Jess—aka Reviews by Jess—is a sassy, top-ranked Goodreads reviewer who reads a little of everything. From steamy romance to dark fantasy, plus stories featuring mental health, hidden disabilities, and LGBTQ+ rep, she brings bold, unfiltered reviews readers can trust. Expect sass, sparkle, and a TBR that’s about to explode.

Reviews by Jess- Unfiltered. Unapologetic. Unforgettable Reviews.

Friday, November 28, 2025

New Release Author Rachel Starkie #RachelStarkie #BlackFridayRelease

Shifting Sin 
By

Rachel Starkie


A Why Choose Urban PNR Romance





BOOK2READ

 


A spicy, dark, and somewhat comedic reimagining of the Classic Seven Deadly Sins

Originally published as Seduced by Sloth, Shifting Sin is a reimagined, expanded rewrite of Rachel Starkie’s sexy and adventurous take on the Seven Sins.

Lùcas MacAilein is the youngest of the Seven Sins. Released upon the world, he has tried to withstand the power of Sloth for many years, leading to many interesting, if not odd, habits just to stay away from the darkness.


In the midst of building relationships that may be his saving grace, he discovers that his baby sisters have been taken by their Mage father, and he has no choice but to embrace the darkness and seek the help of his sinful siblings to save the girls.


Will the help of his best friend, Techwitch Gizmo, and an emerging group of mates be enough to keep him on task, or will his sin overcome him and drag him into the abyss from which there is no escape for him or the rest of mankind?
Hell only knows, and it is not giving up any secrets...

*Fantasy Violence
**LGBTQ Themes
***Strong Sexual Content, Including Multiple Partners
Author’s Note:
Rachel Starkie is an Author based in the United Kingdom, where spelling conventions differ and deviate from American Diction.
Her work includes Fantasy Violence and themes of an ADULT nature.
Read less



Rachel Starkie is a British Author and resin-making addict forging her own path in the Indie Fantasy genre. With stories as varied as her other creations, she creates worlds full of feisty characters where who and what you love doesn’t matter so long as it’s hot and the villain gets their comeuppance in the end.

TIKTOK 

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Sunday, October 5, 2025

Review: Space Vampire

Space Vampire Space Vampire by Ruby Dixon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Review: Spicy Little Curses

Spicy Little Curses Spicy Little Curses by J.T. Geissinger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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From a Song Blitz

 




Music Fiction

Date Published: 09-30-2025

Publisher: Covfefe Press


 


 For anyone who's ever said, "They're playing my song!"


 
On Halloween Eve, 1961, in his dingy Bronx walkup apartment, seventeen-year-old Jimmy Welton hears the opening notes of a song in his head. Jimmy’s still mourning his firefighter father, who taught him to play the guitar but recently died in a house fire, leaving his family destitute. Jimmy takes this song, about all he misses from his life now, to the New York amusement park where he works after school. There, he meets Mark Morgan, a rebellious teen with his own band, who eventually invites Jimmy to join them. And the rest is rock'n roll history...
The GooseBumps become a worldwide phenomenon, and the songs they write and sing together become the backbone of rock musical history. And the song Jimmy first heard on Halloween, "Wrapped in Gauze", becomes the song that not only comforts him in that terrible time but also comforts others: Victoria, recently divorced and dealing with an unthinkable family tragedy; Carolyn, whose final flippant words to someone in pain can't be taken back; and Jack, battling back from unimaginable loss with the help of his cheeky therapist and a song he thinks he hates.


 
SCENES FROM A SONG is the story of a song that makes us smile, that breaks our hearts, that stays with us forever, and the very special band that started it all.


About the Author

 


 SUSAN SLOATE is the author or co-author of more than 25 published books. This includes 3 editions of Forward to Camelot, a time-travel thriller about the JFK assassination that became a #6 Amazon bestseller, was honored in 3 literary competitions and was optioned by a Hollywood company for film production. She also wrote the autobiographical Broadway novel Stealing Fire, which became a #2 Amazon bestseller and Hot New Release, and Realizing You (with Ron Doades), for which she invented a new genre: the self-help novel.


Susan has also written young-adult fiction and non-fiction, including the children’s biography Ray Charles: Find Another Way, which won the silver medal in the 2007 Children’s Moonbeam Awards. Mysteries Unwrapped: The Secrets of Alcatraz led to her 2009 appearance on the TV series MysteryQuest for The History Channel. She has also been a sportswriter and a screenwriter, edited the popular Kyle & Corey young-adult book series, managed two political campaigns and founded an author’s festival to promote student literacy in her hometown outside Charleston, SC. She has appeared in multiple volumes of WHO’S WHO IN AMERICA, WHO’S WHO IN ENTERTAINMENT and WHO’S WHO AMONG AMERICAN WOMEN.


