Audio Book Review: “Curse of the Vampire” & “The Idea Man”
Posted: October 30, 2026 Filed under: Audio Books, Book Review, Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, Mythology and Legend, Review, Speculative Fiction | Tags: Audio Book Review, Canadace Joice, Curse of the Vampire, Fantasy, Kristin Helling, mystery, Spencer Carney, Stephanie Mirro, The Idea Man, Writing to be Read Leave a comment
About Curse of the Vampire
For graduate student Serafina Finch, ideal Friday nights consist of a good book, comfy pajamas, and a glass of Merlot. That is, until she uncovers an ancient and priceless Roman amulet on her summer archaeology dig.
Suddenly, her nights are filled with vivid dreams of drinking blood and violent magic, leaving behind an eerie sense of foreboding.
When a well-known antiquities collector takes an obsessive interest in the amulet, Sera is thrown into a supernatural world that shouldn’t exist, full of vampires and witches all claiming ownership of the mysterious relic. As she digs deeper into the amulet’s secrets, she soon discovers that the consequences of her actions could be deadly.
If she doesn’t figure out the amulet’s secret soon, then she may just follow in her archaeologist mother’s footsteps…
…straight to the grave.
Purchase Links:
Audible: https://www.amazon.com/Curse-Vampire-Thrilling-Fantasy-Immortal/dp/B0GHSNC5MT/
Chirp: Curse of the Vampire by Stephanie Mirro – Audiobook (No Subscription)
My Review of Curse of the Vampire
I purchased an audiobook copy of Curse of the Vampire, by Stephanie Mirro and narrated by Candice Joice from a Chirp Friday Freebie deal. I am offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
There was something about the voice of narrator Candice Joice that really grated on my nerves and I found this one difficult to listen to. And it wasn’t only me, every time I turned it on, my dog started barking at me to get me to turn it off. I ended up listening to this one with earbuds only.
The story, itself, is a typical ancient curse tale. Serephina finds an amulet with the blood of a god inside on an archeological dig. The god claims her, but immortals set out to possess the amulet and the power of the god within, trying to thwart her at every turn and endangering her and those she loves.
Interesting story, but nothing that really stands out. I give Curse of the Vampire three quills.
About The Idea Man
Words are power, and ideas are dangerous.
Quirky hipster Parker Rebec moves to Paris in order to finish writing his novel. When a mysterious stalker leaves him a trail of notes, Parker is caught up in a story he can’t resist.
A decade earlier, on the other side of the world, Greysen Price must somehow leave his job as an inventor, completely erase his identity, and escape the country. When the two lives intertwine, chaos ensues.
The Idea Man is a comedic thriller, the first book in a trilogy. This plot-twisting thriller is a must for lovers of action-packed stories with a touch of awkward hilarity.
Purchase Links:
Audible: https://www.amazon.com/Idea-Man-Trilogy-Book/dp/B097BP9DH8/
Chirp: The Idea Man by Kristin Helling – Audiobook (No Subscription)
My Review of The Idea Man
I purchased an audiobook copy of The Idea Man, by Kristin Heiling and narrated by Spencer Carney from a Chirp Friday Freebie deal. I am offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
I was not impressed by the narrator, Spencer Carney. His pacing and inflection were both off, and I had to speed up the audio book speed from 1.2 to 1.5 in order to make it sound even close to natural speech. And, he made Parker sound like a little wimpy guy, which didn’t set us up to expect his gallant behavior later.
The author used an interesting way to tell this tale. We follow two characters throughout most of the book, alternating p.o.v. and time. Some chapters follow Parker in Paris, in 2020, and others follow Greyson, in Chicago in 2001. Two seemingly unconnected stories, and only in the last 20% of the book is it revealed how the two are connected.
Parker Rubik is a writer, visiting Paris in the hopes of finding inspiration to complete his novel. What he finds instead, is a mystery. An unknown person, who seems to know a lot about him, is leaving notes on his car, which lead him to a beautiful woman…, and a Paris jail.
Greyson is a brilliant inventor, who wants to save the world, or at least help people with his inventions. He disillusions himself that his employer will use his inventions for good, despite evidence to the contrary, until something happens that he cannot deny and he is forced to face the truth. When he confronts his employer, things melt down fast. His girlfriend and colleague disappears, and he is confronted by two of his employer’s associates, and his whole life disintegrates before his eyes.
I can’t tell you how the stories are connected without giving you a spoiler, so you’ll have to give it a listen, if you want to know. No spoilers here.
A well-crafted mystery thriller with a satisfying ending. I give the idea man four quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
_____________________________________
Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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Book Review: “Black Bear Alibi: A Rockfish Island Mystery”
Posted: October 16, 2026 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Fiction, Mystery, Review | Tags: Black Bear Alibi, Book Review, J.C. Fuller, Kaye Lynne Booth, mystery, Writing to be Read 4 Comments
About Black Bear Alibi: A Rockfish Island Mystery
A small island with big lies…Welcome to Rockfish Island.
Philip Russell, a U.S. Park Ranger for a small island in the Pacific Northwest has stumbled across a body in the woods. Unsure if the dead woman is a local or someone from the mainland, the new female sheriff is called in to find out if the community has anything to fear. Eager to help solve the mystery, both instantly find themselves at odds with each other. Philip, defending the people he’s known his whole life, and Sheriff Lane, giving no one the benefit of the doubt…not even Philip. Together the investigation progresses and both quickly realize that on this sleepy island not everyone is who they pretend to be…and possibly, one of their fellow islanders is a killer.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Bear-Alibi-Rockfish-Mystery-ebook/dp/B07RRLNC99
My Review of Black Bear Alibi: A Rockfish Island Mystery
I purchased a digital copy of Black Bear Alibi, by J.C. Fuller, through a Bookbub Free Friday deal, and I am providing an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own. I chose this book because the title intrigued me.
