Review: Born Together

Synopsis:

Born Together is the inspiring memoir of Patricia Gachagan, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and her determination to overcome the challenges to live a full life and to be a mother to her son, Elliot. When Patricia became pregnant with Elliot, she could not contain her joy and elation at the prospect of starting a family. But within hours of his birth, her body began to deteriorate. Born Together tells of Patricia’s struggle to cope with her declining health and the simultaneous demands of motherhood. 
Eventually, Patricia was diagnosed with MS, and it was put to her that her immune system had attacked itself, in error, following the birth of her baby boy. Patricia took an alternative approach to almost everything and refused to settle for a prognosis of a life of disability and vulnerability. Many doubted her ability to succeed, but her determination to turn her life around was rewarded with a new and pioneering treatment, researched by Medical Research Scotland and part-funded by the Scottish Government Enterprise Scheme. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Born Together by Patricia Gachagan is an inspiration to all. Her journey of determination and strength will amaze everyone who reads this book. It amazed me. Hooked me in fast. A mother’s terrible yet frightening journey of survival. After giving birth, her body was suddenly taken over by a paralyse. Her health kept turning for the worse. I kept thinking that she wasn’t going to make it. That this was going to be the saddest book I’ve read. But Patricia Gachagan held surprises from me. She kept moving forward despite her challenges. Every time I feel like complaining, I’ll always remember this book and consider myself lucky. Overall, I recommend this nonfiction book to readers worldwide. Especially, to mothers out there. 

Review: Quills and Daggers

Synopsis:

A Collective Novel 

Season 1, Episode 5 
We’ve set the stage, created the characters, and fashioned a world full of twists and turns. Now it’s your turn to sit back and immerse yourself in this incredible series. Each episode weaves the characters and storylines of ten standalone novels together to give you an epic crossover series. We’ve left you breadcrumbs, tidbits of information intertwined throughout our stories. Can you find them? Can you collect the clues we’ve left and become part of The Collective and solve the case? 
Season One 
No one is safe as a killer goes on a killing spree. Will The Collective stop him in time? Will you? Featured authors in order of appearance- Riley Edwards, Erin Trejo, Ellie Masters, Elias Raven, Chris Genovese, and Carver Pike. 
Quills and Daggers – A second chance at love story – Episode 5 
Dead bodies are bad for business. At least that’s what Ivory thinks when a murder takes place a few blocks away from The Motor Quill tattoo parlor. Inking San Francisco’s finest and hanging out with his older, special needs brother, is a routine he’s grown accustomed to. No need to fix something that ain’t broken. 
Breaking things is what Nikki is best at. When she walks back into Ivory’s life, he finds his second chance at love, but he also realizes the skeletons tucked safely in his closet can’t wait to dredge up dark desires. 

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review: 

Quills and Daggers by Chris Genovese is a well-written romantic suspense collection. This writer has gone beyond in creating a super addictive plot line for readers like myself to enjoy. The characters are three-dimensional. Their lives are complicated and messy. Realistically told. Engaging to read from the first page to the last. I haven’t read the previous books in this series but I definitely will after having read this one. 

Review: White Fur

Synopsis:

A stunning star-crossed love story set against the glitz and grit of 1980s New York City 

When Elise Perez meets Jamey Hyde on a desolate winter afternoon, fate implodes, and neither of their lives will ever be the same. Although they are next-door neighbors in New Haven, they come from different worlds. Elise grew up in a housing project without a father and didn’t graduate from high school; Jamey is a junior at Yale, heir to a private investment bank fortune and beholden to high family expectations. Nevertheless, the attraction is instant, and what starts out as sexual obsession turns into something greater, stranger, and impossible to ignore. 

The unlikely couple moves to Manhattan in hopes of forging an adult life together, but Jamey’s family intervenes in desperation, and the consequences of staying together are suddenly severe. And when a night out with old friends takes a shocking turn, Jamey and Elise find themselves fighting not just for their love, but also for their lives. 

White Fur follows these indelible characters on their wild race through Newport mansions and downtown NYC nightspots, SoHo bars and WASP-establishment yacht clubs, through bedrooms and hospital rooms, as they explore, love, play, and suffer. Jardine Libaire combines the electricity of Less Than Zero with the timeless intensity of Romeo and Juliet in this searing, gorgeously written novel that perfectly captures the ferocity of young love. 

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

White Fur by Jardine Libaire is a thrilling romance. Similar to the Great Gatsby in ways. I was intrigued by this plot. Two lovers from opposite sides. Threatened and in danger all because they love each other. A love that shouldn’t be if, a particular family had its way. Perfect plans can be hard…when others are determined to see it fail even if that means a couple of lives are lost. Poor versus the rich and the star-crossed theme hits hard with this tale. White Fur is an intense love story. Filled with glamour, anger, an one brilliant emotional journey. Deep, heart felt, and exciting. Jardine Libaire kept me captivated with Jamey and Elise. Tragic yet realistic…a love story that pulls. I recommend it to readers worldwide. 

Review: Still Well

Synopsis:

Paul Russo’s wife just died. While trying to get his family’s life back in order, Paul is being tormented by a demon who is holding his wife’s spirit hostage on the other side. His fate is intertwined with an old haunted mansion on the north shore of Long Island called Stillwell Manor. Paul must find clues dating back hundreds of years to set his wife’s soul free.
“Cash makes the pain of a man who lost the love of his life palpable in this supernatural thriller with a genuinely surprising resolution.” 

– Publisher’s Weekly 
“Cash easily draws readers into the story by creating three-dimensional characters who are easy to care about.” – ForeWord Reviews

“With strong characters and a twist unexepected in a thriller, this book is an enjoyable beach read.” – ForeWord Reviews
“A horror tale with well-developed characters…” – Kirkus Review 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Still Well by Michael Phillip Cash is a dark intriguing tale. The characters have a way of dragging readers straight into the book. I was immediately drawn into the story. Captivated by the mystery and danger. Goosebumps crawling out on my arms as I dug further into the plot. 

Still Well is definitely a page-turner. A fast-paced, yet edgy ghost-story that nailed my attention from the first page to the last. Frightening tale that holds themes of loss, grief, love and death. A husband who loses his wife due to an illness. Paul has a job of selling places. The most interesting place up for him to sell is a haunted mansion. It’s here where all the darkness comes.  Creating a phenomenal paranormal novel. Buried pasts and a love that doesn’t end…Paul has to rescue his wife’s soul. 

Here, Michael Phillip Cash has masterfully woven a book that engaged me with every page. I was addicted. The action, suspense, and thrill of what lies ahead held me like a prisoner. Still Well’s hero, Paul Russo, is a man that is easy to relate to as well like. I instantly connected with him. His pain of losing his wife and now, having to save her from evil spirits is hard. Paul is a strong character. He grows as the plot unfolded. Overall, I was entertained with this read. I highly recommend this paranormal thriller to all. 

Review: Dangerous Liars

Synopsis:

Jaxon has a mission. Retrieve a valuable emerald for an entry fee and join Maxime, the most prestigious club in the Secure States of America. No problem, if his ex-thief, super-hacker friend Riley can lower the shield around an island where the stone is hidden. And when he discovers a purple-eyed woman who can make herself invisible, he adjusts his plans to include her skills.

But Violet has plans of her own, and a guy who can knock down a shield will fit in nicely. To get her disfiguring scars repaired, she needs access to another island, so when opportunity knocks, she grabs it. Even if it means telling a few lies. Or stealing. Or putting herself in the crosshairs of a pissed-off drug dealer.

Working with Riley again on the other side of the law fires up cravings Jaxon thought he’d suppressed. While he struggles to escape the shadow of his notorious family and unlawful past, Violet faces old demons she’d rather keep buried. Focusing on their goals and keeping their agendas hidden, they travel from Maine to Florida, fighting each other, and a losing battle with lust and love.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Dangerous Liars by Naomi Bellina is a thrilling romantic tale. Suspense, intrigue, and adventure. Readers will be sucked in from the start. I definitely was. The charcaters are three-dimensional. Realistic with real world issues. Romance can’t happen just when both needs to focus on their goals. Goals that involve lying and stealing to get to where they want to be. Each has a past that is full of darkness. Their present moments have a way of keeping readers, like myself, on the edge of our seats. Waiting to see what happen next…

Dangerous Liars is intense. The pacing is good. The troubles leave so many what if moments. I was constantly guessing as the plot kept moving. Romance full of risks. Naomi Bellina has talent in creating fictional worlds full of entertainment. Overall, I recommend this book to readers everywhere. 

Review: Some Small Magic

Synopsis:

She whispers, “I’m supposed to take you home.”
“Not yet,” Abel says. “Please, just not yet.”
All Abel wants is a little bit of magic in his life. Enough money so his mom doesn’t cry at night. Healing for his broken body. And maybe a few answers about his past.
When Abel discovers letters to him from the dad he believed dead, he wonders if magic has come to the hills of Mattingly, Virginia, after all. But not everything is as it seems.
With a lot of questions and a little bit of hope, Abel decides to run away to find the truth. But danger follows him from the moment he jumps his first boxcar, forcing Abel to rely upon his simpleminded friend Willie—a man wanted for murder who knows more about truth than most—and a beautiful young woman who was already on the train. 
From Appalachia to the Tennessee wilds and through the Carolina mountains, the name of a single small town beckons: Fairhope. That is where Abel believes his magic lays. But will it be the sort that will bring a broken boy healing? And is that the magic that will one day lead him home? 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Some Small Magic by Billy Coffey is a heart breaking read. I wanted to cry and hug the characters. I felt the need to help, sympathize, and care. The entire read was an emotionally deep story. One that takes readers into its core and never lets go. Captivating, well-written, and stunning. Each character had an issue that pulled at my heart. I would love to see this book on the big screens everywhere. 

Billy Coffey has a talent for providing a fictional world that drags readers instantly inside and change everything they feel. A mother who is single and ones what she cans for her and her son.  A son who has a condition that makes readers like myself connect immediately with him. Then there’s others with other conditions that are just as sad. Some Some Magic is about a boy looking for the magic he believes exists. It’s up to readers to find out if he finds it or not. Once I picked up this book and read it, there was no returning from the tragic tale. Brilliantly woven for readers’ entertainment…Some Small Magic is a must read for all. I highly recommend it. 

Review: The Roanoke Girls

Synopsis: 

Roanoke girls never last long around here. In the end, we either run or we die.
After her mother’s suicide, fifteen year-old Lane Roanoke came to live with her grandparents and fireball cousin, Allegra, on their vast estate in rural Kansas. Lane knew little of her mother’s mysterious family, but she quickly embraced life as one of the rich and beautiful Roanoke girls. But when she discovered the dark truth at the heart of the family, she ran fast and far away.

Eleven years later, Lane is adrift in Los Angeles when her grandfather calls to tell her Allegra has gone missing. Did she run too? Or something worse? Unable to resist his pleas, Lane returns to help search, and to ease her guilt at having left Allegra behind. Her homecoming may mean a second chance with the boyfriend whose heart she broke that long ago summer. But it also means facing the devastating secret that made her flee, one she may not be strong enough to run from again.

As it weaves between Lane’s first Roanoke summer and her return, The Roanoke Girls shocks and tantalizes, twisting its way through revelation after mesmerizing revelation, exploring the secrets families keep and the fierce and terrible love that both binds them together and rips them apart. 

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review: 

The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel is a coming of age story that will captivate readers worldwide. The whole story was an eye opener of how the real world can be so cruel to the innocent. A family with the most dark secrets that will eventually come to light at the end…two elderly family members that should have been the ones that others could rely on…were the real monsters. The scenes made my skin crawl. The horror of what those Roanoke girls went through…was devastating. I can actually see this story being a realistic one. One of the Roanoke girls will make it out alive but the darkness will still continue to surround her. Leaving behind the family was the best thing Lane Roanoke could have done. Her mother and cousin have suffered greatly. One monster is arrested and the other goes free. Not enough evidence to arrest him, too. Sad what can happen in a family and how fast it crumbles. Amy Engel’s writing was great. Her characters felt real. The truth of what happened will stay with me forever…a haunting kind of read. Overall, I recommend The Roanoke Girls to all. 