Contact Links
Twitter: @Susan_Sloate
 






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Review: The Forgotten Child

The Forgotten Child The Forgotten Child by Melissa Erin Jackson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Review: Hot for Slayer

Hot for Slayer Hot for Slayer by Ali Hazelwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Friday, October 3, 2025

Review: Onyx Storm

Onyx Storm Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Epic Fantasy Adventure: A Heroine's Quest

Embark on an unforgettable journey filled with magic, danger, and destiny. This epic fantasy adventure follows a complex and courageous heroine as she faces a perilous quest that will test her limits and shape her fate.

With vivid world-building, intricate characters, and heart-pounding action, this story will immerse readers in a realm of mythical creatures, ancient prophecies, and powerful magic. As the heroine confronts formidable foes and uncovers hidden truths, she must grapple with her own inner demons and make choices that will have far-reaching consequences.

Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo, and other authors who craft immersive worlds and compelling female protagonists, this book will appeal to readers who crave epic quests, high-stakes battles, and unforgettable characters. With its blend of action, adventure, and emotional depth, this story is a must-read for anyone who loves to lose themselves in a fantastical world.

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Review: Iron Flame

Iron Flame Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a thrilling and romantic fantasy adventure that will captivate readers who crave epic battles, fiery passion, and strong-willed heroines, making it a perfect fit for fans of fantasy romance and war stories.

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Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Review: Fourth Wing

Fourth Wing Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I should have read this sooner. Take Hunger Games, Divergent, and Lord of the Rings, then make them one book with so many twists and turns you don't even see coming. Yarros did an amazing job. If you haven't read this yet, make it your next.

The mind fuck it gave was perfection. I had such FoMo with this series, but I was scared I wouldn't enjoy it because just about every time a popular book catches my attention, I've disliked it. Now I'm on to Iron Flame, and it's so freaking good.

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Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Eden Blitz

 




Dystopian Novel

Date Published: May 2, 2025



In 4029, Homo convertibilis has replaced Homo sapiens and their scientists study the "Pierre de Vent," a collection of political, historical, and ancient sacred texts written by the "founding father," who is the reference of the new society.

2054, to combat the chronic anemia of the sedentary population, who live cloistered and under government tutelage, the pharmaceutical company Orson and Orson, of which Nucleus is the main shareholder, developed a regenerative pill called Jouvence. Everyone is clamoring for it. "Unfortunately," the side effects of the miracle product affect the libido of the consumers, causing them to literally die of pleasure.

Nucleus manipulates governments to gradually rid the planet of the surplus humans who no longer have a place in a society where finance has supplanted mass consumerism. His hope is to turn Earth into a true Eden for his people who are, in his eyes, the only humans worthy of survival. However, a persistent infertility crisis amongst his kind, casts a dark shadow over his once-promising vision of a utopian future. Meanwhile, in the Metropolis, some Sedentaries, including Winston, manage to escape the systematic and inevitable extermination set in motion by Nucleus.

Will they be able to survive the persecution of the army of liberty and the reactivation of the GMO seeds of hyper-accumulating hyacinths that has covered the entire planet?

Gripping, provocative, and chillingly prescient, Eden: The Final Solution is a dystopian tour de force that challenges the limits of progress, morality and reimagine the Orwellian dystopia, shaped by the excesses and anxieties of our time. Fans of Brave New World and 1984 will find themselves enthralled—and terrified—by this haunting vision of the future.


About the Author


Pascal Bouquillard is a jack-of-all-trades. After graduating from the “Baccalauréat économique et social” in France, he pursued classical music studies at the “École Normale de Musique de Paris”, taught for almost 30 years, acted on American stages in South Carolina and published acoustic versions of his favorite songs on the YouTube channel, “pascalsguitar”.

At the end of the ’80s, he spent several years touring Europe and French-speaking countries with the “Trio Français de Guitare”, which he co-founded and which specialized in transcriptions of works by early 20th-century composers. Unfortunately, focal dystonia prevents him from pursuing a career as a classical guitarist. He then obtained a scholarship to the “Maitrise de Musique Baroque de Versailles”, where he played tenor and was introduced to conducting.

In the ’90s, he co-founded the progressive rock band Saens, in which he was composer, singer, bassist and acoustic guitarist, and with whom he released three albums: Les Regrets d’Isidore D, Escaping From The Hands Of God and Prophet In A Statistical World.

In 1997, he conducted Benjamin Britten’s opera “Noah’s Ark” at the Cathédrale Saint Louis in Versailles, the Église Saint Augustin in Paris and the Théâtre de Poissy. That same year, he was invited to conduct a group of musicians from the Orchestre National de France at the Théâtre des Champs Élysées, on the occasion of Mstislav Rostropovich’s 70th birthday.

