Virtuous Deception by Leiann B. Wrytes Review

The typeset of the book was done very well.

There were very few errors (maybe 3 to 4) in the entire book. Those of which included spelling and a missing word here or there.

I loved the cover of the book. I thought that it was very fitting and professional. The back cover was nicely done also. Neither was cluttered.

I was a little confused when I read the book description. I felt that the description could have been written out a little more. There was way more to the book than the synopsis expressed.  As I was reading the first two chapters I was a little confused due to the synopsis, but as the book proceeded it was out of this world. The storyline was awesome and flowed perfectly. There were twists and turns on every page. Leiann B. Wrytes did her thing with this novel. There was no way of knowing what was going to happen next. As soon as I thought I had it…I was wrong!!!! This book shows the ultimate six degrees of separation. I thought it was an awesome read.  I am looking forward to A Virtuous Deception 2.

I would give it 4.5 Pens!

-Neshia

Gods and Gladiators by Jaye Shields Review

First off, the cover is beautiful! Caught my attention immediately and the typesetting is good.

The story is set in ancient Rome. Ares accepts a challenge to spend a month as a human gladiator in Rome. The Olympian gods devised the challenge to prove the Romans weren’t as mighty as they (the Romans) thought. Ares’s first act to gain some gladiator glory came in the form of a reenactment of Sabines.

The story flows, although I would definitely recommend boning up on Roman history and Greek mythology so the characters make sense. I am a history buff so I rate it five stars. The author paints an almost tangible picture—as I read, I could see the gladiators in the Coliseum.

The wrench in the works comes dressed as a woman named Eirana, one of many women enslaved by the Romans. This was almost predictable. Typical guy-meets-forbidden-girl-and-must-rescue-her scenario.

Due to the setting, it didn’t come off as cliché as I expected, which was a very pleasant surprise.

Even with my penchant for mythology and general enjoyment of the supernatural, it took me four chapters to really get “into” this book. While the action is fantastic and the scenes are well-written, had I judged it by the very beginning, I would probably not have finished.

Overall I rate this novel three out of five stars, because without a background in mythology the story would be hard to follow. Readable but definitely within the niche of history and mythology buffs who don’t mind a slow build.

3 Pens

-Rani Titali

Brooklyn Boys by Sabrina A. Eubanks

Out Now

So Smart Ya Stupid Review by J.Gail

So Smart Ya Stupid

Oh, where do I begin…

I enjoyed this book from cover to cover. The characters were interesting, well-developed, and (in the case of Shawn) downright infuriating! As far as books go, this one is very well-written. The author obviously put a great deal of thought into the characters and plot, from Kay’s figure to the breath of the neighborhood drunk, Brian. The storyline is expertly woven, with enough detail to paint a picture but not so much that the original vision is lost. Beautifully typeset and edited. Five stars all around! And the cover is ok.

I love when a character evokes real feelings. Shawn took me from three to thirty eight (angry) really quick with the way he treated Kay. I kept hoping she would get him from under her skin.

They are the tragically mismatched couple—two damaged halves trying to make a whole with no clue how to begin. Their relationship—wait, codependency is a better word—is so gritty and raw at times. I could feel Kay’s frustration when she begged Shawn to stay in those nights. I could feel his agitation when he went out anyway. Their feelings are tangible that way; it almost makes you want to put the book down for a moment to clear your head. Alas, this page turner is not easy to set down.

I found myself crossing my fingers and almost praying that either Shawn would leave Kay alone for good OR that Kay would wise up and break the detrimental cycle of their codependency. She eventually acquires physical distance but her heart is still there. There is progress. There are steps forward and steps backward.

By the end of this series of well-written debacles (and by debacle, I mean the messes the characters continually find themselves in!)…I won’t give away the ending, but know you will be both riveted and horrified. It was a pleasure and privilege to review this. Again, five stars.

I give this novel 5 Pens

- Rani Titali