Book Review of Shadow of Night (All Souls Trilogy 2) by Deborah Harkness

Synopsis:

It began with A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES. Historian Diana Bishop, descended from a line of powerful witches, and long-lived vampire Matthew Clairmont have broken the laws dividing creatures. When Diana discovered a significant alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library, she sparked a struggle in which she became bound to Matthew. Now the fragile coexistence of witches, daemons, vampires and humans is dangerously threatened.
Seeking safety, Diana and Matthew travel back in time to London, 1590. But they soon realise that the past may not provide a haven. Reclaiming his former identity as poet and spy for Queen Elizabeth, the vampire falls back in with a group of radicals known as the School of Night. Many are unruly daemons, the creative minds of the age, including playwright Christopher Marlowe and mathematician Thomas Harriot. Together Matthew and Diana scour Tudor London for the elusive manuscript Ashmole 782, and search for the witch who will teach Diana how to control her remarkable powers... Fall under the spell of Diana and Matthew once more in this stunning, richly imagined, epic tale.

Review:


Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the All Souls Trilogy. I loved it!

Diana Bishop is a fantastic character. She is a very powerful witch, but having been magic bound as a child, she is unable to control her magic. However, after finding a missing alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library, all manner of creatures start to come out of the woodwork, and danger is not far behind. I loved this character from the beginning. She is quite headstrong and determined to unravel the mystery of the manuscript, but she is also unskilled as a witch and requires help.

Matthew Clairmont is another fantastic character. He is a geneticist, who also happens to be a vampire. He is an enigmatic person, but as the story progressed, I got to see more of this character's temperament and some of his layers were stripped away. He is an extremely complex man, and has many layers yet undiscovered. I have loved getting to know him better.

I got this book in audio format, because I had previously listened to A Discovery of Witches whilst doing household chores and fell in love with it. This book is narrated by the same person, and this helped me get back into the story pretty quickly. Jennifer Ikeda does a fantastic job bringing the book and characters to life. Her narration was clear, precise and exciting! I loved the way she gave each character their own accent and personality.

This story see's Diana and Matthew travelling back in time to the year 1590. I am not exactly a huge history buff, but I am interested in some history. Therefore, having a chance to peek into the lives of those living in Elizabethan England, even if fictionalized and not completely true, was very exciting. I could tell that the author had done a lot of research, but may have embellished a few facts and fictionalized a few for dramatic effect. Nevertheless, her descriptions brought the past to life wonderfully.
Matthew is known in this time as Matthew Roydon. His life during this time was full of intrigue and danger. Why he thought Diana would be safe in this time frame is a slight mystery to me, but I can understand some of his reasoning. There were a fair few witches during this time, so it should be easy to find one to help Diana. However, this is a dangerous time for witches, and finding one powerful enough, and brave enough, to help proves harder than first thought.
There are a lot of characters that pepper this book. I loved meeting all them; from Queen Elizabeth to the famous men of the "School of Night", Goody Allsop and even Jack and Annie. Father Hubbard is a rather creepy and dangerous vampire. I certainly wouldn't want to meet him! The one character that I liked meeting above all was Matthew's father, Phillipe. He is an imposing figure with a forceful personality. However, under that gruff exterior is a sensitive man who loves his son very much. I loved his slightly puritanical outlook, but his generosity in accepting Diana into his family floored me.
Though this book is told mostly through Diana's point of view, there are a few flashes back (or is that forward?) into the present, which shows what is happening whilst Diana and Matthew are away.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this story, along with a few surprises, that kept me hooked! I cannot wait to get the final book in the trilogy as soon as possible! However, I will be sad too, because I have grown to love these characters, and will miss them once the story is finished.

Deborah Harkness has written a fantastic sequel. She has created a world where humans, witches, daemons and vampires all live in an uneasy alliance. I love her writing style, which is fast paced and exciting, and the story flowed beautifully! She has found another fan of her work in me.

I highly recommend this book if you love your stories to be full of witches, daemons and vampires, or if you love paranormal romance or urban fantasy genres. - Lynn Worton

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Exploring the Faith of America's Presidents by Kendra Hazlett Armstrong and Deborah Sprinkle!

Click on the pic to get your copy from Amazon.

Blurb

Publication Date: February 17, 2014

The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living and the get-rich-quick theory of life. ~ Theodore Teddy Roosevelt, 26th U.S. President. 

