Review: The Crooked Staircase

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

“I could be dead tomorrow. Or something worse than dead.”

Jane Hawk knows she may be living on borrowed time. But as long as she’s breathing, she’ll never cease her one-woman war against the terrifying conspiracy that threatens the freedom–and free will–of millions. Battling the strange epidemic of murder-suicides that claimed Jane’s husband, and is escalating across the country, has made the rogue FBI agent a wanted fugitive, relentlessly hunted not only by the government but by the secret cabal behind the plot. Deploying every resource their malign nexus of power and technology commands, Jane’s enemies are determined to see her dead . . . or make her wish she was.

Jane’s ruthless pursuers can’t stop her from drawing a bead on her prey: a cunning man with connections in high places, a twisted soul of unspeakable depths with an army of professional killers on call. Propelled by her righteous fury and implacable insistence on justice, Jane will make her way from southern California to the snow-swept slopes of Lake Tahoe to confront head-on the lethal forces arrayed against her. But nothing can prepare her for the chilling truth that awaits when she descends the crooked staircase to the dark and dreadful place where her long nightmare was born.

Rating: 3.5-stars

Review:

The Crooked Staircase by Dean Koontz is by far the darkest thriller I’ve read in awhile. That’s a good thing…however, there was not a ray of sunshine in this book. I felt like any hope for the main protagonist and her son were none to slim. There should have been a feeling of a fifty-fifty chance that Hope was possible for them. The bad guys were looming over them like giants. It felt as though they had already lost way before I got too deep into the plot.

The protagonist, Jane, has potential as being well-liked. I liked her personality and determination to win even if there was not any chance of coming out alive. She made me want to believe that there was a rainbow at the end…yet, I got more danger than I bargained for instead. Dark, intense, and deadly…just one wrong move and it felt that the whole book could have ended a lot sooner than it did.

The suspense was great. Dean Koontz definitely knew how to wield power of intrigue and fear into his readers. I was frightened enough that I wouldn’t want to read this novel twice. But it was good. Those who are always searching for that darker, more powerful thriller…this is it!

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Review: In the Name of the Family by Sarah Dunate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

`It is better to be feared than loved’ – Niccolo Machiavelli

In the bear pit of renaissance politics, a young Florentine diplomat finds himself first hand observer on the history’s most notorious family – the Borgias.

In the Name of the Family – as Blood and Beauty did before – holds up a mirror to a turbulent moment of history, sweeping aside the myths to bring alive the real Borgia family; complicated, brutal, passionate and glorious. Here is a thrilling exploration of the House of Borgia’s doomed years, in the company of a young diplomat named Niccolo Machiavelli.

It is 1502 and Rodrigo Borgia, a self-confessed womaniser and master of political corruption is now on the Papal throne as Alexander VI. His daughter Lucrezia, aged twenty-two, already thrice married and a pawn in her father’s plans, is discovering her own power. And then there is Cesare Borgia: brilliant, ruthless and increasingly unstable; it is his relationship with the diplomat Machiavelli which offers a master class on the dark arts of power and politics. What Machiavelli learns will go on to inform his great work of modern politics, The Prince.

But while the pope rails against old age and his son’s increasing maverick behavior, it is Lucrezia who will become the Borgia survivor: taking on her enemies and creating her own place in history.

Rating: 3.5-stars

Review:

In the Name of the Family by Sarah Dunate is deep political read. A family swamped with political tension, betrayal, and revenge. A daughter who helps her father as much as her brother tries to destroy their father.  So many themes are found inside this book…it was an adventure of a lifetime. The historical novel captured the time period and politics down perfectly. It felt as though I traveled back in time. There was plenty of action to keep me attention. Murder, corruption, and power were the central themes featured on every page. The children of the Pope felt more like pawns than anything else. The daughter was a pawn for the Pope’s own gain. The son became a hungry Mongolia for more power and influence. The level that each of these three main characters stooped to was engaging as it was sad. Too many viewpoints were told in this book. I would have enjoyed it more if there just two different viewpoints at most telling their side of the story. The historical time period was what made this an entertaining tale. I couldn’t connect with the main characters, which was really disappointing. Overall, good but could have been better.

Review: Think Like a Winner, Act Like You Won

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Are you fed up with not getting the results you want from life?
Do you want to know what it feels like to taste success in every area of your life?
If you are, then it’s time to make a stand, start believing in yourself and Think Like a Winner, Act Like You’ve Won.

