برچسب: Reis

  • The Ragpicker King – Book Review – Author Natalina Reis


    The Ragpicker King (The Chronicles of Castellane, #2)The Ragpicker King by Cassandra Clare
    My rating: 5 of 5 stars

    I have to admit that I am upset. I was convinced this was a duology, so when I got toward the end of the book and things were looking pretty unresolved, I googled it. It’s a trilogy!!!!!

    This series is so good. Definitely a departure from what we were used to from Cassandra Clare, but just as brilliant in a more mature way.

    The world building is fantastic with all its parallels with reality and all the lore that goes with it. The characters have been developed in true Clare’s fashion, tridimensional and complex and the relationships between several of her characters are believable and often heart wrenching.

    There were a few totally unexpected plot twists at the end and I am now left with the awful knowledge that it will be a long while until I can read the conclusion to this fabulous story.

    Highly, highly recommend it.

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  • The Love Haters – Book Review – Author Natalina Reis


    The Love HatersThe Love Haters by Katherine Center
    My rating: 4 of 5 stars

    Another great book by Katherine Center.

    The humor mixes with the seriousness of the themes perfectly. I loved the characters (including the side characters like The Gals, clueless Cole, and Beanie) and who wouldn’t love an overly friendly and rumbustious Great Dane?

    I devoured the book (audio) and I only have one complaint which is the same I had with Center’s last book I read: she has the tendency to overextend the ending.

    She has a great ending–or what I think should be the ending–and then she goes on with more stuff that however interesting is kind of superfluous to the plot or enjoyment of the story. Just my opinion and the only reason I am giving the book four stars instead of five.

    Really enjoyed it and can’t wait for more books by Center.

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  • In Memoriam – Author Natalina Reis


    In the last week I lost two important pieces of my childhood, two cousins who, each in their own way, carved a niche in my memory and heart.

    One passed away on June 1st after years of fighting against a rare and terrible brain condition that robbed him of movement, balance, speech and mostly other bodily functions while keeping him cruelly aware.

    But this blog is about his sister, who passed away four days later and lived an ocean away in Canada.

    Even though I only had contact with her through her adult daughter–she was not good at keeping in touch with her family outside Canada–she was and always will be a cherished memory of mine.

    She was seventeen years older than me, the only girl in a household of males but led and taken care of by two amazing women (my namesake aunt and my grandma, Alice). Her brothers and her were taken in by their paternal aunt after misfortune hit their family. My aunt brought them up along with my dad and his brother who had also moved in after my grandfather’s death.

    As a kid, I used to spend weekends with my cousin in my aunt’s big house while she spent her weekends in a vacation rental up north.

    My cousin was the coolest and I was her biggest groupie. She wore mini-skirts and knee-high boots. She knew all the popular tunes and dances. I remember dancing with her in front of my aunt’s big radio, doing the Mashed Potato, the Twist, the Swim, and the Locomotion. She was dating a soldier who was fighting a war in what was then a Portuguese colony in Africa. I was privy to a lot of her love letters (never anything inappropriate). She was a working woman at a time when most women were still expected to “settle down” and be home bound.

    People whispered about her sometimes–even as a child I was aware of that–because she referred to conform and I LOVED that part of her personality and admired her for it.

    Gina on her wedding day with me (hanging on to her arm for dear life. I told you I was a groupie), my sister and my parents. She was a beautiful bride.

    I may have given her an unrealistic halo of coolness but that’s how my childhood mind and heart painted her then and still does. She will always be my rebellious cousin whom I looked up to and, even though I hadn’t seen her or spoke to her in years, I will miss her.

    Gina, you’ll live forever in my heart.

    Young woman dancing with two little girls wearing white.

    Photo of Gina dancing with me and my cousin, Alice in my aunt Natalina’s yard.



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  • Heartless Hunter – Book Review – Author Natalina Reis


    Heartless Hunter (The Crimson Moth, #1)Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
    My rating: 5 of 5 stars

    What a great story with such relevant themes for today’s world. Extremes of anything are bad and there is no such thing as “all bad”” or “all good”.
    Excellent writing, awesome plot, a true enemies-to-lovers romance with low spice but high (slow burn) sexual tension, a rollercoaster of emotions and quite a few surprises.
    I was a little leery about the love triangle (not a true one since she was in love with only one of the guys), but it did work very well in the end.
    I love me a tortured hero so Gideon was just up my alley even though I wanted to slap him many times for being so (understandably) inflexible on his beliefs about witches.
    Many questions went unanswered and the cliffhanger at the end killed me… but the second one is out so I don’t have to wait long.
    Hoping the second one comes with a satisfying resolution to what the first book set out for the readers and that one person in particular gets her comeuppance.
    Highly recommend.

