tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21097122058576193872024-03-19T01:36:57.069-07:00What I'm ReadingWhitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-8727339743398362122023-03-16T14:19:00.000-07:002023-03-16T14:19:14.315-07:00BOB THE WIZARD by M.V. PRINDLETHERE WAS NO TURNING BACK NOW. HE WAS LOST IN A FOREST OF WORLDS CONNECTED BY, AS FAR AS BOB COULD TELL, A MAGICAL HIGHWAY CALLED THE ASTRAVERSE. HE'D FIND AND KILL THE GRAY MAN, OR HE'D DIE TRYING.Where do I even begin telling you about this lovely little gem? We’ll start with the title. How could I NOT purchase a book with such a simple, yet intriguing title? Bob the Wizard? Come on! Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-22662586968192475812023-03-13T10:47:00.000-07:002023-03-13T10:47:26.921-07:00Demon's Reign by David Estes and Ben Galley I’m not sure why I decided to purchase Demon’s Reign, first of the Bloodwood Saga, but whew, I’m glad I did! Of course the only problem with first-in-series books is waiting for the next installment. Alas. Anyway, David Estes and Ben Galley knocked it out of the park with this collaborative effort. Wait! I DO know why I picked this one up! I love Ben’s writing style and world building Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-22892903098335543922022-12-01T11:16:00.000-08:002022-12-01T11:16:28.906-08:00Too Many Books, Not Enough Time - Here's The Highlight Reel Yes, yes...I've been away for far too long. That doesn't mean I haven't been reading up a storm though - because I have. For the comeback tour, I thought I'd share a few books which stuck with me since we last spoke. You know, the kinds of books you'll read more than once and recommend to your friends. As you know, I am one of the judges for SPFBO8 with BeforeWeGoBookBlog. (Shout out Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-90002771427917769472022-06-09T09:46:00.000-07:002022-06-09T09:46:10.733-07:00Discovering New Fantasy, New History, and Taking a Break In addition to finishing up coursework for my MFA program, I have been a busy little reading bee!I'll start with the #SPFBO winner from last season, Reign and Ruin by J.D. Evans. For those of you who don't know, the #SPFBO (Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off) contest is open to self-published authors only. Each year there are more entries for the all-volunteer judges to consider. Reign set Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-75015677764550852212022-05-03T09:43:00.008-07:002022-05-03T10:12:33.696-07:00Duckett & Dyer: Dicks for Hire Inter-dimensional travel? Check!
Snarky, ironic humor? Check!
Demons and cults? Check and
check!
I usually avoid science fiction
and crime novels. Not because I think there’s anything wrong or bad with these
genres but rather because the science is generally over my head, and I am
anti-social enough already. I don’t need to learn any new tricks from literary
criminals. That said, I Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-53350512830268994252022-04-12T06:24:00.001-07:002022-04-12T06:24:56.058-07:00History, Fantasy, and Thrilling Romance - OH MY!After finishing Legacy of the Brightwash by Krystle Matar last month, I thought I'd explore a couple more SPFBO nominated works and let me tell you, they did NOT disappoint. HL Tinsley's We Men of Ash and Shadow introduces us to John Vanguard, background fader and assassin extraordinaire with a checkered reputation and a mission to unravel why the last war happened. Vanguard becomes the unlikely Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-52858328145506852662022-03-20T13:57:00.000-07:002022-03-20T13:57:26.343-07:00The 13th Zodiac Once, there were
four Titans:
Urth, the mother
of Gaea,
Sky, the father of
the heavens,
Fate, the overseer
of life and death,
And Time, the
keeper of the Eternal Clock.
The lovers, Fate
and Time, ruled over all.
Together they kept
Gaea at peace,
Until one thousand
years ago when
Mother Urth and
Father sky created mortal man.
And shattered the
Eternal Clock.
Time hated Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-7975796031282399622022-03-18T07:40:00.000-07:002022-03-18T07:40:56.415-07:00The Witch's Knight - SOON TO BE RELEASED!! - by Paula and Trevor Brackston ARC Review - Scheduled Release Date - April 19, 2022The Witch's Knight by Paula and Trevor Brackston“I,
Rhiannon, pledge you my allegiance, my dagger hand, my magic, and my life.
