Calling All Bookworms, Book Lovers, Book-Nerds & Bibliophiles!

25 Sep

Hello everyone! This year I told myself that I would make more time for reading, and I’ve been doing just that. Another thing I wanted to do was to expand the genres that I read. Today, I wanted to share some of the books that I’ve read lately. I’m picky about the books I read and review, and believe me these books are great. I highly recommend them. There’s something here for everyone.

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Our Justice

by John W. Howell

Our Justice is a suspense thriller that will have you reading on the edge of your seat.

BLURB

The terrorist leader and financier Matt Jacobs figured out a plan to eliminate the President. He is relying on John Cannon’s stature as a hero to help him carry it off. John finds himself walking the fine line of pretending to help Matt while trying to figure out a countermeasure to the plan.
The third book in the John J. Cannon Trilogy brings together two strong wills for a showdown. The question to be answered is who will feel the satisfaction that the achievement of justice delivers? John, Matt or neither?

You can read my Amazon review here.

 


The Heart’s Lullaby: A candid portrayal of love in all its splendor and pain.

by Natalie Ducey

The Heart’s Lullaby is a beautiful book of love poems.

Blurb

The Heart’s Lullaby is a candid portrayal of love in all its splendor and pain. Love, in its purest form, is tranquil and soothes the soul. But love, as is life, can sometimes be cruel and unjust with its paths of uncertainty and forced goodbyes. In essence, it is a journey of self-discovery. A continuous journey of becoming. Often, it becomes a delicate dance of holding on and letting go.

We linger in memories of ill-fated love; our minds can easily soil them, and our hearts can effortlessly polish them to perfection, altering their resemblance entirely. We can anchor ourselves to yesterday by zealous choice or solemn grief. So easily, we can become obsessed with what “might have been” and miss the beauty that lies before us. Our minds craft spectacular moments that will never be realized. Why? Is it self-indulgence, or are they necessary companions for our soul’s survival?

Love, its force so formidable, transcends time, distance, and even death. Eternal love is the epitome of its grandeur.

To feel the exquisite, majestic splendor of love is the greatest gift we can give or receive. To have another see the unique beauty in our imperfections, that will protect us and elevate us without greed or envy, a soul willing and proud to walk this journey of life with us and share in its joys and sorrows … this is love, a gift unmeasurable and unmatched by earthly possessions.

But two souls must be willing. Therein lies the intricate complexities of the heart. And in the end, we must never forget … love, as is life, is a continuous journey of becoming.

You can read my Amazon review here.


Lodestone: Witch-Hunt

by Wendy Scott

Lodestone: Witch-Hunt is a dark fantasy story with some romance, adventure and mystery mixed in.

 

Blurb

There’s a cauldron of trouble brewing in Valloaria…

Download Lodestone today and strap on your broomstick –you’re in for a hell of a ride: The Witch-Hunt Series.

Two tales entwine (excerpts below).
Sabrina and Lauren’s tales entwine – linked by blood and magic. Sabrina, a newly fledged healer, is thrust out of her sheltered life at Mistress Florisah’s healing school after the destruction of the witch-ancestor portraits. An anti-witchcraft militia is poised on Karthalon’s borders threatening full scale genocide, unless Sabrina, the last of Lauren’s bloodline, can destroy the Lodestone, and restore magic to Valloaria, but the Lodestone is buried deep within the heart of the Order’s headquarters. Sabrina struggles to accept this suicide mission, and is distracted by her inappropriate affection for Micah, a prospect monk. Lauren’s ghost haunts Sabrina’s dreams as her diary reveals the tragic events behind Lauren’s actions. With invasion imminent, Sabrina embarks on her quest armed only with a sliver of the Lodestone, and Lauren’s diary but how can a lone girl prevail against an army?

Excerpt – Lauren
They attacked me alone, in pairs and in mass with their witchy ways, but their magic fell short; I was immune. Blasts of power seared from their fingertips and stonework exploded above, below and next to me, but nothing penetrated the brilliant glow of the Lodestone and they fell back, shrieking in frustration. I glowered at those not fast enough to move out of me way and they vaporized in an orange flash, to black flakes that I trampled underfoot.