Review: Human Acts by Han Kang

Synopsis:

From the internationally bestselling author of The Vegetarian, a rare and astonishing (The Observer) portrait of political unrest and the universal struggle for justice.

In the midst of a violent student uprising in South Korea, a young boy named Dong-ho is shockingly killed.

The story of this tragic episode unfolds in a sequence of interconnected chapters as the victims and the bereaved encounter suppression, denial, and the echoing agony of the massacre. From Dong-ho’s best friend who meets his own fateful end; to an editor struggling against censorship; to a prisoner and a factory worker, each suffering from traumatic memories; and to Dong-ho’s own grief-stricken mother; and through their collective heartbreak and acts of hope is the tale of a brutalized people in search of a voice.
An award-winning, controversial bestseller, Human Acts is a timeless, pointillist portrait of an historic event with reverberations still being felt today, by turns tracing the harsh reality of oppression and the resounding, extraordinary poetry of humanity. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Human Acts by Han Kang is dark, haunting, and powerfully told. I haven’t read Han Kane’s previous work, but will definitely do so now. Her writing captured my attention immediately. The power of authoritarian rule and the suppression of its people…is not something anyone will ever forget. Especially the dead…

Bodies are building up…the numbers of dead are rising. Sadness broken out everywhere. Human Acts has caught a realistic event in South Korea. An uprising, a massacre, an a tragic situation overall. Violence hangs over the people like a heavy stone. Suffocating them little by little. Anger, censorship, and death. Families losing loved ones…the whole book was like a nightmare unfolding before my eyes. The pain, suffering, and emotions were terrifying. Like revisiting the Holocaust era all over again but more horrifying. 

Overall, Human Acts is well-told. The journey inside will never be forgotten. Han Kang’s characters have left their imprint…the terror was gruesome but entertaining to read. Definitely a page turner. I recommend it to readers worldwide. 

Review: A Harvest of Thorns

Synopsis:

A beloved American corporation with an explosive secret. A disgraced former journalist looking for redemption. A corporate executive with nothing left to lose.

In Dhaka, Bangladesh, a garment factory burns to the ground, claiming the lives of hundreds of workers, mostly young women. Amid the rubble, a bystander captures a heart-stopping photograph—a teenage girl lying in the dirt, her body broken by a multi-story fall, and over her mouth a mask of fabric bearing the label of one of America’s largest retailers, Presto Omnishops Corporation.

Eight thousand miles away, at Presto’s headquarters in Virginia, Cameron Alexander, the company’s long-time general counsel, watches the media coverage of the fire in horror, wondering if the damage can be contained. When the photo goes viral, fanning the flames of a decades old controversy about sweatshops, labor rights, and the ethics of globalization, he launches an investigation into the disaster that will reach farther than he could ever imagine—and threaten everything he has left in the world.

A year later, in Washington, D.C., Joshua Griswold, a disgraced former journalist from the Washington Post, receives an anonymous summons from a corporate whistleblower who offers him confidential information about Presto and the fire. For Griswold, the challenge of exposing Presto’s culpability is irresistible, as is the chance, however slight, at redemption. Deploying his old journalistic skills, he builds a historic case against Presto, setting the stage for a war in the courtroom and in the media that Griswold is determined to win—both to salvage his reputation and to provoke a revolution of conscience in Presto’s boardroom that could transform the fashion industry across the globe. 

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

A Harvest of Thorns by Corban Addison is an amazing book. It captures the reality and fear of corruption. From CEOs to the slave trade, readers will get the experience as thought they were actually there or a part of it. The frightening discovery leads a strong willed battle to a company stationed back in the U.S. Secrets leaks. An unraveling of events will shine light to the darkness that is very much a reality in our own world. Corporations think they rule the world. But they can only get away with it for so long…and that’s when all goes to light. Court room battles, an investigation, and one determined journalist make this an interesting read. I was hooked. Many popular yet ugly topics come alive within the pages. Readers will dig through them as the content is released. Absolutely stunning…Corban Addison has captured the dark side of live and world we live within and turned it into one of the most heated moments in the fictional world. The ending was just as epic as the beginning. Fast-paced, intriguing, and a great story. Overall, I recommend it to readers everywhere. 

Review: Regolith

Synopsis:

Elle is a sales superstar at Aspen-Hayward Inc., a company specializing in consumer products and medical supplies. To her surprise, she is hand-picked by the company’s board to run the Research and Development department with an impossible mandate: deliver an industry-leading adaptive learning program to anticipate consumer needs, or else. Aspen-Hayward—languishing in the shadow of its nearest and largest competitor, Rossigland Inc.—is wagering its future on Elle’s leadership.

Meanwhile, Daniel and Greggory work for a security team responsible for loss prevention along Rossigland’s far-reaching and treacherous supply chain. During a routine delivery run, Daniel and Gregg encounter an unusual threat that leads them through a wild ride of adventure.

Elle hires Noam, a developer-savant who quickly brings her department to the verge of something great: the world’s first artificial consciousness, capable of creating humanity’s most needed solutions— saltwater agriculture, a cure for aging and cancer, and sustainable energy.

What none of them know is how their two worlds will collide with an impact of unprecedented scale.

Characters

Elle

Ellison Cole is a tough young woman: a joy with friends but tenacious at the office. She relies heavily on her underachieving but lovable confidant, Cy. Elle has a complicated past and her present becomes more conflicted after meeting Victoria, a more tenured executive at Aspen.

Daniel Brevier

Daniel is a field manager for Rossigland security. If there is one person you can count on to solve a problem, Daniel is your guy—but don’t expect him to avoid making a mess in the process.

Noam

Noam Cohen is much more than a developer and has effortlessly excelled since a young age. He is nothing short of a prodigy at his job and is “a natural” when the team is off-duty.

George McPherson

George is Rossigland’s low-profile COO and, over the course of the book, emerges as much more important than he first appears.

Major Themes

Chaos vs. Order

Evolution: Does a superintelligence present a risk or a benefit to humanity, or both?

What does it mean to be human? Is our purpose to be purely objective, or is humanity defined by an imperfect but vibrant subjective experience?

Advanced physics: an abundance of Earth-like planets in our galaxy; quantized super-vacuum theory related to the AI’s power once born.

Ellison Cole and Aspen-Hayward

Aspen-Hayward wants to rise to the level of sophistication of Rossigland Inc., a larger and much more successful competitor. Senior leadership promotes Elle to bring a sales-oriented focus to Research and Development. She hires Noam and later directs him to take the program to the limit, even if her methods and motivations are compromised in many ways. Then things become complicated.

Daniel Brevier

Daniel and his crew suffer an attack and soon gain valuable intelligence from the crew of another ship. Greg returns to his family, while Daniel smells danger and wants a piece of the action.

Action he finds in a series of adventures, at a classified armory to a battle at an energy processing facility to the brink of an epic battle for humanity’s survival.

The Two Stories Converge

We later discover the problem Daniel discovered is much larger than anyone had imagined while Elle and Noam struggle to realign their project. The two stories weave together in an intricate and beautiful conclusion that will leave you wanting more.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

H. William Glenbrook has masterfully woven two tales combining them into a super novel. Each story has its own set of characters and consequences. Both of these will soon be emerging together. Suspenseful, intense, and well-written. I haven’t read a novel like this one. There is a lot of action happening. Trouble ahead. Regolith is like having Star Wars collide into our real world.  The danger is a huge threat. No one will just realize the extent until they’re pressured into trying to stop it. The writer has combined business, technology, and fantasy into one interesting story. Like with all businesses choices are made and it can break or make the people involved. The plot is clever and fast-paced. Regolith is full of action and intrigue. It kept me keep reading until I reached the last page. The characters are the most fascinating group, ever. Smart, savvy, and bold. Their personalities make them believable. H. William Glenbrook has taken the impossible and made into something that could be possible. Quite frightening. The reality of the future…will keep readers engaged. Overall, I highly recommend this book, to all. 

Review: Sister, Sister

Synopsis:
Alice: Beautiful, kind, manipulative, liar.
Claire: Intelligent, loyal, paranoid, jealous.
Claire thinks Alice is a manipulative liar who is trying to steal her life.

Alice thinks Claire is jealous of her long-lost return and place in their family.
One of them is telling the truth. The other is a maniac.

Two sisters. One truth.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Sister, Sister by Sue Fortin is phenomenal. Keeps readers guessing until the end. Secrets, past lives, and a new danger come whirling into Claire’s life. She lost her sister Alice as a kid. Now, married with kids of her own…a letter appears from her sister Alice. Saying she thinks she finally found Claire and her mother. But Claire’s smart and will soon find answers to what’s really happening. Deadly, suspenseful, and engaging. Sue Fortin has masterfully woven a tale about two sisters. One dies the other just barely makes it out alive. A man from Claire’s past will do everything to make sure her life is a complete mess. Like sowing doubt about her daughter’s real father. Pictures with dates…emails sent it seems even after death. Claire and her family will have a new fight on their hands. The sister so greatly wanted will finally be found. Life will go on…

Sister, Sister is both haunting and frightening. The emotional stress that Claire goes through is crazy.  The story is fast-paced and well-written. Once I entered the story, I couldn’t stop reading it. Powerful storytelling and believable characters. The fear will send shivers down anyone’s spine. Overall, I highly recommend this thriller to all. 

Review: Close to Home

Synopsis:

The best journeys take us home….

When Tessa Alexander came to Sanctuary Island, she left behind a marriage to a man who didn’t love her the way she loved him. When she finally found the strength to set them both free, she discovered friendship and self-acceptance in her adopted hometown. Now she’s settled into a quiet life on her own—never expecting to see her husband again.
Johnny spent almost two years deep undercover, unable to let his wife into his cold, dangerous world. He’s shaken to the core when he comes home to find her gone. It’s painfully clear that Tessa is no longer the timid young woman he married—she’s become a force of nature, a brave and determined beauty. Johnny can’t let her go without a fight so he sets out to seduce his own wife. But will passion alone be enough to convince Tessa that her new life should include a second chance at happiness with a man who must learn to believe in love?
Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Close to Home by Lily Everett is a stunning piece. This contemporary romance appeals to the physical and emotional side of readers. The story instantly sweeps readers off their feet. A sexy undercover FBI agent comes back home. Only to find that his wife moved a year ago, created a new life, and sent divorce papers. Talk about a blow to man’s heart and ego. Johnny won’t accept it. So, he does what any man who loves his wife does. Goes chasing after her. Make her love him again. But his wife has greatly changed. Tessa has redefined herself. She won’t let others dictate her lifestyle. She has worked on being independent. She doesn’t want her husband to love her because she needs his help. Little does she know how much he loves her…and it has nothing to do with just protecting her from the world…

Close to Home shows the reality of life. Marriage isn’t always a fairy tale. Communication issues were apparent in this fictional piece as they really are in real life. Husbands not understanding women’s ways…their bafflement makes me laugh. Especially Johnny admitting he had no idea what his wife wanted back then and even now…I enjoyed reading this tale from both characters’ point of view. It wasn’t told by their view, yet Lily Everett mastered it in a way that I got to see, hear, and understand from both Johnny’s and Tessa’s sides. Overall, this romance was engaging, exciting, and super sweet. The romance is beautiful. I highly recommend it to all. 

Review: The Sun is Also a Star

Synopsis:

The Instant New York Times Bestseller! Soon to be a Major Motion Picture!

The dazzling new novel from Nicola Yoon, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Everything, Everything (in theaters May 2017!), will have you falling in love with Natasha and Daniel as they fall in love with each other!

Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.

Daniel:  I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.
The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true? 

