4.54 avg rating — 312 ratings

"Blood & Dust by J.C. Paulson is a sensual Western that has the perfect balance of grit, action, and romance to keep you hooked. In the Acknowledgements, the author informs the reader that “The first chapter emanated, bloody and visceral, from a fevered dream suffered by my husband, Ken Paulson. Two days later, I had written a fictional and slightly gorier form of his nightmare and found I couldn’t stop.” If this isn’t enough to pull you in, then perhaps the setting of a much younger, western Canada with its references to moonshine, violence, and hard-fought peace will seal the deal.

It's the year 1882. Blood & Dust opens with exactly that: blood – and lots of it. This isn’t a story for the faint hearted, but its realism makes the romantic elements that much sweeter. When I read, “‘She spoke first. ‘If he dies,’ she said, ‘you die’”, I was hooked!

Paulson writes three-dimensional, flawed characters who yearn for better lives. This is what bridges the time gap between the late nineteenth century, and our own modern era. James is a man with a past who goes to great lengths to improve his circumstances. I was enthralled by his journey.

The book is steamy at times, but there is a tenderness at the heart of these people’s interactions. They love with as much intensity as they try to survive, eking out a living in an unforgiving landscape and time period.

I love Paulson’s phrasing, which is both poetic and urgent, pulling you in with its beauty and pushing you onto the next scene at the same time. We shouldn’t linger in the bedroom when the streets outside are so dangerous.

The conclusion surprised and delighted me. I cannot rave enough about the quality of the prose, the depth of historical research, and the connection to my own country’s development. If you like history, romance, and action, then make Blood & Dust your next read! "

4.59 avg rating — 105 ratings

"You're in for an exciting ride!

I had the pleasure of reading an ARC copy of Mayhem and Magic by Helena M. Craggs and loved every second of it! With its fast pace, likeable characters, and intriguing plot, YA and New Adult readers, fantasy lovers, and magic enthusiasts will all be satisfied with this third installment of The Younglings.

The book hooked me immediately with the line: "Where there is light, there is shadow..." What an apt description of the themes, characters, and conflicts of Mayhem and Magic. Not only does the story delve deeper into the 'good versus evil' theme we've come to expect from The Younglings series, but the key characters also embody both light and dark. Light isn't just moral behaviour; it also represents hope, love, respect, loyalty, and truth. While the main characters are crafted to be heroic, they still experience normal, adolescent emotions that contrast with this light, such as self doubt, jealousy, indecision, and regret. Craggs expertly weaves these elements together to show that both are necessary to create balance and order in life and the universe. Not only must the characters fight for this in the larger scheme of things, but within their own hearts, too.

Fans of action will love the large conflicts depicted in this third book. Craggs' descriptions are larger than life, allowing readers to picture scenes as if they are on a movie screen. I had my heart in my throat at times, wondering how each struggle would conclude. I really enjoyed the author's technique of inserting quieter moments into the text as well, to allow us to get to know the characters as individuals when they aren't trying to keep supernatural creatures in check.

Quinn became my favourite character after this story. I loved how he added humour and angst, as well as bravery.

I highly recommend Mayhem and Magic. It can be enjoyed as a standalone, but it adds depth to read the other two books first. A 5-star story! "

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