How often do you judge a book by its cover? Is it the first thing you’re drawn to, or is the title? I’m definitely a Judge-a-Book-by-its-Cover girl!

Here’s why I started Judge a Book by its Cover!

I’ve got a mixture of genres today. A bit of love and magic, harsh realities and heartbreak, and a memoir of violence and corruption!

Number 1

A Spark of Magic by Tari Riley. This looks like fun. The title jumps out, so you can’t help but judge the title and the cover at the same time.

It’s colourful but very simple. I’m guessing YA romance that involves a witch or a wizard, or both.

Here’s the blurb

Life can change in an instant.

Isaac had it place on the swimming team, popularity amongst his peers, and acceptance to a prestigious university. Until he didn’t. Now, he grows a tail whenever water is involved. He is running out of time and ideas.

Danger looms around every corner.

Alice has only wanted one to get her magic back. After having her life turned upside down, reconnecting with her powers is the only way to prove her worth as a witch, and hopefully leave her small town for good.

Help is worth risking everything.

Isaac knows Alice might be his only chance at getting his life back, but her help doesn’t come without sacrifices. Differences must be put aside to find a solution, even when everything feels like it is trying to drive them apart. Luckily they seem to agree on one this should be their secret.

Secrets are hard to keep. The answers are even harder to find. 

Trust can be earned, but at what cost?

Here’s what one reader has to say.

4 out of 5 stars

A cute and cozy YA fantasy with an intriguing magic-system and likable characters.

This book gave me strong Sabrina the Teenage Witch (the 90s tv show) vibes and I loved the inclusion of merfolk lore, which I feel like I don’t see enough of when it comes to the fantasy genre. Alice and Isaac were cute together; I liked their banter (though some of the dialogue felt a little too formal, considering their age). However, Xavier quickly became my favorite.

All in all, a fun read! It ends on a pretty big cliffhanger and I’m looking forward to what happens next.

Top marks for A Spark of Magic. We know what to expect before we look inside the cover. Well done Tari.

Number 2

I would expect a book with a cover like this to stir up my emotions. At a guess, this might be a story about an adult with issues stemming back to his or her childhood – a childhood that may not have been a particularly happy one.

The blurb.

In an evocative debut, A.D. Long sheds light on the devastating consequences of ostracizing those who yearn for love and connection the most.

Evann has no excuse to be living among the city’s destitute. Raised in a middle-class family, he’s never wanted for anything—except his mother’s love. Desperate to escape her rejection, criticism, and the self-deprecating voices in his head, he finds solace in the medicine cabinet, uniting with a lover who rights his wrongs but knows nothing of give and has an insatiable appetite for take.

With nowhere else to turn, Evann sinks deeper into his addiction, numbing his pain with substances that only serve to destroy him—leaving his family to grapple with their own secrets, their antiquated views on addiction, and the devastating effects of picking sides.

Set against the backdrop of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, amid a deadly drug crisis, Less Than underlines the importance of unconditional love and the tragic consequences for those who lack it.

Reviews;

Randi. 5.0 out of 5 stars  Highly Recommend!

This book is phenomenal! A.D. Long’s talented writing style will take you into the harsh realities of addiction, from a user’s perspective. This book is truly eye opening and, though heartbreaking, a must read!

Brittnee 5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book. Really puts things into perspective.

The heart-touching debut novel offers a truthful insight into the dark corners of addiction. Shedding light on the human behind the growing opioid crisis. I highly recommend this book for anyone who needs an honest check of their view of addiction. Take your time to get through this one, as it can be heavy at times. Can’t wait to read more from A. D. Long.

Corrine 5.0 out of 5 stars A raw but captivating look at addiction and those it touches.

I loved this book. Truthfully I had to read it in small bits because it was very emotional for me. I have worked in Emergency nursing and seen people tangled in the web of addiction. As well I know people who have lost loved ones to addiction. The details Allyssa used painted an ugly but true picture of this horrible disease. A must read.

Judging by these reviews, Less Than is indeed an emotional read and is highly recommended by these readers.

Number 3

I won’t lie; the gold Grand Prize Winner sticker stood out for me so I took a closer look. The cover is mainly black and there’s bullets, so I would expect a dark thriller, maybe psychological. The title and subtitle speaks of corruption within the police force, but I’m not sure.

After reading the blurb, I realised that this is actually a memoir and a very interesting one at that. It’s not every memoir that piques my interest but this one does.

Here’s the blurb.

From shootouts and robberies to riding in cars with pimps and prostitutes, Frederick Reynolds’ early manhood experiences in Detroit, Michigan in the 1960s foretold a future on the wrong side of the prison bars. Frederick grew up a creative and sensitive child but found himself lured down the same path as many Black youth in that era. No one would have guessed he would have a future as a cop in one of the most dangerous cities in America in the 1980s—Compton, California. From recruit to detective, Frederick experienced a successful career marked by commendations and awards. The traumatic and highly demanding nature of the work, however, took its toll on both his family and personal life—something Frederick was able to conquer but only after years of distress and regret.

“Black, White & Gray All Over not only recounts the stories of Frederick’s life and career but also the stories of his fellow officers. An honest, no-holds-barred history of the city of Compton’s gang violence, crack epidemic, and legacy of government corruption leaves readers of all backgrounds with a better understanding of race relations as well as the gray areas of policework in one of America’s most brutal cities.” -Zora Knauf

“If Fred Reynolds’s memoir Black, White and Gray All Over was just about being a cop in Compton, California, dealing with gangs, murders, officers killed in the line of duty, and the politics that drives it all, it would be worth the read. This book goes deeper, into what it means to be a man, more particularly a Black man, and to overcome every obstacle along the way to redemption. Don’t miss this one!” -#1 Bestselling Author J.J. Hebert

So, that’s what grabbed my attention this week. Do you have a favourite?

Thanks for reading, but before you leave…

Would you like a peek inside the pages of my fictional novel? It might just be your cup of tea!

Set in a gossipy small town in Ireland at a time when marriage is for keeps and sexuality is repressed, Secrets in the Babby House is a family saga over three decades that starts in 1956. It is a story of love, deception, and stolen diaries filled with sins and secrets.

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