Review: Judas Son of Simon

Synopsis:

Library Review, March 15, 2017 review: “In Molyneux’s skillful hands, the story comes alive in a new way that humanizes Judas and provides insight into the life of Jesus…Emotionally intense and intricately plotted, this provocative novel profiles Judas in unexpected ways.” 
Rome is waging a “culture war” against all things Jewish, seeking to wipe away Israelite identity, culture, and faith. Revolt simmers in Judea and Galilee, as common Israelites chafe under Roman rule. Conflict rages between the various Jewish parties. Plots swirl in the palaces of Pilate, Antipas, and Caiaphas, as they struggle to maintain their tenuous grip on power, worried that Jesus will lead the people to revolt against Roman rule.
The most influential and educated of Jesus’ disciples is Judas Iscariot. Israel is a thriving economic engine of wealth. Nazareth is a suburb of Galilee’s capital. Capernaum is a center of learning, taxation, and trade, on the world’s most important highway. Each chapter of Judas Son of Simon reveals new and starling surprises about Jesus, his disciples, and first-century Israel. Think you know about Judas’ death? You don’t!
Christian and Hebrew Scriptures provide the foundation for Judas Son of Simon, supplemented by the writings of Josephus, and numerous ancient and archeological sources. Join Judas, and the other disciples, on their perplexing spiritual journey. As you do, your understanding of Jesus will be transformed.
To find out more go to: https://www.amazon.com/Judas-Son-Simo…

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Judas Son of Simon by Daniel Molyneux is by far a great historical novel. The tale takes a deeper look into what, how, why Judas got to where he did. A better understanding of it came from reading this book. There are a lot of historical facts woven throughout the pages. Bringing the events to life. Faith, betrayal, hatred, violence, hope, and forgiveness are found here, as the main themes. The book needs some good proofreading. Other than that the plot was entertaining and enticed me to the characters’ journey. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, and I recommend it to readers worldwide. Forgiveness is welcome to all you seek it. 

Review: The Scot Beds His Wife

Synopsis:

The Scot Beds His Wife is the next lush, captivating Victorian romance in the Victorian Rebels series by Kerrigan Byrne.

They’re rebels, scoundrels, and blackguards—dark, dashing men on the wrong side of the law. But for the women who love them, a hint of danger only makes the heart beat faster.

Gavin St. James, Earl of Thorne, is a notorious Highlander and an unrelenting Lothario who uses his slightly menacing charm to get what he wants—including too many women married to other men. But now, Gavin wants to put his shady past behind him…more or less. When a fiery lass who is the heiress to the land he wishes to possess drops into his lap, he sees a perfectly delicious opportunity…

A marriage most convenient…

Samantha Masters has come back to Scotland, in a pair of trousers, and with a whole world of dangerous secrets from her time spent in the Wild West trailing behind her. Her only hope of protection is to marry—and to do so quickly. Gavin is only too willing to provide that service for someone he finds so disturbingly irresistible. But even as danger approaches, what begins as a scandalous proposition slowly turns into an all-consuming passion. And Gavin discovers that he will do whatever is necessary to keep the woman he has claimed as his own…

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Scot Beds His Wife by Kerrigan Byrne is the most fascinating yet most complex plot line I’ve ever read. This historical tale was engaging from the start. Never a dull moment. Dark, sad, and unforgettable. Both bad and good. The characters had to deal with a lot. From family that was no good, to even worse situations. These past memories have left deep wounds festering for so long, that it takes almost to the end to find any lightness within them and their future. 

Gavin St. James, Earl of Thorne, had a past that literally gave scars. Wounds that were both physical and emotional. His father was cruel to him, his siblings, and to the women his dad brought home. The jerk of a father who put his young boys through absolute hell. He forced them to participate in cruel punishments to women. Treated their mother like a prisoner…and took their innocence of childhood away. Gavin had to grow up fast. His hatred for his father fueled his energy to get revenge. But his older brother Liam beat him to it. Then, there’s this lass who comes tumbling into his path. Sam…she makes him want things he never thought he wanted or could have.

