Blog Tour | Cursed at Dawn by Heather Graham | Review

Dracula lives—and he’s hunting for his bride.

Vampires may not walk among us, but FBI agents Della Hamilton and Mason Carter know real monsters exist. They’ve witnessed firsthand the worst humankind has to offer. They’re still catching their breaths after the apprehension of two such monstrous killers when they’re met with horrific news: Stephan Dante, the self-proclaimed king of the vampires, has escaped from prison, followed only by a trail of blood.

All too familiar with Dante’s cruelty, Della and Mason know the clock is ticking. But as Dante claims more victims, a chilling message arrives. The vampire killer seeks his eternal bride—Della herself. Playing into Dante’s desires might be the only way to stop the carnage once and for all, assuming they can outwit him. Della is confident the agents have the upper hand, but Mason knows every gamble runs the risk of not paying off, and this time, the consequences could be deadly.

Buy Links | BookShop.org | Harlequin  | Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Books-A-Million | Powell’s

Rating: 4 out of 5.

So I may have read this one thinking it was the second book in the trilogy, then realized it was actually the third – that was my bad. That being said, as with most of Heather Graham’s books in her series you can pick them up without reading the previous books, you just may miss out on some foundation or background information. I’ll still go back and read the second one though so I can put the pieces together. This one did feature the villian from the first book so it was interesting to see that return of that villian and the interaction between him, Della and Mason. The pacing was really good on this one and I’m super glad I got the chance to pick it up, even though I read out of order.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Heather Graham has written more than a hundred novels. She’s a winner of the RWA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Thriller Writers’ Silver Bullet. She is an active member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America. For more information, check out her websites: TheOriginalHeatherGraham.com, eHeatherGraham.com, and HeatherGraham.tv. You can also find Heather on Facebook.

Social Links | Author Website | Facebook: @Heather Graham | Twitter: @HeatherGraham

Happy reading!

Review | Whispers at Dusk by Heather Graham

When darkness falls, there’s nowhere to hide.

Four bodies have been discovered along Europe’s riverbanks, placed with care—and completely drained of blood. Pinpricks on their throats indicate a slender murder weapon, but DNA found in the wounds suggests something far more sinister. Tasked with investigating, the FBI recruits Agents Della Hamilton and Mason Carter to Blackbird, an international offshoot of the Krewe of Hunters. If you want to catch a vampire killer, you need agents who can speak with the dead.

The pair travel to Norway, where the shadowy forests of Lillehammer reveal a gruesome scene. The killer is thirsty for more victims, and the bloodless trail soon leads Della and Mason to a group that believes drinking blood is the key to immortality. To catch the culprit of such an intimate crime, the agents will have to get close. Mason’s already lost one partner; he’s not ready to risk Della as bait. But sometimes justice requires a sacrifice…

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I’ve been reading Heather Graham’s books for a long time so anytime I hear about a new paranormal series she is starting I’m interested. This one definitely lived up to the Krewe of Hunters series which it’s a spinoff of. I enjoyed that it had an international setting and that it was a bit more fast paced than some I’ve read before. I didn’t fall in love with Della and Mason as a couple off the bat, but since there will be more than one book focused on them it did give a good starting foundation to their relationship. All in all a solid start to an exciting trilogy.

Happy reading!

Review | Magdalena by Candi Sary

Somewhere between fantasy and reality, Dottie finds new life in her relationship with the mysterious girl. But Dottie’s entanglements with Magdalena, a curious centenarian, a compelling stranger, an ex-mobster, and a murder of crows thrusts this once cloistered woman into a frenzy of public scrutiny. To quell the rumors, Dottie keeps returning to pen and paper, the place where only she can distinguish the fiction from what truly happened. In sharing her story, she discovers something as frightening as it is liberating – her voice.

Though her prose has been compared to Shirley Jackson, Sary’s writing stands in a class of its own. MAGDALENA is a swirling and mystical debut, part ghost story, part tender tale of love, loss, and longing, inspired by the author’s personal experiences. Sary’s mesmerizing and haunting debut will keep readers under its spell long after the final page.