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon is by far the greatest book ever. Her story weaves readers into its depth. Never letting them go. I felt the tension, rebellion, and the yearning. Two unlikely characters by chance meet. A meeting that shakes up their world and puts it upside down again. Love. True love. Chemistry. Instant attraction. Neither one was expecting it to happen. But there in the midst of everything they fell into a whole. One that has swallowed them both. However, as with real life, love is separated or broken. In this case, both are separated. One is being taken out of the country and the other staying. Their chance of love is impossible. But the hearts protest…

Nicola Yoon’s debut novel is brilliant. Refreshing, exciting, and leaves readers wanting it to never end…it’s a book that captures its audience. I was hooked. Every page lured me deeper into the character’s lives. Society, family , and distance keeps playing the bad parts…but somehow the odds might just break. The Sun is Also a Star kept me wondering what will happen next. I never knew what was going to occur. This phenomenal read is similar to that of The Fault in Our Stars movie. I really can’t wait to see this one on screen soon. Suspenseful with every page. The characters are amazing. Well-developed. The tale is well-told. Overall, I highly recommend it to all. 

Review: Disaster at Roosevelt Ranch

Synopsis:

Complete Stand Alone/No Cliffhanger

I slept with the wrong twin.
And all I got for it in return was a broken heart.

Oh yeah, and a baby on the way–there’s that too.

But I’m determined to make it on my own. I don’t need a man, thank you very much. Not rich, charismatic, and decidedly flighty Rex Roosevelt, and especially not his twin brother, Justin.

No matter that the gorgeous former military doctor makes my heart beat a little faster . . . and all spots lower than that pay careful, careful attention.

None of that matters. The Roosevelt men are dangerous and I’m steering clear.

The trouble is, Justin refuses to leave me be.

And deep down, I don’t want to avoid him.

Deep down, I want to be even closer.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Disaster at Roosevelt Ranch by Elise Faber is hot, steamy, and exciting! I loved it. The characters are swoon worthy. Sexy, smart, and funny too. The leading male character is internally flawed but despite those flaws he’s the man every woman wants in her life. Meet Justin Roosevelt. The older brother of the man who knocked up an employee and left. Justin comes back to handle the family ranch. Once he’s back, he meets a woman who pulls at his heart. She does the unlikely and pukes all over his shoes and clothes. The most embarrassing moment but also the moment when Justin’s realizes her situation. Her love for horses has lead her back into Justin’s life. From there the shocking truth takes them on a beautiful journey. I loved the brickering between characters. Justin is the hero who is strong enough to handle any stubborn woman…and that one stubborn woman has him so tangled up inside he’s not sure to give into his heart or play it safe. The female character yer was easy to relate as well. Her situation was believable. Her spunky no sugar coated talk made her real. Readers with a fondness for animals and comedy will love this sweet romance. Disaster at Roosevelt Ranch is a must read for all. I highly recommend Elise Faber’s  novel to readers everywhere.

Review: Three Fat Singletons

Synopsis:

Dotty the virgin, Jesse the divorcee, and Mary the man-eater are best friends with four things in common: they are single, obese, pushing 40, and unsatisfied with life.

Together they explore the fat-underworld of London including blind dates, Internet dating, phone sex and the possibilities of lifetime celibacy.

When a week-long getaway to Greece turns into a whirlwind of romance, sex and horrific embarrassment, each one of them will have to decide what they really want in life.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

The Three Fat Singletons is a laugh-out-loud kind of read. Readers will find themselves relating to the realistic issues of the three women. Being fat is a major issue we see in our world, today. Here, are three friends who are struggling with being over weight. Their heavy weight is the center of their problems. Then, there’s their choices they make…that leads them further into a whole. I thought it was great to read about real women with real issues. Dotty, Jesse, and Mary are as real as characters can get in fiction. It was refreshing. Most books portray skinny or curvy women getting the hot sexy man and lucking out with everything. However, in the Three Fat Singletons, J.M Bartholomew captures reality with ease and flair. I enjoyed following the friends as they went opabout their situations from food to men. Their journeys are not pretty nor the best, but it was quite entertaining. Well-written, funny, and three dimensional characters…I would recommend this novel to readers everywhere. A great women’s fictional piece, as well as a comedy. 

Review: A Viscount’s Blazing Love

Synopsis:

Jane Watson cannot forget those long summer days with her best friend, John Christopherson.

But… everything changed on the day John left to make something of himself.

She never forget John’s promise . . . that he will make something of himself and return for her.

When suddenly, two years later, at a ball, he appears…
Can she hold him to his promise? Most of all, does he still love her?

While Jane wrestles with her feelings, it is clear that John’s status is on the rise.

He is no longer a farmer’s son but a viscount.

Yet his rough upbringing means he may never be good enough for Jane, no matter how much he loves her, no matter what position he holds.

When John’s father reveals a terrible secret of the most horrible nature, John must decide what to do.

If he shares this secret, it will affect not only John, but Jane.

It will also affect Jane’s family… FAMILY, the one thing that matters to her most.

There is no way her family would ever approve of his marrying Jane now.

Not after what his father did.

Will John be able to tell them all the truth?

If he does, is true forgiveness really possible?

Redemption is a powerful thing, but will John and Jane love and trust enough to experience it?

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

Charlotte Stone has once more created a beautifully written romance. Her story has captured my attention from the beginning and swept me off my feet. The Viscount’s Blazing Love is another regency romance that has the break it or make it moment. So intense and intriguing…readers won’t want to stop reading it. Addictive, entertaining, and romantic. The characters come to life. Their ways and personalities make this story more than just words on a page. They made me believe, hope, and fall in love. 

The Viscount’s Blazing Love is exactly as the title suggests. Sweet, enticing, and fiery. Secrets come unfolding and choices have to be made. Two lovers separated long enough to cause doubt and confusion. This only stirs the plot more. Family and redemption are other major themes. The scenes were visually fascinating. Charlotte Stone has a way of magically bringing her words into realistic beings and places. The emotional tugs from the novel will keep readers hooked. I absolutely loved reading this new book. Charlotte Stone is still one of my favorite historical writers. After reading her novels, readers will easily understand why. Overall, I highly recommend The Viscount’s Blazing Love to readers worldwide. 

Review: Disinheritance (collection of poems)

Synopsis: 

A lyrical, philosophical, and tender exploration of the various voices of grief, including those of the broken, the healing, the son-become-father, and the dead, Disinheritance acknowledges loss while celebrating the uncertainty of a world in constant revision. From the concrete consequences of each human gesture to soulful interrogations into “this amalgam of real / and fabled light,” these poems inhabit an unsteady betweenness, where ghosts can be more real than the flesh and blood of one’s own hands.

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

Disinheritance by John Sibley Williams is a stunning yet beautifully written collection of poems. Inside, readers will go on an emotional rollercoaster of every kind. His words sink deep into the souls of his readers. I felt the grief and loss absorb into me as I read each word. The depth in which each poem creates in brilliant. Realistic, heart wrenching, and phenomenal. Every page carries a unique poem. I found myself lost within the pages and the emotions they created inside of me. John Sibley Williams collected the essence of life and captured it within every piece. The reality of life and its rawness come alive within these pages. Disinheritance is indeed one magnificent collection of poetry that I highly recommend to all. Once readers open this book, there’s no going back. Hard to put down, and absolutely breathtaking. Overall, John Sibley Williams is a master of poetry. 

Review: Boy 9, Missing

Synopsis:

In the tradition of Defending Jacob or Drowning Ruth, this is a suspenseful debut that explores the ramifications of revenge, justice, and the aftermath of a terrible night in the lives of two families.

It should have been just a quiet evening with friends. But Francis lost his brother that night in what was ruled a tragic accident. He’s tried to move on in the last twenty-three years, even though his father certainly hasn’t. Indeed, his father still blames the lone witness, Sam, the nine-year-old son of friends. Perhaps if Sam would have just said something, anything, about what happened that night, but Sam still seems unable-or unwilling-to utter a word about the accident.

And now, twenty-three years later, Sam’s own nine-year-old son has disappeared.

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

Boy 9, Missing by Nic Joseph is a psychological suspense novel, all readers won’t forget. The death that haunts the family within is one of the most realistic tellings I have ever read. An older brother can’t move past his younger brother’s death. Since that day, he has needed therapy of all kinds. He can’t move forward. Like the weight and unknown truth of what happened that night keeps haunting him. It’sad to see a family torn both physically and emotionally like this one presented here. A witness, annother young boy, has never once told the truth of what he saw that night on how his friend died. The mystery has surrounded that place until the last page…where all hell breaks loose and the truth may just come out after all. Nic Joseph created a thriller that was stunning, well-developed, and intriguing from the start. It sent chills down my back and tears down my cheeks. Who knew the killer was closer than the family thought. Anger, sex, psychological trauma and another young boy missing…keeps reading turning the pages. I couldn’t stop reading it. I had to know the truthjust like the main character, Francis. Boy 9, Missing is one novel that I highly recommend to all readers. 

Review: Child of the River

Synopsis:

A compelling coming of age story with an unlikely and utterly memorable heroine, Child of the River is a timeless tale of heartbreak and triumph set in South Africa at the dawn of apartheid.

Persomi is young, white, and poor, born the middle child of illiterate sharecroppers on the prosperous Fourie farm in the South African Bushveld. Persomi’s world is extraordinarily small. She has never been to the local village and spends her days absorbed in the rhythms of the natural world around her, escaping the brutality and squalor of her family home through the newspapers and books passed down to her from the main house and through her walks in the nearby mountains.

Persomi’s close relationship with her older brother Gerbrand and her fragile friendship with Boelie Fourie—heir to the Fourie farm and fortune—are her lifeline and her only connection to the outside world. When Gerbrand leaves the farm to fight on the side of the Anglos in WWII and Boelie joins an underground network of Boer nationalists, Persomi’s isolated world is blown wide open. But as her very small world falls apart, bigger dreams become open to her—dreams of an education, a profession, a native country that values justice and equality, and of love. As Persomi navigates the changing world around her—the tragedies of war and the devastating racial strife of her homeland—she finally discovers who she truly is, where she belongs, and why her life—and every life—matters.

The English language publication of Child of the River solidifies Irma Joubert as a unique and powerful voice in historical fiction.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Child of the River by Irma Joubert was a remarkable read. The talent of the writer was phenomenal. I couldn’t stop reading the novel. The tale inside was so captivating…that I kept on turning the pages. I had to know what happened and how and the why. A young girl grows up in South Africa. Her family is beyond poor. In fact, they live off another’s farm for work. The house is tiny only two rooms. A stealness over bears the senses. The roof barley holing up, and then there’s the dark stuff that happens inside the home. A step-father who bullies his wife and kids. As long as Persomi’s older brother Geraband was there. She was safe from her step-father. Her life gets more interesting. She is soon told by Geraband that their father isn’t their real father. Both share the same mother but different dads. Just as Persomi comes to this idea. She is then set on finding out who her father is. 

But then fate takes an interesting twist. Persomi is soon a lead witness against her step-father and Geraband goes to war as a solider thus providing food and money for Persomi and their mother. With these new events happening, Persomi’s life changes forever. She, a dirt poor girl, is soon excelling as fast or faster than the kids who can afford to go to school. Persomi wins scholarships to pay for her high school education. At first the kids don’t like her, because she’s poor, and because of her step-father. But then Persomi ends up winning awards for the best girl in sports. Her grades are good and she makes a new friend Beth. Beth is a girl raised by a reverend and his wife, after her mother died. Both Beth and Persomi have no idea who their fathers are. Persomi is still working on that revelation. However, Irma Joubert keeps readers in suspense. The revelation comes in when readers least expect it. I was surprised at first, but it made sense. I liked how Persomi succeeded despite being humiliated due to a stigma and how she continued to prove to others how wrong they were of her. Persomi’s dream of being a lawyer may work out…love, friendships, betrayal, death, loss, and hope are all tied beautifully inside this read. I loved it. Child of the River is a must read for all. A new historical tale that should be a new classic. Lessons learned and highly entertaining. I was deeply engaged from the beginning to end. Irma Joubert’s novel is the best I have read in quite awhile. OveralL, I highly recommend it to all. 