He then moved to the USA to find the woman he was to marry. Interested by the turn the world economy is taking, he returns to his original political passions.

After more than 5 years of research and reflection as part of a virtual focused group of French citizens, and driven by the anxieties provoked by his discoveries, he launched into the writing of “Eden” and the “Practical Guide toward an Atomic Democracy”.

 

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Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Continuity Blitz




Life Beyond the Credits


Memoir

Date Published: 09-09-2025

Publisher: Punctuate Press



Academy member Bonnie Clevering spent 50 years in Hollywood, designing hair for dozens of stars including Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Kristen Stewart, Al Pacino, and Jennifer Lopez under the direction of icons like Christopher Nolan, Oliver Stone, and Steven Soderbergh. After uncovering an enormous stash of production Polaroids and behind-scenes photos she took, Bonnie decided it was time to tell some lovely stories about her time in Hollywood.

Continuity By Bonnie Clevering: Life Behind the Credits will be released on Punctuate Press (distributed by APG) on September 9. It will uniquely come in two formats: a paperback memoir, and a beautiful hardcover coffee table book with hundreds of photos. While stories about Nancy Sinatra’s old wives tale helping Bonnie get pregnant, making dinner for the Ocean’s Eleven cast, and how hair creates character are certainly delightful, Bonnie also shares deeply about being a woman in Hollywood, the consequences of saying “no” (and “yes”), single motherhood, and legacy.

 

About the Author

Bonnie Clevering, in a nearly 5-decade career as a Motion Picture Hair Stylist, has trussed the tresses of hundreds of actors including Hilary Swank, Bette Davis, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Al Pacino, Keanu Reeves, and Kristen Stewart. Her impressive resume includes iconic films and TV series like Hello, Dolly!, RoboCop, Any Given Sunday, Ocean's Eleven, Erin Brockovich, Office Space, The Twilight Saga, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, totaling over 120 productions. She earned membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences in 2001.

 

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The Blue Riders Blitz

 




Historical Thriller

Date Published: June 28, 2024



New York, 1890s

The newspaper war between William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal and Joseph Pulitzer's New York World is raging, while in Cuba a brave band of Cuban rebels are struggling to overthrow the tyrannical rule of Spain.

As war fever builds, Cassie O'Conner, one of the first female reporters of the era, goes undercover in an insane asylum, where she makes a discovery of historic proportion: a plot to assassinate President William McKinley. But before she can act on her discovery, Cassie is kidnapped and whisked away to Cuba, forcing the Journal and the World to join forces in a daring rescue attempt.

Can they return her to Washington, D.C. in time to stop the assassination of the president?

Full of action, adventure and romance, THE BLUE RIDERS is a fast-paced, hard-to-put down historical thriller.

 

About the Author

 

 Jim Lester holds a Ph.D in history and is the author of three successful young adult novels--Fallout, The Great Pretender and Shadow Games as well as two exciting historical thrillers, Deadline:New York and Call to a Nightmare. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, he now makes his home in Colorado.

 

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Review: Forgotten Ashes

Forgotten Ashes Forgotten Ashes by Kathryn Covens
My rating: 0 of 5 stars



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Monday, September 8, 2025

The Exchange and Other Calamities Blitz




Horror / Collection

Date Published: 07-22-2025

Publisher: Anuci Press



Evil lurks in the darkness, clawing its way towards unsuspecting victims . . .


A woman living with fibromyalgia finds an artifact that unleashes a reality she never thought possible . . . at a steep price.


Two high school seniors take part in a tradition that brings them face-to-face with the monstrous truth behind a haunting, dark urban legend.


The face behind a popular YouTube ghost hunting show travels to the scene of a horrific event to find fresh horrors there.


Fate takes a bite out of a young woman who ventures into the wilderness to grieve her mother.
Best-selling author, Theo Anderson, takes part in a sleep study that turns her into the very thing she fears.


Hold your breath as you immerse yourself in five harrowing stories written by bestselling author, Mallory McCartney. Fans of her gripping Black Dawn series will be kept on the edge of their seat by this horror collection inspired by real life events!



About the Author

 

 Mallory McCartney currently lives in Sarnia, Ontario with her husband, their dachshunds Link, and Leonard and their sphynx cats Luna, Legolas, Ivy and Lily. When she isn’t working on her next novel or reading, she can be found day dreaming about fantasy worlds or bingeing her favorite horror movies.

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Saturday, September 6, 2025

Review: The Nantucket Inn

The Nantucket Inn The Nantucket Inn by Pamela M. Kelley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Review: Mockingjay

Mockingjay Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mockingjay closes The Hunger Games trilogy with a gut punch of war, loss, and resilience. Where the first book was about survival and the second about rebellion, the third is about the devastating cost of revolution—and it doesn’t shy away from the horrors of conflict.

