Behind the Lights (Social Sinners #1) by T.L. Travis

This review was written by: B

Received: Ebook from Author

Publication Date of Book: June 9, 2018

Pages: 172 (Kindle Edition)

Stars: 3.75

Official Summary:

Joey Hayes and his best friend Ricky Branson have been together through the good times, as well as the bad. Attending their first concert as teens set the path for their futures in motion.  Shortly after, the pair joined band class where they meet Ethan and Mick and the foursome formed the metal band, Social Sinners.

Things were going according to plan until Lucas Shane entered their lives, disrupting the flow and testing the strength of their friendship.

When Joey spirals down a dark path after catching his cheating boyfriend, this tasked the other three band members with making a difficult decision that could end his career as their lead singer.

My Thoughts:

While some people hate most tropes, I'm a sucker for quite a few. One of them is the friends to lovers trope, which I could read about all day long, and this book sounded like it was right up that ally in terms of it harboring this potential. Thus, I was extremely excited when the author reached out, especially because M/M romance is one of my favorite genres.  (Plus, I LOVE this cover.)

The first thing you should know about this book is that a significant portion of it is seeing Joey and Ricky "Stoli" grow up from childhood to adulthood.  I wasn't expecting this mostly due to the blurb, but I'm in no way complaining.  I loved seeing how their dynamic was formed, what they meant to each other, and everything they went through - both the good and the bad - that made them who they were as individuals, band members, best friends, etc.  Without their backstories, it would have been extremely difficult to connect with them on an emotional level and understand where they were coming from.  Additionally, I realize that some people did not especially enjoy the author's descriptions throughout the childhood portion, particularly seeing them as boring and unnecessary (which I respect and understand), but personally I found them to be significant to the story (whether it was because it highlighted a bonding moment or something that grounded the characters that would eventually remind them of home) - the author wrote with deliberate purpose, which I'm a fan of. 

The dynamic of the members in the band Social Sinners was definitely one of my favorite parts of the novel.  I've gotten the pleasure of reading short stories from Travis but nothing of this length, which allowed for her to develop her characters and truly allow the audience to understand the deep connection the four men (Joey, Stoli, Micky, and Diamond) have been able to form by the end of the first installment to this series, and how they react to trials and tribulations.  Their brotherly camaraderie was inspiring as they built a family that wasn't blood related, placing an importance on how "Family didn't need blood to form a bond, it only needs to have a heart."  I don't think I've ever found an author who summed up one of my beliefs so perfectly!  The love this group had for each other was a true treat to read and one I won't soon forget.  The father-son and mother-son dynamics were wonderful as well!  There's something so intriguing to me about family relations that gets me every single time, and these ones were so endearing and heartfelt that I have to give Travis props. 

I also thoroughly enjoyed what music meant to the characters and the passion they possessed for it.  While I don't necessarily often listen to the genre of music this book focuses on, I can certainly appreciate the power of music, the creativity it allows for, and the way it can bring people together.  However, the music and band's formation and camaraderie seemed to be slightly more focused on compared to the romance portion of the novel (especially in the case of Joey figuring out where his heart was at), which I was not anticipating.  However, this was another aspect that I didn't mind - the plot was intriguing enough for me to wait and find out what would happen in the love department.  The characters kept me going, and the band's journey made me invested regardless of the level of romance.

The only thing I was slightly confused with was why Joey was in a relationship with Lucas.  The instant physical attraction was understandable and undoubtedly a factor.  Plus, as a reader I could wholeheartedly sense that Joey was invested in Lucas as a person, but there was no distinct reason as to why this was in terms of personality or compatibility.  They simply were a thing, but there was little in terms of how the emotional depth Joey invested in Lucas came about.  Perhaps it was because Joey was comfortable with the dynamic, but it was difficult for me to comprehend why he was so into his boyfriend, and it would have been interesting to see how Joey got to this point.  (However, I was on team Throw Lucas to the Curb!)

In terms of the ending, I LOVED it.  The way it came full circle with the opening chapter, and eventually Joey's realization allowed me to breath again.  I had anxiety throughout this whole book waiting for that final moment!  And I was not disappointed!!!  (Joey could have been a bit quicker at picking up the hints someone was putting down, but I'm sure Travis was trying to show how their love was getting established before continuing on with the series.  Plus, some people are sometimes slow at picking up on vibes.  PSA: This fact is not a myth.)  All I can say is that I hope there's a lot more of Joey and his significant other in the books to come because I want more of them!!!

June Book Theme: Boy Meets Boy

This June we've decided to take our love for LGBTQ+ characters and read and review books that possess either a main or prominent side male character that identifies as gay. We're diving into a multitude of genres -- YA, erotica, BDSM, etc. and will be sharing our experiences with these books. Disclaimer: This event is inspired by the book review blog of the same name -- Boy Meets Boy. 