It's refreshing to read a perspective on the foundations of our country that's not driven by partisan political parties. This book quotes ALL Presidents, BOTH Republican and Democrat. It tackles head on the mistakes and the triumphs of our flawed American history. ~ Rev. Rufus Smith, Sr. Pastor, Hope Presbyterian Church, Cordova, TN.

Exploring the Faith of America's Presidents is an engaging, enlightening and inspirational resource that examines the role faith has played in the presidency throughout American history.

More about Kendra Hazlett Armstrong

Thanks to Amazon here is more about Kendra.  Click on the pic to see her Amazon author page.

Kendra Armstrong is an attorney, writer, speaker, patriotic American, and proud mother with a passion for seeking and teaching God's perspective on political and social issues and using that knowledge to change her world for Christ.

Common Sense and an Uncommon God, written with co-author Deborah Sprinkle, was her first traditionally published work. Kendra and Debbie are currently writing a women's Bible study, An Ordinary Woman and an Extraordinary God.

In addition to writing devotionals and Bible studies, Kendra is penning her first novel,a psychological thriller about an attorney who inherits a Mississippi plantation and is relentlessly haunted by her family's dark and deadly secret.

Kendra was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Rhodes College, her Master of Science in Psychology from the University of Memphis, and her Juris Doctor from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis.

Kendra is a member of Hope Presbyterian Church in Cordova, Tennessee, where she has served as a Deacon, Women's Bible study and small group leader, Sunday School teacher, and member of the Women's Ministry Writing and Speaking Team.

My review

This book is based on a simple formula.  The US Presidents, chronological as far as I can tell, their religious affiliation and some famous and not some famous quotes by them. 

The quotes are backed up by biblical texts to support them.

The ease of the read really surprised me.  The next thing that stuck me was how well these quotes were chosen.  They all serve to inspire show leadership and help with growth in an individual. 

It is a really worthwhile read. 

WaAr

More info about Deborah Sprinkle, again click on the pic to see her author page on Amazon

Thank you Amazon for the info on Deborah

Debbie Sprinkle is an ordinary woman who serves an extraordinary God. She grew up in St. Louis where she met and married her husband and attended college. She became a chemist and worked in research for a number of years.

Debbie's writing didn't actually start until much later when she and her husband had moved to Memphis and she had retired from teaching chemistry. Then Debbie began leading Bible studies at their church, Hope Presbyterian. The quality of her weekly emails led to an invitation to join the Women's Speaking and Writing Team at Hope, and to attend the 2009 "She Speaks" conference. At that conference, Debbie and Kendra Armstrong became friends and out of that friendship, their first book, "Common Sense and an Uncommon God" was born. It was later revised to "Exploring the Faith of America's Presidents."

Currently, Debbie is leading Bible studies at Hope and she and her husband are deacons. She is working on several books at the time--one of which is a mystery novel.

So what are you waiting for.  Get your copy today.  

Mike Mullen. Ashfall book one.

Click on the pic to get your copy from Amazon

ASHFALL BY MIKE MULLEN

Book Description

Publication Date: October 14, 2011

Many visitors to Yellowstone National Park don’t realize that the boiling hot springs and spraying geysers are caused by an underlying supervolcano, so large that the caldera can only be seen by plane or satellite. And by some scientific measurements, it could be overdue for an eruption.

For Alex, being left alone for the weekend means having the freedom to play computer games and hang out with his friends without hassle from his mother. Then the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts, plunging his hometown into a nightmare of darkness, ash, and violence. Alex begins a harrowing trek to seach for his family and finds help in Darla, a travel partner he meets along the way. Together they must find the strength and skills to survive and outlast an epic disaster.

Review:

This book is post apocalyptic story of a boy and a girl. As the ashes causes a new winter in a world that has passed the best before date on it's notice, as a volcano erupts killing...well who knows how many. As all these things happen people turn into murderers. They hunt, they steal and sometimes they kill. A midst all this we have our main protagonist and his new girl Darla trying to survive. For a spoiled brat out boy does not do to bad but it is Darla that becomes the hero. And our protagonist is best defined by his admiration for a girl who is physically stronger than most men. Who can work from dusk till dawn and then some. For a girl that needs him not to protect her as much as she needs him to be there for him.

None of the above make our boy feel insecure. In fact it turns him on and I loved this about the book. The fact that the characters are truly strong people not characters portrayed as being strong based on how many times they do not faint.

