Just started working on a flipbook for my books. It's still in progress, but what do you think?
Joni Martins, author
Tuesday, 21 July 2026
Thursday, 6 June 2024
Book Review: The Coins O' The Realms by C.A. Deegan
Book Review
Basic Details:
Book Title: The Coins o' the
Realms
Subtitle: (The Cracklock
Saga #5)
Author:
C.A. Deegan
Genre: Literature and
Fiction/Young Adult
Part of a series? Yes
Order in series: 5
Best read after earlier
books in series? yes
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209392627-book-5
Overall
score:
I
scored this book 5/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short
Summary of the book:
This is the next instalment in the Cracklock
Saga. And it is another one to get you addicted to this series. Jack and his
family need to work together with his ‘evil’ family members in their fight against
the Dire. The Dire is now getting stronger as it seeks and finds its others.
Will Jack and his family succeed?
What
I liked about the book:
The book is well-written and action-filled.
What
I didn’t like about the book:
Like the other books in the series, it was
difficult to put the book down, and I was at risk of not getting enough sleep
(just kidding, the book was just that good).
My
favourite bits in the book:
The entire book.
My
least favourite bits in the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
Any
further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
This is a stand-alone book in the series, and
the seventh book I’ve read by this author, and I can’t wait to read the next. I’m
looking forward to reading the eighth book in the series when it arrives.
What
books could this be compared to and why?
Like stories about faeries and goblins? This
is a story like no other.
Recommendation:
In
summary, I would recommend this book to the following readers:
|
Children |
No |
|
Young
Adult |
Yes |
|
Adult |
Yes |
If
you like fiction with a bit of fairy dust, but
lots of action and evil entities, too, this book may be the book for
you.
I
look forward to reading more books by this author.
Book
Description by Author:
SEEK
AND YE SHALL FIND…
The
Dire seeks its others; its insidious reach stretching across the globe. When it
finds them, the realms are doomed.
Jack
has to stop it; the coins he needs lost to millennia. And only foes, both old
and new, can help him find stolen friends and ancient magicks.
It's a
terrible race. Jack and his friends have to win it. They have to....
About
the Author:
Monday, 3 June 2024
Book Review: The Missing Heirloom by Lorraine Simpson
Book Review
Basic Details:
Book
Title: The Missing Heirloom
Subtitle: An Anna Stone
Mystery
Author:
Lorraine Simpson
Genre: Thriller/crime/mystery
Part of a series? Yes
Order in series: 1
Best read after earlier
books in series?
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/211760247-the-missing-heirloom
Overall
score:
I
scored this book 5/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short
Summary of the book:
This cozy mystery follows Anna Stone, PA to a
Dame. During a party, an expensive heirloom is stolen and Dame Charleston and
Anna set out to find out what has happened. They come across several secrets
and mysteries along the way. Will they succeed and avoid mortal danger?
What
I liked about the book:
This book was action-packed, full of intrigue
and twists and turns.
What
I didn’t like about the book:
There was nothing I disliked about the book.
My
favourite bits in the book:
I loved the entire book.
My
least favourite bits in the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
Any
further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
This is a cozy mystery and the first in a new
series. I look forward to reading more of Anna’s adventures.
What
books could this be compared to and why?
The book finds itself in the category of crime,
thrillers and mysteries. It is written to a very high standard.
Recommendation:
In
summary, I would recommend this book to the following readers:
|
Children |
No |
|
Young
Adult |
Yes |
|
Adult |
Yes |
If
you like cozy mysteries, this book may be
the book for you.
I
look forward to reading more by this author.
Book
Description by Author:
An
impossible mystery with a reluctant sleuth...
The
first in a gripping new standalone mystery series featuring Anna Stone.
Country
Estate PA, Anna Stone, 29, loves her job. But when a valuable necklace goes
missing at a party, it’s clear that one of the people in that dining room is
the thief. It doesn’t help that the pendant was around Anna’s neck at the time.
She sees the way the villagers are looking at they’re closing ranks.
