Shadows of Secrets and Lies by Dawn Brazil

About the Book

Title: Shadows of Secrets and Lies: Young Adult Dystopian Thriller
Author: Dawn Brazil
Series: Shadow #1
Genre: YA Dystopian
Release Date: March 11, 2022

In the year 2175, the world will end, maybe, but not for everyone…

Eighteen-year-old Mandalyn Johnson’s mother tried to kill her. She knows because her father told her.
The one thing she knows about her father – he’s a master manipulator.

On the cusp of adulthood, Mandalyn is ready to shed all thoughts of her mentally unstable mother and take her rightful place among the greatest minds her society possesses.

Mandalyn manipulates her aerial pod, ChaWanda, into interacting like a feisty older sister rather than the computerized aerial device it should be, but she can’t figure out how she’s able to identify someone’s character by a random number thrust into her head. When she learns the character level of her rival for top-in-class – someone she’s known most of her life – crests at ten, she knows she must confront him. She’s never met anyone over a four. Tens are the most dangerous, immoral level imaginable. When he confesses that her character level is also a ten, her dreams of family redemption are shattered.

With the help of two other students with deadly character levels, they struggle to piece together what they know while they start to exhibit extraordinary abilities. With their newfound abilities, they’re able to see the future. In one potential future, they die and in the other, they kill everyone.

They must untangle the lies perpetrated by the people they love to determine which future will belong to them. And find out why the organizations tasked with bringing order to the world don’t want them to exist in the perfect world they’re trying to create.

Purchase your copy here!


About the Author

Dawn Brazil wants to live in a world inhabited by fictional characters. She thinks fictional characters are cooler than real people most of the time. But since the world is not comprised of dreamy book boyfriends, she creates them for everyone to fawn over. 

When she is not writing, she can be found with her nose in a book – swooning over another book boyfriend, drying up tears from a recent heartbreak, or shouldering a wound she received in battle. She also loves to create magic in the kitchen with an array of inspiring dishes she pulls from Pinterest. Dawn lives in South Texas with her sports-obsessed husband, three technology infatuated kids, and her great, big, colossal imagination.

And she is passionate about superheroes – especially Wonder Woman!

Connect with Dawn: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter


My Review

Shadows of Secrets and Lies
by Dawn Brazil
Book 1 in the Shadow series
Rating: 4/5

Wow. Some authors have such amazing imaginations. I am always so impressed with the world-building that goes into writing YA dystopian thrillers. Having never read anything from the author before, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed her story and characters. She provided an escape to another world that was interesting and unique yet still relatable.

The story hooks you from the beginning and dives straight into this unknown world. The ending sets up the next book so I will be excitedly anticipating the next installment that comes out in a month. The characters are also very fun and relatable. I loved seeing how much Mandalyn grew as a character and in her relationships. And let me just say the chemistry she had with a certain someone was palpable. I also loved how relatable she was with all her insecurities and feelings of isolation. I liked how the author had her confront every relationship in her life and am excited to read more.

My favorite quote from the book (there were many that I highlighted):

Hugs are a way of wrapping a person up and holding them together when they are falling apart. I’ve hugged and been hugged quite a bit in the past few weeks. It feels right to allow someone else control over your body for a few seconds, to allow yourself to crumble. Sometimes in falling apart, we find that we fit back together even better.

PG-13 content with some swearing and steamy makeout sessions. Highly recommend if you enjoy high stakes (the author goes there) YA dystopian thrillers with action and romance.

My thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

Oathbound by Victoria McCombs


About the Book

Book: Oathbound
Author: Victoria McCombs
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release date: February 15, 2022

Oathbound-New

Beware the waters. The dangerous deep brings ruin to all. 

Emme has spent her life avoiding anything to do with pirates. But the fates are cruel, and now a hidden sickness leads her to partner with pirates for the one thing that can save her—a cure on an island none are certain exists.

The pirate captain’s secrets are darker than the deep and threaten to kill them all. His obligations are tinged with betrayal, for his oathbind must be fulfilled. To ignore it is to invite peril of unimaginable destruction.

As the adventure unfolds, the sea takes more than she expects and the sea gives more than he wants.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

McCombs, Victoria

Victoria McCombs is the author of The Storyteller’s Series from Parliament House Press, and Oathbound. She writes young adult fantasy and adores stories about treacherous pirates and traitorous princes. Her favorite things include peppermint hot chocolate, peanut butter ice cream, game nights with family, and Jesus. She has her mom to thank for allowing so many medieval weapons inside the house as she was growing up, which curated her love for that time period. She is a mom of three little boys and a wife to the handsomest accountant there is. Together they live in Omaha, Nebraska.


