hocus Pocus & Co

Page numbers: 

REVIEW: 

A Pizza My Heart sounded like a delicious read and from what I could make out of the title, I took it to mean a fun take on "a piece" of my heart, which is why I assumed it would be a collection of short romance stories, which I had no problem with. But once I started reading the book and realised that every story had something to do with pizza, I was completely blown away because I want to have something to do with anything that involves pizza. It was so creative to see how the various authors of the anthology incorporated pizza in their stories that ranged from romances to thrillers to mysteries to science fictions and what not.

A collection of fourteen absolutely unique and very well-written stories, A Pizza My Heart is a fun read that will make you hungry with the lovely descriptions of pizza in every story. While there were some stories that I didn't quite understand, some of my absolutely favourites were: Fresh, Hot and Deadly, Kneadful Things, KissingDancingPizzaMURDER, Pizza on the Brain, Pizza Buddy: An Orchard Pointe Story, Where There's Pizza, The Pizza Guy and Love Pizza No. 9. Seeing as I thoroughly liked and had a great time reading a total of eight out of the fourteen stories, it's easy to say that this collection was very interesting, unique and fun which I really appreciated.

What I liked the most about this collection was the way the contributing authors minds worked. It was so nice to see such different takes on pizza when all I am able to come up with is just pizza because let's be honest, once there's a mention of pizza, it's difficult to give anything else a thought. So yes, in that way, the collection as a whole and every story individually is great and a pure delight to read. Besides, being a bunch of short stories, it's super easy and simple to read, which is the biggest advantage.

I would definitely highly recommend this read because it's a quirky and amusing collection.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by YA Bound in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Buy the book: AMAZON

Blog Tour- Cast No Shadows

CAST NO SHADOWS

An Anthology of Ghost Stories

This anthology includes chilling short stories written by Jordan Elizabeth,  Lorna MacDonald Czarnota, Grace M. DeLeesie, Joan O. Scharf, Lisa Oaks, Heather Talty, Kae P. Quinn, C.K. Raggio, Derek McFadden, Grant Eagar, Nicole Green, Clare Weze, Ashley Pasco, Amy L. Gale, A. Elizabeth Zumchak, Al Dorantes, K. J. Winters, TracinaCozza, James McNally, A. F. Plant, W. K. Pomeroy, Jeremy Mortis, Christine Baker, Misha Murphy, Gloria Slade, and Rachel Pond.

Wondering just what spine-tingling tale you might encounter?  Here is a peak at a few:

Blood-Stained Handkerchief by Jordan Elizabeth: Miranda and her family love to fix up houses, but their newest investment in the Adirondacks comes with more than just water stains and cracked plaster. 

Try Me by Christine Baker: Every morning feels like Russian Roulette to seventeen-year-old Daryl. When your last living parent is a drug addict, you never know which personality will greet you when you wake. Killed in the same accident that claimed is father’s life, James, Daryl’s older brother, comes back to put his brother on the right path before costs Daryl his own life.

Sweet Hollow Road by C.K. Raggio: Legends of evil and murder surround a desolate Long Island road making it the perfect place for Andrea and her friends to hunt for ghosts. But in the shadows of the woods lurks a desperate stalker. One who won't let them leave until they fulfill his savage desire. 

Tillie in Utica by Jordan Elizabeth: Utica, 1879.  Tillie misses her small hometown, but she’s excited to visit an old friend in the big city of Utica.  That is, until a ghost starts begging her for help.

The Staircase by Clare Weze: Katrine leaves the UK in search of the father she has never known. A trail of emails to her worried brother chronicle her progress, but the sweet reunion is not what it seems.

Ghost of Shadmoor Park by Grant Eagar: Single female ghost seeks medium to make a relationship with boy possible. No no scratch that; single ghost female seeks medium to have relationship with mediums boyfriend without getting caught.

Swampby Joan O. Scharf: It is twilight by the time two brothers finish their work in helping a farmer on a neighboring farm.  Darkness overtakes them on their walk home, where their 2 mile dirt path cuts through a thickly overgrown swamp....and evil awaits.

Silent Operaby Joan O. Scharf: Three young boys set out to explore a deserted house that is said to be haunted.  It once belonged to a famous opera singer who hung herself in an upstairs bedroom when she lost her voice.  The boys daring adventure soon turns to terror.

A Trace of Timeby Joan O. Scharf: Driving home from a trip, a woman takes the wrong road and finds herself in an unfamiliar city.  She encounters a lost child, and attempting to return the little girl to her family leads the woman into an eerie web of mystery.