Inside these pages, you are about to discover yourself. You will learn how you can achieve the success that you’ve always dreamed of, just by making a few positive changes to the way you act, such as:

Making up your mind
Taking action
How to think like a winner
Developing your character
Forming good habits
And more…

Many self-help books go into great detail about how you can attain success. Think Like a Winner, Act Like You’ve Won shows you exactly how it can be done in the most concise method you have ever encountered.

Without wasting more of your precious time and without expending vast amounts of effort, you can now be the success you always wanted to be.

Get your copy of Think Like a Winner, Act Like You’ve Won now and start believing in yourself today!

 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Think Like a Winner, Act Like You’ve Won by Carl Mathis is a great book to start of the new year with…it is one of those essential books to read. It reminds me of what you are and can do now, instead of what you’re trying to  become. Success is measured differently. Success is the determination to stick with what you have and use that to get to where you need to be. Success is not about how much money you have nor what you possess. It is not giving up and working with what you have. Many of us have talents for different things. We just need to find ours and then go from there. The writer stresses on uses the knowledge and information you have to climb forward. This, is true. However, many of us, like myself included have trouble finding out what we know and can do well enough to be successful in our lives. That’s where this book walks us through the process. Overall, I enjoyed reading this nonfiction guide and recommend it to all.

 

Review: The House of Binding Thorns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

The multi-award-winning author of The House of Shattered Wings continues her Dominion of the Fallen saga as Paris endures the aftermath of a devastating arcane war….

As the city rebuilds from the onslaught of sorcery that nearly destroyed it, the great Houses of Paris, ruled by Fallen angels, still contest one another for control over the capital.

House Silverspires was once the most powerful, but just as it sought to rise again, an ancient evil brought it low. Phillippe, an immortal who escaped the carnage, has a singular goal—to resurrect someone he lost. But the cost of such magic might be more than he can bear.

In House Hawthorn, Madeleine the alchemist has had her addiction to angel essence savagely broken. Struggling to live on, she is forced on a perilous diplomatic mission to the underwater dragon kingdom—and finds herself in the midst of intrigues that have already caused one previous emissary to mysteriously disappear….

As the Houses seek a peace more devastating than war, those caught between new fears and old hatreds must find strength—or fall prey to a magic that seeks to bind all to its will.

Rating: 3-stars

Review:

The House of Binding Thorns by Aliette De Bodard is a fallen angel story. Fallen angels among others are fighting to own Paris. But after a war, they are struggling to make the city strong again. Still fighting over ownership, two houses are trying to combine power of ownership. Yet destruction still hangs in the air…ready to strike once more. Power, fear, and loyalties are tested within these pages. The plot felt slow to me. I felt like I was dragged through the book, in the slowest way possible. I did not feel connected to the characters. It was like they did whatever they felt like doing for their own goals. This book held potential to be more than what it presented. However, it fell short of those expectations.

 

Review: A Blazing Gilded Age

Synopsis:

A Blazing Gilded Age is the epic story of a volatile nation burning with ambition, yet bleeding with injustice. It was a time of profound change; boldly transforming from an agrarian backwater into an industrial powerhouse.

Center stage in this turbulent saga, are the Wozniaks; a poor coal mining family struggling to achieve the elusive American dream. Confronted by the evil ways of their ruthless and depraved boss, Archibald Desmond Huxley, the Wozniak family is thrust into utter turmoil, thus igniting a blazing journey of revenge and survival.

During the Wozniaks’ quest, the lavish lifestyle of Huxley and his fellow titans, including J.P. Morgan, Carnegie, Vanderbilt, Teddy Roosevelt, Mark Twain and others, are woven into the story line, thus painting a broad and vivid canvas of 19th century America. Springing to life are legendary figures and historic events that accurately depict an era boiling with bravado, innovation and astounding progress, yet blistering with corporate greed, class warfare, and political corruption. After many unexpected twists of fate (some fortuitous and others heartbreaking), the Wozniaks emerge victorious, thus finally achieving the American dream, yet not without scars.

Both powerful and poignant, “A Blazing Gilded Age” serves as an entertaining and enlightening read of how and why America has gone astray, and why it became a world leader. While on a personal level, it imparts the harrowing, yet triumphant, tale of a family’s struggle to survive in an age that, in many ways, was as dark and rough as coal, and, at times, could be as blazing as Hell. 

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

A Blazing Gilded Age by Rich DiSilvio is a talented writer. His characters both big and small came alive on the pages. The plot was deep, heartfelt, and thorough. History mixed in with fiction. Made this a new favorite. America wasn’t always great…a lot of bad went with the good. Here, inside this tale, I got to explore the depth in which Americans suffered. Suffered for survival. Power, greed, corruption and progress we’re just several themes mentioned in the book. 

