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My review of Forever!

Blurb via Goodreads

Book two in the Guardian series.
Hannah’s life has never been easy, despite her strong willed determination and her extra “gifts”, it's still always been hard work keeping an entire world full of the supernatural under control, but having achieved a small semblance of control over most of the custas, Hannah was hoping to be able to slip back into her life of normalcy. Wishful thinking when you're the guardian of all supernatural.
With all the issues she’d had to endure in her past, she'd never had to worry about the mermaids before, so why would they choose now to suddenly start haunting her dreams and her life. Then there are the fairies to contend with as well, just when she manages to get one aspect of the crudelitas under control, the others decide it’s time to start causing problems.
All Hannah wants is some quiet family time and a chance to reflect on her feelings for Gabriel but instead she's thrown back into the thick of the supernatural world, and this time it threatens to invade the quiet family life she has worked so hard to establish. There's no running away this time, she has to front the challenges head on, but forever can be a long time if you can't be with the one you love.

My review

So beside the point that I at 99% through the book on my Kindle realized that Gillian named me in the book, she said I am the best admin a girl can ever have!  Well despite that, I was once again enchanted by the book.

It is rare for me to find a sequel in trilogy which is even remotely as good as the original book.  For the second time this year I found a sequel not only as good but even better than the first book in the trilogy.  This makes me very excited to read the third book in the trilogy.  Oh and good news, It may not be a trilogy any longer, it might turn out in a series.  Goodness knows Hannah has enough to keep us busy for the next three hundred years.

The story begins fast and the pace keeps up throughout the book until it ends in a smashing finalè.  Hannah's desperate attempts to keep her children safe is crumbling around her and in an attempt to keep them safe she is pulled into situations she normally would not have engaged in.  This lands her into deep trouble and with possibly two more lethal enemies. 

Hannah's character is so human and unique that I go, oh my gosh, is that what it sounds like when I pout?  Gabriel, Sam, Bernard et al returns to play even more prevalent and pivotal roles in this book.  Gabriel is still perfectly perfect but this book will have you sympathize with him more than ever before.  Bernard seems to have a new love interest although he would never admit it and Sam is obsessed with Hannah's children.  A new character is introduced.  Hannah's biological rebirth mother.  (No I do not have that part wrong.  When you are Hannah, having two biological mothers is only of one those things.  Hannah's mother serves to ground the story and brings a warm texture to the story the way cream does to cappuccino.  I really learned to love her in this book and can't remember when last I was this invested in a fictional characters return to health.

It is very hard to tell you guys anything more about the actual story line without giving away plot twists.  The story is fast, intricate and rich.   

I do however feel I need to share two very important issues with you.  Firstly, both the second and the first books end with little if any loose ends.  I love this aspect since it means until I read the next book I do not walk around with unanswered questions in my head.  I find this a very big plus in this and any other book.

Secondly, although the characters from the first book all (if they lived through the first that is) return to the second book, if you as reader should choose to read the second and not the first you will not be left wondering what or who they are, they are introduced naturally and logically back into the story one by one.  Aah scrap previous comment I have three and not two things I need to say.  The third thing, if you read the second book back to back to the first you will find that very little of the first book is repeated.  The little information that is repeated is essential and serves to refresh the readers' memory more than anything else.

So that is what I needed to tell you about the book.  Now I can tell you what I want…… THIS IS A MUST READ.

I really enjoyed the book and found myself rooting for the weirdest characters in the book.  Once a book has me rooting for some and wishing others would disappear like an aspiring in water, I know I have a great book.  So go, read it, I guarantee that if you like paranormal with a hint of intrigue and dash of action and a fair share of romance, then this is the book for you…..

I give this book a 7 ******* review rating, I will recommend it to my best friend to read, I walked through the house reading it and in between chores I made a point of reading one more page.  Until close to the end that is, at which point I started to delay the inevitable, I did not want the book to end.

Here is her FB page link.  http://www.facebook.com/Guardiannovel

Her Amazon book link. http://www.amazon.com/Forever-Guardian-ebook/dp/B007KNKV3Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332746834&sr=8-1  Go buy it now.  It is a so worth it.

Gillian, your the best..... !

Book Review of Pegasus and The Flame by Kate O'Hearn

Mythology and reality collide on the streets of New York city.

When Pegasus crashes on to her roof, 13-year-old Emily's life becomes that of legend: epic battles, desperate chases, capt...ivating flights astride the beautiful winged-stallion, and one heroic quest to save Olympus before it's Flame is extinguished... forever.

Review 5 out of 5

When a severely injured Pegasus crashes on to her roof during a storm, 13-year-old Emily Jacobs cannot believe her eyes. Pegasus has been sent on a quest to find Vesta's Flame. Can Emily help Pegasus with his quest in time to save Olympus from destruction?

This is a fantastic book! From the first page, I was swept into the action.
Olympus has been invaded by a virtually indestructible foe. Pegasus has been given a mission to find Vesta's Flame, but things go awry when Paelen accidentally causes Pegasus to get struck by lightning. Emily finds Pegasus on her roof, tangled in rose bushes. Trying to heal a sick Pegasus (he doesn't like being called a horse!), Emily enlists the help of Joel DeSilva. What happens next is a wild ride full of danger and adventure.

