Marian Dribus's Blog

From the author of Sydney’s Last Night:

Pierce Watkins' sister died in a tragic accident. Or was it? As Pierce attempts to uncover the truth, she reconnects with her sister's high school boyfriend. The more she digs, the more secrets come out; however, Pierce may not like the answers she finds.

Sydney’s Last Night is a gripping contemporary mystery that would be great for older teens who enjoy reading about creepy characters. The story begins with the protagonist, Pierce, trying to cope with the loss of her sister Sydney. She doesn’t believe Sydney’s death was an accident, and although she thinks she knows the identity of the murderer, she isn’t sure. The small town where she lives is full of clues, but deception is everywhere, and Pierce doesn’t know who to trust. I think the best thing about this story was the ominous atmosphere the author created. Everyone in Pierce’s life seemed like a suspect at one point or another, and the ending surprised me! There was just so much drama, even with the characters who didn’t have anything to do with Sydney’s death. The story was so exciting and fast-paced! It held my interest the whole time I was reading it, and the plot never lagged.

The characters felt genuine, and they were unique enough that I didn’t have trouble keeping track of them. I was glad Pierce had some good friends in her life; she definitely needed them! I felt awful for her, though, because she spent most of the story feeling unsafe. It’s true that she made a lot of stupid decisions along the way, but she was doing her best. Considering everything, I think she was both courageous and resilient. The other main character, Ian, was a bit too pushy at first, but he grew on me as the story continued. I thought he was interesting, and his interactions with Pierce were fascinating to see, partly because her opinion of him prevented her from viewing him objectively. I’m glad he turned out the way he did at the end of the book.

The plot was enjoyable, and I liked how the author directed suspicion toward multiple different characters throughout the story. The ending wasn’t something I could have predicted, which bothered me at first because I like to pick up clues along the way, but since the story is told from Pierce’s point of view, it makes sense. Being blindsided as a reader allowed me to experience Pierce’s surprise when she finally discovered who caused her sister’s death. I would definitely recommend this book! It is a clever story with a satisfying ending.

To check out more of Emily Camp’s writing, visit her author page on Goodreads!

FTC disclosure: I received a free copy of the book reviewed above.

Author photograph by Stephanie Dribus

I invite you to subscribe to my email list! I would be delighted to send you a free copy of my new short story Help Me, a bittersweet medical drama set in the early 1970s. Synopsis: The year is 1972. Fourteen-year-old Agnes has just been diagnosed with a brain tumor. She has no treatment options until Peterson, a brilliant scientist, offers to give her an experimental drug. Agnes is counting on him to save her life, but he has other ideas.

Help Me is the prequel to the Silvertree Series, now available on Amazon!

From the author of Elemental Links:

“Take him and run.” The last words of Jake’s mother urged him to save his brother, Louie. Jake and Louie get thrown into the outside world where Jake learns his skill with a sword can save their lives, and Louie, gifted with elemental magic, soon learns his magic is part of something much bigger: a world of spirits that wage a war of their own.

The necrom are after Louie. They only way the necrom can increase their numbers is to capture and possess more adepts. After centuries of the necrom pillaging, adepts are scarce. The necrom want Louie and won’t stop until they capture him.

Along their way, they meet Cassie; a fiery brunette with more secrets than Jake and Louie signed on for. The boys' unlikely friendship with her turns their run-and-hide strategy on its heels. Their journey is fraught with unexpected creatures, friends, and new allies. Aside from tournaments and drakons, Jake and Louie are tested as they've never been before. Can they defeat the force that threatens not just Louie, but every adept in Elabrium? Will their allies stand with them against the horde of necrom, whose mere presence threatens not just themselves, but their newfound friends as well?

Elemental Links is a fast-paced medieval fantasy that is terrifying and heartwarming at the same time. It tells the story of Jake and Louie, two teenage boys who find themselves running for their lives because of Louie’s magic. The bond between the brothers was charming from the very start, and Jake’s desire to protect Louie made me like him. I liked Louie, too; he was courageous, and I appreciated how he was willing to take risks to help the people around him. At times, he seemed older than his stated age, but what can you expect from someone who possesses extraordinary magic?

