REVIEW - AFTER THE STORM - SURVIVORS OF THE NEW DAWN BY GRACE HAMILTON

  

Title: After The Storm
Series: Survivors Of The New Dawn
Author: Grace Hamilton
Publisher: Relay Publishing
Genre: Post Apocalyptic, Disaster, Survival
Release Date: 12th August 2026

BLURB
As the world falls apart, one woman must do whatever it takes to protect her family…

Fleeing a devastated California, Claire and her family secure passage aboard a ferry bound for the safe haven of Seattle, Washington. But conditions on the boat are little better than the chaos they are running from. Desperate souls, dwindling supplies, and over-zealous National Guard troops form a powder keg that threatens to ignite in violence at any moment.

But heavy handed soldiers are nothing compared to the danger lurking in the shadows. Hired by the wealthy and ruthless Hartley family, the sinister mercenary known as The Architect has one retrieve Lydia and her unborn child and return them to the family.

When a raging storm separates the group, Claire fears the worst for Lydia. Because if the Hartley’s manage to get their claws on her, she may truly be out of reach.

And this time, there will be no escape… 

Goodreads Link 

REVIEW
The cover depicts a man and a woman with a dog. The man and woman are likely to be Alejandro and Claire with Dusty the dog but the man & woman could easily be Bobby and Sophia with one of the dogs Dusty or Willow. The cover fits well with the rest of the series and makes you want to learn more about the book.

After The Storm picks up right where After The Escape left off. Rob, Sandra, Alejandro, Claire, Lydia, Bobby, Sophia and the two dogs Dusty & Willow made it onto a ferry bound for 'a better place' a safe haven in Seattle Washington. Whiskey, his son Sam (who initially betrayed Lydia to a Hartley tracker) and Sam's son Micah. Also on board the ferry is Eddie the man with the gift of the gab who had befriended Claires group on the road promising them passage on the the ferry when he was unable to follow through he disappeared but they spot him on the ferry. They don't care they're together as a family, the Hartleys haven't git Lydia, Bobby may be badly injured but he is fit and they'll nurse him back to health.
What should be a fairly straightforward journey soon becomes more complicated, a man on board was separated from his family and he demands the ferry turn around whilst waving his gun about, a shot is fired and Bea the National Guard Officer in charge of navigating the ferry is shot. The other National Guard Officer Sergeant Douglas initially has the man taken and locked away but later brings him on deck, to make an example of him and throws him overboard much to the shock of the other passengers. It seems Sergeant Douglas's answer to anyone who doesn't agree with him is to throw them overboard!! Claire later finds out Sergeant Douglas has a list of names, people he thinks he needs to watch, that are troublemakers. Claires whole family is on the list but top of the list is Rob!! They all via to keep their heads down and mouths shut until they get to Seattle. The ferry runs into trouble and when Alejo steps forward to offer his help & welding experience to try to repair some of the damaged sections of ferry, he puts a further target on his and his families back with Sergeant Douglas. The ferry has to fend off pirates/wreckers intent on taking anything useful on the ferry for themselves as well as extreme weather conditions. In all the chaos Lydia goes missing, she was last seen with Eddie who was bragging about finding the pregnant Lydia somewhere comfortable to rest. What he actually does is deliver Lydia to 'The Assistant' the deadliest, most determined and last one of Hartleys staff to be on Lydias trail. He repents in the last moment trying to free Lydia but he is no march for The Assistant. The Assistant gets off the now rapidly failing ferry taking Lydia with her, she has a rendezvous point to make with the Hartleys. Amidst the chaos Rob and Sergeant Douglas have an altercation ending with Rob hitting the Sergeant. Later just when Rob thinks the punch has been forgotten he is marched out in front of the Sergeant who promptly pushes Rob who is still hurting from old injuries overboard, Bobby refuses to be held back and jumps overboards to help his grandad. With the ferry floundering and at imminent danger from wreckers. The family group is initially fractured with them each having to fend fir themselves and get to shore as best they can.
Eventually they regroup and are on the trail of The Assistant and Lydia. They have to take on the biggest mission they have ever done. With Intel gathered from a Pastor and an ex Juno Hill, Hartley employee a smaller compact group sets off after Lydia leaving Sandra, Sam and Micah with new acquaintance Marty.

After The Storm really is action packed from the beginning on the ferry, to fighting nature in the form the storm on the ferry then later in the form of a large territorial Elk, to the final stand off which has the Hartleys in a panic room with Lydia deep within an armed compound.
As in all battles there are losses and we do lose a main character....and tes that characters final moments had me teary eyed!