I have always been fascinated by the myths and legends of both the Greek and Roman Gods. This book uses the Roman names for the gods of Olympus. Kate O'Hearn has mixed two of my favourite things: a mythological winged horse (sorry, Pegasus!) and a fantastic story. It is fast paced, but easy enough for a younger reader (11+) to read. I highly recommend this book to boys, girls, or anyone who has a passion for anything to do with horses or mythology. I am now looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Pegasus and the Fight for Olympus. - Lynn Worton

Blurb via Goodreads

Eighteen-year-old Jenny Morton has a horrific secret: her touch spreads a deadly supernatural plague, the "Jenny pox." She lives by a single rule: Never touch anyone. A lifetime of avoiding any physical contact with others has made her isolated and painfully lonely in her small rural town.

Then she meets the one boy she can touch. Jenny feels herself falling for Seth...but if she's going to be with him, Jenny must learn to use the deadly pox inside her to confront his ruthless and manipulative girlfriend Ashleigh, who secretly wields the most dangerous power of all.

* * *

Not recommended for readers under eighteen.

BONUS: Includes an excerpt of Glimpse by Stacey Wallace Benefiel.

The complete Paranormals trilogy--Jenny Pox, Tommy Nightmare, and Alexander Death--is now available

About this author via Goodreads

J.L. Bryan studied English literature at the University of Georgia and at Oxford, with a focus on English Renaissance and Romantic literature. He also studied screenwriting at UCLA. He lives in Atlanta with his wife Christina, dogs Violet and Tiger Lily, and cats Shadow and Sue.

My review.

I fell in love with the story of Jenny almost from the first page.  I loved the sick, dark twisted reality to explicitly told but not explained.  It has been a long time since I was so chilled by the true extent of human depravity and pure evil as portrayed through Ashleigh.  I love to hate that girl.  She is bad to the bone and although lovely to look at, popular etc she is evil incarnate.

I loved the fact that Ashleigh uses sex as her main power.  I often wonder if women simply not acknowledge that they use sex in such a manner as to prove to themselves that they are not a such and such or if they simply not know that they are.  In this book, Ashleigh's use of sex is extremely prevalent and extreme although not all the sex scenes are explicit.  It is those perpetrated by Ashleigh that is both explicit and deeply disturbing, warranting the 18 rating.  The rest is not as explicit and at times not even explored. 

Jenny is a very rare character.  She is supposed to be evil incarnate but from her earliest introduction into the story the reader will find that she is not only loveable but remarkable.  You learn to respect her for the choices she makes, a rare trait in any YA novel, especially in a paranormal novel. 

Oh, the paranormal part, well …. You see, Ashleigh, Jenny and Seth all have three very different powers.  But the evil lies not in their powers, but in how they choose to use and corrupt it.  So although their powers plains a large role in the story it is actually the corruption of their powers that forms the base line for this brilliant story. 

Seth, well Seth should be the guy, I for one, would have hated.  I believe you work for what you want in life, not receive it on a silver platter, guess what, Seth does.  To my bliss and astonishment Seth is a persons, person.  He might be rich but he will love unconditionally, stand for his beliefs even if he stands alone!  I loved Seth's character and I am sure I would have loved to have met a boy like him way back when.

Without giving away plot twists or spoilers I can't say much more apart from the fact that I would recommend it to all my friends 18 years and up as a brilliant must read book.  Since it is free, even better.  But guess what, I so plan to buy the second book in this series as soon as I get some money.  So come April 1st I will be torturing you all with daily updates of my new brilliant read by J.L Bryan.  And that friends, is basically the best recommendation of all.  Go get this book.  Do yourself a favour.

I give this book a 9 *** *** *** rating.  I would have given it a ten but I am sure the second book in the series might be even better.

Book Review of Spellbound by Samantha Combs

Logan Daniels has always led a sheltered life in sleepy, predictable Lancaster, New Hampshire. But when beautiful Serena suddenly appears at school one day, his comfortable existence becomes anyt...hing but as he finds himself falling in love with her. There’s something special about Serena Starr. He realizes what it is when he sees her unleash her spells. Soon, a mysterious and foreboding presence settles over his placid home.

Logan and Serena find themselves battling darkness and evil with an ominous mission: it wants Serena and will stop at nothing to have her. Tearing apart Logan’s town, threatening his friends, even causing harm to his family, the demon will spread its doom over every facet of Logan’s once placid life. Logan matures in ways he could never have imagined as he struggles to protect those he loves, including Serena. But he can't do it alone.

Serena hails from a long line of able and powerful women who will aide in the battle and perhaps settle a score of their own. The strength of the coven and Serena's love will be behind him, but ultimately this is Logan’s fight to win. But, will he?

Review 5 out of 5

Logan Daniels's quiet existence in Lancaster, New Hampshire is disturbed by the arrival of Serena Starr and her sisters. Logan finds himself falling in love with her. There is something special about Serena; she is a witch. When a mysterious and foreboding presence settles over his home, Logan and Serena find themselves fighting against an enemy with an ominous mission: it wants Serena and will stop at nothing to get her. Can Logan and Serena, along with her coven, stop the demon before it destroys the town, their friends and Logan's family?

I loved this story! It is a love story, but it is told from different points of view; each chapter is dedicated to a different person. Some people would disagree with me, but I think this gives the reader a fuller understanding of the feelings and emotions of the characters. Logan is a charmer! He is the boy next door. I love his thoughts - they made me giggle on occasion! His sister Jade is also a fantastic character. When he meets Serena however, Logan knows there is something different about her, but he doesn't know what it is. Serena is a witch, along with her sisters. She is a fascinating character. Although she is only a teenager, she is very mature. Logan has to do some serious growing up in this book, but he does so with aplomb! There is a surprising twist at the end of the book that I didn't see coming, but it made me cheer!
Samantha Combs has written a fantastic YA book that will appeal to everyone who loves romance/action adventure. I highly recommend this book. - Lynn Worton

You can find her author page here : http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002376799728

The Vampires Hunters Daughter: Park 1 by Jennifer Malone Wright.