The stakes in this story couldn’t be higher! The dramatic beginning sets the tone perfectly, and the excitement increases steadily as the plot thickens. The necrom were truly frightening, and the author did a wonderful job laying out the magic system in a way that felt natural. It was clever to have Louie learning about his magic at the same time the readers are learning about it. Also, the glimpse into the spirit world seen through Louie’s eyes was intriguing. Allowing him to transition between the two worlds made his narrative fascinating while keeping it grounded in reality. In contrast, Jake’s point of view was exclusively practical; he was more relatable than Louie because he wasn’t burdened by magic, but I confess I was more interested in Louie’s story than I was in Jake’s.

Elemental Links was a charming book to read, and I enjoyed so many things about it! It was scary and dramatic without being depressing, and it was humorous at times, too, which made the characters more endearing. The imaginary universe and backstory hung together effortlessly, and there is still so much to discover by the time the book ends! It’s always delightful to find a good series to read. I would recommend Elemental Links for any teens who appreciate fantasy. It is complicated enough for older readers to enjoy putting all the pieces together and simple enough for younger readers to follow the story.

FTC disclosure: I received a free copy of the book reviewed above.

Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Melanie has been in love with medieval fantasy all of her life. Dreams of magic, dragons, maidens, and knights have enthralled her since a young age. Medieval literature university classes were among her favorites, as was art history from the medieval to the classical periods. Together, along with her excitement of reading anything written about the medieval period, Melanie has gained a realistic view of the medieval age, and how to tweak it into something new. Action, peril, strategy, and determination fill her books. Determination for life, for friends, and for doing what no one else dares to do. On the side, Melanie has strong interests in design, photography, and horse jumping. If you read carefully, you might notice tidbits only an artist or horse owner would know.

To learn more about Melanie’s writing, check out her author page on Goodreads.

Author photograph by Stephanie Dribus

I invite you to subscribe to my email list! I would be delighted to send you a free copy of my new short story Help Me, a bittersweet medical drama set in the early 1970s. Synopsis: The year is 1972. Fourteen-year-old Agnes has just been diagnosed with a brain tumor. She has no treatment options until Peterson, a brilliant scientist, offers to give her an experimental drug. Agnes is counting on him to save her life, but he has other ideas.

Help Me is the prequel to the Silvertree Series, now available on Amazon!

From the author of Lost Helix:

Stuck on an asteroid mining facility, DJ dreams of writing music. His dad is a corporate hacker and his best friend Paul intends to escape to become a settler in a planet-wide land rush, but neither interests DJ. When his dad goes missing, DJ finds a file containing evidence of a secret war of industrial sabotage, a file encrypted by his dad using DJ's song Lost Helix. Caught in a crossfire of lies, DJ must find his father and the mother he never knew. When the mining company sends Agent Coreman after DJ and his guitar, DJ and Paul escape the facility and make a run for civilization. Will DJ discover the truth before Coreman catches him?

Lost Helix is an exciting adventure that has a little bit of everything! It is a complex coming-of-age drama that finds the main character DJ in terrible danger because of circumstances beyond his control. He begins the story as an ordinary teenager who loves his family and loves playing music. His biggest challenges are getting along with his father and trying to choose a profession. However, his life changes in a flash. To survive, he must take risks that could get him locked up—or worse—if he gets caught. Luckily, he is not alone. His friend Paul encourages him and helps him along the way. DJ’s vulnerability makes him relatable, but he is courageous, too. I liked how he didn’t just give up when his whole world fell apart.

DJ’s father was a fascinating character, and I felt sorry for him from the beginning. The environment in which the story takes place was bleak and ominous, and he was basically stuck there with no good options, trying to provide for his son and getting pushed around by his employer. DJ’s mother was interesting, too, and the reason for her disappearance surprised me! I liked how the author immediately established the mystery around her and slowly allowed the truth to unravel. As far as the other characters, Coreman was awful. I hated him! Hochstein was a lot more complicated, and I wasn’t sure what to think about him at first. I actually grew to like him more as the story progressed and I discovered his strengths and his flaws.

