Bonfire by Krysten Ritter

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Rating: ★★★★★

On June 3rd and 4th publishers, authors, and fellow bookworms filled the Javits Convention Center for BookCon 2017. Typically, when I attend BookCon I don't stick to any type of schedule or set plans. I like to go with the flow and take it all in. This year, however, was a bit different. There was one author I really wanted to meet, Krysten Ritter. I was aiming to get my hands on an ARC of her debut novel, Bonfire. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful and went home without a copy and without meeting Ms. Ritter. It was a day later that I was lucky enough to speak with a fellow attendee, Mikayla, and was gifted a copy of the coveted novel. 

Bonfire was everything I had hoped it would be. It was an incredible read with a well thought out storyline. Ms. Ritter did a fantastic job with the development of her characters and was successful in creating a realistic and relatable story. Bonfire is everything you're looking for in a good book. It is a fast paced and entertaining read reminiscent of a good old fashioned noir mystery. Bonfire is filled with troubled characters, unrequited love, nail biting and page turning scenes, and enjoyable twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. 

Krysten Ritter has certainly delivered with Bonfire. It is the perfect debut novel and it has a quality to it that screams “Read me and don't put me down until you're done!” The writing style makes for a fast paced and easy to read story. Nothing about Bonfire screams “new author!” On the contrary, it feels as though I have been reading Ms. Ritter’s stories forever. 

Bonfire debuts on November 7th, 2017, so make sure you preorder your copy today and prepare yourself for a wild ride! 

About the Author: 

Photo by: Bailey Taylor

KRYSTEN RITTER is well known for her starring roles in the award winning Netflix original series, Marvel's Jessica Jones, and cult favorite, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, as well as her pivotal role on AMC’s Breaking Bad. Krysten’s work on film includes Big Eyes, Listen Up Philip, Life Happens, Confessions of a Shopaholic and She’s Out of My League. She is the founder of Silent Machine, a production company which aims to highlight complex female protagonists. Ritter and her dog Mikey split their time between New York and Los Angeles.

The Summer that Melted Everything by Tiffany McDaniel

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★★★

 

The Summer that Melted Everything is NOT your average debut novel. Tiffany McDaniel does not shy away from dealing with some of our society's biggest taboos. I must start this review off by applauding Ms. McDaniel. This could not have been an easy novel to write especially given our current political and societal atmosphere. With that said, this is an incredible read and is marvelously written. 

This novel focuses on some very thought provoking subjects and does not shy away from society's views of these subjects. McDaniel addresses racism, religion, homosexuality, and the HIV/AIDS pandemic of the 1980's. The way McDaniel weaves each of these subjects into this story creates a powerful and thought provoking work of art. The character development is so well done that you feel as though you have known these characters your entire life and have grown up with them in their small Ohio town. 

The story is an amazing tale of loss and heartbreak. It addresses so many topics that NEED to be discussed and does it in a way that encourages thought provoking conversation and intellectual discussion. The Summer that Melted Everything is one of the best novels I have read in a long time. McDaniel's writing is fantastic and adds to the magnificence of the story. I am not sure I could state how much I recommend this novel. It is definitely a MUST read for mature audiences and it will not disappoint. Tiffany McDaniel is an author to watch out for and I am excited to see what she has in store for us next!

The Haunted Country by Jason White

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★

 

The Haunted Country by Jason White is a look at what happens to civilization during the zombie apocalypse. The dead may be walking around, but they are the least of our young protagonists worries. The Haunted Country follows a young fifteen year old boy and his mentally handicapped sister, as they try to survive the horrors of this new world. White has created a world full of horror and heartbreak. We are shown early on that the real threat is not the walking dead, but the remnants of humanity. Our characters face off with some terrible monsters disguised as fellow survivors.

Jason White does a good job of creating a strong sibling bond with our main protagonists and does not forget to include the brooding and reluctant hero. The story is typical of many in the zombie genre, but White does not shy away from putting our young protagonists through some horrible and heartbreaking situations.

There are several critical moments in the story that will leave readers teary eyed and broken hearted. White does not waste any time getting right into the action and does a good job of keeping the reader involved in the story from the very first chapter. Every chapter and every character plays an important role in the novel's overall plot. 

The Haunted Country is a good read for zombie and apocalyptic genre fans. White digresses from many in the genre by including the realistic possibility of what a survivor would go through when trying to make it with a disabled family member. White includes all of the horror and gore many fans of the genre crave and leaves the reader satisfied. The Haunted Country is a great debut novel and a fantastic start for Jason White and I look forward to reading more from him!

Dancing at Midnight: The Life of June Parker by Rebecca Yelland

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

Buy this book here!

 

Rating: ★★★★★

 

Dancing at Midnight: The Life of June Parker is a powerful debut novel from author, Rebecca Yelland. The story is a non-stop page turning adventure filled with a rollercoaster of emotions. Yelland does a fantastic job at grabbing her readers from the very first page and making sure she holds on throughout the story. I was blown out of the water with Yelland's writing and ability to tell a powerful and emotional story in a page turning and detailed manner. I found myself holding my breathe with every turn of the page and experiencing heart wrenching moments of despair for June Parker, our main protagonist. 

Yelland created such powerful characters that I actually felt as if I knew June and her friends for years. The pain she experienced and the way she continued on with life was incredibly moving. 

The style used by Yelland, turning this into a journal found by June's daughter after her death, is absolutely perfect for this story. It allowed you to feel every emotion and experience the closure felt by her daughter upon completing her mother's story. It is filled with some amazing twists that simply add to the beauty of the story. 

If this is what we have to expect from Rebecca Yelland in her debut novel, I can only imagine what she has in store for her readers with her future writing endeavors. Dancing at Midnight: The Life of June Parker is the story of the summer as Ms. Yelland delivers with an absolute knockout!