My review:

This was a free download, and like with most of the books I download for free I make my decision based on the title and the cover.  Whoopee for me. 

Excerpt

First off, I love that Cloe, the heroin of the story loves to read and I have to share this sentence with your guys from the book "These books are ancient.  They aren't your basic encyclopedia or articles written by a blogger."  Since the preservation of libraries with printed books is a cause I feel strongly about, I loved this sentence and had to share it with you guys.

This is an amazing story but. . . . hey, come on, you knew there would be a BUT. . . but, the story was only getting good when It ended, it is way too short and too boot it is the only book by this author that I own. 

So two very large BUT's in this.  Since that is the extent of my criticism it should be obvious that this is a must read.  I loved the story, I loved the Buffy meets Angle type of background that I found so terribly lacking in the Buffy series. 

This however is NOT a Buffy the Vampire Slayer rehash or spin off.  This book has a very distinct, unique feel to it.  I sincerely hope the author, Jennifer Malone Wright has some more of these extraordinary tales up her sleeve and that they are readily available. 

I know The Birth of Jaiden is available and believe you me.  I am a hunting.  I give this short book a 7 ******* review.  I can't wait to get my hands on some more books by this author.

About the Author

Jennifer Malone Wright resides in the beautiful mountains of northern Idaho with her husband and five children. Between the craziness of taking care of her children—whose ages range from fourteen all the way down to six months— and being a homemaker, Jennifer has little time left for herself. The time she does have left, usually leading far into the night, is spent working on freelance work or her beloved fiction.

While she grew up, Jennifer always had her nose in a book. She has been writing stories and poems since grade school. This love of the written word and her strong interest in the paranormal is what led her to write her first novel THE BIRTH OF JAIDEN.

In addition to being a mother and homemaker, Jennifer is also a very proud military wife. Moving around the country for the last ten years has made her a bit of a nomad, and she finds it difficult to be in one place for too long.

Jennifer is also the author of THE BIRTH OF JAIDEN, a paranormal novel filled with action, suspense and even a love story.

Find out more at http://www.jenniferwrightauthor.com.

http://www.facebook.com/JenniferMaloneWright  on FB

Book Review of Between by Mary Ting

As the alkins head back to Crossroads, Claudia leads her normal life; but not for long. Having a special soul, Claudia attracts danger, and she soon finds out who Gamma asked to watch over her. The Twelv...e, known as Divine Elders on Earth, are very much involved when they find out that Aliah, one of the God’s first angels, escaped from the Abyss when the gates were opened by Aden. Needing Claudia’s soul to escape the only place Aliah can reside–a place between Heaven and Earth–he sends his demons in search of all Claudia Emersons on Earth. Taking her soul will enable him to be released from Between and cross over to Crossroads, which would give him immense power. As more secrets are revealed Claudia learns about the venators—nephilim, demon hunters. Now two opposing forces must work together in order to save Claudia and humanity from the most dangerous angel ever created. But along the way, trust becomes a big issue. Will love be enough to keep Claudia and Michael together? Who will make the ultimate sacrifice? Who will betray them all?

Review 5 out of 5

The alkins have gone back to Crossroads and Claudia has gone back to her normal life. However, having a special soul, Claudia attracts danger and she finds out who Gamma had asked to watch over her. The Twelve, also known as Divine Elders on Earth, become involved when they find out that Aliah, one of God's first angels, had escaped from the Abyss when Aden opened the gates. He needs Claudia's soul to escape from Between to get to Crossroads, which would give him immense power. Claudia learns of the venators - nephilim demon hunters. Now the two opposing forces must work together to save Claudia and humanity from the most dangerous angel ever created. Trust becomes a big issue. Will love be enough to keep Claudia and Michael together? Who will make the ultimate sacrifice and who will betray them all?

This is the second book of the Crossroads saga. I loved this story! These characters have become my friends.
Claudia is trying to live a normal life again after the end of the first book. It's easier said than done! Michael and the rest of the alkins find out that Gamma had requested the help of The Twelve and the nephilim before she died. These two groups have to work together to keep Claudia safe. The nephilim are warriors and have been trained to fight. They are great characters and I enjoyed the inclusion of them in the story. Austin is a fascinating character. I'm sure I could fall for him as I fell for Michael! I enjoyed the interactions between the two groups as they tried to work together. Davin's wit and sense of humour is fantastic! I absolutely love him! I think he keeps Michael from taking himself too seriously. The respect and brotherly love they feel for each other shines through, even through the most trying times.
There are some touching moments in this book, and I needed a few tissues! I think if you get into a story and it effects you emotionally, then it's well written. Mary Ting is one such author who has managed to tug on my emotions, whether they be happy, sad, angry or surprised. I recommend that you read this saga, as it is a fantastically written love story, with action and danger thrown in for good measure. I'm now looking forward to reading the next book in the saga. - Lynn Worton

Tanya Contois and Avella Write short stories reviewed

Sorry I cant upload a pic of the cover.

Review of short story Bloody Coincidence by Avella Write

This is a rather good short story.  The ending was a nice twist on what seemed like a rather predictable story and I actually enjoyed it.  I can't find the book on Goodreads or any such author on FB so I presume I downloaded this as a free down load on Smashwords.  I give it a 4 start rating.  Not shabby for a short!

Wicked little Lies book 1 by Tanya Contois.

I received this book as a Christmas present from the author.  I simply never had time to read it before now.  I am glad I did.  It is a good start to a good series.  I found a few jumps in logic, which mostly was explained in the second book.  Though not all of these were addressed.  I am looking forward to reading the third book in this series to see where the story is heading.

