All posts by Jo-Anna W

Dark, Dark Dark and more Dark, Horror, Novella, Trigger Warnings

#REVIEW – No One Rides For Free (An Extreme Novella) by Judith Sonnet

June 30, 2023 Jo-Anna W Leave a comment

Jodi was driving her children to college when The Man got in their car.
Uninvited, unwanted, and unhinged…
The Man has no name, but he does have a gun… a knife… and a bag of “toys”.
What starts as a forced ride into the desert escalates into a disturbing series of crimes and assaults.
Jodi and her children will soon pray for death.

WARNING: This novella is incredibly disturbing. It features graphic scenes of sexual violence, torture, and gore. It is not intended for easily offended readers. The print edition of this book includes an exclusive short story, which is not availble on ebook. It is also gross and disturbing.

Ok…um…WTF did I just read?? You know the book is going to be crazy when there’s a warning half way through. Especially when the end of said warning says “It’s just a book” over and over again. But seriously…wow. So I’ve watched a lot of horror movies. And I’m not talking horror movies like Scream or Halloween (I love those movies of course). I’m talking movies that have been banned or make you feel like you’re an awful person just by watching. So I’ve seen some stuff. But I swear nothing compares to reading horror. What I see in my head while reading and what you see in your head while reading, are two completely different things and that’s what I love about it. That’s what I love about reading in general but there’s just something so deeply disturbing with reading a horror novel that just hits me differently. And this extreme novella was no different.

First I’m going to start by saying IF YOU HAVE TRIGGERS – PLEASE READ WITH CAUTION. And please please PLEASE read the warnings.

So in this short but intense story, you get Jodi who is driving her two kids to college. They stop at a gas station where they meet The Man and his bag of toys. The things that happen…I seriously can’t even put into words. The author did her job. I felt dirty, disgusted, like I needed a shower and just plain gross. I have a strong stomach but there were parts of this that made me feel nauseous. I really have no words. At all. Even though the content of this book was horrible to say the least, I gave it a high rating because the author succeeded in making me feel things that I’m sure she set out to do. So kudos to her.

Paranormal, Part of a Series, Review, slow burn

#Review – Wolf Gone Wild: A Steamy, Slow-burn Werewolf Romance (Stay A Spell Book 1) by Juliette Cross

June 28, 2023 Jo-Anna W Leave a comment

What’s the worst thing that can happen to a werewolf?

Unable to shift for three months, Mateo Cruz knows all too well. His wolf has taken up residence in his head, taunting him night and day with vividly violent and carnal thoughts. Convinced he’s cursed, he needs the help of a powerful witch before he literally goes insane.

Evie Savoie has always obeyed the house rules of her coven–no werewolves. They’re known for being moody and volatile. So, when a distempered, dangerous werewolf strolls in the bar and almost strangles one of her late-night customers, she’s ready to bounce him through the door. But the desperation in his eyes when he begs her to help him softens her heart and convinces her to bend the rules.

What Evie doesn’t know is that Mateo’s wolf has a mind of his own. And now that she’s in his sights, he wants only one thing. Her.

Oh my gosh I devoured this book!

I came across this series in one of the book groups I’m in over on Facebook. The poster had said that it was a fun read and that she loved the whole series. She wasn’t wrong!

I haven’t read paranormal romance in so long but man, am I ever glad I took a chance on this new to me author.

This book was exactly what I needed. I’ve been reading dark and heavy books for so long and writing them too, that I needed a break and this was perfect.

This story is about Evie, a witch, and Mateo, a werewolf. It’s a slow burn, which is something I don’t usually like, but it was perfect for this story and made complete sense. Mateo has an issue where he can’t shift and asks for help from Evie and her sisters.

I loved the side characters, the banter, the laugh out loud moments and I especially loved Mateo’s wolf, Alpha. Their back and forth had me laughing out loud.

This book was the perfect mix of spice, humour and suspense. It was imaginative, creative and I just loved it.