Dame
Lilian Charleston is upset about a cousin who disappeared fifty years ago...
And
now Angela Bennett, the estate’s former housekeeper, has vanished, too—presumed
dead.
And
where on earth does Marrakesh come into it?
In
the small village of Rosewater, England, everybody has a secret.
But,
how far will they go to conceal it?
About
the Author:
.
Book Review: Fur by Katherine Black
Book Review
Basic Details:
Book
Title: Fur
Subtitle:
Author:
Katherine Black
Genre: Thriller/crime/mystery
Part of a series?
Order in series:
Best read after earlier
books in series?
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201954149-fur
Overall
score:
I
scored this book 5/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short
Summary of the book:
This is a completely different book for this
author. I’ve read several books by her hand and although a thriller of sorts,
it deals with the troubles and strains on relationships that come with a child
with autism. Will the love for a canine cause Sammy to wander in mortal danger?
What
I liked about the book:
This book was action-packed, full of intrigue
and twists and turns.
What
I didn’t like about the book:
There was nothing I disliked about the book.
My
favourite bits in the book:
I loved the entire book.
My
least favourite bits in the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
Any
further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
This is another great book by this author and
I can’t wait to pick up another one by her hand.
What
books could this be compared to and why?
The book finds itself in the category of crime,
thrillers and mysteries. It is written to a very high standard.
Recommendation:
In
summary, I would recommend this book to the following readers:
|
Children |
No |
|
Young
Adult |
Yes |
|
Adult |
Yes |
If
you like suspenseful psychological thrillers, this
book may be the book for you.
I
look forward to reading more by this author.
Book
Description by Author:
Every family has a limit. Every secret has a
price.
15-year-old Samuel May is a neurodivergent
young man with a unique mind. When his best friend vanishes, it triggers more
than just a search. It plunges Sammy and his parents into an emotional
labyrinth with unimaginable consequences.
From the beginning, tensions rise and secrets
emerge as the family is pushed to the limit. Sammy has to come to terms with a
world that doesn't understand him. With each revelation, they're forced closer
to breaking point. Can they endure the strain?
Sammy's in danger. And everything hinges on
finding his friend.
Fur is a gripping and soulful look at a
dysfunctional family dynamic, set against a backdrop of unfolding mystery and
heart-stopping moments. Prepare for a journey that's as emotionally rich as it
is suspenseful.
About
the Author:
.
Book Review: Cold-blooded Carnival by Katherine Black
Book Review
Basic Details:
Book
Title: Cold-Blooded Carnival
Subtitle: (DCI Nash Book 4)
Author:
Katherine Black
Genre: Thriller/crime/mystery
Part of a series? Yes
Order in series: 4
Best read after earlier
books in series? Yes
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199299910-cold-blooded-carnival
Overall
score:
I
scored this book 5/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short
Summary of the book:
Silas is back and is sent to Prague to assist
the Prague police in their investigations into a murder in a circus. With
superstitions running rife, it’s difficult to work out what is really
happening. Is there really a supernatural force at work? He is joined on this
semi-holiday by his partner and Max also makes an appearance. Will Silas
succeed to find the killer and avoid further murders taking place?
What
I liked about the book:
This book was action-packed, full of intrigue
and twists and turns.
What
I didn’t like about the book:
There was nothing I disliked about the book.
My
favourite bits in the book:
I loved the entire book.
My
least favourite bits in the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
Any
further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
Detective Chief Inspector Nash is fast
becoming one of my favourite detectives. I can’t wait for the next Silas Nash
mystery to come my way.
What
books could this be compared to and why?
The book finds itself in the category of crime,
thrillers and mysteries. It is written to a very high standard.
Recommendation:
In
summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
|
Children |
No |
|
Young
Adult |
Maybe |
|
Adult |
Yes |
If
you like suspenseful psychological thrillers, this
book may be the book for you.
I
look forward to reading more by this author.