It has been some time since I last enjoyed a book in this genre this much. The humor is at times lol, though never overdone. The world building is expertly done. I would love to follow this author and see how he grows in his craft. My one complaint. Over use of fractured sentences.

Get your copy guys. It is a really good read.


WaAr

About the author:

Mike Mullin's first job was scraping the gum off the undersides of desks at his high school. From there, things went steadily downhill. He almost got fired by the owner of a bookstore due to his poor taste in earrings. He worked at a place that showed slides of poopy diapers during lunch (it did cut down on the cafeteria budget). The hazing process at the next company included eating live termites raised by the resident entomologist, so that didn't last long either. For a while Mike juggled bottles at a wine shop, sometimes to disastrous effect. Oh, and then there was the job where swarms of wasps occasionally tried to chase him off ladders. So he's really glad this writing thing seems to be working out.

Mike holds a black belt in Songahm Taekwondo. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife and her three cats. ASHEN WINTER is his second novel. His debut, ASHFALL, was named one of the top five young adult novels of 2011 by National Public Radio, a Best Teen Book of 2011 by Kirkus Reviews, and a New Voices selection by the American Booksellers Association.

www.mikemullinauthor.com

You can find him on Facebook here : 

https://www.facebook.com/mike.mullin.author?fref=ts

Book Review of Alice Parker & The Sound of the Silent (Book 4 of the new adventure series for children) (Alice Parker's Adventures) by Nicola Palmer

Synopsis:

The Parkers' are off to London, where Alice is to play in the orchestra at a prestigious venue. But when she arrives in the city, her ears seem tuned to more than her music. Why is she hearing peculiar voices?

Alice is convinced she’s being followed – and not only by her latest enemies. When she starts shouting at pigeons, even her family begin to wonder. What is happening to Alice?

A new, unlikely friend holds the clue, and the explanation is absurd. Alice doesn’t want to believe it.

But in the world of Finwips, anything is possible ...

Book 4 of 'Alice Parker's Adventures' - a children's chapter book for ages 9 - 13.

Review:


Alice Parker & The Sound of the Silent by Nicola Palmer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the fourth book in the Alice Parker's Adventures for children. I loved it!

Alice Parker is a fantastic character! She is a very special girl. She is a Finwip (a descendant of fairies), and the only Finwip able to fly. Her abilities and powers are growing, but when she starts hearing pigeons talking to her, even she thinks she is going crazy! I loved this girl when I first met her in the first book, Alice Parker's Metamorphosis. But, I am absolutely in awe of how this character has grown in each book. She has gained confidence each time she has had to face a difficult challenge. However, this may be the strangest challenge yet!

This is a fantastic continuation of the series! I have wanted to read this book for a while. The Finwips are a fascinating group of people. They have many different and unique abilities that range from invisibility to super sensitive hearing. Alice finds herself embroiled in another exciting adventure that had me sitting on the edge of the seat! She is convinced that she must be going crazy, because she keeps hearing voices, and a pigeon seems to be following her all over London. The suspense and mystery kept me hooked. There is even a re-appearance of an old enemy. However, things are not what they seem and when all is revealed, I was completely surprised! This is a fast paced, action packed adventure that will keep children from the ages of 9-13 completely engrossed! In fact, I struggled to put it down myself! There are several twists and turns that had me guessing, and I was even in tears at one point. I have no idea when the next book will be available, but I would love to read it as soon as it's released!

Nicola Palmer has written an amazing children's series that is enchanting, exciting and all round good fun! Her writing style is fast paced, but easy enough for youngsters to read and follow. She is one of my favourite children's book authors!

I highly recommend this book (and series) to children and adults alike! - Lynn Worton

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A American does it again.

A click on the pic will take you to Amazon!

Surviving Home

By A American

Blurb

Book Description

Publication Date: June 25, 2013

Book 2 of The Survivalist Series

No electricity. No running water. No food. No end in sight. If life as you knew it changed in an instant, would you be prepared?

In A. American’s first novel, Going Home, readers were introduced to Morgan Carter, the resourceful, tough-as-nails survivalist who embarks on a treacherous 250-mile journey across Florida following the collapse of the nation’s power grid. Now reunited with his loving wife and daughters in this follow-up to Going Home, Morgan knows that their happiness is fleeting, as the worst is yet to come. Though for years Morgan has been diligently preparing for emergency situations, many of his neighbors are completely unready for life in this strange new world—and they’re starting to get restless.

