Review: Forgotten Reflections (A War Story)

Synopsis:

In the current international climate where North Korea takes center stage, “Forgotten Reflections” weaves an inspirational tale of family, lost memories, folklore and an unforgotten history, spanning three generations as South Korea rises from the ashes. 
DARE TO DREAM IN THE MIDST OF WAR. 1945.

Rice fields seem endless in a quaint farming village of South Korea, yet Iseul and the villagers have been on the verge of starvation for as long as they can remember. Their Japanese colonizers have taken every last grain with them as they are finally ousted from the Peninsula. In the newly independent Korea, Iseul and Jung-Soo dream of what their future might bring. Yet, war is on the horizon and Iseul has fallen for an alleged North Korean communist spy. 
Men are conscripted and rice is taken to feed the growing army as the Korean Peninsula is thrust into an international war that would determine if the strategic region will fall into the communist or democratic realm. With nothing but the news of death and hunger awaiting the village of women, children, and the aged, Iseul musters up whatever hope she has left to bring the village together to make paper. Soon, the village once known for its rice, becomes famous for its paper, becoming a beacon of hope for the battle-worn soldiers awaiting letters from their loved ones. Spies continue to roam South Korea, turning neighbors and families against one another. 
For years, Jung-Soo has been suspicious of his father’s allegiances. With a series of mysterious revelations about his father, Jung-Soo is forced to choose between his tainted communist past, and the future he hopes to have with Iseul after the war.

“Breathtaking, sad and beautiful. Truly gorgeous and a must–read for lovers of literature and historical fiction.” – Rebecca Charlton

“A touching story, not only about love or the Korean War, but also about our own identities and (re)unification in different forms.” – Utopia State of Mind

“A story about a grandmother’s secret life and what she sacrificed to make a better life for her children.” –- Niyati Mavinkurve

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Forgotten Reflections: A War Story by Young-Im Lee is an interesting novel. One that swept me deep into the war story. A foreign country, South Korea is at war. Both the communists and democrats want to take it over….but their war brings the one village to starvation. Hunger, loss, and desperation can be seen and felt with every page. 

A young woman is determined despite the war and its effects on her people. Soon, she brings them hope. Hope soon blossoms into her village. Letters to the soldiers helps them carry forth int the war. Families torn between choices. Love and hope still prevail…

I enjoyed reading this tale. Forgotten Reflections is an engaging story. The plot rushes me through the pages. The characters and their dilemmas entice me further into their world. A culture readers can’t miss. Young-Im Lee has presented a heartfelt novel. One that won’t be forgotten by its readers…including myself. Overall, I recommend it to readers worldwide. 

New Release: The Mercenary by Petra Landon

Synopsis:

She’s a prisoner of the Imperial Forces. He’s a nomad with a private mercenary army. Can a desperate girl’s risky gamble and a fierce warrior’s love turn the tide of war and alter the balance of power in their slice of space?
In a distant corner of the galaxy, Quadrant Five burns in the flames of a deadly war. The Budheya people are one of the worst affected. Once the most advanced civilization in the quadrant, they now struggle under the cruel yoke of Ketaari occupation. 
Saakshi

Imprisoned by the Ketaari Imperial Forces, a young Budheya girl is sent to a distant space station to work in an alehouse. For a girl who has known only hardship in her short life, things could be worse. Until an old foe walks into the alehouse.
Zoran

Zoran is Hadari’Kor – notorious across star systems for their prowess in battle. Their fierce reputation allows them to retain their independence, even as others are forced to choose sides in the war. Drawn to a weary-eyed server girl, Zoran is forced to confront age-old traditions and question his role in the war.
The Prisoner & The Mercenary

Alone, friendless and far from home, Saakshi makes a desperate gamble to trust a formidable and enigmatic stranger whose hot gaze haunts her dreams. The fallout from this improbable pact reverberates across space. As a relentless enemy hunts her, Zoran must fight to protect Saakshi through a minefield of shifting alliances. When passion ignites amidst the embers of a smoldering war, will a warrior’s quest for justice bring a mighty Empire to its knees …

Author’s Note : A spirited and resilient girl, a fierce warrior with a conscience, a fiery passion that flares amidst the debris of a deadly war and a love that will alter the fate of an entire quadrant forms the tale of The Mercenary, a standalone story that sets the scene for The War Chronicles – a collection of SciFi Romance & Space Opera tales with romance, swashbuckling adventure & a sprinkling of action. (less)

Release Date : August 25, 2017

About Petra Landon

An avid reader all her life, only recently has Petra allowed her own imagination to run riot. She loves to travel, loves the outdoors and reads everything she can get her hands on, time permitting. Her taste in books is very eclectic – she tends to like stories with vivid and quirky characters that have elements of fantasy, adventure, romance and mystery interspersed together. A good book for her is one that makes the reader think long after it has been finished and set aside. And one that draws the reader back to it, again and again. 

Stories have swirled in her head for years. Sometimes, when the ending of a promising book disappoints her, she imagines a different and more satisfying outcome for herself. To share the characters and tales that have lived in her imagination for so long is a labor of love and a lifelong dream come true for her.

Author Links :

Website : www.petralandon.com

Amazon : www.amazon.com/author/petralandon

Goodreads : www.goodreads.com/PetraLandon
Twitter : www.twitter.com/PetraLandon

Pinterest : www.pinterest.com/PetraLandonLife

Mailing List : https://madmimi.com/signups/49db2caaca814574981e134850a9585e/join

Book Links :

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35393531-the-mercenary
Website: www.petralandon.com/The-Mercenary

Review: Take to the Limit

Synopsis:

They are part of an elite unit. On task. Off grid. These are the men of the Shadow Ops task force. Be seduced and thrilled by Take to the Limit, the next Unbroken Heroes novel by Dawn Ryder. 