The plot of Lost Helix was extremely easy to follow, and the story had a perfect balance of character building and action. The tension continued to build even into the final chapter, and the conclusion was heart-warming. Even though Lost Helix is larger than life and slightly outlandish, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It took me on a wild adventure that was fast-paced and surprisingly touching. As a reader, I would be happy to read a book like this, and as an author, I would be happy to write a book like this. I highly recommend Lost Helix, especially for readers who enjoy family drama and sci-fi mystery.

FTC disclosure: I received a free copy of the book reviewed above.

Scott Coon is an award-winning short story writer and former U.S. Army Intelligence Analyst. He served for six years, including a tour in Kuwait where he received the Joint Service Achievement Award. Now a software developer for a major bank, Scott brings his computer and military experience into his work, along with a sense of spectacle. See his website for links to his published shorts and his papers on the art and business of writing, as well as his debut novel, Lost Helix. You can also connect with Scott on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube or learn more about Lost Helix on Goodreads!

Author photograph by Stephanie Dribus

I invite you to subscribe to my email list! I would be delighted to send you a free copy of my new short story Help Me, a bittersweet medical drama set in the early 1970s. Synopsis: The year is 1972. Fourteen-year-old Agnes has just been diagnosed with a brain tumor. She has no treatment options until Peterson, a brilliant scientist, offers to give her an experimental drug. Agnes is counting on him to save her life, but he has other ideas.

Help Me is the prequel to the Silvertree Series, now available on Amazon!

From the author of Mortal Legacy:

A second post-apocalyptic world where the only surviving humans live on the super-continent GeoSaun. The story follows five teens who are summoned, but not for the purpose they expect. It's to prevent a third Apocalypse. Much like Greg from Diary of a Wimpy Kid, follow Tess, a young psychopath, in her own witty and fun fantasy adventure. It's perfect for Hunger Games and Percy Jackson & the Olympians lovers.

Mortal Legacy includes elements of both science fiction and fantasy, but at its heart, it is a dystopian novel. Not only is it set in a post-apocalyptic world, but it hints at an oppressive society with a tenuous future. It follows the story of eighteen-year-old Tess and four other teenagers who are chosen to attempt a perilous quest. As they adapt to their new lives as saviors of the world, they struggle with insecurities, suspicions, and dangers that threaten to undermine their fragile loyalty to one another. As the story progresses, they begin to realize their predicament is far worse than they initially thought!

Tess is the main character. She narrates most of the story. She is described as a psychopath in the synopsis, and maybe that is why I struggled to like her. This is merely my personal preference, but I need to be able to connect with a character on an emotional level to care about what happens to him or her. I initially had high hopes for Tess because of her closeness with her guardian Petra, but after she began her training, she became so robotic that I couldn’t sympathize with her anymore. Her narration was extremely event-oriented and didn’t have any emotional depth. Because of this, much of the book felt like a rapid succession of action scenes with very little character building in between. It was definitely fast-paced and exciting, but I had a hard time caring because I simply didn’t know enough about the characters to feel invested! That being said, I really enjoyed the part where the characters shared information about their families.

The plot of Mortal Legacy is intriguing. The author obviously envisioned a complex world with a rich history, and the atmosphere of the story felt unique and fresh. I liked the mix of magic and technology (although I’m always confused when advanced societies resort to sword-fighting), and the different creatures such as the Sybervirians and the Chewletes added an additional layer of depth that was fun to explore. The only aspect about the setting that didn’t work for me was how isolated the whole thing felt. If the five teens were really expected to save the world, they should have been surrounded by the best of the best to support their efforts.

Mortal Legacy is a fascinating beginning to Tess’s story. I feel like the ending has already been given away in the book’s subtitle, though! If Tess is destined to become the villain, who are we supposed to cheer for? I think it will be difficult for the author to conclude this story in a satisfying way, but it could be spectacular if it works!