Book
Description by Author:
In a circus of shadows, death takes centre
stage.In the shadowy heart of Prague, beneath the looming towers of Vysehrad
Castle, DCI Nash finds himself ensnared in a web of malevolence. As a
once-celebrated circus unravels into a maelstrom of death, the macabre
discovery of a fifteen-year-old trapeze artist signals the start of a nightmare
murder spree that disrupts the colourful façade of the big top.
With the spectral hum of an uninvited
carousel heralding a curse, Nash is thrown into a case where the performers
live by superstition and folklore.
With time running out, Nash battles the clock
to unmask the mastermind behind the madness. But the circus is a place where
crazy isn’t always fun. Every smile conceals an agenda. As the secrets unravel,
the real monsters aren’t in the funhouse . . . they walk among the innocent.
‘Cold-Blooded Carnival is the best Silas Nash
thriller yet. Written in a more vivid style than Black’s trademark
stripped-back prose, it’s a pulse-pounding thriller that will keep you on the
edge of your seat until the shocking reveal. Brilliant. A movie-worthy
masterpiece.’ — Brian Dawson
Step right up, if you dare, for a performance
where fear and suspense fly under the glittering lights of the big top.
About
the Author:
.
Book Review: Cold Murder by Jeanette Taylor Ford
Book Review
Basic Details:
Book Title: Cold Murder
Subtitle:
Author:
Jeanette Taylor Ford
Genre: Crime, Mystery
Part of a series? Yes
Order in series: 1
Best read after earlier
books in series?
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/153389657-cold-murder
Overall
score:
I
scored this book 5/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short
Summary of the book:
A murder in a posh cul-de-sac. Secrets hidden
amongst the inhabitants. A secret history. Will DS Della Downs find out the truth
before more people fall victim?
What
I liked about the book:
The book is action-packed, and full of
suspense and with a twist.
What
I didn’t like about the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
My
favourite bits in the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
My
least favourite bits in the book:
The book was enjoyable in its entirety.
Any
further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
This is the first book I’ve read by this author,
and I look forward to reading more. I wonder what DS Della Downs will be up to
next.
What
books could this be compared to and why?
This is a mystery full of suspense.
Recommendation:
In
summary, I would recommend this book to the following readers:
|
Children |
No |
|
Young
Adult |
Maybe |
|
Adult |
Yes |
If
you like suspense and murder mysteries, this
book may be the book for you.
I
look forward to reading more by this author.
Book
Description by Author:
The coldest night of the year, and DS Della
Downs is called to attend a suspicious death.
A naked man has frozen to death in a field at
the end of an elite cul-de-sac on the outskirts of Derby. It seems someone has
been judge, jury and executioner, for the dead man has ‘guilty’ carved into his
chest.
Sassy Detective Sergeant Della Downs and her
sidekick, Detective Constable Curran, wade through a mire of suspects – a whole
cul-de-sac of them. And how does this murder connect to an old case, for which
a man has been in prison for almost ten years? However, their prime suspect
slips through their fingers, only to wind up dead in another town.
About
the Author:
From
a bookworm to a bookworm who writes!
Jeanette
Taylor Ford grew up in Cromer, Norfolk, moved to Hereford in 1968. Now lives
not far from Nottingham. She has six children, seven grandchildren and a
great-granddaughter. A compulsive teller of tales, she mostly writes in the
genre of the paranormal but sometimes digresses into other subjects, stories
for children, short stories and the occasional poem.
Visit
Jeanette on her facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Jeanette-Tay...
or
her blog: https://jeanetteford51.wordpress.com/
Sunday, 21 April 2024
Book Review: The Academy by Lubov Leonova
Book Review
Basic Details:
Book Title: The Academy:
Detective Stories
Subtitle: (Two Worlds: Magic
Squad Book 1)
Author: Lubov Leonova
Genre: (Science) Fiction
Part of a series? Yes
Order in series: 1
Best read after earlier
books in series? N/A
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61079525-the-academy
Overall
score:
I
scored this book 4/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short
Summary of the book:
In a world where magic is the norm, it’s abnormal
to be without powers. Two young women attend the academy to become guardians.