Wicked little Lies book 2 by Tanya Contois.

As with the first book I received this copy as a Christmas present from the author.  I really like these short stories and am looking forward to the third in the series.  Again, certain jumps in logic is present though.  I suspect however that these are due to the fact that in a short only so many space is available so the reader is expected to fill in some of the blanks.  What I did notice though and really appreciated is that some of the jumps in logic present in the first book was explained in this book.  I am really intrigued as to what Jocelyn's life will bring in the third book.  She truly does not have a boring life.

Blindsight by Kait Nolan

My review:

I am not the world's largest fan of short stories; I find them particularly hard to review since very little growth character wise is ever brought into play.  This is not true for this book.  More even than character development I find I love the world the author has created and fluffed out sufficiently for the readers sake to seem foreign enough and familiar still.  What I liked most about the book is the fact that the author said enough to make me wish it was not a short story but rather the beginning of a full novel.  I am sure to be looking for the next two books in this series since I really enjoyed reading this short story.  I am sure most of you will agree once you read the story.

Via Goodreads

 Isla's ability as a Seer has made her a life-long captive of a paranormal crime lord. Fae assassin, Ransom, offers her a chance at escape, but when she touches his hand she sees only blood, horror, apocalypse. What reason can Ransom have for wanting to rescue her, and can she possibly trust a man who deals in death?

About the author thanks to Goodreads

I’m a southern gal, Mississippi born and raised. My nose stuck in a book is where I spent most of my days. Chillin’ out maxin’, relaxin’ all cool… oh wait, I’m starting to rhyme with the Fresh Prince theme song. Sorry…

Seriously though, I love books. I was a voracious reader, starting way back with Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys. I moved from mystery to paranormal to romance to romantic suspense. My writing tastes have changed over the years until I’ve now dabbled in a little bit of everything. These days the focus is on paranormal romance. Whether kicking ass or spouting sass, the heroines I write typify the strengths of women–both overt and discovered. I love me some alpha heroes, but I always seem to gravitate toward telling the women’s story.

I’m shooting to be traditionally published someday. In the meantime, I’m juggling a full time job in university level research, and two part time teaching positions that take advantage of my Master’s degree in clinical psychology. While I’m waiting for my ship to come in and for some agent or editor to decide I’m more awesome than Stephanie Meyer, I’m working on building an audience for myself one blog post, one tweet, one read at a time.

So, thanks for stopping by and listening. And in case that cupcake made you hungry, you can also find me over at my cooking blog, Pots and Plots where I regularly share my favorite recipes.

A note by the author courtesy of the prologue in the book:

A Note from the Author

Kait Nolan is stuck in an office all day, sometimes juggling all three of her jobs at once with the skill of a trained bear—sometimes with a similar temperament. After hours, she uses her powers for good, creating escapist fiction. The work of this Mississippi native is packed with action, romance, and the kinds of imaginative paranormal creatures you’d want to sweep you off your feet…or eat your boss.

If you’re interested in more of the Mirus, please be sure to check out the first two novellas in the series: Forsaken by Shadow and Devil's Eye. You can find more information on Kait’s books and where they can be purchased on her website http://kaitnolan.com or follow her into the kitchen on her cooking blog Pots and Plots http://potsandplots.wordpress.com. If you want to see more of Isla and Ransom, please keep your eyes peeled for Revelation the next full length Mirus novel. Sign up for Kait’s newsletter for notification when it is available.

Some of the other covers of books by Kait Nolan.  I love these covers.

Book Review of Breathless by Scott Prussing

Breathless is the first book in the Blue Fire Saga, a paranormal romance series set at a small college in present day Connecticut. There are currently three books in the series.
Weston College freshman Leesa Nyland has been fascinated by vampires since she was three years old. That's when her mom started acting weird, insisting sunlight hurt her skin because she'd been bitten by a one-fanged vampire.
But fascinated doesn't mean L...eesa believes. Any more than she believes in blue fire, people who live for centuries, and kisses that can kill. But when her beloved older brother suddenly disappears, she is forced to consider all these and more. She also has to figure out what to do about her mysterious new boyfriend. She knows Rave likes her a lot--so why won't he kiss her?
As Leesa draws closer to finding her brother, she faces some gut-wrenching decisions. Should she risk her mom's life trying to "cure" her? Should she continue seeing Rave, after he reveals his dangerous secret? And most terrifying of all, should she make the ultimate sacrifice-give up her humanity-to save her brother?

Review 5 out of 5

College freshman Leesa Nyland has been fascinated by vampires since she was a small child. That's when her mother began acting strangely, saying that the sunlight hurt her skin because she had been bitten by a one-fanged vampire.
This doesn't mean Leesa believes in them. Nor does she believe in blue fire, people living for centuries, or kisses that can kill. But when her brother disappears, she's forced to consider these and more. She knows her new boyfriend, Rave, likes her a lot, but why won't he kiss her?
As she draws closer to finding her brother, can Leesa cure her mother? Should she continue seeing Rave, when he exposes his dangerous secret? And should she make the ultimate sacrifice to save her brother?

