Potions, Poisons, and Perils by Shea MacLeod – Book Review

Today, I’m sharing a book review for another paranormal cozy mystery I read this year. I’m on a roll with paranormal cozies it seems but they can be lots of fun!

Synopsis:

Welcome to Deepwood, Oregon, a cozy town of witches, magic, and now, murder...Emory Chastain loves her herbs and spices. So much so that when she's not baking self-confidence into chocolate chip cookies, she's in her shop selling everything from love potions to herbal tea blends. She's also one of the most powerful witches of the modern era.

When a strange madness afflicts seemingly unrelated people in her funky little town, turning ordinary citizens into raving beasts, Emory and her friends are convinced there's more to the mystery than a simple virus. Turns out they're right. Somebody is using a magic spell to poison people, and if they don't stop the killer, there will be more death in the town of Deepwood.

Book details:

Book title: Potions, Poisons, and Peril

(Book 1 in the Deepwood Witches Mysteries)

Author: Shea McLeod

Genre: Paranormal cozy mystery

Number of pages: 212 pages

Publication date: 10 August 2019

Publisher: Independently Published 

Potions, Poisons, and Perils by Shea MacLeod is the first book in the Deepwood Witches Mystery series. However, my first read for MacLeod was book 5 in this series called Alchemy, Arsenic, and Alibis.

The book opens with Emory Chastain readying her tea shop for the day. Emory is a witch. And I liked the way she calms herself with her teas and herbal concoctions. It’s something I do personally sometimes. (Though I avoid chamomile unless I’m going to bed!)

“That was the thing Deepwood. It wasn’t just a quaint, charming town. It was a town of witches. Mostly.”

There are several points of view in the book, though all are in the third person.

Bit by bit, we meet the characters, learn about their magic – or rather different types of magic – and it works. We also learn that Edwina – from book 5 – came to her magic ‘later in life,’ as opposed to Emory and the others who are “natural-born” witches.

Though I found the different types of magic and how each one works interesting, it was also quite confusing. For example, Emory is both a portal witch and a spellwalker, while her friend Lene is a deathwalker.

“Lene wasn’t just any witch. She was a deathwalker, a type of witch near as rare as a spellwalker. She sensed when death was near, which meant she could find bodies people didn’t want found.”

In Alchemy, Arsenic, and Alibis, the main view point was Edwina’s, another Deepwood witch. But book 1, surprisingly, opens with Emory Chastain and her point of view, which isn’t as enjoyable as Edwina’s (sorry, Shea!)

Since starting Potions, Poisons, and Perils, I was on the lookout for any references to Edwina Gale from book 5. Naturally, I loved the way she is introduced and how Emory sees her:

“Edwina Gale was an Amazon of a woman, at least six feet tall with the shoulders of a linebacker and build of solid muscle. Her hair, once a rich dark brown, was now streaked with iron gray and tied back in a think braid. Her gray eyes were bright and intelligent. At sixty-something, she had more strength and energy than Emory had at thirty.”

Having started with book 5, I felt that the book was clearer and more fun. When I started – and finished – Potions, Poisons, and Perils, I felt that Emory wasn’t a smart or witty character like Edwina. I instantly – and involuntarily – compared the two different characters. And you can tell I like one more than the other.

I know that Shea MacLeod has launched a new spin-off series starring Edwina Gale. And I’m looking forward to getting my hand on the first book Day of the Were-Jackal.

Unlike Alchemy, Arsenic, and Alibis, Potions, Poisons, and Perils has several memorable lines, conversations, and quotes. However, the book is longer and much slower.

“Do you believe in…Do you believe in visions?...I’ve been having them lately. All the time.”

“What do you see?”

She glanced around. “This shop.” She eyed Emory. “You.”

“And a dead body?”

“Yes.”

In terms of characters and development, Emory maneuvers the whole mystery thing very slowly. She even calls in Edwina for help. Edwina, on the other hand, is a fully-developed character – I think. In this book, she’s a secondary character.

The book offers a touch of romance but there’s more focus on the magic, which is something I like when I read paranormal cozy mysteries.

 

Overall rating for Potions, Poisons, and Perils by Shea MacLeod: 3.5 stars.

 

Note: I got a free copy of Potions, Poisons, and Perils for being part of author Shea MacLeod's newsletter. This didn't affect my review in any way. 