With the help of his closest companions, Morgan fights to keeps his home secure—only to discover shocking information about the state of the nation in the process.

Fans of James Wesley Rawles, William R. Forstchen's One Second After, and The End by G. Michael Hopf will revel in A. American's apocalyptic tale. 

Product Details

·         Print Length: 528 pages

·         Publisher: Plume (June 25, 2013)

·         Language: English

·         ASIN: B00DMBMRYG

http://www.amazon.com/Surviving-Home-Novel-Survivalist-American-ebook/dp/B00DMBMRYG/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392974157&sr=1-1&keywords=Surviving+home+a+american

Now this book is seriously even better than the first.  Little' bit.  Our main protagonists youngest little girl is a sweetie and I loved all the sections with her in it.  Less philosophy and more action this book was a much smoother read.

My problem with this book? The lack of long term planning and the shortsightedness of all the characters in the book.  That really got on my nerves.  Our main protagonists hints at stuff that needs to be done but it is never mentioned and a lack of planning is partly why these people's earth came to a standstill in the first place.

If this is your genre, you will love this.

Book Review of Claimed by a Demon King (Eternal Mates Paranormal Romance Series #2) by Felicity Heaton

Synopsis:

USA Today Best-Selling Paranormal Romance Author Felicity Heaton presents:

Claimed by a Demon King (Eternal Mates Paranormal Romance Series Book 2)
The moment the demon King Thorne of the Third Realm set eyes on the mortal huntress Sable, he knew she was his fated one. The fiery, dangerous female awakened hungers he had never experienced before, a dark craving and passion that has consumed him in their time apart. As the lunar cycle wanes, she enters his world again and nothing will stand in the way of him claiming his forever with her--not the relentless assault from the Fifth Realm or the dark elf male determined to seduce her out of his grasp.

Intent on achieving the coveted position of commander at Archangel, Sable leads her small team into the dark underworld and the Third Realm, to a war where her allies are the very creatures she normally hunts--vampires, werewolves, and demons. Her eagerness to lead the deadly mission has everything to do with winning her promotion, and nothing to do with the kingdom's brash, lethally seductive demon king--a king who stirred fierce desire and wildfire heat in her with just a look and an innocent touch when they first met, and has been in her wicked dreams ever since.

As the gathering storm between rivals unleashes irresistible passion that flares white-hot and the heat of the battle brings life-shattering realisations, can Sable place her duty before her heart? Or will she surrender to her deepest desires and be claimed by a demon king?

Paranormal Romance Books in the Eternal Mates Series
Kissed by a Dark Prince
Claimed by a Demon King

Review:


Claimed by a Demon King by Felicity E. Heaton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Eternal Mates series. I loved it!

Sable is a fantastic character. She is Olivia's (from Eternal Mates #1) best friend and a Hunter; one of the elite warriors working for Archangel, which is an organisation that polices the paranormal citizens living on Earth. I liked this character very much, as she is most definitely feisty! Her "shoot first, take prisoners second" attitude made me smile. She has a tendency to "leap before looking" and can get herself into some awkward situations. However, she is loyal and protective of her friends. I really enjoyed getting to know her better.

Thorne is the Demon King of the Third Realm, and is a most intriguing character. I only got a small glimpse of him near the end of the first book in the series, so was excited to meet him properly in his own story. He is a fierce warrior and leader of his people in his kingdom. He can be a bit arrogant, but he is a fair ruler. However, he also has a tender side that not many people get to see. When he first meets Sable, he realises she is his Eternal Mate, but winning her heart may be one of the hardest battles he has ever fought!

When I was offered the opportunity to read this book, I grabbed it with both hands! I am glad I did, because it is a fantastic continuation of the series. This book is full of danger, action and romance, coupled with two strong characters, which kept me hooked from start to finish! The story is told from mainly Sable's and Thorne's point of view, which gives the reader an opportunity to understand their thoughts and feelings. However, there is a fly in the ointment, and he's called Bleu. I liked Bleu's character in Kissed by a Dark Prince, but he hasn't won any points with me in this book! I am not overly fond of love triangles, and this Elfin warrior muddies up the waters quite nicely. However, that being said, this doesn't mean that it wasn't entertaining to watch the drama unfold! It was also a pleasant surprise to meet some of the characters from the Vampire Erotic Theatre series again! I must admit that I rather miss those vampires (not to mention the other paranormal characters in the series.), especially Snow and Antoine; that scene was rather intense, to say the least! And speaking of intense, there is a HUGE battle scene that was described in such a way that I felt I was actually there! In fact, the characters came alive for me too, and I felt that Thorne and Sable could walk through my door at any moment! There are a few twists and turns that surprised me and kept me guessing. I can't wait to see what surprises the next book in the series has to hold! This book could be read on it's own, but some of the story could be confusing to a few readers, if they haven't read the first book in the series.