FTC disclosure: I received a free copy of the book reviewed above.

Mackain W. Destin is the author of Mortal Legacy. You can follow her on Twitter or learn more about Mortal Legacy on Goodreads.

Author photograph by Stephanie Dribus

I invite you to subscribe to my email list! I would be delighted to send you a free copy of my new short story Help Me, a bittersweet medical drama set in the early 1970s. Synopsis: The year is 1972. Fourteen-year-old Agnes has just been diagnosed with a brain tumor. She has no treatment options until Peterson, a brilliant scientist, offers to give her an experimental drug. Agnes is counting on him to save her life, but he has other ideas.

Help Me is the prequel to the Silvertree Series, now available on Amazon!

From the author of The King’s Highway:

Airplanes are falling out of the sky, and all things electric are rendered useless after a mysterious flash. It tests the grit of fifteen-year-old Jackson Allison when the care and safety of his younger siblings fall solely to him. No one knows for sure what’s happened, but danger lurks if they stay. With a fierce determination to keep his thirteen-year-old sister McKenzie and nine-year-old brother Cooper safe, the high school freshman is compelled to leave their Irving home in the shadow of the DFW Airport for their grandparents’ farm a hundred-plus miles northeast. Thrust into a lawless, chaotic world, he’s guided by an ever-changing cryptic note that leads his growing troop along the King’s Highway. Bullies, Russians, wild animals, gang-bangers, and kidnappers thwart their progress, while a lack of drinkable water and food is a constant concern. Will he ever get his people to safety to the Red River Valley in far Northeast Texas?

The King’s Highway was a pleasure to read! The story follows a group of teens as they attempt to meet up with their relatives after a mysterious catastrophe changes their world in the blink of an eye. The plot itself is rather straight-forward, but the characters make it special. Sometimes, I have trouble keeping track of characters, but the characters in The King’s Highway were unique and memorable! Jackson is mature for his age, but he is still unsure of himself as he tries to protect his younger siblings—something they do not always appreciate! McKenzie has great faith, but she is definitely naive. I’m excited to see how she changes throughout the trilogy and whether or not her faith is shaken. Cooper is incredibly brave for a nine-year old boy, and it’s cute how he looks up to Jackson and follows his every move. Al’s funny vocabulary made me laugh more than once! Finally, I think Aria was the most interesting of the whole group. Coming from a place of heartache, she does little to suppress her desire for revenge, even when it horrifies her more-innocent companions.

The thing I liked most about the whole story was how subtle the “supernatural” elements were. As a reader, I got a sense of strange things going on in the background, but none of them were so extraordinary that they made the story unbelievable. Also, the characters weren’t completely shielded from danger. They had doubts, they had questions, and they sometimes weren’t sure what to do. All these things made The King’s Highway relatable and interesting, and I really appreciated that the author did not merely use the apocalyptic setting to have miracles happening right and left.

This book has a Christian point of view, but you don’t have to know anything about Christianity to enjoy the story! However, if you are a Christian, I think you will like how the characters rely on God’s guidance to direct them as they try to navigate through many dangers. There are so many things to explore in this trilogy, and the best thing about it is that almost anything could happen next!

FTC disclosure: I purchased a copy of the book for this review.

Award-winning Christian author Caryl McAdoo prays her story gives God glory. Of her best-selling novels, readers love her historical Christian romance family sagas most, but she also writes Christian contemporary romance, Biblical fiction, mystery, and for young adults and mid-grade book-lovers. A far majority of reviewers give her stories five-stars and praise Caryl’s characters, counting them as family or close friends. The prolific writer loves singing the new songs God gives her almost as much as penning tales—hear a few at YouTube! Married to Ron over fifty years, she shares four children and nineteen grandsugars. The McAdoos live in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas, waiting expectantly for God to open the next door.

You can connect with Caryl on her website, Facebook, and her Youtube channel, or check out more of her books on Amazon and BookBub. Click here to sign up for her author newsletter to be the first to get updates about her writing!