This is a great paranormal romance story, but it is also full of intrigue and danger. Leesa is a college freshman, who's mother has always insisted that she had been bitten by a one-fanged vampire. Leesa has a healthy scepticism with regards to the existence of vampires, but soon comes to realise there's more truth to her mothers stories than she ever imagined. Leesa is a fantastic character. She is a shy teenager, who has overcome a lot of obstacles with the help of her brother, Bradley. When he goes missing, she takes it upon herself to try to find him. She meets Rave, who is a vampire hunter. Rave is a fascinating and dangerous character. He's tall, dark and handsome. But I certainly wouldn't want to be a vampire when he's around! Then there's Stephan! He's one sexy vampire! Enough said!
This story is in essence a romance novel, but there are elements of intrigue and danger that kept me turning the pages. I loved the inclusion of one-fanged vampires, as most vampire stories make them out to be perfect, with no flaws. Scott has created a world that is more realistic because of it's flawed characters. I would highly recommend you read this book if you love a great story full of romance and/or vampires. I am now looking forward to reading the remaining books in the Blue Fire Saga. - Lynn Worton

Peer Inside my Soul and See Me buy De Ann Townes Jnr

Peer inside my soul and see me

By De Ann "Native" Townes Jr

When the author first approached me to read and review her poetry book I was very hesitant.  Poetry, you see, is not my forte.  So I tried to convince her that I am not the person she should entrust this book to.  She however told me that if I am alive, I am more than qualified to read her book and to review it.  The act of living is after all the only thing, according to the author that I needed to fell an informed decision on her work. 

I was petrified.  My knowledge of poetry is minimal to put it lightly.  My love is with fiction not poetry.  So at first I kept on putting off the reading of her book.  I felt overwhelmed.  Then when I finally started it I was overcame but the sheer beauty and hope captured in so very little words.

It turned out the author was correct.  If you are alive, lived through what normal mortals live through you are able to read and enjoy this book.  With poems with titles such as Like Bonnie and Clyde, Misunderstood and Haunted Dreams and Midnight Screams, I was soon drawn into the life of the author.  As her title suggests this is truly a deep soul bearing compilation of poetry.  But it is not only her soul she bears bare.  It is a universal expression of life, love and loss.

I was delighted with the art in the book and found myself paging back again and again to peer at it.  I've read the book three times now.  Not so that I could have something to say, but because after every read I find the book has even more to share with me.  I would highly recommend this book to anybody who loves words.  The author's ability to use normal, everyday language to create the most amazing of images and emotions is a true form of art.

I give this book a 5 ***** review rating and would like to thank the author for not taking my first no as my final word on the matter. 

Book Review of Forever (Guardian #2) by Gillian Joy

Book Review 6 out of 5

Hannah is the Venatorcustos, Guardian of all supernatural beings. She has been reborn and is living in Australia with her family. Being Guardian of the supernatu...ral is hard enough, but trying to raise her family in peace is harder still. The Mermaids and Fairies are requesting her help. Can Hannah help them, and sort out her personal problems before she loses the one man she loves forever?

This is the second book in the Guardian series by Gillian Joy.
Hannah has been reborn and is living in Australia with her small family. She is still a strong character, who loves Gabriel, but because she is the Guardian and he is a vampire, can they ever be together?. Now a mother herself, she is terrified of exposing her children to the supernatural world too soon.
I love how Gillian has brought a new dimension to the story with the addition of the Mermaids and Fairies. These are great characters. However, I love Foster's character; he reminds me of a naughty boy getting caught with his hands in the cookie jar! His sister seems to be more grounded, which comes in handy as she's to be the next Fairy Queen. The Fairy Queen is quite scary! I wouldn't want to cross her! Gillian uses her imagination to great effect in this book, and I particularly enjoyed her description of the cave. It was beautifully written.
This is a fantastic story and I highly recommend you read this book, as it has a lot going for it; There's action, adventure, mystery and above all, it's a fantastic love story. I'm now looking forward to reading anything written by this author. - Lynn Worton

Midnight Hunter by Bonnie Bernard

Blurb via Goodreads

Donna McCormick is a smart, pretty college student whose twenty-first birthday is a week away. Unfortunately, so is her murder - unless the mysterious man from the darkness can reach her first.

Donna is pursued in her dreams by a man who claims to be her Eternal Partner. During her waking hours, she’s cornered by another who claims to be the same. There’s only one problem: neither is entirely honest.

Or, for that matter, entirely human.

Eight years earlier, Donna’s life was dealt a terrible blow with the untimely death of a little brother who was left in her care. Ever since, Donna has yearned to get a normal life back – and despite her best friend Mo’s efforts to the contrary, Donna has almost managed it…at least until the Underworld cracks wide open, scattering chaos and spilling out every shifty force under the moon. Most of them want Donna dead, but some will stop at nothing to keep her alive.

Too bad she doesn’t know which is which.

With death following Donna like a shadow, she turns to her best friend for help. But instead of help, Mo offers only more mystery. And she knows more about the Underworld than she's willing to admit.

Now, Donna must choose: Cling to the mortal world where she feels safe, or embrace the Underworld where her dreams – and nightmares – come true.

One thing’s for sure - doing either one might get her killed in both.

My Review :

Oh so where to start.  Probably with the best thing about this book, the fact that a second and a third is already available and for the coup de grace I OWN THEM!

I loved this book so much it is incredible.  At the end of the book it says Bonnie is an alter ego, she lives with her husband a dog and cats and a ghost.  She loves stuff that goes bump in the night etc.  What it does not say is that this woman is a genius in her field of writing for new adults.  What a misleading term.  I am far from a young adult and I absolutely adore this book.  I have one plan and one plan only for when I am finished with my next two review books and that is to start immediately on the second book.

Bonnie creates a world where Vampires is either nasty or nice.  The nasty ones are evil and the good ones drop dead gorgeous but all of them are very, very dangerous. 