Holding out for a hero…
A hardened military machine, Bram Magnus is a tough, combat-ready, all-American hero who never surrenders. But the one thing he can’t fight? His smoldering, intense attraction to his girlfriend’s younger sister. He’s always kept his feelings locked deeply down. But when his girlfriend betrays him the night before he ships off to Afghanistan, Bram has one chance to show the woman he’s resisted for years that he wants her as fiercely as the first day he saw her.
Ever since her older sister first brought home the soldier with steely hard muscles and piercing eyes, Jaelyn has wanted Bram, and when her sister casts him aside the night before he leaves, Jaelyn can’t resist one steamy hot kiss with him. But danger is not far behind, and even as a deadly enemy hunts them, their relationship only grows more explosive. It’s all Bram can do to keep Jaelyn safe, but with a threat this powerful, will they pay the ultimate price for their passion?

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Take to the Limit by Dawn Ryder is a sexy tale featuring alpha males. Males who think only about their work and nothing else. Or so they thought…Enter a beautiful woman and a Bram can’t let go. He’s leaving on a mission. Told to leave her alone. But his heart can’t. So, he does what he can. Writes letters to her. Not one, not two, but dozens of letters. Letting her know she’s all he’s thinking about while away. Hot sex. Instant chemistry. And fear. Jaelyn loves Bram. He is a sexy tall man who has her toes curling in the hot sand. Her dreams are filled with nothin glut him. She kissed him hard before he left. Her heart aches for him. Thinking she won’t ever see him again, she hardens her heart against him. When he arrives back to her, all hell breaks loose. His letters he wrote were never given to her….someone stole them. Jealousy. Jaelyn pushes Bram away. But he’s not giving up without a hell of a fight. Hell, she’s worth everything to him. Then, danger comes and knocks their world into a crazy space. No one knows where it will lead. But Bram is going to fight until he has Jaelyn safe again in his arms…and in his bed. 

Dawn Ryder knows how to heat up the pages. I blushed every time. The heat was scorching. The sex soon turned to love making. The characters each had their own fears and struggles. But somehow they keep moving forward and work through them. Friends who tease but also have their backs. Family that will always support them no matter what. I loved the granddaughter and grandfather relationships in this book. It was sweet, charming, and hilarious. Overall, I enjoyed reading Take to the Limit. It’s a perfect title for the scenes inside…a super solider and his strong yet bold woman. 

Review: The Night Trilogy

Synopsis:

Night is one of the masterpieces of Holocaust literature. First published in 1958, it is the autobiographical account of an adolescent boy and his father in Auschwitz. Elie Wiesel writes of their battle for survival and of his battle with God for a way to understand the wanton cruelty he witnesses each day. In the short novel Dawn (1960), a young man who has survived World War II and settled in Palestine joins a Jewish underground movement and is commanded to execute a British officer who has been taken hostage. In Day (previously titled The Accident, 1961), Wiesel questions the limits of conscience: Can Holocaust survivors forge a new life despite their memories? Wiesel’s trilogy offers insights on mankind’s attraction to violence and on the temptation of self-destruction.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Night Trilogy by Elle Wiesel is a gruesome account of the suffering he and his family faced during World War II. A time of Death, loss, and torment. This was one of history’s nightmarish memories that will never be forgotten. The Nazis were cruel dictators killing innocent human beings without a hesitation. The page in this book showed it all. 
Young Elle Wiesel experienced what no other teenage boy should have faced. He and his family were just one of countless numbers herded onto cattle cars. Usuhered to their death. The showers of death, the endless starvation, beatings, and cruelty killed so many humans. Humans who didn’t know what lied ahead. 
As I read this book, it brought me back to something I wish I never knew about. Something that should never have happened. But it did. A memory that no being can wash away. The smoke from the screaming dying corpses in the “shower rooms” and the endless fears were terrorfying to revisit. It survivors like the writer who show the world what happened and may happen again. 
The Night Trilogy is memoir that will always be remembered. Survival, loss, death, and much more. Terrible days that never end. Even with so much time having passed. It is a gripping and well-written book. I recommend this Holocaust story to readers worldwide. 

Review: Path to the Key

Synopsis:

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

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

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

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

Review: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Side of the Trap

Synopsis:

Take a journey inside the pleasurable wickedness called trapping. As Big O, the leader of the Waverly Street Mafia strives to take his team to the top of the game. Things are looking good for the Waverly Street Mafia, until the King of heroin in Killumbia S.C. Bo hears that their doing business without dealing exclusively with him. Feeling disrespected, Bo devises a plan to knock the Waverly Street Mafia out of the game. The mafia is not easily shaken, which leads to Bo becoming more ruthless. 

Bo thinks he’s got away with murder, but karma always has the last say so… 

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Side of the Trap by Town Head is full of criminal activity. They say karma is a bitch and so it is…Bo will soon learn that. The entire novel contains adult content so, I highly recommend those 18 and above to read this. Town Head has brought an urban street fiction to life. The rivalry, crime, hatred, and war are found on these pages. Lust, greed, and drugs too. Inside, readers will find an intriguing yet deadly tale. The charcaters are  believable. Their situations are realistically caught by this writer. I haven’t read any of Town Head’s previous work but this novel was good. It had all the elements and more. 