Felicity Heaton has written another fast paced, sexy paranormal romance that I thoroughly enjoyed! I love her writing style, which flows effortlessly from scene to scene. She is number one on my favourite authors list!

I do not recommend this book to younger readers due to the extremely HOT and explicit sexual scenes. However, I highly recommend this book (and series) if you love sexy paranormal romances full of vampires, elves, werewolves, succubi, incubi, angels, dragons and demons. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of Worth The Chance by Vi Keeland

Synopsis:

**New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Vi Keeland, brings you the steamy story of Vince & Liv**

Meet Liv Michaels
It may have been seven years, but I'd know him anywhere. Sure, he's grown, filled out in all the right places, but his captivating blue eyes and cocky grin are exactly the way I remember. Even though I'd much rather forget.

Liv Michaels is almost there. She's smart, determined and weeks away from landing the job she's dreamed about for years. Time healed old wounds, even her broken heart from the devastation of being crushed by her first love.

Meet Vince Stone
Women love a fighter, especially a good one. Lucky for me, I'm damn good. But there's one woman that isn't interested. Not again, anyway.

Vince 'The Invincible' Stone is every woman's fantasy...strong, sexy, confident and completely in control. Growing up surrounded by chaos, he's learned never to get too attached. Love will drag you down. He adores women, treats them well, puts their own needs before his own...for the night anyway. With the biggest fight of his life coming up, his focus should be on training.

When fate brings Vince & Liv back together again, there's no denying the chemistry is still there. But can Vince erase the old scars their past left behind? Or will Liv hurt him instead?

***Author's note*** THIS IS A STAND-ALONE NOVEL. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.Review:


Worth the Chance by Vi Keeland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is a fantastic erotic romance! I loved it!

Olivia Michael's (Liv to her friends) is a fantastic character. She is a journalist and is trying to land her dream job. I liked this character a lot! She is tenacious and determined to succeed. When her boss sends her on an assignment, she finds herself confronted by the boy who broke her heart.

Vince Stone (Vinnie) is another fantastic character. I first met him as a troubled teen with a chip on his shoulder in Worth the Fight. He has now grown up and is on his way to winning the MMA (mixed martial arts) Championship. He has grown up to be a charming, handsome, slightly arrogant man, who is also supremely confident in his abilities. When he meets Liv again, sparks fly!

I have been eagerly awaiting this book, ever since it was announced by the author that she would be writing Vince's story. I loved young Vinnie, but Vince is HOT! This story is a fast paced, emotional roller coaster ride for both the characters and the reader. I struggled to put this book down, and got very annoyed when I had to! The story is told from both Liv's and Vince's points of view, which gives the reader an opportunity to see their thoughts and feelings. Some of these view points are flash backs, and it was interesting to see how Liv's and Vince's relationship first developed as teenagers. It was also wonderful to meet Nico and Elle again. They are both wonderful people. I've missed them! There is drama, intrigue and romance aplenty in this story! There is also a surprise or two, which kept me enthralled. Some men like breasts, some like legs, but Vince is a bum man! The chemistry between Liv and Vince is electric and unashamedly hot! I really enjoyed the story, and am looking forward to reading more books in the MMA series, especially Jax's.

Vi Keeland has written another fast paced erotic romance that kept me hooked from start to finish! She has a fantastic writing style, which I really love. I have added this author to my favourite authors list.

As this is an erotic romance, there are several scenes of a sexual nature that are rather explicit. Therefore, I do not recommend this book for readers younger than 18. However, if you love hot, steamy erotic romances, this book is for you! - Lynn Worton

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Going Home by A American

A Netgalley review book.

Click on the pic to purchase your copy on Amazon

A American

penned

Going Home

This is a fascinating book.  Basically our main protagonist is away from home when the end of the world as we know it strikes.  Getting back home is the basic plot of our story.

