It’s December, which means I should start reflecting on the last year of reading and do a bit of a year-end wrap-up soon. On the group blog I write for I’ve been scheduled to do my top 10 reads of the year post this coming Saturday, December 12th, so I’ve decided to make my year in review a two-parter and split it between the two blogs. In today’s post I’ll go over my top 10 reads that I reviewed for blog tours, and in Saturday’s post on the other blog I’ll go over my top 10 reads that I picked requested to review or picked up entirely on my own. I’ll discuss all 20 in a video on my YouTube channel, likely on the 14th after that second post goes live. Keep in mind since I’m writing these posts in early December that does mean I have a few books left to read this year that obviously won’t make it onto the list by default. I reserve the right to consider those in next year’s wrap-up.
Please note that this will be in no particular order.
Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means there is no additional cost to you if you shop using my links, but I will earn a small percentage in commission. A program-specific disclaimer is at the bottom of this post.
A Shot of Murder
A Shot of Murder
A Charley Hall Mystery Book One
by Brenda Gayle
Published 12 October 2020
by Bowstring Books
Genre: Historical Mystery
Page Count: 150
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In 1948, Charley Hall resents giving up her job as city reporter for the Kingston Tribune to a returning soldier. But her demotion to the women’s pages is the least of her worries since Gran is organizing a surprise birthday party for Charley’s older brother, Freddie. Trouble is, Freddie hasn’t come back from his latest bender. When Charley goes looking for him, she discovers the dead body of a woman, last seen with her brother. Beside the murdered woman is a torn newspaper article about local politician Dan Cannon, who also happens to be Charley’s best friend. To make matters worse, a police detective from Toronto shows up and begins nosing around. Charley is not about to stand by and let her brother nor her friend take a fall for a murder based on circumstantial evidence. Not by a long shot.
Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK
My Rating: 5 Stars | Original Post & Review | Goodreads Review
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Becoming Human
Becoming Human
by Amy Michelle Carpenter
Publishing 8 December 2020
by Immortal Works
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Page Count: 326
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A redneck boy. An Earth-obsessed alien. And a robotic girl… Three wildly different teenagers must work together, and accept one another, to conserve humanity.
A breathtaking debut with Southern charm, whimsical worlds, and meet-cuteness, for fans of Marie Lu and Lois Lowry.
Carter doesn’t believe in aliens. And he certainly doesn’t defend his dad’s claims that they exist, even if they aired on national television. But then, the girl he’s falling for starts doing strange things, magical things, things that seem a bit out of this world.
Kokab hungers to be a Perfect in a world where her emotions are her greatest flaw. But when her planet faces extinction, her sympathy makes her the best ambassador to persuade humans to accept her people. Failure means invasion, but success means she will never become a Perfect. Ags dreams of graduating from the Academy and becoming a guardian of Earth.
Obsessed with all things human, she’s eager to spend time on the unique planet. But when she uncovers an impending invasion, she’s willing to lose everything, including herself, to stop it.
“Human and alien, complex and sweetly personal, Carpenter’s thoughtful world blends sci-fi with coming of age as three unique worlds collide. This book will make you laugh, make you fall in love, and then make you re-evaluate what it means to be human.” McKelle George, HarperCollins author of Speak Easy Speak Love
Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK
My Rating: 5 Stars | Original Post & Review | Goodreads Review
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Calla
Calla
Pixieland Diaries Book Two
by Christina Bauer
Published Published 28 July 2020
(Kindle)
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Page Count: 222
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“I swear on Beyonce you should read Bauer’s books because I love them so much I can’t even. I’m going to stop gushing now.” – Literary George
Big news in Pixieland! The Blue Fairy is sending our fave pixie, Calla, and her crush, Dare, on a mini-quest. Unfortunately it’s an adventure that requires a lot of togetherness. We’re talking tons of touching, people.
Blue believes that since Calla and Dare are just friends, then this situation shouldn’t be awkward.
It’s totally awkward.