Excerpt – Sabrina
A shirtless youth, with his back to her, hummed as he brushed a dark horse. The horse was standing perfectly still as if the boy’s song had lulled him to sleep. Sabrina silently observed the prospect as he worked. He was tall with a slender build, but she could see the muscles in his tanned back and arms ripple with each stroke. His brown hair was caught up in an intricate knot threaded by two long feathers; one red, the other purple. She’d never met anyone like him before.
She shuffled forward to get a better view, but her brush whacked into the wooden partition. He whirled around and she found herself staring into the brownest eyes, framed by the longest lashes she’d ever seen. They gawked at each other for a moment before Sabrina rediscovered her tongue. “I … I was sent to care for your horses.”
He pointed with his brush, to the horses behind him and said, “I’ve finished the others. Only Alloni, the brown and white, needs attention.”
Sabrina scurried to the indicated stall. Where was his shirt? As if reading her thoughts, he casually reached down and grabbed a white shirt. Slowly, he pulled it over his damp shoulders and Sabrina hastily focused on the horse. Her strokes were a bit shorter and harder than she normally applied and the horse shifted beneath the brush. Before she could correct herself, strong fingers, radiating warmth, slipped over hers and a voice laced with musk, breathed into her ear. “Not so firm. Alloni likes long, languid strokes – like this.”
Heat blazed into spots on her cheeks as she followed his movements. After several strokes he said, “That’s it, you’ve got the knack of it now.”
He released her hand and stepped away. Sabrina felt as awkward as a newborn foal so she kept her eyes averted and silently busied herself with the horse. From outside, a muffled yell filtered through the stable and the boy said, “Deakon wants me. Will you be all right finishing up?”
She didn’t trust herself to speak. “Ah-ha.”

You can read my Amazon review here.


Empty Chairs: Much more than a story about child abuse

by Stacey Danson

Empty Chairs is a heart-wrenching memoir about the nightmarish young life of author Stacey Danson. This book will make you cry, but it will also teach you many lessons.

Blurb

Stacey Danson, lived through and beyond horrific child abuse. This book tells of her brutal beginnings, the streets of Sydney at the age of eleven were preferable to the hell she endured at home. She ran, and those streets became her home for five years. She was alone, ill, and afraid. Stacey also had an unshakeable belief that she would do more than just survive her life. She would not allow her future to be determined by the horrors of her childhood. She reached out for something different; there had to be more to life; if she could only find it. She had a dream of a life where pain and humiliation had no place. She was determined to find that life. Empty Chairs is the beginning of the journey. Now she is living the dream.

You can read my Amazon review here.

You can preview any of these books for free. I hope you are intrigued by at least one of them. Have a great week!

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46 Responses to “Calling All Bookworms, Book Lovers, Book-Nerds & Bibliophiles!”

  1. D.L Finn, Author September 25, 2017 at 3:24 pm #

    Great reviews on book I’ve either read or want to read! I have made it a point to read a lot of book this year, too! Right now I’m taking a break from new authors and finishing book series I’ve started! Your book is at the top of my list when I get back to reading new authors again! Thanks for sharing your book reviews and the book information!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Vashti Q September 26, 2017 at 12:55 pm #

      Hi D.L! I’ve always been an avid reader from early childhood, but I allowed social media and other things get in the way of my reading. Already, I’ve read 3x the books I read last year, and I have so many books on my kindle that I’m dying to get to.
      I’m so happy about my book being at the top of your list. Yay! Thank you very much! 😀 xx

      Liked by 1 person

  2. coldhandboyack September 25, 2017 at 3:43 pm #

    Great post. I’ve read John’s books and loved them.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Vashti Q September 26, 2017 at 12:56 pm #

      Hi Craig! I love stories with satisfying endings and ‘Our Justice’ certainly has that. Thank you! 😀 xx

      Liked by 1 person

  3. olganm September 25, 2017 at 4:17 pm #

    Thanks, Vashti. Great recommendations.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Vashti Q September 26, 2017 at 12:57 pm #

      Wow! That’s huge coming from you, Olga. Thank you!