    *I listened to the audio book and the narrator was excellent and really brought those characters to life for me*

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  • The Book of Dog – Review – Author Natalina Reis


    The Book of Dog: A SatireThe Book of Dog: A Satire by D.J. Molles
    My rating: 5 of 5 stars

    This was such a surprise. A good one.
    I picked up the book after a recommendation from another writer and I’m so glad I did.
    I thought it would be a light, funny read and it certainly was, but it surprised me with much deeper themes, so relevant to the world we are living in today.
    I bought the audio book and I have to say the narrator was amazing. His interpretation of the cat’s (Sweetpea) voice and attitude had me in stitches (and it was so accurate) throughout the whole book.
    If you are a pet lover and want a good laugh while still exploring world/human issues, this is the book for you. Brilliant!

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  • Moon Over Soho – Review – Author Natalina Reis


    Moon Over Soho (Rivers of London, #2)Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch
    My rating: 5 of 5 stars

    The second book in this urban fantasy series is just as excellent as the first.
    I love the main characters’ growth, getting to know Peter’s parents better, and welcoming back Leslie (even if it’s a broken version of her. I have high hopes for her).
    One of the best features of this series is the humor (sarcasm, I guess I should call it) with which the main character–our reluctant wizard, Peter–tells his story.
    Once again I listened to it on audiobook and the narrator didn’t disappoint.
    Definitely reading the next in the series. Highly recommend.

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  • Devious Desires – Cover Reveal – Author Natalina Reis


    COVER REVEAL

    DEVIOUS DESIRES

    SNOW TWINS DUET BOOK 2

    PART OF THE DARK LEOPARDS M.C. WORLD

    AUTHOR: Maria Vickers

    DESIGNER: Maria Vickers

    RELEASE DATE: April 4, 2025

    Genre: MC, PNR, Romance, Suspense

    TROPES: MC, Enemies to lovers, Found Family, Overprotective Alpha, Shifter, Paranormal, Romance

    Siam hasn’t had the easiest of lives, but compared to her brother Snow, she’s lived like a princess. She will do anything she can to protect him, including sacrificing herself if necessary. When she discovers her mate is the enemy of her brother, she may have to decide who is more important: her family or her love.


    Fang is balancing on a very dangerous line, and his own secrets could be his undoing. He has to protect Siam, but he isn’t sure how to do that without possibly sacrificing himself. War is coming, and Fang will need to pick a side.

    Danger is lurking around every corner, declaring war against the Dark Leopards MC. Will Siam and Fang fight against each other or embrace their destiny to become mates? Who will be left standing in the end.

    PREORDER TODAY FOR 99 CENTS!

    (price will increase after release)

    “Siam, are you listening to me?” Robert Willis, the person my parents kept pushing at me, asked.

    “Huh?” I’d been caught daydreaming or whatever again. The guy was the most boring human in the known universe. Brown hair, brown eyes, tan skin, dressed in a white button-up shirt, khaki Dockers, and brown shoes. Thinking about it, I doubted he owned anything that wasn’t brown, white, black, or blue. Such a plethora of choices. Bleh! “I apologize, Robert. I have a Spanish test tomorrow and was trying to recall what to review.”

    “If you need help with Spanish, I can tutor you.”

    Smiling coyly, I patted his chest. “I’m okay. Tests just make me nervous.” It was well known that I was a straight-A student and had the highest grade out of all the Spanish classes in our school. I was fluent in Russian, Spanish, German, Italian, and French—a fact I kept to myself because I wasn’t sure about the reaction I would get. I walked a very tight line in my new life, and I didn’t want to tip the scales. I had to bide my time and strike when I was ready. Not a moment sooner, and I could not allow anyone to interfere.

    “Are you sure? I wouldn’t mind helping you. It would allow me to review as well.” Ah, there it was. It wasn’t that he wanted to assist me, but he needed my help. I shouldn’t have been surprised; everyone had an angle, and humans seemed to play them more than shifters.

    “Oh, well, if you think it would help you too, then sure. You can come over, and we can study after we are done here.” I had been forced to go shopping with him to pick out his tux and my dress for homecoming. Yay me!

    So far, I had found fault with every dress. Too tight. Too loose. Too much sparkle. Not enough sparkle. Too many flowers. I detested flower prints, and of course, Robert picked out that particular dress. He was convinced that he would not be able to pick out his tux until I picked my dress. I wasn’t sure how that worked since he could just get basic black, but who was I to judge his fashion choices. Not like he truly cared about fashion or clothes, which brought me back to why couldn’t he just get a basic black tux?

    I was at the point when I was about to just pick the one that bothered me the least when I smelled it. Something sweet and alluring. It wasn’t my brother Dimitri, but it was something else, something more. Mate! My animal called out to me. Mate? I was only sixteen. But it had to be. The smell drew me in.

    SNOW

    As a young boy, abandoned by my parents and ripped apart from my twin sister, I learned early on that the world was full of evil and hate. I survived by living between the light and darkness, using my shifter abilities to stay alive…until one mistake should have cost me my life. Instead, it became my salvation and gave me a family and band of brothers who had my back no matter what. The Dark Leopards MC was not a gang to be trifled with, and many gave us a wide birth, and as the Sergeant At Arms, I ensured that’s the way it stayed. But someone was trying to encroach on our territory and begin a war.

    I suspect the woman I saved, the woman whom I discover is my mate, is tied to it all somehow. I just have to figure out the puzzle before it’s too late.

