On the Relevance of The Handmaid’s Tale — A Book Published More Than Three Decades Ago!

The Prose Books set in post-apocalyptic settings usually have an ominous feeling about them. You will start to get that vibe from the very first line. The Handmaid’s Tale (THT) wasn’t different in that regard. Consider the following lines and you will see what I mean: “We slept in what had once been the gymnasium….

Review of Four Fisted Tales: Animals in Combat by Ben Towle

I received this book courtesy of Jacqline Barnes, publicity manager at the Naval Institute Press and am so glad to have had the chance to read it! As the name indicates, this graphic novel is about different kinds of animals and the part their ilk has played in combat. We get to read about Jack…

Two Novellas, Two Reviews

Ghost Rider by C.E. Murphy I did NOT realize what I was getting into even after I saw the cover! Sure, the car looked like an Impala but I didn’t know it was the Impala. So, imagine my surprise when I read about two agents coming to meet Joanne Walker. After I got over the shock,…

A #guestpost & A #maalalifechapters Review of Scary Stories by Boris Bacic

Synopsis Get spooked this Halloween when you pick up this all-in-one miniseries horror story collection! Review Well, This author was new to me and I’m really impressed. I really liked these short stories. They kept me glued to the seat. I especially liked Emergency Broadcast. My only complaint would be about the proofreading/editorial mistakes. This…

A #guespost & A #maalalifechapters Review of The Galston House by Marc Layton

Synopsis Clive and Adrien Done are eager to start their lives together. When they purchase an old, dilapidated home for a steal, they’re cautiously optimistic they’ll be able to restore it to its old glory. But, on their first official night in the home, their optimism turns to terror. The previous owners failed to disclose…

Can You Write a Story in 50 or Fewer Words? Then Enter the NYT Words of the Day Challenge!

I came across the NYT Challenge recently. It runs all through November. To participate, you’ll have to write a 50-words-long story. Easy enough, right? But here’s the tricky part: You’ll need to use at least four of the following words in your story AND in a way that makes their meanings clear: joie de vivre…

Two I Smell Sheep Books & Two Reviews

The Pluses The cute tiny spider. It made the book more fun. In fact, I wouldn’t have minded it being the narrator because Annie could whine like nobody’s business and this guy was always happy and chomping down on critters of one kind or the other. The friendship between the two main characters. I’ll always…

The Final Three in Lucinda Brant’s Roxton Series and a Mini Overview

Disclaimer Fortunately, there are exceptions, like an older heroine, a penniless male lead, two HEA for the same character, and a hero who isn’t a snob. What’s more, Brant also springs other unique details on you that keep you reading right up to the very end. Satyr’s Son by Lucinda Brant While this male lead wasn’t…

Books Read in September 2021 — A Wrap-Up

Reviews of book I read in September 2021

Blazin’ Fun to Be Had When You Read Emerald Blaze by Ilona Andrews

Disclaimers about All Ilona Andrews Heroines They have now begun to sound like the same character. They are all too skilled in subjects they shouldn’t know much about Things seem to work out for them in a very unlikely manner My Review With this book, we return to solid Ilona Andrews territory where everything is…

Where I Stand When It Comes to The Newsflesh Series by Mira Grant

A zombie virus outbreak occurs when two separate vaccines undergo an unholy coupling in human test subjects. What was supposed to cure cancer and make world safer ended up becoming a part of the DNA of every human being on the planet. Two teens whose professions are a cross between an adrenalin junkie and a…

Find Answers to What’s a Library Doing in Hell & Other Questions in The Hell’s Library Series by A.J. Hackwith

If you’ve ever wondered what a library in hell would be like, this is the book that answers all your questions. Well, some of them. With that ominous note, let’s start with the reviews: The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith Story & Pacing An intriguing premise, but one that isn’t supported by the story’s…

#halloweenreads Terminal by Michaelbrent Collings– A #maalalifechapters Review

Synopsis All passengers, please prepare for departure… The people in the terminal must choose a single person from among them. That person will live. The rest will die. Anyone who attempts to leave the terminal before the final vote will die. The final vote… must be unanimous. Review What I liked most about Terminal was…