Book Review: The Tearsmith by Erin Doo

The Tearsmith by Erin Doom
Genre: Young Adult Fiction (Dark Contemporary Romance)
Date Published: December 20, 2020
Publisher: Dell

Growing up in a ghastly orphanage run by an abusive matron, Nica coped in the only way she could—by retreating to her imagination, where she lived out fantastical stories, especially about the Tearsmith, the man who makes tears, a terrifying figure who forges all the fears that dwell in people’s hearts.

When she’s finally taken in by an adoptive family at seventeen, Nica thinks she’s leaving the group home, its torments, and her prison of otherworldly tales behind her. That is, until Rigel—a young man raised from birth in the same dreadful orphanage—joins her new family.

Rigel is as mesmerizingly handsome as he is troubled, and he and Nica have a long history of distrust and hostility. But as they come to live together again under one roof, the deep shared trauma of surviving such vicious circumstances sparks something magical, and Nica begins to fall for Rigel’s forbidden love.

Before any relationship can become reality, though, they’ll have to face the darkness of their past . . . and the dangerous stakes of pursuing a future together.

I went into this one thinking there was going to be some kind of supernatural/fantasy aspect to it. Like the Tearsmith was going to jump out at any second, or Rigel was going to be a vampire. And, I thought for sure Nica was something with all of her quirky ways. Nope. It ended up being about mental health and abuse. Both big issues. But, after reading the blurb, I was expecting something Supernatural, so that was one thing that disappointed me.

I actually liked Nica. She was immature for her age, but I loved her love of all things living. 

I keep seeing people saying that it was incestuous… ummm. I have many issues with their relationship, but it’s not incest. They aren’t related. The adoption isn’t official. Sure, they grew up in an orphanage together, but they didn’t hang out. They weren’t even friends. The relationship was extremely cringy and toxic. I wasn’t a fan of the whole dynamic, but it wasn’t even close to incest. Many people grow up together and fall in love when they get older. What makes that ok and this not? So.. no, the love wasn’t incestuous or forbidden. Just toxic. 

 

Erin Doom is an Italian author whose debut novel Fabbricante di lacrime (The Tearsmith) shot to the top of the charts in 2022 and has since sold over half a million copies. Her second and third novels, Nel modo in cui cade la neve (The Way the Snow Falls) and Stigma (2023), are also bestsellers. Doom studied Law and currently resides in Italy.

To learn more about Erin Doom and her books, visit her on Goodreads & Instagram.

Buy this book at:

Book Review: Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Uglies (Uglies #1) by Scott Westerfeld
Genre: Young Adult Fiction (Dystopian)
Date Published: February 8, 2005
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. In just a few weeks she'll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunning pretty. And as a pretty, she'll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun.

But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world—and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally's choice will change her world forever....

Uglies is the first book in the Uglies series by Scott ssss. I actually saw the movie a while ago on Netflix, and finally read the book. There are differences between the two. I like things about both, but ultimately, the book is better. Of course. I felt like Tally was a believable character given the World she grew up in. I enjoyed watching her grow into herself and form her own opinions. There was a lot to keep my attention and little down time in the action department. We even get the beginnings of a romance… maybe.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld - Excerpt by Simon and Schuster

Scott Westerfeld is a New York Times bestselling author of YA. He is best known for the Uglies and Leviathan series. His current series, IMPOSTORS, returns to the world of Uglies.

To learn more about Scott Westerfeld and his books, visit his website. You can also find him on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Buy this book at:

Book Review: Imagine Heaven by John Burke

Imagine Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God's Promises, and the Exhilarating Future That Awaits You by John Burke
Genre: Adult NonFiction (Christian Nonfiction)
Date Published: November 1, 2015
Publisher: Baker Books

1 out of 25 Americans has had a near-death experience.

Do they reveal the Heaven of the Bible?

 

All of us long to know what life after death will be like. Bestselling author John Burke is no exception. In Imagine Heaven, he compares more than one hundred gripping stories of near-death experiences (NDEs) to what Scripture says about our biggest questions of Heaven: Will I be myself? Will I see friends and loved ones? What will Heaven look like? What is God like? What will we do forever? What about children and pets?