Clever killers cover their tracks, but how many use nature to camouflage their foul play? This almost cozy murder mystery carries an original storyline which is expertly executed by the author. Wildlife officers aren’t usually involved with solving murder mysteries, but when a young and cocky new lady sheriff, Lois Lane, feels a need to prove herself, she enrolls park ranger, Phillip Russell for his local knowledge and assistance after he finds a woman’s body in the woods which has been mauled by a black bear. But the unofficial partnership is not a smooth one, as suspicion is cast on Russell’s friends and neighbors, placing him in precarious positions.
A fresh and original mystery which keeps readers guessing. I give Black Bear Alibi five quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
___________________________________
Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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Book Review: “Dead in the Water” & “The Devil’s Playground”
Posted: September 25, 2026 Filed under: Book Review, Books, cozy mystery, Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Review, romance, Thriller | Tags: Book Review, Carin Hart, cozy mystery, Dead in the Water, Emma Ainsley, Kaye Lynne Booth, Romantic Thriller, The Devil's Playground, Writing to be Read Leave a commentAbout Dead in the Water
Sometimes a life change…
Can toss you into deep water.
Nail salon owner, Lorelei Baker, is more than ready for a change after her divorce. So, when her cousin, Carolina Hart – heroine of the Hart Times Cozy Mysteries series – tells her about a job possibility, she jumps at the chance.
Becoming a kitchen manager on a river cruise boat wasn’t something she’d ever dreamed she’d do, but it couldn’t be much more dramatic than running a nail salon…could it?
Lorelei dives right into the position and gets along with everyone onboard, with one exception. There’s a busybody activities director, who thinks she runs the entire ship, and refuses to see it any other way.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Water-Cruising-Clues-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CXJ5RQ5T
My Review of Dead in the Water
I purchased a copy of Dead in the Water, by Emma Ainsley through a KindofBook deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
I chose this book when I was looking for a cozy mystery to lighten the mood after several dark fiction stories, as a sort of pallet cleanser. I was not disappointed. It is a short story, and it keeps the pages turning, only taking me two sittings to finish it.
Lorelie Baker is headed for a new start after her old life crumbled around her. She becomes a last-minute hire as kitchen manager on a riverboat cruise line, but steps into more than she bargained for. The activities director is downright hostile for no apparent reason, having little kitchen experience, she is unprepared for her position, and who’d have guessed she’d be plagued with sea sickness every time they are anchored. Before she can learn the ropes, the activities director goes overboard, and it feels as if she’s the main suspect. But there is something about the recent events that bothers her, and the other staff is acting strangely, and she just can’t help but search for answers to appease her curiosity.
A light, fun, who dun-it. I give Dead in the Water five quills.
About The Devil’s Playground
In the Devil’s Playground, a Sinner always plays to win.
Nicolette
Back in Springfield for the first time in years, I needed money, and I needed it fast.
When my job as a hostess at the local Italian place wasn’t going to earn me enough to cut it, I did the one thing I promised I would never do: I got involved with one of the syndicates that rule the seedy city.
Considering I’m trying to avoid anyone with ties to the Libellula Family, I head to the West Side, and hope like hell the Sinners Syndicate will give me a chance.
The Devil’s Playground isn’t my first choice, but what else can I do? I make it clear that I’m only interested in serving drinks… until some big shot gambler offers me ten grand for one night.
I take him up on it—only to have him wager his night with me to another guy… and lose.
Now I’m expected to honor my deal with the Syndicate’s underboss, and the charming bastard who hired me for this job in the first place… while also hiding any ties I have to his enemies.
Royce
From the moment Nicolette walked into the Playground, I wanted her—but then I brought her on as one of our girls, and she was suddenly off-limits.
I learned the hard way: work and pleasure don’t mix. If I’d met her anywhere else, I might’ve taken a shot at the waitress, but she needed the job more than she needed a boyfriend, so I backed off.
And, okay, that’s a damn lie. I didn’t pursue her, but hell if I didn’t take a page out of Devil’s book and start watching over Nic from the shadows…
I would have left it at that, though, until one of the Playground’s more well-known wallets set his eyes on my girl.
They don’t call me “Rolls” for nothing. I played him for the night she agreed to, telling myself that I was just saving her from what the sick and twisted customer wanted to do to her.
Then I get my first taste of Nicolette, and I realize that one night will never be enough… and I’ll stop anyone who tries to take her from me.
*The Devil’s Playground is the second book in the Deal with the Devil series, a collection of interconnected standalones set in the fictional crime hotspot of Springfield. It tells the story of “Rolls” Royce and the one woman he’ll do anything to save, Nicolette Williams.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Devils-Playground-Deal-Devil-Book-
My Review of The Devil’s Playground
I purchased a digital copy of The Devil’s Playground, by Carin Hart, through a KindofBookDeal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own. I chose this book because of its stunning cover.
The Devil’s Playground is Book 2 in the Deal with the Devil series, but it works well as a stand-alone. There are trigger warnings for this book, and the first half of the book is filled with explicit, steamy sex scenes. Once the groundwork has been laid, the story moves forward with action and danger in the second half that keeps readers on the edge of their seats and pages turning.
Nicolette Williams is on the run from a possessive mafia enforcer who thought he owned her. When she comes out of hiding and returns home to care for her mother as she recovers from a freak car accident, she is forced to take a job with the Sinners’ Syndicate to make ends meet, and gets romantically involved with the Sinners’ sexy underboss, ‘Rolls’ Royce. She tries to tell herself she can remain under the radar of the man she needs to avoid and stay safe. After all, the Sinners protect their own, and no matter what she was before, she is now one of them as the love affair between she and Royce heats up and becomes serious.