Both have a traumatic past and both need to prove their worth as the first
females accepted. Will they succeed and become the detectives they wish to be?
And will their love be accepted?
What
I liked about the book:
The book is action-filled, with heartache,
intrigue and deception.
What
I didn’t like about the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
My
favourite bits in the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
My
least favourite bits in the book:
The book was enjoyable in its entirety.
Any
further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
This is the first book I’ve read by this author,
and I look forward to reading more.
What
books could this be compared to and why?
This is a fiction/fantasy novel.
Recommendation:
In
summary, I would recommend this book to the following readers:
|
Children |
No |
|
Young
Adult |
Yes |
|
Adult |
Yes |
If
you like stories about magic and intrigue, this
book may be the book for you.
I
look forward to reading more by this author.
Book
Description by Author:
Elisa applies to the Academy to become a
detective. To her own surprise, she is not the only woman studying here. Jackie
and Elisa quickly become best friends and fall in love with each other.
Together, they dream of stopping the local
gang who sells drugs to teenagers. However, they are surrounded by male
guardians, which means that their mistake might cost them a career.
Will they manage to catch a criminal boss
without ruining their reputation?
About
the Author:
I was always in love with reading. My favorite genres
included fantasy and detectives, so I guess it formed my taste when I started
writing my own stories.
Born in Russia, I immigrated to Canada in 2014.
Here I faced multiple challenges including building my own life from scratch
and figuring out what career path would let me use my full potential. My
searches led me to feminist studies in college and volunteering in female
support groups. There, my experience slowly formed into ideas of my fantasy
series Two Worlds where females shape the sphere of justice using their natural
talents.
Today I live on the East coast of Canada together
with my husband Alex and my bunny Boris.
Sunday, 29 October 2023
Book Review: Tabula Rasa by J.S. Morton
Book Review
Basic Details:
Book Title: Tabula Rasa
Subtitle:
Author:
J.S. Morton
Genre: Psychological
Thriller
Part of a series? No
Order in series:
Best read after earlier
books in series? N/A
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61785868-tabula-rasa
Overall
score:
I
scored this book 4/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short
Summary of the book:
He has everything he could want, a job with a
good income, a new home, a wife, good friends and a baby on the way. And then
everything changes. There are lost periods in his memory. What happened? Could
alcohol and drugs be to blame?
What
I liked about the book:
It kept you on your toes.
What
I didn’t like about the book:
I enjoyed the book.
My
favourite bits in the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
My
least favourite bits in the book:
When the main character finally finds out the
truth.
Any
further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
This is the first book I’ve read by this
author.
What
books could this be compared to and why?
It’s difficult to compare it with any other
thrillers.
Recommendation:
In
summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
|
Children |
No |
|
Young
Adult |
No |
|
Adult |
Yes |
If
you like reading psychological thrillers, this
book may be the book for you.
Book
Description by Author:
Enigmatic
Zeke Olsen has everything he ever wanted. A well-paid job, a beautiful wife,
close friends, and a baby on the way. Fumbling his way through a traumatic
childhood, he’d carved out the existence of his dreams. His life is perfect
until a business trip to New York brings about a catastrophic turn of events.
Zeke
returns home and finds his life spiralling out of control, battling his memory,
addiction, and pain. He struggles to grasp what happened, who he is, and what
he is capable of. His dream slowly fades into a nightmare and unravels
chaotically around him.
A
boundary-crossing dark, psychological thriller that will keep you guessing as
you ask yourself, how well do you know really know anyone?
About
the Author:
J.S.
Morton is an award-winning fiction writer with a deep love for dark comedy.
Most of his stories revolve around real-life issues and human psychology.
As
a reader, he loves a gritty dystopia as much as dark, humorous read and cites
'The Handmaid's Tale' '1984' and 'You' among some of his favourites.