If you want a super fun, sexy, read with a hot werewolf and sassy witch, I 100% recommend this book! Now to read the rest of the series because I’m dying to know more about the other sisters!

Dark, Dark Dark and more Dark, Dark Romance, Duet

#BookPromo – Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet, #1) by H.D. Carlton

June 27, 2023 Jo-Anna W Leave a comment

AN AMAZON TOP 10 BESTSELLER!

The Manipulator

I can manipulate the emotions of anyone who lets me.
I will make you hurt, make you cry, make you laugh and sigh.
But my words don’t affect him. Especially not when I plead for him to leave.
He’s always there, watching and waiting.
And I can never look away.
Not when I want him to come closer.

The Shadow

I didn’t mean to fall in love.
But now that I have, I can’t stay away.
I’m mesmerized by her smile, by her eyes, and the way she moves.
The way she undresses…
I’ll keep watching and waiting. Until I can make her mine.
And once she is, I’ll never let her go.
Not even when she begs me to.

While not required, it is highly suggested to read the novella, Satan’s Affair, first.

Author’s Note: This book ends on a cliffhanger. For CWs, please check the author’s website.

Part of a Series, Poetry

#BookPromo #Poetry – The Mermaid’s Voice Returns In This One by Amanda Lovelace

June 18, 2023 Jo-Anna W Leave a comment

The mermaid is known for her siren song, luring bedroom-eyed sailors to their demise. However, beneath these misguided myths are tales of escapism and healing, which Lovelace weaves throughout this empowering collection of poetry, taking you on a journey from the sea to the stars. They tried to silence her once and for all, but the mermaid’s voice returns in this one.

Horror, Novella

#Review – White Ibis (Florida Gothic) by Wendy Dalrymple

April 19, 2023 Jo-Anna W Leave a comment

“Truly terrifying” – Jenna Dietzer, author of “The Lovebugs”
“Creepy as hell” – Sheri L. Williams, author of “Forest of Blood’

Obsession. Lies. Greed.

Chelsea is vain, self-absorbed, and driven in life only by want and her obsession with being the best. Even though she is desperate to portray an outwardly perfect image, things are far from perfect at home.

One day at yoga class, Chelsea meets a woman named Damaris who is exactly like her; beautiful, confident, and reaching high to be her best self. Damaris and Chelsea become instant best friends and bond over healthy eating, fitness, and their love of luxury items. As Chelsea’s heart hardens toward her boyfriend, her obsession with the enigmatic Damaris only blossoms.

As one bad decision turns into another, Chelsea begins to think she is being followed by a white bird. Her new best friend Damaris suggests a girls’ weekend in New Orleans to get away from it all and Chelsea readily agrees. Unfortunately for Chelsea, it soon becomes clear that she can’t run away from her problems and instead finds herself tumbling head-first into a downward spiral

Content Warning: Mentions of suicide and eating disorders.

I just want to start this out by saying that I really have no idea what I just read. But at the same time, I couldn’t stop reading because I had to know what was going on and how this story would end.

Let me preface this by saying that I’m new to reading horror – huge fan of horror movies – but reading horror, hits differently, ya know?

I’ve recently fallen down the horror side of TikTok and after a friend introduced me to horror novellas, I’m quickly becoming obsessed. They are quick little reads, perfect for a busy schedule when you don’t have time to read a ginormous book but still want to get some books added to your reading goal on Goodreads or to just get some words read.

Enough of my rambling. Let’s review:

Chelsea is a thirty-something year old woman who has a deadend job and is also in a deadend relationship. She ends up befriending Damaris, this beautiful woman, who almost seems to good to be true. I didn’t overly trust her. Too many times she hardly ever gave any insight into herself. It felt like she was holding a lot of secrets.