Samantha Masters is a woman who grew up the hard way. Her family were going to give her to some pervert. So, she escaped by marrying a man who was rotten to the core. The Master brother were cruel, reckless, and dangerous. Samantha is a pro with guns. Her husband has threatened to kill a young innocent woman…only in split seconds, Sam does the unthinkable. By doing so, she has sealed her fate. But then, the victim became her hero. Giving her a new life and a new chance at redemption…a path that leads her straight into the sexy lord, Gavin…

What started off as two enemies fighting turns into much more passionate, fun, and unforgettable for two broken souls. At first, they fight their feelings and attraction. But as times goes by and trouble comes to them, they end up wanting what they thought they can’t have. The Scot Beds His Wife is a beautifully written story. Full of action, intrigue, suspense, and romance.  There’s also a lot of humor. I loved it. Kerrigan Byrne is a master of historical romances…I can’t wait to read more by her. Overall, I highly recommend this book to all. 

Review: Protecting the Enemy

Synopsis: 

Protecting the Enemy was originally published as Honor Bound. It has since been expanded, revised, and re-edited.
Twelve years ago, I gave up the love of my life because my family made the relationship impossible. Now that Ali has come back to me, I’m not going to give her up again.
It’s been years since I’ve seen her, and I know she’s hated me all this time. I never expected to see her working as an event planner for one of my father’s business partners. But here she is, always snooping around and getting into trouble. I’m supposed to be providing security, but I can’t stop thinking about her.
She’s up to something, and it might put her in danger. She sees me as the enemy now. Maybe I am, but I’m not going to lose her again. I might be hired to protect the man she’s working against, but my heart only wants to protect her. 

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Protecting the Enemy by both Samantha Chase and Noelle Adams is the second installment to their new romance series. This book is another tale about second chances. A romance that existed but never got the chance to bloom until now. But there’s plenty of obstacles to get through first. Love is messy, complex, and complicated. It can leave damage…

Hatred, anger, danger, and sparks ignite in this exciting book. I felt closer to these characters than the previous book. However, I still miss the full fledge magic that Samantha Chase always brings to her books. Seeing as this is co-written, it’s hard to  feel that magic that I’m so used to feeling. But it’s still worth reading every damn page. I was engaged. Hooked. Intrigued by ehatwould transpire between the two protagonists. Writers Samantha Chase and Noelle Adams create a chemistry that lingers far after one finishes reading. Overall, I recommend this second title to readers everywhere. Protecting the Enemy is a contemporary full of heat and action. 

Review: Family Sins

Synopsis: 

MURDER IN EDEN 
Felled by a cowardly shot to the back, Stanton Youngblood has just enough time before he dies to leave a single clue to his killer’s identity: the word Wayne, scrawled in his own blood. 
That word means everything to his widow. Leigh Youngblood was once Leigh Wayne, but she left her wealthy family behind thirty years ago when she fell in love with Stanton, a betrayal the Waynes have never forgiven. Now she publicly vows to discover which of her siblings thinks money and power are enough to cover up a murder. 
Back in town to find his father’s killer, prodigal son Brody finds his search for justice comes with an unexpected ray of light. He’s loved Talia Champion forever, but when she said she couldn’t marry him, he left town and never looked back. This time it’s Talia who needs him, and it isn’t in him to deny her anything. 
But the killer still has a score to settle, and if that means spilling more blood—so much the better. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

Family Sins by Sharon Sala is a dark and intriguing tale. A romantic suspense novel that made me cry, laugh, and feel terrified. Fear, anger, and revenge are found on every page. One family full of hatred comes to a hault. Their sins are their downfall. Neglecting a sister. Leigh was the smartest one. She was also kind. Leaving behind her bad family for love. They threatened to kill her husband. Now thirty years later, their threat is fulfilled. Leigh finds husband dead. I felt her pain. I felt her husband’s love for her even as he was dying. Sad, realistic, and stunning. Sharon Sala has out done herself with this title. Family Sins is exactly that. Overall, I highly recommend this book to all. 

Review: Closure

 

Synopsis:

A moving coming-of-age tale that follows three young boys through adolescence into adulthood, each trying to make sense of a world turned upside down.