A steamy, edge-of-your seat thriller with well-developed characters, and a well-crafted plot. I give The Devil’s Playground five quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
_____________________________________
Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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Audio Book Review: “Night Shift Witch” & “Magnolia Bay Mystery: Tainted Taffy”
Posted: September 18, 2026 Filed under: Book Review, Books, cozy mystery, Fiction, Mystery, Review | Tags: April Doty, Audio Book Review, Cate Lawley, cozy mystery, Fiona Grace, Kaye Lynne Booth, Magnolia Bay Mystery, mystery, Night Shift Witch, Writing to be Read 1 CommentAbout Night Shift Witch
A witch with a side hustle
Star needs another paying gig while she finishes her witch training. Why not at a funeral home? It fits her goth image, and the funeral director is sort of hot…even if he does wear a suit and tie.
Less than a day on the job as makeup artist to the dead, and Star discovers one of their accidental death clients didn’t die accidentally.
Before she knows it, she’s neck-deep in paranormal intrigue and her completely human, way-too-nice-for-his-own-good boss is right there with her.
Purchase Links:
Audible: https://www.amazon.com/Night-Shift-Witch-Mysteries-Book/dp/B096T5W2LG/r
Chirp: Night Shift Witch by Cate Lawley – Audiobook (No Subscription)
My Review of Night Shift Witch
I purchased an audiobook copy of Night Shift Witch, by Cate Lawly and narrated by April Doty from a Chirp Friday Freebie deal. I am offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
April Dorey is the perfect narrator to capture Miss Lawly’s laid-back writing style. I must say, she did an excellent job. The tone of the story is set by that same writing style, so all the pieces fall into place perfectly.
What a fun story!
I chose this book because of the cool, purpley cover, and was pleasantly surprised with a light-hearted magical murder mystery, that tickled my fancy and made me smile all the way through.
Star, a goth witch in training, lands a job at a funeral home in the real world to support her while she finishes her studies in the magical realm. Throw in a hot funeral director for a boss, a mysterious death which turns out to be magical murder, and an old boyfriend who is a wizard enforcer to help her solve the case. The list of suspects grows as our trio delves into the mysterious demise of their non-human victim, who should never have showed up in a human funeral home, and it turns out, wasn’t such a stand up guy.
A fun, cute, and light-hearted tale of magic and murder, with a touch of romance. I give Night Shift Witch five quills.
About Magnolia Bay Mystery: The Tainted Taffy
On the charming, historic isle of Magnolia Bay, Autumn Ray runs her bed-and-breakfast and enjoys a different pace of life. But whether she likes it or not, Autumn will have to step into the role of sleuth to defend not only her name, but her home.
Summer brings more than just tourists to Magnolia Bay; it ushers in a chilling mystery when poison taints the sugar-sand shores. Autumn Ray must trade her tranquil routine for detective work when she’s thrust into unraveling the murder of a beloved local confectioner. Will her sleuthing skills prove sweet enough to catch a killer? Or will she face the bitter aftermath of a community torn apart by suspicion?
Purchase Links:
Chirp: The Tainted Taffy (A Magnolia Bay Mystery—Book 1) by Fiona Grace – Audiobook (No Subscription)
My Review of Magnolia Bay Mystery: The Tainted Taffy
I purchased an audiobook copy of Magnolia Bay Mystery: The Tainted Taffy, by Fiona Grace and narrated by the synthesized voice of Olivia, from a Chirp Friday Freebie deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
This is the first audiobook I’ve listened to featuring AI narration. I have to say that the quality of the narration was excellent, and had I not known it was a synthesized voice, I would not have guessed that it wasn’t a human narrator. With the AI debate blazing on both sides, I’m not sure if that is good or bad, but I feel obligated to state my honest opinion about it.
Autumn Ray is an Inn owner on Magnolia Bay, a quaint little island, reminiscent of days of old as a matter of choice. There are no automobiles, and the shops are filled with old fashioned goodness. When Autumn finds the local sweet shop owner dead, after eating a poisoned sandwich, small town tongues fly and the tourists, who are the islander’s main source of income every summer, begin to clear out. Autumn is determined to help the understaffed and unprepared island police chief to solve the crime, and together with her dog, Max, she is hot on the trail, making this a classic cozy mystery.
I had a hard time buying in to the old-fashioned island community that has been held back in time, and just like Miss Marple, Autumn sticks her nose in places she would never get away with in real life. Also, I’m not sure where the tainted taffy comes in, since the murder weapon was a poisoned sandwich. But, Autumn is determined to find the murderer and save Magnolia Bay’s tourist season, despite being warned to stay clear of police business. But cancellations are coming in, and people are leaving, not wanting to vacation where a killer may be lurking. With a list of folks with possible motives, Autumn pieces together the puzzle, but can she solve the mystery before the guests all clear out and bankrupt the island businesses?
A well-crafted cozy that will keep you smiling. I give Magnolia Bay Mystery: The Tainted Taffy four quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
_____________________________________
Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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Book Review: “The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic” & “A Jar of Thursday”
Posted: September 11, 2026 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Fiction, Gothic, Mystery, Review, Romantic Comedy | Tags: A Jar of Thursday, Book Review, Gothic Horror Mystery, Kaye Lynne Booth, Linsey Hall, Liz Hedgecock, Romantic Comedy, The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic, Writing to be Read Leave a commentAbout The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic
So here’s the deal—I’m a magical disaster. A witch from a family of witches, and the only one whose magic blows up in her face. Which is why I came up with my rules…
1. Never get involved with magic
2. If you must get involved, do not enter a competition to win the biggest magical fortune in England
3. And definitely don’t fall for Callan Hawthorne, the sexy billionaire mage who you’ve hated for years
So how the heck do I end up in a situation that promises to break all those rules? It’s the only way to save Seaside Spells, my family’s magical potion shop.
But it’s cool. When I go back home to Charming Cove—a village of ancient pubs and foul-mouthed familiars—I will totally ignore Witch Weekly’s Sexiest Man of the Year. I’ll win the competition, and if I’m lucky, I won’t turn myself into a toad in the process.
This’ll be fine. It’ll all be fine.
Riiiight.