Of course I loved all the main characters Rob, Sandra, Alejandro, Claire, Lydia, Bobby, Sophia, Sam and Micah.
I also immediately liked the Pastor and Marty.
I loved the growth of teenaged Bobby being taken care of by his grandad to the young man taking care of his grandad when needed. I enjoyed seeing his good friendship with Sophia turn to love. Sophia had been a scared young girl who grew in confidence with her new found family. A young girl who had been prevented from seeing some of the real harshness of the world but when it came down to it Sophia took him with her rifle and meant business if someone was messing with her new family. Whilst others may have fallen apart or shied away from what had to be done, Sophia just got on with it, played her part in the larger plan to rescue Lydia.
I quite like the Hartleys Dr too, she withheld a sensitive piece of information from the Hartleys in an effort to keep Lydia and her unborn baby safe.
It was really sad to say goodbye to some of the characters particularly a much loved character but the death kept the book realistic, in such a harsh world not everyone was going to survive.

My immediate thoughts upon finishing After The Storm wew that I was sorry the journey had ended, that the characters I had grown to love had come to an end if their story.

Summing up great ending to a series that was action packed the whole way through. I can't wait to see what coming next from this author.

 

REVIEW - MUDDY WATERS BY DV FISCHER

Title: Muddy Waters
Author: DV Fischer
Genre: Romance
Publisher: LoveNBooksPress
Release Date: 4th August 2026

BLURB
Willow Ashley doesn't do God. She does sin, and she's very, very good at it.

When her best friend finally drags her through the doors of a New Orleans church, Willow expects guilt. Boredom. Maybe lightning. What she doesn't expect is him — Pastor Rowan Elsher, all quiet authority and sculpted jaw, standing at the pulpit like an answer to prayers she's never bothered to say. One look and her mind goes somewhere that would make the saints weep.

Rowan has one rule: never pursue a woman from his congregation. It's the line he swore he'd never cross. But Willow — with her wicked mouth and a past that should send him running — doesn't feel like temptation. She feels like a test he was never meant to pass. He knows what she does to survive. He knows it's wrong to want her anyway.

He wants her anyway.

Some men fall from grace. Rowan is going to dive.

Goodreads Link 

REVIEW
The cover is almost sepia, it depicts some murky looking water with a beautiful white lily on its surface. The lily contains a Pastors Cross and chain (apologies in advance for not knowing the correct terminology for it). I love the byline of “Some prayers are better left unanswered” The cover would pique my interest enough to pick iit up in a store or click on it online to learn more.

There’s a new Pastor in town called Rowan Elscher and he is certainly an upgrade on the current one, old Pastor George. He is much younger and a lot better looking too! Pastor George is kind of throwing Pastor Rowan in at the deep end as he is going on a much-needed holiday. Pastor George acknowledges that Pastor Rowan is good looking, something of a temptation for the female members of the congregation to swoon over so before leaving his final words of warning to Pastor Rowan are that he much keep things with all members of the congregation on a business level, there must be no relationships with women in the congregation under any circumstances. Pastor Rowan readily agrees, though it’s a large church congregation to be told he cannot date, he isn’t looking for someone right now so he easily agrees to Pastor Georges requirements. Things go really well, sure there’s some good-looking women in the church congregation but they are off limits and Pastor Rowan is fine with that. Until in walks Willow Ashley, a beautiful curvy young woman, who is living a double life. All Pastor Rowan sees is a beautiful woman with curves in all the right places who is just his type, it’s a pity he has promised Pastor George he wont date anyone in the congregation. It turns out Willow Ashley has only just returned to the congregation too. Her best friend Whitney, is responsible for Willow being at church the day Pastor George introduces Pastor Rowan Elscher to the packed church. It seems a new Pastor has really filled those pews with curious people. Whitney has a quiet word with Pastor Rowan, insinuating her friend Willow more or less needs saving from herself and some huge secret mess she has gotten herself into. Pastor Rowan agrees to council an unsuspecting Willow. Willow cannot help but feel drawn to the new Pastor in town and agrees to weekly meetings. Pastor Rowan does try to get Willow to talk about her dark secret hinted at by Whitney but at first Willow is reluctant to reveal anything, not that she is ashamed of what she does, more from embarrasement.Willow becomes involved, helping out with various church activities meaning she and Rowan see even more of each other. It seems inevitable they will end up together but there are so many obstacles in their way, Pastor George being one thing but even larger than that is the fact that Willow Ashley is leading a double life, because at night she becomes Kitty, she becomes a prostitute who works on Bourbon Street, Willow sees it as a way to make money, to stay independent, to be able to rent her own place. Willow takes all the precautions she can and stays on the right side of her pimp Captain. Captain can turn violent quickly if angered and has regularly beaten up his girls if he perceived them to have stepped out of line.