One particular family of low class is mentioned in great detail. They’re not famous. They work like slaves. Slaving for the bigger guys. Hard labor, suffering, and agnogy just to make a few pennies to survive…barely surviving. A Blazing Gilded Age is dark, haunting, and heartbreaking. Child labor, poverty, and loss are featured here in great detail. I felt like I traveled back in time to the late 19th century. Overall, Rich DiSilivio’s latest book is a must read for all. I highly recommend it. 

Review: White Wine and Medical Marijuana

Synopsis:

White Wine & Medical Marijuana is a book of poetry that explores themes such as femininity, sexuality, weakness, strength, addiction, power, and profanity. It analyzes these themes, while keeping the language casual, simple, and accessible to all readers. Enjoy the power struggle between self criticism and self love, the raw life observations, and the relentless scrutinization of everyday life.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

White Wine and Medical Marijuana is a collection of poetry that is easy to read. I got lost within the poet’s words. Words that had me turning the pages quickly. Each poem had a different take. Themes varied as I progressed through the book. Beautifully written and fascinating to follow. Julia Cirignano is a talented poet. Anyone who read this book will clearly see that. Enjoyable, deep, and bold. I recommend White Wine and Medical Marijuana to readers everywhere. 

Review: Path to the Key

Synopsis:

Magic is fading throughout the world and the supernatural realms can feel the strain growing daily, but Sarah doesn’t care about any of that. She cares about protecting her son from her vampiric ex-husband who is obsessed with gaining power. She’ll stop at nothing to ensure that Alex doesn’t get his hands on Jackson, even if it means welcoming more vampires and other supernatural beings into her life.

Their journey takes her across the country, seeking the help of a witch that has invaded her son’s dreams. A vampire named Zander threatens to bring all of her carefully constructed walls crashing down. She’ll break every rule and every preconceived notion they have about her, as long as she can save her son and give him the future that was stolen from her. Sarah’s path connects to the very battle that she tries to avoid, and when she embraces not only her growing power, but also her destiny- she might be able to change the tides of fate.       

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Path to the Key by April Canavan is book one to an amazing series. Full of magic, suspernatural beings and romance. I love the war between the good and the evil. Fight to save loved ones. Family, power, and determination. April Canavan’s writing is superb. I was lost instantly from the first page. Engaging, well-developed, and exciting. A war brewing. One involving power and ruling over others. A woman whose child is key to her evil husband’s game. Yet there’s another man, the brother, who can help save them. Path to the Key was entertaining. Easy to follow along. I loved it. Couldn’t stop reading it. Overall, I highly recommend it to readers everywhere. 

Review: Seduction (A Money, Power, & Sex Story)

Synopsis: 

Kendra Daniels had all she’s ever desired; a great job in Houston and an even better relationship. But after losing out on a promotion to her rival, turned friend; and being transferred back to her hometown of Richmond, both her career and her love life are in doubt. Frustrated with work and growing increasingly suspicious about her lover Marcus, she decides to take a vacation to the isle of St. Martin where she meets Desmond, an attractive, mysterious man, with an even more curious profession. But temptation is only the beginning of this story, one which will certainly change Kendra forever. Picking up directly following the events of Money, Power & Sex this engaging, enticing, and erotic tale will reveal an indisputable argument: If love is king, then seduction is power!

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Norian Love has once more brought another African Amaerican novel, Seduction, to life. The drama quickly excelerates as the pages are turned. Fast-paced, exciting, and full of action. The reality of relationships is seen clearly within this urban fiction piece. Never a boring moment where these characters are. Balancing careers, friendships, enemies, and love is a tough job. Some make it and some are left broken. Attraction, money, and sex are constant themes found here. I enjoyed watching as each character struggled with the weight of what life brought them. Readers can easily connect with the characters. Oh, the drama…is pretty intense and crazy. I would highly recommend this for those who love an endless amount of the drama life. Both the highs and lows of it. Seduction is a juicy yet entertaining piece of literature. Suited only for adults due to the content inside of it. 

Review: Rayna

Synopsis:

Rayna escaped the bordello as a teenager. She meets a Buddhist monk that helps her to learn that life is worth living again. She learns different languages and several studies of martial arts. Rayna also has a secret. Without warning, time will stop moving. Only Rayna is allowed to move in this frozen world. She can not control it, but uses it to her advantage to seek revenge on those that have hurt her.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Rayna by R. K. Marts is a wonderful YA fantasy. One that instantly draws out an emotional attachment to the protagonist. I felt her sadness, anger, and frustrations. Then, the knowledge about her birth mom only led my curiosity out further. 