My Review

Oathbound
by Victoria McCombs
Book 1 in The Royal Rose Chronicles series
Rating: 4/5

Wow. You are in for a treat if you enjoy swashbuckling adventure with love, betrayal and ghosts! Having never read anything from the author before, I was pleasantly surprised at the fun and action-filled story. The author does an amazing job at catching and holding the reader’s attention.

First, the cover is gorgeous and definitely makes you want to pick up the book.
Second, the story makes you want to escape to the sea and fall in love with a pirate.
Third, the main characters are interesting, unique, and full of passion and courage.

You won’t want to miss this exciting adventure that captures the imagination! I can’t wait to read whatever comes next in the series. (Not quite a cliffhanger ending but you’ll definitely want the next book)

Highly recommend if you enjoy clean YA fantasy that has action, romance and pirate adventures.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.


More from Victoria

Oathbound was my quarantine book. I remember getting the idea and thinking “I don’t know of any other pirate books in the YA fantasy genre.” Of course, after that, I saw them everywhere, and several amazing ones have come out since. But theses broken pirates had grabbed my attention and I couldn’t let go.

One aspect of my book makes it unique, and that comes in our main character. My characters are a reflection of me, but none more so than Emme. We see early on that she is sick, and while the disease is made up for the book, it’s mirrored exactly by the disease that runs in my family called ataxia. This is a disease that impairs every part of life before it ends it too soon. I’ve never opened those emotions so fully to put them on a page, but Emme and I were going through this together. While I’m lucky not to have symptoms yet (and the chance to never have to go through it), this disability is something I understand deeply, and I’m honored to bring it to life on the page to show the strength that can lie within even when our bodies fail us.

I hope you all enjoy Oathbound!


Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, February 28
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 1
Wishful Endings, March 1
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 2
Inklings and notions, March 3
For Him and My Family, March 4
By the Book, March 4
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 5
Nancy E Wood, March 6
Blogging With Carol, March 6
deb’s Book Review, March 7
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 8
Labor Not in Vain, March 8
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, March 9
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 10 (Spotlight)
Inside the Wong Mind, March 10
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, March 11
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 12
Through the Fire Blogs, March 12
Artistic Nobody, March 13


Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Victoria is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1b061/oathbound-celebration-tour-giveaway

The Lady of Galway Manor by Jennifer Deibel

About the Book

Title: The Lady of Galway Manor
Author: Jennifer Deibel
Genre: Historical Christian Fiction
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: February 1, 2022

In 1920, Annabeth De Lacy’s father is appointed landlord of Galway Parish in Ireland. Bored without all the trappings of the British Court, Annabeth convinces her father to arrange an apprenticeship for her with the Jennings family–descendants of the creator of the famed Claddagh Ring. 

Stephen Jennings longs to do anything other than run his family’s jewelry shop. Having had his heart broken, he no longer believes in love and is weary of peddling the “lies” the Claddagh Ring promises. 

Meanwhile, as the war for Irish independence gains strength, many locals resent the De Lacys and decide to take things into their own hands to display their displeasure. As events take a dangerous turn for Annabeth and her family, she and Stephen begin to see that perhaps the “other side” isn’t quite as barbaric and uncultured as they’d been led to believe–and that the bonds of friendship, love, and loyalty are only made stronger when put through the refiner’s fire.

Travel to the Emerald Isle for another poignant and romantic story from the enchanted pen of Jennifer Deibel.

Purchase your copy here!


About the Author

Jennifer Deibel is the author of A Dance in Donegal. Her work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic magazine, and in other publications. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, she now lives in Arizona with her husband and their three children. You can find her online at www.jenniferdeibel.com.


My Review

The Lady of Galway Manor
by Jennifer Deibel
Rating: 4/5

Who doesn’t want to fall in love in Ireland? Get ready to be swept away back to 1920s Ireland. The De Lacy family has just moved to Ireland and Lady Annabeth is the new apprentice for the famous Claddagh Ring jewelers, the Jennings family. Stephen Jennings must train the English lady, but will his feelings toward Britain’s rule of Ireland keep him from admitting his growing attraction to the lovely Annabeth?

The chemistry between Stephen and Annabeth is palpable and oh so swoon worthy! Their back stories are well developed and their authenticity makes them relatable.

“Hate is fueled by ignorance, son. The first step toward peace is the genuine desire to understand your so-called enemy. Don’t punish her for the sins of her fathers. Let her learn.”

Highly recommend this book about the choices we make and taking risks for love.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.


Read An Excerpt