Here are some reviews to look forward to:

         

           

Abby and the Mystic Dancers by L.C. Miller

This review was written by: C

Received: ARC from Author

Stars: 3.5/5

Official Summary: 

As the product of a forbidden alliance between the elemental Mystics and the wand carrying Wielders -- two distinct, often feuding, magical realms -- acceptance is something fourteen-year-old Abby has fought with for the last four years. When an alliance is formed between the Mystic Dancers and the Wielders, Abby is given the chance to live with a Wielder's family and attend Wielder's Academy of Magical Arts. In order to do so, she first has to make three promises to the Mystic Dancers leader...Tell no one she's half Mystic, that her father is a Wielder who also a wanted criminal, or that she can transform into anything she wants. 

Her day-to-day life of secrets, school work, and dancing is interrupted when her mother's murder case goes to trial The Mystics believe they finally caught the killer, who happens to be the father of one of Abby's new friends. Abby has a choice to make -- reveal her secrets, or let a man she knows is innocent go to prison.

My Thoughts:

To give just a bit more information about the book: Abby isn't having the best of luck. She's stuck living with a very cranky foster mother by the name of Eleanor Rable who views her as nothing more than free labor. She's also a child of an "unholy" union between a female Mystic and male Wielder. Thus, neither group will ever fully accept her. However, everything changes when Rable's cousin's family arrives -- Sarah and Jackson Herrin,  their sons Ethan and Brannon, and Ethan's friend Aaron.

It becomes evident that Sarah and her family aren't exactly normal, especially when Sarah saves Bombers, Abby's pet snake, by seemingly magically snatching a broom from Rable. The deal is sealed when Abby overhears that they're searching for the Mystics. It soon comes to light that the Herrins are Wielders and through a turn of events, Abby's Wielder abilities are witnessed by the family. Hence, they offer her a chance to live with them and attend WAMA (Wielders Academy of Magical Arts).

Abby jumps at the chance to live with people like her and things seem to be looking up for her. However, Abby still has to hide many secrets, like the fact that she's half Mystic and an Unrestricted -- an individual who's capable of turning into just about anything they want to. Additionally, many Wielders believe her father is a murderer, which she knows isn't true.

Now that I've got the basic summary of the book outlined, I want to first discuss the magic system. I love the fact that the magic in this world is split into two types -- Wielders and Mystics. Anyone labeled a Mystic uses magic that deals with elements and nature and Wielders use wands and, according to the Mystics, dabble in uncharted magic.

The wands all seem pretty interesting as well -- they're definitely more colorful and unique than those of the Harry Potter universe. Anywho, the two groups have a long history and don't seem to mingle well, as the Mystics do not approve of the type of magic that the Wielders use.  

I love reading books involving magical schools -- The Novice, Earthsea Cycle, The Magicians, etc. However, I especially treasure books with aspects similar to that of Harry Potter. It's always interesting to see how authors are inspired by previous works and utilize different aspects of it to create a new and unique novel. In this regard, WAMA reminded me a bit of Hogwarts. The descriptions of the school were magnificent, and I liked the fact that the students got sorted into various houses: Sea Serpents, the Firebirds, the Earth Dragons, the Stone Leprechauns, and the Sky Griffons.  I also enjoyed the mention of mermen and mermaids swimming under glass floors of the building (this was such a tiny detail, but I thought it was pretty cool. What can I say? I love me my merpeople!). 

One of my only qualms about the book was that some moments felt a bit like information was being added too fast. However, you learn a lot of things as Abby does, so it makes sense that quite a bit of the rules and explanations of the workings of magic would be explained in this way. 

I don't want to give too much of the plot away or reveal any spoilers, so I just want to say that this is definitely a worthy read. It's full of magic, friendship, adventure, and a wonderful female protagonist. It's a tale of exploring who you are and finding those who accept you. So, sit back and enjoy the ride.

If you enjoyed this book, you may also like:

         

The Dire King (Jackaby #4) by William Ritter

This review was written by: C

Received: Publisher (Algonquin Young Readers)

Publication Date of Book: Aug. 22, 2017

Pages (Hardcover): 352

Stars: 4/5

Official Summary:

The fate of the world is in the hands of detective of the supernatural R. F. Jackaby and his intrepid assistant, Abigail Rook. An evil king is turning ancient tensions into modern strife, using a blend of magic and technology to push Earth and the Otherworld into a mortal competition. Jackaby and Abigail are caught in the middle as they continue to solve the daily mysteries of New Fiddleham, New England - like who's created the rend between the worlds, how to close it, and why zombies are appearing around. At the same time, the romance between Abigail and the shape-shifting police detective Charlie Cane deepens, and Jackaby's resistance to his feelings for 926 Augur Lane's ghostly lady, Jenny, begins to give way. Before the four can think about their own futures, they will have to defeat an evil that wants to destroy the future altogether. 

