Book Review of Lucy and the Tunnel by J S Rumble

Book Title: Lucy and the Tunnel

Genre: Children's Chapter Book

Pages: 47

Author: J.S. Rumble

Date Published: 7 December 2017

Synopsis:

Lucy's family get taken hostage by her mother's step-cousin's half-sister...
Wow, that was a mouthful!
Using her quick wit Lucy is in the middle of saving the day, but then something goes horribly wrong and she ends up somewhere unexpected.
Will she find her way back?
Will she save her family?
Will her mother's step-cousin's half-sister get her comeuppance?

Review:

Lucy and the Tunnel by J.S. Rumble
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a fantastic tale about a brave little girl called Lucy.

Lucy is a very smart eleven-year-old who, in an attempt to rescue her family from a crazy and greedy lady, finds herself going on a huge adventure when she accidentally falls through a portal and meets a bee-like creature called Dandelion. Whilst attempting to get home she faces many challenges, each one more dangerous or disgusting than she could ever have imagined. Will she ever get home in one piece?

As I said above, this is a fantastic chapter book that had me gasping in surprise or laughing at some of the scenes. I am not the intended age for this book, but the author's imagination seems to have no bounds. This is the third chapter book I've read from this author and each book is as different as chalk and cheese, though just as entertaining.

This story takes one brave little girl and throws her into some imaginative and creative problems. However, the one character I really felt sorry for was Dandelion. She is the keeper of a tunnel that lost souls find themselves in when they leave one world and get lost when travelling to the after-life. She is serving penance for a terrible mistake she made, but the author doesn't delve too deeply into this aspect, so the reader is not quite sure how serious the mistake was or when Dandelion's penance will end. What the author does do is use her vivid imagination to bring the tunnel that Dandelion calls home to life. The tunnel has several doors to different 'worlds' and each door is as different as the worlds they guard. I loved the nose door and I'm sure the children will too as the method of opening it is rather gross. *shudder*. The eye one brought a tear to my eye, and not in a good way either!

This book is ideal for children with short attention spans as it's only 47 pages long and would be ideal as a quick bedtime story. I must admit that I would have loved if the story was longer, but then it wouldn't be a chapter book. Nevertheless, I was sad to reach the end. The story ends satisfactorily and leaves the reader with an impression that there will be many more adventures for Lucy in the future. I can't wait!

J.S. Rumble has written an entertaining chapter book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I love her writing style, which is not particularly fast paced though easy enough for children to follow whether reading on their own, or being read to by their parents. The flow is wonderful too. I would definitely consider reading more of her books in the future.

I highly recommend this chapter book to young children aged 4-10, and to adults looking for a chapter book to keep their little ones entertained. - Lynn Worton

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About The Author:

Sorry, there is no information available on this author and, as such, I cannot find anything about her.

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Crash by Keith Houghton

https://www.amazon.com/Crash-compelling-psychological-thriller-wont-ebook/dp/B073P8TZNF/ref=la_B005UMEUJA_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1516363782&sr=1-8

 

 

The back of the book thingie we all glance at before placing the book in our basket:

 

What if you couldn’t remember the worst thing you’d ever done?

When Jed Allen wakes up at a desk in New York City, he has no idea who he is. The evidence around him shows he’s a hotshot architect, and a photo in his wallet reveals he has a beautiful girlfriend named Cassie. But when he goes home to seek her help, Cassie is nowhere to be found.

Self-penned notes remind Jed that he’s been suffering bouts of amnesia since a car crash nine months ago. As he plays private detective with the facts of his own life, he discovers more and more about his character. But when he finds a bloodied dress in the trunk of his car, amid news reports of a serial killer abducting women from Central Park, Jed has to confront the possibility that his lost memories could contain the darkest secrets imaginable…

Nobody around him has the answers to his questions. Who is the killer? And where has Cassie gone?

 

Why I think you should read it.

 

The characters are AMAZING.  Really.  You end up not liking or disliking anybody but flip flopping from the one to the other. 

 

The plot has an early hook and it keeps you hooked.  Neither totally predictable nor so far fetched that it is totally unbelievable and with those amazing characters...

