Book Reviews – Page 10 – Sassy Reviews

March 10, 2026March 10, 2026

Corrupted Souls

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Corrupted Souls 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Lynn-Steven Johanson ✍️
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Corrupted Souls by Lynn-Steven Johanson is a gripping police procedural that immediately pulls readers into the turbulent world of Chicago detective Joe Erickson. The story begins with Erickson struggling to return to duty after psychological trauma, which adds emotional depth to the character before the central mystery even unfolds. When the body of a young graduate student is discovered with disturbing signs pointing toward a possible hate crime, the investigation quickly becomes far more complex than it initially appears.

As Erickson and his partner Sam Renaldo investigate, they encounter a range of possibilities from extremist hate groups to personal grudges and corporate connections. The writing maintains a steady pace, balancing investigative procedure with moments of tension and human drama. The Chicago setting also feels vivid and authentic.

This book delivers exactly what fans of crime fiction look for: a thoughtful mystery, believable characters, and unexpected twists. Johanson skillfully explores themes of prejudice, deception, and moral conflict while keeping readers guessing until the truth begins to emerge.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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March 8, 2026

MAN ON ICE

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: MAN ON ICE 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Humphrey Hawksley ✍️
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The novel follows Rake Ozenna, an Alaska National Guard officer returning to his remote home island with his fiancée, trauma surgeon Carrie Walker. What begins as a desperate medical emergency involving a pregnant teenage girl quickly escalates into something far more alarming when Russian helicopters suddenly appear over American territory.

Hawksley paints the Diomede Islands as both breathtaking and unforgiving, where weather, geography, and isolation shape every aspect of life. The cultural background of the Eskimo community, Rake’s personal history, and Carrie’s determined medical ethics add emotional depth to the story. Their relationship feels authentic, and their contrasting backgrounds: Rake’s rugged upbringing and Carrie’s global medical career provide compelling character dynamics as the crisis unfolds.

As the narrative expands beyond the island to political leaders and diplomats in Washington, the stakes grow dramatically. Hawksley skillfully weaves together personal drama and global politics, suggesting how a small humanitarian event could trigger a much larger international confrontation.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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March 7, 2026

Havana Brown

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Havana Brown 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Lynn-Steven Johanson ✍️
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When a young woman is found murdered in her Chicago apartment under horrifying circumstances, homicide detective Joe Erickson and his partner Sam Renaldo are called in to unravel the mystery. The detailed opening and carefully constructed crime scene quickly establish the presence of a calculating killer with medical precision.

The dynamic between Erickson and Renaldo is amazing. Their contrasting personalities: Erickson’s intuitive instincts and Renaldo’s fact-driven approach create a balanced investigative team that keeps the story engaging. Johanson also does an excellent job portraying police procedure and the slow, methodical process of solving a homicide. The dialogue feels natural and often adds moments of humor and humanity, which help balance the darker aspects of the investigation.

The novel combines suspense, strong pacing, and vivid crime-scene detail to keep readers hooked as the detectives close in on a chilling adversary. This book delivers a satisfying and intense reading experience that keeps readers turning pages until the final revelation.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

March 6, 2026March 6, 2026

Parenting with Self-Compassion

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Parenting with Self-Compassion 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Dr. Jen Ferris ✍️
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Parenting with Self-Compassion by Dr. Jen Ferris is an insightful and thoughtful read for anyone navigating the journey of parenthood. In this book, the author gently guides readers toward practicing self-compassion and letting go of the pressure to be perfect parents.

Dr. Ferris shares helpful tips for parents, both before and after welcoming a new baby. One of the key ideas she emphasizes is giving children choices so they feel valued and respected. The book also includes practical communication strategies that can help parents build stronger and more understanding relationships with their children.

I especially appreciated the realistic examples throughout the book, which make the advice relatable and easy to apply in daily life. The author offers practical suggestions that encourage parents to approach parenting with more patience, kindness, and compassion.

If you are a new parent looking for ideas to make parenting a little easier and more meaningful, this book is definitely worth picking up. It is an engaging and thought-provoking read written in clear and simple language. I believe this is a book I will revisit again and again whenever I need quick guidance and reassurance in the parenting journey.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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March 4, 2026

Rose’s Thorn

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Rose’s Thorn 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Lynn-Steven Johanson ✍️
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Lynn-Steven Johanson’s Rose’s Thorn opens with an ordinary teenage girl driving home along a quiet Iowa road, an everyday scenario that quickly spirals into terror. From that moment forward, the tension rarely lets up. Johanson creates an atmosphere of dread that lingers long after each chapter ends.

Detective Joe Erickson is a well written protagonist whose emotional scars run deep. Still reeling from his capture of a sadistic serial killer in Chicago, Joe returns to his Iowa hometown only to be drawn into another horrifying case. His internal struggles add emotional weight to the investigation, making the story more than just a procedural. The psychological depth of Joe’s character elevates the novel, grounding the suspense in real human trauma.