The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic is a fun, frothy romantic comedy full of laughter, love, and magical hijinks. It’s the first in a series of stand alone romances set in the seaside village of Charming Cove.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Girls-Guide-Magic-romantic-ebook/dp/B0C511BLPN
My Review of The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic
I purchased a digital copy of The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic, by Linsey Hall, from a KindofBook deal, and I am providing an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
A magic contest. What could be more fun? But when Gran asks Aria to compete to win the Garden of Enchantment and save Gran’s shop and, possibly, the town, Aria wants nothing to do with it. Her magic has always been broken. Her specialty is blowing things up… accidentally. Yet, she returns home to Charming Cove even as she protests that she has no intention of competing.
Callen Hawthorne, a handsome and powerful wizard, (emphasis on handsome), who happens to be a billionaire and is used to getting his way is one of Aria’s competitors. The same Callen Hawthorne who bought her special place and turned it into a busy cafe, making her hate him. Or at least, making her want to hate him so bad that she believes it.
The harder she tries to bow out of the competition, the more things happen that makes her feel she must compete. After all, her Gran’s shop, and possibly the whole town may depend on her to champion them. The fun of solving riddles in a magical treasure hunt, meeting each new challenge, and watching the two opponents/love birds figure things out about each other, and about themselves, are all the ingredients needed for this romantic comedy recipe.
A truly fun read. I smiled all the way through. I give The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic five quills.
About A Jar of Thursday
When Jack Hargreaves takes a job with Fingers Molloy, it doesn’t quite go to plan. Fingers turns out to be a time-travelling burglar, with a host of ingenious devices supplied by the mysterious Mr Smith. And the things they’re stealing are, frankly, odd. But Jack is in no position to pick and choose — for Jack has a secret too…
Sherlock Holmes is convinced that Fingers Molloy works for his nemesis, Professor Moriarty. Yet Inspector Lestrade won’t take him seriously. How can the great detective prove he is right?
The further in Jack gets, the more serious — and mysterious — things seem. But breaking free and coming clean could land Jack in not just trouble, but danger…
A Jar of Thursday is the first novella in the Sherlock & Jack series, set in 1890s London.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Jar-Thursday-adventure-featuring-Sherlock/dp/1539399230
My Review of A Jar of Thursday
I purchased a digital copy of A Jar of Thursday, by Liz Hedgecock through a KindofBook deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
It may not be Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but I’m always up for a good Sherlock Holmes mystery. Told from the perspectives of Jack and Watson, this super-sleuth mystery is filled with surprises. Hedgecock does an excellent job of keeping to the Holmes style and character.
Jack takes a job as an assistant, but isn’t clear as to the type of work expected. When it is discovered that the new employer is a time traveling thief, however, Jack can’t afford to be choosy, as she has a few secrets that need to remain undisclosed, like the fact that he is a she, and she’s on the run. But, doing being an assistant to a thief, even a time traveling one, could be dangerous, or even deadly.
Meanwhile, Sherlock Holmes is on the case, convinced that the mastermind behind the crimes is his old adversary, Dr. Moriarty, but he can’t seem to get Inspector Lestrade on board. Although in the dark as to his methods, Dr. Watson is by his side, as he unravels the mystery of the time traveling thief.
Classic style that’s on the mark. I give A Jar of Thursday five quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
_________________________________
Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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Book Review: “Into the Deep Dark Woods” & “A Harmony of Hells”
Posted: August 28, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Book Review, Books, Dark fiction, Gothic, Horror, Mystery, Review, Short Fiction, Stories, Thriller | Tags: Allison Longueira, Book Review, Charles De Lint, Dark Fiction Anthology, Gothic Thriller, Harmony of Hells, Jonathan Maberry, Kevin J. Anderson, Sebastian de Castell, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Writing to be Read, Yves Fey Leave a commentAbout Into the Deep Dark Woods
See what lurks in the deep, dark woods—a place of fairy tales, secrets, and monsters…
Where the unexpected looms at every turn.
Where twisted shadows meet dappled sunlight.
Where even the silence grows teeth.
Into the Deep, Dark Woods features 28 all-new stories and poems that explore the magic and mystery of the primeval wilderness. Venture from the decay of a demented pumpkin patch to worlds where dragons hide among the trees and the sycamore beckons the blue ghost fireflies. Face the strangeness of an alien planet, then dine in a themed restaurant that may or may not be staffed with werewolves.
Edited by New York Times bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson and award-winning editor Allyson Longueira, along with their Publishing graduate students at Western Colorado University, this page-turning anthology presents new stories by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jonathan Maberry, Charles de Lint, Sebastien de Castell, and many others.
Step off the path and into a world where every tree tells a story and every clearing offers a choice. The deeper you go, the darker it gets.
The darker it gets, the more interesting the light becomes.
Welcome to the woods. Try not to get lost.
Purchase Link: https://wordfirepress.com/products/into-the-deep-dark-woods
My Review of Into the Deep Dark Woods
I received a digital copy of the Into the Deep Dark Woods anthology from executive editors Kevin J. Anderson and Allyson Longueira in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
Into the Deep Dark Woods is this year’s anthology put out by the graduate in publishing students at Western State Colorado University. Every year international bestselling author, Kevin J Anderson guides a cohort of Western’s publishing students through the process of putting together and publishing an anthology on the professional level, through his publishing company, Wildfire Press and Draft2Digital, as a group thesis project. submission numbers are higher every year. My cohort in 2022 published Gilded Glass, with over 600 submissions, and I heard they had over 900 for this one. Every story or poem is hand selected by the grad students, and I’m always happy to review these wonderful anthologies.
There are things in the woods. Whether they be shape shifters, the undead, all types of crawly things, fearies & dragons, golems, witches, alien life forms, or just the trees themselves, the stories found in this collection will make you believe they are there and you should be very afraid.
Some stories made me laugh, others made me cry, some gave me the creeps and others had me sitting on the edge of my seat. There are so many good tales in this anthology, that I wouldn’t even attempt to try and review each one. But I will give you an idea about the ones which stick out in my mind:
- “Underneath the Sycamore Tree on the Hill”, by Sam Knight was sad and made me want to cry.