Poland (1939)
The German army sweeps across Poland intent on the destruction of an entire people. In a small Polish town, ten-year-old Piotr Kowalczyk’s idyllic world will be forever destroyed.

Croatia (1944)
Young Dino Mitak flees to the freedom of the West as the communist-led Partisans move ever closer to Zagreb.

Australia (1980)
A small boy, already struggling to cope with the loss of a parent, is confronted by a gruesome murder.

From the tranquil foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in southern Poland, to the Balkans and a simmering feud centuries in the making, to the streets of inner-city Melbourne where histories collide.

These events, generations and worlds apart, are interwoven in a poignant story of grief, hatred, revenge and finally, closure.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Closure by Neil A. White is a brilliant coming of age story that all readers will love. I was glued to the story from page one. Three boys…each one from a different country suffering through loss, grief, and troubled-times. Poland, Croatia, and Australia. It’s hard not to find one’s self drawn to each boy’s story. The danger comes alive. Emotions are formed deeply, creating the connection from readers to the characters. A historical novel that is highly engaging, suspenseful, and intriguing. The plot thickens as the pages are turning. The unknown of terror lies ahead keeps readers guessing. Each of the three boy’s will have the world’s the grew up in lost forever. They will know what pain is and the hardness of life that comes with destruction. Closure is about each character finding a way to close the darkness of their lives and to move forward with life, hope, and love. Neil A. White’s writing is stunning. I look forward to reading more books by him in the future. Overall, I recommend Closure to readers everywhere.

Review: Friend

Synopsis:

FRIEND is a story about a set of girlfriends who start out inseparable but are slowly torn apart by jealousy, betrayals, and lies from the inside out. The story is told from the perspective of Bonnie, whose friendships are the center of her life for the moment. Her friends are Cora (the good girl), Leena (the giver of good advice but never the user), Jenelle and Jayna a.k.a. “the Twinzies” (and double trouble), and Hazel (the dime piece whose beauty is, unfortunately, often overshadowed by her selfish ways). After meeting as young girls, in different but equally dramatic ways, they become close, growing up together and learning the ups and downs of female friendship and adolescence.

Then, Donna enters the group. She was seeking a crowd she could consider her click after moving into the city, but she chose the wrong crowd. After meeting Bonnie and Hazel in high school and being brought into the group, she thought she found her click. But when Donna starts dating Pay, her alleged friend, the once uninterested Hazel decides all of a sudden she wants to claim something that once again wasn’t hers. When a secret love square forms, the group is forced to turn a blind eye to the unforgivable actions of one of their own at the expense of another. Throughout it all, Bonnie has been caught between her loyalty and her conscience, and Hazel’s other side becomes more and more evident and starts to create a wedge between the crew.

Bonnie and her new boyfriend Drew then become the target of Hazel’s selfishness; Bonnie decides that her friendship with Hazel isn’t worth the drama or her relationship with Drew and begins distancing herself from it all. Quickly things with this once tight group of girls begin to unravel and they are faced with the reality that their friendship isn’t what it once was. Their former rebellious pastime of boys, drinking, and partying with fake ID’s has turned into a dangerous game of lies, secrets, and manipulation. With all the girls forced to choose sides amid the unfolding drama, the line between friends and enemies has blurred. And these former “best friends” have now become “Frenemies”. You know what they say, there’s an “end” in “friend” for a reason.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Friend by Khadija Styles is an intensifying read. The drama is so thick that readers will be holding their breath with every page. The suspense of when all breaks loose is crazy in a good way. Teens taking life as it comes and dishing out what they want when they want it. Readers will find this novel having pieces of Pretty Little Liars and Mean Girls twists to it. Absolutely a dark tale that somehow finds a way of pulling readers into the fast-paced plot. One moment there’s a group o typical high school girls and then suddenly their world of friendships comes to a screeching holt. Fear, anger, and jealousy all on the line. Surviving rounds of hatred, lies, and betrayal will be the ultimate test for this particular group of girls.

Friend is an edgy YA read with adult content on every page. The end in friend might just be a sign for these high school girls. Khadija Styles writes a novel that shows the dark side to teenagers and what harm they are capable of doing if the right pressure and situation occur. But sometimes, things can blow apart even without the extra spice, to set things off. The story read from a first person point of view. I didn’t know what to feel towards the main character showing me what happens in the book. Feelings are complicated but the book is a definite must-read for all.