The detail of what a world comes to when no authority exists and when nobody knows where their next meal will come from is what fills in the story. 

Given, this book has a lot of detail regarding survival both urban and rural in it.  While I can see how this might be a bit much for the readers that prefer a fast moving plot line, I myself loved it.  The book moves plenty fast enough as it is. 

The theme of the book might upset some readers.  It might be made to be fiction…fantasy…an exaggeration.  And hopefully it is although I doubt it.  My dad used to say the next big war will not be over territory, religion or such but over water and that little bit of a vegetable garden some of us has the luxury to own.  This book resounded with that sentiment. 

I love the fact that the world building is done extensively and that all the main characters are introduced and settled so that the reader can go on with the series already steadily established in this world. 

A very good read.

Get your copy.

WaAr

Amazon purchase link:

http://www.amazon.com/Going-Home-Novel-Survivalist-American-ebook/dp/B00DMBMRYQ/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1392640131&sr=8-5&keywords=a+american

Blurb

Book Description

Publication Date: June 25, 2013

Book 1 of The Survivalist Series

If society collapsed, could you survive?

When Morgan Carter’s car breaks down 250 miles from his home, he figures his weekend plans are ruined. But things are about to get much, much worse: the country’s power grid has collapsed. There is no electricity, no running water, no Internet, and no way to know when normalcy will be restored—if it ever will be. An avid survivalist, Morgan takes to the road with his prepper pack on his back.

During the grueling trek from Tallahassee to his home in Lake County, chaos threatens his every step but Morgan is hell-bent on getting home to his wife and daughters—and he’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen.

Fans of James Wesley Rawles, William R. Forstchen's One Second After, and The End by G. Michael Hopf will revel in A. American's apocalyptic tale. 

Book Review of Fruzzle's Mystery Talent: A Bed Time Fantasy Story (Children's book ages 3-10) by Karen Bruggeman

Synopsis:

Fruzzles sure look different than us, but deep down we all have a lot in common. We see others with great talents and we wonder what ours will be. Everyone of us has a special talent to discover and Fruzzles are no different.
Meet "Brown" Fruzzle and follow along as "Wizard" Fruzzle helps him to explore the many different talents. See if you can help Brown figure out what his talent is and find out if he ever discovers it.

Bonus: After you read the story, go back and see if you can find all the swirls, beginning with the town. The answer is on the copyright page. 

Review:


Fruzzle's Mystery Talent: A Bed Time Fantasy Story for Children ages 3-10 by Karen Brueggeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is a fantastic children's book for both boys and girls from the ages of 3 to 10. I loved it!

Brown Fruzzle is a very sad character whilst he tries to figure out what his "special" talent is. I felt for him, because I am still trying to figure out my "special" talent and I'm an adult! I loved being on his journey with him!

This is a super little story that captured my attention from the first page! There are some amazing illustrations that are bright and colourful, which will appeal to a youngster's eye's. The illustrator, Briana Paddock, did a wonderful job bringing the Fruzzle's to life. The story is a voyage of discovery, and how one finds his or her purpose/talent in life. Fruzzle's come in all shapes, but they all start off as brown. Once they find their talent they change colour, which represents their talent. I found myself smiling at the story, because it has such a powerfully positive message about not giving up. Brown Fruzzle finds his talent, and it is one that I wish was more prevalent in this jaded world of ours. At the end of the book, there is a mini challenge for the youngsters to do, which will keep them occupied whilst they try and count all the swirls. (For older readers mostly).

Karen Bruggeman has written a fantastic children's book that not only has a wonderful story that flowed beautifully, she has created some amazing friends for youngsters to grow up with. It's highly entertaining and educational. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

I highly recommend this book as a bedtime story for children aged 3 to 6, a read along story to those aged 5 to 7 and a read alone story for those aged 8 - 10 (depending on reading ability). I also recommend it to adults who love to read children's books. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of Prophecy: Dark Moon Rising (Vampires Realm Romance Series Book 3) by Felicity Heaton

Synopsis:

An enemy with unimaginable power and vampire houses locked in an ancient blood feud threaten to tear Prophecy and Valentine apart as they fight for their lives and their future.

With the gathering storm on the horizon and a dark evil on the rise, Prophecy and Valentine try to join their vampire bloodlines, but their attempts to form an army leave them more vulnerable than ever. As the tension between the families and, more dangerously, between Valentine, Prophecy and Venturi escalates, defeat seems inevitable.

