Book Review Alert: Sunflowers in the Snow by Dawn Bonanno

Reviewed: June 2nd, 2025
Released: August 26th, 2024
Genre: Fantasy Short Stories

Do you believe in magic?

Can you imagine how it might exist all around us in everyday life? Perhaps hidden in trees and sunflowers, slipping into view when needed, and leaving gifts when all hope has abandoned us. Why does a young woman caring for her elderly grandfather find a secret sunflower patch in the snowy hills of Wisconsin? What happens when a demon woken from sleep happens upon a grieving cat dad? How will a sentient house end its long loneliness? Can the smallest water fairy find her missing sister? What does a bride even do with an enchanted wedding veil? Who will save a city cat from a haunted country bridge?

A collection of fourteen fantasy stories about magic in the real world, Sunflowers in the Snow explores friendship and family bonds through sentient houses, magical taverns, secret gardens, and people from other realms who are more like us than we could ever dream. Featured stories include: Sunflowers in the Snow, Cara’s Heartsong, Voices Heard Within Heartbreak House, Never Say Never, The Legacy of Kalila Arquette, Sarah’s Little Monster Hunter, and more. Read My Thoughts…

Book Review Alert: The Last Ranger by JDL Rosell

Reviewed: May 29th, 2025
Released: December 2nd, 2022
Genre: Epic Fantasy

BETRAYED. HUNTED. LEFT FOR DEAD. BUT NOT EVEN DEATH ITSELF CAN KEEP THE LAST RANGER FROM VENGEANCE…

Leiyn “Firebrand” is no stranger to a fight. A brash ranger of the Titan Wilds, she takes up her bow to ward against the colossal spirit creatures known as titans, ever a threat to the colonies she has sworn to protect.

But no amount of skill can guard against treachery.

When tragedy strikes the rangers’ lodge, Leiyn vows to avenge the fallen. But if she is to succeed, she must embrace a power within her she has long denied.

Power to move mountains and rivers.

Power over life and death.

She did not choose this path, but Leiyn knows her duty. For if she fails, the legacy of the rangers dies with her—and all the Titan Wilds will fall into shadow. Read My Thoughts…

Book Review Alert: A Coup of Tea by Casey Blair

Reviewed: May 23rd, 2025
Released: August 2nd, 2022
Genre: Cozy Fantasy

“There will always be work for those who know how to listen.”

When the fourth princess of Istalam is due to dedicate herself to a path serving the crown, she makes a choice that shocks everyone, herself most of all: She leaves.

In hiding and exiled from power, Miyara finds her place running a tea shop in a struggling community that sits on the edge of a magical disaster zone. But there’s more brewing under the surface of this city—hidden magic, and hidden machinations—that threaten all the people who’ve helped her make her own way.

Miyara may not be a princess anymore, but with a teapot in hand she’ll risk her newfound freedom to discover a more meaningful kind of power. Read My Thoughts…

The Book Dragon UK gives OblivionGate five stars!

Check out the review by Kirsty McKay on The BookDragon UK website.

A Masterful Continuation of an Epic Fantasy Romance

The third installment in the SoulMist series, OblivionGate elevates an already captivating fantasy world to new heights with deeper character development, higher stakes, and fascinating new magical elements.

Following Demavrian’s harrowing survival of Apologia and confrontation with the Angelic Assembly, what should be a moment of triumph is instead overshadowed by the looming threat of the vengeful god Kaenera. As the newly appointed Gate Keeper of Oblivion, Demavrian struggles to understand his responsibilities while simultaneously supporting his distraught fledglings, helping Solanji discover the true nature of her Soul Breathing abilities, and attempting to restore her brother’s soul. The pressure is immense as the soulless continue banging at the Oblivion Gate, and even with his Gate Wraith’s assistance, Demavrian fears becoming the shortest-lived Gate Keeper in history.

The characterisation of the Oblivion Gate itself is perhaps one of the most impressive aspects of this novel. The author brilliantly brings this mystical boundary to life, giving it presence and personality that enhances the overall narrative.

The dialogue remains authentic throughout, allowing readers to deepen their emotional connection to characters they’ve grown to love over the series. This third book truly cements the reader’s relationship with the main characters.

The pacing is expertly handled, maintaining the engaging momentum that has characterised the series thus far while giving appropriate weight to Demavrian’s struggles with his new responsibilities and the looming threat from Kaenera.

OblivionGate proves that the SoulMist series only gets better with each installment. For readers who have followed Demavrian’s journey from the beginning, this third book delivers a richly satisfying continuation while setting up even higher stakes for what’s to come.

I award 5 stars for a fantasy romance that continues to captivate with its vibrant characters, well-crafted world, and the increasingly complex challenges facing our protagonists.

Check out the review on The BookDragon UK website.

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Book Review Alert: Grave Situation by Louisa Masters

Reviewed: May 11th, 2025
Released: March 20th, 2025
Genre: Epic Fantasy (LGBTQ)

He’s not the hero they deserve, but he’s the hero they’ve got.

No, seriously. Talon wants to know what he did to deserve this. What would make a sentient rock decide that he of all people should be the one to save the world from zombies? That’s right. Zombies. Because apparently a higher power decided that teaching magic to teenagers wasn’t enough of a challenge.