Amazon | Bookshop | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Anytime something is compared to Shirley Jackson I’m intrigued, so I was excited to hear about this one. I would definitely agree with that comparison and thoroughly enjoyed this read. While the story is about Dottie and Magdalena, I really enjoyed the offshoots and additional stories within the town itself. This was my first ready from Candi Sary and I really enjoyed not only the writing style but the overall atmosphere of the read. I will definitely be picking up more from this author!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Candi Sary is an award-winning
writer and graduate from the University of California, Irvine.
Her writing has won Reader Views Literary Award, a
Chanticleer International Book Award, and was First Runner-Up
in the Eric Hoffer Book Award. A mother of two adult children,
Sary lives in Southern California with her husband, a dog, a cat
and several ducks. She can often be found surfing and paddling
boarding in the waters of Newport Beach. She is a proud
steward of a Little Free Library.

Author website | Author IG | Author FacebookGoodreads

Happy reading!

Review | Growing Up Powerful Journal: A Confidence Boosting, Totally Inspiring, Joyful Journal

Give yourself a fun and empowering confidence workout with this inspiring interactive journal.

Maybe you’d like to try out for a part in the school play, score a spot on a sports team, or make friends at a new school. This journal was created to give you a safe and encouraging place to explore your personality and your thoughts, goals, and dreams.

Through tried and true advice, questions, activities, and writing prompts, you’ll:
– Explore moments you are proud of, great ideas you’ve had, and plans for your future
– Celebrate your true superpowers
– Practice starting a conversation with anyone
– Try out tactics for being a more positive thinker
– Explore when you’re ready to step outside of your comfort zone and try something new!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I’m excited to see more interactive options being added to the Rebel Girls line. This is a journal full of prompts, scenarios, stories about Rebel Girls, quizzes, coloring pages and more. With all the different themes such as self confidence, friendship, moods and more – it’s sure to be a book that girls come back to time and again. It’s something where they can pick any page they want and do an activity, or go through it more sequentially if they want to.

Happy reading (and journaling)!

Review | The Book Haters’ Book Club by Gretchen Anthony

All it takes is the right book to turn a Book Hater into a Book Lover…

That was Elliott’s belief and the reason why he started The Book Haters’ Book Club—a newsletter of reading recommendations for the self-proclaimed “nonreader.” As the beloved co-owner of Over the Rainbow Bookstore, Elliott’s passion and gift was recommending books to customers. Now, after his sudden death, his grief-ridden business partner, Irma, has agreed to sell Over the Rainbow to a developer who will turn the cozy bookstore into high-rise condos.

But others won’t give up the bookstore without a fight. When Irma breaks the news to her daughters, Bree and Laney, and Elliott’s romantic partner, Thom, they are aghast. Over the Rainbow has been Bree and Laney’s sanctuary since childhood, and Thom would do anything to preserve Elliott’s legacy. Together, Thom, Bree and Laney conspire to save the bookstore, even if it takes some snooping, gossip and minor sabotage.

Filled with humor, family hijinks and actual reading recommendations, The Book Haters’ Book Club is the ideal feel-good read. It’s a celebration of found family and a love letter to the everyday heroes who run bookstores.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

I was definitely intrigued by the concept of this book but found it a bit hard to get into it. The first section of the book definitely was slow in pacing, but once I got past that and got more into the meat of the story I did find myself enjoying it more. I enjoyed the amount of humor injected in the story as it helped it move more and increased my enjoyment in it. I did end up overall enjoying the story and found the writing style easy to read even when the pacing felt slow.

Happy reading!

Review | World’s Worst Time Machine by Dustin Brady

For kids, life can be boring, but Liam and Elsa know how to create their own fun—or so they think. After finding a $3 time machine at a garage sale, Liam uses the machine to summon Thomas Edison for help with his book report. It’s not until the time machine sends a different Thomas Edison from the 1930s that chaos ensues.. 

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This book was so fun to read! I didn’t know what to expect, but it sounded fun and that is definitely what it was. It was super fast paced and easy to read, so really perfect for its intended audience. The pace kept me engaged and the characters leapt off the page for me, which I think is another thing that will be beneficial for younger readers. I also really liked the real life references to historical events and figures. Overall it was a fun and quick read that I think is perfect for younger readers but could be picked up by anyone.