Rayna is a young girl who spent her entire life in an orphanage. The kids teased her because of her pretty looks. She has never known her mother. Soon, she’s adopted and and that’s where the plot takes a knife to one’s heart. Dark, frightening, and sad. Rayna will experience things girls herage never should have to go through…yet it still happens. From there she escapes and friends a monk. A man who defended her. I wanted to hug the monk. After that the plot spirals readers further on a journey of revenge, discovery, and a mission for truth. 

R. K. Marts’ book was easy to read. Following along, was simple. Danger, violence, sex, arejust a few themes inside this tale. I would recommend this YA read to those eighteen or older due to the adult content. Beside that, the story was powerfully told and engaging to read. I recommend Rayna to readers worldwide. 

Review: The Bear and the Nightingale

Synopsis:

At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn’t mind—she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse’s fairy tales. Above all, she loves the chilling story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon, who appears in the frigid night to claim unwary souls. Wise Russians fear him, her nurse says, and honor the spirits of house and yard and forest that protect their homes from evil.

After Vasilisa’s mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa’s new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.

And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa’s stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.

As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed—this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse’s most frightening tales. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Bear and The Nightingale by Katherine Arden is by far the most compelling adult folk lore story I have read. The book is set in the heart of Russia. There I meet one family with interesting secrets…

A mother so frail is set to give birth to a daughter. Her husband fears losing his wife. But his wife is determined to see her daughter born. When the time comes, Vasilisa enters into the world and her mother soon dies. A sadness creeps upon the family home. The new child is unique. The fastest runner, smart, and loves exploring the world. Vasilisa has power. It will be her who protects her family…when danger comes, it will take everything, even a beloved father. A father who sacrificed himself for his daughter. A frost king in the woods is kind to Vasilisa. I enjoyed their connection. The siblings may tease each other but their love for one another is great.The story captured my heart and soul with every page. 

The Bear and the Nightingale is a definite must read for all. For its dark enchanting tale will drag readers in deep. Never letting go…

Overall, I found Katherine Arden’s writing to be of superb quality. Visually enchanting scenes that contain action, suspense, danger, and sacrifice. The love found within is greater than any I have seen in books. I highly recommend this read to all. 

Review: Waiting for a Lifetime

 

Synopsis:

Sunny Siebel isn’t an ordinary girl – she can see what others can’t. She has the ability to see and communicate with the deceased.

Only sharing the company of lost spirits waiting to move on, her life changes when she meets a Reaper for the first time and realizes what she has been missing – why she is so different – when she falls in love. What she didn’t expect was how their connection would change her.

Acquiring comfort and solace in her newfound love, Sunny finds herself running from heaven itself while getting caught in the middle of an even larger plot that not even her assailants see coming.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Waiting for a Lifetime by Samantha Markham is a brilliant YA fantasy. I couldn’t believe the raw talent that this writer had until, I read her debut novel. This tale takes readers on a young woman’s journey in life. Her mother died and she can see and talk to ghosts. No one knows she can except her. Until, she meets him. The reaper captain. Appears to be her age, yet his age is much older than Sunny Siebel would have thought. But that doesn’t keep her attraction to the new strange guy in front of her. Something about her ability to see ghosts attracts the reaper closer to her. Their friendship is instant and something deeper begins to develop. Something that isn’t looked upon as good by the world from which the reaper comes from…it’s banned to be in a relationship with a human. But then again, Sunny ends up susprising both herself and the reaper when an unknown power escapes from her hands.  Waiting for a Lifetime describes this novel perfectly. The waiting of the two characters in finding each other is indeed like and will be a lifetime. Samantha Markham’s characters are believable and her world of fiction is highly entertaining. An deeply engaging tale that brings paranormal an YA issues together beautifully. I enjoyed reading it. Look forward to reading the next grand adventure by this writer. Overall, I recommend this story to readers everywhere.

Review: Consciousness

Synopsis:

From new horror author Pete Castillo, comes a story that revolves around an age-old supernatural phenomenon. 

Marco Torres was a boy when his parents thought he was abnormal. The scare wasn’t long, but little did they know, it was only the beginning. 

Eventually, Marco becomes aware of his abnormality so he searches for answers. Around the same time, ghostly psychic visions of a crazed homeless man appear to him. When the defect and visions subside, Marco thinks he’s in the clear until he’s almost killed by the same crazed man. 