Review: Peter & Lisa (A Mental Illness Children’s Story)

Synopsis:

A children’s book about two different mental illnesses, depression and mania, Peter and Lisa makes it easier for children to understand these mental conditions. It is a story about two people affected with such illness and how they got better and recovered through the proper medication and necessary support by family and friends. Charles and Linda Baron Katz’s Peter and Lisa: A Mental Illness Children’s Story manifests the true essence of love and support to aid us overcome every storm that may pass.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Peter and Lisa: A Mental Illness Children’s Story is a beautifully illustrated book that goes along with the story inside perfectly. Charles Katz and Lind Baron Katz both have created a book suited for children that shows what a mental illness is like and how to get help. They also show children that those with a mental illness are normal people too. They they can live a happy life just like those without a mental illness. The story also, shows that the people don’t always know that they have a mental illness. That can cause them an unhappy life. Until someone they know sees it, and helps them get help, they may go untreated and can get worse. However, this tale shows that help is around the corner and that positive things can happen to those dealing with mental illness. Marriage and having a family can be in the future for those with this issues. Both writers showed the realistic outcomes if not treated and treated. I liked that. It gives hope and inspiration to those who are struggling with these issues. Overall, I recommend this children’s book to all readers. It’s the perfect guide to educating others on mental illnesses. 

Review: Killmore

Synopsis:

Amazon Best-Selling Author

You know how they say the enemy of your enemy is your friend? Well, I’m still determining if there’s any truth to that statement.
I was used by the Feds to report on the dealings of Antonio Herrera – the major Mexican crime lord since his uncle passed, leaving everything to Antonio. I knew everything about Antonio’s business. How, you ask? I was the only woman he kept close, really close – he claimed he loved me. You get to see and hear a lot of interesting things when you hold that kind of status.
Now, the Feds have me in what they claim is witness protection. However, I never feel safe knowing he’s out there. My family thinks I’m dead. All the while, I keep to myself, avoid most people in my new hometown and train rigorously everyday–waiting for the time when the devil comes calling for his debt to be paid.

Rating 5 stars

Review:

Killmore by Martha Sweeney…is completely different than her other novels. I was susrprised. Yet, right away, the main character sucked me into the book. The leading female character has a way with her personality that draws readers to her like bees to honey. No matter how strong a front she puts out…people like her. Both fictional and non-fictional. Her journey was one that proves believable. She did what any woman wanting survive do..but it wasn’t enough. She wakes up in protective custody. The bad guy is still lurking out there…and one day he will come after her. She lives each each in peparations for that fatal day. Fear, maybe. Just knows it’s going to happen. Martha Sweeney has caught the attention of women who have been in abusive relationships and how their lives spiral out of control. I feel the frustrations, anger, and resentment deep inside the character. The waiting adds such an intensity to this novel. Then, there’s her way of pushing others away.  Like the male doctor who would be good for her. But due to men’s treatments towards her, she only wants the sex part. If they can’t handle that, nothing else is going to happen. A tough, determined, and intelligent woman who fights each day. It’s not easy. Killmore is full of action, intrigue, and suspense. There is romance woven into the tale. Readers will open this up, and never look back. This was an exciting journey, and I loved each moment of it. Martha Sweeney has once again, captured my attention with her latest novel. Her character has caught me, too. Overall, I highly recommend Killmore to readers everywhere. 

Review: Willowkeep

 

Synopsis:

Charlotte Darby’s ship is sinking. Penniless and alone, she is struggling to care for herself and her young sister in the harsh seaport town of Hull. But when a solicitor from London brings news that she is the heir to a vast estate in Kent, it seems her days of rough seas are over. Willowkeep is prosperous and grand, far too much for a shipping merchant’s daughter to manage, and she quickly comes to rely on the help of Henry Morland, the estate’s kind and handsome steward. Henry has worked hard his entire life, but all the money he’s saved won’t be enough to get his father out of debtor’s s prison. And Henry’s fondness for Charlotte and her sister is only another reminder of his low status and lack of wealth. Though he is willing to do whatever it takes to keep Charlotte happy and looked after as the county’s wealthiest lady, she can never be his.
Courted by a charming man of the ton, threatened by those who want her money, and determined to keep her sister safe from the same fate that cost her the rest of her family, Charlotte must face some heartrending decisions. For no matter the size of the fortune, life and love are never smooth sailing.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Willowkeep by Julie Daines is a romance novel set during the regency time period. This historical setting was perfect. The setting and mood were set just right. Readers won’t be able to put this book down…I was hooked. Instantly Julie Daines takes readers on a journey. One of an older sister taking care of a younger sibling. Both are higher up in society than the servant that serves them so well. It was different to see a servant actually want to take care of his superiors in the way Henry does here. He knows he’s not for Charlotte but can’t help feeling attracted to her. His actions are good. I really liked him as much as I did the sisters. The younger sibling has a learning disability that readers do not hear about much in these kind of novels. I was happy that Julie Daines portrayed this into her stunning tale. It was charming, realistic, and sweet. This was the first novel, I have read by this talented writer. I hope to read more by her in the future. Overall, Willowkeep is a must read for all who love romance and historical tales.

Review: Barren Waters

 

Synopsis:

It happened once before…
It was called the Permian Extinction…
All life in the oceans died…
And now it’s happening again…

Sometimes life ends with a bang. Other times it ends with a slow strangulation. The oceans are extinct. Empty. Stagnant. Only the slow passage of millennia can reverse the effects. But what does that mean for the rest of the planet? What does that mean for those who remain?

Enter the world as it exists in the twenty-second century. Follow Jeremy Colt and his family as they race across the continent to survive. What waits for them in San Diego and why do they need to get there? The clock is ticking. Can they get there fast enough? And if they do, will it even save her?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Barren Waters by Julia Shupe is an extraordinary dystopian tale. One that contains an acolpyse that will send chills down a reader’s spine. It was absolutely terrorifying to think that one day the world could be like the one pictured in this tale. I realized the importance of survival not just for us humans for the other life living on our planet. Water ecosystems being destroyed is saddening. It is to some scientists belief that all organisms once lived in water before starting out as land creatures. From there creatures and us humans were created.. If life can’t survive in the water what does that mean for all of humanity? Following the characters’ journey to survival was harsh, critical and believable. Julia Shupe created a masterpiece that brings out major issues we need to deal with as well as brining out an entertaining story. Readers will instantly be captivated by this novel. I definitely was hooked. Barren Waters is a deep, thought provoking yet stunning piece of fiction. Overall, I highly recommend to readers worldwide.

Review: Just Juliet

 

Synopsis:

The coming out story that will completely change the way you look at love.

Juliet represents the road less traveled. Will Lena take it?

Lena Newman is 17, her best friend’s a cheerleader, her boyfriend’s a football player, and as far as everyone is concerned, her life is sorted. But that’s before she befriends the new girl. Juliet is confident, slightly damaged, drop-dead gorgeous and a lesbian.

Lena realizes that her interest goes beyond just friendship. She sets off on a path of self-discovery where the loyalty of those closest to her will be tested.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Just Juliet by Charlotte Reagan is the kind of genre I normally don’t read. However, the story was well-developed and well-written. I liked how realistic the characters were. Love is not pretty. It’s more of a complicated knot that gets more twisted before it’s smoothed out…into fineness. I noticed that the writer captured the high school drama right down to its raw yet ugly form. Being in love is tough then add the attraction to the same sex and it’s worse. Worse as in hard for others around the main characters to accept as okay. People don’t choose who they fall in love with. Love isn’t a fashion statement it’s part of who that person is and if we can’t let them be who they are then love isn’t real. Experiencing what may be right for one is a scary path. Then add insecurity and drama to it and well, it makes for an interesting tale. Unfortunately, this tale came off so real, that it was frightening in a way. Charlotte Reagan definitely knows what goes on with teenagers and how they react to situations. She masterfully captured everything exactly the way it should be. Just Juliet is a YA coming of age book that I highly recommend to readers worldwide.

 

Review: Gilt Hollow

 

Synopsis:

Willow Lamott’s best friend is a convicted killer, and no one in the small town of Gilt Hollow will let her forget it. Over four long years, she’s tried to fade into the background—but none of that matters when Ashton Keller comes striding into school, fresh out of juvie and fueled by revenge. The moment their eyes meet, Willow no longer feels invisible. Drawn to the vulnerability behind Ashton’s mask of rage, she sinks deeper into his sinister world and begins to question whether he’s a villain, a savior, or both.

Ashton thought he wanted vengeance, until Willow Lamott stepped back into his life. Now he longs to clear his name and become the person she sees in him. But the closer they get to uncovering the truth, the darker the secrets become, and Ashton wonders if his return to Gilt Hollow will destroy everyone he loves.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Gilt Hollow by Lorie Langdon is by far a marvelous read. It is full of dark sinister things. Lorie Langdon’s novel is brilliantly woven in a way that captured my attention from the beginning to end. Fast-paced and exciting. Suspenseful, edgy, and intriguing.

Imagine being a young man and wrongly accused of a crime. A crime that was committed by another person. No one believed in you. Except for one person. That person shakes down the world and leaving a place for something unexpected. Love. Just when things are planned, Ashton’s world is tilted once again. Out to prove he was innocent all along…a girl leaves him feeling unbalanced. Something about her draws him nearer. But there is still a murder out there. The danger gets closer and the risks are high.

A young girl, Willow, is fixed upon a boy her age. One she is not sure is indeed innocent. But something drags her closer to him anyway. As things grow between them, the threats become real. Romance is great but is it worth losing those that one loves?

Gilt Hollow is an enchanting world of fiction. There’s plenty of action, romance, and mystery. Readers will be baited, lured, and hooked. Lorie Langdon’s writing is stunning. Well-developed characters that pulled me into their lives, risks, and future. A plot that snagged me inside and kept me prisoner. Realistic and haunting. I loved reading this masterfully woven tale. Overall, I highly recommend Gilt Hollow by Lorie Langdon to all.

Review: Broken Roots by Michelle Diana Lowe

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Synopsis:

After her father’s invention earns her family millions, sixteen-year-old Teisha Cole moves from London to Florida. Uprooted from the place she loves, Teisha now lives in a broken home full of secrets and lies.

Following the death of Teisha’s grandmother, her fractured family is replanted in rural England, where a kingpin and his clan are laying in wait. What ensues is a dangerous game that brings their house to its knees, as the family’s wealth begins to disappear.

When Teisha’s father develops a mysterious illness, Teisha turns detective to unravel the truth. Escaping onto the streets and stumbling into the foster care system may be her only hope of survival.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Broken Roots by Michelle Diana Lowe is an intriguing read. From the beginning to end Michelle Diana Lowe captures readers’ attention with this suspenseful yet dysfunctional tale. A young girl’s home and life immediately change when they move to a new place. Upon moving, there’s a mystery and threat that hangs in the air. Keeping readers wondering what next will happen. Young Teisha, takes it upon herself to survive. Her family is in great danger from a deadly group. Secrets and lies may just destroy everything Teisha had or ever knew. Michelle Diana Lowe is a talented writer. Her novel brings forth strong issues that readers everywhere can easily relate to. Family life and life’s struggles are real issues. This brilliant story brings to life characters and issues that we all struggle with…I enjoyed following the main character as the story developed. Truly, a must read for all. Overall, I highly recommend Broken Roots to readers everywhere.

Review: Clarence Olgibee

Synopsis:

It starts with a murder.

In 1974, 17-year-old Jimmy Tate Sullivan watched his two friends bludgeon to death a black man. Sentenced to life for abetting the crime, Sullivan is initiated into a white- supremacist church by a fellow convict, once the best friend of an African-American teenager, Clarence Olgibee.
Shifting back to 1954, this family saga is about race, religion, and the powerful white men in a sleepy Midwestern town who plan a new world order Olgibee tries to escape.
Small choices have fateful consequences- in this life and the next. Olgibee’s choices lead him back to the two women he loved and an ultimate decision. (less)
Rating: 5 stars
Review:

Clarence Oglibee by Alan S. Kessler is an intriguing yet dark tale. One that shows the true ugliness of human nature. Racism is just a nightmare in fiction but in the real world too. No matter how many years go by there will always be racism issues bringing down people everywhere. Society is to blame. Yet it’s also the people who build up that society. 