Author photograph by Stephanie Dribus

I invite you to subscribe to my email list! I would be delighted to send you a free copy of my new short story Help Me, a bittersweet medical drama set in the early 1970s. Synopsis: The year is 1972. Fourteen-year-old Agnes has just been diagnosed with a brain tumor. She has no treatment options until Peterson, a brilliant scientist, offers to give her an experimental drug. Agnes is counting on him to save her life, but he has other ideas.

Help Me is the prequel to the Silvertree Series, now available on Amazon!

From the author of Six Sides of Suicide:
Kaylee is sixteen and has everything going for her. She’s smart, popular, and attractive, but there’s one thing wrong: she’s depressed. She knows she will end her life, but the only question is how? She wants to make a difference when she dies, and sympathetic suicide is the answer, by donating her heart to a boy she can never truly love. Sometimes the journey to fulfilling our destiny can bring about the biggest change.

Six Sides of Suicide is an interesting book. At first, I thought it was going to be a realistic contemporary story about teens struggling with depression and navigating complicated relationships. However, as I continued reading, other things began to sneak in: occasionally, the story dived into peculiar dreams or flights of imagination, particularly when Kaylee, the protagonist, was narrating. In addition, some fantasy elements showed up when the characters explored the cabin in the valley. As they learned about the family who lived there, they began speculating about curses, magic potions, and witchcraft. Sometimes, I felt like I was reading two different books, but maybe the author intended to reflect Kaylee’s mental state as she narrated what was happening. Also, the point of view switched back and forth a lot, not only among the characters, but also between third and first person. It wasn’t too hard to follow, but it confused me a few times, and I couldn’t tell if it was intentional or not.

Kaylee’s despair felt authentic, as did her inability to understand why she wanted to die. Watching her pretend to be okay while she was falling apart inside was very sad. This book explores the effects of depression and acknowledges how it can exist in plain sight. One particularly tragic aspect about the story was that Kaylee’s friends knew she was in trouble, but none of them were able (or willing) to help her. I’m not sure why the story had such an emphasis on sexual abuse, especially because it was never connected back to Kaylee’s depression. I feel like sexual abuse is a serious topic that should have a clear purpose in a story and should be treated with the appropriate depth. Also, I don’t think it’s realistic for teens to talk so casually about rape. Maybe the point was to show that Kaylee was living in a totally twisted and depraved world.

I don’t want to give away the ending, but it was very dark. I’m also not sure what point the story was trying to make—perhaps that suicide leads to regrets and that the decision to commit suicide is irreversible. I appreciate that the author included information at the beginning of the book warning about the heavy topics in the story; also, he provided the phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255). I don’t think this would be a good book for depressed teens to read, especially because of Kaylee’s explicit suicidal ideation, the graphic descriptions of suicide, and the reference to self-harm. However, the story does an excellent job showing the distorted thought processes that can ultimately lead to suicide, and it was fascinating to read.

FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book reviewed above.

Chris Bieniek is the author of Six Sides of Suicide. You can connect with him on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter or learn more about his writing on Goodreads and Wattpad.

Author photograph by Stephanie Dribus

I invite you to subscribe to my email list! I would be delighted to send you a free copy of my new short story Help Me, a bittersweet medical drama set in the early 1970s. Synopsis: The year is 1972. Fourteen-year-old Agnes has just been diagnosed with a brain tumor. She has no treatment options until Peterson, a brilliant scientist, offers to give her an experimental drug. Agnes is counting on him to save her life, but he has other ideas.

Help Me is the prequel to the Silvertree Series, now available on Amazon!

From the author of Chasing Fae:
Grace Richardson is a young mortal woman whose only concerns are providing for her family, playing her violin, and spending as much time as possible with her brother, Leo. When Leo goes into service in the Fae’s world as a mercenary, she expects him to return with the honor that he deserves.

When Leo suddenly dies in an unspecified accident, not a word, medal, or penny comes down from the higher-ups. Suspecting foul play, Grace disguises herself as a Fae and sneaks into the Upper Realm to get some answers. She anticipates being in way over her head, but the Fae soldier who discovers her true identity only a day in? Not so much.