Burke shows how the common experiences shared by thousands of near-death survivors--including doctors, college professors, bank presidents, people of all ages and cultures, and even blind people--point to the exhilarating picture of Heaven promised in the Bible.

This thrilling journey into the afterlife will make you feel like you've been there, forever changing the way you view the life to come--and the way you live your life today. You'll discover Heaven is even more amazing than you've ever imagined.

 

"Burke has managed to write this book like a detective novel--it's very hard to put down, yet filled with important content that answers the questions a typical person would have with this subject. In all honesty, this is now the go-to book on Heaven and NDEs."--J. P. Moreland, distinguished professor of philosophy, Biola University

 

"In his engrossing book, my friend John Burke surveys the vast literature on NDEs, examining them in light of the Bible and showing how they can help us live with an eye on eternity."--Lee Strobel, bestselling author of The Case for Christ and The Case for Grace

 

"It's been a long time since I have enjoyed a book as much as this one. Imagine Heaven is clearly reasoned and draws relevant applications for our lives."--Gary R. Habermas, distinguished research professor and chair of the department of philosophy, Liberty University

 

John Burke is the author of No Perfect People Allowed, Soul Revolution, and Unshockable Love. He is the pastor of Gateway Church in Austin, Texas. As an international speaker, John has addressed hundreds of thousands of people in twenty countries on topics of leadership and spiritual growth.

Imagine Heaven is a stand alone book telling the Near Death Experiences of multiple people. I was enthralled by every bit of it. There are people of all ages, nationalities, and religions telling their stories, and all these stories have so many similarities. It's crazy how similar their stories are. The children who talk about things and people they should know nothing about... blind people describing things they've never seen before... It all amazed me. I think this is an excellent book to read, regardless of what your personal beliefs are. Ultimately, for me.. this was a book of hope.

John Burke is the New York Times bestselling author of Imagine Heaven and Imagine the God of Heaven and has researched 1500 cases of near-death experiences and how they correlate with the Bible. Imagine Heaven has been translated into 28 languages with over a million copies circulated in the US and more across the globe. John’s new You Tube channel and podcast, “The Imagine Heaven Podcast with John Burke” is on all platforms and is currently reaching over 80 countries. John has appeared in multiple documentaries and movies and has been a popular guest on many podcasts and news outlets. John and his wife Kathy founded a multi-site church in Austin, Texas which he led for 26 years. They recently founded Imagine Heaven Ministries that supports their global outreach to share God’s love and the hope of heaven with the world. John and Kathy enjoy living in Austin, Texas and have two married children and two granddaughters.

To learn more about John Burke and his books, visit his website. You can also find him on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, & YouTube.

Buy this book at:

Book Review: Filthy Rich Vampire by Geneva Lee Albin

Filthy Rich Vampire (Filthy Rich Vampires #1) by Geneva Lee Albin
Genre: Adult Fiction (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published: May 24, 2022
Publisher: Estate Books

Newly edited, and for the first time in print, discover the smash-hit series.

Julian Rousseaux has a problem. He’s single, and for the world’s wealthiest vampires, the social season is about to begin. Julian would rather stake himself than participate in the marriage market. But as the eldest eligible Rousseaux, he’s expected to find a wife before the season ends―whether he likes it or not.

When cellist Thea literally stumbles into his life at a gala, he knows she's the last person he could ever fall in love with. She's too innocent, too kind, and way too human. But now that she knows about his world, she's also a walking target. She needs protection. He needs a fake girlfriend to discourage overzealous vampire matchmaking.

So, Julian makes Thea an irresistible offer: pretend to be his lover and he’ll change her life. For one year, they’ll attend the season’s social events together in exchange for his protection and a way out of her mother’s crippling medical debt.

She can’t say no. But the vampire world is impossibly decadent and darker than Thea ever imagined, and Julian’s filthy rich vampire family wants her out of the way. But with each moment they share, new dangers emerge: a desire as forbidden as their stolen touches, an awakening of a long-dead heart, and secrets that could tear them both apart.

Sensual, dangerous, provocative ― step into a daring new world of dark magic, primal attraction, and breathtaking romance.