Review: Rik’s

Synopsis:

Rik Bogart built the ‘In’ Club in lower Manhattan with his separation check from the CIA and the anguish of a lost true love; at least it was in his mind. Ingrid Johanssen, an international news correspondent living in Baghdad, did not show up at the airport to accompany Rik when Saddam Hussein instructed him to leave in 1991, just before Desert Storm. Rik spent nineteen months in prison after going back in a failed attempt to get Ingrid out safely. But on a September evening a decade later, she walks into his club seeking his help. Understanding he cannot resurrect the love that has haunted him, Rik refuses, but comes face-to-face with his continuing love for her. Rik must overcome a decade of emptiness, and feelings of betrayal to react when he realizes she is in the New York World Trade Towers on the morning of the terrorist attack. That night he finally learns what happened a decade before and why; decides to undertake a dangerous mission that will not bring her back to him, and will make their reunion impossible. Resigned to his fate, he draws on relationships and talents unused for more than a decade knowing that even if successful he must let her go.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Rik’s by dhtreichler is an amazing alternate history tale. War, realistic events like 9/11, and a romance that seems impossible to have all brilliantly woven, here. The main character, Rik Bogart is an interesting man. His training is impressive, but he leaves it. All it takes is for one woman to snatch his heart and all he thinks about is her. A journalist who is entangled with the dangerous events. Rik riskshis life to stay behind to find her and get her out…but she was already gone. Years have gone by and she shows up once more. Intense, intriguing, and well-told. Rik’s is a clandestine relationship that is crazy, powerful, and addictive. Despite all odds, they keep it going. Overall, dhtreichler’s writing was wonderful to follow. Every page added to the suspenseful plot. I enjoyed reading this and recommend it to others. 

Review: Electric Souk

Synopsis:

Ireland’s gone bust, and with it Aisling Finn’s life. She flees austerity for adventure in the desert. But the Arabia she finds is not that of her dreams. Everyone is chasing a fast buck, a fast woman and another G&T. Expats and locals alike prickle with paranoia. Debonair fixer, Brian Rothmann, charms Aisling with champagne brunches and nights at Bedouin camps. But is Brian a hero or a desperate expat prepared to go to any lengths to get what he wants? Is this Aisling? Or is he using her as bait? Her only hope is Hisham, a local activist. But where do his loyalties lie? Aisling faces severe peril when the sleazy expat and blood-lusting desert worlds collide, as the Arab Spring erupts. She has to ask, whom can she trust? Can she trust her instincts? Humanity blisters in this haunting, lyrical thriller about trust and treachery.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Electric Souk by Rose McGinty is by far an interesting read. It instantly takes readers on an epic journey. A young woman leaves her homeland for work in another country. A country full of war, distrust, and danger. The stakes are high. Never knowing who to trust, Aisling Finn puts her life in the hands of those around her. Spies, secret police, and work fill her days. At first, the novel shows Aisling following people as they live a fast life full of drinking and good times. But fear hangs deeply in the air. I never knew what to expect next. Rose McGinty writes a superb novel. Suspense, intrigue, and the mysterious lure of what may come. Electric Souk is definitely an electrifying tale. Resistance, destruction, and secrets on every page. The intensity builds. The charcaters are written in a way that visually tugs readers further into the book. Loyalties and deception are major the,es surrounding these interesting charcaters. Overall, I highly recommend reading Electric Souk to all. 

Review: The Price of Valor

Synopsis:

In the latest Shadow Campaigns novel, Django Wexler continues his “epic fantasy of military might and magical conflict”* following The Shadow Throne and The Thousand Names, as the realm of Vordan faces imminent threats from without and within.
In the wake of the King’s death, war has come to Vordan.

The Deputies-General has precarious control of the city, but it is led by a zealot who sees traitors in every shadow. Executions have become a grim public spectacle. The new queen, Raesinia Orboan, finds herself nearly powerless as the government tightens its grip and assassins threaten her life. But she did not help free the country from one sort of tyranny to see it fall into another. Placing her trust with the steadfast soldier Marcus D’Ivoire, she sets out to turn the tide of history.

As the hidden hand of the Sworn Church brings all the powers of the continent to war against Vordan, the enigmatic and brilliant general Janus bet Vhalnich offers a path to victory. Winter Ihernglass, newly promoted to command a regiment, has reunited with her lover and her friends, only to face the prospect of leading them into bloody battle.
And the enemy is not just armed with muskets and cannon. Dark priests of an ancient order, wielding forbidden magic, have infiltrated Vordan to stop Janus by whatever means necessary…

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Price of Valor by Django Wexler is the fascinating tale. There’s everything a reader needs…action, suspense, war, magic, fantasy, and a bit of romance. I loved it. The pages were brought to life. I have never read a novel by Django Wexler but I will most definitely start. This was an engaging, dark, and intense read. Each character added to the plot…creating a build that only grew. The ending….has only left me with more need to read the next book by this talented writer. The Price of Valor has a lot to offer. A Queen, secrets, and enemies …danger hanging around everywhere. Overall, I recommend this brilliant masterpiece to readers worldwide. 

Review: Vault of Dreams

Synopsis:

Albanland. Emerald hills and ice blue lochs, bordered by Nørds raiders and the haughty monarchs of South Angle, each dynasty eager to seize lands weakened by a civil war in which a usurper has risen to seize the cloven throne.

Morgance, Faer Princess of the Night.

And by her side, the fearsome Ultan Skölhammer, sworn Guardian of the Crown.

