2022 Novel Reviews – Page 2 – Baskerville Book Reviews

Review: Halloween Party 3

Celebrate with three short Halloween stories that each have a different twist. Each of these Halloween tales is self contained, is professionally narrated, and lasts for about one hour.

Occasionally Mischievous

Neve longs for the past, where Halloween meant hanging out with friends. So when she finds a store filled with Halloween nostalgia, she is absolutely thrilled. She completes impulse buy after impulse buy, until she accidentally gets something that wasn’t for sale: a magical witch’s hat with untold powers. But magic, even if accidentally given, comes with a price.

Subcontracted Death

When a doctor tells you that you are ripe for the scythe, you begin to wonder about the harvest. And so began my contract with death itself. A contract that has led to a legendary healing artifact. An artifact that can give immortality. But immortality is a prize that destroys the winner.

Decay’s Destruction

Everyone knows not to go out at night unless you want to deal with monsters. That was until a magical item allowed its user to ‘smell’ when a monster was near. Now there are ambitions to build a monster alarm system throughout town. But some creatures, such as the necromancer, have plans of their own.

Review: Ares

MMA fighter Harmony “Harm” Makos steps into the ring every day for more than the fame and glory of the fight. For her, it’s the alternative to therapy. An opportunity to tame the constant beast struggling to break free. Hardened by a broken home and high school ridicule, she’s learned to control the fury but it always lurks beneath the surface.

When a threat on her life arrives in the form of an ominous letter, a bodyguard is assigned to follow her every move. Harm is immediately against the idea, and the animosity rises when said bodyguard is none other than former MMA men’s heavyweight champion, Mars.

Between their heads butting at every turn, forced proximity, and constant banter, Harm will discover Mars isn’t all that he seems. Around him, visions of battle, chaos, and destruction plague her thoughts. The red glint in his eyes holds more than mystery – it bears the unknown cure for both their fury…if they can learn to work together, that is.

Review: Fires That Forge

Murder. Betrayal. Magic? One knight takes up his hammer to hunt a killer concealed. When dark arts and faith face off, will sorcery or swordsmanship win out? What chance can a mere mortal have against vampires and demonic forces? Is King’s Inquisitor Dunewell prepared to break the laws he has sworn to serve to discover and defeat a master of shrouded evil? Where is the line between hero and villain, saint and sinner?

Kingdom of Lethanor, 1648. Inquisitor Dunewell stands strong in a city scarred by corruption. A true warrior for justice, the newly assigned investigator jumps into the fray when a close physician friend is accused of murder. Vowing to find the real monster, he enters a deadly race against time and the tip of the executioner’s blade.

Ordered by superiors to wrap up the case quickly, the honorable man-at-arms digs deeply into clues pointing to demons and forbidden powers. But as more aristocrats are found brutally slain and vampire attacks foment mayhem, Dunewell must hunt down a magical foe before his city falls into violent madness.

Fires that Forge is the first book in the gripping Lords of Order & Chaos epic fantasy series, one of four series in the Bloodlines Reforged Saga. If you like thrilling mysteries, hidden enemies, and fast-paced action, then you’ll love R. J. Hanson’s sword and sorcery tale.

Buy Fires That Forge and dispel the darkness today!

Review: Starting Again

A sweet holiday romance in Henderson County.

When Dawn realizes starts prepping for the Christmas season, little does she know that it will be her last in the Henderson County. However, with the announcement of her ex-boyfriend’s wedding, Dawn wants to flee.
Until she meets Gage Baxter. He’s everything she wants in a man, except she has no plans to stay here anymore and Gage seems too good to be true.
One stormy night, she finds out that one secret Gage kept to himself that caused her to waste twelve years of her life waiting. Or was it destiny?

Review: Illusions Unveiled

Sometimes you squander all your second chances…

At the tender age of seven, Peter Stratford fell in love with the only woman who would ever claim his heart. But Carrie represented Ardor Creek, the town Peter detested. Determined to make something of himself in New York City, he leaves her behind, breaking both their hearts.

Carrie Longwood accepted that Peter would never love her enough to stay. Embracing her inner strength, she married another and had her precious boys before her messy divorce. Alone in Ardor Creek, she builds her life around her small family unit.

When Peter returns to Ardor Creek, battered and broken from addiction, he begins to heal, knowing Carrie will never forgive him. But Carrie kept her own secrets and, whether they’re ready or not, all of their illusions will be unveiled…

Welcome back to Ardor Creek! If you love second chance romance, this book is for you! The main character is a recovered addict whose addictions are discussed openly so please consider before reading. Enjoy!

Review: Resolutions Embraced

She came back to win…and to rewrite a narrative created so long ago….

Chad Hanson has one true love: being mayor of Ardor Creek. With his charming personality, kind nature, and adoration of the small town, it’s as if he was born for the role. Although he dates constantly and loves playing the field, he’s never come close to falling for someone the way he loves his job.

Abby Miller left Ardor Creek after high school, determined to become something other than a pariah. Chad Hanson had accidentally bequeathed her the name “Flabby Abby,” which destroyed any chance of making friends or having a normal high school existence.

Two decades later, Abby returns, fierce and confident after her tenure as a senior advisor for a prominent Washington DC senator. Armed with her skills and experience, she begins an invigorating campaign to become the first female mayor of Ardor Creek…and to exact a smidge of payback against Chad.