With Fire in Their Blood by Kat Delacorte – Book Review

 

 

Today, I'm featuring a book review for a different kind of read. This post is part of a blog tour but that did not affect my review in any way!

“Trust is an illusion in this city. Our hatreds run too deep.”

 

With Fire in Their Blood by Kat Delacorte is a modern young adult fantasy set in a medieval Italian town. It’s got magic, very strange relationships, political intrigue, and tons of twists and turns.

The book opens with Lilly, who lives with her father after her mother killed herself a few years before. From the first page, we see Lilly refer to her parents by their first names, Jack and Carly, not mum and dad. It shows the clear distance that has built up between them over the years.

Lilly tells the reader how her relationship with her mother was never a good one and how she felt like her mother didn’t want her. She also says her father was a different man before Carly’s death him hard.

With Fire in Their Blood is narrated in Lilly’s first-person perspective so we see everything through her eyes. There are no other narrators in the book. Despite that, the reader can clearly see Lilly’s misgivings and naivety even if she can’t.

“The more I thought about this city, the more unsettling it became.”

Now Jack is more of a zombie, who decides to take Lilly to a distant off-the-beaten track town in Italy called Castello, claiming a new start.

But Castello…Castello is literally a beast of a town. Medieval looking. It catches your breath the moment you lay eyes on it. But then… you discover that it’s not what it seems.

Castello is a town that has been ravaged by warring clans for centuries. Now a man – only referred to as The General – controls the city and has divided the clans, the Marconis and the Paradisos.

Lilly finds herself on the Marconi side, which is like the poor side of the city. Mingling with the Paradisos is forbidden except for one day of the year.

This distinguishing reminded of Utopia, a dark post-apocalyptic Arabic novel by renowned Egyptian author Ahmed Khalid Tawfik. While the books’ premises and settings are worlds apart, the idea of a country (or town) divided into poor and rich is the common factor.

In Castello, the Saints are evil. Bad people with magical abilities. But reportedly all dead.

When I picked up With Fire in Their Blood, I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I was definitely not prepared for was the political intrigue Kat Delacorte had penned in this book. If there’s anything I loved above all else in this book, it’s the political intrigue.

It’s relatable (no I won’t elaborate) and done really well. It reminded me of the tactics used by the pigs in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. While the stories are entirely different, the methodology is the same. (If you haven’t read Animal Farm, then go pick it up now!)

Like many army-led political regimes, we see how The General has ingrained certain beliefs in people’s heads. Slowly, Lilly learns who the Saints were and what they did. How the last war started and how The General came to power.

“The Saints were the children of hell. Born blighted and unnatural with fire in their blood. Stained dark by sorcery and loathsome in the eyes of the light.”

And like any army-backed regime, The General emerged with his Enforcers who ensure that there are no Saints and that no one breaks The General’s law.

Though With Fire in Their Blood wins in imagery, foreshadowing, and political intrigue, it isn’t successful with characterization. I honestly couldn’t like Lilly. I tried but I couldn’t.

While there are many characters in With Fire in Their Blood but there aren’t any likable ones. And that put me off a bit. I didn’t hate Lilly but I didn’t like her either.

“The girl staring back at me was pale and shadowed, her dark hair a tangling mess. Something feral about her, difficult to tame. I was glad of that, because it hid how brittle I felt on the inside. Like there was another girl, a scared, lost one, locked below my ribcage, threatening to claw her way to the surface if I didn’t watch out.”

What I did like is that Delacorte created a truly broken main character. As a reader, I don’t see that often in books.

But Lilly isn’t the only broken character. Like the town of Castello, everyone is broken – in a way. I think this brokenness – along with Castello’s regime – has made the characters too shallow.

Another thing I disliked about Lilly is how she literally falls for half of the characters in the book! It was annoying. While I realize she’s 16 and discovering herself and sexuality, I felt it was too much. If it breathes, she’ll fall in love with him/her/it. For me it was forced. Kind of like when Netflix wants to force down certain ideas in its productions.

Another thing that stood out for me – not in a good way – was that some scenes weren’t logical to me. The trial was one of them.

On another note, something I hadn’t realized it before, but while writing this review, I noticed that Delacorte added lots of imagery and foreshadowing in the early chapters. Foreshadowing always gets extra points from me.