Donna, the female main character develops a very strong sense of self at the end of book one, as she learns more about her toes and . . . Oh wait, you don’t know about her toes.  LOL.  Go read the book.  Dante is adorable if under suspicion, Samee is sweet and you will feel as if you need to protect her.  Mo is incredible and frustrating and fun and Hunter. . . well he likes Donnas' toes. 

This is a world where things that goes bump in the knight collides by taking on positions of power, the local police etc is all either minions or Vampires.  The evil kind.  Vampires in this book do not sparkle!  Which is really cool because after watching the last in the Twilight series I am convinced that married life even takes out the sparkle of a Vampire?  Seriously?  But I regress.  This is a world I can imagine exists.  This is a world in which I am very glad I am not. 

The story is logical and flows fluently.  The language is easy and appropriate and the characters are likeable, horrible or detestable.  Trust me, by the end of the book you will want to name your daughter Samee and rethink Stephen as an option.  Politics comes to play in this book but as a side line and I really enjoyed the underhanded stabs at the immorality of politicians. 

All in all I give this book a 7 ******* review.  This is a must read for all, and for those romantics amongst us.  You are going to love this.

Crystal Cattabriga

Shattered into Pieces

Blurb via Goodreads

Shattered Into Pieces is a true story based on events that took place in my life. A man I once called dad and trusted was now the man I was trying to escape from. Would I ever be able to deal with what was coming next? The shocking truth of who he really was and what he really did will leave you stunned. Find out how I survived and found closure to the life I knew and now left behind once and for all

My review

I thoroughly loved reading this book.  It does not really read like a book or a story though.  It feels as if you and a platonic friend are at a bar after work and one or two glasses of wine extra is flowing.  Once you start the book you'll know what I mean.  In this book Crystal tells the reader what it was like growing up and older with a family secret so horrific that few would ever talk about it.

In my life I have often wondered how it must be for the child of say Michael Jackson, growing up with the media blasting rumor fueled by rumor time and time again.  Nobody will ever really know, but some insight is given in the reading of Shattered into Pieces.  Remember when I started this review; I said that it is more like a confession of a platonic friend.  Well I can guarantee that once you have finished the book you will feel as if you have known Crystal for a few years and that you now know more about her as a person than you might your own sibling.  Not only that, but I can guarantee that you will have a very deep founded respect for her.  The way she dealt with her problems are all very human but in the end she came to a point where she felt secured enough in her own right as a women that she felt she could and should share this story.

This is not an overly emotional story.  It is a story told in the first person but although she conveys her sentiments and reactions she does not over burden the reader with an excess of emotion.  This is really not an easy read in the conventional sense.  But it is truly a worthwhile read. 

I give this book a five star review and commend the author for giving me some glimpse as to the effect of abuse on a family and the children specifically. 

This is not my first read by the author and although her book Saving Bobby is in a story format and thus more conventional that this book, I loved the book sincerely.  Crystal has managed to make me into her biggest fan with two very different styles of writing and I personally cannot wait to read more books by this author.

*****

Here is the book on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Shattered-Into-Pieces-ebook/dp/B005D2X8CW/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Here is Crystals' Author page on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/crystalcattabriga

Book Review of Saving Bobby by Crystal Cattabriga

When Bobby's world came crashing down on his thirteenth birthday, he knew his life would never be the same again. After losing most of his family before ever becoming a teenager, Bobby was ...determined not to lose the only person who ever truly loved him and was always there for him—his mom. Struggling with the fear of losing his mother to cancer, Bobby takes it upon himself running away in search for a way to save her. Along Bobby's journey, he meets Annie, a runaway. Together, they embark on a road where they both find a friendship that will last forever and the true meaning of God. Will Bobby save his mother in time and will Annie go back to the life she had? Experience this journey with Bobby and Annie and feel the power of true determination, and what God can do, if you just let Him into your heart...

Review 6 out of 5

Bobby's world comes crashing down on his thirteenth birthday. Terrified and determined not to lose the only person who has ever truly loved him, his mother, Bobby runs away in search for a way to save her. On his journey he meets Annie, a runaway herself. Together they embark on a voyage of friendship that will last forever, and the true meaning of God. Can Bobby save his mother in time? Will Annie go back to the life she had?

I LOVED this story! Although I am not overly religious, I do believe that there is a heaven. Bobby's plight is just like everyone's when someone in the family becomes ill. He begins to question "why?". He basically has a crisis of faith. He is a sweet character and I felt for him as I read his story. In fact I shed more than a few tears as I read this book! I loved his determination not to take "no" for an answer, in an effort to help his mother. When Bobby meets Annie, a friendship develops and she helps Bobby with his quest.
Crystal has written a beautiful book, filled with emotion and a message that God is listening if we open our hearts. There are a few surprises and a couple of twists, which keep you thinking and wondering what was really going on. I recommend that you read this book whether you are religious or not. It is a beautiful story that left me with a hopeful, warm feeling. I am placing Crystal on my favourite authors list, and I hope to read more of her stories in the future. - Lynn Worton

Before You Go by Ella James, reviewed by Lynn Worton

Book Review of Before You Go by Ella James


Margo Ford just became an heiress. Not the Paris Hilton kind. Her billions came after her father died and her insanely wealthy, insanely absent mother officially claimed her. Unfortunately, some ...terrorists noticed, and they hatched a plot to kidnap her. After a news report goes awry, reporting that Margo *has* been kidnapped, and her mother offers the humiliating sum of $500,000 for her return, Margo doesn't want anything to do with her *#$!@ of an egg donor. Then she is sentenced to a summer of "protection" on her mother's private island. Not the Oprah Winfrey kind. This one has an astronomical observatory filled with scientists, including Logan Greer, a super hot, super infuriating planet-hunter. Hiding out from kidnappers has never been so boring... until suddenly it isn't anymore.