But Rhoswen, rightful heir to the throne, princess in exile, leads a final uprising from the depths of the forest, an uprising that twists together the lives of the most unlikely companions.

A notorious thief accused of a crime she did not commit.

A baird apprentice searching for the meaning of life.

A pair of brothers who can’t seem to stay out of trouble.

And a gypsy bound to the ancient artifact known only as the Vault of Dreams. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Vault of Dreams by Luke Taylor is is an outstanding YA novel. I read a lot of YA books and this one has beat them all. Luke Taylor has created a fictional world where the rightful ruler is fighting to gain her throne back. War breaks out, loyalty is shown, and a budding romance begins. This fantasy novel has everything. Action, adventure, friendships, and a fight worth reading. Absolutely, an epic tale. 

The Vault of Dreams reads as vividly as the Lord of Rings books. I was hooked. The rightful queen, Arelyn, is a character to hold. Watching her, throughout the pages was fun.  Niles is another interesting character. Him and Finleigh are great. Finleigh is a young gsypie. Niles turns into a Lord at such a young age. Morgance is a bold and strong character. Evil too. Arelyn and Finleigh become friends. Two good charcaters. I liked them both. Strong female protagonists.  Each character both bad and good added to the plot. The exciting part was that each got to tell the story from their point of view. That was a susrpise. Most writers who try this, end up losing readers due to the point of view taking away or not adding enough to the story. I found the changing point of views to being good. It was like stepping into each character’s soul. Understanding them better. I easily see this book as a crossover read. Both yong adults and adult alike will get lost in within this world. Luke Taylor has outdone himself in this spectacular piece. I look forward to reading more by him in the future. 

Review: Brothers-In-Arms

Synopsis:

Can a Jew and a Nazi survive Hitler’s Germany?
Franz Kappel and Japhet Buchanan never expected their friendship to be tested by the Third Reich. Friends from early childhood, the boys form an inseparable, brotherly bond. Growing up in a little German village, they escape most of the struggles of war until the day Japhet is banished from school for being a Jew, and later has a rib broken when other village boys beat him up. Franz learns he is putting himself in danger for spending so much time with Japhet but continues to stand up for his Jewish friend even at the risk to himself. Then one day their lives are shattered when they see first-hand that the price of being a Jew is dangerously high. 
With the war now on their doorsteps, Franz and Japhet come up with a desperate plan to save their families and get them out of Germany alive. Leaving behind the lives they’ve always known, they move into Berlin with nothing to protect them but forged papers and each other. Convinced their friendship can keep them going, the boys try and make a new life for themselves while trying to keep their true identities and Japhet’s heritage a secret. Taking his best friend’s safety upon himself, Franz joins the Nazis in an attempt to get valuable information. At the same time, Japhet joins the Jewish Resistance, neither friend telling the other of their new occupations.
With everyone in their world telling them a Nazi and a Jew can’t be friends, it is only a matter of time before they believe all the lies themselves, until neither is certain if they are fighting against a race of people or fighting for their homeland. Somehow they have to survive the horrors of World War II, even when all of Germany seems to be against them.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Brothers-In-Arms by Jack Lewis Baillot is a tale that takes readers immediately back into the dark and haunting time for Jews. Even their German friends were in danger. Imagine trying to help a Jewish member escape from the cruelty of the Hitler’s Nazis…if caught one’s death could be just as bad or much worse than what the Jews received. Sad and troubling times. A moment in history all will never forget. Jack Lewis Baillot has created a fictional world full of suspense, deadly consequences, and an unforgettable friendship unlike any other. A German Nazis best friends with a Jew. 

Inside this novel, readers meet two boys who grew up being friends. Times have changed and with it their lives are at stake. Japhet Buchanan is a Jew. For that reason alone he is tormented by all. As war breaks out, he and his family will be in grave danger. His friend Fran’s Kappel, a German, works with his friend to get out of Germany with their family. Safety. But getting out will prove most difficult. Brothers-In-Arms had me rooting for both characters and crying too. Both went through so many demons to get to the ending moment. The writing brought back the fears, tears, and memories of WWII. I highly recommend it to all. Plus, the writer has gone even further by breaking more boundaries within this masterpiece. Absolutely, stunning. 

Review: Nightlord Sunset

Synopsis:

Eric didn’t ask to be a vampire. In fact, he didn’t even believe in them. Then he meets a beautiful woman, wakes up with a hangover, and bites his tongue with his own fangs.
Which pretty much settles the question.

Now he’s trying to hold down his day job while learning the rules of the Undead — the most important being that bloodthirsty urges and predatory instincts are a real bitch. 
Upside; Eric has the beautiful Sasha to teach him the ropes, including the magic he’ll need to survive.

Downside; they’re being hunted by members of the Church of Light, who are determined to rid the world of vampires.

When Sasha is killed, and Eric is thrust into an alternate world in his quest to avenge her death. There he becomes a Nightlord, fights a dragon with the help of his magical steed, Bronze, and upchucks a sword named Firebrand. 
But things get really interesting when Eric finally finds Tobias, head of the Church of Light. Soon Eric finds himself at the center of an epic battle at the literal edge of the world in a fight to keep a terrible darkness at bay.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Nightlord Sunset by Garon Whited is a quite interesting. It involves the typical paranormal kind, vampires. Except from there things are not so normal. A human being sleeps with a beautiful woman, and the next he knows is that his life has changed forever. He has been turned. A vampire who needs to learn quickly how to survive. The beauty he slept with, helps him until she has been killed. Hunted down by another group. The new vampire, Eric, will go get his revenge only to face more obstacles. Every page kept me guessing. I didn’t know what the main character would do or what the others were planing. Yet the further I went the more, I was dragged from my seat into this fictional world. Compelling, suspenseful, and engaging. Garon Whited knew how to keep his readers hooked. The ending of this tale, is keeping me lured for the next adventure. Overall, I recommend this fast-pacedread to all. 