Outside
of writing, John is a passionate fan of live music (predominantly punk rock),
motorsports, reading, cinema, and snow.
He
is also a staunch believer in kindness and that it is never too late in life to
start again.
Sunday, 8 October 2023
Book Review: Suicide Bridge by Daniel Kowalski
Book Review
Basic Details:
Book Title: Suicide Bridge
Subtitle: A Suspenseful
Mystery Thriller Fiction Crime Novel
Author:
Daniel Kowalski
Genre: Mystery
Part of a series?
Order in series:
Best read after earlier
books in series?
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/197881205-suicide-bridge
Overall
score:
I
scored this book 3.5/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short
Summary of the book:
We meet Michelle as she tries to piece her
life back together again. She lost her boyfriend and son because of her drug use
and is working hard to regain the trust and custody of her son. But will she
succeed with the help of her friends, or will they just hinder her?
What
I liked about the book:
The story is great and shows real promise.
What
I didn’t like about the book:
The writing style requires some improvement,
but it shows great promise.
My
favourite bits in the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
My
least favourite bits in the book:
The book was enjoyable in its entirety.
Any
further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
This is the first book I’ve read by this author,
and I look forward to reading more.
What
books could this be compared to and why?
This is a mystery.
Recommendation:
In
summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
|
Children |
No |
|
Young
Adult |
Maybe |
|
Adult |
Yes |
If
you like mysteries, this book may be the
book for you.
I
look forward to reading more by this author.
Book
Description by Author:
"A solid mystery/thriller with a smooth
pace and compelling characters. A real page turner!" -Timothy J. Cox
Actor/Producer/Screenwriter
After hearing that a coworker has committed
suicide by jumping off a bridge, a recovering drug addict begins investigating
the case on her own and she starts to suspect that her boyfriend might be a
murderer.
Michelle Rhodes is taking life one day at a
time. She’s a recovering heroin addict that ODed when she was driving with her
toddler son in the car. Her now ex-boyfriend, Frank, now has full custody of
the child while Michelle went to rehab, started a new job as a fast food
manager, found a new boyfriend named Cory, and she got her own apartment. She’s
been clean for more than four months now. Her life isn’t great but she’s
working on that.
Everything changes for her when her co-worker
and friend, Sarah, disappears. Sarah’s car was found abandoned on a bridge and
it looks like she jumped but no one can say for sure that’s what happened
because her body hasn’t been recovered. If she did then she wouldn't be the
first person as dozens of poor souls have jumped off it before over the
decades, earning it the nickname of Suicide Bridge. However, in their small
town, people are gossiping and the general consensus is that she probably
killed herself because it was well known that she and her very wealthy father
had a very rocky relationship.
Michelle tries not to have an opinion until
all the facts are known. But after she finds a necklace that belonged to Sarah
hidden in her boyfriend’s things, she starts to suspect that he might be
involved in a possible murder.
Michelle will follow her suspicions about
Cory because she desires to help her lost friend. It won’t be easy for her. The
lead detective on Sarah’s case is Frank and there are a lot of hard feelings
between the former couple. Michelle will do her best to put those aside because
she is determined to discover the truth, even if she is just an amateur sleuth.
But what she doesn’t realize in this exciting mystery/thriller is that the
truth will be far more sinister than she could have ever imagined.
If you enjoyed books that have the
psychological twist and turns of 'Gone Girl' along with the action along with
the fast pace and action in 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' then this book is
for you.
This is a fictional story that adheres to the
genre of the mystery suspense thriller. Other similar titles to it 'Before I go
to Sleep', 'Fates and Furies', 'The Girl on the Train', 'Big Little Lies', 'The
Silent Patient', 'Lullaby', 'Sharp Objects', and 'The Wife Between us'..
About
the Author:
I'm
a new author and I would really appreciate that, if you read my book, then
please leave a review. Good reviews are the best way to get others to take a
chance with their time to check out my book.
In
the meantime I am working on a follow up novel that I will release later this
year.






