tessydockery

[tessydockery]

Book Review: A Memory in the Flame by Jessi Elliott & K.J. Sutton

This book took what I thought I knew about Charlie Travesty and flipped it on its head! In the very best way, of course.

A Memory in the Flame is the third volume of the Charlie Travesty serial and as I said about the last one, this is my favorite one yet! There is so much tension in this volume. Tension between the humans and vampires. Tension between Charlie and Noah. Tension between Charlie and all the cases she's investigating. If you want a story with high stakes - this is IT.

In this volume of the serial, we come to see that there is more to all of the characters than we originally thought. We see more sides to everyone and it really expounds on each of the characters. You see more of their views on the world they're living in and the trials they're dealing with on a daily basis.

Speaking of the world they're living in - we also get to see a lot more of it. The longer this story goes on, the more this city seems to expand and I love getting to see all the sides of it.

Charlie's past always plays a bigger part in this volume and I think you'll find that as much as her past has shaped her, it's also still changing Charlie on a daily basis. Making her more the character that she was always meant to be - the character you've always hoped her to be.

BE WARNED! This serial does leave you with a cliff hanger. It probably wouldn't be near as delicious if it didn't! You'll be begging for the next and final volume in the Charlie Travesty serial. So, be sure to pick it up as soon as you possibly can!

Needless to say, this volume earns 5 stars from me!

Thanks again to the authors for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for this honest review!

*Favorite Quote: "But the lies we tell ourselves are always the hardest to believe."

[Originally posted to latesummersthoughts.wordpress.com on May 27, 2020]

#indiebookreview #indie author #paranormal romance #book review

[tessydockery]

Book Review: A Light in the Dusk by Jessi Elliott & K.J. Sutton

This book was even better than the first!

I had so many high hopes digging into the second volume of the Charlie Travesty serial and I was not disappointed in the least. This book was sexier and darker than the first and it made my little heart scream with pure joy!

I really loved that we got to see so much more of Drew and Nina in this one. We also got to meet a lot more of the people Charlie lives with and interacts with on a daily basis. The character development was so spot on!

We also got to see Charlie’s relationship with Drew develop more in this volume – which was something I desperately looked forward to in the first installment. I cannot wait to see where the rest of this serial takes their story. I have a feeling I won’t be disappointed by that either!

Something I hadn’t expected was to see Charlie dealing more with her vampire side, but I was thrilled to see more of it from the very start of the book! We got to see her struggles and her feelings towards that half of her lineage. It only added to the mystery and intrigue of the plotlines in this particular installment. What I really look forward to seeing is how she ends up feeling about being a halfling by the end of the entire story arc.

If you’re still on the fence about this because vampires can be such a gamble, let me put your mind at ease! I have been wary about vampire books for years because I hadn’t found one I could really sink my teeth into for over a decade. But this one. THIS ONE! This breaks the mold and I don’t think you’d regret picking it up either! If you want sexy, dark, intriguing vampires and humans alike in a dark, creepy, bone chilling world, this is the serial for you!

This serial easily gets 5 stars from me.

#indiebookreview #indie author #paranormal romance #book review

[tessydockery]

Book Review: Dying Ember, Olden Ash by River K. Scott

First off, let me say that I am definitely excited to dig into the next episode. These books have been on my radar for a while and they kept getting moved down my TBR list. However, I've decided to be an ARC reviewer for Episode 3, so I wanted to binge read these books for that. And I can say that I am so glad I decided to FINALLY pick this one up. This book ticked so many of my boxes and I can't wait to see what the rest of the series holds.

This first episode holds an air of mystery. There are a lot of things that haven't yet been revealed even by the end of the book - such as a lot of the inner workings of being a Ranger and exactly how one ends up with Ranger abilities. It also seems that certain Rangers get certain abilities and not all of that is explained in this book. I am fervently hoping these things are further explained in the next episodes. However, these things don't completely detract from the experience of the book. It's a great story even with that little bit of confusion. Think of it as a first episode of a new tv show. There's always going to be things that will unfold later on.

The characters and the pace of the story were fantastic. This is a very quick, short read; and there's so much jam packed into it. There's a great fight scene, a relationship full of angst, a well-woven mystery, and characters that feel so real. I really couldn't ask for more in a story. The only thing that irked me (and this really is so small) is that they refer to their parents as "'rents." I've never heard anyone do this and it doesn't feel natural to me personally. But it's easy to look over.

I can't wait to dig into episode 2 - I've already got it downloaded. If you're a fan of V.E. Schwab's The Archived or shows like Supernatural, I'd highly recommend this read.

