Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: Splintered Life (Shattered World Book 2) by W.R. Gingell

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. It was started by Freda at Freda's Voice, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over for the time being.

This week I'm featuring Splintered Life (Shattered World Book 2) by W.R. Gingell. I'm enjoying this series so much! This second installment is just as good as the first! 

SYNOPSIS

The world isn’t the same as it was yesterday. In fact, Viv is no longer sure that she is the same as she was yesterday. She can do something she never knew was possible—and Luca tried to kill her, just like Jasper said he would if she let him get too close.

At the teahouse, it’s business as usual, however: tentacles in the top floor, an invasion of not-quite-real-but-nevertheless-terrifying spiders...and a new murderer to catch, of course. Someone is trying to make sure a Greek-Australian couple never makes it to the altar, and it's not just perfume they're sneaking into the bride's room.

But Luca isn’t talking to Viv; not since she stopped him from escaping. That shouldn’t be surprising—and the last thing Viv should be doing is trying to talk to him more than she has to—but there’s another murderer on the loose, and they’re going to need Luca’s help to catch him.

Life was already hard, but now Viv has to somehow stop the wilder side of that life from spilling over into her normal life. Her human life. But if the two halves begin to split apart, which should she try to hold onto?

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

There was a tideline in the lunch room. Viv saw it, hazily. She might, she thought, have been able to see it better if the room wasn't sideways. She followed the tideline with her eyes, aware of the scent of salt and seaweed, and was mildly curious that she didn't seem to find either the scent or the tideline odd.

Friday 56

Maybe she should have expected to see that the bins had already been put away when she arrived home, but somehow, Viv hadn't. A searing moment of utter exasperation burnt through her chest, leaving her cold and dizzy and angry in its wake.

What have you been reading lately?

Can't Wait Wednesday: Twilight Tactics (Soldiers in Shadows Book #1) by Lynette Eason

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Twilight Tactics (Soldiers in Shadows Book #1) by Lynette Eason releasing August 4.

SYNOPSIS

He came to protect a witness. She came to teach survival skills. Now they're targets with an enemy who won't let either of them walk away.

FBI agent Sully Sullivan arrives at Broken Chains Ranch with Ollie Callahan--a foster teen and sole witness to a mob hit. The ranch, started by Sully's cousin to provide a trauma recovery facility for veterans, should be a place he can keep Ollie safe until the trial. But what was meant as a peaceful haven becomes a battleground when armed attackers surround the property.

Survival expert Elena Thompson teaches wilderness skills at the ranch and coaches Ollie in self-defense. As the series of attacks on the ranch escalates into a full siege, the question becomes who the attackers are after: Ollie, the young witness? Or Elena, with her mysterious past? With communications down and help out of reach, Sully and Elena fight to keep everyone alive as secrets and danger close in.

A gripping romantic suspense thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lynette Eason, full of action and danger and set on a remote ranch. Forced proximity, surprising twists, and a race against tech-savvy enemies make this a pulse-pounding read for fans of Irene Hannon, Dani Pettrey, and Elizabeth Goddard.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: Splintered Mind (Shattered World Book 1) by W.R. Gingell

SYNOPSIS

Viv just wants work—any work. Well, not quite any work. But she’s desperate enough to accept a job offer as personal assistant to Jasper Renner—the rich and mysterious owner of the Renner Tea House—even though odd things happen whenever he’s around.

She expects to deal with rich, entitled Melbournians and a full business schedule. Instead, Viv finds herself following Jasper into a strange new world where a murderous madman has been incarcerated in a secret floor at the old Kew Asylum that may or may not exist in the human world as she knows it.

Reality is just as worryingly soft at the old tea house itself, which hides a few too many not-quite-human secrets. In one of the downstairs rooms, there’s a little girl who has been a little girl for a suspiciously long time; in the uppermost floor, there are a few windows that show a view that doesn’t exist in Melbourne. And then there are the giant cephalopod tentacles that appear from nowhere and disappear again, seemingly at will…

Now Viv isn’t sure if she’s going mad, or if the world itself has gone mad and the lunatic in Kew Asylum is the only sane person she knows.

This Australian Urban Fantasy is heavy on gothica, dark cosy/cozy, and crikeycore. There are a lot of murders, a lot more u's than you might expect, and some waking nightmares that may affect those with parasomnia.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

I absolutely loved this book! It's another delightfully weird and wonderful read from author W.R. Gingell. It was so great being back in the world of Between and Behind with new characters and a new setting.

In the beginning of the story, Viv was clueless about the paranormal aspects of the world around her, so it was really interesting seeing her discover it. Jasper and Luca were very interesting and mysterious characters for very different reasons. I was eager to learn more about them.

This was exactly the kind of book I needed at the time. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys twisty urban fantasy. It might be helpful to have read some of Gingell's other Between and Behind books, but it does stand alone. There's no language or spice, but there is quite a bit of violence. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I'm diving right into the next book!

FIVE STARS

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: Splintered Mind (Shattered World Book 1) by W.R. Gingell

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. It was started by Freda at Freda's Voice, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over for the time being.

This week I'm featuring Splintered Mind (Shattered World Book 1) by W.R. Gingell. This is such a fun start to the series! I loved this wonderfully weird urban fantasy. 

SYNOPSIS

Viv just wants work—any work. Well, not quite any work. But she’s desperate enough to accept a job offer as personal assistant to Jasper Renner—the rich and mysterious owner of the Renner Tea House—even though odd things happen whenever he’s around.