Review 5 out of 5

Margo Ford becomes a heiress after her father dies and her insanely rich mother officially claims her. When terrorists hatch a plan to kidnap her, Margo's mother arranges a summer for her on a private island. This island has an astronomical observatory filled with scientists, including Logan Greer, a gorgeous but infuriating planet-hunter. Margo thought hiding out on the island would be boring, until it wasn't any more.

This is a short story from Ella James. However, there is a lot of action and romance. Margo is a fifteen year old who, when her father died and her extremely rich mother claims her, finds herself the centre of attention for kidnappers. When her mother sends her to a private island, Margo meet Logan. Logan is a seventeen year-old student, who is being sponsored by Margo's mother. Romance begins to bloom between the two. However, danger is not too far away.
This is a superb love story. It is sweet and touching and I absolutely fell for Logan. He's a fantastic character, who has a lot of baggage, but I think that makes him better. Margo is a typical teenager, who comes across a bit spoilt, but I don't hold that against her; She is feisty and can hold her own. I recommend this book if you would like a romance that is a quick read and well written. I am definitely reading more of Ella James's books in the future. - Lynn Worton

Book Review of Guardian by Gillian Joy

Headstrong and determined, Hannah always knew that she would become the Guardian. She was the keeper and the protector of all supernatural. What she didn't expect was that it would mean she would have... to endure the agonising death of her mother first hand as their supernatural connection brings her to her knees, or that it would mean that she could never be with the man she loved.
Blond haired, blue eyed Gabriel was her handsome childhood friend, but would circumstances prevent her from ever being able to explore her true feelings for him?
Jesse, the dark alluring but incorrigible vampire would give anything to be with her, but as the guardian Hannah is forbidden to fall in love with the supernatural.
With her life in turmoil over her conflicting emotions about Gabriel and Jesse and her frustration at being unable to exact revenge for her mother’s horrific death, Hannah flees her life in an attempt to start over. But can we ever really escape from ourselves?
There is no escaping destiny no matter how hard she might try and Hannah must learn to reconcile her commitment to her family with her responsibility as the Guardian and her duty to her heart.

Review 6 out of 5

Hannah always knew she would follow her mother to become the Guardian, the keeper and protector of all supernatural beings. She didn't expect to have to endure the horrific death of her mother first hand. She did not expect that it would mean that she was unable to be with the man she loved.
Gabriel was her childhood friend, but would circumstances prevent her from exploring her true feelings?
Jesse, the incorrigible vampire would give anything to be with her, but as the Guardian, Hannah is forbidden to fall in love with a supernatural.
Unable to exact revenge for her mother's death and struggling to deal with the conflicting feelings she has for both Gabriel and Jesse, Hannah flees her life in an attempt to start over. There is no escaping destiny however. Can Hannah reconcile her commitment to her family with her responsibility and duty as the Guardian?

I absolutely LOVED this story! It had me gripped from the first page. Gillian has created a fabulous world for all supernatural's to live! Hannah is a feisty, headstrong character. She is fantastic as the Guardian, or Venatorcustos. She has to deal with all supernatural beings from werewolves, fairies, mermaids and witches to vampires. These are also known as Crudelitas.
Gabriel is another great character. He is sweet and kind, and also gorgeous to look at! Jesse is not quite the opposite of Gabriel; he is kind and gorgeous too, but he tends to be a bit hotheaded, which can cause problems due to his impulsiveness. The other characters in the book are very interesting too. I would actually like to read Bernard's story, if Gillian would consider writing it! This story is set in different time lines, but it doesn't leave you confused. Gillian's writing style is very smooth and I could easily picture what was happening in my head. I'm now looking forward to reading the second novel, Forever, as soon as I can get my hands on it! I would highly recommend everyone read this book as soon as possible. - Lynn Worton

******

Blurb via Goodreads:

In SLEEP STALKERS, Dee’s solitary existence is suddenly shattered when a demon army’s invasion becomes imminent and, as each night passing draws our world closer to disaster, she fights to fulfill fate’s astonishing plans for her and realign the balance between love and tragedy.

A new plague is ravaging the country, but the infected are not so much sick as they are homicidal. Demons have begun escaping their prison and found a way into our world through the slumbering minds of humans. As their ranks expand with incredible speed, it falls to Dee to halt their invasion. Rather unexpectedly she finds herself paired with two others of her kind, each struggling with the paths set before them. Dave, a father who has lost his child, and Luke, the one person who may be able to save her soul. Together they help her delve into the very core of evil that plagues the country and, through bloodshed and heart break, realize just far they’ll have to go to save that which they love the most

Review via me:

Review of Sleep Stalkers by Jacki O'Dierno

Structurally this is an excellent story, sticking to logic in the fantastical world of demon hunting.  The book has vivid murder and mutilation scenes and contains some sex scenes as well as a very limited, though appropriate use of profanity.  The sexual content is not explicit and should not be cause of alarm to younger readers.  On Goodreads it is described as - Urban Fantasy, paranormal, horror

What a fantastic read.  In retrospect the book started slow.  Although it never dawned on me once I started it.  But as I progressed and the reader was taken from one highlight to the next I came to realize that the murder in the first three pages was a slow build up.  Who knew?

I fell in love with the story and the fresh new perspective running through it all.  It reminds at stages strongly of the series Supernatural, at others it reminds of the series Alias and at others still of Romeo and Juliet.

The love story is extraordinary; the female main character Dee is a fully formed character that is all too human even in an extraordinary fashion.  Lucas the main male lead is human and excels primarily only in his love for Dee.  David is the strong peripheral character that serves as a catalyst of many a situation within the book all the while acting towards everybody as the strong male father figure.

