#BookReview: The Cottage Around the Corner by D. L. Soria

A feisty witch and a handsome mage must put their heated business rivalry aside to save their small town from supernatural forces in this charming contemporary fantasy romcom from the author of Thief Liar Lady.

Chanterelle Cottage is Charlie Sparrow’s whole world. The cozy spellshop where she and her moms practice their witchcraft, selling goods and services to the people of small-town Owl’s Hollow, has been in her family for generations.

Okay, business has been a little slow and a recent burglary hit their inventory pretty hard. And the bank may not agree to restructure their loan. But Charlie is talented and savvy, and she’ll keep things afloat once her parents finally let her buy into the business as a co-owner. Still, when a competing magecraft firm opens in town, things start to look bleak. After all, everyone knows there’s room for only one magic shop in Owl’s Hollow.

So what if Fitz, the mage who owns the new Maven Enterprises, happens to be ridiculously handsome in his ridiculously expensive suits? Who cares that, when Charlie can forget for a moment or two that Fitz is her competitor, things between them are as easy as breathing? None of that matters—because Charlie is not going to get involved with the competition. In this battle of the businesses, she’ll do whatever it takes to make sure Chanterelle Cottage is the last spellshop standing.

But when strange supernatural events begin to plague the citizens of Owl’s Hollow, Charlie and Fitz must put their rivalry aside and their magic together to save the town. As they grow closer, it becomes harder for Charlie to keep her carefully drawn line in place—maybe Owl’s Hollow is big enough for a witch and a mage, after all.

#BookBlitz: Madagascar Marauders by @bkboshell @RABTBookTours

Young Adult Fantasy Adventure

 

 

In the heart of Madagascar’s wild forests, danger lurks—and survival depends on courage, loyalty, and the strength of brotherhood.

When a ruthless gang of fossae ambushes a sifaka family home, two friends witness their families being taken hostage. Slick and Isaiah—spared from the tragedy—rally themselves and unexpected allies, vowing to embark on a daring rescue mission.

Their journey is treacherous, filled with shifting shadows, fierce enemies, and heartbreaking choices. But in the face of overwhelming odds, these young heroes discover that true strength lies in camaraderie, resilience, and daring to hope when all seems lost.

Madagascar Marauders: In Pursuit of Precious Plunder is a thrilling young adult fantasy adventure packed with action, suspense, humor, and heart. Dive into a world where danger and wonder collide, where adolescent bravery meets gritty survival, and where the wild and mysterious island of Madagascar springs vividly to life.

Perfect for fans of animal fantasy, high-stakes adventure, and unforgettable friendships.

#PreOrderBlitz: North Storm by @willaokatiauthor @RABTBookTours @changelingpress

 

A Gay BDSM Sea Adventure Romance

 

Action Adventure, BDSM, Gay Romance

To Be Published: May 30, 2025

 

North, a rural water farmer, has come to the big citta to be trained in the art of deep-water treasure diving. A man can make enough in a season to take care of his family for years -- except as a novice and a country boy, North can't find anyone willing to teach him the job.

That is, until he finds a mentor in the wild, sexually charismatic "Storm." Storm promises to teach North everything he knows, from navigating the dangers of the hunt to submission in bed -- but only if North is willing to give himself over completely.

#BookReview: Long Live Evil (Time of Iron #1) by @sarahreesbrennan

When her whole life collapsed, Rae still had books. Dying, she seizes a second chance at living: a magical bargain that lets her enter the world of her favourite fantasy series.

She wakes in a castle on the edge of a hellish chasm, in a kingdom on the brink of war. Home to dangerous monsters, scheming courtiers and her favourite fictional character: the Once and Forever Emperor. He’s impossibly alluring, as only fiction can be. And in this fantasy world, she discovers she's not the heroine, but the villainess in the Emperor's tale.

So be it. The wicked are better dressed, with better one-liners, even if they're doomed to bad ends. She assembles the wildly disparate villains of the story under her evil leadership, plotting to change their fate. But as the body count rises and the Emperor's fury increases, it seems Rae and her allies may not survive to see the final page.

This adult epic fantasy debut from Sarah Rees Brennan puts the reader in the villain's shoes, for an adventure that is both 'brilliant' (Holly Black) and 'supremely satisfying' (Leigh Bardugo). Expect a rogue's gallery of villains including an axe wielding maid, a shining knight with dark moods, a homicidal bodyguard, and a playboy spymaster with a golden heart and a filthy reputation.