- “This Real World”, by Lea Harper was my favorite poem.
- “Mulch”, by Brent Nelson offers excellent dark humor.
- “Metsubishu”, by Benjamin Spada has the feel of Ninjas and Samurai. I try and view such stories through the eyes of my son, Mike, who absolutely would have loved this story, therefore, it gets my vote.
- “The Dreadwood Dragon”, by Sebastian de Castell is an intense tale of friendship and sacrifice which touched my heart and made me smile.
Whether the forest or the things which lurk within, there is definitely something to fear if you dare to venture Into the Deep Dark Woods. I give this dark fiction anthology five quills.
About A Harmony of Hells
A poet haunted by grief. A lover marked by blood. A sister silenced behind asylum walls.
In the decadent heart of fin de siècle Paris, Averill Charron makes a devil’s bargain. To rescue his sister—locked away by their father—he joins forces with the last man he should trust, Blaise Dancier, the crime lord who once ordered his death.
No longer enemies. Now they are lovers. Together they descend into the underworld, searching cabarets and crypts, brothels and back alleys, chasing whispers that lead to deception and death.
Even as they hunt for her, Jeanette fights for her freedom. But escape only leads to recapture. Once again, she’s trapped in a world where only dreams of forbidden love and the promise of revenge keep her sane.
Their paths converge in the drowning beauty of Venice at Carnevale, where every mask conceals a threat. In a world ruled by power, madness, and betrayal, love may be the final sacrifice.
A HARMONY OF HELLS…a love story with murders.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Harmony-Hells-story-murders-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0FXVTR5DX
My Review of A Harmony of Hells
I received a copy of A Harmony of Hells: A Love Story of Paris…with Murders, by Yves Fey, through the Review Pool in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own. I chose this book because of the awesome cover and because I love gothic horror and gothic mystery.
Let me start by saying, I’m not a big fan of m/m romance/sex scenes. It’s not a statement about morality, but rather something that doesn’t do anything for me, personally, so I will usually skip over those stories. But…, this story is written in such a way that the sex does not overwhelm the plot, and the romance is tactfully written to support the story. Although the m/m relationship does play a key role, and in places, it is very graphic, there is so much more to this story.
Driven by a need to find his sister, Jeanette, who has been hidden away in the asylums and brothels of Paris and beyond by his father, Averille makes an alliance with Blaise Dancier, Parisian crime lord. It is risky business, but he feels he has no choice, and then finds himself surrendering to lust and wholly giving himself over to a man he knows he shouldn’t trust. In the search for Jeanette, it seems they are always at least one step behind his father, but Jeanette is resourceful and works toward her freedom at every opportunity. Their efforts bring them so close to crossing paths, but not close enough, and it is a race for time to find one another before their father can whisk her away once more.
A scandalous gothic thriller that will keep readers turning pages. I give A Harmony of Hells five quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders. Her novels include Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Books 1 & 2 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, and Double Visions.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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Audio Book Review: “My Queendom for a Horse” & “The Recipient”
Posted: August 14, 2026 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, Review, romance, Speculative Fiction, Thriller | Tags: Audio Book Review, Audrey J. Cole, Bridget E. Baker, Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Kaye Lynne Booth, My Queendom for a Horse, mystery, Shifter Romance, Speculative Fiction, The Recipient, Thriller, Writing to be Read Leave a commentAbout My Queendom for a Horse
Kristiana Liepa was supposed to use the money to save her family farm. She was not supposed to spend it all to save a massive, black stallion.
But when she saw how he was being treated, what’s a vet to do?
She had no idea that gorgeous beast was really a powerful (and morally gray) magician who had been cursed by a witch, or that she was the only one who could reverse the curse.
And she couldn’t possibly have known how that one rash decision would irrevocably change her life…and his.
Need a little more information to make up your mind? Read a longer description below:
Kristiana’s father has a gambling problem. After a particularly bad hand of cards puts their family’s land in jeopardy, her dad’s solution is to call her billionaire ex, but Kris can’t bring herself to beg him for money. At least, not her first time seeing him in 10 years. Instead, she withdraws her life savings and bets on herself.
Thankfully, it pays off! She and her most promising horse win big at the Down Royal steeplechase in Ireland, but only because the best horse on the track wasn’t ridden properly. Luckily, it’s just enough to grant a stay of execution with the bank.
It would have been, but when Kris realizes her nemesis is abusing the gorgeous black stallion who should have won, she can’t help herself. She spends her winnings buying the horse she fell for the moment she saw him. It may not be the smartest move in the short run, but Obsidian Devil’s her best hope of finally digging out from under the massive debt hanging over them. She’ll have to ask her ex to help with the next payment, but seeing him again won’t be sobad.
What Kris doesn’t know is that her new purchase is actually a powerful magician stuck in horse form by a witch’s curse. She also has no idea that she’ll be the only person who can help him lift the curse. And worst of all, that helping him may mean losing the family farm for good.
Purchase Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/My-Queendom-Horse-Russian-Witchs/dp/B0BV7Z3BM8
Chirp: My Queendom for a Horse by Bridget E. Baker – Audiobook (No Subscription)
My Review of My Queendom for a Horse
I purchased My Queendom for a Horse, by Bridget E. Baker and narrated by Cindy Gunderson from a Chirp Freebie Friday deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
I chose this book because of the fantastic cover with shades of blues and purples. Although the tiny sparkles indicated a magical theme, the image of a horse made me think of the story of Black Beauty, a story I loved as a child. Soon after beginning to listen, I was surprised to learn that what I had was a shape shifter romance.