Katniss is no longer just a girl with a bow—she’s the face of a movement, a reluctant symbol manipulated by leaders on both sides. What makes her so compelling here is her vulnerability: she is traumatized, grieving, and often broken, but she continues forward because she must. Her story is not about glory; it’s about survival in a world that demands sacrifice.

The romance thread reaches its heartbreaking resolution. Peeta, broken and hijacked by the Capitol, is both a symbol of love’s fragility and its resilience. Gale’s harder edges and ruthless strategies force Katniss—and readers—to confront the morality of war. The love triangle ends not in melodrama, but in the quiet recognition of who Katniss needs to survive, not just who she desires.

The war sequences are raw and brutal. Collins doesn’t glorify battle—she shows us its destruction, the toll it takes on children, families, and entire districts. The loss of beloved characters (Finnick, Prim) hits like a physical blow, reminding us that revolutions are never without cost. And the ending—bittersweet, subdued, but deeply resonant—reminds us that healing is possible, even if scars remain.

This isn’t a triumphant finale, but it’s the right one. Mockingjay forces us to grapple with trauma, power, and the messy truth of human resilience. It’s dark, heartbreaking, and necessary—a masterpiece of YA dystopia that dares to tell the truth about war.

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Review: That One Night

That One Night That One Night by Emily Rath
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: Death of the Matchmaker

Death of the Matchmaker Death of the Matchmaker by Angelica Kate
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Death of the Matchmaker has an imaginative premise: Missy Mays inherits her late mother’s matchmaking business—along with her ghost. Her mom won’t pass on until she successfully completes ten matches, which sets Missy up for plenty of chaos. Add in her neighbor, a cynical divorce lawyer, and there’s plenty of room for banter, clashing ideologies, and potential romance.

The problem isn’t the setup—it’s the execution. The story struggles to balance its paranormal comedy with the romance at its center. The ghostly mom brings some funny moments, but her presence often overshadows Missy’s own arc, making it hard for her character growth to shine through. The romance with the neighbor feels rushed and underdeveloped, more plot device than organic connection.

The pacing also feels uneven. Some chapters drag while others rush through key developments, leaving emotional beats underexplored. The side characters, while quirky, don’t contribute much depth to the story, and at times, the book leans on cliché rather than pushing into the freshness its premise promised.

While the book has charm, humor, and moments of fun, it didn’t pull together into a satisfying whole. For me, it was a miss, though readers who love quick paranormal rom-coms with lighthearted hijinks may find more to enjoy.

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Friday, September 5, 2025

Review: Catching Fire

Catching Fire Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

🔥 The spark becomes a blaze—politics, passion, and rebellion ignite in this unforgettable sequel.”
🏹 Quarter Quell, rebellion, and heartbreak. Katniss faces impossible choices as sparks of love and revolution collide. Bold, brilliant, and utterly unforgettable.

Tropes
  • Dystopian Survival 🏹🔥
  • Rebellion Against Oppression ⚔️
  • Fake Relationship ➡️ Real Feelings ❤️
  • Found Family & Loyalty 👭
  • Arena 2.0: Twists on the Games 🎲

Catching Fire is one of those rare sequels that not only lives up to the first book but surpasses it in scope and emotional depth. Suzanne Collins takes the tightly focused survival story of The Hunger Games and blows it wide open, plunging Katniss and Peeta into the heart of political upheaval, rebellion, and devastating personal stakes.

What makes this book shine is how it layers danger. Katniss isn’t just fighting to survive another arena—she’s grappling with the consequences of becoming a symbol of rebellion she never asked to be. Her defiance at the end of the first Games lights a fire she cannot control, and watching her navigate that tension—between survival, love, and revolution—is captivating.

The Quarter Quell arena is brilliantly designed, full of lethal creativity and heartbreaking stakes. Every twist feels brutal and surprising, from poisoned fog to mockingjay mimicry. The alliance-building here is richer, too: Finnick Odair, Johanna Mason, Beetee, and Wiress bring nuance, humor, and sacrifice, creating relationships that deepen the impact of the Games.

Peeta continues to shine as the moral compass and heart of the series. His devotion to Katniss, whether or not she reciprocates, is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Gale’s presence in District 12 adds another layer of emotional conflict, as Katniss struggles with loyalty, affection, and the crushing weight of expectation.

What elevates Catching Fire above a simple dystopian thriller is its commentary. The Capitol’s decadence versus the Districts’ desperation is sharper here, and Collins makes no attempt to soften the cruelty of systemic oppression. The story ends with one of the most unforgettable cliffhangers in YA history—District 12 is gone, Katniss has been rescued, and the rebellion is no longer simmering; it’s ready to explode.

This is a sequel that raises every stake—personal, political, and emotional—and delivers a story that lingers long after the final page.

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