As Marco gets older, the affliction intensifies. He tries to become a writer and does a quick stint in the Navy. Eventually, he flips when his path crosses with a mystery couple who have the same abnormality as him. They gain his trust the hard way, then the new friends go on several adventures. Their biggest exploit is a murder investigation. Will Marco learn to harness his rare ability without getting himself killed?

Rating: 4 stars

Review:

Breach of Consciousness by Peter Castillo is just the perfect read for this kind of season. I can’t think of a better ways to start fall than by reading a creepy steady paced mystery. Breach of Consciousness is a combination of murder, paranormal activity, and an investigation. This ingredients bring forth a novella worth reading. The beginning introduces, the main character, Marco Torres. The details given are just enough to hook readers. Then, from there it builds into a mystery woven with the characters mysterious ability and the action coming ahead. Murder, power, and government agents all play a role in Marcus Torres’s life. He soon goes on a mission to find the truth and solve the death of a friend but in doing he might risk everything including his own life.  Peter Castillo’s writing well organized. It carries readers into moments when the writer himself wants them to land there. Readers will think it’s slow. However, each writer has the power to lead us when and exactly how he wants us to reach each scene. I think Breach of Consciousness is a great debut novel. The ending left thoughts of what will happen after this story and whether Peter Castillo will grant his readers another book. Another dark tale that showcases the same characters once again. Overall, I recommend to all.

Review: Fukushima and the Coming Tokyo Earthquake

Synopsis:

This book details the story of two earthquakes, one that has already happened and one that is imminent, and their consequences, not only for Japan but also for the rest of the world. It is structured in a way that ‘chunks up’ in sections, from Japanese cultural elements, to the sequence of events after the earthquake and reactor meltdowns, through to global consequences of the two quakes.

The radioactive leaks from the Fukushima reactors have led to an abandonment of nuclear power by many countries. This will have consequences in a world where exponential use of fossil fuels is causing global warming. In addition, this book shows that the world’s advanced economies are heavily dependent on Japanese technology and components, supplies of which will be seriously restrained when a large earthquake strikes near Tokyo. The cost of rebuilding one of the world’s biggest metropolises after a large earthquake has been estimated at up to $1.45 trillion, around a third of Japan’s GDP. At least part of this amount will likely come from selling a portion of Japan’s $1 trillion in US treasury bonds. This is turn will have knock-on effects on the world’s fragile economies.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Fukushima and the Coming Tokyo Earthquake by Tony Smyth is a great informative yet educational read. There’s a lot that many such as myself don’t know that about the situation ahead. Tony Smyth provides stunning questions that all would have while reading his book. But he also goes on to explain the answers. Each chapter was well-organized and easy to digest. 

Earthquake disasters, financial costs, and the potential damages caused by such natural disasters are all covered inside this book. Technology lies in Japan. The same technology most of the world relies on…yet it’s located where the most damage can be done. Why? Imagine relying on one resource then it being destroyed. Humans think nature is not worth taking serious until it happens to them. Peoples lives are in danger due to companies not doing what they should. Currently studying PR and this book shows horrifying PR situations. Deadly…costly…and shocking. The truths and dangers are quite interesting. Economies are already in bad shape then Fukushima provides a nightmare revelation that that can make economies disappear. Tony Smyth’s writing style was not boring, it was intriguing. I had to keep on reading until the end of the book. Readers will want to read this. I recommend it to all.

Review: The Holocaust (History & Memory)

 

Synopsis:

Brilliant and wrenching, The Holocaust: History and Memory tells the story of the brutal mass slaughter of Jews during World War II and how that genocide has been remembered and misremembered ever since. Taking issue with generations of scholars who separate the Holocaust from Germany’s military ambitions, historian Jeremy M. Black demonstrates persuasively that Germany’s war on the Allies was entwined with Hitler’s war on Jews. As more and more territory came under Hitler’s control, the extermination of Jews became a major war aim, particularly in the east, where many died and whole Jewish communities were exterminated in mass shootings carried out by the German army and collaborators long before the extermination camps were built. Rommel’s attack on Egypt was a stepping stone to a larger goal—the annihilation of 400,000 Jews living in Palestine. After Pearl Harbor, Hitler saw America’s initial focus on war with Germany rather than Japan as evidence of influential Jewish interests in American policy, thus justifying and escalating his war with Jewry through the Final Solution. And the German public knew. In chilling detail, Black unveils compelling evidence that many everyday Germans must have been aware of the genocide around them. In the final chapter, he incisively explains the various ways that the Holocaust has been remembered, downplayed, and even dismissed as it slips from horrific experience into collective consciousness and memory. Essential, concise, and highly readable, The Holocaust: History and Memory bears witness to those forever silenced and ensures that we will never forget their horrifying fate.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Holocaust: History & Memory by Jeremy Black is one that I will forever behold. This book contains so much history and memories during one of the most horrifying moments in history. Jeremy Black has brilliantly put together a great study of the Holocaust for readers everywhere to revisit and learn. His writing is direct, concise, and very detalied. I am never giving up this book. There is so much to read. The information contained in this reading material is stunning. I was surprised it wasn’t thicker with all that was inside of it. The journey back in time and across nations and other countries was remarkable. The Holocaust always brings up the dreaded nightmares and terrors that noone wants to remember. All the innocent lives that were taken in mass killings is something that all should never forget. We need to be reminded of the hows and why and to learn that we shouldn’t ever allow something like that to occur ever again. The Holocaust: History & Memory is a strong and superb book. I highly recommend this read to all. Jeremy Black’s work is one to take seriously and read.Educational, informative, and a remembrance of such nightmares…

Review: Money, Power & Sex

 

Synopsis:

Four Lives, four separate motives, one unbelievable outcome. Follow this twisting tale, full of romance, action, suspense, and drama. Watch each person desperately try to reach their desires and discover why they are willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to answer one question. How far are you willing to go for Money, Power, and Sex?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Money, Power, & Sex by Norian Love is a powerful love story. Instantly it wraps readers into its depth. It was easy to lose myself, within this novel. Danger, greed, power and loyalty are all wrapped up in this dark read. Some people chose their lifestyles and others force some to fall into the darkness. The characters are both liked and hated. Their lives are messed up from the beginning to end. There only was safe is if you’re dead. Love causes people to do things to protect the ones they care about…and love can also carry a death sentence to those around you. Sad, well-written, and suspenseful. The action kept me turning the pages. Drama can also be found in the urban romance. Norian Love also incorporated a little street life dirt into the story. Street life can be a deadly game. Never know what will or won’t happen. Money, Power,  & Sex is all it takes for motive…overall, this tale is one that readers won’t want to miss. The characters are only left with choices…choices that can drag them down or pull them back up…I highly recommend this edgy read to readers everywhere.

 

Review: The Harvested

 

Synopsis:

There are only a few things Mila is afraid of. Most are pretty common fears, but there is one that sets her apart from those around her. The fear of a secret. With one drop of blood, her secret of a power beyond anything anyone had ever seen before is unleashed, landing her in a place where she is a prisoner. And an experiment. And there are only a few that know their dictator’s ultimate goal. Some are willing to save her, others want to exploit her for their own dark and sinister intentions, and it is up to her to stop them before it’s too late.

Rating: 5 stars

Review: 

Harvested by Kindra Sowder is by far her greatest work to date. This urban fantasy sucks readers in fast. The action is thrilling…I felt fear and wasn’t sure what to expect. All I knew was that something bad was about to happen to the main character. Then, just when I thought maybe the fear would subside, the worst happened. Just like the main character, Mila, feared would happen. Sooner or later she knew they would come for her. Because of what she can do. Sleep wouldn’t come knowing that at any moment they were coming for her. Not knowing when nor how adds to the suspense of this spectacular read. I found myself lured deep into this dark world. The unknown keeping me on the edge of my seat…

A girl is soon taken into a facility where experiments and all are done. Mila is soon taken as a hostage and kept on like a lab rat. She has a power that they want from her…the question of who will survive or win this war is something I highly recommend readers to read on their own. Kindra Sowder has a power that is raw and magnetic. Readers will forever be trapped inside of her fantasy world and hanging onto every one of her words. I was deeply satisfied with this brilliantly well-written masterpiece. The desire, no, the need to read her next book, is so strong that it’s incredible. Kindra Sowder can wrap her readers around her finger and keep them hostage in her books. Absolutely, loved this new adventure.  Can’t wait for the next novel. Overall, I highly recommend this page turner to all. Harvested is definitely a must read for all.