As Willow sees more of Rowan a relationship develops and Willow ends up confessing what she does. Though Rowan is already aware of it due to being blackmailed by Pink, a drug reliant prostitute who also works for Captain. In fact he has already even followed Willow/Kitty one night.

When Willow finally goes to Captain saying she wants out he is furious, saying she cannot leave, she owes him and will have to buy herself out. Saying a figure of money that Willow doesn’t have.

Willow and Rowans relationship becomes more passionate and they decide that he will tell Pastor George as soon as he returns from his holiday. Willow also decides she is going to stop working the streets but Captain is furious and uses drug reliant prostitute Pink to find out where Willow lives. He hides out waiting for her to arrive home. He has already beaten Pinky who is laid on the floor. Willow rushes to her friend and is beaten up herself by Captain. Willow realises she can not afford to pay Captain to release her and that she will have to end her relationship with Rowan and continue to work on the streets.

Pastor George is annoyed with both Willow and Pastor Rowan for their, as he sees it ungodly relationship. He issues an ultimatum to Rowan it’s God & the Church, or life with Willow, a prostitute.

Both Rowan and Willow decide to make a sacrifice unbeknownst to the other and are at odds with each other. Willow decides to walk away saying she cannot come between Rowan and God! And Rowan is prepared to walk away from the Church as he loves Willow. He takes care of things with Captain. 

I adored Rowan and Willow together and was wanting them to happy ending. Their dynamic was great. I found the fact Rowan compared Willow to someone from his past poignant. Star was someone who he couldn’t save, he lost her but he is determined to keep hols of Willow even if that means disobeying Pastor George and leaving his calling with God. Rowan also isn’t afraid to go confront Captain, he is disgusted by him but he attempts to reason with him, then eventually just pays the debt to Captain from both Willow/Kitty and Shirley/Pink. He could have ignored Pink, left her on the street especially after the blackmailing incident, but he helps her get the help she needs to stay free of the drugs, Captain and prostitution.

I quite enjoyed being really very irritated by the rather old fashioned Pastor George, I guess you could see his point about Rowan not dating anyone from the congregation, but excluding Rowan from dating such a large group of people was a little ridiculous, and was set for failure.

I really liked Megan the secretary who I think was all for the Rowan & Willow romance. I can't help thinking she perhaps heard more than she let on. I think perhaps Megan had an inkling that there were “shenanagans” going on between the new Pastor and Willow, but she stays quiet and just supports both Rowan and Willow

I was furious with Pink firstly blackmailing Rowan over his relationship with Willow and then selling out Willow, giving up her home address & information about Rowan to Captain. Sadly, her addiction was controlling her, she had gotten to a point she would do anything for money to get drugs.

I loved the slow burn of how Kitty & Pink became friends looking out for each other when they were on Bourbon Street. Then slowly they revealed their true selves to each other and become Willow & Shirley to each other.

My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were, wow that could have ended so differently. 

Summing up I was glad we got a happy ending!

 

 

REVIEW - WRATH OF THE WHITE WOLF - THE DAMNED RETURN BY KARINA ESPINOSA

 

Title: Wrath Of The White Wolf
Series: The Damned Return
Author: Karina Espinosa
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Shifter, Paranormal, Romance
Release Date: 24th July 2026

BLURB
I escaped Queens with my freedom—but not my enemies.

They accused me of kidnappings and poisonings I didn’t commit. Turning an entire city against me. So I did the only thing I could—I ran. Back to Colombia. Back to the only place that’s ever felt like home.

But peace doesn’t last long. A new alpha from Medellín steps onto my territory, testing what’s left of my control. And before I can finish dealing with him—Queens reminds me exactly why I ran in the first place. Because they don’t let their enemies go. They finish them.

What comes for me isn’t a warning. It’s a message. And it costs more than I’m willing to lose.

So I stop running. I go back to New York with one goal: revenge.

But Queens isn’t just waiting for me. The God of Death is. The man I thought I could trust when everything fell apart. The one person who should have stood at my side—and didn’t. Now Elias is the only thing standing between me and the war I came to start… and I don’t know if I want to destroy him or make him understand exactly what his betrayal cost me.

And somehow, there’s someone willing to follow me straight into the chaos. No questions. No hesitation. Angel walks into the destruction with me like it’s the easiest choice he’s ever made.

Queens thought the bastard of the alpha had run. They’re about to learn the truth. I’m not running. I’m coming back. And this time? I’m bringing wrath.