      Like

  4. D. Wallace Peach September 25, 2017 at 9:55 pm #

    Nice, Vashti. I want to read more too. What a joy. You have some great books here. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    • Vashti Q September 26, 2017 at 1:08 pm #

      Hi Diana! I had been struggling with this for a while. I felt that social media (among other things) was taking over my life and I wasn’t doing the things I really loved doing because of it. It turned out that I just needed to organize my time better and eliminate certain things that weren’t producing results. Now I have more time to read and write. My muse is much happier now. 😉 xx

      Liked by 1 person

      • D. Wallace Peach September 26, 2017 at 1:41 pm #

        I still haven’t found that balance, but I’m getting closer. 🙂 I think it’s going to be an ongoing struggle.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Vashti Q September 26, 2017 at 4:15 pm #

        I agree, it is an ongoing struggle. I have days I do great and other days that are not so great. I’m just determined to get that reading time in there at some point during the day. Good luck. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  5. lizziechantree September 26, 2017 at 5:49 am #

    Great post Vashti, as they are all amazing authors. I have a few of these books on my TBR list and have read Natalie’s work, but I’m currently just starting to read your latest release!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Vashti Q September 26, 2017 at 1:25 pm #

      Hi! The memoir Empty Chairs really surprised me. I knew I was going to enjoy John’s book, because I love thrillers and I knew he was a great writer. I knew I would like Gwen’s book, because again, it’s a genre that I enjoy reading and I knew she was a great writer as well, since the RRBC chose her as a spotlight author. I had read and loved some of Natalie’s poems, so although I had never read a poetry book I knew I would enjoy this one. But Suzanne was a bit of a mystery to me and I usually run away from memoirs. I was pleasantly surprised with her book. It was tough to read at times, because I grew so fond of this little girl and I wanted to protect her. It was painful to read about the suffering this sassy girl endured. Despite all that I couldn’t put this book down. I needed to know what happened next. Empty Chairs opened me up to reading more memoirs and I plan to do just that.
      My heart leaped when I read the end of your comment! Yay! I’m so happy you’re reading my book. You’ve made my day, Lizzie. I hope you enjoy it. Thank you! 😀 xx

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Thanks for sharing! One of my goals this year was to read more. I have stayed within my genre of choice for the most part, but like you, feel the need to explore others.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Vashti Q September 26, 2017 at 1:48 pm #

      Hello! I read Stephen King’s book about the craft, ‘On Writing’ a few years ago and several things stayed with me. He wrote, “If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time or the tools to write.” He also mentioned on several occasions that it’s important to read books of different genres and not just the genre you write.
      It finally makes sense to me why a writer should read books of different genres; during the span of any individual’s life there will be moments of romance, horror, drama, and humor. That individual will have adventures and love affairs. So even if a writer is writing a horror fiction the characters have to be well rounded and real. Reading books of other genres will help you fill in the non-horror moments in the character’s life.

      Like

  7. Don Massenzio September 26, 2017 at 9:17 am #

    Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
    Check out these great books featured on The Writer Next Door blog.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Natalie Ducey September 26, 2017 at 11:47 am #

    Such a lovely surprise, Vashti! Thank you for this beautiful gift. XO

    Liked by 1 person

    • Vashti Q September 26, 2017 at 1:52 pm #

      Hi Natalie! Reading your book was a beautiful experience for me. I wanted to share your book with my readers, so that they too may enjoy. Thank you. ❤ xx

      Like

  9. Teagan R. Geneviene September 26, 2017 at 12:36 pm #

    Vashti, I think you achieved your goal on the variety of genres! What a great collection. Happy to see John here. Wishing you all good things. Hugs.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Vashti Q September 26, 2017 at 1:56 pm #

      Hi! Yes! I surprised myself. My TBR list is jam packed with books of all genres. Thank you for the lovely wishes, Teagan! I wish you all the best too. ❤ Hugs&Kisses ❤