#indiebookreview #indie author #book review #yafantasy

[tessydockery]

So, there's only 3 more days to snag a copy of The Maze Date if you're interested.

I am both scared and excited about what this step means for my writing career. My first published book is getting a big change -- which means my writing career is getting a big change. I know this is a step in the right direction.

#writerblr #writers on tumblr #writeblr #writing community #writerly things #indie author #short fiction #short stories

[tessydockery]

Book Review: When Stars Burn Out by Anna Vera

This book was beautiful!

I have been on a sci-fi kick this year and Anna was kind enough to send me a free copy of her book in exchange for a review. And I can't express how much I fell in love with this story. This book transports you to a future of Earth you often might imagine where disease has rampaged the planet and the only way to stay safe is to quarantine. But this story goes so far beyond that. It starts with a typical apocalyptic story line and pushes the reader past that to a world with aliens, spaceships, zombie-like creatures, and even the cruelty of regular ol' humanity.

The combination alone makes this story something special. And all of that is on top of the beautiful prose. Anna doesn't just give you words on a page. She paints pictures in your mind and you feel like you've free fallen into the world Eos and her friends inhabit. You feel what she feels and you understand exactly why she's feeling it. The author leads you into this world and keeps you on your toes at the same time. It's a great balance.

If you're looking for an immersive world, this is the book you need to be reading. You can feel the cold of the harsh winter the characters get dropped into. You can see the moon and the Ora floating next to it. You can sense the Mute and feel their hunger as they attack. You feel lost as the characters get turned around in the wilderness. You will use all your senses with this book and it's something rare to behold.

The only thing I missed in this book was getting to know the character Jac a little better. I felt like I got everyone else's backstory, but never could get enough of his. We got to see his personality - which was one of my favorites! He'll keep you laughing. He adds so much levity to the story. I just felt like I didn't get to know him as well as so many of the other characters. I'd love to have known what his life was like pre-quarantine.

If you're looking for your next sci-fi read, I wholeheartedly recommend this one! I don't think I've read anything like it to date. And I'm glad I got the chance to immerse myself in this world. In the journey we go through with Eos. She discovers so much about herself and it's something so many of us can connect with. She is a character that feels so real. And I can't wait to follow her into the next book.

I give this book 5 stars. I don't think I could give it any less. 

[Originally posted to latesummersthoughts.wordpress.com on May 21, 2020]

#indiebookreview #indie author #book review #ya scifi

[tessydockery]

Been playing around with some ai image generation just for fun ^.^ Thought I'd share some bookish things it made.

#writerblr #booklover #bookworm #bookstack #bookish #bookblr #books and libraries #books and reading #readingart #bookart #ai art

[tessydockery]

#writerblr #writeblr #writers on tumblr #writing community #flash fiction #very short fiction #short fiction #vss365 #fantasy reads #fantasy writer #angel fiction

[tessydockery]

Book Review: A Whisper in the Dark by Jessi Elliott & K.J. Sutton

As a serial - and part of a larger story, you will no doubt wish this installment was longer, but I have a feeling it will be worth it. The second you step into Charlie Travesty's world, you are completely immersed in a whole new world of vampires. We're talking a world that is glittering and gritty all at once. A world so dark and lovely that you'll be flipping the pages wondering how something can be so good.

I was on the fence about Charlotte - our vampire princess protagonist - when I first began reading. I don't know if that was because I went into this just genuinely hoping that it wouldn't be like every other vampire novel I've read in the past decade or because she just came across as flawless. But after the first 20% or so, I was sold on our heroine and never looked back. You dig into her thoughts, feelings and actions and you really come to understand how cruel it can be to be like her. And you come to understand what it's like to belong no place. I feel such sympathy for Charlie and it's taught me something about our own society in a way.

Charlie isn't our only likeable character though. There are so many more! I loved Drew and his bright outlook on life in the face of such darkness. I can't wait to see more of him in the coming serials. And I loved the dynamics of Nina. She was snarky and hard and kickass. While she could rub you the wrong way, I really enjoyed the different aspects of her personality. Then you have the kindness of Gabriela - a mother figure to Charlie. You could really feel how much she cares for Charlie despite the trouble she could get in. It's really beautiful.

Overall, this serial was amazing and I can't wait to dig into future installments. I'm giving it 4.5 stars - a really solid start! I would recommend this story to vampire enthusiasts. And if you're tired of the same old vampire stories, I encourage you to give this one a try. However, *DISCLAIMER*, if you're not into strong language, sex (especially descriptive sex), and detailed vampire feedings, I'd suggest maybe skipping this one. Otherwise, I really think you'll enjoy this read!