Review: Follow the Bloodshed

 

Synopsis:

Robin had gone toe-to-toe with Lilith, losing everything. Now she is back in the explosive final chapter of the Executioner Trilogy for revenge. After emerging from Hell, lying in her cold and dark grave, she is thrust into a world that she would’ve never thought possible; filled with creatures she never imagined. And her power is growing. Los Angeles is a ghost town, with the world following close behind. It is up to her to stop Lilith and bring humanity back from the brink of extinction.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

OMG! Once again, Kindra Sowder has rendered me speechless. I am so totally in love with this talented writer’s work. This final chapter of the Executioner Trilogy has sent me over the edge of my chair. I was immediately thrown back into the dark edgy world of paranormal beings. Robin is the leading female character that readers everywhere will love. She’s tough, brave, and her power is getting stronger each time. Just how powerful she will be this time around is something readers have to figure out for themselves. There is only one goal for Robin…defeat Lilith for good. Only time will tell if that happens…Revenge, romance, and action all brilliantly wrapped up in one irresitible novel. Kindra Sowder has a talent for swallowing readers whole and planting them straight into her dark worlds. Fast-paced, well-written, and well-developed. Follow the Bloodshed is a paranormal urban read that I highly recommend to all. Readers everywhere will be satisfied with this final chapter and hungry for more by Kindra Sowder.

 

Review: The Great Leap

 

Synopsis:

Mundu, an indigenous teenager from the Brazilian rainforest, is the best long jumper in the world-only no one knows it. That is, until idealistic botanist and power company scout Luis Moraes sees Mundu effortlessly launch himself across a wide stream. Luis convinces the power company to let him take Mundu to Rio de Janeiro to share his great gift with the world. But first Luis must gain the trust of Mundu’s mentor, the shaman of his village, who agrees to Luis’ plan without revealing that Mundu was marked at birth by Iara, goddess of the inland waters. Mundu quickly proves himself and becomes Brazil’s best hope for track and field gold at the summer Olympics coming to Rio in 2016. The power company hires Mundu as its corporate symbol, and together with Brazil’s Olympic organizers, they try to exploit Mundu’s popularity to gain support for the Olympics among Rio’s poor, who resent the excessive costs of hosting the Games while they suffer unreliable public transportation, inferior schools, and inadequate health care. But everyone’s plans for Mundu, including his own, are turned upside down when shortly before the Olympics begin, it leaks out that the power company plans to build the giant hydroelectric dam that will flood Mundu’s village. With the help of his friends and the timely intervention of the goddess, Mundu must carry out a daring plan to bring the plight of his people to the attention of the whole world.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Great Leap by Jeff Sher is definitely a phenomenal read. This inspiring yet fantasy brings real life issues that exist in within the real world and conveys an entertaining way to educate people about them. A young boy has the power to help his people. What starts to be an exciting new chapter for him soon turns into a heart racing and edge of your seat thrill ride to save a village. There are companies all over that take advantage of people and this novel brilliantly shows us all just that. It also proves that anything can happen if everyone works together. The work of one boy courageous enough to stand up for his nation and fulfill his dreams at the Olympics. The world’s greatest jumper uses the media to broadcast what’s happening. I immediately felt taken with this beautiful story and loved reading it. This is one stunning piece that readers everywhere won’t forget. The impact from the talented writer, Jeff Sher, molds itself to one’s heart, mind, and soul. Overall, I highly recommend The Great Leap to readers worldwide.

Review: Caesar and Cato (The Road to Empire)

 

Synopsis:

This is a story, a true story which I always think are the best of stories. A Story of Ancient Rome. An Adventure Story, perhaps?

It is a story of two protagonists, Julius Caesar, and Marcus Cato. They represented two opposing philosophies, both dedicated to the same end, the recovery of the health of the Roman Republic which was in their day unwell. Both men were fighters, Caesar on the battlefield where he was arguably the greatest tactician ever and certainly of his times, and plucked many a victory from the jaws of defeat. Cato fought in the Senate. There he opposed Caesar and everything he stood for. This is their story.

The book takes the form of alternating chapters written by each of the two protagonists, the Chapter Headings, indicating, who is writing and the main subject matter of the chapter.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Caesar and Cato: Road to Empire by Brain Igoe is well-written. The book’s chapters are well-developed in a way that readers can easily dive right into this history moment and be taken back in time. A time that brings us to two important men in Ancient Rome. There’s the famous Caesar the man of many battles that everyone knows like the back of their hand and then there’s Marcus Cato who brings up the other side of the perspective. Two educated men who fight for what they believe in…