She expects to deal with rich, entitled Melbournians and a full business schedule. Instead, Viv finds herself following Jasper into a strange new world where a murderous madman has been incarcerated in a secret floor at the old Kew Asylum that may or may not exist in the human world as she knows it.

Reality is just as worryingly soft at the old tea house itself, which hides a few too many not-quite-human secrets. In one of the downstairs rooms, there’s a little girl who has been a little girl for a suspiciously long time; in the uppermost floor, there are a few windows that show a view that doesn’t exist in Melbourne. And then there are the giant cephalopod tentacles that appear from nowhere and disappear again, seemingly at will…

Now Viv isn’t sure if she’s going mad, or if the world itself has gone mad and the lunatic in Kew Asylum is the only sane person she knows.

This Australian Urban Fantasy is heavy on gothica, dark cosy/cozy, and crikeycore. There are a lot of murders, a lot more u's than you might expect, and some waking nightmares that may affect those with parasomnia.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

Viv first saw the purple plaid trousers at the tram stop.

Friday 56

Viv wouldn't have followed him outside - she wanted to find Jasper, not the great outdoors - but she saw just in time that they were about to enter a garden, the walls of which were high and brick and covered with living foliage.

What have you been reading lately?

Can't Wait Wednesday: Twelve Days and Twelfth Night by Sarah Sundin

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Twelve Days and Twelfth Night by Sarah Sundin releasing September 1.

SYNOPSIS

She needs a star for her wartime Christmas show. He needs a second chance. Together they stage a production neither expected.

World War II USO director Maggie Oliver faces an impossible task: stage a Christmas show in San Diego for thousands of sailors, with dwindling resources and a quickly approaching deadline. To star in the show, she enlists Prescott Duke, a former Hollywood heartthrob whose career ended in flames after an accident left him scarred and adrift. He eagerly accepts Maggie's invitation and seizes the chance to reclaim what war has stolen from him.

Inspired by Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and "The Twelve Days of Christmas," Maggie and Prescott craft a show at a Shakespearean theater that promises to lift spirits. But as rehearsals progress, Maggie discovers a secret that could transform her production into something unforgettable. With opening night approaching and unexpected feelings complicating everything, Maggie must decide how far she'll go to rewrite not just her show but the outcome for everyone involved.

A romantic World War II Christmas novella of Hollywood stars and a holiday production. Perfect for fans of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, the opposites-attract trope, redemption, and second chances.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: Rescuer (Heroes of Renegade Book 5) by Dana R. Lynn

SYNOPSIS

Some rescues require risking everything—including your heart.

Special education teacher Mia Turner never wanted to return to Renegade, especially not to face Jackson Stewart—the man who shattered her heart and abandoned her in her darkest hour. But when her students start disappearing and a shadowy foundation's "youth camp" becomes ground zero for a dangerous plot, she has no choice but to trust the one man she swore she'd never forgive.

When the past collides with a deadly present, survival depends on forgiveness.

Paramedic Jackson Stewart will do anything to find his missing brother Dylan, even work with the woman who decimated his heart. But as dangerous secrets surface in Renegade, Jackson must face the possibility that finding his brother means confronting not just his painful past with Mia, but a conspiracy that could destroy everything he's fought to protect.

In a town where secrets kill and trust is a luxury they can't afford, love might be the only thing that can save them all.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

I really enjoyed this second-chance romance. Full of suspense, depth, and a great message of faith, I had a hard time putting it down.

I really liked Mia and Jackson. They had a past. A not so great one. There was a lot of history and hurt between them. Things ended badly, to put it mildly. There was a lot for them to work through, but I was rooting for them the whole time.

There were quite a bit of revelations and progress made with the Shadow Syndicate. I’m very curious where things will go next.

This ended up being a beautiful story of redemption and reconciliation. I really enjoyed my time reading it. I thought it handled some of the more serious topics with grace. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense with a strong inspirational thread. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!

I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FOUR STARS

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: Rescuer (Heroes of Renegade Book 5) by Dana R. Lynn

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. It was started by Freda at Freda's Voice, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over for the time being.

This week I'm featuring Rescuer (Heroes of Renegade Book 5) by Dana R. Lynn 

SYNOPSIS

Some rescues require risking everything—including your heart.

Special education teacher Mia Turner never wanted to return to Renegade, especially not to face Jackson Stewart—the man who shattered her heart and abandoned her in her darkest hour. But when her students start disappearing and a shadowy foundation's "youth camp" becomes ground zero for a dangerous plot, she has no choice but to trust the one man she swore she'd never forgive.

When the past collides with a deadly present, survival depends on forgiveness.

Paramedic Jackson Stewart will do anything to find his missing brother Dylan, even work with the woman who decimated his heart. But as dangerous secrets surface in Renegade, Jackson must face the possibility that finding his brother means confronting not just his painful past with Mia, but a conspiracy that could destroy everything he's fought to protect.

In a town where secrets kill and trust is a luxury they can't afford, love might be the only thing that can save them all.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

Jackson Stewart tore up the steps and into the courthouse, dirty and smelling of blood and sweat. Gavin, the guard inside the courthouse, shot up from his chair, his eyes locked on the dark blood stains that smeared Jackson's light-gray uniform. 

Friday 56

He revved the engine and shifted into Drive, then they left the parking lot without looking back. She could almost feel the accusing glares on the back of her head.

What have you been reading lately?