Review: Dominion of the Star

Synopsis:

The totality of a solar eclipse lasts only a few short minutes. That’s more than enough time for an apocalypse to erupt. 

Almost eighteen years have passed since the Eclipse changed the Earth forever, and Sebastian Za’in rose from the chaos and seized control, imposing his order on the broken planet. In a world ruled by fear and superstition, where all gods have perished, there is no one that can stand up to Za’in, the man rumored to be one of the Nephilim—hybrid offspring of Angel and Man. In a few short months, another Eclipse will occur, and while there are those that expect a new natural disaster, Za’in has plans of his own . . . 

Completely unaware of this global turmoil, Kayla Steelryn has spent most of her life in a quiet village, longing to uncover her hidden past. When she leaves her home in search of answers, she finds herself faced with the truth about her identity, forced to choose between the two men she loves, and thrust into a conflict where she alone has the power to stop an event more disastrous than the end of the world.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Dominion of the Star by Angelica Clyman is a fascinating world of fiction. Here, both evil and good reside. The past is no more…and the present is awful. Then, there’s the unknown of what the future will hold. Bold, engaging, and the most intriguing fantasy ever…Dominion of the Star will steal readers from their seats. I found myself curious and hooked. The plot holds a promising story full of action. Danger, war, and destruction all on a tipping scale sinking closer to a reality. Imagine a world once destroyed and soon to be under another terrifying moment. The characters were well-developed. The turn mail wasn’t just an external one but also an internal conflict. Kayla is a character I could easily relate to and feel her emotions. She’s seeking answers and those answers lead her on an adventure of a lifetime. Interesting, suspenseful, and intense. Angelica Clyman held my attention from the first page onward. Her story is one that has a lot to offer. Romance, coming of age, and leaves readers wondering what will come. Overall, I recommend this novel to all. 

Review: Active Measures

Synopsis:

In the winter of 1990, as the Soviet empire crumbled, a small Russian special forces team entered the dense forests of West Germany and buried an insurance policy.

In present day Iran, the United States’ most valuable agent uncovers a devastating secret brewing deep beneath the country’s mountainous terrain: In mere months, a faction of the regime’s Revolutionary Guards will successfully assemble a nuclear bomb. As the full might of the American intelligence community is mobilized to stop it, the CIA’s new director must confront a web of threats both at home and abroad, from a resentful White House chieftain, to a cunning Israeli spymaster, and the fearsome commander of the Iranian Quds Force.

In Moscow–after an oil trader with ties to the Kremlin is found burned alive in his Geneva home–an aide to Russia’s adored and despotic president is caught between opposing powers. At one side is an eccentric billionaire with lofty dreams of reorienting Russia toward the West, and at the other is the autocratic strongman whose ardent quest for resurgence has brought Russia into a risky, open confrontation with NATO.

In Lebanon, the Syrian civil war that raged for years across the border has reached its bloody climax. Yet in its wake, a new menace comes crawling from the shadows to feast on the remains. A brilliant CIA officer in Beirut, working desperately to penetrate an exhausted Hezbollah, is first to recognize the danger. As she begins calling on deaf ears, it is only a matter of time until the drums of war start beating again in the Middle East–and now with the greatest terrorist the world has ever known leading the charge.

Warping the line between illusion and reality, amid a labyrinth of characters, plots and counter-plots that span the globe–from the halls of the Kremlin and the suburbs of northern Virginia, to the slums of Beirut and the back alleys of Tehran–comes a story of intrigue and betrayal, life and death, setting a collision course toward a firestorm that will consume thousands and blind a superpower. 

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Active Measures (part 1) by Matt Fulton is one of the best military spy novels I have read. His characters are like that of my favorite thriller movies. Just as real if not more believable than the Bourne Series. I was amazed at the depth of military knowledge and terms used within the book. It was as though Matt Fulton took readers on a real walk in tour of the scenes. The sights, sounds, and places were three-dimensional. I could visually see the everything as I read them. The characters were well-developed. Danger wasn’t just a theme it was the reality of the whole novel. Threats were coming in from all sides. People found themselves dead or caught between the fire. Spies were real. Their knowledge and personalities suited perfectly. I couldn’t find a single thing out of line in this read. Everything was detailed and need to know. Readers were caught in suspense wondering where and what would happen next. A bomb planted. Threat of it going off…

Active Measures (part 1) has everything. Action, suspense, travel, and excitement. I was truly impressed. Matt Fulton knew what he was doing in creating this masterpiece. War…happens alll the time. Yet here, it’s more deadly and more serious than any other book I have read. The reality of the after effects and who’s all involved can be overwhelming. But Matt Fulton has created it, in a way that is nothing but entertaining. Absolutely and engaging tale. Government, politics, and agents. I loved it. A nightmare that haunts us all has been created for enjoyment. Overall, I highly recommend this read to all. 

Review: Quantum

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Someone wants Captain Admiral Zander Graydon dead. Like yesterday. Zander’s convinced his attractive assistant knows more than she’s willing to say, and if he can stop running long enough, he’ll find out exactly what she’s hiding. Lieutenant Marshal Mae Petros is determined to keep her CO safe. Before she tips her hand, however, Mae has to figure out if the alluring man she’s protecting is the real Captain Admiral Graydon. Or an alien shape-shifting imposter.