I love anything that deals with real life people and events. Brian Igoe’s brilliant writing has taken me back to Rome where a government very much like what we have today existed…it was the basis to other governments around the world. Ancient Rome was a vast empire reaching far and wider than readers can imagine. I was swallowed up whole from page one until the last page. The viewpoints from each man was another thing that hit home with me when reading this brilliant informative of Caesar and Cato as well as the empire the served to help succeed. Each man has his own way of being successful and brings a different approach, to life, and the causes they fight for…and as it happens each man believes in the opposite thing which brings me to the reality of the here and now. It’s funny how history comes alive not just in the words that pop off the pages but in how they have shaped the world we live in now…we can see bits and pieces of how it all fits like a puzzle. As a reader of all genres, I was immensely taken in with this nonfictional piece. It’s educational, entertaining, and informative. Unlike many of its kind, that is dull and boring…Caesar and Cato: Road to Empire is exciting. An easy read for anyone who loves history, important figures, and wants to learn more about what it was really like back in Ancient Rome for these two men and their people. Overall, I highly recommend this book to readers worldwide.

Review: Niveus

 

Synopsis:

Niveus is…perfectly peculiar.

The silver-haired beauty with eyes the color of a dying rose is the only daughter of Ravan and Nicolette. She wanders the Wintergrave Realm like no other, unseen and unheard, sharing an extraordinary gift. The Wintergrave Dynasty’s strange daughter, she beloved by all and understood by none.

Ravan’s realm seems the perfect place to shield Niveus from the outside world and all the dangers that lurk there, until…a wicked soul from the North appears. Malik is smitten with such a profound hatred and jealousy of Ravan that he comes with one intent—to destroy his daughter.

But Malik’s scheme takes a twisted turn when he finally lays eyes on the extraordinary creature, and his wicked plan drags Niveus and those who love her, on an epic trek like no other. And with Niveus’ power at his disposal, it seems no one can stop Malik—not Risen, not Nicolette…not even Ravan.

What will it take to tilt the world even again? Perhaps the undying love of another is the only thing that can conquer true evil, but what will be the sacrifice needed to bring Malik’s bloody realm to the ground?

All your favorite characters return in this final chapter of the Wintergrave Chronicles. Venture with them into 14th century Prussia to discover if Malik will be undone or if Niveus or someone she loves…is lost forever.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Niveus by Sharon Cramer is beautifully stunning. I have never read such a powerful novel like this one. Love, courage and hope are just a few themes that make this a must read for all. A kingdom battling against an evil that is intent on taking down everything and keeping it for himself. Niveus is a young woman who is a beauty unlike any other woman and is thus feared a bit those around her. She instantly goes to those who are suffering. Niveus can travel realms and has her own powers just like mom has. Niveus is a leading female character that believes whatever fate has dished out then that’s what was meant to be. Niveus goes through a lot of suffering as well…as the evil comes, onto her, taking her for himself and soon his fate will be decided. Niveus has many who would battle their lives to keep her safe, like her brother and the man whom she truly loves. Readers will soon find that Niveus is carrying a secret and the fate of everyone is one that readers must figure out on their own…Sharon Cramer’s talent is obvious as readers turn every page to read the fast-paced yet well-written plot. A story that will capture readers and send them into a whole new world. I loved reading this fantasy piece about sacrifice and  unconditional love. Overall,  highly recommend this brilliant title to all.

 

Review: Shoe Fetish (book 2)

Synopsis:

These three friends continue to find their way through life, love, and its relationships transferring all power and emotions via their shoes, which hold secrets. Some harmless and some deadly; and, though Carmen is untrusting of men and their secrets, she has a few deadly secrets of her own. Women love their shoes for varied reasons. Shoes are not only for protection, beauty, and sex; but, for the life that they can transcend you to, and the secrets that may not have been shared with another person are sometimes within the soles of the shoes.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Inside Shoe Fetish 2, readers will get a glimpse into three women’s lives. Friends who have to go about their life journey finding their way through it all. Romance, shoes, men, and everyday life struggles all part of growing up and learning how to balance. I love how both writers, Sharon Bennett, and Beatrice Moore have bought out a woman’s love of shoes and men into a beautifully woven story that will capture readers everywhere. Going through men is exactly like trying on a pair of shoes, to see, if they fit. Women’s shoes can tell you exactly how she’s feeling…because they bring out certain sides to each and every woman. It’s like dying one’s hair or putting on a particular shade of lipstick. We all have those inner dark secrets that make us who we are.  The tight-knit group of friends helps each woman go through each step of her journey. The ending is just as beautiful as they beginning. I loved reading this tale and following each woman as she changed throughout the book. I  think this portrays a realistic side of women and men in relationships that makes it easy for readers everywhere to connect to…as well as to enjoy. Overall, I highly recommend Shoe Fetish 2 to readers worldwide.