The Disposable Soma by Zeb Haradon

Centuries from now, politics have changed dramatically. The Democratic Party are Conservatives, The Republican Party are Liberals, and the Empathy Party are Anti-Socialists. There is about to be a robot on the Supreme Court, opium and other drugs are commonly used by most everyone, addiction and withdrawal symptoms are easily removed by taking another readily obtained drug, and cybernetically enhanced intelligent parrots are common companions/pets. They are even among the most popular bands. 

This book is a political satire that seems to be about the absurdity of politics and politicians. It shows the lengths that they are willing to go to in order to try and win an election, knowing that most of them have no interest in trying to change anything or make life better for anyone. One of them is even willing to have an opium addicted parrot who is the lead singer of a famous band as his vice president.

This book has quite a few subplots going on in addition to the main election story, making it a rather busy story. The subplots are so intertwined throughout the story, that it took me a while to realize that they were all meant to show the extremes that each of the characters would go through to achieve their own desires, no matter what the cost.

For a good portion of this book, I thought I was seeing some typos in the format of two words that had dropped a space from between them, but toward the end of the book it was made clear that it was intentional. It was supposed to be an example of how language shifts over time, but for me, it threw me off until the explanation came late in the book.

I received a review copy of this book, and honestly, I'm not really certain what I think of it overall. Parts of it I enjoyed, while parts of it I had some trouble placing within the larger story as a whole. This book was the first book in a series, and I suspect that it will become clearer as the story continues to play out in later books. It’s an interesting story, but I feel like there was so much going on that I almost wished that some of the subplots had been left out, as I’m not entirely certain if they have been wrapped up or if they will be further explored in later books.

For me, I would rate this book rate at 3.5 stars. I did enjoy reading it, but I also feel like I missed more about what was supposed to be going on than I should have. I think that anyone who enjoys fictional tales about the absurdity of modern politics and the lengths that politicians will go to in order to win an election, will likely enjoy this book, as will those who enjoy political satire.

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Witch Of the Black Circle by Maria DeVivo

Josephine (Joephie) is a teenager who was cursed by a witch before she was born. Her mother has moved the two of them often. They never really stay anywhere long enough for them to set down roots, and thus Joephie expects that this town will be no different than any other location where they have lived so far. In each town, her mother sends Joephie to a private school and a church youth group, hoping that evil influences can be kept away from her daughter. But in the 1980s, during the height of the “Satanic Panic” and the “sex, drugs, and rock & roll” era, that’s all but an impossible task, when one was already cursed.

I received a review copy of this book and enjoyed reading it. I was in high school during this time period. And as someone who played Dungeons & Dragons at the time, I can’t tell you how often I had to explain to people that it was just a game; it wasn't going to influence me to go out & kill anyone. Having lived through that time period as a teenager, I couldn't resist seeing this author's representation of a group of teenagers in the 1980s.

I enjoyed reading this book. While I was a little disappointed that there was no mention of the game Dungeons & Dragons, MTV, or a myriad of other 1980s specific items, this story was focused primarily on other aspects of the 1980s Satanic Panic. So I do understand why such things were not included in this book, though I would have like to have seen them mentioned. There was still more than enough of the other parental fears and teenage activities that were common back then; some of which went much farther than most teens did back then when it came to exploring the occult. These teenagers sought to actually open a portal and summon Satan

This is a horror novel with all the sex, drugs, and rock & roll that one might expect from a book set during that time period. Throw in some teenagers learning about the occult, the forces of Satan, and some graphic sex, violence, death, and gore, and you've described this book. Be warned that it is not a book meant for younger readers as it does contain some very graphic sex and a fair amount of violence and bloodshed. But for those who enjoy horror novels set in the 1980s, you should enjoy this one. I certainly did.

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Jenna and the Legend of the White Wolf by JB Moonstar

Jenna lives in a house on the edge of a forest. Her family is new in town, and she often feels bossed around by her older sister when her dad is away on a military assignment. She loves watching the animals in the woods behind her house, but on this day they are all acting strangely. When a fox comes up near her and seems to be asking her to touch its paw, she is transformed into a white wolf once she does. Now, she can understand everything they are saying, and it seems they need her help to rescue Ituria.

This was the fourth book in the Chronicles of Ituria series, and it was every bit as much fun as the previous ones. I received a review copy of this book and I very much enjoyed reading it. Watching Jenna build up her self-confidence as she comes up with creative ways to help the forest animals to rescue an injured unicorn, was a very fun story to read.

And while this series is meant for middle-grade readers, the story is entertaining enough for an adult looking for quick, fun something to entertain themselves with for a few hours.

For those with middle-grade children who enjoy early chapter books containing a fantastical element to them (unicorns, dragons, as well as a variety of forest animals), I believe they will have a great time reading this series. It is easy enough for young readers, but entertaining enough for adults to enjoy as well.

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Small Island by Toby Neal

Kat is a member of the Secret Service who has been working as the Postmaster in Ohia, Hawaii. It's not the direction she had envisioned her career taking, but the job has been growing on her. And more often than she would have expected, her Secret Service training has been very helpful. With more than one recent murder, members of a mafia-like organization setting up a business on the island, and a group of elderly ladies fighting to protect their small town from a questionable housing development nearby, Kat has been kept quite busy doing much more than just running a busy post office. And it looks like things are only about to get more interesting for her.

