I have two genres of fiction that I love: horror and romance. What does that say about me? Well, we’re not going there, reader. 

What we are going to talk about is this lovely, heart-warming collection of love stories. This collection exhibits a trend I love to see in anthologies - they all have something that connects them. In the case of The Kissing Tree, they are all set around an oak tree coined the “Kissing Tree” in Oak Springs, Texas. Each of these stories take place at different periods of time, but each offer a beautiful love story to match the history of the old oak tree they revolve around. 

It would be too much of a spoiler to reference each story - they are short stories after all. But in these stories you will find beautifully told stories of love found and lost. There’s humor, searching, struggling as well as love that has been and maybe could be again. It was wonderful how each one of these authors was able to maintain an independent story (their own) while maintaining that connection to their sister stories. 

And to speak of the talent of these authors is to also speak of their ability to draw in the reader to not only enjoy their unique stories, but to also care about the characters in each one. I am a huge character-driven reader, so this is very important to me. I was not let down by this collection!

CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY. 
Or, visit the blogs directly:
 
10/22/20
BONUS Promo
Hall Ways Blog

10/22/20
Review
Chapter Break Book Blog

10/22/20
Review
Missus Gonzo

10/23/20
Review
Carpe Diem Chronicles

10/23/20
Review
Book Fidelity

10/24/20
Review
Story Schmoozing Book Reviews

10/24/20
Review
Librariel Book Adventures

10/25/20
Review
StoreyBook Reviews

10/25/20
Review
That's What She's Reading

10/26/20
BONUS Promo
All the Ups and Downs

10/26/20
Review
The Adventures of a Travelers Wife

10/26/20
Review
Reading by Moonlight
​

There was no way I was not going to enjoy Tui Snider’s 6 Feet Under Texas, y’all. I’m sorry, but I had to add the y’all. 

6 Feet Under Texas was a fun, as-fast-as-you-want-it-to-be read. I devoured it because I’ve enjoyed reading about anything remotely considered “weird history” ever since I was a kid. Now, I don’t consider gravesites “weird history”, but I don’t think it would be on a lot of people’s “to-see” bucket lists. I’ll tell you what though, it should be! And with Snider’s fantastic read, it would certainly be something to experience.

If you’re new here, I have reviewed a previous book by Snider called Paranormal Texas. Unlike  Paranormal, 6 Feet delves more into the history of the gravesites rather than focus on anything ghostly or beastly. It was incredibly interesting to read about, not only who is buried where, but having it relate to the appropriate time period. I found Snider’s writing not only helpful, but downright attention-grabbing. I certainly wouldn’t confuse this with any drab travel book! The entries are categorized and would make the perfect travel guide should any traveler feel inclined to visit some cemeteries in good ol’ Texas. ​


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CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE 
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, 
or visit the blogs directly:
 
9/29/20
Review
StoreyBook Reviews

9/29/20
Review
Rainy Days with Amanda

9/30/20
Review
Momma on the Rocks

10/1/20
Review
Missus Gonzo

10/1/20
Review
The Clueless Gent

10/2/20
Review
Reading by Moonlight

10/2/20
Review
The Adventures of a Travelers Wife

10/3/20
Review
Forgotten Winds

10/4/20
Review
That's What She's Reading

10/5/20
Review
Chapter Break Book Blog

10/6/20
Review
Hall Ways Blog

10/7/20
Review
Max Knight

10/7/20
Review
All the Ups and Downs

10/8/20
Review
It's Not All Gravy

10/8/20
Review
Book Fidelity
​

Summoned
by McKayla Eaton

Synopsis

On an empty baseball diamond in a quiet Toronto suburb, a demon has been summoned. Seventeen-year-old Alton is miles away, just wishing he had a tutor he didn’t outsmart or outmatch. His prayers are answered when Professor Victor Orvius makes an unexpected visit, offering to teach Alton magic without the restrictions. 

The only condition is that he follow Orvius’s rules and not ask too many questions. Alton soon discovers he’s not Orvius’s only student. 

Reagan is a competitive young witch with a bad attitude and talent for sarcasm. Their personalities clash, causing trouble for both on more than one occasion, until they realize a greater threat than being one-upped. The demon threatens not only their chances at passing their magic finals — it threatens their lives. 

If Alton and Reagan can’t learn to get along, they could be facing their deaths…or an eternity together, trapped in another realm.

Review

Talk about a thrilling fantasy! A perfect way to start off the season of witches and wizards (are we counting wizards for October/Halloween? I am). Summoned is definitely a story you think you might have heard before (we know that wizards have a particular popularity, right?), but trust me when I say that you will find a lot of what you know, but you're also going to get a lot more than you thought. I enjoy stories with familiarity, especially when it involves witches, but I think I think it's fantastic that we can have that in a story where the author still puts their own spin and world building into it. I also very much appreciated its contemporary setting because it makes the magic all the more real to me. 

All in all - this is definitely for fans of Harry Potter and all things wizards - but it will definitely draw you in regardless!

Escape from Wheel by Michael Scott Clifton is a truly mesmerizing adventure to behold. Picture an almost classic tale of good versus evil, mixed in with a love story and a journey to so much more. Clifton’s detailed imagination and writing is what ultimately makes this fantastical tale. The imagery created by his words was downright engrossing! I loved reading about all the magical creatures encountered as well as all the mystical tools at their disposal. I read fantasy and magic to experience something beyond what I know - and this book definitely delivered! 

Every reader of this blog knows that I am a sucker for romance. This book not only has some love story in it, it even has my ultimate favorite device in a romance book: alternating point of view chapters! I was SO excited to see that. But Escape the Wheel takes that love of love I have and turns it on its head with its fast-paced scenes that gave me a jolt of adventure and intrigue. 

Now, keep in mind, reader, that Wheel is the second in the series and so it may take a little bit to warm up to the characters, but warm up you will! If you’re looking for some magical realism/fantasy reads, surely you will want to start with this one/series!

CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE 
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, 
or visit the blogs directly:
 
10/1/20
Review
Chapter Break Book Blog

10/1/20
BONUS Post
Hall Ways Blog

10/2/20
Review
Jennifer Silverwood

10/3/20
Review
Book Fidelity

10/4/20
BONUS Post
All the Ups and Downs

10/5/20
Review
The Book Review

10/6/20
Review
The Page Unbound

10/7/20
Review
Momma on the Rocks

10/8/20
Review
Forgotten Winds

10/9/20
Review
Missus Gonzo

10/10/20
Review
Reading by Moonlight

10/10/20
Review
The Clueless Gent
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