Now Grace is forced to drag Aiden along as she tries to work out exactly how and why her brother died. Along the way, she has no choice but to confront her prejudices against the Fae as she attempts to sort out the difference between the honest and the dishonest. Political conspiracies, demon realm escapades, and family secrets will all lead Grace to the answers she’s looking for…and some that she isn’t.

Quick note: When I first opened Chasing Fae, I saw maps, which made me happy. Fantasy books should have maps if they possibly can. Anyway, on to the review…

Chasing Fae takes place in three realms. The Middle Realm is very much like the real world, but the Upper Realm and the Lower Realm are places of mystery and intrigue for the main character Grace, who sets out on a journey to find answers about the death of her brother. The bond between Grace and Leo was sweet, and their closeness gave Grace an excellent reason to embark upon her perilous quest.

Most of the time, Grace acts like a confident young woman, but I think this is just a way for her to deny her vulnerability. She occasionally has fits of panic and needs to be reassured, and she is quick to lose her temper when she is reminded of Leo’s death. This makes her somewhat unstable, which I thought made her both relatable and interesting. I can’t stand heroines who are invincible! The whole time I was reading, I was afraid she was going to get herself into a serious predicament. Fortunately, she had Aiden to help her out. I wasn’t sure what motivated him to go along with her at first, but the evolution of their relationship throughout the story was satisfying to see. They’re both likable characters, although they can be obnoxious at times (especially Aiden)!

I wasn’t expecting the plot to be so complicated at first, and I enjoyed seeing it unfold. The story is fast-paced, and there are a lot of exciting moments. Grace begins her journey prepared to fight, as you can see from her picture on the book cover, but her survival ultimately depends more on her cleverness and her ability to connect with the people who cross her path. This becomes more and more obvious as the story progresses and she discovers the truth about the three realms and her own place in them.

Ultimately, Chasing Fae is a surprising book. The ending was completely unexpected and provides so many possibilities for the sequel! I like Grace as a character, and the universe of the Upper, Middle, and Lower realms is full of secrets. The only thing that gave me pause about this book was some of the profanity. I felt like it didn’t add much to the dialogue, and in a story that would be fantastic for younger teens, it really could be problematic. I would recommend this book to older teens. It’s a great beginning for the series, and I suspect Grace will have many more adventures.

FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book reviewed above.

From the time she was a child of eleven writing her first novel between classes, Cady Hammer explored her world through her imagination. She was often teased for being in her own world, but never hesitated to invite others along on the adventure. As she grew older, Cady’s studies in history and anthropology set the stage for the detailed world building that lets readers step into the story. Her stories explore the complexities of relationships crafted around the idea that love, friendship, and grief are all interwoven. Cady runs the internationally-read website, Fluff About Fantasy, a place for young writers to learn the genre-specific craft of writing fantasy and be inspired by what they can accomplish. Find out more at https://www.cadyhammer.com/.

You can also connect with Cady on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Author photograph by Stephanie Dribus

I invite you to subscribe to my email list! I would be delighted to send you a free copy of my new short story Help Me, a bittersweet medical drama set in the early 1970s. Synopsis: The year is 1972. Fourteen-year-old Agnes has just been diagnosed with a brain tumor. She has no treatment options until Peterson, a brilliant scientist, offers to give her an experimental drug. Agnes is counting on him to save her life, but he has other ideas.

Help Me is the prequel to the Silvertree Series, now available on Amazon!

From the author of Through Hell and Highwater: In university Volo Noscere, located in Rome, the new academic year brings forth a lot of new challenges and questions. When the world becomes increasingly unpredictable, are humans the reason for it all, or is there more to it? Evyline and Lisanna believe there must be magic behind the changes. Tylon doesn't care about what doesn't affect him, and RocTar just wants to make it through the year without failing class. Like it or not, they get pulled into discovering what the world has in store for them.