This was an enjoyable cozy mystery. The feel of a small, close-knit community in an island paradise comes through quite clearly. I enjoyed watching Kat work to solve another murder as well as protecting the friends she has made from becoming yet another set of victims of the criminal organization that appears to be operating out of New Ohia. And all this while learning how to run the post office by herself, striving to overcome her PTSD, and beginning a relationship with the handsome, Hawaiian pilot, Keone.

I especially loved watching Kat and Tiki, the feral cat who lives in her house, begin to trust each other and to care for and depend on each other. Their relationship parallels the developing relationship between Kat and Keone. It isn’t easy for someone with PTSD to trust and not run away from a new relationship, and watching Kat and Keone learn to trust and allow their feelings to develop despite their fears, was just as enjoyable as watching Kat & Tiki doing the same.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries that take place in a tropical setting, enjoyed the previous book in this series, or have enjoyed any of the author’s other books, then I believe you will also enjoy this book.

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The Erotica Cryptids Collection by Honey Cummings

This Book is a collection of three erotica novellas involving Shifters who are more commonly recognized as Cryptids. In This book, there is a story about a Sasquatch, a Chupacabra, and a Jersey Devil.  Each of these stories is very well written and quite entertaining. 

In the first story, a Sasquatch finds himself stuck in his Bigfoot form, unable to return to his human one, and left behind in the woods by his friends. Things seem to get worse for him when a Sasquatch hunter arrives on a camping trip with his girlfriend and sets up their camp nearby. In the second story, a Chupacabra is having trouble controlling both his shifts and his cravings at the same time as the woman he was in love with, but who had left to marry another man, returns to town. The third story involves a Jersey Devil who runs a casino and a woman whose pastor fiance she had just caught having sex with another woman.

I received a review copy of this book, and while I'm not normally very fond of erotica, I do enjoy the stories written by this author. The plots of these three tales were captivating, and in each case, I wanted to know how each story ended. Despite my not being a fan of erotica, this book held my interest throughout all three tales. Often, I’ve found that books that are classified as erotica are more graphic sex than story, but that has not been the case with this author. The books that I have reviewed of hers have been well-written, with plots that draw the reader in and hold their attention. And as such, I do actually find myself enjoying reading her books.

I believe that this is a collection of stories from previously published books by this author, though I am not entirely certain. But if I am correct, I expect that the full novels that each of these stories were from would be just as enjoyable

If you are a fan of erotica, you will love the stories in this book, and if you are more like me, enjoy a good story and don’t mind the explicit and graphic sex scenes, then I think you will also enjoy these stories. They present a unique take on three specific types of Cryptids, so those who enjoy reading about Cryptids will also likely enjoy this book. Just remember, this is not a book meant for younger readers; this is an erotica novel after all.

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Taylor and the Red Wolf Rescue by JB Moonstar

A family of Red Wolves living on what was supposed to be a wooded preserve where they were supposed to be safe, is now in danger. The land was sold to a developer who is tearing down the forest and has sent for a hunter to remove the protected and endangered animals. However the hunter's plan does not involve keeping them alive and relocating them; he plans to kill and sell their hides for profit. Taylor, a young boy in leg braces, and Knocker, the First Guardian of Ituria, appear to be all that stands between the wolves & the hunter. Can they manage to save these endangered animals?

I received a review copy of this book, and even though I am not the intended audience, I enjoyed reading it. This is an early chapter book meant for mid-grade readers. And while it does teach about Red wolves, why they are endangered, and why they should be protected, it was also a very interesting story. It does not read like a book that is trying to teach something, but as a parent, you quickly learn to recognize books with a lesson or moral hidden inside. The story itself was fun, and I think that younger readers would enjoy reading it.

And while it is the second book in a series, these books do appear to stand on their own, requiring no knowledge of anything that occurred in the previous books. In other words, this series can easily be started from any book in the series; you need not start with book one. If you have kids who are currently reading short chapter books, I'd recommend having them take a loo at this series. I think they'd enjoy it.

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Mail Order Bride Bride Flaws by Florence Linnington

Maisie Clark had A bright future ahead of her as a Chicago Socialite. Her life seemed pretty close to perfect. Until, that is, a runaway carriage ran over her leaving her seriously injured and with a large scar marring her face. It felt like she lost everything that day. The men who had pursued her before the accident all lost interest when her beauty was permanently marred.

In the end, her closest friend convinced her to write to someone advertising n a matrimonial newspaper. Based on the town and the man's initials, she thought she knew who she was exchanging letters with, but when she arrived in the town of Goldenbrook, it turned out the the AW she was writing, was not the man she had assumed those initials belonged to. Instead, it was Adam Clark… her brother’s ranching partner.

This was one of the sweetest of Ms. Linnington’s mail order bride stories that I have read. Though it begins with a case of mistaken identity, it doesn’t take long before it no longer matters to Maisie. As always, there are problems to overcome and secrets that come to light at unfortunate moments, but those aren’t the large problems that you might expect. Instead, the big challenge involves Adam purchasing the general store shortly before a newer, fancier one opens a competing business. Can Maisie and Adam find a way to keep their store in business, or will they be the ones who have to close instead?

I received a review copy of this book, and as always, I enjoyed reading Ms. Linnington’s latest tale. It was a sweet and very heartfelt story that included many of the themes as her previous books, but also showed that no matter how difficult a challenge a person may face, if they face it head on and don’t give up, they will come out on the other side stronger, and better than they might have initially believed 

If you have enjoyed any of Ms. Linnington’s other novels or enjoy reading mail order bride stories, then you should enjoy reading this hopeful and sweet story.

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