Alan S. Kessler’s writing is superb. I was pulled into the plot instantly. The story held me captive. Sending shivers down my spine and suspense was like a thick heavy blanket. Brutal, raw, and an honest telling of how these situations occur everywhere. Racism has been imprinted upon birth almost programmed into our DNA. Generation after generation and still the struggles are real. Black seems to be forever lost in world not ready to let go of it’s evilness. The words are three dimensional. Popping to life with every page. The action is intense. Leaving me sitting on the edge of my chair holding in my breath.  

Consequences of cruelty stays pressed up in one’s mind forever. The images never fade. That’s exactly where Jimmy Tate Sullivan lies. His friends beat to death an innocent black man on the streets. A man that was heading home. Yet the white young men were drunk and looking for trouble. Trouble came and cost a man his life. Jimmy ended up spending time in jail. As rightly so. The plot gets darker as the story continues to unfold for the main character. Choices have to be made. Danger hangs tightly in the air. 

Overall, I highly recommend this stunning yet realistic tale to readers worldwide. 

Review: A Perfect Plan

 

Synopsis:

Samantha Hastings lived a quiet, peaceful life on her family’s country estate. With no man to order her around and no stifling society rules to follow, she considered herself blessed. However, when her brother’s ship sinks during a short trip to France, Samantha receives a request from her sister-in-law to return to town and manage the late Earl’s finances. Suddenly thrust into society, Samantha faces an unfamiliar world and a pair of very familiar green eyes.

Lord Benjamin Westwood never intended on following through with his rash promise to his best friend. Now, with Edward’s death, Benjamin becomes the unwilling guardian to Edward’s bratty little sister, who has grown up considerably since the last time they met. His intention to marry her off to the first available suitor is thwarted when he finds himself falling for Samantha’s unique demeanor. He lights upon the perfect plan; a marriage of convenience, giving him the opportunity to romance Samantha without distraction.

However, when they discover Edward’s disappearance was due to foul play, Benjamin’s perfect plan begins to quickly unravel. Now, Samantha is in more danger than either of them realized and Benjamin is running out of time.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

A Perfect Plan by Alyssa Drake is an intoxicating read. The words fill one’s mind and send the heart racing. The raw desires brings out a chemistry so strong I could hardly believe I was simply reading about them. But intimacy isn’t the only exciting part of this novel. Alyssa Drake has also, masterfully woven a suspenseful yet deadly mystery into her historical romance. I have never felt so pumped about reading a historical tale than I have when reading this book. The pages come to life. Showing readers as they follow along. The chemistry builds with every page. Creating an intense atmosphere. The danger ahead is oe that will keep readers on the edge of their seats in wait.

Alyssa Drake creates a story of a young woman who only had her brother. When info comes in saying his boat has sunk she is soon called back into society to play a part. Samantha was just getting used to not having a man around to boss her around nor have to be anything society asked until recently. The plot thickens when news that her father had been murdered. Benjamin a friend of Samantha’s brother made a promise to take care of Sammantha if anything foul happened. So, when fate calls him to fulfill the promise made he at first hates his new duty but after meeting Sammantha he soon falls fast. But the danger isn’t over yet. Sammantha might also be in danger as well…and Benjamin’s plans for seducing her will have to wait. Overall, I loved reading this brilliant novel. I loved the characters and their troubles. Well-written and entertaining. I highly recommend A Perfect Plan to readers everywhere.

 

Review: I’m Okay You’re a Pain In the Ass

 

Synopsis

Wildly entertaining essays laced with wicked concepts, cheap shots, and a few bright ideas. An absolute feast of funny words without once mentioning vampires or zombies. The perfect blend of madcap rants and true life experiences guaranteed to put a never-ending smile on your face. Actually, a never-ending smile might be cause for alarm. In fact, if your smile lasts longer than four hours, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible. Just the same, this extraordinary slice of life is riotously funny and viciously insightful. This book is almost too good to read, but I suggest reading it anyway. I also suggest telling forty or fifty of your closest friends to read this time; people need to laugh.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

I’m Okay You’re a Pain In the Ass…a love story by Dr. J.M. Chamberlain, MPV is a book to behold. Inside readers will find a collection of essays that will surely entertain readers everywhere. Each essay is realistic, funny, and entertaining. Makes life more enjoyable. Plenty of laugh out loud moments to keep readers turning the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and recommend it to all. Dr. J.M. Chamberlain writes a superb collection for all to enjoy.

 

Review: The Invitation

 

Synopsis:

An evocative love story set along the Italian Riviera about a group of charismatic stars who all have secrets and pasts they try desperately–and dangerously–to hide.

Rome, 1953: Hal, an itinerant journalist flailing in the post-war darkness, has come to the Eternal City to lose himself and to seek absolution for the thing that haunts him. One evening he finds himself on the steps of a palazzo, walking into a world of privilege and light. Here, on a rooftop above the city, he meets the mysterious Stella. Hal and Stella are from different worlds, but their connection is magnetic. Together, they escape the crowded party and imagine a different life, even if it’s just for a night. Yet Stella vanishes all too quickly, and Hal is certain their paths won’t cross again.

But a year later they are unexpectedly thrown together after Hal receives an invitation he cannot resist. An Italian Contessa asks him to assist on a trip of a lifetime–acting as a reporter on a tremendous yacht, skimming its way along the Italian coast toward Cannes film festival, the most famous artists and movie stars of the day gathered to promote a new film.

Of all the luminaries aboard–an Italian ingenue, an American star, a reclusive director–only one holds Hal in thrall: Stella. And while each has a past, that belies the gilded surface, Stella has the most to hide. As Hal’s obsession with Stella grows, he becomes determined to bring back the girl she once was, the girl who’s been confined to history.

An irresistibly entertaining and atmospheric novel set in some of the world’s most glamorous locales, THE INVITATION is a sultry love story about the ways in which the secrets of the past stay with us–no matter how much we try to escape them.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Invitation by Lucy Foley is a historical romance story set in the 1950’s. Its tale takes readers deep into the darkness that surrounds the characters. Regret, sorrow, and loss. But even with that, there was also, the luxury of lives lived in glamorous ways. Rich, fascinating, and enticing. Lucy Foley magnificently creates, a world in which readers want to dive into time and time again. The emotional journey is one that baits and hooks readers deeper into the plot. Moving back and forth dipping into each character’s life so as to give readers a clearer picture of who they are. The mystery behind the characters and their dilemmas is fascinating to watch. This book is like a moving picture. The Invitation brings a realistic yet romantic story that nails me to its pages. A search for redemption and love is so great that I simply couldn’t put the book down…to stop reading. I highly recommend this to fans of historicals, romances, and family sagas. Lucy Foley is indeed a talented writer.

Review: Who’s Between the Sheets 2

 

Synopsis:

Xavier has been the one who has been holding Hazel down but when Jamal decided to walk out he seized the opportunity. Now that Jamal and Hazel are officially over he begins to start having feelings for her, but he must make a decision and he must make it fast; should he remain loyal to his cousin Jamal or follow his heart.

Nikki is glad that Jamal is all hers until she meets Ethan. She soon finds herself craving Ethan more than she craves her own man. But little does she know that Ethan has a secret of his own and Jamal hasn’t been keeping it 100 with her either. She soon finds herself having to choose between Jamal and Ethan.

Jet is back again and she ain’t playing this time around. She has a secret that is threatening to be exposed and she will stop at nothing to keep it hidden. Jet pretends she has reformed herself by enrolling in college and doing all the right things that she needs to do to keep her man, but little does she know Xavier is catching feelings for Hazel and he is torn in between the two. Will she still be able to win Xavier back into her corner in time before her secret is revealed?

Lisa is back again and is playing for keeps. She wants what she wants and she still secretly wants Jet back in her bed. But when she finds out that Jet has moved on and has so many secrets that she is trying to keep contained Lisa decides she will be the one to bring Jet down off her high horse and expose her for the liar that she is. But will Lisa get a chance to tell Jet’s dark secrets or will she be a little too late?

The second installment of Who’s Between the Sheets will keep you on the edge of your bed; amazed at who is actually between the sheets.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Who’s Between the Sheets 2 by Shanice B. is definitely full of drama from the get go. I couldn’t believe how many issues pop up within a character’s life when they factor in the sex equation. Trying to keep up with who’s with who will keep readers constantly on their toes. The sex is deep enough to break and form new relationships everything. Once one relationship is broken another is formed. Then that newly formed relationship that has built up based on the hot sex goes down once a new player comes into the equation. Sex. It is truly a human being’s worst form of destruction. The lives of the characters are crazy but real. I can definitely see these adults acting this way in real life. Sad but so true. Each character thinks they have it good until one or both of them screws up their initial relationship…does loves really exist or it all about the bedroom? Shanice B.’s writing is superb. This urban street romance is another fantastic drama roll, that continues nonstop. I have found that each character is his or her own destruction. Even family members get more wrapped up, into their family member’s life issues that it’s hard to pull back. An intriguing roller-coaster ride that will keep readers turning the pages. Overall, I recommend this novel to all adults due to the topics covered in this read.

 

Review: Find Me In Heaven

 

Synopsis:

Violet is a shy, introverted woman who hides behind her red hair and freckles. Xander is a strong, driven businessman who has no desire for romance. Living at opposite ends of the country, there isn’t any chance the two will meet. Little do they know, they have guardian angels who are determined to get them together as the soulmates they are.

Guided by their angels into finding each other online, they begin a whirlwind courtship in cyberspace, however, tragedy strikes when the lovers meet in person and both are killed in a horrible accident.

But what appears to be the end is just the beginning, for in Heaven they are separated and faced with obstacles not even their guardians can out-maneuver. If Xander can keep his promise to find Violet, they might stand a chance at a Happily Eternal After.

Follow this courageous, awe-inspiring love story that spans not only the digital world but the entire universe, and discover why the end is not truly the end. It is a beginning.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Find Me In Heaven by Kris Johnston is a heart melting read. The writer’s superb talent in creating this masterpiece is beyond amazing. A phenomenal romance tale unlike any other. Find Me In Heaven is about two soul mates connecting with the help of their angels. But once they meet, fate takes them apart and their struggles to find each other again, will be tough but not impossible. Love is everlasting. Inside this beautifully woven yet inspirational story, we see that love  can break all barriers even in death it can last forever. True love doesn’t break. The love found and created by the two main characters is something that will sweep readers up into Heaven. Emotionally the best novel I have read in a while. Once this book is opened, readers will forever be changed. Beware it will suck readers inside faster than they can blink…charming, engaging, and highly entertaining. Overall, I highly recommend this title to readers everywhere.

 

Review: No One Is Invincible

 

Synopsis:

Summary Life is a precious thing. This is something sixteen year old John knows all too well. Intelligent, punk rock, and seemingly alone in a home filled with domestic violence, John runs away and finds himself homeless and living on the streets. Faced with hunger, horrid winter weather, and human ignorance, John struggles to find morality in the world around him. That is, until the love and help of a mysterious old lady who goes by the name “Mom” and charismatic, 6-year-old little girl, Candy, show him light can be found in the darkest of places. Can John face down not only homelessness, but also the fear of losing a loved one to a very deadly killing agent, cancer?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

No One Is Invincible by Shawn Walker is a read to behold. This novel holds more than to the eyes see. A story is that is deep…emotional and one that awakens readers to the evils of men. Human ignorance is one of the worst evils humans possess. That and greed. The more we have the more we want. Yet when we meet those who have little or nothing we turn a blind’s eye to them. It’s those people that we should be helping and paying attention to…not to our wealth. Family comes in all varieties these days. A young man is smart yet feels alone runs away from his home. He is soon faced with problems of hunger, shelter, and love. Humans see the issues but they harden their hearts instead of opening them. I felt sadness, frustration, and anger. The difficulties and struggles of the characters were easy to relate to and understand. I want to cry, hug, and love the characters like they were my own family. I wanted to help them. In the end, I felt the loss, the grief, but also, a sense of belonging and love. There is hope after all…Shawn Walker’s novel, No One is Invincible is one that all should read. I highly recommend it to readers worldwide. The issues are real. The characters will tug at readers’ hearts and souls. I fell in love. Overall, this was masterfully woven and well-developed.