Through Hell and Highwater is an imaginative fantasy story about a group of students studying magic at a university in Rome. Even though the university is set in a real place, the students are far from ordinary; for one thing, they aren’t human. Each character belongs to a different category of mythological creatures such as elves, shifters, orcs, and vampires. This presents a lot of interesting challenges as they live together at the university, but it also makes them a fascinating team.

The story is told from multiple points of view, with each section identifying the narrator. I liked meeting all the characters this way, but it was difficult to keep track of them at first! Once I got to know them better, I enjoyed how their names seemed to fit so perfectly with their personalities. Also, learning about their different motivations made them relatable and gave them depth. I appreciated how magic isn’t used in this story to make the characters all-powerful! They still have to confront their fears (allow me to direct your attention to the dragon on the book cover) and use their brains. Of course, magic plays a big part in their pursuit of their goals.

The plot of this story was interesting because it mentioned problems in the real world, which a lot of fantasy books obviously don’t do. I thought the story was fairly slow-paced in the first half of the book, mainly focusing on the interactions among the characters and their experiences at the university. Still, this laid a good foundation for the more action-packed second half of the book. At first, I thought the story was written with a young teen audience in mind, but some of the language was definitely for older readers. Also, the vampire romance subplot was kind of gross, but that’s just my personal opinion! I suspect many readers would find it intriguing.

Teens of all ages would probably enjoy reading Through Hell and Highwater. The overall message I got from the book is that everyone can contribute to solving problems if they’re willing to learn how to work together. I was happy to see there’s a sequel in the works. It will be interesting to see where the story goes next!

FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book reviewed above.

Born in 1995, Tallinn, Estonia. On a frosty winter day. A spark of joy in the midst of the darkest season.

Victoria is a second daughter to her mother. She and her sister had adventureful childhood, with lots of camping in the forest, running around like witches and faeries in nature and simply coming up with the silliest things to spend their time with. From her childhood, she got a deep connection with a forest and finds peace and joy in taking a walk among trees.

There were always two things she was passionate about: writing and architecture. Her mother was the one to say: "you can't make a career out of writing" so she had her education in architecture. After her studies she moved to the Netherlands, where her heart was calling out to her - she had met the love of her life through an online game she had spent a lot of her university time playing. Now they are living together in a big house, with a lovely garden, just a walk away from the forest. Victoria might write fantasy, but he is her magic.

You can learn more about Victoria’s writing on her blog and on Instagram.

Author photograph by Stephanie Dribus

I invite you to subscribe to my email list! I would be delighted to send you a free copy of my new short story Help Me, a bittersweet medical drama set in the early 1970s. Synopsis: The year is 1972. Fourteen-year-old Agnes has just been diagnosed with a brain tumor. She has no treatment options until Peterson, a brilliant scientist, offers to give her an experimental drug. Agnes is counting on him to save her life, but he has other ideas.

Help Me is the prequel to the Silvertree Series, now available on Amazon!

From the author of Stonechild: Where do we go to when we die? Imagine human consciousness embedded in the molecules of a statue. So, when the statues of London come to life, it is a spectacle like none other, and they come with a specific message for our lives and an offer we cannot refuse. As the world reels in this wonder of science and religion, Molly Hargreaves has other plans, and she sets out to prove that things are not as they seem. Chased, captured, and confined, Molly confronts the statues and her own fears. But who can she convince? The people are welcoming, the government has succumbed, and the police try to act—but how do you shoot stone and metal? Be prepared to be run ragged around London on a mystery worthy of the great Sherlock Holmes.

Stonechild is a thoroughly enjoyable book. The idea of statues coming to life is fascinating, and I really had no idea what to expect when I began reading. The story jumps right into the action with a couple of alarming incidents that provide an eerie atmosphere. (Seriously, doesn’t the statue on the book cover look a bit sinister?) The plot is full of twists and turns, which make for an exciting read. Stonechild follows the teenage protagonist Molly as she tries to survive in London after all the statues come to life. Even though she is socially inept due to her privileged upbringing, she has a good head on her shoulders, and she knows how to think for herself. She definitely isn’t perfect, but her impulsive behavior and her confusion made her believable and likable. It was fun to see her get into trouble over and over again while she tried to solve the mystery of the statues’ true purpose. I especially liked how determined she was, even when the adults didn’t want to listen to her.