In one decisive move, the enemy seizes power over Prophecy and she fears her terrifying visions are coming true and she will lose everyone she loves. Death, destruction and danger surround her, and only a miracle can save the world now.

As the dark moon rises, will Prophecy find the power to avert an apocalypse and fulfill her extraordinary destiny, seizing her forever after with Valentine?

The dramatic conclusion to the Prophecy story, Prophecy: Dark Moon Rising is a gripping tale of love and war that will take hold of you, set your heart racing and not let you go until the very last page.

BOOK LENGTH: 116,000 WORD NOVEL
(Equivalent to 385 page mass-market paperback)

Vampire romance books in the Vampires Realm romance series available on Kindle, listed in series order:
Prophecy: Child of Light
Prophecy: Caelestis and Aurorea
Prophecy: Dark Moon Rising
Spellbound
Reunion
Seventh Circle
Winter's Kiss
Hunter's Moon
Masquerade

Review:


Prophecy: Dark Moon Rising by Felicity E. Heaton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the third book in the Vampires Realm Series. I absolutely loved it!

Prophecy is a fantastic character. She is a very headstrong and determined young woman. Not only is she a vampire, she is a powerful witch, and now the head of the Caelestis vampire family. I really liked this character. She makes mistakes, and learns from them, but it's the relationship between the two men in her life and herself that complicates an already complicated situation!

Valentine is also a fantastic character. He is very charismatic and, although he can be a bit intense, he clearly loves Prophecy. He too is now the head of his Aurorea family. Trying to unite the two vampire families against a common foe is harder than he had anticipated. However, Venturi is getting on his last nerve!

Venturi is an interesting character. He is quite the charmer, but can be lethal when required. The Tenebrae have a reputation of being fierce warriors, and Venturi is most certainly a formidable one. I liked him very much, even though he has fallen in love with Prophecy too!

This story continues on from the end of the second book, and see's the trio trying to track down the rest of the prophecy that foretells what Prophecy's role would be - destroyer or savior - in a war against a formidable foe. This book is a roller coaster ride of action, adventure, danger and romance. I was quickly swept up in the tale and struggled to put the book down! The story is told from three points of view: Prophecy, Valentine and Venturi, which gives the reader the opportunity to see their thoughts and feelings. There are a few twists and turns in this tale that kept me guessing as to what would happen next. However, there is a battle scene that was so well described that I felt like I was actually there - it was EPIC! As I have said in my review of the previous book in the series, I am not fond of love triangles. However, the ending has a slight twist that made me snigger, and made me want to read the next book in the series, Spellbound, as soon as I can!

I am a huge fan of Felicity Heaton's books. I love her fast paced writing style, which flows beautifully, and the way her characters come to life on the page. Her attention to detail sparks my imagination, and that is why I love her work so much. I will keep reading her books for as long as she keeps writing them, and beyond. She is number one on my favourite authors list.

There are a few steamy scenes that, although not too explicit, are extremely hot! Therefore, I do not recommend this book for younger readers. However, I highly recommend this book if you love paranormal romances with an excellent story, combined with sexy vampires, werewolves and witches. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of The Tegen Cave by Inge-Lise Goss

Synopsis:

After running from her boyfriend’s powerful organized crime family, Sara Jones starts a new life in a new town. But when people around her start dying from poisonous spider bites after she receives a mysterious package with a spider concealed inside, she worries that the family has found her. Life takes an even more bizarre turn when she seems to be not only immune to the spider venom, but also surrounded by a sinister group of people she suspects is a spider cult. Even her new boyfriend starts acting suspiciously. Just who can she trust?

Review:


The Tegen Cave by Inge-Lise Goss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A friend recommended this book, so I thought I would give it a try.

Sara Jones is a wonderful character, who is on the run from her boyfriend's family. I really liked her attitude, but wanted to shake some sense into her too, as she made a few questionable decisions. However, it's her immunity to a venomous spider that has me intrigued.

