Hi, everyone, I hope the month of June was good to all of
you.
We’ve been working hard, as always, at reading and reviewing
at The Novel Approach this month, and have managed to come up with yet another
list of our choices for the best of the best for the month of June, so without
further need for introduction, here they are—this month’s Booyah Books!
Lynn – Slasherazzi by Daniel A. Kaine – I would
have to say my favorite part of this story was being inside the killer’s head.
Actually seeing his thoughts and feeling his rage as he tortured his victims
was a very unique perspective. Not many stories have that and with my morbid,
sick sense of entertainment, I absolutely loved it. The author doesn’t hold
back any detail here, so for those of you who get squeamish over blood and
gore, you have been warned. Certain body parts are sliced and diced and the
victims are shown no mercy.
Overall, this was a great read. If you love a great murder
mystery with some romance and a lot of blood, this one’s for you.
Lynn's Full Review Can Be Found HERE
Traci – Better Than Chance by Lane Hayes – Audio
– Tyler Stevens does an excellent job depicting the characters with his voices
in this audio book. If you have read the book previously, Jay makes sense. If
not, remember my description of the formal, southern drama queen and then it
will make sense. He truly brought life into each one of these characters and
made it very entertaining for the listener.
This series would go on my re-listen rather than my re-read
shelf.
Traci's Full Review Can Be Found HERE
Sammy – Temper Sanguine by Lou Harper – Fast
paced action and a really good story! Here is what really separates Lou
Harper from the pack when it comes to paranormal novels. The thrilling,
heart-stopping plot that never relents but carries you on a wild ride of a
journey right up to the end. Mystery combined with action gives us a story line
that has just enough twists and turns to keep us on the edge of our seats.
What’s amazing to me about this author is her ability to run several plot
points simultaneously and never confuse us or leave us lost somewhere in the
middle. Rather, she painstakingly ties up each loose end and even manages to
give just an inkling that there could be another novel in this series in the
future. Skillful and interesting, dramatic and funny, tender and poignant, the
story unfolds on the page and draws you in, thrilling you to the very end.
In a literary genre where sequels are often rougher fare and
sometimes disappointing, Lou Harper gives us Temper Sanguine, a gorgeous follow up in her Sanguine series. I
highly recommend it to you!
Samny's Full Review Can Be Found HERE
Jackie – Recovery by Con Riley – When I finished
reading Salvage, I thought to
myself, “That was a great book.” Then I read Recovery, and I found Ms. Riley had completely outdone herself.
This was not only the story of a recovering alcoholic but the story of a man
coming to terms with every facet of his life. Jamie works his steps in the
program, and he has to come to terms with the mistakes he has made in the past
and find a way not to repeat them in the future.
I sincerely hope you will give this book a try, but I feel I
must warn you that there should be copious amounts of Kleenex on hand while you
follow Jamie on his journey. This is definitely a must read book; you will kick
yourself if you miss it.
Jackie's Full Review Can Be Found HERE
Lana – Cowboys and Kilts by Erin O’Quinn – Hugh’s
tour takes him to Guthrie Castle and Graeme. Their meeting and subsequent get
together is very well written, and I enjoyed reading it. This is a short
novella and there are no surprises here. But I didn’t care because this was
such a beautifully written story. The Scottish setting was brought to life
through words, and I found myself walking the same paths as our heroes.
I felt every word I read. Graeme and Hugh jumped off the page and became real to me. I loved them and wanted more. Maybe a re-write as a fantasy! And the reference to Loch Ness was pretty accurate. It turned out that Graeme did have a big dick and knew how to use it despite his inexperience. I guess sex is hardwired in our lizard brain.
Cowboys and Kilts is
a must read if you like sexy cowboys and Scots! I highly recommend it.
Lana's Full Review Can Be Found HERE
Jules – Release by A.M. Sexton – The world that
Sexton has created here is fascinating. Her storytelling and writing are so
strong, that even as I was questioning myself for enjoying the book so much, I
was incapable of stopping. Some of her prose when describing Misha’s feelings
and observations is absolutely breathtaking. The descriptions of both the
opulence and decadence of the Upper City, as well as the conditions and poverty
in the trenches, are also stunning. As a leading character, Misha is likeable,
feisty, extremely bright, and also incredibly sexy. Ayo is beautifully
heart-breaking and fascinating, and Misha finds himself becoming increasingly
drawn to and protective of him as well. The pace of the story was perfect, and
the ending was thrilling – and surprising! I can’t wait for Return to
come out in the fall so we can see what happened to some of the supporting cast
(whose characters were also rich and very well-written), and get the conclusion
of the story!