#BookBlitz: The Heartbeats of Aloha by @brookeGauthor @brookegilbertauthor @XpressoTours

The Heartbeats of Aloha
Brooke Gilbert
(Under the Hawaiian Stars)
Publication date: July 1st 2025
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance

𝙎𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙙𝙮, 𝙧𝙚𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙚. 𝘾𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧-𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧?

Reef has been in love with Luna since they were kids. As a secret romance novelist, he pours his unrequited feelings into his books, reliving their love on the page. But when Luna’s uncle proposes a fake relationship to thwart a stunt her PR wants to pull, Reef’s wildest dreams and worst fears are about to collide.

Luna never stopped loving Reef, even when she broke his heart to protect him. Music became her refuge, but fame brought unexpected complications. Now, fate has brought them back together, but the demons of their past threaten to consume them both.

As Reef and Luna navigate their rekindled feelings amidst a whirlwind of secrets, heartache, and desire, they’ll discover that sometimes reality is even more extraordinary than fiction. When their truths come to light, will their love survive, or will they wish they’d left the past buried in the sands of time?

The Heartbeats of Aloha is a poignant, swoon-worthy standalone in the International Soulmate series. Immerse yourself in:

• A heart-melting second chance romance
• The lush, tropical beauty of Hawaii
• A fake relationship that feels all too real
• Deep, nuanced portrayals of mental health and disability
• Unforgettable characters, including an adorable canine companion

If you love emotional journeys filled with tender moments, sizzling chemistry, and the healing power of love, then Brooke Gilbert’s moving story is a must-read.

Let the rhythm of the islands guide you to your next great romance. Grab The Heartbeats of Aloha today and lose yourself in Reef and Luna’s unforgettable love story!

Content note: This book contains discussions of anxiety, depression, and panic attacks.

#TeaserTuesday: Ky's Revenge by @ash_mikala @changelingpress @RABTBookTours

 

The Rebellious Slave 3

Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Action Adventure Romance

To Be Published: May 30, 2025

 

 

Rowan teaches the art of love to a lusty novice, while Ky suffers at the hands of an old enemy.

The lusty adventure continues!

 

Slave girl Rowan attempts a daring escape from her mysterious kidnapper. She hopes to be reunited with Ky and find the Key that will release her from the bonds of slavery and let them love as equals. Rowan is found by Lopi, a virgin fisherman, and she gratefully teaches him the joy of sex.

Ky has sworn revenge against the bearded man who took Rowan from him. However, he’s been handed over to his old enemy, the evil Warlord Thorfin, who seeks Rowan for his own purposes. Will the conjoined twins, Pus and Tule, be able to help Ky escape with his life? And what of Chin Lau? Rowan’s fellow slave has accepted the wolf brand and is the personal bodyguard and lover of the beautiful war chief, Tamin Gutra. He soon discovers she demands much more than his satisfying skills in bed.

To unlock the secret of this strange medieval world that coexists with advanced technologies, Rowan must first survive and then be reunited with the love of her life.

#BookReview: She Who Knows (She Who Knows #1) by Nnedi Okorafor @nnediokorafor

Part science fiction, part fantasy, and entirely infused with West African culture and spirituality, this novella offers an intimate glimpse into the life of a teenager whose coming of age will herald a new age for her world. Set in the universe Africanfuturist luminary Nnedi Okorafor first introduced in the World Fantasy Award-winning Who Fears Death, this is the first in the She Who Knows trilogy

When there is a call, there is often a response.

Najeeba knows.

She has had The Call. But how can a 13-year-old girl have the Call? Only men and boys experience the annual call to the Salt Roads. What’s just happened to Najeeba has never happened in the history of her village. But it’s not a terrible thing, just strange. So when she leaves with her father and brothers to mine salt at the Dead Lake, there’s neither fanfare nor protest. For Najeeba, it’s a dream come true: travel by camel, open skies, and a chance to see a spectacular place she’s only heard about. However, there must have been something to the rule, because Najeeba’s presence on the road changes everything and her family will never be the same.

Small, intimate, up close, and deceptively quiet, this is the beginning of the Kponyungo Sorceress.