As their friendship grows, which is more like obsession on Chelsea’s part, they decide to take a trip to New Orleans and that’s when the crazy starts. Something is up about the women Chelsea hangs out with that weekend. When she gets home, I read the rest of the book with wide eyes and was like “OMG”.

Something happens to both Chelsea and her boyfriend and obviously I don’t want to give it away but it does leave room for questions. A lot of questions. A part of me wished we could have gotten more answers BUT the horror loving part of me, absolutely loved the open ended ending.

All in all, this was a perfect little read by a new to me author.

Erotica, Horror, Standalone

#Review – It’s Me, Charlie by C.M. Guidroz

April 18, 2023 Jo-Anna W Leave a comment

I know everything about her, I’ve been her “book bestie” for over a year now. I’ve read every book she has ever published. The books that tell me every fantasy she has, the books that tell me exactly what she wants. She doesn’t know who I am behind the screen, but I don’t’ think she will care much once I show her that I am the perfect man for her. Women have rejected me in the past, but I’ve studied Jessie so much there is no way I could get it wrong this time.

What happens when the person you thought was just an online friend turns out to be an obsessive monster. You never know who is truly behind the screen when you are engaging with people online. Especially, things like “bookstagram” where the community is so welcoming. What happens when your “book bestie” falls in love with you and will stop at nothing to show you just how deep that love is.

Charlie has been posing as a woman in the book community to gain the trust and friendship of the woman he has been obsessing over, Jessie. Jessie is a self-published author of smutty or erotic, books who is just trying to get her books out there in a massive genre. What Jessie doesn’t know is that her biggest fan has been waiting for the perfect time to meet her and make all of her fantasies come true.

Are you ready to meet Charlie?

Author Note: 18+ WARNING! This short story is considered EXTREME HORROR, there are GRAPHIC SITUATIONS! This book is disgusting, and you probably shouldn’t read it. But if you are still interested in meeting Charlie, please be aware that you were warned. YOU WERE WARNED.

Um…what the heck did I just read?

When Angie shared the link for this book with me, I checked it out and saw a throwing up emoji in a review and instantly one-clicked. I hadn’t even read the blurb at that point, so I went into this story completely blind and boy, am I glad I ever did.

This short story takes the book/movie “Misery” to a whole other level.

It’s depraved, sick and twisted.

Charlie is obsessed with an author and does everything he can to make her his. He “loves” her. Wants to spend the rest of his life with her and wants to show her that they are perfect for each other. When he captures her and brings her back to his place, a place they’re supposed to share together and in his mind, she’ll be happy about it, the…um…icky things start happening.

I have a strong stomach but when it comes to mucus and anything slimey…that’s a huge hard limit for me. Spit I can handle but…in this case…not so much. That’s all I’m going to say on that…

If you have triggers, please be warned: THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE BOOK.

As a romance author myself, it was easy to put myself in Jessie’s shoes and I think that’s what makes this book even more terrifying. Because you wonder, what if?

This story, although short, is quite the ride and leaves you wondering, what would you do?

Dark, Mystery, Promo, Review, Standalone, Thriller

#Review – Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson

March 4, 2023 Jo-Anna W Leave a comment

4 starred reviews!

Orange Is the New Black meets Walter Dean Myer’s Monster in this gritty, twisty, and haunting debut by Tiffany D. Jackson about a girl convicted of murder seeking the truth while surviving life in a group home.

Mary B. Addison killed a baby.

Allegedly. She didn’t say much in that first interview with detectives, and the media filled in the only blanks that mattered: a white baby had died while under the care of a churchgoing black woman and her nine-year-old daughter. The public convicted Mary and the jury made it official. But did she do it?

There wasn’t a point to setting the record straight before, but now she’s got Ted—and their unborn child—to think about. When the state threatens to take her baby, Mary’s fate now lies in the hands of the one person she distrusts the most: her Momma. No one knows the real Momma. But does anyone know the real Mary?