 

Review: Still Here

 

Synopsis:

A profound and dazzlingly entertaining novel from the writer Louis Menand calls “Jane Austen with a Russian soul”.

In her warm, absorbing and keenly observed new novel, Lara Vapnyar follows the intertwined lives of four immigrants in New York City as they grapple with love and tumult, the challenges of a new home, and the absurdities of the digital age.

Vica, Vadik, Sergey and Regina met in Russia in their school days, but remained in touch and now have very different American lives. Sergey cycles through jobs as an analyst, hoping his idea for an app will finally bring him success. His wife Vica, a medical technician struggling to keep her family afloat, hunger for a better life. Sergey’s former girlfriend Regina, once a famous translator is married to a wealthy startup owner, spends her days at home grieving over a recent loss. Sergey’s best friend Vadik, a programmer ever in search of perfection, keeps trying on different women and different neighborhoods, all while pining for the one who got away.

As Sergey develops his app—calling it “Virtual Grave,” a program to preserve a person’s online presence after death—a formidable debate begins in the group, spurring questions about the changing perception of death in the modern world and the future of our virtual selves. How do our online personas define us in our daily lives, and what will they say about us when we’re gone?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Still Here by Lara Vapnyar is an astounding novel. Readers will be instantly hooked upon opening the book. This read offers a realistic and a deep emotional journey. One that has a way of powerfully knocking readers off their feet. The cast of characters come in an array of differences. Each one with their own journey that they struggle to overcome. Grief, stability, and an endless search. I was easily able to connect with each of the characters. Their lives were created in a way that is beyond believable. Emotions such as frustration, sorrow, and determination are felt as readers weaved through the pages.

Inside Lara Vapnyar’s novel, I have met individuals in the busy city of New York. The toughest place to settle and make a living. Yet these four immigrants do exactly that. Settled, worked, and loved in the one city that can make or break people. Still Here showed that a group of friends supported one another through their tough and troubling times. Entertaining, quirky, and smart. I enjoyed reading this tale as well as having followed the four friends as their new lives progressed. Overall, I recommend it to readers everywhere.

 

 

Review: A Middle Class Dream Coast to Coast

 

Synopsis:

In the pouring rain, while her husband is out of town, a woman gives birth to her second child: Krish. Raised in a typical Indian family in Mumbai and later in Chennai. Krish deals with the struggles typical too many.

His caste determines much about his life, and cultural ideology limit his potential. His family’s progressive ideas about women cause the neighbors in Chennai to resent them, culminating in the murder of Krish’s sister.

The family flees the neighborhood, and Krish works hard in school to make a better life for himself. At school, he meets his first love, Sweetie, but his love is unrequited, leading him to feel years of rejection. His continued pursuit of Sweetie over the years yields no results, and it is perhaps this rejection that forces him to strive so hard in his own life.

Though he obtains a college degree with average grades, he is able to get a decent job in the fiercely competitive IT services industry. Against all odds, his perseverance and determination allow him to rise to the top, and when a massive downsizing occurs, he finds he is one of the few remaining employees. The downsizing forces him to move overseas and leave his new wife behind in India. This ends up being one of many overseas adventures, as he lives and travels coast to coast, to places such as Malaysia, Singapore, China, Japan, US, Switzerland, and Europe.

Eventually, he and his wife decide to move to New York and create a new life together in the US. It is here where Krish devotes himself to fitness and discovers an uncanny ability to make the best of himself despite genetic limitations. Eventually, he and his wife move to Houston, Texas, and life couldn’t get much better.

From his humble beginnings, Krish was able to persevere and become a wealthy, self-made success story. In an effort to share his success with the world, he writes a book of his life, which ends up being turned into a Hollywood blockbuster, starring Krish himself.

This naturally leads to more wealth & fame, and Krish devotes himself to philanthropy, as he develops a new communal center devoted to education, healthcare and more.

A Middle Class Dream is a truly astounding tale of the American dream and self-betterment.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

A Middle Class Dream Coast to Coast by Kamlesh Thakur is by far an interesting and compelling read. I have recently taken several sociology courses that went over the life of those who live in a caste system. Making it out of that life is hard and only those with lots of wealth can move up and out of the system. Life in the Indian family is indeed an engaging and fascinating thing to read about, as well as imaging how they manage to keep living that way when the rest of the world has moved to more complex societies. The main character, Krish, reminds me of a movie that was similar to this. A poor Indian boy who lived in the slums lost everything but stayed in contact with the girl who he loved. Eventually, he made tons of money for them both to live well and that is similar to this tale. Kamlesh Thakur is a superb writer. His fictional masterpiece brings readers deep into a poor yet highly cultural society that lives in a caste-like system. Depending on what caste your family is in…that basically determines an Indian’s whole life unless they find a way to rise above it all. Struggles, determination, and a bit of success and make a huge impact on an Indian man’s life including the character, Krish. He alone is an inspiration to his people that working hard and not giving up are worth every struggle. I found the entire book entertaining, educational, and inspiring. A Middle Class Dream Coast to Coast is definitely worth every readers’ attention. From culture to travel to dreams and success, this novel is a must read for all. Overall, I highly recommend it.

Review: I Can’t Trust You

 

Synopsis:

Jori Wallace is a child therapist who is both outgoing and confident. Jori is married to Shaun who she discovers early on in the story is cheating on her. Shaun wants to work on the marriage, but Jori becomes distracted by her interest in a childhood friend Dave. A man who finds her on Facebook. She flip-flops between the two until things begin to take a dangerous turn.

Lauren Pierce is the timid friend who works as a secretary for a childcare center and has a 3-year-old son DJ. Lauren is dating Jordan who is not who everyone thinks or appears to be. Lauren somehow gets caught up in some drama being at the wrong place at the wrong time and it could end up being life or death for her.

LaTasha Banks is the friend who seems to be more reticent and introverted but has a completely different side of her no one would expect. Both a paralegal and mother of three children, she is in an abusive relationship with her husband Lance. LaTasha’s alter-ego that she uses to cope with her issues with her husband gets the best of her when she gets caught up in a court case that becomes messy rather quickly.

Melanie Ramsey is the friend who is outspoken and does not work because her drug dealing boyfriend Q takes care of her. Melanie enjoys living the high life, but when Q begins to provide more of what she asks for, she has to live up to her role of being his ride-or-die chick. Melanie has to determine if she is really cut out for this lifestyle after all.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

I Can’t Trust You by Christina Fletcher is an addictive urban romance. One that readers such as myself can’t stop reading. The drama is thick, entertaining, and crazy. There is never a dull moment and just when things seem okay, they turn out for the worse. Christina Fletcher has brilliantly woven themes like abuse, cheating, and betrayal. Love, murder, and secrets are also a major part of this novel. Women everywhere can relate to one or more of these issues portrayed within the story. The female characters are strong but all it takes is the men in their lives to pull the rugs from under their feet. The characters don’t see it coming to them until it’s too late. Life is chaotic but the four women friends will find that chaotic isn’t a strong enough word to describe the events happening to ruin to lives. Trust is hard to come by and rarely exists…but there are a seldom few who will find it. Will Jori, Lauren, LaTasha, and Melanie be able to find it? Overall, I highly recommend this well-written tale to women everywhere. Christina Fletcher has a talent for hooking her readers. I Can’t Trust You is definitely a must read for all.

Review: Jesse’s Seed

 

Synopsis:

It’s autumn, 1941. The Nazis have fired on the USS Greer; London is ablaze, and the streets of Leningrad are red with blood. Still, David Dremmer is content to work his father’s ranch and dream of his best friend’s wife. When the United States finally enters the war, David escapes his father’s disappointment and a loveless marriage by enlisting in the Air Corps. His choice proves fateful. His B-17 is shot down over Belgium. Now, he is in the hands of the Nazis, and a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues as Second Lieutenant David Dremmer wages a private war with the Luftwaffe, the Wehrmacht, and his own conscience to save the life of a beautiful Resistance operative. It’s then he discovers that the weakness that has kept him from his dreams is, in fact, the key to becoming who he was born to be. An award-winning, lyrical novel, Jesse’s Seed explores the power of choice, finality, love, and redemption.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Jesse’s Seed by Sam D. Pakan is a historical WWII novel that all will want to read. Readers are instantly taken back to 1941. The horrors of Pearl Harbor being bombed and the declaration of war will send back memories and chills down readers spines. Japanese and German soldiers. Americans fighting both. They tried to stay out of the war until it got personal and then all bets were off…attacking one’s country does things to a nation. So many boats destroyed and lives taken that day. Death, loss, war, and love. These walking together on a journey that will keep readers interested for a long time to come. A young man seems to be a disappointment to his father. His weakness is that of a good heart. Imagine flying over enemy territory…the chances of crashing on enemy territory is high. Flying during wartime is the scariest part…threats of being bombed or crashing is real. If the pilot makes it to the ground in one piece…the person could be tortured and die a slow painful death. Then, readers are taken to 1943 when flying is constant and members of a crew have died. Moments like these will create emotions like regret, sadness, and frustration.  So much evil in this world…and the good trying to save the world, seems to die faster than the bad. Soon, the destruction of Jewish businesses and places of worship are destroyed. The Nazis are here and all hell breaks loose. Nazis are the one nightmare that seems to never go away. Then, despite all the war and danger the main character is also stuck in a loveless marriage.

Then, readers are taken to 1943 when flying is constant and members of a crew have died. Moments like these will create emotions like regret, sadness, and frustration.  So much evil in this world…and the good trying to save the world, seems to die faster than the bad. Soon, the destruction of Jewish businesses and places of worship are destroyed. The Nazis are here and all hell breaks loose. Nazis are the one nightmare that seems to never go away. Then, despite all the war and danger the main character is also stuck in a loveless marriage.  Jesse’s Seed has a little of everything to lure readers to its pages. I found the tale suspenseful and well-developed. It was an emotional journey that I won’t ever forget. The characters were believable. I felt like I was there…back in time when and where it all was happening. The scenes rolling on by like an old movie playing images to my eyes. Overall, I highly recommend this stunning war novel to readers everywhere. Sam D. Pakan is a talented writer.

Review: Regret the Day I Said Yes

 

Synopsis:

How much of yourself are you really willing to give up to keep a happy home?

After catching her husband with a mouth full of someone else’s vagina, Janelle has to decide if she can forgive and forget.

That thing called LOVE can turn your entire world upside down and knock you on your ass in the blink of an eye.

Alan has done the unthinkable and just might have burned any chance of reconciliation with his wife after leaving her stranded and flown home with his mistress.

Regret the Day I Said Yes: Too Late For Sorry is a story about a group of couples who think they have found the answer to having a happy lifelong marriage.

Bailee & York and Tiffany & Damon have been secretly swinging for years. As they see their friends’ marriages on the brink of disaster they encourage them to give it a try to spice things up.

While it all seems logical at first, time later reveals that every choice has a consequence; Good or bad, their actions can come back to haunt them.

Can these marriages be saved? Can these friendships be rebuilt?

