​It Happened on Thunder Road
By Susan Antony
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
 
Brief description
 
When Emmy Russo returns to high school in Moncks Corner, South Carolina after summer break, she discovers some changes. First: Mom has a boyfriend. Second: the cute new student, Charlie Fields, is a Rockabilly greaser with a gang who obeys his every command. Third: attractive Keir Harper wants to be more than just her best friend. And fourth: a perplexed Emmy soon finds herself drawn to two extremely different boys. How do you choose between sweet and smoldering? Then tragedy strikes on desolate Thunder Road. Strange things start happening, with Emmy in the middle of it all. Intent on finding the truth, she must fight for her heart, her life, maybe even her soul. Because someone wants to possess all of Emmy. And they will be together, no matter what the cost. For eternity.

​About the Author
 
Susan Antony is an aspiring Renaissance woman who never shies from a challenge. Not only does she have a degree in the Liberal Arts, she has a degree in Automotive Technology. She currently works in the IT department at a local Charleston hospital. Susan lives with her teenaged son and two behaviorally-challenged Cairn Terriers. To maintain her sanity, she cherishes her Friday evenings dancing the night away!
 
FB: https://www.facebook.com/SusanAntonyCS
Twitter :https://twitter.com/SusanAntonyCS
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Happened-Thunder-Road-Susan-Antony/dp/1509235329
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57309229-it-happened-on-thunder-road
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/it-happened-on-thunder-road-susan-antony/1139026607
 
 
Excerpt
We faced each other for a beat or two. Then he placed his arm around my shoulder and took my hand in his, positioning his body a respectable distance away. We danced, slow and reserved at first, but as the singer’s wails intensified, so did Charlie’s moves. His hips swayed from side to side, and he inched closer to me, smidgen by smidgen, until his pelvis ground against my hipbones.
Our bodies melded, moving together in perfect synchronicity. Side to side. Back and forth. He moved his hand to my lower back and pulled me closer. I took in a quick, sharp breath. He
“You know, baby,” he murmured, “You and me have more than chemistry. We have fire. Not the easy kind of fire you can make from a box of matches, but the kind of fire you get when you rub two sticks together. I’m all yours if you want me.”
The world around me blurred as if I were watching it through thick lenses. I imagined Charlie’s lips against mine. I imagined him shirtless, propped above me, his triceps bulging as he slowly lowered his chest—mine rising toward his, beckoning him closer. He groaned a low animal-like sound. It drew me to him.
And I wanted him bad.
I wanted our bodies to burn in Hell together for all eternity.
What was happening? Had I lost my mind? I wasn’t ready. Was I?
No.
Spasms of panic surged from my loins to the deepest recesses in my brain. In a sharp snap, the imaginary lenses cracked, and through the broken glass was a clear image of a boy with kind eyes and a halo of yellow hair.
Keir was my angel, and I was dancing with the devil. A devil who would betray his brother. A devil who would convince me to betray him as well.
I shuddered and pressed my free hand, fiercely against his shoulder. He clutched me tighter.
“Charlie, please. We can’t do this.”
“Why not?” he demanded.
I took in a long, ragged breath. “Because I don’t want to hurt Keir. He likes me.”
He forced a laugh and loosened his grip. My hand  slipped from his, and he leaned toward me. His chin brushed against my cheek, and flesh bumps shimmied down my spine.
“That was the right answer, New Jersey,” he whispered in a throaty voice. “Welcome to the gang.”

To the Republic is definitely a read that demands your attention. Bruce Clavey takes through truly a saga (the tag line does not lie folks) of heavy topics. This novel weaves in many recent hot topics into its web. Clavey touches upon politics that are particular to Texas, the drug cartels, and  immigration. Whereas one can see all of these topics being important to the nation as a whole, we can definitely say that they are especially important to a border state like Texas. Clavey does not shy away from providing a thorough and detailed description of these topics in his book. To be all honest with you, it felt a bit heavy to take in the information, so I had to make sure to give myself to absorb this book. This may be because I live IN Texas of course. 

So, as I mentioned before, this novel is quite detailed and I very much appreciated the care that when into creating this book. Any reader should be able to tell how much work went into this novel...because it shows! One, if this book sounds interesting to you, make sure you take your time to take it all in. Two, it will definitely leave you waiting for book two in the series! I say this because To the Republic definitely left me wanting more. 

CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH STOP ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY,
Or visit the blogs directly:
 
4/27/21
Promo
It's Not All Gravy

4/27/21
Character Interview
Forgotten Winds

4/27/21
BONUS Promo
LSBBT Blog

4/28/21
Author Video
Chapter Break Book Blog

4/29/21
Playlist
Hall Ways Blog

4/29/21
Review
The Clueless Gent

4/30/21
Review
Reading by Moonlight

5/1/21
Excerpt, Part 1
All the Ups and Downs

5/2/21
Excerpt, Part 2
StoreyBook Reviews

5/3/21
Review
Jennie Reads

5/3/21
Promo
Missus Gonzo

5/4/21
Series Spotlight
That's What She's Reading

5/5/21
Sneak Peek
Texas Book Lover

5/5/21
Review
Book Fidelity

5/6/21
Review
Librariel Book Adventures

5/6/21
Review
Momma on the Rocks
​

Review

This was my first Riley Sager and yes, it took me a long time to read it. Here's the thing - I'm used to romance books. lol I love horror and true crime, but you know what romance has made me expect? Usually a quickly unfolding story with a usually good ending. They say the romance genre is formulaic and that's because it is...because it works. 