“After the dreams, I’d feel jittery and unsettled all day, my skin hot, my headache building behind my temples. It was as if there was a storm brewing inside me – like my body was rebelling against the town.”

I must say I found the book cover quite pretty and dark at the same time.

Overall, I found With Fire in Their Blood by Kat Delacorte an interesting and fairly fast-paced read with interesting political intrigue and imagery. The characters needed more work but it was a good read.

 

Overall rating for With Fire in Their Blood by Kat Delacorte: 3.5 stars

 

Note: I received a free copy of With Fire in Their Blood by Kat Delacorte as part of The Write Reads blog tour.

More images to come here and on Instagram

 

Aches and Epiphanies by Aries - Poetry Book Review

Today, I'm featuring a belated book review for Aches and Epiphanies by Aries (pen name).

About the book:

Aches and Epiphanies is a collection of poetry, prose and thoughts from poet and songwriter, Aries. From love lost to happiness found; from pain to joy and vice versa. The words of the unspoken and raw human emotions come to the fore.

For those who have stood face to face with love and it has been terrifying or have hidden secrets behind closed doors. For those who find comfort in the hands of another, you will learn, page by page. As the universe takes its last breath, it looks at you with glittering eyes and smiles. You were worth the destruction.

Book Review of Aches and Epiphanies

Aches and Epiphanies by Aries is a poetry collection featuring a large number of poems. The book is divided into chapter-like section representing chapters from the poet’s life or focusing on specific themes.

The first section is called “Aches,” and features several poems, each of which seems to be divided into several shorter pieces. I found this to format to be rather confusing because I wasn’t sure if the pieces where standalones or if they were part of a larger piece. But they were quite relatable.

I loved “A Letter to the Ones After Me” and the second part or poem in "Real" which depicted a very flawed and feeble character.

“Grey” and “Salt and Pepper” are two must-read poems in this section, while “Love Decides” is a stunning albeit painful piece.

One of the interesting and beautifully written pieces in Aches and Epiphanies is “14.2.2016” which I gather the author Aries wasn’t sure about how to name the piece so she used the date in which it was written or the date of the event that prompted it.

“A Beautiful Mess” is a cute poem written about people just starting to fall in love.  On page 68, there’s a beautiful entitled piece. One of many untitled pieces. There are also several one-line, two-line, and three-line poems, which though beautiful result in lots of white space.

I’d be particularly annoyed if this book were in print because of the wasted paper. It’s not something I’d normally comment on but it was particularly noticeable in this poetry collection.

Pages 75 & 76 feature thought-like pieces that are written as if the author is talking to someone. The untitled piece on page 78 is a painful poem about two people growing apart.

I also enjoyed the various untitled pieces in Aches and Epiphanies scattered on pages 90 to 92. I also enjoyed “Learning to See the Good in Goodbye,” “Stars,” and “Get Lost,” which I found to be beautifully-written and emotional.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t count the number of poems because many of them are untitled or because of the way they are divided. That’s why I opted to use page numbers as well.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Aches and Epiphanies by Aries. The collection features many deep, raw, and emotional poems. As a poet, I understand how hard it is to title poems. So, I totally relate to the untitled pieces. 😊

Overall rating: 3.5 stars

 

Note: I received a free copy of Aches and Epiphanies from its author Aries in exchange for an honest review. This did not impact my review in any way.

Note: I got my copy back in 2021 but due to a writer’s block, I’m just posting it now due to a bad case of book blogger's block (That's a thing! At least for me, it is.)

Killer at the Cult by Alison Golden – Book Review

I'm excited to be sharing a new review for Alison Golden! And there's another review on the way because I read these 2 books back-to-back!

Synopsis:

A sinister cult. A body in the woods. A mystery more devious than Annabelle’s diet…

Reverend Annabelle Dixon has pulled out all the stops to earn the affection of the handsome Inspector Nicholls. She’s even done the unthinkable, and sworn off sweets… for a bit.

But when all her efforts come to naught, Annabelle seeks comfort and distraction in the affairs of her parish. When she hears of strangers moving into a house on the edge of the village, Annabelle decides to pay these new residents a visit.

What she finds is a quirky cult, and a ritual that sends her fleeing into the woods…where she promptly trips over a dead body!

Local police make a hasty arrest, but Annabelle is convinced they have the wrong man. And she decides a murder investigation is just the thing to keep her mind off the absent Inspector Nicholls. But with an entire cult full of suspects, can Annabelle unravel the killer’s identity, before they strike again?