Chad is blown away by his opponent. Drawn to her, he slowly realizes she might actually win…not only the election, but Abby Miller might be the first woman to capture his heart.

Welcome back to Ardor Creek! If you love sizzling banter that cracks you up and makes you snicker, smokin’ hot love scenes, and a sweet frenemies-to-lovers tale, this book is for you! As with all of Ayla’s books, there’s a slight holiday twist, and this one has a fun New Year’s Eve ending. The Ardor Creek gang is back and ready to watch serial dater Chad Hanson fall in love. Enjoy!

Review: Desires Uncovered

It was supposed to be a casual affair….

Dr. Teresa Roe moved from the bustling city to small-town Pennsylvania, hoping the slower pace would help her focus on finding a partner and building a family. Unfortunately, life had other plans, and Teresa finds herself single in her mid-40s, unable to have the children she craves. Determined to focus on the positives, she builds her thriving therapy practice and joins a hook-up app looking for a fun, no-strings-attached affair.

Mark Lancaster has no time to date or cultivate a relationship, so meeting women on hook-up apps is perfect for his busy schedule. When he meets Teresa, he can’t believe his fortune at finding someone so smart, sexy, and funny. In fact, his casual affair with her quickly becomes the highlight of his hectic life.

When Mark decides to run for County District Attorney, his opponent quickly reveals their relationship, spinning their affair as nefarious and creating a scandal that almost derails the campaign. Thankfully, Teresa agrees to enter into a fake engagement, saving him from ruin. But the road to victory isn’t easy, and as they grow closer, the relationship they both swear is casual begins to grow into something real….

Can two fiercely independent souls find true love amidst scandal?

Welcome back to Ardor Creek! If you love fake relationship shenanigans that lead to true love, this book is for you! As with all of Ayla’s books, there’s a slight holiday theme, and this one ends with a romantic Christmas. There are discussions of infertility and domestic abuse, so please consider that before listening. Enjoy!

Review: Og-Grim-Dog: The Three-Headed Ogre

Three can be a real pain in the arse

Everyone knows ogres can’t be heroes. But Og-Grim-Dog is no ordinary ogre.

Recruited by a team of eccentric dungeon crawlers, all three heads are determined to prove their worth. Will their new crewmates accept them? Will the pencil pushers at the Bureau of Dungeoneering be able to stop them? Will Gal’azu become a more tolerant society…and will Og-Grim-Dog solve the dark mystery that drew them into this new world in the first place?

Reader reviews:

“a marathon of craziness that will tickle your sense of humor. Loved all the gritty characters and enjoyed the fast paced action plot.”
“If you’ve ever played D&D, you’ll enjoy this tale of orcs, and dwarves and ogres. There’s good silliness and a serious theme.”
“The characters are fun and diverse. The jokes are funny and adult without being lewd or gross. The plot is fun, engaging, and well timed.”
“This book sets up an awesome character, some great side characters, and an interesting world filled with surprisingly similar issues that we have in our own. I wasn’t expecting to love this book, but I did.”
“This little book was SO MUCH FUN! There were plenty of in-jokes that, as a fantasy fan, I loved and the characters were extremely likable. The whole thing just makes me want to go on an adventure.”

If you’re looking for something lighthearted, with some cleverness, silliness, and a little grit, start this fun, feelgood adventure today!

Review: Grim Tidings

Taking on death on its own turf….

Annabelle Mulledy survived Kalfu’s attack – one friend saved, another lost in Guinee. But now the vampires are on the rise. Most of them, she can handle without much trouble. But when an ancient, more powerful vampire confronts her – one who is uncomfortably familiar to her – and his apprentice joins her at the Voodoo Academy, she finds she has little choice. Help this vampire arrest and overpower death itself, or risk seeing her sister and parents irrevocably “turned” themselves.

Grim Tidings is the second book in the Gates of Eden: The Voodoo Legacy series. Theophilus Monroe’s Annabelle Mulledy is a badass heroine with a snarky attitude. Monroe draws on the legend and myth of Voodoo lore in a way that neither caricatures the arts as “demonic” nor glosses over the dark side of the Voodoo tradition. With dark magic, dragons, vampires, and some budding light slow-burn romance, Gates of Eden: The Voodoo Legacy series has something for everybody.

Review: Tangled in Thorns

The first time Catherine got mixed up with the fae, it cost her dearly. This time, they will take it all.

Magic is dangerous. No one knows that better than Catherine. She thought she would be content with her garden and a quiet life. But she longs for connection. When she tries to reach out to others, disaster strikes. Creeping vines emerge from Faery choking the gardens of Thornwood, corrupting the minds of those who encounter it and turning them into raving zombies. Among those infected is Catherine’s niece. And her only hope at a cure is Ray.

After the accident, she swore never to speak to Ray again. But with three days until the plant kills, she must put aside her vow to save the village. To stop the spread, they must find the plant’s origin and destroy it. Catherine’s magic can do that if she can learn from Ray. As her magic flourishes beneath his tutelage, so do her feelings that she’s tried to deny.

Embracing her magic means luring in the fae and losing a piece of her humanity. Caught like a fly in a web of intrigue, Catherine struggles to find a balance between her desire to be human, the threats that lurk in shadows, and the ancient songs of Faery calling her home….

Get lost in the magic of Tangled in Thorns, the second in this gothic romantic fantasy trilogy. Fans of Uprooted and Daughter of the Forest will not want to miss this tale steeped in fae intrigue, romance, and mystery.