So, what does this have to do with Final Girls?

It means I had to be a whole lotta patient with the story. The story takes a bit to get into - the reader is left to wonder just what happened to Quincy that fateful night when someone killed her five friends. We learn a bit more about her even though she remains something of a mystery throughout most of the book. 

It was really in the last third of the book where I felt, whoa, okay...here we go. Did I think all the build up was worth it? Ehhhh. I could have done with less of it, but the in all honesty, it really is the third of the book that made this book go from a 2 star to a 3 star for me. I wish it would have been higher. I am, however, looking forward to reading more of Sager's books because that last third...it was fantastic. 

Nightshade’s Bite by Zoe Forward
​Blood Wars Book 2 (Each book is a standalone)

Synopsis

Kiera Rossard’s secret life just got complicated. When not being a vampire aristocrat she’s leader of the Nightshade League, a rebel vampire society that rescues werewolves during the interspecies war. Everyone wants her dead—vampires and the werewolves who don’t know her secret. Starting with the wolf she just saved—Michael Durand, the most vicious killer of her kind in existence. Something about the notorious werewolf sets her blood on fire.

She’s not good at resisting temptation. So what if vampires always bite when they’re turned on? And so what if one drop of his blood will kill her? What’s life without a little risk? 

Michael doesn’t like vampires. At all. But now he’s losing his mind over the dark desire Kiera stirs in him. He should plot her death. Only, she’s hot and mouthy. Staying near her a bit longer is irresistible. When unforgiving forces hone in on her secret identity, he must decide between duty to his people and protecting her. But if he stays, who will protect her from him?

Each book in the Blood Wars series is STANDALONE:
* The Way You Bite
* Nightshade's Bite


Review

I’m a sucker for vampire stories (haha, pun was not intended, but now it’s totally intended). I’m an even bigger sucker for vampire and werewolf stories ESPECIALLY if there is a love story involved. In Zoe Forward’s Nightshade’s Bite, I got all my boxes ticked...mostly. 

Kiera and Michael are each badasses in their own right. Kiera’s mission in leading the Nightshade League and defying her so-called inherent right to hate all werewolves is just sexy. Resistance against hating others for simply being who they are is sexy people. On the other hand, Michael’s grumpiness and eons age weariness is a great backstory for him. What can I say, I like grumpy dudes with a good heart. 

Overall, I loved the love story concept between Kiera and Michael. Fated mates who definitely should not be together is my catnip. HOWEVER, one of the many pitfalls of the fated mates trope is that there is danger of insta-love...and I don’t like insta-love. There is some hesitancy, especially since any taste of Michael’s blood will kill Kiera, but just not as much as I would like. 

I also found myself skimming past a lot of the story to get to the interactions between Kiera and Michael. I just didn’t find myself caring too much about the rest of the story that wasn’t about their unfolding love story. And then I still found myself not getting all I wanted from that story either. 

Nightshade’s Bite has great reviews on Goodreads, so, it’s doing something right for people. I just found myself wanting more. It did give me major Underworld vibes, so I’m gonna go watch that now. If you read this book, let me know what you think!

Long ago, I used to be into poetry. Quite a bit. Maybe it's something of what people like to equate to being young and very emotional. Before this book. the last time I picked up a book of poetry was during a mandatory university English course. 

Since that long ago time, I have encountered pieces of poetry that beckoned me. One was Amanda Gorman's inauguration poem, The Hill We Climb. It stirred something in me. Then I was given the opportunity to read and review Brandon Dillon's The Mad Ramblings of a Joker, and the beckoning continued. 

​I've been going through a very emotionally difficult moment in my life and Dillon's writing gave me something of a catalyst on where to put some of those emotions. Each series of words that create his poetry is a layer upon layer of emotion. It fed my empathy and the tornado of feelings I have been experiencing. Dillon is able to place his feelings into the reader with his poignant writing. It doesn't matter that the feelings and situations are different. Emotions are quite universal.

I whole-heartedly recommend this collection to anyone, but especially to anyone who feels they need somewhere to put their own emotions while figuring them out. 

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:
 
4/20/21
Notable Quotable
Hall Ways Blog

4/20/21
Review
Missus Gonzo

4/20/21
BONUS Promo
LSBBT Blog

4/21/21
Excerpt
StoreyBook Reviews

4/21/21
Review
Forgotten Winds

4/22/21
Review
It's Not All Gravy

4/22/21
Top Five List
The Clueless Gent

4/23/21
Author Interview
Texas Book Lover

4/23/21
Review
Reading by Moonlight
​