I confess I was somewhat confused by the behavior of the statues. Their message and their approach seemed contradictory. However, this didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story; in fact, it made them even creepier than they would have been otherwise. The resolution to the story was clever, especially since the answer was there the whole time in plain sight! I also liked how Molly’s connection with the statues was explained in a way that tied everything together so nicely. Oh, one more thing: be sure to read the epilogue…

FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book reviewed above.

Kevin Albin served 25 years with the police in the UK, eight years of which were with a tactical firearms unit. He then took a career change and retrained as an International Mountain Leader working across the globe guiding on mountaineering trips and expeditions for conservation. He has led many trips to the jungles of Borneo, his favourite destination. In 2011, he won the Bronze in the World Guide Awards. It was whilst working on a corporate training day in London where he pictured a statue coming to life to give his clients the answer to the clue they were working on. The rest grew from there...

You can learn more about Kevin and his writing on his website or through Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

Author photograph by Stephanie Dribus

I invite you to subscribe to my email list! I would be delighted to send you a free copy of my new short story Help Me, a bittersweet medical drama set in the early 1970s. Synopsis: The year is 1972. Fourteen-year-old Agnes has just been diagnosed with a brain tumor. She has no treatment options until Peterson, a brilliant scientist, offers to give her an experimental drug. Agnes is counting on him to save her life, but he has other ideas.

Help Me is the prequel to the Silvertree Series, now available on Amazon!

From the author of Crowing Tom: For Crowing Tom Joyce, life had always been tragically complicated. From his marital problems to his habit of excessively drinking, he certainly had a troubling past. And despite being born into a well-off family, he found little comfort in adulthood. But in his old age when he saw an opportunity to amend his ways and unite his family, he faced his most challenging obstacle yet. To find redemption and a renewed sense of purpose, however, he had to move back to Virginia and face an old nemesis. But can Crowing Tom succeed where he failed before? And can he survive the troubles that were to come?

Crowing Tom is a fascinating story about a man who lived a long life with many ups and downs. It doesn’t take long to read, and it is written in the form of letters sent between Crowing Tom’s family and friends. I think this is an interesting way to tell a story because everything the characters say is deliberate. There’s no room for spontaneity, although there are several surprises along the way!

Even though this book isn’t a traditional “narrative,” keeping track of the events is easy because there’s a list of names at the beginning that explains the roles each participant plays in the story. (On a related note, pictures are scattered throughout the book, like the picture of Crowing Tom on the book cover, which bring the whole story together and make it feel genuine.)

This book is partly historical and partly fictional. While I was reading it, I couldn’t tell what was real and what wasn’t. The whole thing felt authentic, and I liked how some questions were left unresolved. At the end, there’s a section that reveals what was true and what was imagined, which makes the story even more interesting. The literary license the author takes allows him to explore attitudes about issues such as slavery. Also, it allows the “villain” to be even more despicable than he might otherwise be! I often dislike stories where there is a “good guy” and a “bad guy,” but in Crowing Tom, the hero is imperfect, too. In his quest to reunite his family before he dies, he must humble himself and admit his faults.

I enjoyed reading Crowing Tom. It gave me a glimpse into a period of history that I didn’t know much about. Although the story is told against a backdrop of regret and heartache, it is brimming with hope for a better future.

FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book reviewed above.

Author photograph by Stephanie Dribus

I invite you to subscribe to my email list! I would be delighted to send you a free copy of my new short story Help Me, a bittersweet medical drama set in the early 1970s. Synopsis: The year is 1972. Fourteen-year-old Agnes has just been diagnosed with a brain tumor. She has no treatment options until Peterson, a brilliant scientist, offers to give her an experimental drug. Agnes is counting on him to save her life, but he has other ideas.

Help Me is the prequel to the Silvertree Series, now available on Amazon!