My Thoughts:

All good things must come to an end...and now it's time to say goodbye to one of my favorite YA series and its superb and beloved characters. 

Reading The Dire King brought forth a whirlwind of emotions. It was exciting, sad, infuriating, and bittersweet. Ritter did a marvelous job of flowing between moments of humor, action, and heart-wrenching emotion. Above all, I love Ritter's little insights of pure genius and ability to weave powerful messages throughout his stories. I never cease to find meaningful quotes in his work that I will forever hold dearly in my heart, and The Dire King was no exception. I especially loved the following: 

“I never found a book that did not have at least a little magic in it.” 

These words brought a smile to my face as I read them. I guess I don't often think of books in such a way, but these words reminded me how special a collection of words on paper can be. A book can mean so many things to so many different people. Every single book holds a little magic for someone -- we just have to be daring enough to find it.

(The following two paragraphs may contain slight spoilers -- no characters are named, but some important plot points are discussed (mainly character deaths).)

In terms of plot, I was excited to find out what paths the characters were going to travel down and how they all developed. There's also that dwelling heaviness when you want to find out whether or not the author is going to kill off one of your favorite characters in the final volume of a series. It's something that I've come to expect and I always try to prepare myself for it, but when it came this time, I just couldn't handle it!!!! This is the only reason that I didn't give the book a total of five stars. I understand that authors often do this as a shock factor and to show the gravity of the situation the characters face -- giving up one's life is an ultimate sacrifice to save those you love -- but it still gets to me every time -- I'm looking at you The Fallen Kingdom. It's also important to mention that many authors kill off characters only to bring them back. Although it doesn't change the fact that they gave up their lives to save everyone, it seems like there death wasn't as important if they could simply be brought back to life. In the end, it's just shock factor. 

Aside from the killing off of characters, the final showdown was epic! The culmination of the previous three books was brought to a massive crescendo and so many things happened!!! I don't want to spoil anything else, so I'll just have to say that you'll experience all the feels. 

Additionally, I was hoping that more of Jackaby's past would be revealed. Alas, book 3 in the series is as close to an explanation of Jackaby's history as we're going to get. I have to admit that this was a bit of a disappointment.

I knew this moment would come, but I still don't want to leave this amazing world that Ritter constructed behind. 

There is still so much to explore...and perhaps one day Ritter will return to the fantastical world of Jackaby. However, even if this truly where the story ends, the magic of this series won't. 

As with many of my other Jackaby reviews, I shall leave you with another quote that I found to be particularly profound:

“This world doesn't need showy champions. It needs people who are good, people who do good, even if nobody will ever know.” 

If you liked this book, you may also enjoy the following:

      

Cover Reveal: Skin Deep (Paranormal Detectives #6) by Lily Luchesi

The animal inside wants to come out and play.

Skin changers are able to look like anyone of any race and gender, which makes them the most dangerous criminals in the paranormal community. Only one person in modern history has ever successfully captured and executed one.

When a skin changer starts attacking government workers in Chicago, they have no choice but to call in their last resort. However, their solution might create even more danger for the city and its people. What does the skin changer want, and how does it fit into a possible Undead uprising?

Coming June 12th from USA Today bestselling author Lily Luchesi
Published by Vamptasy Publishing

Cover design by Rue Volley

Edited by EAL Editing Services

Join the event!

Add the book on Goodreads!

Don't forget to check out the first five PDS books! Start the series for just 99 pennies, or FREE if you use Kindle Unlimited!

Lily Luchesi is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of the Paranormal Detectives Series, published by Vamptasy Publishing. She also has short stories included in multiple bestselling anthologies, and a successful dark erotica retelling of Dracula.
She is also the editor, curator and contributing author of Vamptasy Publishing's Damsels of Distress anthology, which celebrates strong female characters in horror and paranormal fiction.
She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and now resides in Los Angeles, California. Ever since she was a toddler her mother noticed her tendency for being interested in all things "dark". At two she became infatuated with vampires and ghosts, and that infatuation turned into a lifestyle. She is also an out member of the LGBT+ community. When she's not writing, she's going to rock concerts, getting tattooed, watching the CW, or reading manga. And drinking copious amounts of coffee.

http://lilyluchesibooks.wix.com/lilyluchesi

http://amazon.com/author/lilyluchesi

www.twitter.com/LilyLuchesi

www.facebook.com/LilyLuchesi

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1000888509953193/ (street team)

www.instagram.com/lilyluchesi

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7369101.Lily_Luchesi

Tales of Mentara: The Portal (Book #1) by Ashley Uzzell

This review was written by: C

Received: ARC from Author

Publication Date of Book: April 13, 2018

Stars: 4/5
 

Official Summary:

Five children find themselves stuck in a beautiful jungle on a strange planet. But all is not as peaceful as it first appears.