With a ridiculously attractive healer (who may or may not hate him), his sister (who he miiiight have a forbidden telepathic link with), a sentient god-like rock (that can only communicate via yes/no vibes), a disdainful dragon, and a rude matchmaking horse by his side, he just might be able to save the world.

Or die trying.

Meet Talon Silverbright. He’ll save the world, but only because a rock said he has to. Read My Thoughts…

Book Review Alert: Voyage of the Damned by Frances White

Reviewed: April 19th, 2025
Released: January 2nd, 2025
Genre: Fantasy Murder Mystery

For a thousand years, Concordia has maintained peace between its provinces. To mark this incredible feat, the Emperor’s ship embarks upon a twelve-day voyage to the sacred Goddess’s Mountain.

Aboard are the heirs of the twelve provinces of Concordia, each graced with a unique and secret magical ability known as a Blessing. Except one: Ganymedes Piscero – class clown, slacker, and all-round disappointment.

But when a beloved heir is murdered, every one of these powerful people becomes a suspect.

Now Ganymedes – alone and vulnerable without a Blessing – must become the hero he was never born to be.

With the body-count rising, can he unmask the killer before they reach the shore? Read My Thoughts…

Book Review Alert: Retrieve by Sarah Addison-Fox

Reviewed: April 3rd, 2024
Released: December 26th, 2018
Genre: Epic Fantasy

What if the job you took to stay alive might be what kills you?

Kade knows what it is to suffer. He knows what it’s like to lose everything and everyone around him.

His job in a Stormer Unit guarantees not just his survival in the decimated country of Azetaria, but his sister Meg’s.

Even if it means facing the Numachi warriors baying for his blood, he’ll do what it takes to keep her safe.

Hadley is alone and surviving the only way she knows how. By hiding where predators won’t find her and scavenging enough just to keep her alive.

When desperation drives Hadley to search for her missing brother, she mistakenly accepts the offer of recruitment into the Stormer’s camp, only to be partnered with Kade and sent as a scout into Numachi territory.

The intimidating young Stormer may just know where her brother has gone. But can they stay alive long enough to find him? Read My Thoughts…

Book Review Alert: Remedial Magic by Nathan Gregg

Reviewed: March 28th, 2025
Released: April 25th, 2022
Genre: Fantasy – Coming of Age

A broken man finds a new life teaching magic. But can he keep it?
As a washed-up and forgotten sorcerer, Aldric’s only goal in life is to get drunk enough to forget his tragic past. That is, until his friends coerce him into a teaching position at one of the most prestigious magic academies in the world. Now he’s saddled with the responsibility of teaching four new pupils, all of whom wonder who this brilliant yet unorthodox man truly is.

But Aldric’s past demons aren’t gone. They’ve only been lying in wait. As wars, rulers and politics of the past all begin to catch up with him, Aldric’s newfound place to belong is threatened by the very things he’s been trying to escape.

It’s time for Aldric to finally confront his history. And learn some new lessons himself. Read My Thoughts…

Book Review Alert: Dragon Ever After by Louisa Masters

Reviewed: November 8th, 2024
Released: February 22nd, 2022
Genre: MM Fantasy Romance

Note to self: You can’t teach an old dragon new tricks… he likes to invent his own.

After half a century of chaos, my retirement from leading the Community of Species Government has been bliss. No more hellhounds playing pranks. No more snippy demons demanding my attention. No more cajoling money from the wealthy to support the community. Just peace while I avoid my overbearing father and try to work out what my next steps will be.

Although… maybe three years of peace is enough. It might even be starting to get… boring. In fact, an adolescent dragon crash-landing on my landlord’s shed is just the kind of excitement I need—especially when he brings his species leader to my door.
Brandt. Wing leader of all dragons, suave, sexy, and… slightly unhinged. It doesn’t take much for him to convince me to give up my solitude and spend some time getting to know him. It’s hard to care about the future when I’ve got a dragon of my own to “play” with. Naked dragon rides for the win, right?

But Brandt’s the leader of his people, on call for them all the time, and I’ve left that part of my life behind me. Plus my father insists I should fulfil my duty to the family by getting a nine-to-five job and “marrying well.” That’s not what I want, but riding herd on a group of beings who fly, breathe fire, and could literally crush me beneath their feet would be a huge challenge, especially since Brandt’s kind of loose with rules.
It all comes down to how much I want my very own dragon ever after. Read My Thoughts…

Book Review Alert: Where the Heart is by L.S Pullen

Reviewed: Februart 26th 2025
Released: October 18th, 2018
Genre: Romance

Felicity Jamison could never have imagined how one fateful night would change her life. Compelled to stay away from the only place she’s ever felt at home, has meant losing her best friend and first love, Nate Davenport.

Fate now intervenes leaving her with no other choice but to return. Not only does she harbour demons of her own, she carries with her a secret that threatens to destroy an entire family.

Nate has experienced his fair share of grief, what he didn’t expect was for Felicity to walk back into his life, a mere shadow of the girl he used to know.

Angry and hurt, the last thing he is willing to admit is how much he needs her.

Will he risk turning to her for comfort?

Together, can they move past a heart-breaking revelation or are they destined to be apart forever? Read My Thoughts…