Happy reading!

Review | Witchlight by Jessi Zabarsky

Jessi Zabarsky’s lushly illustrated shoujo-adventure comic that introduces Lelek the witch as she blows through town one day, kidnapping the peasant girl Sanja. The unlikely pair grow more entangled as they travel together, looking for the missing half of Lelek’s soul – the source of her true magical abilities. Both women are seeking to learn, in their own ways, how to be whole again. This book collects the serialized story all into a single volume, including the heart-gripping conclusion and other all-new material.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

If you’re looking for a cute Sapphic witchy story, then this will fit the bill. I found the art and style very whimsical and fun, and did enjoy the characters. Where this fell a little short for me is that I found myself wanting to know more about the world itself. There were moments where they touched on societal issues that might factor in, but it wasn’t every really explained as to the how and why, which made some events confusing. I would have really loved there to be a little more world building and foundation, but I also understand that this was just supposed to be about Sanja and Lelek. All in all I still really enjoyed it and had a fun time reading it.

Happy reading!

Review | Rebel Girls Celebrate Pride: 25 Tales of Self-Love and Community

This collection features 25 inspiring tales of proud members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Read about how these women, girls, and nonbinary people broke down barriers, honored their identities, and lived authentically no matter what anyone else said.

Find your voice with Janelle Monae. Play for equality with Billie Jean King. Protect your community with Marcia P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. And organize joyful celebrations with Dr. Lady Phyll and Molly Pinta.

With a foreword by Elena Favilli, this book pairs inspiring, easy-to-read text with colorful full-page portraits created by female and nonbinary artists from all around the world. Plus, scannable codes let you listen to longer stories on the Rebel Girls app!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once again Rebel Girls has come out with another great installment to their collection. This collection includes stories of members of the LGBTQIA+ community from all cultures, identities and even generations. I always enjoy the diversity and inclusion in these books and this one is no different. I really like the added QR codes to listen to longer stories/information about some of the people featured in the book, plus all of the interactive and informative pages at the end of the book that would really be so beneficial for those trying to learn or trying to figure out who they are.

Happy reading!

Review | Beautiful Malady by Ennis Rook Bashe

A siren song of queerness, disability, and myth, these poems reinvent love, life, and death. BEAUTIFUL MALADY is an exploration of pain, weaving speculative poems about fairy tales, folklore, fantasy, and the supernatural with the reality of chronic illness and disability. Ennis Rook Bashe deftly creates a world where the broken body is beautiful.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I thought the combination of fantasy/speculative with talk of disability was interesting, so was glad to pick this one up. I found the poems themselves to be beautifully worded and full of imagery – they definitely draw you in so that you are invested. Sometimes the talk of disability (though the inclusion is appreciated) can seem awkward or out of place, but here it was seamless. Whether the poems be about fighting against prejudices etc. or living within your disability, they were full of authenticity and heart.

Happy reading!

Review | Silver in the Mist by Emily Victoria

Eight years ago, everything changed for Her country was attacked. Her father was killed. And her mother became the Whisperer of Aris, the head of the spies, retreating into her position away from everyone… even her daughter.

Joining the spy ranks herself, Dev sees her mother only when receiving assignments. She wants more, but she understands the peril their country, Aris, is in. The malevolent magic force of The Mists is swallowing Aris’s edges, their country is vulnerable to another attack from their wealthier neighbor, and the magic casters who protect them from both are burning out.

Dev has known strength and survival her whole life, but with a dangerous new assignment of infiltrating the royal court of their neighbor country Cerena to steal the magic they need, she learns that not all that glitters is weak. And not all stories are true.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

I went into this one knowing very little about it and I’m glad I did because that meant I had little expectations. I really liked how well crafted the magic system and base of history was and felt that was developed well. Where it fell a little short for me is that I had a hard time connecting to the characters. I felt they were likeable in general, but couldn’t identify with them during the story. That’s not to say that someone else wouldn’t, I’m sure they would, they just weren’t characters that resonated with me personally.

I did overall enjoy the world that was crafted and found many elements of it intriguing, just had a hard time really connecting with the characters.

Happy reading!