This is an unusual horror/suspense that kept me hooked from the first page! The story is told from Sara's point of view and is a roller coaster ride of suspense and mystery. There is also a bit of horror in the form of spiders. Luckily, I am not squeamish about spiders. In fact, I rather admire them; they perform an important role in the food chain. If there were no spiders, we would be totally overrun by insects!
The author of this book has used arachnids to great effect. The suspense and mystery surrounding these deadly foes was masterfully written. There are several twists and turns in the story, which kept me guessing, and a fair few surprises too. However, there are a few issues I have with the storyline. The paranormal aspect was intriguing, but I was a bit disappointed with the lack of detail of the transformation process, and what it actually means to be a Tegen for Sara personally. I was also a bit confused with Sara's actions - running from her boyfriend, but then going back with him, even though the rest of his family didn't like her - and also having a new boyfriend at the same time. Another issue I had was the revenge/vigilante aspect. I am not a fan of this type of action whether you are a real person, or a character in a book. However, since the people involved were scumbags of the first order, I suppose I can see why though! The ending was satisfying and left me happy.

Inge-Lise Goss has written an intriguing horror full of mystery and suspense. I am curious to see what this author comes up with in the future.

I do not recommend this book to younger readers due to some violence and scenes of a sensual nature that, although are not explicit, are rather hot, and to readers who have arachnophobia or of a nervous disposition. However, I recommend this book if you love horror/suspense genres. - Lynn Worton

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Her Mother's Killer by Melissa Schroeder

Her Mother's Killer by Melissa Schroeder

Publication Date: April 10, 2013

A woman who can’t escape her past.

Althea Johnson would like to leave the past behind. The memories of her mother's murder lurk in her dreams and someone wants her to remember. Deciding to return to the small Texas town where it took place to deal with the demons from that night.

A man who will do anything to protect her.

Duncan can’t believe his best friend’s little sister has grown into such a wonderful bundle of curves. He is at first stunned by his reaction to her, but never one to be slow, he starts putting the moves on her. It isn’t until he is completely seduced by her that he realizes that she is putting herself in danger to solve the old crime.

A killer who will do anything to possess her.

As both of them fall in love with each other, the stalking and danger escalates. Women close to Althea’s description are being found raped and murdered. The new lovers work overtime to figure out just what went wrong 20 years earlier, not realizing the mysteries they will reveal could jeopardize everything they are fighting for.

This is a reissue and has been edited for content.

A Netgalley book review

Ok, so based on the title, I assumed this is going to be a thriller, with perhaps a touch of romance…. I was wrong. Take note that I do not read blurbs.  Nor did I see the cover when I requested this book.  Lol.

This is primarily a romance with a touch of action, a bite of suspense and gleam of intrigue.  At its core, it is however, a romance.

So as far as romances go, this is not a bad read, quite the contrary.  The suspense build up was intriguing, the attraction undeniable and the characters both likeable and easy to identify with.

The world building, the rural mountain life etc is the perfect romantic back drop for this story and served to add to basic plot line. 

Not much in the way of character development, not much needed as both the main protagonists are written as likeable, if somewhat extraordinary people made for one another.

All in all, given that I do not much care for romance books, this is one I am glad I picked up. 

http://www.amazon.com/Her-Mothers-Killer-Melissa-Schroeder-ebook/dp/B00CBMZFLY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392277809&sr=8-1&keywords=her+mothers+killer

Her Amazon profile link

http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Schroeder/e/B002BMD8Z4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1392277809&sr=8-1

Washing day, washing away book blues club.

Hi.  This is something I am trying to see if if we cannot air our views on the books we LOVE to HATE.

So I am calling it Washing day blues for short and want to know which book YOU 

yes You, LOVE to HATE.  All I need is the book name, author name and a short very short summary of why THIS particular book is not for you!

Yes we will be airing our dirty laundry for all to see..... lol.  Ill go first shall I?  

My first book, one I read last year and am still fuming over is ....

Click on the link to go to Amazon.  

Here is my review.

Karin Slaughter Thorn in my Side

Eek, ok, so I am a Karin Slaughter fan, that said this is not my favorite book by the author.

It may not be my favorite but it is one I will remember.
A short story with 1 and a half protagonists or two protagonists or two halves depending on your pov it was a story of extremes. Black vs White, Good vs Evil. Brother against brother and brothers standing together. 

The book is a fast read and the ending is as shocking as is the main points of scene development. The world building is one that is build via the protagonists and it gives the story a more intimate and a more shock worthy approach. 

I loved the psychology that was explored behind conjoined twins. 

Unique read that is for sure. 

WaAr

**

Now do not get me wrong, I love this author...but  EEK this is in such bad taste.  I could not stand it.  

Ok your turn.  Tell us which book you Love to Hate.