Killer at the Cult is the latest entry in the Reverend Annabelle Dixon series. If you like quaint English towns, mysterious characters, laugh-out-loud humor, and a touch of sweet romance, then you’ll love Alison Golden’s deliciously humorous storytelling.

This book includes recipes for some of Annabelle’s favorite treats:

·        Lovely Lemon Tart

·        Pious Plum and Almond Crumble

·        Reformed Rhubarb Flan

·        Soulful Scones

Book Review of Killer at the Cult 

"So who has motive?"

"They all do!"

"Alibis?"

"None of them have one."

 

Killer at the Cult by Alison Golden is the sixth book in the Reverend Annabelle Dixon Mystery Series. It's my third read in the series.

I'd originally planned to start my advanced reader's copy (ARC) of Golden's upcoming book Witches at the Wedding but thought I'd start Killer at the Cult first to refresh my memory.

Like all of Alison Golden's cozy mystery books, Killer at the Cult can be read as a standalone. You don't have to read other books in the series to start this one, though I highly recommend you read Death at the Café, the first book in the series because it's brilliant!

However, unlike previous books in the series, the murder mystery in Killer at the Cult doesn't take place the beginning.

In Death at the Café, the murder takes place in the first chapter or two, whereas in Killer at the Cult, the murder occurs in chapter 9. This doesn't put off the reader though, but I thought it was worth mentioning because I personally prefer when the murder takes place early on.

In Killer at the Cult, Annabelle investigates a group of people who come to her village and whom the villagers are weary of. The group seems to follow a strange saint – strange even to a Reverend like Annabelle.

But they are a friendly group who invite her over for one of their – strange-is-an-understatement – rituals.

However, by the end of the ritual, the leader of the group Theo Westmoreland is discovered dead!

"But, but…There hasn't been a thorough investigation. You're making your facts fit your theory."

In this book, Annabelle meets police Inspector Ainslie – and he's totally urggh!

Unlike previous books, where Annabelle's beau Inspector Mike Nicholls is the inspector in charge, Ainslie thinks is a slam-and-dunk case. But Annabelle will set him straight – several times over! *go Annabelle*

Naturally, Annabelle decides to investigate the group more thoroughly to uncover the real killer. She delves into each person's past and how they got into the group.

"Annabelle seriously doubted [Suki's statement], but the alternative was to point out that Theo had been murdered and probably by one of the people he lived among."

Killer at the Cult comprises 31 fairly short chapters, making it easy for the reader to keep going till the end and finish the book in a few days.

One of the things I enjoy is Golden's description of setting and food – especially in the Reverend Annabelle Dixon Mystery Series. Annabelle adores sweets, especially cakes.

Here's an example:

"Annabelle pushed open the front door and marched down the hall to her rustic, cozy kitchen. It was her favorite room in the house. It had exposed beams running across the ceiling and down the walls. It was a place of calm, communion, and cupboards full of cake."

Am I the only one who wants to close their eyes and wake up in this kitchen?

Overall, I thought Killer at the Cult is an interesting read. I didn't get the killer right. I didn't expect THAT person to be the killer AT ALL!

So my overall rating for Killer at the Cult by Alison Golden is 3.75 stars.

 

Note: I received a free copy of Killer at the Cult from its author Alison Golden as part of her street team. This in no way affected my review.

 

Read more of my book reviews of Alison Golden's books:

Reverend Annabelle Dixon Mystery Series

-          Death at the Café (Book 1)

-          Horror in the Highlands (Book 5)

-          Witches at the Wedding (Book 8)

Detective Inspector Graham Series

-          The Case of the Screaming Beauty (Book 1)

-          The Case of the Hidden Flame (Book 2) 

-          The Case of the Broken Doll (Book 4)

-          The Case of Samson's Leap (Book 8)

 

Peppermint Cream Die by Carol E. Ayer - Book Review

Today, I'm reviewing a new cozy mystery called Peppermint Cream Die as part of a blog tour.

