Carole Rae's Random Ramblings

Tuesday, June 6

Blodeuedd's Tuesday Review: Grey Magic by Jeffe Kennedy

By: Jeffe Kennedy

Narrated by: Deborah Balm

Series: Bonds of Magic, Book 3

Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins

Release date: 05-11-22

Publisher: Brightlynx Publishing

Fantasy romance /nextory

This world is so evil. I just want to shake some sense into everyone. Like omg Familiars should be cherished and not slaves!

Gabriel and Veronica are together and happy. But the world around still sucks and there are so many dangers. Their bond is not real. He treats her too well, like wtf people, she is still his wife and carries his child! Ugh this world. It is very dark and someone needs to shake it up. Viva la revolution!

Then it got intense. So very intense. I wanted to bring the speed up on my audio, but for some reson 2x was the highest. I just could not sit still and listen because it was so suspenseful.

It was a good conclusion to this trilogy. But their story is not over, I already started on a new series as there is still a lot of things that needs to get done for everyone to be safe.

Good narration. she sure kept me on my seat.

Lord Gabriel Phel at last holds his dream in his grasp—and faces losing everything. He’s finally won the love of his wife, familiar, and mother of his child, and she offers him a heartfelt commitment he can truly believe in. Together they’re building a true house, one with a growing family of friends and allies that can help them stand against their enemies. And he’s learning to master his magic, to use it as the powerful tool and weapon it should be. But old and new enemies array themselves to take it all away.

Lady Veronica, now fully of House Phel, is doing her best to embrace happiness. After all, she has her hands full managing her mercurial and powerful wizard as he navigates taking his place as the head of their house, and with learning her own extraordinary ability. But she fears whatever peace they win won’t last long. When their enemies inevitably strike—including, perhaps, her own father—they must be ready to defend all they hold precious. It doesn’t help that her idealistic husband insists on making foolishly noble decisions that put them at even greater risk, nor that she loves him all the more for it.

As Nic and Gabriel struggle to put their household in order, giving ill-advised safe harbor to Nic’s runaway sister and risking their lives to save Gabriel’s sister’s sanity, their enemies draw the noose tighter on their well laid plans. When the unthinkable occurs, it’s up to both of them to trust in the nascent, unknown magic they’ve woven together.

Monday, June 5

Book Review: Justina - Daughter of Spartacus by Ryan Lew

Author: Ryan Lew

Title: Justina - Daughter of Spartacus

Series: Justina Saga #1

Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: ebook

Pages: 310

Published: November 17, 2017

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon Freebie)

Summary:

For two thousand years, the rise and fall of Julius Caesar has captivated the world. All know his name. Few know the truth.

Love. Honor. Treachery.

Justina. A name lost to history. A young girl, barely a woman, raised in the Roman elite. When her true identity is discovered, the revelation will send her world spinning and propel her down a path toward her destiny...and Caesar. With enemies and lies encompassing her entire existence, her true past will determine her incredible future and that of the entire Republic.

Power. Secrets. Betrayal.

While Caesar builds his power in Rome, weaving a web of spies and alliances, one young girl's fate is on a collision course with his own. Rome's biggest challenge of the past 20 years came from a man known as Spartacus. Now, his unknown daughter threatens all that Rome has built.

Review:

This was a freebie and I had been craving an Ancient Rome tale. So why not!

Here we follow Justina. Her name was lost to history. She is a young woman raised in the Roman elite circle. When her true identity is discovered, her world is sent spinning and her path leads to Caesar. Her decisions and Caesar's decisions will impact the future of all of Rome.

For me....this was for sure mixed. I was absolutely hooked and couldn't stop reading! And then, like a speed bump, I slowed down. And then like a stop sign and the police watching me....I stopped. And stopped for a long time. After a few days, I went back and it was a struggle to finish reading.

I really can't point at what changed. I just wanted to be done. I found myself starting to skim some parts. The characters were diverse and complex which usually get me and make me happy. The story was perilous and dangerous (it IS Rome after all). So what was the problem? Maybe there was just too much going on? But I just know that couldn't find my rhythm that I had at the first 50% of the book.

But yes, I started out in love and then ended up being meh about this. Not sure I'll read the next. We'll see.

Rating? Mmmmm *does some complicated math* I'll stamp it with a 2. The last 50% I just couldn't care and just wanted to be done. I feel like this may have been a more me issue. It's me...I am the problem.

Friday, June 2

Book Review: The Siberia Job by Josh Haven

Author: Josh Haven

Title: The Siberia Job

Genre: Historical Fiction, Thriller

Format: Paperback

Pages: 384

Expected publication June 6, 2023

Where I Got It: My shelf (Publisher/author for my unbiased and honest opinion)

Summary:

After the demise of the Soviet Union, the newly established Russian government privatized its industry by issuing vouchers to all of its citizens, allowing them the chance to be shareholders in the country’s burgeoning businesses. The slips are distributed among the population, and auctions are arranged where they can be exchanged for actual shares. For the country’s rural populations living in abject poverty, the vouchers appear to be little more than pieces of paper, totally separated from the far-off concept of potential future fortunes.

But for Texas businessman John Mills and his Czech companion, Petr Kovac, the seemingly valueless chits suggest a lucrative potential, worth much more than what the current owners are willing to sell them for. They travel to the farthest, coldest reaches of the country to acquire vouchers for the country’s national oil company, Gazneft, roving from town to town with suitcases full of cash. But they quickly learn that the plan has complications--for example, the fact that the auctions at which these vouchers are traded for actual shares have been planned at the most remote, inaccessible locations possible to deter outsiders from buying in. When the Russian mafia and the oligarchs in charge of Gazneft catch wind of their successes, the stakes become suddenly more deadly.

Review:

After reading the summary I knew I had to check this one out.

The story follows John and Petr and their journey. They see a lucrative potential in Russia after the demise of the Soviet Union. They will quickly learn that their plan will have some serious complications and even some danger.

I will admit this took me a while to really get into it. The beginning was a hair slow for me. However, once it got its hooks into me....I was absolutely hooked. I stayed up WAAAAAY too late. Whoopsies. But totally worth it being tired at work the next day.

What made this extra thriller-ish for me is knowing that this was based on a true story and I was able to resist temptation to look anything up. I quite literally had zero idea so I had to know what was going to happen! There was a moment near the end that brought a tiny tear to my eye. Didn't see that coming.

What really surprised me was the sprinkle of humor. There was one scene that had me laugh so hard!!!! It was a nice surprise. There is a lot of serious-ness, drama, and financial talk so the humor moments helped lighten the mood.

There were some financial talk but the author did a good job simplifying it so readers, like me, could follow along enough and not be bogged down by complicated stuff.

Overall, I enjoyed this. The beginning was a little rough for me. It took a bit for me to really get into the story, but once I was I became invested! This was pretty good and I recommend it to those that like a little financial danger mixed with physical danger and a splash of humor. I'll stamp this with 4 stars.