 

The scenes are well described and a lot of the time the isolation our "Hero" is experiencing is perfectly reflected in the where and when of the book.

 

In all I believe that most people will find this book as enjoyable as I do.  So take this four star review to the bank and get your own copy.  Perfect time... the weekend is winking...

 

 

Book Review of Unchained by a Forbidden Love (Eternal Mates Paranormal Romance Series Book 15) by Felicity Heaton

Book Title: Unchained by a Forbidden Love (Eternal Mates #15)

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

Pages: 330

Author: Felicity Heaton

Date Published: 14 December 2017

Synopsis:

Lost to the darkness, Fuery wages a daily war against the corruption that lives within him, constantly in danger of slipping into the black abyss and becoming the monster all elves fear. Work as an assassin gives him purpose, but what reason is there to go on when he killed the light of his life—his fated mate?

Shaia has spent forty-two centuries mourning her mate. Tired and worn down, she agrees to wed a male of her family’s choosing, following tradition that has always bound her as a female and hoping she will be able to gain just a little freedom in return. But as she resigns herself to being the mate of a male she could never love, fate places an old friend in her path—one who tells her that her lost love is alive.

Will Shaia find the courage to break with tradition and leave the elf kingdom in search of her mate? And as a ray of light pierces his soul again, can Fuery find the strength to win his battle against the darkness or will it devour him and that light of their forbidden love forever?

Review:

Unchained by a Forbidden Love by Felicity Heaton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

Fuery is a fantastic character. He was introduced to the reader a lot earlier in the series, but hasn't had a chance until now to tell his story. He is an Elf and is working as an assassin alongside Harbin, who's story was told in book eight - Marked by an Assassin, and Hartt, who's story is yet to be told. Unfortunately, due to first fighting in a long war between the Elf Prince brothers, Loren and Vail, and his career as an assassin, he has become tainted by a darkness that threatens to overwhelm him and turn him into a monster with no conscience or mercy. When he learns that his fated mate whom he thought he had killed in a fit of madness is still alive, Fuery must battle the darkness within to claim her once more before its too late.

Shaia is also a fantastic character. I loved meeting her. She is a feisty elf, but she also has a nasty habit of allowing her family to dictate her life for her. I'm not sure if this is because she is looking for their approval or just has a low self-esteem problem. Nevertheless, she met and fell in love with Fuery forty-two centuries ago, but thought he died in a battle between the two princes not long after they became mates. Now, as her family is forcing her into a relationship she doesn't want, she is given a glimmer of hope when she finds out that Fuery wasn't killed at all. Determined, Shaia embarks on a dangerous mission to win her mates heart once more.

I absolutely love the Eternal Mates world. I started to read this book and I was quickly pulled in. It kept me riveted from beginning to end.

The story is told through the eyes of both Shaia and Fuery, which gives the reader a chance to see their thoughts and feelings. The characters living within the Eternal Mates universe have a strength within them that helps them to survive. However, they also have flaws and fears, which makes them lifelike and relatable. The heat between the main characters blazes white hot on the pages, and left me breathless at times with their intensity.

I did wonder if this series is becoming too formulaic for me. Don't get me wrong, I do love a good romance (paranormal or otherwise), but if this is a series with a story arc hidden amongst the pages (Archangel anyone?), this book didn't have anything to add to it. Sometimes its good to take a step out of the story arc and then bring the characters in at a later date back into the story arc. I am not sure if this is what the author is doing, but I am also a reader who would like more progression on the story arc front. The series is on book fifteen and each story in the series is a stand-alone, but since there seems to be a vague story arc, there must be a conclusion. However, it seems to me that the author is drawing it out a bit too long. I can understand why she is doing this; I too love the Eternal Mates world and don't wish it to end either, but when the story arc is dragged out in this fashion I start to loose interest in a series. This doesn't mean I won't read any more of the series, only that, in my opinion, the series is becoming a little tired. Perhaps the author should focus on one of the other book series she is working on, Guardians of Hades for instance, or something else for a bit before coming back to this series again. I would much rather have quality over quantity when it comes to a book series, especially one I love.