Setting out to save her family farm from her father’s gambling debts, Kristiana has a plan to ride the winning horse and take the purse and a bet on her own horse. And it would have worked if she hadn’t impulsively purchased a stallion which was being abused by one of her competitors, forcing her to take a loan from the man who dumped her years ago. You can imagine her surprise when she finds her newest purchase is not a horse , but a shape shifting Russian prince who had been cursed hundreds of years ago, and somehow, Kris has the key to his powers. The whole scenario leads to some humorous scenes, as the headstrong prince rears his jealous head, while Kris tries to sort out her feelings for her ex, and raise the money to save the farm.
The author has crafted a truly enjoyable story that makes you laugh in all the right places. And Ms. Gunderson does an excellent job of narrating. I give My Queendom for a Horse five quills.
About The Recipient
Sergeant Wade McKinnon knows who killed Samantha the moment he arrives at her crime scene. Problem is, he watched her killer die a year ago.
A year after serial killer Michael Rhodes is executed and allowed to donate part of his brain as an organ transplant, Wade gets called to a murder scene that shares uncanny similarities to those of the late Michael Rhodes. Other similar killings happen around Seattle, and Wade seems to be the only person still alive who knows enough about Michael Rhodes’s murders to be able to replicate them. When evidence found at one of the crime scenes points to Wade as the killer, he races to find the real culprit before it’s too late to clear his own name.
Elle is overjoyed when her husband, Brian, receives a partial brain transplant and gets a second chance at life. Until she learns that his brain cells came from a serial killer….
Purchase Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/The-Recipient-Audrey-J-Cole-audiobook/dp/B07QYK6WBZ
Chirp: The Recipient by Audrey J. Cole – Audiobook (No Subscription)
My Review of The Recipient
I purchased The Recipient, by Audrey J. Cole and read by Marcio Catalano and Veronica Pace, from a Chirp Freebie Friday deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
This story uses dual male and female narrators, which I’ve found works well in romances, but I was unsure how that would work for a thriller. In hindsight, although each of them missed inflections a few times, they really did a premium job. Catalano and Pace did a smash-up job, instead of just alternating chapters, they dubbed the female voice of Pace into the male POV chapters, and the male voice of Catalano into the female POV chapters, which is how the dual narrating should be done. I can see why this book was nominated for the Voice Arts Awards, as advertised on the cover.
As far as story goes, the title gives it all away, but it is also a little misleading. Early on I figured out who the killer was and although the author was skilled in laying it all out, I still felt the story to be predictable as events unfolded. Overall, though, it was a decent thriller with tension building in all the right places and well-developed characters.
I give The Recipient four quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
_____________________________________
Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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Book Review: “The Dreaming Crystal” & “The Slayer Rule”
Posted: July 31, 2026 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Fiction, Hard Fantasy, Hard Science Fiction, Mystery, Review | Tags: Book Review, Dan Williams, Hard Fantasy, Hard Science Fantasy, Hard Science Fiction, Kaye Lynne Booth, mystery, Richard DeGrandpre, The Dreaming Crystal, The Slayer Rule, Writing to be Read Leave a commentAbout The Dreaming Crystal
One reckless murder is all it takes to change the world forever. An angry ghost is trapped in a crystal prison and an unlucky few are fused to the Stone, doomed to an eternal torment of maddening shared memories.
But that was all twelve thousand years ago. Now it’s 2096 and there’s no magic and no ghosts; everyone knows! There are only little people forever scrambling to stay out of the way of big tech. Everyone knows humanity is beleaguered by drought, flooding, poverty and society shot through with corporate corruption. But no one has time to care.
Yet as Nate, Chen and Tina struggle to get by from day to day and pay to pay, the ancient ghost rages on in the Stone and the chains of power that bind it are weakening. Strange earthquakes gather force off the coast of Akarana Island and when an old house is demolished, something unbreakable is broken and Nate, Chen and Tina and everyone in the world will be drawn into the legacy of the curse of the ghost in the Stone whether they believe in such nonsense or not.
Hard Fantasy. Hard sci-fi. Gritty realism and golden characters.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Dreaming-Crystal-Order-Stone-Book-ebook/dp/B0BHZQM8D3
My Review of The Dreaming Crystal
I received a digital copy of The Dreaming Crystal, by Dan Williams through Sandra’s Book Club review program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
This is a long book, but it is necessary for such an intricately detailed story, with well-conceived world building and a story crafted to span over thousands of years. The characters are well-developed, but are skillfully revealed in increments over the course of the story. By the end, I was rooting for Nate and Chen to be reunited, and hoping to see Teens, (or Tina, or Elayne?) and Rengi defeated. That being said, I must admit I was disappointed in my expectations and left feeling as if I’d missed more than a little something. Without giving up any spoilers, the ending was left a bit open ended, perhaps to give an opening for the next book in the series, but without things being wrapped up neatly, I felt there were several promises made on premises that were left unfulfilled.
An excellent hard fantasy/science fiction tale which left me feeling a bit cheated. I give The Dreaming Crystal four quills.
About The Slayer Rule
Set against the backdrop of the American West, “The Slayer Rule” is a sweeping crime drama that delves into themes of friendship, love, loss, and the silent tragedies that haunt the rural landscape.
The story begins with a dinosaur hunter being found dead at the base of a cliff, just days after our protagonist, Nick Yearsley, arrives in Jordan, Montana. Unfortunately for Nick, the local sheriff doesn’t believe in coincidences.
But Nick isn’t looking for trouble—he’s looking for dinosaurs. It shouldn’t matter what happened in Jordan thirty years ago when a twelve-year-old boy deliberately killed his drunken father in a hunting “accident.” Nor should it matter that the area has a history of disappearances and deaths dating back decades. And it certainly shouldn’t matter that the young sheriff was promoted from chief deputy because of the recent death of her husband, the previous sheriff.
What does any of this have to do with the present-day life of Nick Yearsley? On the day he arrives in Jordan, absolutely nothing. By the end of that day, with what he accidentally sets into motion, everything.