Have you ever regretted the day you said yes? Sometimes it’s too late for sorry.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Regret the Day I Said Yes by Regina Swanson is one brilliant masterpiece. Talk about drama! This story is full of drama. The emotions are so intense and flying everywhere. Readers will be intrigued from the first page. The action and suspense of what will be, keeps readers hooked. Regina Swanson has once again, put her superb writing into another fabulous read. Her characters are three-dimensional. Their issues become the readers’ issues. Marriage can rip apart faster than we thought…just how fast is something readers will be shown. When men have it good with a good decent woman…they somehow think they

When men have it good with a good decent woman…they somehow think they need something more because their lives got too boring or too hard to handle. Wusses. If a man needs another woman on the side then, the issues lie with him. The wives and other women in this story are realistic that it’s funny. I can visualize all the scenes. Regret the Day I Said Yes is more like a fast-paced movie than a novel. Detailed just enough to pop images into readers’ minds. Jealousy, rage, lust and the feeling of loss are all woven into this title. Great emotional journey. Ups and downs just like real life. Regina Swanson has a way of making her novels real. It’s hard to believe they’re just fiction. Juicy, steamy, and addictive. I managed to read the whole novel in an hour. Absolutely, loved reading this urban romance. The harsh realities that couples face when their loved one cheats…hurts. Friends are more entangled in each other’s lives than they thought. Sex with the other person’s partner. Yet not all couples know that their partner is cheating until it comes out in the open. Children are angry because their father cheated on their mom. Then the woman he cheated with is awful towards his kids…now, he’s rethinking his relationship with her. Friendships are forever changed. The sparks and desires are enchanting. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to readers everywhere.

 

Review: The Last Good Girl

 

Synopsis:

Emma, a freshman at a Michigan university, has gone missing. She was last seen leaving a bar near the prestigious and secretive fraternity known on campus as “the rape factory.” The main suspect is Dylan Brooks, the son of one of the most powerful politicians in the state. But so far the only clues are pieced together surveillance footage of Emma leaving the bar that night…and Dylan running down the street after her.

When Anna discovers the video diary Emma kept over her first few months at college, it exposes the history she had with Dylan: she had accused him of rape before disappearing.

Emma’s disappearance gets media attention and support from Title IX activists across the country, but Anna’s investigation hits a wall. Now Anna is looking for something, anything she can use to find Emma alive. But without a body or any physical evidence, she’s under threat from people who tell her to think hard before she ruins the name of an “innocent young man.”

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Last Good Girl by Allison Leotta is the most realistic crime novel I have read. The entire story circulates on things that really do happen…such as college rape. Women on college campuses have suffered continually by male students. Most whom get away with the crime. Surprisingly most women don’t bother reporting the sexual assault. The ones that don’t make it out alive never get solved…unless they have a really good investigative reporter interested and willing to do everything it takes to bring the rapist to light. However, as in the real world…politics ruin everything. They rule every move. Uncovering a rapist should not be a talk of whose politician’s son or daughter is going to be hurt by the truth but whether or not the bad guys are convicted for the crimes they commit. I found myself completely swept up into the plot. It’s fast-paced, interesting, and nails it home. The danger is a real threat whether fiction or nonfiction. The question whether or not if a college campus rapist gets away or not is one that will propel readers to keep turning the pages. Once I opened the novel, I couldn’t stop until I finished it. Allison Leotta writes a story that captivates readers…and it’s one they won’t ever forget. Addictive, brilliantly told, and a must read for all. I highly recommend The Last Good Girl to readers everywhere.

 

Review: Sky (Me Against The World

 

Synopsis:

We got a glimpse of Sky in “I Hate That I Love You” but now we get to hear her full story. Lauren was dealt a bad hand from birth but when she runs away and finds the life she always wanted, things start to change. Her life changes overnight when Sky’s born. Sky had the things Lauren would stay up at night crying, and dreaming about… A family that loved her, anything she wanted at her fingertips but most of all Sky had a safe home. Lauren never felt safe at night until she met Mrs. Carter and Jalen but one day that was all taken from her and her life as she knew it would never be the same. Sixteen, with a heart full of pain and revenge on her brain Sky’s forced out in this cold world trying to find her way. Will she find her way in this mean world or will she get swallowed alive?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Sky (Me Against The World) by Keyanna Ford is truly a deep insider’s view, to the ugly side of our world. Sure we know about crimes that are committed but when a family turns against a child…that’s the worst kind of crime of all. A seven-year-old girl runs away from after her mom’s boyfriend tries touching her in a way no man should. Yet the mother knows and let it happen anyway. Luckily, the little girl finds an elderly woman who takes her. Once she’s safe inside with the older woman, the little girl’s life changes forever. For once she is treated like a child and loved. However, happy endings never last in real life. Again the world has returned to blow Sky a cruel hand. The elderly woman is now suffering from cancer and is dying…then, there’s the elderly woman’s son, who has become an uncle to little Sky. While they’re at home they get a terrifying call…Uncle was shot and didn’t survive the surgery…Little Sky is now a teen and lost the only good she had in life. Now, it’s up to her to find a good life or to fall back in the dark.. Keyanna Ford’s writing is superb. Her novel is African American literature but it presents real life scenarios, that all need to be more aware of… and I loved how well-developed the tale was. This was a fast-paced story that will grab readers’ hearts and suck them in whole. I loved reading every page…addictive, sad, and well-written. Overall, I highly recommend Sky (Me Against The World) to readers everywhere.

 

Review: The Innocents

 

Synopsis:

Quinn Colson didn’t owe his hometown of Jericho, Mississippi, a damn thing. After serving for more than a decade as a U.S. Army Ranger, he’d returned, been elected sheriff, and tried to make the town and surrounding Tibbehah county a better place. He was rewarded with being voted out of office, and went back to the war zone he’d left.

Now, back in Jericho, trying to fix things with his still-married high school girlfriend and retired Hollywood stuntman father, he’s drawn to becoming a lawman again. This time, he accepts a badge from acting Sheriff Lillie Virgil, a foul-mouthed law woman with shades of Calamity Jane. But what they must confront together is something brand-new.

When a former high school cheerleader is found walking a back road completely engulfed in flames, the entire state focuses on the rural county, wanting answers. The light soon shines on several people: the girl’s father, a worthless drunk named Wash Jones; a pair of teenage thugs with grand ambitions to control north Mississippi; and a red-headed truck stop madam named Fannie Hathcock, who has her own problems – the Syndicate from down on the Gulf Coast has big plans for her neck of the woods.

As Quinn and Lillie uncover old secrets and new lies, the entire town turns against them, and they learn the most dangerous enemies may be the ones you trust most.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Innocents by Ace Atkins is a well-developed story. A southern detective tale that will bring readers some humor, intrigue, and danger. After spending sixteen years in a rural community, I can connect easily with this novel. What seems to be a rural town with high priority case to solve, turns out to be more deadly than originally thought. Those that the characters trust are the ones that are their enemy. The bad guys are in plenty…then to have an entire town flip sides on the good guys is a nightmare. One I hope to never see…but inside this riveting read, the scenes play out like a movie screen. Action, adventure, and crime are everywhere. Every page is detailed, engaging, and lured me deeper into the tale. The plot is fast-paced. Sheriff Lillie is a female leader who knows how to handle people and the job at hand. Then there’s tough sexy Quinn Colson.  He was once a sheriff and wants back in…only time will tell if that happens. Both of them are in for a thrill ride…Believable and realistic. The Innocents brings drugs, sex, violence and redemption all into one stunning book. I couldn’t stop reading it until I finished it. Ace Atkins is definitely a writer that hooks readers with a suspenseful yet unforgettable story. Immediately, drew me inside…to a journey that sends both mind and heart racing.

 

Review: The Bodyguard of Deception

 

Synopsis:

Can the American and British Allies stop a vaunted German spymaster and his U-boat-commander brother from warning Hitler’s High Command about the Allies’ greatest military secret? It is a secret that could win the war for Germany–or, at the very least, delay the outcome for years with an inestimable cost in bloodshed, physical destruction, and suffering. And it is a secret that the two contentious brothers must grapple with within their own Wehrmacht ranks, as they bring U.S. and British intelligence to their knees on America’s doorstep with the clock to D-Day ticking down. From a U-boat on the frigid North Sea to a brutal British interrogation center in the heart of London, to a remote German-POW camp, and the world-famous Broadmoor Hotel overlooking the high plains and snow-dusted mountain peaks of Colorado, Bodyguard of Deception will keep you guessing until the final chapter. The first book of #1 Denver Post Bestselling, Award-Winning Suspense Author Samuel Marquis’s World War II Trilogy.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Bodyguard of Deception by Samuel Marquis is the most realistic World War II novel that I have ever read. The story swept me off my feet and deep into the horrors of the war at hand. The SS officers frightened me. They are are arrogant and violent. It was surprising to hear the German spy brother question how such violent people rose to their positions in Germany. The fight between two brothers is believable. But both have their jobs to do and now, that their paths have crossed, both may be in for danger. Shooting at the enemy lured a fight that the German brothers couldn’t hold up against.  Prisoners of war…Nazis, and the Allied Forces is something that will forever be stuck in my mind. Hitler’s orders…cold, cruel, and devastating to his country. Bodyguard of Deception is truly a remarkable historical tale that readers everywhere will love. I was deeply satisfied with the fast-placed plot. Felt like I was there in the story as the war went on…Danger, enemies, and espionage all brilliantly re-told in this exciting thriller. Samuel Marquis has once again, captivated me from the beginning to end. Overall, I highly recommend this novel.

Review: Hail to the Chief

 

 

Synopsis:

Hail to the Chief — a political thrill ride as current as today’s headlines. President-elect Maggie Mathews–the first woman voted into the nation’s highest office–is felled by a ruptured brain aneurysm just 10 days before her inauguration. While she lies in a coma, her vice president-elect attempts to conceal his past, and with help from the chief of staff Bruce “Skeeter” Jamison, he gambles he can keep his dark secret from coming to light. But Maggie’s husband, the former secretary of state who schemes to seize the reins of power for himself, has other ideas.

Rating:  4.5 stars

Review:

Hail to the Chief by both John Leslie and Carey Winfrey is the most anticipated novel yet. Here, readers are plunged deep into the war of politics. Politicians are evil. Inside this masterfully woven story, readers will be shown just that. One leading female politician about to become president…slips into a coma. Then there’s her husband the state secretary who plans to take over. There are dark secrets from one’s past and another scheming his way into office. I was completely intrigued by what will happen to the lady president…and what will come of those taking advantage. I didn’t like that the fact that  the Chicago airport was changed to be named after President Barack Obama. I’m sorry…but as a Chicago native that was a blow, I’ll never forgive the fictional female character of…other than that the story was well-written, suspenseful, and kept my attention until the last page. The plot moved fast-paced.  After reading this novel, I would never want to work in any field that involves politics. Politics is a hard game to live by and usually only those that cheat make it way to the top. The reality of a woman making it to the top and then only ten days before being president everything is ruined…I can only imagine in life how any woman in that position would feel. This story had a realistic touch that made it seem less fiction and more non-fiction due to all legal and political crap that happened. I could see Hail to the Chief as a movie. The discussions on this novel would go on forever. Overall, I recommend this political tale to all.

 

 

 

Review: News of the World

 

Synopsis:

It is 1870 and Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd travels through northern Texas, giving live readings to paying audiences hungry for news of the world. An elderly widower who has lived through three wars and fought in two of them, the captain enjoys his rootless, solitary existence.

In Wichita Falls, he is offered a $50 gold piece to deliver a young orphan to her relatives in San Antonio. Four years earlier, a band of Kiowa raiders killed Johanna’s parents and sister; sparing the little girl, they raised her as one of their own. Recently rescued by the U.S. army, the ten-year-old has once again been torn away from the only home she knows.

Their 400-mile journey south through unsettled territory and unforgiving terrain proved difficult and at times dangerous. Johanna has forgotten the English language, tries to escape at every opportunity, throws away her shoes, and refuses to act “civilized.” Yet as the miles pass, the two lonely survivors tentatively begin to trust each other, forging a bond that marks the difference between life and death in this treacherous land.

Arriving in San Antonio, the reunion is neither happy nor welcome. The captain must hand Johanna over to an aunt and uncle she does not remember—strangers who regard her as an unwanted burden. A respectable man, Captain Kidd is faced with a terrible choice: abandon the girl to her fate or become—in the eyes of the law—a kidnapper himself. Exquisitely rendered and morally complex, News of the World is a brilliant work of historical fiction that explores the boundaries of family, responsibility, honor, and trust.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

News of the World by Paulette Jiles is an absolute must read for all. Here is a realistic historical tale that will tug and pull at readers’ hearts. A journey that is nothing but beautiful and breathtaking…an old war veteran is now jobbed with taking a small girl back to her family that still lives. But it’s not a fun travel. The girl had her parents and sister taken and killed, from her, when she was younger. Then, the Indians that killed her family took her into their culture. Now, at age ten…she only knows the Indian way of life. It’s sad. The young girl grows up thinking the Indians are her only family and doesn’t know any English at all. It tore at me to see her taken from her original family and then she feels she’s taken from the family she remembers, the Indians. As the veteran continues to take the little savage girl to her family…things get harder for them both.