Felicity Heaton has written another fast paced, sexy paranormal romance that I thoroughly enjoyed! I love her fast paced writing style, which flows effortlessly from scene to scene. She is on top of my favourite author's 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, cat shifters, succubi, incubi, angels, dragons, demons and demonesses. - Lynn Worton

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About The Author:

Felicity Heaton is a NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY and International Best-Selling Author writing passionate paranormal romance books and series for adults.

In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons!

If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, her best-selling Her Angel romance series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm romance series or any of her stand alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try her Vampire Erotic Theatre romance series. Or if you like hot-blooded alpha heroes who will let nothing stand in the way of them claiming their destined woman then try her Eternal Mates series. It’s packed with sexy heroes in a world populated by elves, vampires, fae, demons, shifters, and more. If sexy Greek gods with incredible powers battling to save our world and their home in the Underworld are more your thing, then be sure to step into the world of Guardians of Hades.

Fans of paranormal romance books by authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter, Larissa Ione, Kresley Cole and Christine Feehan will love Felicity's books too.

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If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:

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Book Review of The Timekeeper by Miss Mae

Book Title: The Timekeeper

Genre: Science Fiction/Horror

Pages: 33

Author: Miss Mae

Date Published: 3 December 2017

Synopsis:

An indescript antique shop.
Set along an indescript street.

Filled with things not borrowed.
Filled with things not blue.

But filled with shadows and secrets
And one man who keeps the difference.

Step inside Mr. Mortimer’s Antique Store.
He has the one item you always dreamt of.

Review:

The Timekeeper by Miss Mae
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a short story written by one of my favourite authors.

Unfortunately, I didn't feel that it was one of her best works. It starts off well and I got a chill as I began reading the story. However, as I got further into the story, I found myself becoming a little disappointed that the plot was virtually non-existent. It became a series of Ground Hog Day type events that never really went anywhere. The character of Mr. Mortimer was sufficiently creepy, but the reader never gets to see what happens to the customers in his antique store. I realise that the author may have done this on purpose to keep the suspense and horror going, but after the third or fourth person disappears/is lured by a magical device with no real explanation, it seemed to make the story trite. I would have loved it if this story was a little longer and the author showed what Mr. Mortimer was doing with his customers/victims. Or if he was a victim in as much as his customers in the vein of The Little Shop of Horrors, where the magical item (in this case) uses him to procure and lure victims to appease its appetite. This story felt unfinished in my opinion.

Having said all that, I still love reading books by this author and hope to read more of her books in the future. I know she can do better. I love her fast paced writing style and the flow is fantastic, as usual. I'm just saddened that this book just didn't reach me on an emotional level, or appear to be one of her usual entertaining reads.

As there are no scenes of a sexual nature, nor any profanity, younger readers would be fine while reading this short story. However, I recommend this book to readers who are looking for a quick read if you have a spare five minutes. - Lynn Worton

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About The Author:

Miss Mae is an award winning, best selling author. "Said the Spider to the Fly" has consistently rated outstanding reviews and has won the esteemed title of Best Book of the Week for The Long and the Short of It Reviews and from The Romance Studio. It can be purchased both in digital format and in print. "When the Bough Breaks", a young adult coming-of-age story won the 2009 P & E Readers' Poll in the YA category.

Her first book, "See No Evil, My Pretty Lady" had previously only been available as a digital book. Now it can be purchased in print from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and CreateSpace. Visit her website (http://www.themissmaesite.com) for the links.

The highly acclaimed "It's Elementary, My Dear Winifred" won a 2009 Top Ten Read at MyShelf.com. Out of print for a couple of years, this fast-paced, action filled 'who-dun-it' is now back with a brand new cover! It's in print at Amazon and in digital format at various online estores.

Miss Mae also enjoys writing humor and non-fiction articles. Some of her publications can be found in The Front Porch Magazine, Good Old Days, and WritersWeekly.

Her alter ego, M.M., penned a light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek fantasy tale titled "Ahoy Gum Drop!" where her bumbling, fumbling reporter, I.B. Nosey, is introduced to the world wide web of cyberspace. Check him out at Feeling Nosey? (http://feelingnosey.blogspot.com)

Author Links:

Amazon Author Page ; Goodreads ; Facebook ; Twitter