Death of a Necromancer by Misha Murphy: Talia was could always see ghosts. She thought it to be an annoying gift until one day it put her life in danger. Will she be able to save herself or will she and others perish?

A Minor Matter of Death by W. K. Pomeroy: The story begins at a cemetery and ends at a bar, but all the spirits aren't alcohol, and all the issues aren't with the dead.

Nellie’s Playmate by Lorna MacDonald Czarnota: In the early 1800s, governess, Sadie  McMullen  enticed her charge, little Delia, and an overnight guest, Nellie  Mae, onto a 50 foot railroad overpass above Murder Creek in Akron, New York. Sadie was tried and sent to the asylum in Buffalo, only to vanish after her release two years later. What became of Sadie? Did she return to the scene of the crime out of remorse? For revenge? Or did she even fade into forgotten history?Based on a true story.

CAST NO SHADOWSis available now from Curiosity Quills Press.  Grab your copy from Amazon and check out early reviews GoodReads. 

Help us celebrate the release with the chance to win a $35 Amazon gift card. 

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Review- How They Met and Other Stories by David Levithan

How They Met, and Other Stories on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Just in time for Valentine’s Day comes a confection from David Levithan that is sure to appeal to fans of Boy Meets Boy. Here are 18 stories, all about love, and about all kinds of love. From the aching for the one you pine for, to standing up and speaking up for the one you love, to pure joy and happiness, these love stories run the gamut of that emotion that at some point has turned every one of us inside out and upside down. What is love? With this original story collection David Levithan proves that love is a many splendored thing, a varied, complicated, addictive, wonderful thing.

Release date: 2014 (first published January 8th 2008)

Published by: Electric Monkey

Page numbers: 307

REVIEW: 

Authors normally pick up a pen to write, but I always imagine David Levithan picking up a wand. We might still be waiting for our Hogwarts letter, but I'm a 100% sure that David Levithan topped his OWLs and NEWTs, because he is a wizard and magic runs in his blood. He makes magic. I always, always imagine him waving his wand and words just coming out and forming that whole Avada Kedavra and Expelliarmus magic or something like Tom Marvolo Riddle- I am Lord Voldemort.

Now that I've proved that my most favourite contemporary writer of our time is a magician, let me tell you that he was as magical during his high school as he is now, because How They Met, and Other Stories is a collection of short stories written by the author in his school years. "If he's THAT incredible when he's so young, imagine what he'll do later", I'm sure someone must've said this to young David, and it goes to say, without doubt, that he kept getting better and better, to the point where he has established himself as a bright, brilliant, sparkling and shining star of an author.

How They Met, and Other Stories is incredible and every story is so different and unique that it feels like it's written by different people. Of course, I loved this collection as a whole, but some of my absolutely favourite stories were: Starbucks Boy, The Alumni Interview, The Number of People Who Meet on Airplane, What a Song Can Do and Without Saying. But I have to say that my most favourite story was Lost Sometimes, which is a sexy story of two boys in a more physical relationship. I have read almost all books by David Levithan, but I've never read something so sexy, gorgeous and exhilarating.

A book I always wanted to read, How They Met, and Other Stories had stories that I both loved and liked, but none that I didn't like. I didn't have any expectations, but I was way too happy with what I got, because the lovely magician never fails to deliver. I loved the book, but this book has proved that I love David Levithan even more.

Buy the book: AMAZON (IN)/ FLIPKART

Cover Reveal- Cast No Shadows

CAST NO SHADOWS

An Anthology of Ghost Stories

This anthology includes short stories intended to chill and make you wonder if ghosts really do exist. 

Enjoy the works of Jordan Elizabeth,  Lorna MacDonald Czarnota, Grace M. DeLeesie, Joan Scharf, Lisa Oaks, Heather Talty, Kae P. Quinn, C.K. Raggio, Derek McFadden, Grant Eagar, Nicole Green, Clare Weze, Ashley Pasco, Amy L. Gale, A. Elizabeth Zumchak, Al Dorantes, K. J. Winters, TracinaCozza, James McNally, A. F. Plant, W. K. Pomeroy, Jeremy Mortis, Christine Baker, Misha Murphy, Gloria Slade, and Rachel Pond.

Thishaunting cover was created by Eugene Teplitsky.

CAST NO SHADOWS releases on October 10^th, but in the meantime, check it out on GoodReads. 

Help us celebrate the cover reveal with the chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card. 

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