#ReleaseBlitz: Disgracefully Easy by #WilliamHanchett #ThomasFHanchett @historiantom @RABTBookTours

A B-24 Pilot’s Letters Home

 

Memoir/WWII History

Date Published: May 27, 2025

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

 

In this posthumously published collection of letters and postal cards, William “Bill” Hanchett shares his candid experiences as a flight-school cadet, and later as an Army Air Forces pilot in command of a B-24 Liberator bomber during World War II.

Through Bill’s first-hand accounts, we learn that mastering the art of flying during wartime is about more than understanding engine throttle and airspeed. It’s about wondering when you’ll be called to fight and if you’ll be asked to betray your ideals. It’s about working hard and documenting the days, dreaming about the future, and longing for home.

An extraordinary primary document, Disgracefully Easy offers us a rare glimpse inside the military in the 1940s, a time when Americans worried about the fate of their great country and looked to the brave and courageous to deliver them from fear. This unique collection will be long remembered as an important addition to the annals of aviation history.

#Release Blitz for This Feeling by @authorkellyelliott @GiveMeBooksPR

Title: This Feeling

Series: Moose Village #2

Author: Kelly Elliott

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Fake Relationship

He Falls First, Military/Police Officer Hero

Release Date: May 27, 2025

BLURB

Is there anything worse than getting dumped by your boyfriend in a very public, very humiliating way? How about agreeing to fake-date the jerk to help get his matchmaking mother off his back and make his new love interest jealous?

My friends and family don’t think so, but I’m getting Giants season tickets out of the deal. I can do anything for a short couple of months, right? However, when my ex’s sexier older brother, Delcan, moves back home, I realize I’m not that confident after all.

For five years, I’ve avoided Moose Village, New York, as much as possible for one reason: the girl I’ve crushed on since high school was already spoken for—by my brother. Now discharged from the military, I’m coming home, tentatively heartened by the fact that they’re no longer a couple. Except…it seems they are. But something’s different this time. Harper doesn’t seem as smitten as she was the first time around. Meanwhile, the chemistry sizzling between us is what I’ve dreamed of for years.

Even if I’m able to get to the bottom of the weird behavior between my brother and Harper, I’ve gone from one dangerous career to another. I’ve already got my anxious mother badgering me to quit. Will my career choice be too much for Harper, too?

I can only hope this feeling between the two of us is enough.

#BookReview: Voyage of the Damned by @franceswhiteauthor

 The TikTok sensation from the UK has come to North America! This special first edition hardcover will include a gorgeous, shimmering jacket with effects, beautifully illustrated endpapers and detailed-stained edges.

A mind-blowing murder mystery on a ship full of magical passengers. If Agatha Christie wrote fantasy, this would be it!

For a thousand years, Concordia has maintained peace between its provinces. To mark this incredible feat, the emperor’s ship embarks upon a twelve-day voyage to the sacred Goddess’s Mountain. Aboard are the twelve heirs of the provinces of Concordia, each graced with a unique and secret magical ability known as a Blessing.

All except one: Ganymedes Piscero—class clown, slacker and all-around disappointment.

When a beloved heir is murdered, everyone is a suspect. Stuck at sea and surrounded by powerful people and without a Blessing to protect him, Ganymedes’s odds of survival are slim.

But as the bodies pile higher, Ganymedes must become the hero he was not born to be. Can he unmask the killer and their secret Blessing before this bloody crusade reaches the shores of Concordia?

Or will the empire as he knows it fall?

#BookReview: The Book of Autumn by Molly O'Sullivan @mollyobooks

For readers of Adrienne Young, Olivie Blake, Hazel Beck, and Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House, a spellbinding debut about ambition, privilege, second chance romance, and ancient magic set at an enchanted school tucked among the red mesas of the New Mexico desert, where a formidable pair of magicians are summoned to pursue an alleged killer.

Try as she might, anthropologist Marcella Gibbons can't escape the fact that she's a dimidium, one half of a formidable pair of Magicians, forever tied together to enable the other's powers. After a tumultuous final year at Seinford and Brown College of Agriculture (and Magic) in rural New Mexico, Cella felt more than a little uneasy about returning to the sun-drenched desert campus ever again. She'd cut ties with her other half—the charming and rugged rancher Max Middlemore—and sworn off Magic, academia, and heartache for good.