Jules' Full Review Can Be Found HERE
BJ – The Price of Dick by Dan Skinner – To
summarise, what we have here is a deeply profound, psychologically explorative
read that examines not only the traditional themes of the genre but also things
we are afraid to look at too closely; our own flaws, our own self esteem
issues, what we are willing to sacrifice in the name of infatuation. This book,
much like his last, is one of the most courageous and thoughtful pieces I have
had the pleasure of reading, and though a long read, I devoured it in one
sitting.
If you’re looking for something fluffy, then look away. This
is not for you. If you want to read the story of how J.J Johnstone’s life was
turned upside down by his love of Dick, then get your copy now. This, to me, is
what all books should be like, and I adored it from first page to last, humbly
thankful to the author for such a penetrating look behind the doors of the
closet he never chose to dwell in.
BJ's Full Review Can Be Found HERE
Tina – Off Stage: In the Wings by Jaime Samms –
Jaime Samms does a great job of taking the reader inside the mind of the abused
and damaged Lenny and making us feel his pain. Not to the point where it is
painful for us, but so we understand what is driving his behavior. He truly has
no control over himself. The rage just takes over and he’s left standing there,
dazed, looking at the pieces surrounding him afterward.
Ms. Samms also superbly shows how hard it is for Vance to
stay by Lenny’s side during all this. The question of whether love really is
enough is brought to mind. And is it domestic violence if the guy doing the
hitting is really terribly damaged and doesn’t intend to hurt his lover? I say
yes, definitely. There is never an excuse for hitting a lover or partner, male
or female. But the internal struggle Vance takes us on is insightful. If he
gives up on Lenny, he’ll be reinforcing all the negative feelings Lenny has
about himself, and he’ll be one more in a series of losses in Lenny’s life.
This could be the loss that pushes him over the edge.
Tina's Full Review Can Be Found HERE
Kim – Motel. Pool. by Kim Fielding – For one
who loves her ghost stories, this novel was quite different from the usual
fare. Both the story and the characters kept me riveted until the very end, not
to mention when I finished reading Motel.
Pool. I kept going back into the story to read my favorite parts over
again. I love it when a ghost story haunts me afterwards!
Kim Fielding has a wicked flair for writing a hauntingly
believable storyline, and I’m hoping for a sequel. I’d love to find out more
about this particular spirit world that Ms. Fielding has created, so I’m
happily giving Motel. Pool. an
enthusiastic 5 Star rating! Strongly recommended!
Kim's Full Review Can Be Found HERE
Jordan – Cross & Crown by Abigail Roux – Julian
Cross stars in Cross & Crown,
and that character owns every page he’s written onto. Seeing the relationship
and respect develop between him and Nick, and him and Kelly, was superb. Up to
this point he’s always been a very mysterious character, but in Cross & Crown we see him
frazzled and at his wits end trying to rescue his husband, Cameron. His dry
humor and sharp wit was on point and made his character a little more…human…in
my eyes.
Overall, I was impressed with this book and would rate it a
solid 4 stars. The characterization, writing, and plot all came together to
form a great book. I look forward to seeing what’s next in this series.
Jordan's Full Review Can Be Found HERE
Lisa – Chance Assassins: A Story of Love, Luck, and
Murder by Nicole Castle – I’m entirely in awe of this author’s ability to
write a story starring not one but two characters who should be unappealing in
every way. Nicole Castle has made Frank and Vincent loveable to a degree that
has left me obsessing over this book. It’s a hallmark of truly brilliant
storytelling I haven’t experienced since reading Maria McCann’s As Meat Loves Salt and I fell for the insane Jacob
Cullen. This author’s writing style is fresh, her characters funny and vibrant,
her version of romance refreshing, and this book is one disturbing, endearing,
horrifying, and sexy surprise after another.
Les Recidivists, the continuation of Frank and
Vincent’s incomparable love story, is already loaded on my Kindle just waiting
to be devoured, word for delightfully twisted word.
My Full Review Can Be Found HERE
And that, dear readers, puts an end to June. Until next month, happy reading!