On the run and no one to trust…not even each other.

Captain Admiral Zander Graydon has seen a lot of action, but almost getting killed three times in one day is pushing it. Only the company of his new assistant, Lieutenant Marshal Mae Petros, makes things a little easier to swallow. Except the delectable Lieutenant Marshal Mae Petros is hiding a number of secrets, and her presence might have something to do with the continued attempts on his life.

It’s no accident Lieutenant Marshal Mae Petros finds herself in the firing line alongside the charming but very off-limits Captain Admiral Graydon. She’s taken the job as the admiral’s assistant to determine if a shape-shifting alien has killed the CO and assumed his form. Whether the admiral is human or not, Mae finds herself getting way too close to him as they run for their lives.

Military to the core, Mae and Zander will have to overcome their suspicions of each other to work together, when they realize the fate of the entire universe is at stake.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Quantum by Jess Anastasi is a science fiction fantasy novel that readers everywhere will enjoy. I am one who gets bored with just about all of the science fiction novels. However, this one was definitely up my alley in a good book. This novel had the action, adventure, suspense as well as a hot spicy romance to keep me interested. Quantum is book two of Jess Anastasi’s series and I loved it. I haven’t read the first and was able to follow through this one easily. After having read this second title, I am now intrigued to read the first and third novel within this series. The writing is superb. Jess Anastasi knows how to lure readers deep into her world of fiction.

Quantum is an action space adventure. Filled with shape shifting aliens set to invade the human occupations all over the galaxy. There’s only been a select few who have come to witness the aliens and what they can do. There seemed to be only one thing to help fight the aliens. That’s by using guns that resemble stun guns in our world. But just like the ordinary guns in our world, there are only so many bullets to use. Same restrictions apply to these powered guns that affect the aliens. Aliens that can do so much damage. Then there’s the issue of some aliens already infiltrated into the top government positions that can easily have other humans attack their human friends. Also, there are two friends. One was hurt by the aliens and sends out a woman he trusts to find out if his military friend is an alien in disguise or not…but then things get complicated. The friend and woman are being chased by an unknown enemy and the aliens are trying to kill them. Plus, despite the horror of the situations they just faced…they went and had sex. Sex that was explosive. Neither one can stop thinking about the other…and in their world distractions can kill. Jess Anastasi also have alliances from characters that readers wouldn’t expect to form in order to prepare and fight off the aliens attacking the human world. Danger, excitement, and desire will definitely keep readers from calling this science fiction fantasy boring…overall, I highly recommend this read to all.

 

 

Review: The Holocaust (History & Memory)

 

Synopsis:

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

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

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

Review: Lionheart

 

Synopsis:

An Arab-American soldier and a stargazing woman connect in this high-tech Beauty and the Beast retelling.

In an attempt to pay off her family’s debts, Lula answers a Craigslist ad for a job opening at the formerly vacant Bluegrass Manor. A stern and brooding man offered her the job, but there’s a catch—Lula isn’t allowed to look at him. No one in the manor has ever laid eyes on Mr. Rahim’s face. Although, Mr. Rahim has eyes on everyone—security footage relays on a constant loop in his office.

Everything Lula isn’t meant to notice about Mr. Rahim intrigues her: the cadence of his accented voice, the stoutness of his build, and his self-imposed prison that mirrors her

Lionheart is a romance of huge stakes that asks one question: Is love enough to mend a broken soul?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Lionheart by Fran Seen is a definite must read for readers everywhere. It covers hot topics like military heroes suffering from the aftermaths of war. PTSD. Warriors come home, sometimes to nobody. Few like the main character in this novel, had a family to support him and a complete stranger who wormed her way into his life. The story was an emotional mess. I felt the inner struggles of the characters as if I were experiencing them first-hand. Anger, fear, resentment, and love. Hope was another emotion woven into the tale. Beautifully written in a way that lured me deeper into the characters. I wanted to read every detail. To see all that was happening and as well as the hows and whys. Fran Seen has a way of sucking her readers into this brilliantly crafted romance. Not just some sappy hot romance. It’s about dealing with one’s demons and coming to face them despite the risks. Risks of what others will think. The risk of having others run once they see the damaged person. The risk of hoping and falling in love…Somehow, the two main characters find a way of supporting one another and helping them each face their own struggles head on…now, whether they were successful or not is up for readers to discover for themselves. I fell in love with this title because of the realistic issues, believable characters, and the superb writing. Fran Seen is indeed a talented writer who words are worthy of every readers’ attention. Overall, I highly recommend Lionheart to 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: Rise of the Chosen

 

Synopsis:

In Sam’s world, there are two rules. Rule #1: Nobody dies. Protect the living at all costs. Rule #2: Everybody dies. At least once.

The Waking was a global event in which a force called the Lifeblood invaded all humans who died. The few strong enough to control it came back as powerful immortals. The rest let the bloodlust take over and awoke with one goal – to kill.

Newly appointed Watch Guard Samantha Shields has a legacy to uphold. Her father died a hero defending their city and now she wants to follow in his footsteps. Except for the dying part, of course. Unfortunately, fate has other plans as she discovers deep dark secrets that make her choose between her loyalties and the lives of everyone in her city. Both rules are in play as Sam is forced to make hard decisions that could cost her everything – including the person she cares about most.