Until Max turns up at her door, grinning under his cowboy hat for one last favor. Something is shifting at her alma mater, something bigger than anyone understands. One student is dead. Another is floating midair in the infirmary, growling guttural nonsense and terrifying the staff. Their best, perhaps only, chance to intervene requires Cella and Max to work together. But the origins of the disturbances lie centuries ago. To unravel them, Cella will have to confront the truth about her past—and Max. Because she might be challenging a power she could never rival alone . . .

This title will be released on October 28, 2025.

#CoverReveal for American Beauty by @authorgeorgiacates #GiveMeBooksPR

Title: American Beauty

A Beauty Series Novel

Trilogy: Alex and Magnolia #2

Author: Georgia Cates

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Billionaire Romance/Arranged Relationship

Damaged Alpha & Heroine/Long Distance Relationship

Cover Design: Swoony Cover Designs

Release Date: May 27, 2025

BLURB

True love stories never end. But they can be interrupted.

Magnolia Steel returns home from Australia, but her heart is still tangled up in Alex Sebring—the former rugby star who made her believe in something real.

Real enough to try the impossible––long distance.

The time zones are brutal. The distance, worse.

But they make a promise—to hold on, even when everything else tells them to let go.

Until someone in the shadows pulls the strings.

Two messages.

Two lies.

Two broken hearts—each left believing the other walked away.

For Alex, the silence becomes unbearable. The heartbreak. The what-ifs. It all spirals into a storm of anxiety and depression he can’t outrun.

Then—hope. A chance to reclaim the life he lost.

A shot at a professional comeback. One last opportunity to fight for the game torn away from him. To take it, he’ll need surgery.

The procedure brings him to the States… and back into the path of the woman he never forgot.

The heat between them hasn’t faded.

If anything, it burns hotter than ever.

They weren’t meant to fall apart. But they’ll have to fight like hell to come back together.

#BookReview: The West Passage by @jaredpechacek

A palace the size of a city, ruled by giant Ladies of unknowable, eldritch origin. A land left to slow decay, drowning in the debris of generations. All this and more awaits you within The West Passage, a delightfully mysterious and intriguingly weird medieval fantasy unlike anything you've read before.

When the Guardian of the West Passage died in her bed, the women of Grey Tower fed her to the crows and went back to their chores. No successor was named as Guardian, no one took up the fallen blade; the West Passage went unguarded.

Now, snow blankets Grey in the height of summer. Rats erupt from beneath the earth, fleeing that which comes. Crops fail. Hunger looms. And none stand ready to face the Beast, stirring beneath the poisoned soil.

The fate of all who live in the palace hangs on narrow shoulders. The too-young Mother of Grey House sets out to fix the seasons. The unnamed apprentice of the deceased Grey Guardian goes to warn Black Tower. Both their paths cross the West Passage, the ancient byway of the Beast. On their journeys they will meet schoolteachers and beekeepers, miracles and monsters, and very, very big Ladies. None can say if they'll reach their destinations, but one thing is for the world is about to change.

#PreorderBlitz for My Stepbrother Biker by @nikkilandisauthor #GiveMeBooksPR

Title: My Stepbrother Biker

Series: Summit Hill Vipers #1

Author: Nikki Landis

Genres: MC Romance

Tropes: Taboo/Stepsibling, Possessive/Protective MMC

Stalker, Forced Proximity, One Bed

Release Date: June 13, 2025

BLURB

From USA Today Bestselling Author Nikki Landis comes a steamy, forbidden, morally gray, bad boy/good girl, MC romance—the first in a new series with a slight paranormal twist.

It was only supposed to happen one time.

One reckless, wild, uninhibited night where I let my desires overrule my common sense.

I dropped that good girl mask, and for the first time, I felt free.

Gage Blade showed me exactly how tender and intoxicating his touch could be.

He carved a place into my heart and made me fall for him.

Until he rejected me in front of everyone.

A few months later, our parents got married.

My one-night stand and personal tormentor became my new stepbrother.

I'll never consider him family. And I refuse to trust him.

He proves me right when he moves out, showing he never cared for me.

He used and abandoned me. I hate him.

Two years later, he shows up at my high school graduation.

He says he's back to claim me, that I don't know the truth.

I don't want to hear his lies. Stupid me, I give in anyway.

And he leaves me again. Alone. In his bed.

I've been rejected twice by Gage Blade. It won't happen a third time.

I've moved on and graduated from college. And now I'm focusing on my career.

There's no place in my future for the bad boy from my past.