A 45,000+ word diary written by Calla
“I absolutely love Christina Bauer’s style, full of action, intense scenes, and characters that will test one’s imaginations to the max!” – Tome Tender Book Blog
PIXIELAND DIARIES
1. Pixieland Diaries
2. Calla
3. Dare
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My Rating: 5 Stars | Original Post & Review | Goodreads Review
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Moon in Bastet
Moon in Bastet
by E.S. Danon
Published 29 September 2020
by Hurn Publications
Genre: Fantasy, Magical Realism
Page Count: 262
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A memoir turned into thrilling fiction; Moon in Bastet is based on the life of author E. S. Danon. The story follows a fourteen-year-old girl named Eva, an orphan living in the Negev desert of Israel who is working as a custodian of Cirque Du Christianisme.
Her life is controlled by a volatile drunk named Bella who favors a group of equally volatile teenage bullies, the Christian boys. Bullied, neglected, and alone – Eva’s only friends are an odd, thirteen-year-old Sephardic boy named Jack and a small cohort of Bedouin sister-wives.
On the brink of giving up on life, Eva stumbles upon a mysterious cat in the middle of the desert. Or really, did the cat stumble upon her? Filled with mystery, magic, and symbolism – Moon in Bastet is a story of resilience, survivorship, forgiveness, and women empowerment.
This is a work filled with Jewish mysticism that can be enjoyed by people of all races, ages, and religions everywhere.
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My Rating: 4 Stars | Original Post & Review | Goodreads Review
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She’s the One Who Thinks Too Much
She’s the One Who Thinks Too Much
War Stories of the Seven Troublesome Sisters Book One
by S. R. Cronin
Publishing 13 November 2020
by Cinnabar Press
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Page Count: 272
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Do you know what your problem is?
Ryalgar knows hers. People have been telling this overeducated 13th-century woman for years. So when an equally intellectual prince decides he loves her, it looks like everyone was wrong and her dreams have come true.
Except, this prince is already betrothed to another. He’s leading the army training to defend their tiny realm against an expected Mongol invasion and he is considering sacrificing Ryalgar’s home nichna of Vinx by abandoning it’s rich farmlands to their foes.
Another woman would flee to safety. Maybe she would seek another lover. But not Ryalgar. Living in a world where witchcraft has been allowed to flourish and problematic powers remain, she devises her own strategy to keep the invaders from destroying her home.
This is just the sort of thing that happens when a woman thinks too much.
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My Rating: 4 Stars | Original Post & Review | Goodreads Review
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The Waltz of Devil’s Creek
The Waltz of Devil’s Creek
by Justine Carver
Published 27 April 2020
Genre: Historical Fiction
Page Count: 342
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Judith Campbell is dying, and she cannot take the painful truth about where her son came from to the grave with her. While on her deathbed in Atlanta, Georgia in 1994, Judith tells him the tragic story of his conception, and which of two men his birth father could be: the young man who professed his love to her, or the pastor who assaulted her.
Set in the Deep South in 1947, The Waltz of Devil’s Creek digs into the dark crevices of racism and women’s rights during a heated political climate in an era of segregation. Combined with Judith’s lack of social stature, and at a time when reporting sexual assault was unheard of, every injustice is stacked against her from the very beginning.
But there is a light in Judith’s young life: her best friend, Joseph Bird, who has loved her since childhood. Joseph stands up for Judith when no one else will and proves that even in the darkest of times, a light is always burning.
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My Rating: 4 Stars | Original Post & Review | Goodreads Review
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Why Can’t Life Be Like Pizza?
Why Can’t Life be Like Pizza?
The Pizza Chronicles Book One
by Andy V. Roamer
Published 30 March 2020
by NineStar Press
Genre: YA LGBTQ Contemporary
Page Count: 210
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RV is a good kid, starting his freshman year at the demanding Boston Latin School. Though his genes didn’t give him a lot of good things, they did give him a decent brain. So he’s doing his best to keep up in high school, despite all the additional pressures he’s facing: His immigrant parents, who don’t want him to forget his roots and insist on other rules. Some tough kids at school who bully teachers as well as students. His puny muscles. His mean gym teacher. The Guy Upstairs who doesn’t answer his prayers. And the most confusing fact of all—that he might be gay.Luckily, RV develops a friendship with Mr. Aniso, his Latin teacher, who is gay and always there to talk to. RV thinks his problems are solved when he starts going out with Carole. But things only get more complicated when RV develops a crush on Bobby, the football player in his class. And to RV’s surprise, Bobby admits he may have gay feelings, too.