Rating: 4 stars

Review:

Rise of the Chosen by Anna Kopp is intense. There are the dead,  and the dead who walk. Then, there’s an army of individuals set on protecting the innocent. One young woman lost her dad and then her mother. After the loss of her mother, Sam was promoted to the highest level of fighting. Her boyfriend ends up being killed but issues out a warning to her. Then, she and her new teammates are preparing to fight a battle. One that is about to break out and only time will tell what happens next.

Rise of The Chosen was well-written. The main character, Sam, is a lesbian. So there’s plenty of F/F action happening. The tale is fast-paced. Packed with tons of action, tough choices, and fighting. Death is everywhere inside this novel. Losing the only family Sam had is a tough emotional journey. Then she also loses a past boyfriend that she cared about like a friend. Work is tough especially when the leading female didn’t have time to prepare or work her way up to the highest level. Lots of science fiction fantasy themes can be found in this exciting read. Anna Kopp is a talented writer. I was fascinated by her book about the dead and the war at hand.

 

Review: Gods, Empire, & Shifting Trade Routes

 

Synopsis:

In approximately 200 pages, this book seems to describe what 200,000 pages could not come close to adequately holding: the history of the world. Featured in this brief ride through the human condition: why over 40% of the world speaks in tongues descended from an obscure tribe called the Indo-Europeans, how political violence escalated in a three-part ancient republic, the African king whose massive wealth caused inflation when he traveled abroad, the probability that you are personally related to Genghis Khan, how the coming of Islam influenced Java’s shadow theater, how Sub-Saharan Africans were visiting Europe long before Europeans “discovered” Sub-Saharan Africa, the six foot eight giant who collected midgets while also making Russia a great power, Britain’s wars with China over their right to sell illegal drugs, the CIA intervention in order to secure a monopoly for a fruit company, Soviet jokes, and the African World War. Also mentioned is all the stuff you know already: the origins of the major world religions, Ancient Greece and Rome, Charlemagne, the French Revolution, World War One and World War Two, including the part of WWII between China and Japan that had a death toll estimated around 20 million.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Gods, Empire, and Shifting Trade Routes by Matthew Crowe is the book to read. It’s a small nonfiction book that contains history from the beginning to this very time period that we’re in now…Excellent way of condensing all of history into a brief easy to read style. I love the fact that readers can learn more and watch how the four major parts that created the world the way it is, evolve. These four areas are known as religion, politics, economics, and last but not least culture. All of these specific areas are the domination for wat made humans do what they did and still do today. It helped build the social institutions we know. Like our governments. Every part of the world there is some kind of government in existence. Another brilliant part of this book is that it answers the who, what, when and where questions. I love history and this is brilliant. I found words that pop up in my studies since I was in middle school to now in college. The writer, Matthew Crowe, goes on to explains these common terms that are essential to readers’ knowledge of the world and history. Third reason, I am enamoured with this nonfiction piece is that it takes readers deep into the world’s culture and environments. Can you imagine how some of the most magnificent architecture were built and why? Matthew Crowe had a goal in mind and he succeeded in doing just that. I was blown away by all the topics he managed to cover in this brief edition. I hope he creates another edition exploring other parts that were not highlighted within this one so as to cover all parts. Overall, as a history lover, this was one of the best condensed editions of history,that I have run across. Highly recommend Gods, Empire, and Shifting Trade Routes to all.

 

Review: My Darling Dorothy

 

Synopsis:

Based on authentic letters from the era, My Darling Dorothy is a timeless love story that transcends both hard times and the brutal impact of war. The tumult of the Great Depression and World War II provides the background for a novel about three young people; Tommie, Jack and Dorothy and their challenges, struggles, defeats, and triumphs.

Tommie struggles to survive the Bataan Death March in the fall of 1941, clinging to his dream of a gratifying future with Dorothy as his bride. On the front-lines, of the European Theatre, Jack experiences the horrors of endless battle. Dorothy, caught between the two, works to maintain her dream of a life beyond small-town Nebraska. The hopes and hardships they share are reflected in the letters that they exchange. Are they remnants of lost dreams, or the foundation for a joyful future?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

My Darling Dorothy by Jo Virden is a fascinating fictional journey. One that takes readers back and forth during WWII and  to the present moment. A young woman finds letters within odd things her parents have collected over the years. Something in her gut says there has to be something special hidden in the junk stuff…and her instincts paid off. She finds old letters. A man named Tommie wrote to her mother…why? And what happened to him? The historical novel explores the past lives of Tommie who fell in love with Dorothy. Then there’s another man who has captured Dorothy’s attention. The handsome devilish guy named Jack. Dorothy writes back and forth to both men. The tale takes us through the hardships each young person struggled and lived through during their lives. Intriguing, highly entertaining, and well-written. There is an emotional toll that kept on tugging on my heart as the scenes flew by me. A fast-paced story that somehow wraps itself around me, causing me to fall deeper into the characters’ lives. Beautifully told. My Darling Dorothy is about love, adventure, loss, and war. This was my first novel that I have read by Jo Virden.  She has created a masterfully woven tale that I won’t ever forget. Memorable. Satisfying. Overall, I highly recommend it to readers everywhere.

 

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: Gullali of Panjshir Valley

 

Synopsis:

A POWERFUL TALE OF ADVENTURE, ROMANCE, AND ONE WOMAN’S FIGHT AGAINST GENDER BIAS IN THE NAME OF CULTURE AND RELIGION.