But when my life is in danger, and a stranger breaks into my apartment, I don't know who else to call.

I swear I only contact him for protection.

Once this threat is eliminated, I won't need my stepbrother biker.

The strange thing is, he's decided he won't let me go.

And Gage is willing to lie, cheat, steal, and kill to keep me.

This story first appeared in the Beyond the Temptation Anthology and is now a complete, full-length book. My Stepbrother Biker is the first book in the Summit Hill Vipers MC. You can read the companion novella, My Inked Neighbor, now available.

#NewReleaseBlitz: Mend Your Heart & Find Emotional Freedom by @alinapalancean @RABTBookTours #Giveaway

 

Nonfiction

Date Published: May 16, 2025

 

 

"Mend Your Heart and Find Emotional Freedom" is a deep dive into people’s hearts and their love stories.

This book provides a unique perspective on heartbreak from grief, loss, pain, trauma, divorce, and love.

 

It offers insight into people’s hearts and how to heal from past experiences with love, compassion, kindness, and forgiveness.

 

Love is the path to true healing!

 

With Rapid Transformational Therapy, Alina has been empowering women and men all over the globe to reclaim their voice, own their power, find love within, embrace their story to create and manifest the life they truly desire. Her experiences led her to her purpose of helping others let go of past burdens, break the cycle of suffering, and find peace, healing, freedom, joy and happiness. Alina inspires everyone to lead with love from their heart space and see the magic unfold in the most extraordinary ways.

#BookReview: Haunt Your Heart Out by Amber Roberts

A dashing ghost hunter and the bookseller who made up the ghosts he’s chasing wind up entangled in more ways than one in this steamy contemporary romance from the author of Text Appeal, perfect for fans of Ashley Poston and Chloe Liese.

Homebody Lex McCall loves her sleepy Vermont town and quiet bookstore job. After her family, friends, and exes all moved away to seek futures elsewhere, Lex set one rule: no dating tourists, newcomers, or anyone else who is bound to leave her behind. When the bookshop owner, eager to offload the supposedly haunted building, offers to sell the store to Lex at an unbeatable price, Lex jumps at the chance to further put down roots.

Then handsome stranger James stops by the bookstore. Lex assumes he’s just another tourist passing through, but it turns out he’s part of a ghost-hunting documentary crew that’s looking into the many “verified” ghost stories in town. Lex can’t resist getting involved—especially because these so-called ghosts are actually made up stories from Haunted Happenings, her hobby vlog from a decade prior. Worried her ghost-faking secret will get out and ruin her chance to buy the store, she tampers with the ghosthunters' research and skews the results. After all, James’s stay is only temporary and her career dreams come first.

But as they spend more time together, Lex realizes she’s falling for James. Worse, there’s more at stake than her simply being found out and losing his affection: his mission isn’t as frivolous as it seems, and her interference may cost him much more than a spooky story. This not-quite-ghost-story is sure to delight Gilmore Girls fans and anyone who loves flirty romances with a little extra spirit.

#BookReview: Into the Mist: A Novel by P.C. Cast

From #1 New York Times bestselling author P. C. Cast comes a pulse-pounding dystopian novel for our times.

The Power meets The Stand in this gripping take on female power and the inevitable, destructive path of violent patriarchies.

As men fall to the mist, the age of womankind begins to rise.

The world as we know it ends when an attack on the U.S. unleashes bombs that deliver fire and biological destruction. Along with sonic detonations and devastating earthquakes, the bombs have also brought the green mist. If breathed in, it is deadly to all men—but alters the body chemistry of many women, imbuing them with superhuman abilities.


A group of high school teachers heading home from a conference experiences firsthand the strength of these new powers. Mercury Rhodes is the Warrior, possessing heightened physical powers. Stella Carver is the Seer, with a sixth sense about the future. Imani Andrews is the Watcher, with a rare connection to the earth. Karen Gay is the Priestess, demonstrating a special connection with Spirits. And Gemma Jenkins is the Healer, a sixteen-year-old student who joins the group after losing her parents.

As they cross the Pacific Northwest, trying to find a safe place to ride out the apocalypse, the women soon learn they can't trust anyone, and with fresh danger around every corner, it will take all their powers to save themselves—and possibly the world.