Goodreads Link 

REVIEW
I really love the striking cover image of Frankie aka La Loba Blanca standing front and centre looking extremely, shall we say “peeved off” with someone. She is certainly looking like she means business! The cover goes well with the bk1 cover which also featured Frankie front and centre too with the Queens city skyline behind her and the magic swirling around her. It would certainly make me pick it up from a bookstore shelf or click on it online to learn more!

At the end of the last book, Frankie had been framed by Tian for the poisonings that were happening and locked away by the SIU, then rescued on the instruction of the Queen herself Mackenzie Grey/MacCoinnich. It was amazing to have her featured and I hope we get even more of her and some of the older characters from the Mackenzie Grey Universe as this series develops. Mackenzie has plans for Frankie, at the “right time” she wants her to return from laying low in Colombia to clear the Salazar name and retake the Queens pack.

However, before any of that can begin to come into play Frankie has things to deal with in Columbia. Since arriving in Columbia being back in the midst of her Cali pack has eased some of the trauma she went through back in Queens but she still has flashbacks and nightmares about it all. As always, she has her pack family around her, the steady fatherly hand of Mateo, the older brother in Santi, who I sometimes think may have deeply hidden romantic feelings towards Frankie too. Then there’s the cheeky clown brother in Rafa, then the studious compute whizz sister Caro and the worrier, healer of the group Isa. Frankie is slowly healing though she is ignoring the rather large elephant that is Queens for the moment. She simply cut off everyone in Queens although the only person who has persistently continued to reach out is Angel Roderiguez. Frankie is both disappointed and hurt that Elias aka the God Of Death just stood by refusing to even look at her when the SIU arrested her. Though she’s not totally surprised that he is standing by his Queens Pack Alpha father and the man that framed Tian Lang.

Just as Frankie seems to be relaxing, a new Alpha rolls into to town, right up to the pack home and challenges Mateo for the Cali territory & Alph position. Of course, Frankie is immediately furious at the fact this newcomer is wanting the Cali pack, challenging Mateo but she soon becomes equally irritated by the newcomer’s apparent obsession and weird, totally unwanted flirting with her. It is decided Frankie will fight Tomas Jaramillo aka Tavo the new Alpha of Medellin, a date, time and place is set.

When Frankie and the rest of the Cali group go to a bar for a drink to let off some steam before the training for the fight really begins, they do not expect to see Tavo but he strolls into the bar within pack territory like he owns it as if he is already Alpha in this area. He pulls up a seat to their table and talks and flirts with Frankie, who doesn’t rise to the bait but simply puts him back in his place with banter. Until the conversation takes a dangerous turn when Tavo asks if Santi is Frankies boyfriend, she neither confirms nor denies it but simply replies what if he is and Tavo replies seriously, he will kill him.

Frankie trains with Santi, when she gets flashbacks of how she was attacked and taken to the warehouse and then how she wans manhandled by the SIU, Santi patiently works through it with Frankie telling her to push through those feelings, turn them round and use them to fight.

The fight happens and Frankie deals with Tavo although things are still brewing there, it seems a fair fight was not enough for Tavo. The way he pushes Frankies boundaries at the end of it leave her feeling a range of mixed emotions. Tavo has been dealt with for now and Mateo thinks that’s worth celebrating with the whole pack. He hires a restaurant on a mountain so there will only be the Cali Pack there.

Frankie wanders off for a little quieter time and is soon followed by Mateo and Santi, the someone else arrives at the party with an agenda of his own, he wants Frankie. Mateo tells Frankie & Santi to run, which eventually happens, with Santi dragging her away. The “thing” because it’s not apparent what this fighting machine all dressed in black with a metal demon mask and swords is demands Frankie again but Mateo has none of it, refusing to give her up, saying he will give his own life up first. A fight ensues whilst a helpless Frankie and Santi watch from nearby. But it doesn’t end there because the fighting machine ends up attacking the pack too. The only reason it doesn’t get Frankie is Santi takes her out of the battle.

The pyres for the slaughtered wolves are still smouldering when in walks Angel Roderiguez with more bad news. Tian is pressuring the SIU to find Frankie. Frankie reveals what just happened and there is both shock and horror on Angel’s face as he recognises the description of the demon masked fighting machine – it is Kairon, basically a hitman for hire. An extremely dangerous being as no one knows what supernatural race he actually is. Coincidentally he had recently been seen in Queens, meaning he was probably getting instructions for a new job. Its not long before the dots are connected and Frankie, Angel, Santi & the Cali gang come to the conclusion that Tian Lang sent Kairon to tie the loose end up that is Frankie!!