    VERITY

    I was only trying to help a friend. The last thing I ever thought is that my friend would try to kidnap me, but thankfully someone or something saved me. Rushing to meet my roommate, Siam, I got another shock when the gang responsible for my brother’s death are her friends. I didn’t care if her brother had mesmerizing eyes or if I had a hard time not thinking about him. He was the enemy!

    But even as my enemy, he may be my only chance to stay alive and learn the truth. And if Snow is the one protecting me in and out of bed, I wouldn’t complain too much.

    Maria Vickers is a bestselling and award-winning author who currently resides in St. Louis, MO with her pug, Hunny. She has always had a passion for writing and after she became disabled in 2010, she decided to use writing as her escape. She believes that life is about what you make of it, you have to live it to the fullest no matter the circumstances.

    Getting sick changed her life forever, but it also opened doors for her that she thought would always be out of reach.

     



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  • Whispers Under Ground – Book Review – Author Natalina Reis


    Whispers Under Ground (Rivers of London, #3)Whispers Under Ground by Ben Aaronovitch
    My rating: 5 of 5 stars

    The Rivers of London series hasn’t disappointed me yet. Its mixture of mystery, magic, and humor, perfectly balanced, is just up my alley. It even has hints of romance here and there. What else can a reader ask for?
    In book 3, I was very happy to find that Lesley is back as a fully-functional partner and friend as well as a magician-in-training under the very British, very old-fashioned tutelage of Nightingale. I have high hopes for her full-recovery at some point down the line in the series.
    Their adventure down in the maze of London sewers and subway tunnels is both thrilling and hilarious.
    A hugely successful feature of this series is the so-called supporting and guest cast. In this particular installment Zach, the Fae-halfling and the God-fearing but rule-breaking FBI agent are great additions.
    I have the next book already purchased and I highly recommend this series for anyone who loves a good urban fantasy.
    As a footnote, the narrator continues to do an amazing job and adding yet another layer of humor and magic to this fabulous story.

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  • Cursed Magic Release Blitz – Author Natalina Reis


     

    Title: Cursed Magic

    Author: Jen L. Grey

    Genre: Urban Fantasy, PNR

    Publication Date: Mar. 27th, 20225

    Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR

    Cursed Magic by Jen L. Grey

    Surviving was just the beginning. Now, the real nightmare begins.

    Betrayed by the man who was meant to stand beside me, I watched my pack fall in a bloodbath of treachery. My sister and I barely escaped—but in the chaos, we were separated.

    Pulled from the river, I was saved—begrudgingly—by Ryker, a ruthless and powerful pack leader with secrets of his own. A man I don’t trust and can’t seem to escape. The pull between us is undeniable, but after everything, I refuse to let another wolf break me.

    When we finally rescue my sister, shadows close in—shadows only I can see. Our survival seems impossible—until Ryker makes the ultimate sacrifice, stepping in front of a blade meant for my sister.

    Now, the war is escalating. The attacks grow more relentless, and the deeper we dig, the darker the truth becomes—the very man who rejected me isn’t just after Ryker’s pack and mine. He’s hunting wolves and vampires alike.

    I’ve spent my life running from Fate. From the bond pulling me toward Ryker. But the more we fight side by side, the more something inside me begins to awaken. Something powerful. Something I don’t understand.

    And if I don’t figure out what it is soon, the next time the shadows strike—they won’t just take my life.

    They’ll take my soul.


    Cursed Magic
     is a dark and addictive paranormal romance packed with fated mates, enemies-to-lovers tension, lethal secrets, slow burn romance, and a heroine who refuses to surrender. One-click now and step into the shadows.

    USA Today Bestselling Author

    Reading has always been one of my favorite hobbies, even as a little girl. When I was a toddler, my parents would read stories to me over and over. I would hear them so often that I had the books memorized and could recite the story word by word.

    My favorite genres are fantasy, paranormal, and contemporary romance. So of course that’s what I’m inclined to write.

    ​I have a husband, two young daughters, and a mini Australian Shepherd. I’ve lived in Tennessee the majority of my life and love the state.

    I’m extremely addicted to caffeine and enjoy drinking coffee and lattes.

    Author Links:

    Amazon | Goodreads | Facebook | Reader Group

    Twitter | Bookbub | Instagram | Website | Tiktok

     





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  • Tress of The Emerald Sea – Book Review – Author Natalina Reis


    Tress of the Emerald SeaTress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
    My rating: 4 of 5 stars

    I had no idea what to expect from this book. I had never read a Sanderson book and had heard amazing things about him. I also knew that this particular title was not Sanderson’s usual fare.

    I really enjoyed it for the most part. It did remind me a lot of The Prince’s Bride, a movie (not so much the book, I’m afraid) I absolutely adore. Quirky, nonsensical, funny, and totally “out there”. My kind of humor.

    I thought it went on a bit too long, but other than that, I truly enjoyed it. After reading quite a few very serious and heavy fantasies, this was the perfect palate cleanser. Tress was a great character and so was the Rat and the rest of the crew.

    And the funniest and best one-liners ever! I wish I had thought of writing them down.

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