Twelve-year-old Charlotte has been different all her life. It isn’t just that her father left when she was a child, or her mother ignores her. What really makes her an outsider is the fact that she has strange abilities that she can’t explain and struggles to control. Everything changes in the summer of 1993 when she feels drawn to a certain spot outside of town. Unfortunately, she isn’t alone when things go sideways.

When the children realize they are definitely not on Earth anymore, they have to learn not only how to fend for themselves, but how to get along. The problem is, even Charlotte has no idea how to get off the alien planet. And, perhaps, she doesn’t want to.

It doesn’t take long for the five to realize they aren’t alone in this strange land and that life here is more dangerous than they could have imagined.

My Thoughts:

First and foremost, I was truly fascinated when I found out that this story was inspired by Peter Pan and Neverland. I have always loved this tale, its lore, and the good and the evil found within a boy that will never grow up. Uzzell provides a short explanation at the beginning regarding how The Tales of Mentara came to be, and I thoroughly enjoyed how she tells of taking a beloved story, that impacted her while growing up, and using it as inspiration for her own work. As someone who also grew up watching Peter Pan films and eating up any form of Peter Pan literature that I could get my hands on, I was pumped for this story from the very beginning and couldn't wait to see how Uzzell was influenced by such a story to create her own form of writing magic. Now, without further adieu, let's get into it!

Charlotte and her friends enter a world unlike any other and are faced with many obstacles and dangers. They have to deal with the distrust of a native tribe, a possible war, and the struggles of trying to cooperate and improve their situation. Ultimately, they have to get past  any hardships or setbacks, come together, and survive.

Along this journey, Uzzell deals with many different characters, and I appreciate her ability to maintain them all. When there are more than two individuals who are focal points in a story, more often than not some characters fall to the wayside or evoke a sense of boring and uneventful blah:

However, Uzzell was more than capable of taking five kids and not letting a single one feel as if they did not belong in the story -- they all had vital roles to play. Additionally, even though the novel was just under 200 pages, it was more than enough for meaningful character development to occur.

I also feel that the story carried some important weight regarding race and being able to coexist with people who are different from yourself be it due to speaking different languages, having varying skin colors, possessing different cultural backgrounds, or, you know, belonging to a different planet. I feel that the book brought to the table a vital message that empathy between everyone is possible even though differences exist.

Lastly, the raw emotion was stupendous. I felt everything that Charlotte, Mindy, Lena, Daniel, and Fred experienced. The stress and homesickness that they endured emanated from the page. Plus, they're stuck in the middle of an impending war. Who wouldn't be emotional?

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Uzzell's most recent work, and I look forward to seeing what she does next!

If you enjoyed this book, you may also like:

         

Down to Oath by Tyrolin Puxty

This review was written by: B

Received: Ebook from Publisher

Publication Date of Book: April 3, 2018

Pages: 116

Stars: 4/5


Official Summary:
You have to find yourself before you can leave.

Codi lives in the exceptionally drab town of Oath; a settlement without colour, children or personality.

When a child manifests in the library and introduces Codi to parallel towns that contain aggressive, manic versions of herself, she must decide between saving Oath...and saving herself.


After all, how much can you truly trust yourself?





My Thoughts:

There aren't that many books where I don't want to spew everything that happened in it in a mini summary before I head into more intensive thoughts.  (I'm a compulsive spoiler who cannot be tamed!)  But there is something about this book that I want to keep from everyone out of a fear of genuinely ruining the whole story.  (What's happening to me?!)  The wonderful thing of Puxty's novel is the execution and reveals, which, much like thrillers, give off the sense that you should go in as blind as possible.

So, to be as descriptive as possible without giving too much away: I love how this book was fast-paced right out of the gate and rarely slows down.  You jump right in and never look back, which is a style I never complain about!  To put it simply, the book's creativity is ever-present, and the overall subject matter and themes are extremely thought-provoking.

The beginning of Down to Oath hits you with mystery, and the setting reminded me of some of my favorite books like The Giver, which I loved.  The main character Codi is everything the rest of her peers are not; she's inquisitive and imaginative, constantly in search of knowledge and self-expression.  Also, she loves libraries and believes in the power of stories, winning my bookish heart!!!!  

The story explores a great deal of concepts that I think can be enjoyed by a wide audience, but my favorite is how Puxty highlighted discovering who you are and your intricacies.  Additionally, her writing style fits the tone of the book perfectly, but it might be important to point out that the writing is simplistic in some respects.  For me, this was not a problem but rather worked well with the story, but I might see older readers being hesitant about this.  However, this book is so intriguing that I would definitely recommend it.