Its then Frankie decides she has to go back to Queens to clear her name, clear the Salazar name and get Queens out of her system once and for all, but with all of Queens still looking for her and a murderous hitman on her trail things aren’t going to be easy. It also means leaving the Cali pack when she has just become Alpha. Santi vows to hold the fort with the help of Rafa with his inappropriate jokes, Caro and healer Isa. Once back in the vicinity of Queens Frankie needs to stay under the radar, which she does with the help of Angel who vows to fight to the end at her side, Brooklyn Pack Alpha Jackson and SIU Detective Cassidy Chan. Moving from safe house to safe house they manage to stay one step ahead, though Frankie does upset Angel by taking what he says are unnecessary risks like visiting the warehouse crime scene alone. Its whilst Frankie is at the warehouse that she finds important evidence missed by the SIU a piece of metal, it triggers a memory in Frankie of her clawing it off her captor’s mask. This new evidence could prove that Kairon is involved with Tian and the conspiracy of framing both herself and her father for something neither had anything to do with. Frankie ends up totally blowing her cover when Estefania contacts her desperate for help, Tian has called a public meeting to disgrace what is left of the Salazar family even further. There is also a letter for Frankie from her father that Carmen cruelly kept from her. Carmen has had a change of heart, due to a taste of her own medicine that she has been receiving from the rest of the pack since her fall from grace and no longer being an important pack member to be feared.

I think I have already covered a lot in my review and don’t want to give away the ending of the book, though I do have to say it makes you gasp and has you wanting to read the next book immediately!! I cannot wait for bk3!!

I continue to love the character of Frankie, despite being treat badly by her stepmother and siblings she still rushes to their aid when she is needed, putting herself in danger and also blowing her cover. I felt so, so sorry for her when she watched the Kairon vs Mateo fight and then again when she finally read the letter from her father. Frankie has a strong sense of family be that blood, pack or friend.

I still have mixed feeling about Elias, he blows hot and cold on Frankie, he’s there for her yet doesn’t seem to fully trust her. I guess he is conflicted because Tian is his father and Alpha too.

Another character I continue to love is Angel Roderiguez, the way he put himself in danger for Frankie. Its obvious he has serious feeling for her, I just hope he doesn’t end up getting hurt. He really is a real gentle man in more than once sense when thins start getting heated/passionate between them and Frankie says stop, he does so with no repercussions. I liked the way he told Frankie off for going off on her own to the warehouse, but I think things could have ended badly there is he had been with her when she came across Elias.

The way he literally went into battle with her when she went to the Queens Pack compound, there was no hesitation he was prepared to fight to the death is needed. I have to say that the Frankie & Angel dynamic reminds me a little of Mackenzie & Sebastian.

Speaking of old favourite characters, Bobby Wu is mentioned in this book, the fact he is missing, that perhaps Tavo may know a way to contact him. I’m hoping he is in the next book!!

So, in this book there are four possibilities as to who Frankie could fall in love with, Santi – she has known him since childhood, always been close, they have their own unspoken language and he would die for her, or is it only sibling/pack love?

Elias – who can remember her before she was sent to Columbia as a teenager, though Frankie doesn’t seem to remember him that much from that time. He does come through for her at times, but his loyalties also lie with Tian as his father and Alpha.

Angel – who breaks his parole, bribing his fae probation officer so he can go to Frankie in Colombia. He deeply cares for, dare I say loves her. He would also die for her in a second. He fights by her side and treats her well.

Tavo – new Alpha on the block! Flirty banter with Frankie. Wants to dominate Frankie. Didn’t ask or wait for permission for that stolen, demanding kiss. Theres also the dark shadow of how he bested the Alpha of Medellin, was it an honourable take over or did he in fact poison him.

So, who am I hoping Frankie ends up with? Angel or Santi to be honest. I don’t think she could or should ever fully trust Elias and I don’t know enough about Tavo, what I do know about him appearing to want to beat her in a fight seems like he wants to show dominance over her and I don’t think that in a relationship would work for Frankie.

My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were…Wow, when can I read book 3!! Though its definitely not a solely romance book at all, I noticed so many potential suitors for Frankie in this book!!

Summing up, I thoroughly enjoyed this one from beginning to end. Frankie gives me Kenzie vibes and I can’t help thinking two strong Lunas are possibly going to clash at some point! Frankie is already prepared to go against what Queen Mackenzie says in this book, so I can’t wait to see what she has to say in bk3. I’m also looking forward to seeing is Elias will go up against Kairon as he has the sword skills and cold calculating fight style to do so.