The story in principle is that since the human race has lost hope, they fell into a state of despair.  This despair opened the gates of Hell, allowing demons to enter bodies of unsuspected humans whom, whilst being possessed relish in killing.  Certain individuals cannot be used in such a manner by these demons and it is up to them to try and fight back against and overwhelming force.  Dee, Lucas and David are three such minions.  They and others like them fight a losing battle daily. 

I loved how the author logically progresses the reader from one to the other argument explaining not only the existence of the demons but also of the minions and the reason behind these two opposing forces'.  This book has more than a mild undercurrent of religion in it.  Although Christianity is the main source of conversation in the book it is by and large not the only religion mentioned or used.  I loved the ability of the author to write an amazing story critiquing main stream politics and the marginalization of religion on the one hand and the use of knowledge, faith hope and love to combat evil.

Even after staying up a few hours later than my normal bed time to finish the book, once in bed, I kept replaying scenes and dialogue in the book, wondering if it could end in any other way.  I fell asleep thinking of this book.  Orthodox Christian readers should not be offended by anything in this book, followers of a different faith than that of Christianity will definitely not feel marginalized or offended either.  The book does not preach to the reader, it serves to inform and entertain.

I give this book a 7 out of 5 ***** review.  I would recommend this book as a must read to everybody.  It was interesting, engaging and somewhat of a reality check.  That combined with the fact that it made me rethink some of my own choices makes this an absolute brilliant read.  Oh and to the faint of heart, a word of advice.  Keep the light on……….

*******

Deep Scream by Author G.R. Holton

Via Amazon

Book Description

Publication Date: July 14, 2011

In the year two-thousand-one hundred-forty- five, Earth had finally gotten past its differences, and the Earth Coalition was formed. They launched a ship and crew into deep space to find a new Earth. It was a twenty-year mission to find other planets outside of their solar system that could be inhabited. Six years later all the signals from the Omega Space Station suddenly stopped. Not knowing what might have happened, the Coalition called for a new crew to intercept the space station and ascertain what had happened. The new crew found the Omega, but it was not the space station that was dead and to their horror, they were not alone…

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First let me explain one thing, I love horror but do not like sci-fi.

Deep Scream by G.R. Holton is a sci-fi horror penned to play off on a space station a few decades in the future. 

The story is filled with an array of characters and I admire the fact that the author managed to fluff out so many characters in such a short span of time.  The Marine's especially seems real and the various personality strengths and shortcomings are played off brilliantly against their loyalty towards their commander and their mission. 

Captain "Crash' Cradock is a stunning character with which I identified almost immediately.  He is a kick ass Marine with a strong, principled, can do attitude.  He might not play by all the rules but it is to accomplish the greater mission and therefore he is never really faulted by fellow Marines.  His greatest critics are people who perceive him as being a danger to civilians and as a rogue agent.  This however is not why I connected with him to such a degree.  I admired the fact that he had enough courage to state that he is seeing and experiencing things not normal.  This in the face of the fact that his psychological background as a person suffering from bipolar disorder. 

I admired the tough Marine's willingness to compromise his own "image" in order to safe guard his fellow Marines and scientists on the missions' safety.  He did this with such human character traits, being reluctant, trying to deny the intensity etc that I really felt as if I would be safe with a man who places the safety of others before all else. 

One more thing that I really admired in this book is the fact that Christianity and the belief in being saved by Grace play such a tremendous role in the story.  Not many an author would mix sci-fi, horror and Christianity with such seamless effort and to such great success.

I give this book a 4 **** review rating.  The fact that I do not like sci-fi outweighed the brilliance of the author.

A sci-fi enthusiast would surely disagree with my rating and with merit.  I can recommend this book to any who prefer this genre but if like me, sci-fi is not your preferred genre I would advise you to think twice before taking this journey.

You can find him here on FB. 
http://www.facebook.com/bob.g.holton

About the Author
On a warm summer morning in 1962, G. R. Holton was born in a little town in Massachusetts. I am the second eldest in a family of eight children. I have five sisters and two brothers. I am happily married and living in eastern Tennessee.
Growing up was hard due to the areas we lived in, but the whole time as a child, I would engulf myself in comic books and anything to do with science fiction. I decided though that I wanted to be a police officer and joined the military. After a training accident and a rough divorce, I had my first major breakdown which put me out of the military.
I was 23 years old when I was first diagnosed with having Bipolar Disorder after having many troubles with jobs and my second marriage. I was told that I could no longer work; so I was put on the disabled list. I thought that life was pretty much over. But in 1999 after a second divorce, I met my soul mate, Charlotte. She brought me to know Christ and life started looking up, though the frequent battles with bipolar breakdowns and hospitalizations made life hard. I took an interest in computer games to pass the time, and then one day I made a friend, Marlene Milton, on one of those online games with chat. She was also a Christian and her husband was a Movie Director. We became great friends and after a few weeks of talking, I met her husband, Derek Milton online and we hit it off quickly.
He gave me a couple of his screenplays to read and I was hooked. I knew at that point I wanted to try writing. Derek was right there to help me. One night I had a dream of three teens on another planet and in a cave. This was it; I knew what had to be done. I sat down at the computer and over the course of three months, I had written my first book, Journey to the Edge. I couldn‟t stop there, so I continued writing and Guardians Alliance was born. After a split with my first publisher, I reworked Journey to the Edge and have now released Soleri. My latest is Deep Screams, a Science Fiction/Horror Thriller.
I hope you enjoy reading my dreams as much as I have in dreaming them.