Paulette Jiles brings readers a story unlike any other. It’s deep, meaningful, and an unforgettable tale that will stay with readers for a long time to come. A young girl’s journey to survive and an older man who wants to do right by her. Soon both of their fates are brought together and this is where readers will be awed. Johanna has suffered a lot of pain, neglect, and abuse and now, with the Captian, she can re-enter society. Johanna can experience a family of love and care with the Captian. He ends up loving the blue eyed blonde girl who had it hard in life. All he wants is for her to be happy and safe. Maybe, they can find a peacefulness within each other’s company as they days turn into years. News of the World shows us how cruel and devasting our world can be. An orphaned girl needs a home, security, and love. Most of all patience. Yet no one but the old Captian has given this to her. This was the first novel, I have read by this talented author. I highly recommend News of the World to readers everywhere.

Review: Even Odds

 

Synopsis:

Geeky meets kinky in this first deliciously sexy novel in the Slices of Pi series by RITA-nominated author Elia Winters, which follows the romantic rendezvous of the employees at PI Games, a gaming company based out of sultry Florida.

As a design manager at PI Games, Isabel Suarez is no stranger to the struggles of being a woman in a male-dominated industry. But when her team attends a gaming convention on the other side of the country, she figures there’s no harm in putting aside her professional demeanor for one weekend to participate in a risqué scavenger hunt. Why shouldn’t she let loose and have a little fun?

A careless romp soon turns into more, however, when Isabel ends up having a fling with Caleb Portland, an artist, and animator, without knowing he has just been hired to partner with her at her company—and Caleb can’t bring himself to tell her. When they end up coworkers a few weeks later, they need to find a way to work together and keep things strictly professional. Caleb doesn’t want to take on a relationship and risk failure. Isabel doesn’t want to risk ruining the professional reputation she’s worked so hard to develop. But when faced with the undeniable sizzling chemistry between them, will either of them be able to resist temptation?

A sexy and witty tale of romance and modern workplace politics, Even Odds is the latest winning entry in Elia Winters’ unique and well-loved erotic novels.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Even Odds by Elia Winters is absolutely a must read for all. This is one geeky romance that will keep readers laughing and falling in love with the characters. The female character, Isabel, is the only female working in an all male dominated area. Game software. She designs games and is now in the manager position. Before moving to the PI Games she worked at another company. A company where she experienced a disastrous relationship which then lead to sexual harassment. The sad part was that the Human Resource person told her that words weren’t much of a harassment and that they wouldn’t take her complaints seriously. Isabel ended up taking action that suited the company better than helping solve her issues at work. This past life experience has left her feeling like an ice queen at work. Acting as sexless as possible to survive working in the gaming industry surrounded by all men. An area that showed me that was hard for any woman including Isabel to be taken seriously by men as a professional. Her hard work pays off…but there’s one employee who makes her uncomfortable…will she face up to him or let him continue his harassments against her? The other part to this exciting tale was the trip to DiceCon and that’s where everything heats up…Isabel wants to let loose for once and three of her teammates get her in on a game that has her meeting the one man that might just be a forever thing…a man that can not only make her feel like a woman but also respect her in the industry. That combination alone would make any woman’s knees go weak. Isabel and Caleb are a perfect couple. Their journey was realistic and believable. The pages got hotter with every turn….and the plot sets readers on the edge of their seats wondering what comes next.  Even Odds by Elia Winters is by overall, a hot and brilliantly well-written geeky romance that all will enjoy. I highly recommend this novel to readers everywhere.

 

 

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: Thugalicious

 

Synopsis:

What’s done in the dark always comes to the light.

There is more to Braelyn Diamond Baldwin than meets the naked eye. A savvy business woman by day and a Thugaliscious TrapQueen by night.

Braelyn feels the need to win at everything she does. She is at the top of her game right now but just when she thought she had everything under control, a secret that she’s been keeping is brought to light. This secret threatens everything that she holds near and dear to her heart.

Will Braelyn take drastic measures to stay on top or accept her fate of being dethroned?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Thugalicious by Tyrianna Gregory is the most complex novel ever. This urban drama is so high the intensity can be felt sizzling from the pages being read. I held my breath waiting for the explosion that I knew was bound to come out…the situations inside this well-written tale are beyond complicated. Nothing like a good messy romance to read. Tyrianna Gregory brings a lot of action, heat, and suspense within this exciting read. Yes, there are a lot of issues happening with the main character Brae but that’s what makes this novel interesting. Life is messy. Crap happens. The writer brought out a realistic character with believable struggles. Yes, I can definitely see a woman struggling with raising a child, with her first love, who doesn’t find out until he’s in the hospital. Then, there’s the issue of her being pregnant and loving another man as well as being buried deep into a dark career. There was never a boring moment on any of the pages. The dialogue was great and the characters fit their roles perfectly. I would definitely recommend this novel to other readers and look forward to the next novel in this exciting adventure. I have to know what happens next.

 

Review: Troublemaker

 

Synopsis:

A thrilling, fast-paced novel of romantic suspense from sensational New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Linda Howard.

For Morgan Yancy, an operative and team leader in a paramilitary group, nothing comes before his job. But when he’s ambushed and almost killed, his supervisor is determined to find out who’s after the members of his elite squad—and why. Due to worries that this unknown enemy will strike again, Morgan is sent to a remote location and told to lay low and stay vigilant. But between a tempting housemate he’s determined to protect and a deadly threat waiting in the shadows, keeping under the radar is proving to be his most dangerous mission yet.

The part-time police chief of a small West Virginian mountain town, Isabeau “Bo” Maran finally has her life figured out. She’s got friends, a dog, and a little money in the bank. Then Morgan Yancy shows up on her doorstep. Bo doesn’t need a mysterious man in her life—especially a troublemaker as enticing and secretive as Morgan.

The harder they fight the intense heat between them, the closer Morgan and Bo become, even though she knows he’s hiding from something. But discovering the truth could cost Bo more than she’s willing to give. And when Morgan’s cover is blown, it might just cost her life.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Troublemaker by Linda Howard is amazing. It’s hot, addictive, and suspenseful. A powerfully written story that swept me off my feet and kept me turning the pages. The emotional journey blew me away. The characters are in a tight situation and with danger right around the corner, it’s one heck of an intense battle. One character knows the other is keeping secrets…but what they were definitely not expecting was the explosive chemistry they feel towards each other.

Troublemaker is indeed just as the title presents. Sexy tough agent, Morgan walks into Bo’s life bringing just that. It’s hard enough that his looks have her memorized by his every movement…but something he’s not telling has her on the edge. Bo, a part-time police chief senses, something dark about the stranger that’s just popped up, within her radar. Morgan is tempted by the strong beautiful woman whom he will be staying with as he bids his time staying under the radar. Someone is after his team and until the culprit is found he has to stay out of trouble. Every page brings both raw desire and fear. This romantic suspense thriller is about Bo and Morgan’s relationship, as well as dealing with the trouble, that is left to Bo to handle. The female officer isn’t sure of which to be more afraid of…losing her heart to Morgan or the mountain town’s chaos. Linda Howard’s writing is superb. I have never found any of her novels to be less than brilliant. Her characters are believable and the scenes are realistically done. Overall, I highly recommend Troublemaker to readers everywhere.

 

 

Review: The Life She Wants

 

Synopsis:

In the aftermath of her financier husband’s suicide, Emma Shay Compton’s dream life is shattered. Richard Compton stole his clients’ life savings to fund a lavish life in New York City and, although she was never involved in the business, Emma bears the burden of her husband’s crimes. She is left with nothing.

Only one friend stands by her, a friend she’s known since high school, who encourages her to come home to Sonoma County. But starting over isn’t easy, and Sonoma is full of unhappy memories, too. And people she’d rather not face, especially Riley Kerrigan.

Riley and Emma were like sisters—until Riley betrayed Emma, ending their friendship. Emma left town, planning to never look back. Now, trying to stand on her own two feet, Emma can’t escape her husband’s reputation and is forced to turn to the last person she thought she’d ever ask for help—her former best friend. It’s an uneasy reunion as both women face the mistakes they’ve made over the years. Only if they find a way to forgive each other—and themselves—can each of them find the life she wants.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Life She Wants by Robyn Carr is another amazing read by this talented writer. A novel that shows how one’s easy life can easily be taken from them. One can work hard and be decent and still have trouble…like Emma Shay Compton. Marriage and her lifestyle were  taken away in one great swoop. Fate lands her back home. A place with bad memories. But looking at her options she has nowhere else to go. Maybe she can start new and gain her life back. Easier said than done. Robyn Carr brilliantly creates novels that hook and captivate readers from the beginning to end. Her words are inspiring and heartwarming. Friendship, as well as new relationships, are great themes within this riveting new title. Back home Emma will have to be patient in getting the life she wants.

The Life She Wants is packed with emotions and a raw intensity that pulls me in deeply. I love Robyn Carr’s writing. She never disappoints. The rollercoaster ride that readers will be going on within this new tale is one that shows us no matter what life brings we can overcome anything. Friends with a falling out so long ago are now brought back into each other’s lives. Only time will tell if they can repair their friendship and make it solid once again. The drama of Emma’s husband’s investigation still comes chasing after her…making her life miserable. She can’t wait until it’s over if it ever ends. The police have been tapping into her phone and still bother her with endless questions. Her frustration and despair felt so real. I felt like I was inside Emma’s shoes rather than sitting in a chair reading about what she felt. Not only does Emma have nothing, battling an ongoing investigation due to her dead husband but also has feelings for a man that she tries not to get to attached to...The Life She Wants has everything plus more then what every reader wants or expected to find. I loved following the characters especially Riley and Emma. Their friendship tugged at my heart. Overall, I highly recommend this story to readers everywhere.

 

Review: Love Me If You Can 2

 

Synopsis:

Ethan thought that Kayla was down for him until he finds himself locked up and serving 30 days in the county jail. After serving his thirty day sentence, Ethan is released and revenge is on his mind. Kayla has moved on and has decided to work things out with her baby daddy A.J.

Ethan starts following Kayla and A.J and begins to play both of them against one another. Ethan doesn’t plan on Kayla ever having a happily ever after with A.J.

Keandria is devastated when she learns Ethan has been released from jail. She’s fallen in love with James and prays that Ethan stays away from her and their son. But Ethan has other plans. Keandria soon realizes that Ethan wants his family back and is willing to do whatever he can to work things out with her. Who will she choose James or Ethan? Will she forgive Ethan for being abusive and cheating on her?

Jasmine has stepped back into the picture and throws everyone for a curve ball. She wants what she wants and is making it her business to expose everyone’s secrets. She has a lot of anger directed towards Ethan and Keandria and she doesn’t plan on stopping until everything that has been done in the dark comes to light.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Love Me If You Can 2 by Shanice B. is wound up too tight in this urban drama that it’s hard to resist. The plot thickens to a boiling point…who will survive and who doesn’t, keeps readers on the edge of their seats as they race through this exciting tale. I simply can’t get enough of these fabulous characters. Their sassy strong personalities and heated love debates and love triangles keep me guessing. I want Keandria to be with a man that make her happy but now it seems that her new man, as well as her old one, have both sunk low in handling things with her. Who she picks to keep on living with is a question that drives readers further into the plot. Then there’s an unexpected twist with Jasmine wanting to wreck havoc on everybody’s life that has the power to flip the entire plot over and make it interesting…Love Me If You Can 2 is the craziest yet most intense urban drama romance that I have ever read. I absolutely loved reading this new title by Shanice B. Her writing is brilliant and realistic. Overall, I highly recommend this new title to readers everywhere.