      Liked by 1 person

  10. watchingthedaisies September 26, 2017 at 3:37 pm #

    I have been reading and reviewing lots since my own publication. 39 so far this year. It all comes back to me in other ways. Good Karma. 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    • Vashti Q September 26, 2017 at 4:08 pm #

      That’s a lot of books! Good for you! You’re doing a great thing for yourself and other writers. Good Karma indeed. It does feel great to be reading plenty of books again. I learn something from each one regardless of genre. I’ve always been intimidated by the reviewing process, but I’m getting the hang of it now and doing okay. Thank you very much for doing what you do and for your visit and comment. 🙂 xx

      Liked by 1 person

  11. dgkaye September 27, 2017 at 8:56 am #

    Thanks for sharing your good reads Vashti. I love recommendations! I have Natalie and John’s book awaiting my eyes to feast on, and thanks for the new recommendations. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    • Vashti Q September 27, 2017 at 12:20 pm #

      You are so welcome, Debby! Oh, you’re going to love John and Natalie’s books. They couldn’t be more different, since one is a fast-paced thriller and the other is a lovely and serene poetry book about love, but they are both great. ❤ xx

      Liked by 1 person

      • dgkaye September 27, 2017 at 6:47 pm #

        I love variety! And looking forward to reading yours soon too ❤

        Liked by 1 person

      • Vashti Q September 27, 2017 at 7:29 pm #

        Yay! I can’t wait! Yours is pretty close to the top of my TBR list also. 😀 ❤

        Liked by 1 person

      • dgkaye September 28, 2017 at 10:09 am #

        I know the struggle. 🙂 ❤

        Liked by 1 person

  12. robbiesinspiration September 27, 2017 at 12:48 pm #

    Four lovely reviews, Vashti. So nice to see both John and Natalie’s books here and two discover two new authors [to me] too.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Vashti Q September 27, 2017 at 7:35 pm #

      Hi Robbie! Thank you! I’m happy to introduce Wendy and Suzanne to you. I’m not sure what genres you enjoy reading, but both these ladies are very talented and skillful writers. I highly recommend their books. 😀 xx

      Liked by 1 person

  13. mihrank September 27, 2017 at 10:07 pm #

    creative reviews, strong combination, realistic

    Liked by 1 person

    • Vashti Q September 27, 2017 at 11:15 pm #

      Thank you, Mihran! I hope they inspired you to read one of these. 😉 xx

      Like

      • mihrank September 27, 2017 at 11:18 pm #

        Vashti – I adore your writings – I am very much inspired – I would like to play and sing this time for one of you poem…

        Liked by 1 person

      • Vashti Q September 27, 2017 at 11:26 pm #

        That’s a fabulous idea, Mihran! We’ll have to brainstorm to come up with something great. Thank you very much!

        Liked by 1 person

  14. mihrank September 27, 2017 at 11:26 pm #

    do you reside in Florida? If so, I have a great surprise you and family:)

    Liked by 1 person

    • Vashti Q September 27, 2017 at 11:28 pm #

      Really? What’s the surprise? Are you performing in concert in Florida?

      Liked by 1 person

      • mihrank September 28, 2017 at 12:17 am #

        I will let you know Vashti with the surprise..well deserved:)

        Liked by 1 person

  15. Teri Polen September 28, 2017 at 12:54 pm #

    I’ve only read John’s series, but highly recommend for thriller fans!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Vashti Q September 28, 2017 at 8:37 pm #

      Thank you, Teri! I enjoyed ‘Our Justice’ very much as well. 🙂 xx

      Liked by 1 person

  16. victoriabooks October 28, 2017 at 8:48 pm #

    I need to do this, i have a 2 year old son and juggling my writing and reading is a difficult thing. Thank you for the inspiration and great recommendations xo

    Liked by 1 person

    • Vashti Q October 28, 2017 at 10:12 pm #

      Hello! Yes, I could imagine how difficult it must be to make time to read and write when you have a little. I hope you’re able to find a way. It is very rewarding. You’re very welcome and thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. 🙂

      Like

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