 

Book: Peppermint Cream Die

(Book 1 in The HSP Mysteries)

Author: Carol E. Ayer

Genres: Cozy mystery

Number of pages: 190

Publisher: Camel Press

Publication Date: 13 October 2020

ISBN: 978-160381-618-2/978-160381-629-8

Digital ASIN: B08LK1KLRV

 

Synopsis:

Kayla Jeffries, home bakery owner and HSP (Highly Sensitive Person), has arranged her life just so to avoid stressful overstimulation. The California oceanside community in which she lives proves the perfect venue for the quiet and peaceful existence she desires. She happily spends her time baking, walking along the beach, and spending time with her close friends.

But when Kayla discovers her elderly friend Trudy Dillingham has been strangled, she vows to do anything she must to help bring the killer to justice, including overcoming the stress and sensory overload involved in playing amateur detective.

Using her HSP talents of attention to detail and ability to read other people's emotions, Kayla eventually cracks the case, all the while juggling two cats and a dog, non-stop orders for the Christmas holidays, and a budding relationship with handsome restaurateur Jason Banks.

 

Book Review of Peppermint Cream Die

"I'm also the one who found her and I'm trying to figure out who would have wanted to hurt her. Any ideas?"

"Me, for one."

Peppermint Cream Die by Carol E. Ayer is the first book in The HSP Mysteries and my first read for Ayer.

The main character Kyla is an HSP, a highly sensitive person. In other words, she struggles in certain situations like extreme stress or even extreme lighting and sounds.

I never knew that there was something as being an HSP and that was an interesting discovery for me. It also contributes to Kyla's character, making her sensitive to certain things while also helping her read others' body language.

Peppermint Cream Die opens with Kayla having a chat with her friend Trudy only to leave her to finish some stuff and discover a couple of hours later that Trudy died, or worse that she'd been strangled.

During the conversation prior to Trudy's death, Trudy tells Kayla: "I like your sensitivity and compassion, but sometimes you need to break through your fears and do things you don't want to. You might end up having the best adventure of your life, or, at least, an excellent learning experience."

Reading this on the first page, I felt it was like a kind of foreshadowing of what's about to happen to Kayla and how she'll need to work around her HSP to solve a murder.

Despite their being a police investigation, Kayla takes it upon herself to uncover what happened to her friend Trudy only discover that Trudy had a secret "wild" past life that may or may not have caught up with her.

"The lack of eye contact and way she was fiddling with her necklace made me think she was lying and that she knew exactly what the fight was about."

With Trudy gone, Trudy's cat Sugar lands in Kayla's lap and Kayla is worried about the new house guest. But a second death lands another cat in Kayla's one-person household and it's Sugar's sister. You'll love what she names the second kitty.

Despite being an HSP, Kayla is a baker, well cake-maker. And she loses herself in her baking and designs and just reading about what she's doing I fell in love with the cakes too.

Every time I sit down to Peppermint Cream Die, my mouth watered and I craved chocolate – and I used it as another reason to nibble on something :D

In the book, Kayla isn't struggling with a lack of suspects but more of an abundance of suspects as it seems Trudy had wronged many people in the past.

"Kayla, what has gotten into you? I thought you lived for staying at home, baking, reading, and walking on the beach. Now suddenly you're investigating crimes and you're the victim of break-ins."

One of the reasons I picked up Peppermint Cream Die was because of its title and the cover. I know I shouldn't judge a book by its cover but I can't resist anything with peppermint.

There was a time in the book when I struggled a bit with Kayla and felt that there was additional focus on her baking and business, which I felt wasn't needed.

Plus there is lots of description especially with how the days are moving forward – with no progress in the book or solving the murder. That said, the ending of Peppermint Cream Die was super-fast-paced and action-filled.

The book comes with a touch of romance as Kayla meets Jason but I felt their interactions and relationship was quite childish especially since both are over 30.

Although Kayla struggles with HSP, she goes to lengths – greater than the police – to uncover the reason behind her friend's murder.

There were a few flaws with Kayla's character like being childish with the romance. I also disliked the repetition of events Kayla had to go through when relating events to her friend Isabella.

On the other hand, I loved the ending. It was amazing with a grand finale and confrontation. It had me rooting for Kayla and her friends.

Peppermint Cream Die is a great holiday read.

Overall I enjoyed reading Peppermint Cream Die and would like to see more of this series in the future.

Overall rating: 3.5 stars

 

Note: I got a free copy of Peppermint Cream Die as part of a blog tour by Lori's Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours. This did not, in any way, affect my review.

