Syndicate X by Thomas M. Marsula Jr.

Language: English

Format: eBook

Pages: 163

Genre: Si-Fi

Rating: 2.5⭐

"The world of Ralkeilia is falling into chaos and despair as creatures begin to rampage throughout the area. Zeak Dartail joins Jessica Dalu, Tony Sindas and Dajh Dartail and they form a group called Syndicate X. They claim to be the new super heroes that will save the world however the way they conduct themselves starts to have new comers question their style."

The story is promising and having several POV make it complete BUT it’s a mess! The POV change a lot in the same chapter (I personally think that Each chapter need only 1 or 2 POV max and making sure we can follow all characters.) and it make complicated to follow correctly the plot line. And I need to add that a lot of sentences should have been together to avoid me reading the same name again and again.  I phrase ending by "and I ran" and the other starting "I then stoped to check..." should have been "and I run until I needed to check...." I mean for me it make more sense than starting a new phrase as complement. Also we miss a prequel! I mean at least an explanation about why they are there in that planet… Again good story idea but messy written for me

Chrysalis by Harrison Murphy

 

Language: English

Format: Ebook

Pages: 299

Genre: Si-Fi 

Rating: 5⭐

"An implant with the potential to save humanity, but only if in the right hands.

The UK’s blood reserves vanish overnight.

The government’s response – make blood currency.

The stolen blood is sold by dealers seemingly controlled by a mysterious implant.

Ginley & Sara, two rival political journalists with opposing agendas cover the government’s handling of a country thrust into crisis.

As they find out more about the blood heist and the implant, the more they have to put their differences aside and work together to unravel a colossal conspiracy, risking their loved ones’ lives, and all that they’ve ever known, in the process"

Is really this Crime Organization alone and not working with the Government? At the beginning I was thinking it will be easy to solve and point fingers but as soon as I got into the 50% of the book I knew that the MC will have a bad moment Got a little confused why some parts was set of in the future but I made the link very fast and was hooked to the story! As I reach the end I was totally in chock and I'm still processing the last 5% of this book

Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood Book 7) by J. R. Ward

Language: Portuguese

Format: PaperBack

Pages: 642

Genre: Paranormal Romance 

Rating: 5⭐

"Caldwell, NY, has long been the battleground for the battleground for the vampires and their enemies, the Lessening Society. It’s also where Rehvenge has staked out his turf as a drug lord and notorious nightclub that caters to the rich and heavily armed. His shadowy reputation is exactly why he’s approached to kill Wrath, the Blind King, and leader of the Brotherhood. Rehvenge has always kept his distance from the Brotherhood, even though his sister is married to a member. Because he’s a sympath, his identity is a deadly secret- the revelation of which will result in his banishment to a colony for sociopaths. And as plots within and outside the Brotherhood take their toll against Rehvenge, he turns to the only source of light in a darkening world- Elhena, a vampire untouched by the corruption that has its hold on him- and the only thing standing between him and eternal destruction."

In my last post about this serie I really forgot about who was this book but... now it was clear that is about Rehv.

Rehv is Bella's brother and he is not pure blood.... he have a really dark side and he want to keep it deep inside him so no one can hurt him or use it against him. 

Sympath are sociopaths and they hate "normal" vampires and vice versa. It's really a terrifying power and it leads to a lot of complications... 

Phury was all noble in all aspect but Rehv is noble too: He make a bargain to same a friend (the price is hardly pleasant to him but is needed to save Xhex). 

And now you think: perfect guy? Oh... well no! This guy is in the drug business and he is the main boss of the city but he do it not because he like it but more to keep his life style (and Bella's too before marrying Zsadist). 

 And he is not alone: Xhex and the Shadows (Trez and iAm) are family and ready to help him in everything. 

And we have Elhena... pure, inocente and the only thing Rehv need to be really complete.

Easy story? Not at all.. Rehv want to have love but his sympath side is ready to take contol of everything and with a lot of blood if it can be added...

And now.... a pause my vampire lovers! Hope to come back soon with book 8 and probably more detailed reviews (it's hard to remember all book read 3 years ago)

Without Merit by Colleen Hoover

 

Language: English

Format: Paperback

Pages: 359

Genre: Romance, Fiction

Rating: 5⭐

"The Voss family is anything but normal. They live in a repurposed church, newly baptized Dollar Voss. The once cancer-stricken mother lives in the basement, the father is married to the mother’s former nurse, the little half-brother isn’t allowed to do or eat anything fun, and the eldest siblings are irritatingly perfect. Then, there’s Merit.

Merit Voss collects trophies she hasn’t earned and secrets her family forces her to keep. While browsing the local antiques shop for her next trophy, she finds Sagan. His wit and unapologetic idealism disarm and spark renewed life into her—until she discovers that he’s completely unavailable. Merit retreats deeper into herself, watching her family from the sidelines when she learns a secret that no trophy in the world can fix.