With timely commentary on power and community, In

#BookBlitz: Anticipation Day by #JeffMichelson @AnticipationDayBook @RABTBookTours

 

Science Fiction

Date Published: December 3, 2024

 

 

2025 Book Excellence Awards Finalist in Science Fiction

“A musing science fiction novel about the future of AI, Anticipation Day follows a group of friends as they try to improve their lives through government-sanctioned fantasies." —Foreword Clarion Reviews

“A boundary-pushing plunge into a vividly imagined future, Anticipation Day poses powerful questions about identity, the human experience, and our digital destiny as a species, resulting in a provocative mixture of Black Mirror and The Surge.” —The Independent Review of Books

 

In the summer of 2026, amidst the sights and sounds of one of the oldest pubs in London, Dr. Joshua Lee receives a call that will alter his life for the foreseeable future—he’s asked to work on a clandestine project that will transform every American’s way of life.

Six years later, amidst the steel and glass canyons of the Denver suburbs, a group of friends assemble for dinner the night before their first escape into Anticipation Day, an immersive simulated experience that is promised to be an annual respite from the daily grind.

Amongst this group of friends are Alexandra, Eric, Patrick, Mike and MaryAnne, each at inflection points in their lives and each with their own life scars and unrealized dreams. As they prepare to plug into the simulation, they are forced to confront their own fears and desires, all while interfacing with their chosen simulated experience, blurring the lines between reality and the artificial dreamscape.

These experiences force the group to confront their deepest fears, chase exclusive happiness, and unlock truths buried within their souls. As they delve deeper into the algorithmic labyrinth, more truths about their existence are fully revealed.

However, the question begs: Will their journey lead to salvation, or will it unravel the very fabric of their existence?

 

Join this eclectic band of suburbanites as they look for meaning amidst the chaos of the digital age. Anticipation Day beckons, but not everything is as is seems in this electrifying tale of urban futurism.

#BookBlitz: Introvert by @cookieogorman @XpressoTours #Giveaway $20 Amazon gift card

 

Introvert
Cookie O’Gorman
Publication date: May 15th 2025
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Introvert (in-troh-vurt): Someone who is quiet, shy, and/or thoughtful. For reference, see Aurora Kent.

Seventeen-year-old Aurora Kent likes being alone. For the most part. With her fear of crowds, anxiety issues, and inexperience, she’s never really left home.

Until now.

Aurora loves playing violin…and surprises everyone when she agrees to go on tour with a band for two months.

She surprises herself more by kissing a rockstar.

Felix Cordova. Mysterious, cocky, gorgeous—and strangely familiar. When Felix asks her to be his girlfriend for 10 seconds, she agrees. But Aurora never expected a video of their kiss to go viral.

Now she’s in a fake relationship with the one guy who makes her heart sing.

Stuck on a bus with five hot musicians, playing sold-out shows, Aurora should be living the dream. But as fake dating leads to sharing a bunk, late-night talks, and heartfelt confessions, Aurora finds herself falling hard.

Which is a problem because, real or fake, summer romances never last—right?

This book features two opposites with the most delicious slow burn, one heart-melting grand gesture, so many soul-stirring kisses and answers the question:

What happens when a shy girl falls for a rockstar?

#BookReview: The Failures (The Wanderlands #1) by Benjamin Liar @benjaminliar

From a debut voice comes a genre-breaking blend of apocalyptic sci-fi and epic fantasy about a scattered group of unlikely heroes traveling across their broken mechanical planet to stave off eternal darkness. A tightly-coiled puzzle of a thrill ride, The Failures launches The Wanderlands trilogy.

Welcome to the Wanderlands.
A vast machine made for reasons unknown, the Wanderlands was broken long ago. First went the sky, splintering and cracking, and then very slowly, the whole machine—the whole world—began to go dark. 

Meet the Failures.
Following the summons of a strange dream, a scattering of adventurers, degenerates, and children find themselves drawn toward the same place: the vast underground Keep. They will discover there that they have been called for a purpose—and that purpose could be the destruction of everything they love. 

The end is nigh.
For below the Keep, imprisoned in the greatest cage ever built by magicians and gods, lies the buried Giant. It is the most powerful of its kind, and its purpose is the annihilation of all civilization. But any kind of power, no matter how terrible, is precious in the dimming Wanderlands, and those that crave it are making their moves. 

All machines can be broken, and the final cracks are spreading. It will take only the careless actions of two cheerful monsters to tip the Wanderlands towards an endless dark...or help it find its way back to the light.