What makes Rose’s Thorn especially effective is its unsettling realism. Fans of character-driven crime fiction will appreciate the balance of action, emotional complexity, and investigative detail. This is a strong entry into the Joe Erickson mystery series.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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March 4, 2026March 4, 2026

Crystal Gaze-Key West

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Crystal Gaze-Key West 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: L.L. Hill ✍️
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Few thrillers dare to suggest that absolute truth could destabilize institutions. In Crystal Gaze-Key West, the real danger is not whether the device works but that it does. Government officials quickly recognize that some cold cases are cold by design.

The pacing is sharp, moving fluidly between Key West nightlife, academic laboratories, and shadowy political conversations. This fragmentation creates a sense of inevitability as if multiple domino chains are falling simultaneously.

Toni’s internal conflict mirrors the external stakes. Sleep deprivation, grief, and isolation heighten the psychological tension. She is not simply defending a scientific tool; she is defending the principle that truth should not be negotiable.

Hill crafts a narrative that feels timely. Readers who appreciate conspiracy-tinged crime dramas will find this novel thrilling.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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March 4, 2026March 4, 2026

Awakening the Remnant II: The Thrones of Lies Are Falling

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Awakening the Remnant II: The Thrones of Lies Are Falling 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Melissa Bridgelal ✍️
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Awakening the Remnant II: The Thrones of Lies Are Falling is not a book meant for casual reading, it is a confrontation. From the opening pages, Melissa Bridgelal makes it clear that this work exists to expose deception, challenge comfort, and call readers back to uncompromising truth. The language is bold, prophetic, and unapologetic, addressing a world where falsehood no longer hides but openly claims authority.

The author does not merely point out errors; she explains how deception operates historically, culturally, politically, and spiritually. Each chapter builds discernment, urging readers to test beliefs against Scripture rather than tradition or emotion.

Readers are repeatedly reminded that every system, belief, and practice aligns either with truth or deception. Rather than condemning individuals, the book exposes systems inviting repentance, separation, and renewal.

This book serves as a wake-up call for believers who sense something is deeply wrong but struggle to articulate it.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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Buy is available on B&N

March 4, 2026

Ogallala

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Ogallala 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Eric Eichhorn ✍️
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The novel begins with Bennett’s return to Ann Arbor, driven by nostalgia and the faint hope of rekindling a past relationship. Instead of comfort, he finds himself pulled into an unplanned road trip that quickly becomes a study in the imbalance between youth and age, control and surrender, desire and obligation.

Bennett is a well written protagonist. Eichhorn’s prose carefully tracks Bennett’s thoughts as he rationalizes decisions, absorbs discomfort, and avoids conflict, revealing how inertia can shape a life as powerfully as ambition. The supporting characters particularly Zoe and Hector act as destabilizing forces, exposing Bennett’s vulnerabilities and forcing him into situations that strip away his sense of control.

The setting of Ogallala functions as more than a backdrop; it becomes a symbolic endpoint where emotional drift meets consequence. Readers who ask difficult questions about choice, responsibility, and self-awareness will have a great time reading this book. The book is well paced and kept me hooked until the last page.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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March 4, 2026

The Zookeeper’s Dragon

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: The Zookeeper’s Dragon 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Carolyn Mathews ✍️
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Set around a small zoo, the story begins with the mysterious arrival of a large egg and quickly draws the reader into the quiet, emotionally layered life of Phil Crawford, a zookeeper still carrying grief, responsibility, and loneliness. Mathews’ writing flows effortlessly, using subtle humour and rich sensory detail to make the setting feel alive, while keeping the reader intrigued by the unanswered question of what exactly is waiting to hatch.

As the narrative unfolds, the novel becomes as much about relationships as it is about dragons. The bond between Phil and his macaw, Sapphire, is touching, while the arrival of Pearl adds energy, curiosity, and a hint of romance. Mathews excels at portraying connections between humans and animals, suggesting that care, empathy, and presence are as powerful as any form of magic.

Ultimately, The Zookeeper’s Dragon is a comforting read that invites the reader to slow down and believe in quiet miracles. It is a story about healing, guardianship, and the courage it takes to protect something fragile in a world governed by rules and expectations. This novel will appeal to readers who enjoy magical realism with heart, and stories that linger long after the final page.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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March 3, 2026

M-A-R-C: Martian Armed Resistance Corps

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: M-A-R-C: Martian Armed Resistance Corps 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: D.R. Spires ✍️
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Set in the year 2213, the narrative unfolds across Earth, Mars, and deep space, introducing readers to a future shaped by corporate empires, interplanetary politics, and revolutionary scientific breakthroughs. The presence of Hyperion adds a fascinating emotional counterpoint to the human ambition driving the plot.

Spires excels in constructing a believable scientific framework for time travel. Rather than relying on fantasy tropes, the novel builds its premise through discussions of geometry, quantum theory, relativity, and multidimensional mathematics. The mysterious silver cube, an experimental time device, serves as both a narrative catalyst and a symbol of humanity’s fragile grasp on forces it barely understands.

Beyond the science, the novel gains strength from its political dimension. Senator Tash’s internal struggle between safeguarding history and reshaping it adds emotional weight to the high-concept ideas. Ambitious, and intellectually dense, M-A-R-C is a strong beginning to a trilogy that is well paced and will hook readers until the last page.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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