I was given a free eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks so much to the authors for providing me a chance to read this book early. I greatly appreciate it.

[Originally posted to latesummersthoughts.wordpress.com on May 21, 2020]

#indiebookreview #indie author #book review #paranormal romance

[tessydockery]

writing takes so long and its so tiring but if i dont write for the rest of my life ill die

[tessydockery]

Nobody understands the bond between a girl and the mediocre book she read when she was 13 years old.

[tessydockery]

I want drama in my books. Not my real life.

#writerblr #writers on tumblr #writeblr #writing community #reading community #am reading #writerly things #booklover #books and reading

[tessydockery]

Just had an awful, terrible thought: there are probably homes out there that don't have a single book in them 😢

#books and reading #reader thoughts #reader things #writerblr #writers on tumblr #writing community #books & libraries #book thoughts

[tessydockery]

I've been hinting at it for a bit now, but it's official. I'm unpublishing my YA fall romance short story The Maze Date on February 15, 2024. I wrote this story during a time when I really needed to just write and publish something. It's the big push I needed to get my writing career rolling. But after about 2 years, it's time I get back to fantasy -- the genre of my heart. In celebration of making this change, I am unpublishing The Maze Date to do a fresh rewrite on it to make it into a YA contemporary fantasy romance. It'll be releasing this fall to all my newsletter subscribers.

If you want the current version though, you can grab it through February 14th (Valentine's Day) HERE! Thank you all for all the amazing support!

#writerblr #writeblr #writing community #short stories #writerly things #short fiction #short story #indie author #original fiction

[tessydockery]

Book Review: Haunt by Rachel H Drake

Haunt by Rachel H. Drake is the first short novel in a new smutty paranormal romance series. This lovely little book follows Emily, a young woman who has been haunted by a ghost since she was a young child. As her only companion, she has learned to communicate with her ghost, and in adulthood, she has begun to fall for them as well. Following a quick romantic encounter with her ghost, she comes to realize that she will do anything to keep her friend/new lover forever. This is the perfect quick, sexy read for anyone who loved the "can I keep you" scene in Casper.

What I loved:

Oh goodness me, there's so much to love about this book. First off, understand that this series can be read in any order. It's made up of several interconnected standalones. That said, I did read this out of order. I read Blaze first, then Only, and now Haunt. And honestly, I'm kinda glad I read it in this order because it made some of the small details feel like easter eggs! It just added all new exciting story layers. But even if you don't read it in this order, it will make things you learn in subsequent books feel like easter eggs when you get to those. The way Rachel weaves everything together from book-to-book is just a really beautiful work of art.

This book also really excels in the spice department! There's definitely plot to it, and I think Rachel does a really good job of balancing both. There's a real story there, but also equal levels of spicy scenes to keep it interesting throughout! For the paranormal romance lover, this book really has a lot to offer.

What I didn't love:

So, let me start this section off by saying that because I read these books out of order, I could really tell how much Rachel's writing has grown throughout the progression of this series. Each book is better than the last. That said, I felt like there was a lot more conflict in both Blaze and Only. That's not to say this book didn't have conflict. It has so much potential conflict for Emily and William (the couple of this story). It just all resolves a little too quickly and too easily. I would have loved to have seen a little more struggle.

I do believe this stems from the length of the story. If you've read any of them, you know they're a little on the short side. This isn't a bad thing; I just think it didn't give the conflict of this specific story room to grow. Plus, I would have read about these two for many more pages and been just as happy! They're really freaking cute!

Final Thoughts & Recommendations:

I think this book is really great. It's a quick smutty read. And... ghosts! Seriously, what paranormal romance reader wouldn't love the idea of this? It was sexy and fun and a one-sitting read. I would recommend it to someone who wants something a little on the lighter side since the conflict didn't end up being too heavy. Overall, I'm giving this fun little book a solid 4.5 stars. Highly recommend you pick this one up!!

If you're interested in picking up a copy, you can find it here.

TL;DR - Quick ghost smut read between human Emily and ghost William. Great balance of smut and plot. Also excellently woven in with subsequent books. Light on the conflict. Highly recommend to any paranormal reader at a solid 4.5 stars!

#indiebookreview #indie author #paranormal romance

[tessydockery]

“how did you get into writing” girl nobody gets into writing. writing shows up one day at your door and gets into you

[tessydockery]

women with swords. men with swords. everyone with swords . you agree. reblog

[tessydockery]

New Crow Time 🐦‍⬛🦊🌟