 

Review: Reverie

 

Synopsis:

Julia James has spent most of her life hiding in plain sight. For her, the cello was a way to get past a hellish childhood. Even now that she is one of the top cellists in the country, and a contender in the most prestigious, high-stakes music competition in the world, she hopes no one will notice her. But then someone does. A chance (or is it?) encounter brings her to the attention of the distractingly sexy, charismatic French horn player, Jeremy Corrigan. As he helps her to embrace her talent, her sexuality, and her past, Julia thinks she might finally be headed toward her ‘happily-ever-after.’ Unfortunately, happily isn’t so much ‘ever-after’ for Julia. The lines between love and obsession are blurred in REVERIE.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Reverie by Lauren Rico is a stunning contemporary novel that blew me away instantly. I was immediately drawn into the leading female character’s life story. Her troubled past to the present trouble brewing up…Love, hatred, abuse, lies…and danger wrapped up in one riveting tale. From a dysfunctional family with abuse going on to a young woman falling into a trap of abuse far greater than the one she escaped from as a child. This is a novel for adults only. There’s hot steamy sex…lies, betrayal,  murder, and beatings. Lauren Rico has masterfully created a novel that shows us the violence and threats that happen in real life. Sometimes there’s no justice…the good fall victim and to those that are unaware might just die for a selfish reason that was completely unexpected. The nightmare never ends…as Julia and her new love, Matthew, now fight for their lives. The stirred up the mess of a dangerous murderer, and now, he may just come after them next. The suspense and intrigue are high in this exciting and thrilling read. Reverie is an adventure that readers will carry with them forever. Overall, I highly recommend this beautifully told story, to readers everywhere.

 

 

Review: Get Rich or Die Trying

 

Synopsis:

ROME and RAIN had the ordinary hood life with struggles. Their mother was raising them with sugar and spice and everything nice. But the sudden death of their mother sent them on the run from social services. No way did either sister want to be a product of the foster care system. With the odds stacked against them, Rome formulates a plan and makes a vow to get money by any means necessary.

MASON and MARCUS are known in the hood as Rich and Money; two petty hustlers that flood the Marcy Projects with mediocre dope. The two had big dreams, but with no money or support, their dreams fell short.

Rome, Rain, Mason and Marcus stumbled across each other after a wild police chase. The crew orchestrates a get rich quick in a five-year plan. When Marcus and Mason start to develop feelings for the sisters they soon find out that Love & Dirty Money don’t mix.

Lies, death, and deceit linger around the crew as they fight their way to the top. Find out what happens when your only focus in life is to GET RICH or DIE TRYING.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Get Rich or Die Trying by Brittany McBryde is truly an intriguing novel. There’s action, drama, sex, and danger on every page. There are two sisters each one is married to one of the two Martin brothers. Each guy cheats on his wife but when one man’s wife cheats on him…he feels broken. But so is she. The man she cheated with was angry at her for questioning why he told everyone including her husband about their baby they were going to have. This almost led to a shot out. From that day on Money’s wife was never the same. She goes to feeling emotional to ashamed to depressed. Rain’s life is on the line…and her sister Rome must help her..before she’s lost forever. Then there’s the drama and trouble of Rome’s theft heist that has her shaking with worry. Never has there ever been any issues until her latest heist. Rich told her not to do the dirty jobs anymore…but she wouldn’t…maybe she will learn her lesson…

Get Rich or Die Trying is exciting to read. A group who have worked together to steal money to get where they are now…are now dealing with family issues as well as threats. Infidelity issues and a job gone wrong, as well as the suspicion, of how they all came, into money, from nowhere, will leave this incredible set of characters fighting to get rich or die trying. The plot moves super fast and gives readers little time to figure it out before new trouble brews. Brittany McBryde’s novel is suspenseful and kept me turning the pages. I was blown away by the characters’ stories within the overall story. The emotions as well as the characters’ actions will captivate readers and keep them hooked. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to readers everywhere.