 

About the Author:

Carol Ayer, a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), lives halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento with her cat, Rainn. 

When she’s not writing, she’s reading mysteries and thrillers or watching movies and cooking shows. As a native Californian, she visits the ocean as often as possible.

Connect with Carol Ayer via her Website, Blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

Purchase Links:  Amazon - B&N - Kobo

 

 

No Longer Safe by A.J. Waines – Book Review

Book: No Longer Safe

Author: A.J. Waines

Number of pages: 377

Publisher: Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)

Publication Date: 4 February 2016

I've wanted to read A.J. Waines for years. I've featured Waines on my blog a few times through blog tours. I finally decided I'd start with No Longer Safe, which having finally finished it, I have some mixed feelings about it.

I started with this book because in one of our interviews Waines said: "In No Longer Safe, ALL the main characters have psychological ‘issues’! Some of these are clear from the start, other ‘defects’ start to emerge as the story progresses. Like ordinary people, the fictional characters try to hide their behaviours and coping strategies, so the reader comes up against lies, secrets and deception. In No Longer Safe, no one is who they appear to be…"

How's that for enticing a reader?

It worked for me. And Waines was right; you could easily see the characters' traits the moment they open their mouths.

No Longer Safe is narrated from two first-person perspectives; that of Alice, a naïve and shy young woman who idolized her university friend Karen, and Karen, a conniving woman, who used Alice but also helped her get out of her shell.

The main view point is Alice's, while Karen gets a few short chapters to give some backstory and the other side of things. Karen's chapters feel like she's writing in her diary.

No Longer Safe opens with Alice getting an invitation from her once-upon-a-time friend Karen Morley, to spend two weeks in a remote house in the Scottish highlands. Karen claims she wants to reconnect after several years' disappearance. Alice immediately jumps at the opportunity and heads to the location Karen had sent her.

"You made me feel so safe, without any sting of judgement."

However, once she arrives, Alice senses that Karen isn't as friendly as she used to be and soon discovers that two more people had been invited. So it's not exactly some a happy reunion. Not to mention, the two other friends, Jodie and Mark, are an odd pair from university days that Alice doesn't like.

One night, Alice wakes up to find a dead man in her room and Karen convinces her that they need to cover it up. Throughout the novel, the reader is unsure what happened exactly. Who killed him? How? Why?

The pace in No Longer Safe is quite slow. And the chapters, though there are 58 of them, are too long, in my opinion. Yes, there are short ones; those from Karen's perspective and the later chapters when the speed picks up. But I found this to slow down the already long novel.

From chapter 1, the reader can feel that Alice is infatuated with Karen and that she has an inferiority complex:

"You were my inspiration, the person I wanted to be."

"If you were a Porsche, I was a clapped out Morris Minor – with an emphasis on the 'minor.'"

Character development is different in No Longer Safe. How? Let me explain without spoilers. We see that Alice, the main narrator, begins to realize how gullible and trusting she'd been at university but is now, slowly, discovering that her so-called friends weren't what they appeared to be. She understands that Karen had been using her.

One of the comments I wrote about Alice, while reading No Longer Safe, was "infatuated with a complex, yes. Stupid and doesn't notice things, no," which plays in Alice's character development both compared to university days and during the course of the novel.

As the story progresses, Alice reflects on things that have happened at university, including what Karen told her once that struck with her: "This could be useful one day – never give up leverage easily, Alice."

There tons of quotable lines, images, ideas, and dialogue in the novel.

Despite the pace, I enjoyed reading the novel. Alice is relatable. She's a shy girl who was infatuated by the popular girls at university. She was willing to do things for them to be part of their clique. Now, years later, she's still willing but she's also growing, maturing.

In a way, I felt that No Longer Safe is all about character. The ending was jarring for me and in a way had me thinking of another psychological thriller I read a while back, which is Lies She Told by Cate Holahan. Don't get me wrong, the novels are completely different but sometimes you make connections or get this feeling that one book or story reminds you of another.

Overall rating for No Longer Safe by A.J. Waines: 3.5 to 4 stars. Yeah, I can't really decide. I'm still struggling with the ending. The pace definitely put me off but the characters are rich in issues and complexities.

"Am I safe? Am I really safe here? Or were things about to get even worse?"

You can check out an excerpt from Chapter 6 from No Longer Safe on Nadaness In Motion.