Richard DeGrandpre’s stunning crime novel employs great depth of characterization to harness the age-old power of storytelling. If you’re expecting a straightforward whodunnit or a formulaic crime thriller, prepare yourself for a page-turner that is, well, just the beginning.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Slayer-Rule-Bone-Hunter-Book-ebook/dp/B0DC4Z2DTZ/
My Review of The Slayer Rule
I purchased The Slayer Rule, by Richard DeGrandpre through a free BookBub Deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
I chose this book by title alone, thinking it was a thriller. It’s not. It’s a crime drama, but it did turn out to be a decent mystery. Paleontologist Nick Yearsley comes to Jorden to confront an old colleague turned nemesis, who is on a dig there. But things don’t turn out the way Nick planned at all, and suddenly he’s the number one suspect in his colleague’s death, and the pieces aren’t adding up right.
When the pretty sheriff asks him to not leave town, Nick takes the opportunity to discover some real dinosaur bones, all while trying to clear his name and stay out of an old feud between two neighbors. As luck would have it, he keeps finding himself back dab in the middle of it all.
This story kept me pondering. I give The Slayer Rule five quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
_____________________________________
Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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Audio Book Review: “Behind You” & “A Shift in Shadows”
Posted: July 17, 2026 Filed under: Audio Books, Audiobook Review, Crime, Dark fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Review, Speculative Fiction, Thriller | Tags: A Shift In Shadows, Behind You, Book Review, Crime Fiction, Crime Thriller, Demons, Fea, Kaye Lynne Booth, Krys Janae, Maddox Grey, mystery, Rylie Dark, Speculative Fiction, Susan Marlowe, vampires, werewolves, Writing to be Read 4 CommentsAbout Behind You
Despite being a rising star in the BAU unit, FBI Special Agent Hailey Rock still lives in the shadow of her older sister, who remained in their small Midwestern town to become a police sheriff and who remains the favorite in their parents’ eyes. Hailey has not thought of her estranged family in ages, but when young women turn up dead in her hometown, the FBI dispatches Hailey to solve the case her sister cannot—and forces her to face demons, including that of her kidnapped sister, that Hailey wished she would never face again.
Women are turning up dead, posed in local farm fields like scarecrows, and time is running out. A serial killer lurks, and their small town never felt so small.
A cat-and-mouse thriller with harrowing twists and turns and filled with heart-pounding suspense, the Hailey Rock mystery series offers a fresh twist on the genre as it introduces two brilliant protagonists who will make you fall in love and keep you listening late into the night.
Purchase Links:
Chirp: Behind You (A Hailey Rock FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 1) by Rylie Dark – Audiobook (No Subscription)
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Behind-You-Hailey-Suspense-Thriller/dp/B0BY9M881V
My Review of Behind You
I purchased an audiobook copy of Behind You, by Rylie Dark and narrated by Susan Marlowe from a Chirp Friday Freebie Deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
The trail of a serial killer creating human scarecrows in her hometown brings FBI Agent Hailey Rock back to work the case alongside her small-town sheriff sister, stirring old memories and old grievances, as they follow the crime trail to discover who is responsible for these reprehensible crimes. Unable to work together, the sisters pursue their individual theories independently, and it becomes more of a race to see who can solve the crime first. But you can’t solve the puzzle until you have all the pieces, and some are still missing. We are given enough viewpoint from the killer’s perspective to be able to speculate if each of the suspects could be the perpetrator, but the identity isn’t revealed until the very end.
This mystery is well written, although the personal conflict between sisters is over played in this listener’s opinion, making both law enforcement officers seem unprofessional and petty. That said, the narrator, Susan Marlowe does an excellent job, providing distinctive voices that don’t all sound alike, but very natural, and carefully placing just the right emotional touches exactly where needed.
A well-crafted crime thriller mystery with an excellent narrator. I give Behind You four quills.
About A Shift in Shadows
Betrayed by love.
I was a fool in love once—until I learned he only wanted me for my power. I left him and found love with someone else. He retaliated by ripping out her heart.
Driven by revenge.
Every year my warlock ex-lover leaves me a bloody heart as a gift. A taunt and a reminder that I belong to him. But he’s forgotten that I’m the ruthless feline shifter that was hunting down my enemies long before we crossed paths. Sooner or later, it’ll be his heart I’m holding in my hand.
Damned by magic.
But to destroy the warlock who has haunted my dreams once and for all, I might have to embrace the dark magic I’ve been hiding my entire life. And even if I survive… it will change the course of my life forever.
A Shift in Shadows is Book One of the urban fantasy romance series Lost Legacies. Perfect for fans of stabby morally grey FMC’s, all the found family vibes, and slow burning romances.
Purchase Links:
Audible: https://www.amazon.com/Shifvt-Shadows-Lost-Legacies-Book/dp/B0F14MTQWP/
Chirp: https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/a-shift-in-shadows-by-maddox-grey-99acfacc04
My Review of A Shift in Shadows
I purchased an audiobook copy of A Shift in Shadows, written by Maddox Grey and narrated by Krys Janae, through a free Chirp deal. I’m offering here an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
I must commend this narrator. Every character has a distinctive voice which fits the character’s personality. Krys Janae does an excellent job of bringing these characters to life, whether they be shifter, vampire, witch or warlock, fae, demon, or…. something else. Janae may be the best narrator I have as yet encountered. Bravo on a job well done.
I had a hard time getting into this world. I am familiar with werewolves and vampires, but I haven’t read a lot of stories where they exist together and socialize. Add to that, witches and warlocks, demons, and members of the fae realm, all either loving or fighting amongst themselves, and new, unfamiliar beings called devourers, and that’s a lot to learn and assimilate. There are vampire hybrids, too; vampire kids, which goes against all that I know about vampires, which comes from classic vampire literature and Anne Rice. But once I accepted that this world was different from others which I had explored and accepted it for what it is, I began getting into the characters and the world, and I have to admit, I became invested.