I was looking on TikTok about a week ago, for some disturbing books. I couldn’t find anything that struck my fancy, so I went on Pinterest and came across a pin about this book, along with a few others. So of course, I bought it.

First, I 100% suggest going in blind – if you can of course. I know a lot of us need to read the blurb but with this book, it was so much more fun, going in with no information at all.

Now I will preface this by saying that this is NOT a romance, while there are some romantic elements in it. It’s YA and packs quite the punch. It’s like Orange Is The New Black but with younger characters. Also, the main premise of this book is that the lead character “killed a baby”, so if that’s a trigger, please read with caution.

This book is raw and gritty in the best of ways. It’s dark, written well and kept me engaged from the first few chapters in to the end. I will be honest and say that it did take me about 3 chapters to get fully invested in this story but once I did, wow. Just wow.

Mary…oh Mary. I really couldn’t predict the outcome of this book. I was a mixture of feelings when it came to this girl. And I say “girl” because she is just a kid.

Mary was accused of killing a baby and this book recounts what actually happened. It’s a “did Mary actually kill this baby?” kind of story. We don’t even know exactly who Mary is until the very end of the book. Now I did glance at some reviews saying that they lowered their star rating based on the last chapter but I honestly thought it ended perfectly. I was left in shock and I sat there for a few minutes after turning that last page and thinking “wow.” Now that’s a job well done on the author part.

I won’t give much away because like I said, I do suggest going in not knowing much about this book at all.

So if you like stories filled with grit, mystery, family drama, and “who dunnit” moments, I highly reccommend reading this one!

One-click now: Amazon

Standalone, Teen & Young Adult Contemporary, YA

#YABook #Review – Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

March 2, 2023 Jo-Anna W Leave a comment

“Jackson’s characters and their heart-wrenching story linger long after the final page, urging readers to advocate for those who are disenfranchised and forgotten by society and the system.” (Publishers Weekly, “An Anti-Racist Children’s and YA Reading List”)

From the critically acclaimed author of Allegedly, Tiffany D. Jackson, comes a gripping novel about the mystery of one teenage girl’s disappearance and the traumatic effects of the truth.

Monday Charles is missing, and only Claudia seems to notice. Claudia and Monday have always been inseparable—more sisters than friends. So when Monday doesn’t turn up for the first day of school, Claudia’s worried.

When she doesn’t show for the second day, or second week, Claudia knows that something is wrong. Monday wouldn’t just leave her to endure tests and bullies alone. Not after last year’s rumors and not with her grades on the line. Now Claudia needs her best—and only—friend more than ever. But Monday’s mother refuses to give Claudia a straight answer, and Monday’s sister April is even less help.

As Claudia digs deeper into her friend’s disappearance, she discovers that no one seems to remember the last time they saw Monday. How can a teenage girl just vanish without anyone noticing that she’s gone?

I had absolutely no idea what this book was about. Like most books anymore, I like to go in blind and not read the blurb. I find it more exciting that way. But this book…man. Just…wow.

Claudia and Monday are not just best friends. They’re more like soul sisters. Monday is the only friend that Claudia truly has. They spend every minute they can together. They go to the same school, are in the same grade, have known each other for years. Even Claudia’s parents love Monday. Claudia can’t picture her life without her best friend. They even planned on going to the same high school. So when Monday goes missing…

…no one seems to notice. Not like Claudia does.

Claudia starts asking questions. Gets herself into trouble quite a few times. You know, the typical way one gets into trouble when your best friend suddenly disappears.

When questions start getting answered, Claudia’s world is turned upside down. Or right side up. Depending on how you look at it.

I 100% recommend going into this story without reading the blurb.

This book was captivating from the start. Although it’s more age appropriate for teens, it wasn’t written that way. I also wish that I could have read this author back when I was in highschool.

Just like Allegedly, this author weaves a story of teen troubles, a teeny bit of romance, family drama and more.

Kudos to the author because I am obsessed!

I think I’ve found my favourite genre for 2023.