Fed up with the lies, Merit decides to shatter the happy family illusion that she’s never been a part of before leaving them behind for good. When her escape plan fails, Merit is forced to deal with the staggering consequences of telling the truth and losing the one boy she loves."

Such a lovely and deep story! 

I found myself getting very emotional and to be honest it was because I saw myself in Merit.

All the problems and the missing important things from her family and not knowing the true about her family was and still is very similar to me and my life. 

Depressions is really not easy to deal and most of the time you have no signs. seeing Merit not understand and believed in this only show that it was deep and it's a silent treat! 

Being depressed don't make you only see the worst in people or make you feel sad every single moment of your day. That's 1 part of the depression. The reality is that something you will smile, joke, hug someone or even be in love. It just that most of the time you feel alone, not worth it or simply you want to be in a bubble and see no one. 

That's depression and Colleen actually wrote it as it happened with me and if I was not aware of my state i will be screaming that Merit is just like me and getting aa meltdown.

It was my first Colleen Hoover book and I suffered while reading it. Do I go to pickup another book from her? Yes! 

March RECAP + April TBR

 

Well... We are already in April and the weather here is kind of bipolar: you freeze in the morning, almost want to go inside the fridge during the afternoon and at night is a combination of morning and afternoon. 

Regarding books and event related with them March was pretty cool! I got the invitation from 2 programs that want to help to promote books (one via Tweeter and the other one via Goodreads). 

Let me tell you guys that I love ARCs and help any author and for me is fantastic to know that both programs actually found me via the blog and my reviews (sometimes I feel that I don't write everything but it's hard to not leave spoilers)

With that I ended up reading 11 books and my 2022 goal is at 36% 

From the TBR posted on the March (here) I read all books books + 3 books that was not in the program:

1. Glimpse, Memoir of a Serial Killer by Stephen B King
2. Blue Eyed Dog by Christopher Taylor 
3. The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Finally I ended up the serie of Miss Peregrine and Riley Paige and all reviews are available here and here. 

I will now give priority to the Black Dagger Brotherhood serie to make sure until the end of the year all book are read and reviews done (it's a looong serie and each book have between 400 and 900 pages) but I needed to start another serie in the middle of this one 😆

And now the April TBR:

1. The Priory of The Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (re-read)
2. Lover Reborn by J. R. Ward
3. All This Time by Mikki Daughtry and Rachael Lippincott
4. The Gunslinger by Stephen King (The Dark Tower #1)
5. The Drawing of the Tree by Stephen King (The Dark Tower #2)
6. The Venus Virus by Camilla Voiez
7. Christmas Hideaway by Wendy Davy

Once Chosen by Blake Pierce (Riley Paige Book 17)

 

Language: English

Format: Paperback

Pages: 232

Genre: Thriller and Mystery

Rating: 4⭐

"A serial killer strikes every Halloween—the bodies of his victims re-surfacing years later—and with Halloween only days away, it is up to FBI Special Agent Riley Paige to stop the killer before he strikes again.

How has this killer gone undetected for so long? How many victims have there really been? And who will he target next?

FBI Special Agent Riley Paige must fend off her own demons and her dysfunctional family life as she races against time to enter the mind of a diabolical killer days away from striking again—one who may even be more brilliant than her.

Can she stop him in time?"

I always got a very good imagination and also I got a lot of imaginary friends but sometimes it can be creepy! Some kids got a very dark "friends" so my point here is that something snap them and after everything goes wrong. 

Like this killer. Not his fault but getting that imaginary friend is a red flag! 

Not only it was also very slow to connect victims and killer it was also slow in the private parte of Riley's life. 

Did I though something will happens and it was just Blake making my heart. work faster? Yes several times! 

Did I like the ending of the serie? No and Yes.

1. Missed something about Jenn. It was to open end for me.
2. Walder situation got me by surprise but no answer about why he hated so much Riley
3. What was the reaction of Riley's family regarding Bill?
4. Ryan is alive or any glance of understanding that he and Riley are really over?

Well it was a good last investigation!

Once Missed by Blake Pierce (Riley Paige Book 16)

 

Language: English

Format: Paperback

Pages: 221

Genre: Thriller and Mystery

Rating: 4⭐

"A serial killer is striking seemingly at random, first killing a man in his 50s, then a woman in her 50s. The only thing that links them is the lone souvenir he took: a dining chair.

What is the meaning? Are the murders random after all?

FBI Special Agent Riley Paige must fend off her own demons and her own dysfunctional family life as she races against time to enter the mind of a diabolical killer who is sure to strike again.

Will she stop him in time?"

You can't be mad over a killer that actually is under Survivor's Guilt Syndrome. 

It is wrong what he's done? yes of course but also he is not in his perfect mind.

It was looong to read this one but probably it was also because the crimes itself was taking longe to make a connection or to find a way to link everything to the killer. 

The last entry got me screaming YES! but after I was wondering: how it will end?

Need to read the last book to check this!