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My Rating: 4 Stars | Original Post & Review | Goodreads Review
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Dragon Bourne
Dragon Bourne
The Guild Core Book One
by TJ Reynolds
Published 23 September 2020
Page Count: 556
Audiobook Released 6 October 2020
Narrated by Steve Campbell
Length: 16 hours 5 minutes
Genre: High Fantasy, LitRPG
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Wake a dungeon. Form a guild. Fight to restore the world.
Kai was the least likely young man to ascend. Raised on his uncle’s potato farm, he began his career as an adventurer with empty pockets and little skill. But a foolish attempt to prove his bravery leads Kai to unlock hidden power within himself and acquire a most unlikely ally.
Kai was the least likely young man to ascend. Raised on his uncle’s potato farm, he began his career as an adventurer with empty pockets and little skill. But a foolish attempt to prove his bravery leads Kai to unlock hidden power within himself and acquire a most unlikely ally.
When Bancroft the Earth Core awakens, he can’t wait to clean up his dungeon and begin building things anew. A recovered item from his past reminds him that more is at stake, however, putting an end to such pleasantries.
Join The Guild Core, a small band of friends determined to restore the world to an age of dragons, heroes, and honor.
The Guild Core is a novel by TJ Reynolds, fantasy LitRPG author of Eternal Online books one to three. The Guild Core was inspired by the Divine Dungeon series, The Wheel of Time, and classic films like The Labyrinth and The Neverending Story.
This story takes place in an epic fantasy world governed by gaming mechanics. It contains light to moderate litRPG, gamelit, cultivation, and dungeon core elements. Features realistic violence, three MC POVs, and more than a few quaint jokes. Language and adult content is appropriate for teen listeners.
Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Audible
My Rating: 5 Stars | Original Post & Review | Goodreads Review
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The Rage Room
The Rage Room
by Lisa de Nikolits
Published 30 October 2020
by Inanna Publications
Genre: Speculative Fiction
Page Count: 300
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What if you had a chance to fix the worst mistake of your life…but only made things worse? The Rage Room dives into dystopia with an extraordinary tale about choices and second chances. Sharps Barkley jumps back in time and finds that changing the future isn’t as easy as he thought.
Set in 2055, our plastic world is run by robots, fueled by consumerism, twisted religion and virtual data. Satellites control the weather, food is grown in laboratories. Arts and culture are distant memories. Beneath the sunny skies and behind the garbage-free suburban McMansions live deeply disturbed, materialistic families. Prescribed visits to rage rooms lance desperate anger, boredom and discontent but the band-aid fix hides disturbing governmental motives.
An intense and provocative exploration of societal coded messages, The Rage Room is an action-packed story of unravelling and alternate realities, of disturbing and searching re-runs. Can the army of feminist hackers restore Mother Nature?
Can love triumph over fear? And, ultimately, can the children be saved?
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My Rating: 5 Stars | Original Post & Review | Goodreads Review
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The Reluctant Wizard
The Reluctant Wizard
by A.A. Warne
Published 3 September 2020
(Kindle)
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Page Count: 458
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By day, wizards rule the world. At night, warlocks seek to destroy it. Now, one boy will challenge them both.
Eli never wanted to be a rebel. All he wants is an end to the famine and war threatening his community. To save his mother and baby brother from marauding warlocks, Eli is forced to make a heartbreaking decision. He must travel to Terra Magicae, the mysterious land of the wizards, to study magic. In exchange, the wizards will protect his family, but this protection comes at a price: once Eli enters the Grand Wizardry Academy, he may never come home.
Full of lush landscapes and magical marvels, Terra Magicae is more wondrous than Eli ever imagined… and more dangerous. At first, Eli’s struggles to fit in at the Academy seem ordinary. But the more he questions the wizards, the more he suspects a sinister purpose behind their bizarre rules and tests. For a dark secret lies at the heart of this mystical land, one so terrible it threatens not only the students at the Academy but the lives of everyone Eli loves.
To save them all, Eli must step into the midst of the battle between the wizards and warlocks and defy both sides. He must become the rebel he was always meant to be.
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My Rating: 5 Stars | Original Post & Review | Goodreads Review
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Love seeing everyone’s favourites! So many interesting books here 🥰