Lemane knows who she is, but she is unsure what she is, and she is on a constant search for answers. But it’s hard to search when you are hiding from a crazy rogue warlock, who is determined to have her as his own or destroy her. All her life she was taught to keep her own magic hidden, and since she’s not encountered any other beings which have magic such as hers, the kind that can open gateways to other realms, she fears what will happen if she lets it out, but is forced to use it to save herself and those she cares for, time after time. With a vampire for a roommate, a werewolf for a lover, and a fae for a bestie, Lemane searches for answers in this realm and beyond. But there’s more going on than she realizes, and greater powers are at work, all in a grab for control of the realms.
Can Lemane find the answers she seeks and stop an evil coupe, avoid the warlocks and vampires, and stay alive long enough to save her world and herself?
I may not know what an FMC is, but I surely know a good story when I hear one. I give A Shift in Shadows five quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
____________________________________________
Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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Book Review: “Waifs and Strays” & “Dark Desires”
Posted: July 10, 2026 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Fiction, Mystery, Review | Tags: Book Review, cozy mystery, Helen Harper, Waifs and Strays, Writing to be Read Leave a commentAbout Waifs and Strays
Nobody is just a cat lady.
Kit McCafferty’s life is quiet, unremarkable and filled with cat hair. In the magical city of Coldstream, located on the border between Scotland and England, Kit is viewed as little more than mildly eccentric and mostly harmless. She passes her days caring for her family of five cats, feeding the local feral moggies, and maintaining relatively good relations with her neighbours.
All that changes, however, when a teenage werewolf shows up at her door in the desperate hope of renting out a nearby vacant flat. Kit knows that the smart move is to tell him to leave. The last thing she needs is to become embroiled in complicated shapeshifter politics. But something about the secretive young werewolf tugs at her heartstrings.
It’s not long before Kit ends up caught in a maelstrom of mysterious crime and magical wrong-doing. Fortunately, there’s far more to Kit McCafferty than meets the eye and she has a few dark secrets of her own.
Of course, anyone with an ounce of intelligence knows that you underestimate a cat lady at your own peril.
Waifs And Strays is the first book in a new urban fantasy crime series. Expect mystery, magic and adventure with a heroine who will keep you turning pages late into the night. There will also be a lot of cats.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Hiss-Magic-Lady-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B0DLFQPYHB
My Review of Waifs and Strays
I purchased a digital copy of Waifs and Strays, by Helen Harper from a KindofBook deal, and I am providing an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own. I chose this book because I liked the title, and the cover was pretty cool, too.
Kit McCafferty is more than just a middle-aged cat lady and ex-assassin with specialized skills. When Nick, a teenaged werewolf determined to be a lone wolf after the deaths of his parents leaves him an orphan, shows up at her doorstep wanting to rent her extra room, she has no idea what she’s getting into. It turns out Nick comes from the MacTire pack, a powerful group of werewolves, who don’t like to take no for an answer. When they can’t convince her to turn Nick out, his uncle makes it clear that he holds her personally responsible for his nephew’s safety.
When she returns home to find that young Nick has been abducted, you can imagine her concern. She takes a personal interest in finding him. Her search for Nick takes her into the depths of Coldstream, the magically town in which she lives, where she meets many of its interesting inhabitants, to uncover a dastardly plot to raise a demon and take over Coldstream and rule the world.
I loved everything about this cozy mystery tale. It is filled with surprises! I love the character of Kit, I love her uniquely feline family, and all the colorful characters who inhabit Coldstream. I give Waifs and Strays five quills.
About Dark Desires
Betrayed by those she trusted, penniless and alone, Darcie Finch is forced to accept a position that no one else dares, as the assistant to dangerously attractive Dr. Damien Cole. Ignoring the whispered warnings and rumors that he’s a man to fear, she takes her position at his eerie estate, where she quickly discovers that nothing is at it seems, least of all her handsome and brooding employer.
As Darcie struggles with her fierce attraction to Damien, she must also deal with the blood, the disappearances … and the murders. With her options dwindling and time running out, Darcie must rely on her instincts as she confronts the man she is falling in love with. Is he innocent … or is he a remorseless killer who prowls the East End streets?
Historical gothic romance set in London’s shadowed East End, blending dangerous attraction with a twisting murder-mystery. Features a desperate heroine, a brilliant and brooding physician, whispered rumors of evil, and a maze of disappearances, blood, and suspicion.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Desires-Gothic-Book-ebook/dp/B006E905OW
My Review of Dark Desires
I purchased a digital copy of Dark Desires: Historical Gothic Romance, by Eve Silver through a KindofBook deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
I was drawn to this story because of the genre. Although I don’t read a lot of romance, I do like historical fiction and gothic mysteries. I’ve never read a historical gothic romance before, but the idea of this genre combination, Historical Gothic Mystery Romance sparked my interest, so I thought I’d give it a try. And I am glad that I did.
Darcie is a young woman who finds herself desperate and alone on the dangerous and sinister streets of Whitechapel. Her estranged sister, Abigail, or Mrs. Feather, offers her no sanctuary, but she calls in a favor and sends her to seek employment at the home of Dr. Damien Cole. With a cloak of foreboding fallen over her, Dr. Cole is an enigma, as he brings her home in his coach with a cadaver for company. And glimpses of late-night deliveries only casts more suspicion upon him, but there is something about him that draws her to him in spite of her secret fears. Even as she fears the worst, she finds herself unable to resist being near him. And Darcie is not the only one with suspicions and, as another woman is brutally murdered and Dr. Cole’s scalpel is found on the scene, they are all drawn in to the web of murder that has fallen near to them.
The gothic flavor of this tale is lovely, and the romance element provides an appropriate counterweight to explain the character’s actions, even as Darcie mulls over her own doubts and fears, yet she continues on in her pursuit of the man with whom she is quickly falling in love. Although it seems a slow build suspense and foreboding are sprinkled throughout, and the climax is quite satisfying.
Sinister and suspenseful, Dark Desires is a delectable mixture of genres. I give it five quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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