You
have my oath.”
Do you enjoy stories
about witches and knights in armor? You should read this book. Medieval historical
fiction? You should read this book. Eternal love? Read this book. Modern
suspense Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-23822667432089132872022-03-08T11:23:00.017-08:002022-03-08T11:26:56.514-08:00The Chaos of War and the BrightwashChaos, by indie author Jimi Rodriguez, is an interesting YA/CoA (?) story. Loads of teenage angst and sexuality without being pornographic. With a hodge-podge of Hogwarts meets Hunger Games meets Divergent vibes, Chaos focuses on the life of Jacob Titus and his continual struggle to navigate the often deadly magical world with his very real secrets. Titus is a scholarship student at Valcrest Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-58716958680278368592022-02-01T11:57:00.001-08:002022-02-01T11:57:46.591-08:00Sisters, Brothers, Gods Old and New Vicky Ball, author of Powerless,
comes out swinging for a TKO in her debut novel. Published in collaboration
with Burton Mayers Books, Powerless is
riveting from the get-go. When their oldest daughter, Beth, went missing seven
years ago, the Kimmings family was shattered. Younger sister, Abby, and her
parents, have marked time in a semblance of normal life ever since. Their
surprise Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-7908811424912589412022-01-13T16:16:00.000-08:002022-01-13T16:16:17.014-08:00Perilous Confessions - Carrie DalbyWhile browsing The Haunted Bookshop on Dauphin Street in downtown Mobile, AL, I asked the proprietor if they carried local or independent authors. Indeed they do! Imagine my delight as he directed me to an entire section right up in the front of the shop! Perilous Confessions by Carrie Dalby immediately caught my eye. I admit I was intrigued by the Southern Gothic genre classification and that Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-67514534098902239092021-12-30T18:50:00.002-08:002022-04-06T14:20:03.979-07:00Totally Traditional This Round - Sorry If I Let You Down Alas dear readers, I have no Indie Authors
to review for you this month. And to be quite honest, I feel a bit fraudulent
and shamefaced because of it and wondered if you would find me to be
isingenuous for even writing this month's "What I'm Reading" section.
Nevertheless, I did quite a bit of reading this month and wanted to share my
thoughts on the books which occupied much of my free Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-56268195064360687842021-11-23T11:29:00.000-08:002021-11-23T11:29:08.038-08:00From Yellow Fever to March Madness and Everything in Between Madness, by Mike DeLucia, was an immensely satisfying surprise. I haven't enjoyed baskedball this much since before I was kicked off the team in Junior High for popping off at the mouth. At any rate, Madness shines a well-deserved spotlight on the man who single-handedly changed the shape and speed of basketball as we know it. Now virtually unknown, Hank Liusetti overcame obstacles and Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-30225692955208505172021-10-25T09:33:00.004-07:002021-10-25T09:36:26.219-07:00The Violins Played Before Junstan I loved this book! Indie author, Lou Kemp does an incredible job weaving together so many elements and tropes - steampunk, Victoriana, magical realism, demons (?), witches, even a very mild touch of romance. Amazingly, it all works beautifully. The Violins Played Before Junstan is the prequel book to Kemp's Celwyn series. While it isn't required to read Violins before diving into the Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-10773504370464363362021-10-19T12:52:00.006-07:002021-10-21T18:41:34.955-07:00Follow Up on The Tomb, Freeing the Bastards, and Brain Stretching I promised more about The Tomb, Book 1 of The Watchers Series by Carl Novakovich and didn't want to let you down. So, here goes!This independently published book is a roaring good time practically guaranteed to make you laugh out loud, hold your breath, and groan in dismay. Sometimes all in the space of one page! Chicago Police Detective, John Gideon and his partner cum father figure, Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-26952012094580564132021-09-27T09:01:00.002-07:002021-09-27T09:01:54.518-07:00Fantasy For The Win This Go 'Round!Let's get this party started!Beneath a Brass Sky by independent author, Eli Steele, is a fantasy
adventure tale told from the third-person omniscient POV which follows Ulfric
Halehorn and his band of sellswords as they embark on a dangerous mission
across the Brasslands. From the beginning readers are dropped into an
unfamiliar terrain with often confusing yet compelling power structures. Still,
Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0Arkansas, USA35.20105 -91.83183347.1210403652109306 -126.9880834 63.281059634789074 -56.675583399999994tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-65116455821215683552021-09-07T09:02:00.000-07:002021-09-07T09:02:37.027-07:00The Ladies Have It Gild by Raven Kennedy. Hm. I
can’t say I loved this book, but, neither can I say I hated it. If I were asked
to describe Gild by Raven Kennedy in ten words or less, I would say
“BDSM Billionaire Sort-of-Romance Wrapped Loosely in Fantasy.” Let me start by focusing
on what I thoroughly enjoyed about this book.