Filthy Rich Vampire is the first book in the Filthy Rich Vampires series by Geneva Lee Albin. This was not what I was expecting in a vampire book, but that’s ok. More than ok. I enjoyed it in a guilty pleasure kind of way, plus I liked the characters and the overall story. Wins all around. Aside from the forbidden, vampire love, I wouldn’t compare it to Twilight as some have, but it was entertaining and quite a bit naughtier than Twilight.

Check out the next book in this series!

Geneva Lee Albin is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of over thirty novels. Her bestselling Royals Saga has sold nearly four million copies worldwide. She's shamelessly addicted to recovering alpha males, headstrong heroines, and drop-your-jaw plot twists. People Magazine calls Geneva's books "convincing with fluid writing that's full of drama." When she isn't writing or reading, you might find her on another adventure with her real-life hero and their three kids. 

To learn more about Geneva Lee Albin and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads, Goodreads, Facebook, & Instagram.

Buy this book at:

Book Review: Blood-Kissed Sky by J.A. London

Blood-Kissed Sky (Darkness Before Dawn #2) by J.A. London
Genre: Young Adult Fiction (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published: December 26, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins

There's nowhere left to hide.

I thought vampires were our enemies - they controlled our lives, isolated our cities, and demanded our blood - until I met Victor. With Victor taking over as the new Lord Valentine, things were supposed to get better. Instead, they're worse than ever.

Day Walkers, a new breed of vampires who can walk in the sun, are terrorizing the city. Blood supplies are low, and if Victor's vampires don't get enough, they will become infected with the Thirst - a disease that will turn them into mindless killers.

To stop it, I must journey across the desolate wasteland to the very place where the sickness began. I can only hope that the answers that await me are enough to save us all... before it's too late.

“I'm leaving the door partly open," he says as he follows Tegan. "You scream if you need me."

Once he is outside, Richard says, "He does realize that if he hears your scream, it's already too late.”

Blood-Kissed Sky is the second book in the Darkness Before Dawn trilogy by J.A. London. I really like this world’s take on vampires. It’s different from most books. There was a lot going on this time around. We get answers to lingering questions from book one, and we get more information and happenings, leading to more questions along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and it kept my attention the whole way so through. This was an excellent second book.

Have you read the first book yet? 

J.A. London is the mother-son writing team of Rachel Hawthorne(Lorraine Heath) and her son, Alex London. Rachel has written many novels for teens, including the popular Dark Guardian series. Alex, a recent graduate with a degree in Historical Studies, enjoys combining history and fiction to create unique worlds. The Darkness Before Dawn series is their first joint project.

To learn more about J.A. London and their books, visit their website. You can also find them on Goodreads.

Buy this book at:

Book Review: A Curse of Blood & Stone by K.A. Tucker

A Curse of Blood & Stone (Fate & Flame #2) by K.A. Tucker 
Genre: Adult Fiction (Fantasy Romance)
Date Published: July 12, 2022
Publisher: Self

“I do not know how to love you and be a good king to my people.”

Romeria has fled Cirilea as a traitor. Zander has sacrificed his crown to save her life but dreads what her existence means for the future of his realm. They both know that no immortal will ever welcome her as Islor's queen. Side-by-side as outcasts - yet with a growing distance between them - they watch as a new threat to the kingdom unfurls, one larger than they could have imagined.

Guided by an uncertain prophecy and with their allies rapidly losing faith, their company journeys to the Venhorn Mountains in search of answers. Yet with Romeria struggling to wield her newfound abilities and the mortal rebellion growing in strength, it may already be too late.

From internationally bestselling author K.A. Tucker comes the second novel in her Fate and Flame series, an adult fantasy story that should be read in series order.

A Curse of Blood & Stone is the second book in the Fate & Flame trilogy by K.A. Tucker. This one definitely fell into the Second Book Syndrome category for me. I hate saying that but everything I loved about the characters in the first book was missing from the second book… and Where did the plot go? There was a lot of wondering around, but what really happened? How did the plot progress? I don’t feel like it did. I think it's me. I feel like I missed something!

Check out more by this author!

Born in small-town Ontario, K.A. Tucker published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

To learn more about K.A. Tucker and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

Buy this book at: