Book Review of Waking the Phoenix (Mythrian Realm Series Book 2) by Lindsay Avalon

Book Title: Waking The Phoenix (Mythrian Realm Series Book 2)

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 172

Author: Lindsay Avalon

Date Published: 27 August 2014

Synopsis:

As two Realms collide, the world descends into chaos.

From the moment Sha Phoenix dropped into the middle of Detective Connor Flynn’s murder scene, he had known his life would never be the same. Following her claim to be a Sorceri from the Mythrian Realm, he had received a crash course in the impossible as they had struggled to stop a madman. Unfortunately, despite their efforts to stop the Nexus, a magical barrier separating the Mythrian and Human Realms, fractured. Magic and myth are spilling over into the Human Realm, plunging everything into turmoil.

Is their love strong enough to survive the flames of the phoenix?

When Sha vanished through a portal in the middle of battle, Connor did not hesitate to follow the woman he had claimed as his. Now in the Mythrian Realm, they join forces with the Sentinels, the guardians of the Realms, to protect the world they love. Will they be able to contain the evil taking control? Or will they perish in the flames of war?

This is a continuation of Connor and Sha's story. Book 1, Breaking the Nexus, should be read first. Look for the third book coming this winter!

Review:

Waking the Phoenix by Lindsay Avalon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Mythrian Realm Series. I loved it!

Sha Phoenix is a wonderful character. I love her wit and humour! She is a part Aquarum (water magic) and part Infernum (fire magic) Sorceri. This makes her a formidable protector of the Nexus; the gateway between her world and the human one.

Connor Flynn is a fantastic character. He is a cop, who is strong, handsome and honourable. It also helps that he is very charismatic. I love his protective streak! (As an aside: I wouldn't mind being arrested by this cop!).

I have been eager to read this story for a long time; ever since the first book had been released in 2012. As soon as I found out that this book had been released, I downloaded a copy and started reading. It was well worth the wait!

This story continues from the cliffhanger at the end of the first book, and sees Sha and Connor returning through the Nexus to Mythria.

This story is not only told through Sha and Connor's point of view, but through the eyes of Ian Kendrick, Connor's police partner. I loved this alternative point of view, as it gave the reader a chance to see what was happening on both sides of the Nexus. It was also nice to meet Saia, Achaius and Luca again. We are also introduced to Alec, a teenager who is more than he seems. Though he is still an enigma, I found myself liking this mouthy teen. Alec is a bit impertinent at times, but he seems to have a good heart; I look forward to find out what his story is in time. I did feel sorry for him at times, but giggled at the adults' - especially Achaius and Aries - method of discipline.
Maestro is still causing havoc through his magic and he is as evil as ever. But I'm not sure if he's the master, or a puppet for someone else.

There is plenty of danger and intrigue, which kept me hooked from the first page. There are also several twists and turns in this story that kept me on the edge of my seat. The author's descriptions of the scenes and the characters brought the story to life. I could picture everything quite clearly. This story took me on a roller coaster ride of adventure, danger and emotion.The ending finished on totally shocking cliffhanger, and now I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series as soon as possible.

Lindsay Avalon has written an amazing paranormal romance. I love her fast paced writing style, and the story flows beautifully. Her characters are extremely likable (except for Maestro) and come alive on the page.

Due to scenes of a sexual nature that are on the explicit side, as well as some bad language and violence, I do not recommend this book for younger readers. However, I highly recommend this book if you love YA (17+), paranormal romance or fantasy. - Lynn Worton

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Why Won't Somebody Help Me? By Gladys Quintal

 

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About the book

I knew I had something going on as far as my health was concerned, but trying to get a diagnosis or to get doctors to actually listen to me became a nightmare. 
I had been living with pain, fatigue, weight gain, reflux and brain fog, going on 15 years now and really just wanted it to stop and to be able to feel 'normal' again. Most doctors just wanted to fob me off with antidepressants, they just weren't interested in what I had to say. 

This is my own personal journey to diagnosis and treatment and all the obstacles along the way.

My thoughts on this

This is a hard book to rate.  It speaks of courage to fight for your own right against people with degrees and "knowledge".  It speaks of community and support against odds where specialists say nothing is wrong, that said it is still not an easy read nor a particularly fun one.

It has it's merits but I am not gonna kid you saying that you will LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book and be engrossed in the character.  You might however find that you can relate to a very real person.

So pick up a copy and see.  

WaAr

Book Review of Cranberry Blood: Book One of the Blood Series by Elizabeth Morgan

Book Title: Cranberry Blood (Book 1 of the Blood Series)

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 320

Author: Elizabeth Morgan

Date Published: 25 August 2014

Synopsis:

Killing Vampires? Easy.
Tracking someone? Simple.
Helping, and protecting a Vampire slayer . . . . Bloody hard work!

Thirteen years ago, Brendan Daniels made a deal with a psychic. In exchange for information on the whereabouts of a Rogue Werewolf, he promised to help and protect Sofia's granddaughter. Unfortunately, he had no idea what he was letting himself, or his Pack, in for.

Nothing about Heather is simple, from her weird dietary needs to her life’s mission. The girl can handle herself, but the promise to protect her soon becomes a need, and one he can't fully understand.

Vampire Slayer.
Born Infected.
Addicted to blood . . . but not by choice.

Heather Ryan is the current Slayer in a long family line. Like all before her, she has spent her life searching for her ancestor, Marko Pavel, the Vampire her family has sworn to kill. If that isn't complicated enough, she is also a born "Infected", and to keep her from becoming insane or giving in to her darker side, she is on a very strict diet.

Now that her Grandmother Sofia has passed, it is up to Heather to take the family legacy into her own hands. Or at least, it would have been...if her Grandmother hadn't sent a Werewolf to help her.

What is the irritating Brendan supposed to help her with? Sofia never told either of them. Luckily, it doesn't take long for Heather and Brendan to find out that the Vampires have big plans, and that the Leeches have waited a long time for them both.

Review:

Cranberry Blood by Elizabeth Morgan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

This is the first book in the Blood Series. I loved it!

Heather Ryan is a wonderful character. I liked her very independent and determined attitude, but sometimes I wanted to shake her and tell her to stop being such a pigheaded idiot. She is a vampire slayer, and a darn good one at that. She is an infected (part vampire) herself; her mother was attacked while carrying her. She has to drink blood, diluted in cranberry juice, to keep healthy. Heather thought she didn't need or want help, but when Brendan Daniels turns up, she finds herself fighting more than just vampires - her attraction to this sexy werewolf.

Brendan Daniels is also a fantastic character. I was first introduced to him in the prequel to this story, She Wolf, but he was one of several secondary characters and he was not really focused on. I was glad to get to know him better in this book. He is a werewolf, sworn to help Heather after making a deal with her grandmother thirteen years previously. He has a lot of charisma and a wicked sense of humour, but he also carries a lot of pain.

I have been looking forward to reading this book. However, I was completely blown away by this story! I started to read and didn't stop until I had read the whole thing in one sitting; I was totally riveted by the storyline and the subplots within. The story is told through both Brendan and Heather's point of view. The characters, whether werewolf or vampire, were well thought out and well developed. It was nice to finally get more information about the Scottish werewolves and their lives. The vampires were truly terrifying, and not at all likable; they made me shudder!

There was a sexual tension between Heather and Brendan that permeated throughout the storyline; it fairly sizzled! I kept hoping that these two would make a move, but the opportunity never seemed to turn up. That being said, the danger they faced kept my heart pounding! Lance is one sick vampire; I am glad that he got his comeuppance. The revelation of the rogues, and their purpose, was a complete shock. In a way, I felt sorry for them; they were victims of a sick and twisted plot. The story has several twists and turns that I didn't see coming, and it ended on a cliffhanger that made me groan in frustration. Now I will have to wait for the continuing book in the series, which I sincerely hope the author is well on her way to having finished writing, because I am dying to know what is going to happen next!

Elizabeth Morgan has written a fast paced and exciting start to what would seem to be a fantastic series. I love her fast paced writing style, and the story flow was wonderful. I have added her to my favourite authors list.

Due to scenes of a sexual nature, as well as explicit bad language and violence, I do not recommend this book for readers under the age of 18. I do, however, highly recommend this book if you love erotic paranormal romances filled with sexy werewolves and a vampire slayer. - Lynn Worton

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Kerry Drewery -- A Dream of Lights

About this book...

A powerful and moving stand-alone novel for anyone who loved A GATHERING LIGHT or BETWEEN SHADES OF GREY, in which a teenage girl struggles against the odds for survival in a North Korean prison camp...From the author of A Brighter Fear. Yoora is a teenage girl living in North Korea, dreaming of the lights of foreign cities while eking out a miserable existence in a rural northern village. But then she makes a mistake: she falls in love. With someone far removed from her social class. Someone dangerous to know. When tongues start to wag, her father is executed and she is taken to a prison camp in the mountains. There, escape seems even further from her grasp. But Yoora is about to learn an important lesson: love can surprise you, and it can come in many forms..

My thinking...

Yoraa is one of the more annoying main protagonist I have come across in ages. 

In the beginning she is selfish, self absorbed and and and, SHE is a pain. She does the unthinkable after giving a friend over to the authorities due to his radio not being on the correct radio station. 

She blames herself for the result of her selfish action as well she should. 

I am not one of those people who believe that a teenager has the right to be idiotic due to their age. We expect as a society more from a 10 year old. 

Then...

Then she starts to live and suffer the consequences of her choices. This is not easy. Even though she shows remarkably slow growth and even then stifled at most she does show some and she does get to a point where she starts to get the fact that following blindly is not maybe ideal. 

I loved the communist angle. And that said, I also loathed the almost romanticism that the author uses in the start to play up the tyranny. Only later on did the contrast hit me and when I did I was astounded. 

The ending, actually the post script is the part of the book that will stay with me. I admire the fact that the author brings to light a problem mostly discarded by main stream media.

All in all, a brilliant book and yes, even though the main protagonist is annoying, her personality fits perfectly with the story line. 

WaAr

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Book Review of She-Wolf (#0.5 Prequel to Blood Series) by Elizabeth Morgan

Book Title: She-Wolf (Prequel 0.5 of the Blood Series)

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 255

Author: Elizabeth Morgan

Date Published: 25 August 2014

Synopsis:

Dealing with the Rogue Werewolves terrorizing his Pack? Simple.

Trying to convince his mate he does want to be with her? Bloody impossible.

Owen MacLaren is the Alpha's son and the Pack's second, and he has never been one to let anything get to him. So when a bunch of Rogues begin purposely dumping mutilated bodies around the Pack Keep, he is more than ready to deal with the Werewolves responsible.

But one night off and a trip to a local strip joint for a colleague's stag night changes things, and Owen soon discovers he isn't immune to everything . . . .


Being an independent Loup and travelling the world? Easy.
Having to come home and face the Werewolf who broke her young heart? Challenging.

After five years away, Clare Walker finds herself back home in Scotland, working in a strip club. The tips are decent, and she gets to dance, but it isn't a place she thought she would ever be, let alone Owen, her Pack second and the mate she has always desired.

Although Owen is determined to prove he wants to be with Clare, things can't go smoothly between them, not when they have past issues to sort out and a bunch of unusual 'Rogues' to deal with.

Review:

She-Wolf by Elizabeth Morgan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

This book is the prequel to the Blood Series, which begins with Cranberry Blood. I loved it!

Owen MacLaren is a wonderful character. He is a strong werewolf, who is second in command to his father. I liked him a lot. He is a little bit arrogant, but I suppose it comes with the territory. However, he is loyal, dependable and downright gorgeous! When he meets Clare Walker again after a long absence, he realises she's all grown up and he's met his match.

Clare Walker is also a wonderful character. She is a Loup-Garou (a female born to a male werewolf parent and not changed/bitten). She is stubborn, opinionated and determined. I liked her spunk. She is a trained dancer, but working in a strip club until something better comes up.

This is a fantastic paranormal erotic romance! I was completely engrossed in this story from the first page.
I have read books about werewolves as shifters (turning into wolves). However, I have not read stories about werewolves such as these! The werewolves I usually read about are in America, so it was a nice change of scenery for the story to be set in Scotland. The descriptions of the characters and places brought the story to life; I could picture everything quite clearly.

The reader is introduced to a few members of the pack, though not in great detail. Carter is the packs' Alpha and Owen's father. He comes across as a tough but fair leader. This story focuses mostly on Owen and Clare, and their budding relationship. The story is told from both of their view points. They have a sizzling chemistry that literally smolders on the page! I really enjoyed their sniping at each other, as they butted heads over Clare's safety.
There is plenty of danger in the form of rogues, and a few twists and turns that kept me intrigued. I kept wondering why the rogues were leaving bodies on the packs' land, and was just as frustrated as the werewolves when there was no answer forthcoming. I was a little bit sad when I reached the end of the story, as I wanted to keep reading. The slight cliffhanger at the end made me want to scream in frustration, but I am now looking forward to reading the main story arc, starting with Cranberry Blood, as soon as possible. This book could be read as a stand-alone if one wished. However, once a reader gets a taste, they will be craving more!

Elizabeth Morgan has written a fast paced and exciting prequel to what would seem to be a fantastic series. I love her fast paced writing style, and the story flow was wonderful. I have found myself becoming a huge fan of this author's work. I am glad that she is re-releasing this series as a self-published work, because it would be a shame for these characters not to be brought to life.

Due to scenes of a sexual nature that are rather on the hot and explicit side, not to mention some bad language and violence, I do not recommend this book for readers under the age of 18. I do, however, highly recommend this book if you love erotic paranormal romances filled with sexy werewolves. - Lynn Worton

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Audio/Book Review of Witch (Book One) (The Sydney Hart Mysteries 1) by Tim O'Rourke

Synopsis:

Twenty-year-old Police Officer, Sydney Hart, has always made mistakes and when she meets Michael Grayson, she soon begins to wonder if she hasn't made the biggest mistake of her life. That one moment of passion between them causes Sydney's world to spiral rapidly out of control.

Suffering from nightmares, Sydney soon realises her life and the people closest to her aren't who or what she believed them to be. Fearing she has been cursed, Sydney attempts to unravel the dark secrets that surround her, and is desperate to discover why a dying man called her 'Witch'.

Warning: Graphic content, for readers 18+

Review:

Witch by Tim O'Rourke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I won a complimentary copy of this audio book in a competition held by the author. I decided to write an honest review for it.

This is the first book in the Sydney Hart Mysteries Series. I enjoyed it.

The story is narrated by Laurel Schroeder. Her voice was pleasant to listen to; she read the story with clarity, but I found her clipped tone a bit disconcerting.

Constable Sydney Hart is a character I struggled to like. Her impetuous behaviour, especially as she is a police officer, made me want to shake her! Her detective skills also left a lot to be desired.

I started listening to this book and, although I found it a bit confusing at first, I began to enjoy it. Although this story is supposed to be a paranormal romance, I found it to be more of a paranormal thriller, with a hint of horror. The story started out as a romance, but half way through it's like the author decided to change it into a thriller.

The story was told through Sydney's point of view. Unfortunately, I found my attention wondering on occasion and I had to force myself to listen. I think it's partly because I couldn't find it within myself to like Sydney. Yes, she is young, only twenty, but she came across as a hopeless victim rather than a spunky, kickass heroine that I have gotten used to reading about in books.
It was also partly due to the narrator's clipped tone and lack of characterization for each character in the story. The only character I did like in this story was Vincent; he was sweet and funny.

The story was full of twists and turns, especially near the middle and end. These twists take the reader on an exciting roller coaster ride of mystery and suspense. Some of the revelations made were quite surprising, and one had a paranormal twist that I definitely didn't see coming! The ending was a bit sad, but a little bit creepy too. Although I enjoyed this story, I am not sure whether I will continue with this series. However, I will be keeping an eye out for other books by this author.

Tim O'Rourke has written an intriguing story, but his characters didn't feel as three dimensional as they should have. They lacked something that made them spark. Whether this was down to the narrator not doing vocal characterizations, I am not sure. His writing style is fast paced, but I felt the story didn't flow as well as it could have.

Due to scenes of a sexual nature that are rather on the explicit side, I do not recommend this book to younger readers under the age of 18. However, I recommend this book if you love paranormal romances with ghosts or thriller/mystery/suspense genres. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of Worth Forgiving by Vi Keeland

Synopsis:

They say men like a lady in the living room and a whore in the bedroom. I never knew the sentiment was reciprocal. Until I met Jax Knight. A gentleman in public, a commanding, dirty talking rogue in the bedroom.

Daughter of legendary fighter "The Saint," Lily St. Claire knows firsthand how fighters can be. As the owner of a chain of MMA gyms, she's no stranger to aggressive, dominating, and possessive men. That's why she's always kept her distance. But the day Jax Knight walks through her door she's captivated by his charm. Stunningly handsome, well mannered, Ivy League educated, and confident, he shatters all the preconceived notions she'd come to think were true about men who trained to fight.

But falling for someone so soon after her breakup wasn't something she'd planned on. And definitely not something her ex plans to allow.

***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 Forgiving by Vi Keeland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

This is the third book in the MMA Fighter series. I absolutely loved it!

Jackson (Jax) Knight is a character I have been wanting to meet since I met him in Worth the Chance. He is a very determined person, with a mind of his own. He is a fighter in spirit and body, though when he meets Lily St. Claire, he knows he's in for the fight of his life.

Lily St. Claire is a wonderful character. She is full of sass and has a stubborn streak a mile wide. I really liked her a lot. Being the daughter of a renown fighter, she is determined to keep her father's gyms in business, but she is unprepared for her attraction to a charming and sexy fighter.

I was looking forward to reading this story because I had really enjoyed the other two books. This one didn't disappoint! I was hooked from the first page.

The descriptions of the characters and the places were very vivid, and I could picture the scenes with ease. The story is told from the alternating view points of Jax and Lily. I loved Jax and Lily's first meeting; the scene made me giggle! Their attraction was palpable and fairly sizzled on the page. There was one character, however, that really got my hackles raised; his name was Caden. He's a real piece of work! Although he got what was coming to him in the end, I still think he got off a bit too lightly. Another character I didn't care for was Jax's father, who came across as a total donkey's bottom (I don't like to swear). However, I really liked his mother. Although, I personally don't understand her dependence on a lying, cheating pig of a husband, she obviously loves him. Or maybe it's the life she loves. In any case, she is a charming and warm lady. It was nice to meet up with Vince, Liv and Nico again. I was a bit disappointed that Elle wasn't there, but I suppose being a attorney kept her busy elsewhere.

The story was a fast paced roller coaster ride from beginning to end. I am not a huge fan of mixed martial arts, kick boxing or any kind of contact sport containing physical violence. However, the author has written the fight scenes with such detail that I actually felt like I was there watching them. I could even hear the crowd cheering; it gave me goosebumps! I felt sad when I reached the end of the story, because I wanted to keep reading. However, all good things must come to an end at some time or other, and I am now looking forward to reading more books by this author as soon as possible.

Vi Keeland has written another exciting erotic romance that kept me hooked from start to finish! I love her writing pace, which is fast and exciting. The story flowed wonderfully too. I love reading this author's work. She is one of my favourite contemporary romance writers, and I will continue to follow her career with interest.

As this is an erotic romance, there are several scenes of a sexual nature that are rather hot and 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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Sexual abuse : Life after Hell by Gladys Quintal

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Life after Hell by Gladys Quintal

Book Description

Publication Date: September 26, 2013

After being separated from my mother twice in my 10 short years of life, I was more than a little excited at the prospect of being reunited with her again. Unfortunately, my elation was to be short-lived when the visits to my bedroom started. Threatening to send me away again or turn the loaded gun he kept in my wardrobe on us all, he kept my silence.

It was to be another six years until I escaped the abuse of my mother’s husband and another 30 years before I was able to bring him to justice. Ironically, the one person that should have protected me and helped me fight to stop him, my mother, is still with him to this day.

Note from the author: This is a true account of the sexual and physical abuse I sustained as a child. Please be warned - this is not an easy read and contains graphic abuse themes.

Lets start at the beginning. This is a true story. The writing style is a narrative expressing the experiences as the author recalls abuse from an extremely young age. The sexual abuse part of the story starts at age ten and carries on. The abuse is graphic but never descriptive. It is no holes-barred narrative but not crude.

Not an easy read but one I believe should be read. The authors mother pathological desire to believe that her 10 year old daughter is the seductress, that she seduced a grown man, that the sex is consensual and that it is not rape, not molestation of a minor but an affair... was for me personally the worst form of abuse described in this book. That amount of traitorous desire to keep a man simply baffles the mind. Cruelty to animals is also described within context. All in all, if your a grown up I say this is a must read. If you want your children to read it please read it first so that you can decide before hand what they should and should not be exposed to!

WaAr

Since I do not think puppies will be appropriate.....

Book Review of The Jelly Bean Crisis by Jolene Stockman

Synopsis:

A total meltdown. The whole school watching. Now Poppy’s an ex-straight-A with no Plan B.

When Poppy Johnson throws away a full scholarship to Columbia, she can only blame the jelly beans. The yucky green ones? Midnight cram sessions and Saturday’s spent studying. The delicious red? The family legacy: Columbia, and a future in finance. Except now it’s starting to look like Poppy’s jelly bean theory is wrong. School has been her life until, but maybe it’s time to start living now.

Poppy has thirty days to try a new life. No school, no studying. Just jumping into every possible world. Thirty days to find her passion, her path, and maybe even love. The Jelly Bean Crisis is officially on.

Review:

The Jelly Bean Crisis by Jolene Stockman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a fantastic coming of age/teen drama story! I loved it!

Firstly, I would like to say that I LOVE the cover! I remember seeing it when it was revealed back in 2012. I had wanted to read the book then, but forgot about it over time. However, that all changed when I saw a blog page I follow do a review of the book recently. It reminded me about wanting to read it, so I downloaded a copy and started to read!

Poppy Johnson is a wonderful character. I liked her very much, but if she had been in my class at school, I would have been green with envy at her determination and drive to excel at every subject, and secretly hated her guts to boot! However, being a straight A student can be extremely stressful, so I admire her for her conviction.

The story took me back to my school days, and all the teen angst and confusion about what I wanted to do with my life. *Shiver!*

This story swept me up and carried me away! Even though I was not a straight A student by any means. I found myself empathizing with Poppy. I think every teen is confused about who they are, and where they fit in the world. Heck, I'm still trying to figure that out for myself now, and I'm an adult!
Poppy is a teen with a set goal for her future. She has a theory that life is like a bowl of jelly beans, and uses this theory to dictate her choices. In a way, I wish I had been as certain at her age! Nevertheless, an event during class turns her world up on it's head, and she is suddenly lost and confused about what she wants, and who she is. She embarks on a journey of self-discovery.

There are some really interesting moments in this book, and I found myself cheering Poppy on as she tried (and failed in some cases), to decide on her chosen path. Her two best friends, Bex and Ella, are also very likable, and are a nice foil for Poppy's frenetic confusion, but who are also trying to find their own feet and place in the world. I also liked her family members, who loved her no matter what her decisions. Poppy's father is quite strict, in his own way, but after find out a surprising secret about him, I think I understood his reaction to Poppy's decision a little more. I reached the end of the story and found myself smiling. I am not a jelly bean lover, more a jelly baby one, but this is one sweet story that will stay with me for some time to come.

Jolene Stockman has written a fantastic young adult coming of age story that touched me deeply, and reminded me that even if you haven't found your dream job, or reached the goal you set years previously, don't be afraid to keep trying. I loved her writing style, which was fast paced and witty, and the story flowed wonderfully. I will definitely be reading more of this author's books in the future.

I highly recommend this book to all teens, and adults who love to read YA novels. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of The Adventures of Holly Holstein: Holly Greets the World (Volume 1) by Jim Shroyer

Synopsis:

It is Grandma Helen's birthday and the family has come for a visit. Mika wants to see a new born calf. When a calf is born, Farmer Tom shows Mika how to feed the calf. Once the calf is nice and warm, Mika asks to name the calf. Most farmers don’t name their cows, but Farmer Tom agrees to name the calf Holly.

Review:

The Adventures of Holly Holstein by Jim Shroyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

This is a sweet children's book. I loved it!

Mika is a curious young girl, who visits the family farm to celebrate her Grandmother's 90th birthday. I liked this little girl very much. She is cute and sweet.

But, the star of the book is Holly, a Holstein calf, born in harsh conditions.

This story is a wonderful tale, with heartwarming moments and fantastic characters. The story gives children (especially those in cities) the opportunity to see what life on a farm is like. The story, although short, will keep the youngsters hooked from beginning to end.

I only had one issue with this story, and that was when Mika fed Holly a cookie. I find it odd that a calf of a few days should be offered this type of food. Granted, they eat grass as they get older, but calves, just like babies, usually only have milk for the first few days/weeks of their lives. However, as I am not a farmer/rancher, I could be mistaken.

As this is the introduction to Holly, and her new life, there is not really a lot of adventure for her yet. But, as the series progresses, I am sure that there will be action aplenty!

Every page in the book is complimented by wonderful illustrations drawn by Rita A. Kraushaar. Her pictures are beautifully drawn and give the reader a visual guide to make it easier to see - especially for those younger readers who cannot read yet.

Jim Shroyer has written a fantastic children's book, which is educational as well as fun. He has a wonderful writing style that is not too fast, nor too slow, which will keep even the most fidgety child entranced. The flow of the story was wonderful too. I would definitely read more of this author's books in the future.

I highly recommend this book to children aged 4 to 6 as a bedtime story, 5 to 8 as a read-along and 9 to 10 as a read-alone. - Lynn Worton

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Cover reveal! The Bridge of Deaths by MCV Egan

COVER REVEAL

"M.C.V. Egan twists truth and fiction until you question your perceptions...it is a story of real love, triumph and search for self." - Beckah Boyd @ The Truthful Tarot On August 15th, 1939, an English passenger plane from British Airways Ltd. crashed in Danish waters between the towns of Nykøbing Falster and Vordingborg. There were five casualties reported and one survivor. Just two weeks before, Hitler invaded Poland. With the world at the brink of war, the manner in which this incident was investigated left much open to doubt. The jurisdiction battle between the two towns and the newly formed Danish secret police created an atmosphere of intrigue and distrust. The Bridge of Deaths is a love story and a mystery. Fictional characters travel through the world of past life regressions and information acquired from psychics as well as archives and historical sources to solve "one of those mysteries that never get solved." Based on true events and real people, The Bridge of Deaths is the culmination of 18 years of sifting through conventional and unconventional sources in Denmark, England, Mexico and the United States. The story finds a way to help the reader feel that s/he is also sifting through data and forming their own conclusions. Cross The Bridge of Deaths into 1939, and dive into cold Danish waters to uncover the secrets of the G-AESY.

Learn more about this book and the special 75th anniversary re-release at www.thebridgeofdeaths.com.

Join us as we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the crash of the G-AESY and the start of World War II with a month-long history-laden event that will entertain, educate, and enlighten you! As part of this event, a revised version of The Bridge of Deaths, this award-winning and highly-acclaimed account of the events of that fateful day in 1939, will be re-released. If you would like to be a part of the month-long anniversary event from September 1 to September 30, please go here: http://bit.ly/TBOD75Event.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

M.C.V. Egan is the pen name chosen by Maria Catalina Vergara Egan. Catalina was born in Mexico City, Mexico in 1959, the sixth of eight children, in a traditional Catholic family. From a very young age, she became obsessed with the story of her maternal grandfather, Cesar Agustin Castillo--mostly the story of how he died. She spent her childhood in Mexico. When her father became an employee of The World Bank in Washington D.C. in the early 1970s, she moved with her entire family to the United States. Catalina was already fluent in English, as she had spent one school year in the town of Pineville, Louisiana with her grandparents. There she won the English award, despite being the only one who had English as a second language in her class. In the D.C. suburbs she attended various private Catholic schools and graduated from Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, Maryland in 1977. She attended Montgomery Community College, where she changed majors every semester. She also studied in Lyons, France, at the Catholic University for two years. In 1981, due to an impulsive young marriage to a Viking (the Swedish kind, not the football player kind), Catalina moved to Sweden where she resided for five years and taught at a language school for Swedish, Danish, and Finnish businesspeople. She then returned to the USA, where she has lived ever since. She is fluent in Spanish, English, French and Swedish. Maria Catalina Vergara Egan is married and has one son who, together with their five-pound Chihuahua, makes her feel like a full-time mother. Although she would not call herself an astrologer she has taken many classes and taught a few beginner classes in the subject. She celebrated her 52nd birthday on July 2nd, 2011, and gave herself self-publishing The Bridge of Deaths as a gift. Find M.C.V. Egan and The Bridge of Deaths at www.thebridgeofdeaths.com.

Book Review of Flying With Fire by Emma Mills

Synopsis:

Nobody who enters Ravenwood school will ever be the same again.

Fifteen year old Brooke has been in care all her life. Now she finally has an adoptive family who don’t want to send her back to The Home; but their solution for her problems is much more dangerous.

A secret boarding school for possessed children. A boarding school where any unnatural behaviour will be stamped out. A boarding school with no escape; where witchcraft is punished and vampires are murdered in the sunlight.

Brooke is the only one with the power to escape the security wards, yet she must find a way to help them all before it is too late.

Review:

Flying With Fire by Emma Mills
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

This is a fantastic urban fantasy, which is a prequel to the Witchblood series. However, this could be read as a stand-alone.

Brooke Gardner is a fantastic character. She is a young teenager of 15, and an orphan. I liked this young woman as she tried to cope with nightmares that seem real, and a life that spiraled out of control. She is sent to a special boarding school for "troubled" children, where she finds out that she is not a normal human. She is an Elemental witch.

I have read the Witchblood series, so was eager to read this book as soon as I heard about it.This story captured my attention from the first page.

There are some wonderful characters in this story, and we are introduced to Brittany, the young witch who later meets Jess in the Witchblood series. We also meet Leo, a half-human/angel. I must admit that I did like Ember, who was also a witch, as well as Caleb and Blade. These characters were lifelike and interesting. The Headmistress of Ravenwood is, however, a fanatic with a sadistic bent. She is determined to stamp out any paranormal activity such as witchcraft, which she sees as possession.

The story was full of action and danger. I loved the way the story unfolded, but I found some of the plot was not as sharp as it could have been, though there are several twists and turns that surprised me. It is not an easy book to read, as there are some very disturbing scenes of torture and violence. I would have loved to have seen more interaction between Brooke and Leo, but as there was a major plot twist concerning these two characters, I suppose it wasn't possible. I was a little disappointed when I reached the end of the story, because I wanted to keep reading!

Emma Mills has written another fantastic YA novel. This book, however, is rather darker than her previous series. I loved the fast pace of the story, and it flowed beautifully.

Due to the mention of Electroshock Therapy and drug therapy, I do not recommend this to younger readers. However, I highly recommend this YA Dark Urban Fantasy if you love YA Paranormal Romance, Dark Fantasy or Horror genres. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of Tempted by a Rogue Prince (Eternal Mates Paranormal Romance Series Book 3) by Felicity Heaton

Synopsis:

New York Times and USA Today Best-Selling Paranormal Romance Author Felicity Heaton presents: 

Tempted by a Rogue Prince (Eternal Mates Paranormal Romance Series Book 3)
An elf prince on the verge of losing himself to the darkness, Vail is maddened by the forty-two centuries he was under the control of a witch and forced to war with his brother. Now, he roams Hell seeking an escape from his terrible past and the heads of all who bear magic. When demons of the Fifth Realm capture him, he sees a chance to end his existence, but when he wakes in a cell to a beautiful female, he finds not death but his only shot at salvation—his true fated mate.

Captured by the enemy of the Third Realm when the war ended, Rosalind has spent months in the cells of the Fifth Realm with her magic bound, forced to heal the new king’s demon warriors, and haunted by the lives she has taken. When she’s brought to heal an unconscious man, she discovers her only hope of escape has come in the form of her worst nightmare and the first part of a prediction that might spell her doom—a devastatingly handsome and dangerous dark elf prince.

Unwilling to fall under the control of anyone ever again, Vail must escape before the Fifth King can use him as a pawn in a deadly game of revenge, but he cannot leave without Rosalind, the woman who looks at him with dark desire in her stunning eyes and awakens a fierce hunger in his heart. A witch who drives him mad with need even as the darkness within whispers she will enslave him too.

Can Rosalind escape her fate as they embark on a journey fraught with danger and resist the temptation of her rogue elf prince? And can Vail overcome the memories that madden him in order to seize his chance for salvation and the heart of his fated female forever?

Paranormal Romance Books in the Eternal Mates Series
Kissed by a Dark Prince
Claimed by a Demon King
Tempted by a Rogue Prince
Hunted by a Jaguar - coming in 2015

Review:


Tempted by a Rogue Prince by Felicity Heaton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the third book in the Eternal Mates Series. I loved it!

Vail is a very complex character. He is the younger brother of Loren. I was unsure whether I liked him when I first met him in Kissed by a Dark Prince, which was the first book in the series. However, after reading this story and getting to know him better, I have since changed my mind about him. Vail's battle with his darkness actually made me admire him.

Rosalind is a wonderful character. I loved her bravery on the battlefield during the war between the Demon King (Thorne) of the Third Realm and the Demon King of the Fifth Realm in Claimed by a Demon King. Captured and forced to heal demons of the Fifth Realm, she now finds herself having to heal a stranger and fighting her attraction for him.

I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this book, as I have fallen in love with this series.
Vail's story is not an easy one to read, as his past has been a tortured nightmare. The abuse that he endured for all those years would have broken any man. However, Vail has fought his abuser's hold and, even though severely damaged, has managed to hold on to his sanity with clawed finger tips. Rosalind is light to his dark. She is a born healer, but even she cannot heal the deep wounds left by Kordula, the witch that had abused Vail.
This story is told from both Vail and Rosalind's points of view, which gave me a better understanding of their lives. I liked how Vail gave Rosalind a nickname without him knowing her name at first, and I found this to be very touching. There was also another character that was introduced; an incubus called Fenix. I liked this laconic incubus, and I hope to read his story soon.
This story has a lot of violence in the form of torture and fighting, but there are also moments of tenderness and sweetness between the two main characters, which balances the tale. The characters are well developed and lifelike, and I could imagine the scenes in my minds eye with ease. There are several twists and turns in this tale, which kept me hooked from beginning to end. I found myself on an emotional roller coaster throughout the book; in several places I burst into tears. The end of the story left me smiling though, and I am now looking forward to reading the next 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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Audio/Book Review of Eternal Island by K.S. Haigwood & Ella Medler

Synopsis:

A place where vampires rule, witches play, danger lurks and dreams really do come true.

Eternal Island is a paranormal suspense novel, deeply rooted into myth. Vampires and magic form a unique backdrop to a love story with long reaching consequences. Human girl Ariana Lochalan finds herself transported from the relative calm of her ‘Nowhere, Arkansas’ life into a diametrically opposite existence when she discovers she is a powerful witch and meant to wed High Vampire of Eternal Island, Abe Cambridge. Despite first-sight magnetism, the two protagonists are being pushed apart, obstacles tripping them at every step, outside forces interfering and threatening their peace, and ultimately their lives. A world rich in magic and intrigue, Eternal Island is the first instalment of a saga which has love at its core and delves through the mire that is human nature in a turmoil of feeling and emotion.

Would courage, resilience and love be enough to bring together two soul mates?

How much would you sacrifice to save the one who owns your heart?

Review:

Eternal Island by K.S. Haigwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book in an intriguing paranormal romance series. I loved it!

I downloaded this book as an audio book, so that I could listen to it while doing household chores. This audio book was narrated by Melora Kordos, who did an excellent job in bringing this story to life. I loved her interpretation of the story and found her narration a pleasure to listen to.

Adriana Lochlan is a character I liked very much. She is a human, who has suffered a terrible loss, and she finds out that she is a witch and destined to marry the High Vampire of Eternal Island. She, unfortunately, does not cope with stress very well and tends to faint at the smallest provocation, but she grows a backbone as the story progressed. I loved watching this character grow into the person she was always meant to be.

Abe Cambridge is the High Vampire of Eternal Island. He is a great character, but I thought he could have had a more deadly alpha vibe. Nevertheless, he is a fair and just ruler of the Island and his subjects respect him.

This is a totally unique paranormal romance. I was intrigued with the premise of the story and was hooked from the beginning. The characters have their own quirks and foibles. The story is told from various points of view, which gave the story an interesting twist. I did, however, find some of the dialogue so cheesy, I cringed! However, this cheesiness gave the characters, especially Abe, an endearing quality. I don't know if it was the interpretation and inflections of the narrator, but I found myself doing more than one eye roll at the apparent teenage reactions in a nine hundred and fifty four year old vampire. Granted, he had never been in love before, so these emotions were new to Abe, but I wanted to smack him on the back of his head and tell him to "snap out of it"! However, I loved the tongue in cheek humour, which had me giggling in places.
There are some other intriguing characters in the story. I really liked meeting Rainey, a talented psychic and witch. She has a wicked sense of humour! I also liked meeting Jonah, who also happened to be Abe's cousin. This character is witty, a bit of a ladies man and charismatic, but he is also loyal. I wasn't overly fond of Julia and Max. These two characters were rather dark and dangerous. Julia is a witch and a vampire, who is determined to be the High Vampiss of the Island and is willing to kill for it. Max is under her spell.
The story is full of twists and turns, suspense and mystery; the romance aspect was sweet and loving. I loved the ending, and I am now looking forward to reading/listening to the second book as soon as possible.

K.S. Haigwood and Ella Medler have written a wonderful paranormal romance. I loved their fast paced writing style, and the flow of the story was wonderful.

I recommend this story if you love older YA or paranormal romance genres. - Lynn Worton

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Audio/Book Review of Hell's Gift (Save My Soul Book 2) by K.S. Haigwood

Synopsis:

Depression consumes the guardian angel, Rhyan, after his human charge chooses her soulmate over him. Filled with anger and despair, he lashes out. And when his hate-filled words land him neck-deep in Hell, he realizes he's gone too far. He expects trouble, but not to discover his own soulmate in the fiery depths. Abigail is there with good reason, but she's done her time, and in order to save them both, Rhyan must strike a deal with the Devil. The stakes are higher than ever before, with his soul, his friends and even the fate of Heaven and Earth in jeopardy. If he fails, Rhyan stands to lose more than he ever feared. Will true love be denied? It will take everything he's got to break down the traps Lucifer puts in his way. New lines are drawn and old scores are settled, and Rhyan is in for the fight of his life. With Abigail as the prize, and humanity in the balance, he will stop at nothing to claim...Hell's Gift.
*This novel contains explicit content of violence, descriptive sexual scenes and strong language not suitable for anyone under the age of 18*

Review:


Hell's Gift by K.S. Haigwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Save My Soul Series. I loved it!

I downloaded this book as an audio book, so that I could listen to it while doing household chores. This audio book was narrated by Troy Duran. I loved his narration. He did a fantastic job! His tone was melodic and smooth, and I found myself drawn into the story more easily. I would definitely listen to more books narrated by him.

Rhyan is a guardian angel. Specifically, Kendra Larkin's from the first book. I liked him from the first time I met him. He has a great sense of duty, and is determined to keep her safe. But his bitterness at losing the woman he loves lands him in Hell.

This book was a delight to listen to. I was told that this story was ten times better than the first one, and I would have to concur! I found the world building and storytelling a lot better than the first book. The story is told through several different points of view, which gave me a better understanding of the actions and motivations of the characters involved. The characters also had more depth to them and were more lifelike. I loved this story so much more because of it.

Abigail is a complex character, who is paying for her past sins. She is now one of the princesses of Hell, and is in charge of one of the seven kingdoms - Greed. She is also Rhyan's soulmate. I wasn't sure if I liked her at first, but as the story unfolded, I found myself feeling sorry for her. I didn't pity her though. She did terrible things, but only to survive in a hostile environment.

Lucifer, on the other hand, was a real piece of work. Although he's the king of Hell, he lets his princes and princesses rule over the seven kingdoms on his behalf. If, for any reason, they did not perform their duties to his satisfaction, his wrath was swift and deadly. He made my skin crawl!

The story is full of action, and I found myself holding my breath as Rhyan made a deal with the Devil to get his soulmate out of Hell. His journey through the seven realms was full of challenges and dangerous pitfalls, but it was the final showdown with Murray (Adam's guardian demon from the first book), which had me sitting on the edge of the seat. There are several twists and turns, but there was one shocking moment that completely threw me, as I didn't see it coming. The end of the story, though, left me feeling happy. I am now wondering if the author will be continuing this series with Jocelyn's and Thoros's story. I guess I will just have to wait and see!

K.S. Haigwood has written a wonderful paranormal romance. I loved her fast paced writing style, and the flow of the story was wonderful. I am fast becoming a fan of hers, and am looking forward to reading her other paranormal series she has published as soon as possible.

Due to scenes of violence, abuse and some explicit sexual scenes, I do not recommend this book to younger readers. However, I recommend this story if you love older YA or erotic paranormal romance genres. - Lynn Worton

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On Shadowed Wings (An Ash Grove Short Story) by Amanda DeWees

Click on the pic to go to Amazon.Com

Blurb via Goodreads

In this short story set in North Carolina, high-school senior Gail and college student Jim are drawn together on Beltane night when they team up to seek a mysterious butterfly hatching--and save a little girl from danger.

My Review

On Shadowed Wings (An Ash Grove Short Story|) by Amanda DeWees

This story is a full story even if it is a prequel to the series.  Having read some of the books in this series I can tell you now that this is a perfect kick off point to an awesome series. 

The author took a world almost visible from the corner of your eye, made it real, gave it gravity and added joy and sorrow to it all the while keeping it magic.  Keeping it within and without our reach.  While your reading, this world is as real as the one in which you take a sip of tea.  When you put the book down to find your tea has gone cold, you want….no need to return.  Brilliant.

WaAr