Kennedy
does an excellent job building the world of Orea, with its Six, Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-5888075139084696252021-08-19T15:42:00.001-07:002021-08-19T15:45:44.607-07:00Small Dark Wonders It's not unusual for me to plow through 4 or five books a week. However, in recent weeks, due to an increase in reading material for my MFA courses, and in thanks to the heaviness of this post's feature books, I only have 3 to review this time. I know...I'm a slacker. I would also like to apologize, there are no indie books on this list. I'll do better next time. Pinky swear.That said, Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-41622437689062558942021-07-29T10:22:00.004-07:002021-07-29T10:24:00.355-07:00Reading Rainbow - More like READING ROLLERCOASTER!Okay Folks, strap in - it's a wild ride this month! Whenever I have a break between school sessions, I read - a LOT. More than usual because I have more free time! Lucky me, right?At any rate, I have been all over the genre landscape in the last couple weeks so let's pace ourselves. Anyone who knows me even a little will know that I am an historical fiction junkie. Three excellent entries Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0Arkansas, USA35.20105 -91.83183346.6441334129688236 -126.9880834 63.757966587031177 -56.675583399999994tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-86477023251765372042021-07-14T14:35:00.005-07:002021-07-14T14:35:29.992-07:00Paper Castles So, Paper Castles - 9 June 2021Paper CastlesCheck out this excellent review of Paper Castles on BookTrib. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Paper Castles by B. Fox is a must-read.Available on Amazon, IndieBound and Bookshop. Just search for it. We both know you know how.Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-30810032244710893652021-07-14T14:30:00.005-07:002021-07-14T14:30:49.034-07:00PHOENIX - Coming VERY soon!COMING SOON TO A BOOKSTORE NEAR YOU!!PHOENIX by Megan Shunmugan will be released JULY 20, 2021!In this YA fantasy, readers are given a new version of what happens when people die. Alexsia Solenia died on her way to live with her aunt and uncle in Canada. When she woke, she was determined to be a Helper and sent to aid King Fenix Arbora of the troubled kingdom of Arianon on the world of Vessus. IfWhitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-62087577864124931922021-07-14T14:26:00.005-07:002021-07-14T14:26:29.221-07:00OH THE CHOICES!! OH THE CHOICES!! - 24 June 2021One international best selling author and two indies on the list this time. If you aren't familiar with Alix E. Harrow, and you enjoy magical realism, beautiful writing, and characters who grab you by the throat, I recommend you pick up The Ten Thousand Doors of January. You will never look at doors the same way again. Trust me on this one.If you're a fan of Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-42390465316830547172021-07-14T14:20:00.006-07:002021-07-14T14:22:56.886-07:00Stalin's Door Stalin's Door - 6 July 2021The trend in historical fiction to focus on Western Europe is shown the proverbial door in this outstanding work by author, John St. Clair. Featuring the gripping tale of two women whose lives become inextricably entangled as they are swept up in the machinations of Stalin's Russia and his Great Terror, Zhenya and Lera lean on each other, uncover strengths they Whitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2109712205857619387.post-36384390503884364342021-07-14T14:11:00.002-07:002021-07-14T14:22:36.950-07:00Holly and the Nobodies Holly and the Nobodies - 9 July 2021Holly and the NobodiesI took a break from course work this morning (final projects, ugh!) and jumped way, way, way out of my comfort zone to read Pienaar's latest YA Horror/Thriller novel. Let me start by saying I'm glad I read it the daylight because I'm sure I'd be reliving it in my dreams if I'd read it before bed. It was that engrossing.Alex, and thenWhitney Reinharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17436237165904621740noreply@blogger.com0