Lakes of Mars by Merritt Graves
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A super long book, longer than I expected… worth every minute, even though the story was left on a cliff hanger. 4.5 stars.

Plot: In a distant future, out in space, there’s something going on at the borders, called The Rim… a war with some terrifying creatures. But, is it real?

Characters: Aaron, the M.C., is sent to Corinth, a brutal, jail-like training center for teens. It’s not where he wanted to be, but he ends up finding a calling within the conspiracies. The government is training these youths for the war, using questionable tactics and oversights where you just can’t help but feel sorry for these kids. There’s a lot of different characters in here, boys & girls, some more (character) developed than others, but each one has a purpose and their own different struggles with the life they’ve found themselves in.

The Writing: The writing is rich and detailed, written from Aaron’s 1st person POV. There is plenty of imaginative and technical jargon mixed in, as well as flowing dialogue that moves the story quickly. 500+ pages and I STILL read it in a single day.

In Case You Wanted to Know: There is SOooo MUCH FOUL language in here. Could it have been avoided? Sure, but I think it was almost necessary, because (hear me out) have you heard YA/ teenage boys when they’re playing a heated video game? Or when they’re about to fight? Testosterone definitely plays its role in this one, for sure.

Overall: My ONLY disappointment was that the story ended with a cliff hanger. I DO want to know what happens next, and I’m sure I’ll gladly get Book #2. There was an element of conspiracy throughout, and that alone kept me HOOKED. Something was off, right from the start, but full of understanding (or actually, a clearer picture) didn’t come until near the end. Going in, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was delightfully surprised. 4.5 stars.

*I received a FREE copy of this story, in exchange for my honest review.


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Winter Loon by Susan Bernhard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ah! This novel was so good, in a depressing and dark, kind of way; so much pain and misery packed into 336 pages… but my gosh, so well-written and deserving of 5 stars, here’s why-

Wes Ballot’s mom dies right at the beginning, and his father abandons him. He is sent to live with his mom’s cranky & unattached parents, shortly before he turns 16. Nothing about his life, his upbringing, or his family, is healthy or even close to normal. But, Wes manages to hold on… There’s a beautiful ‘coming of age/becoming a man, in his own right’ thread within the tapestry of family secrets, small-town prejudices, heartaches, and lies.

At one point, I thought the book was taking a turn that was far too “Right Wing/Political/Anti-Me-Too Movement for me, and I almost quit. I’m so glad I didn’t because it didn’t end up going that way, at all. Instead, Wes’ life unfolded in expected twists and turns of a boy his age, from his family’s background. I say “Expected” in a way NOT meant to mean predictable, but more like, when the story finally ended, everything made sense.

And that, to me, made it worth the read. To read someone’s sad story, but know they’ve survived and grown, is the kind of rich reward I enjoy from such novels… not an HEA, but, an “I’m O.K., after all,” ending. Well done.

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Daughters of the Lake by Wendy Webb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Give me this story 6 more times & 6 different ways!!! This was one I could definitely read again, and I wish there was more.

Present day meets 100+ years ago… I’ve read some of the reviews for this book that describe it as a ghost story, and, while yes, there is a ghostly element to it, I’d describe it as something a little different. Katie knows the woman, who washed ashore, but only from her dreams. The problem is, that that woman died over a century ago. Her death and Katie’s life is more connected and deeply mysterious than just a regular murder/suspense/ghost story. Gothic? Yes… mixed with some mythological elements, this story simply has everything.

I certainly don’t want to spoil the details, and I acknowledge the fact that I give 4 to 5-star reviews quite liberally, but… I’m just a sucker for a great read- especially those that I can complete in a single go. “Daughters of the Lake” was not only written in an easy to read style, but it was rich in details and imagery, mystery and legend, love and betrayal… Ms. Webb created a world based off of ancient tales and the way she did it, made me want more.

Even the dual timelines/time periods, written in 3rd person POV, was flawlessly executed- and I just can’t impress enough how much I genuinely feel that she (Ms. Webb) should just spend the rest of her writing career focusing on THIS legend, written in the SAME style, with characters JUST LIKE THESE.

Yeah… I loved it, that much.

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The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoy a story that is easily immersive; one that I can’t wait to get back to when life calls me away. This was one of those stories, and here’s why…

Okay, so this book is based on some historical figures, which coincidentally are a part of the author’s ancestral lineage… *Extra points for the Coolness Factor. Anything to do with supposed witches & witch trials, I am instantly drawn to. All plot points and details were wrapped up nicely at the end, and conclusions and motives made sense.

The ONLY “complaint” I have with this novel, is the Title. Magdalena is the Hangman’s Daughter, but this story isn’t focused on her or specifically ABOUT her. She IS a largely main character, but so is her father, Jakob, and her somewhat love interest, Simon- the town “doctor’s” son. Along with a handful of other somewhat main & supporting characters, this novel’s cast is more than colorful. Each person adds to the main thread, which is that children are dying and/or missing, and this small Bavarian, mid-1600s village, thinks it’s the town’s midwife that’s responsible.

The story unfolds in 3rd person POV, as the trio I mentioned above, attempt to uncover the mystery and save the accused witch’s life. It’s a race against the angry mob, sinister unseen forces, and time, itself. And throughout the whole thing, I couldn’t help but get drawn in completely. With wise quotes and lines that read like poetry… (Example: “… rumor is like smoke. It will spread, it will seep through closed doors and latched shutters, and in the end, the whole town will smell of it.”), Mr. Pötzsch’s perfectly translated novel was an incredible joy to read.


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Exposed Fury by Marie Flanigan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After getting shot on the job, Annie Fitch recovers, quits the Police Department, and begins working as a Private Investigator for the town’s wealthy & well to do. An accidental discovery pulls her in and links her to a murder mystery that had me guessing whodunnit right til the very end. The characters, even the minor ones, were beautifully real & fleshed out with specific, clear personalities. Btw, I especially loved Annie’s friend, Celia! Details were sprinkled in evenly, as opposed to using major info dumps. The plot for me was solid. The murderer’s motives could be seen as questionable, but rage and jealousy know no limits of space or time… So, again, for me, I felt that the story just made perfect sense. Of course, I’m a sucker for a good, fast, murder mystery, and this one definitely delivered. Told in 3rd person POV, there is nothing in the writer’s style that makes this novel less than perfect. There were hardly any cuss words (2 f-bombs in the whole thing), no typos or spelling errors… Exposed Fury was simply an enjoyable book to snuggle into a chair with on a rainy afternoon, hot cup of coffee in hand.

*I received a FREE copy of this story, in exchange for my honest review.


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