Panjshir Valley, eleven thousand feet above sea level north of Kabul–Afghanistan, is heaven on Earth. Gullali, an educated young Afghan woman, was raised by her liberal-minded family to believe women deserve the same rights as men, a belief that is vehemently condemned by Talibanised Afghanistan. With romance in her life, Gullali’s life is perfect until Afghanistan is invaded by the Soviet army on December 24, 1979, and her life changes overnight.

After ten years of occupation, the Soviets leave in defeat. Though a triumph, the tribes fight among themselves over women and pretty boys. Power turns to greed, and order in Afghanistan fades. Amid the turmoil, the Taliban gain control, over the country, and women are the first casualty in the name of Islam.

Rumors of a more tolerant Pakistan beckon Gullali and her husband, but tragedy strikes. Gullali comes to realize the Taliban is just as prevalent in Pakistan. Captive, she suffers both physically and mentally from gender bias and religious hypocrisy.

Fueled by the abuse, Gullali is determined to fight for women’s rights, education, and freedom from male abuse in the name of Muslim culture and religion. Using her story, she tries to create awareness among the women of Pakistan but faces death threats from the clerics. She fights back. What follows is a roller coaster ride of fights for women’s liberation and adventure, with passionate romance in between.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Gullali of Panjshir Valley by Zia Rehman is an interesting read. It brings to light the struggles of the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Women especially are brought into a chaos all because of the of Islam religion and men’s ideas of women. Women are treated as unequal. No education, as well as no rights, are given. This novel brings to life the struggles that women faced under the Islamic men’s rule. The danger was something that lied ahead for women as men didn’t take to them going to school lightly. The men wanted to be in charge. There seemed to be historical events planted within this fiction tale. Like the many different invaders to these countries and what happened each time. Every take over had an influence on the countries that these women lived within…I found myself curious as I read every page. The leading female character’s life went from good to horrifying fast. Her country was one that she wanted to leave. But the next one was just as bad as her own. Love, fate, and determination helped Gullali fight for survival. Her story is a journey many don’t want to miss.  War, terror, and abuse…and one one woman’s courage are themes that will entice readers to this brilliant piece. Overall, I recommend Gullali of Panjshir Valley to readers everywhere.

Review: Hero of My Dreams

 

Synopsis:

The crew of the Arklardin Command Air Transport traverses a wormhole that empties them into the spiral Milky Way galaxy. Time is running out and they must find the one they seek. This is the third day of their search to find a hero who can lead Arklardin against an alien invasion. ZEUS, their onboard computer, directs them to a small blue planet. Kumari, the beautiful science officer who operates the advanced computer wonders, “Will we find the one we seek here?”

Arklardin is a peace-loving planet that is millions of light years from Earth. Their ancestors outlawed war centuries ago and nothing could have prepared them for this intrusion upon their serenity. An evil tyrant interrupted the nation of Pretoria’s winter games; his chilling words rang out across their fairgrounds: “Surrender or die.”

Kumari is filled with dread as she realizes her dreams are coming true. For over two years she has been tormented by visions of imminent danger to her world. She is perplexed and confused because the hero of her dreams always snatches her from the jaws of the dragon but never lets her see his face. If her hero is her fiancé, then why does he hide his face? Surely if he is known to her, he would show himself. Kumari and her crew have been commissioned by the Pretorian king to search other worlds and recruit the warrior they so desperately need.

Dragoon is Lord and Master of the planet Zharbruk. His lust for power and conquest causes him to turn his eyes to his neighbor, the huge peace-loving planet of Arklardin. A secret alliance gives his forces what they need to begin the interplanetary assault. However, his vision of conquest is not limited to his own solar system. Once he has Arklardin under his heel, there will be other inhabited worlds to conquer. Will the universe bring forth a champion to defend this beautiful planet?

Meanwhile on Earth, a young, handsome war hero contemplates his life and the war he has come home from. Awarded the Medal of Honor for courage during a bloody action in Southeast Asia, he wonders if there is some grand design for his life. Has he endured the horrors of war for nothing, or has a Higher Power been preparing him for some worthy cause? He is confused at the direction of his life. Lieutenant Alexander Freeman last saw Veronica standing beside his best friend when he sailed off to war. He was not prepared for her Dear John letter to arrive the day his first tour of duty ended. It was at this time he began to have the dreams. A beautiful apparition often visited and seemed to be in peril. He knows it is only a dream but is puzzled at the strong emotions manifested.

Arriving back in his hometown of Wimauma, Florida, the war hero settles into the rustic life of a cattleman. One night as he lays beside the pristine Little Manatee River, absorbed in the beauty of the night sky, a bright light suddenly catches his attention. Alexander Freeman has no idea the events of this night will cast him into conflict out among the stars where he has always found solace. Destiny has finally found him and his life will never be the same.

Could it be possible these two young lives have connected in their dreams from worlds that are millions of light-years apart? Have the dreams of Kumari and Alex brought them together for some purpose other than repelling the invasion? Is he truly her hero and can he, in the process of saving her, save her world?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Hero of My Dreams by J.R. Pitts is a fantasy all readers must have. It is fast-paced. Tons of action, as well as immediate danger, plunge readers deeper into the story. A journey that travels beyond space into dreams. This romantic story packs a lot.  A peaceful planet in danger of a horrible invasion and they only have so much time before they find someone who can save them. One man on earth might be just the one. Alex, already a hero from fighting a war in his country keeps having dreams of a woman. What he doesn’t expect or know is that the woman is real and her planet is in trouble. Dreams, love, fate, and war are all tied in beautifully by this talented writer. I normally am very picky when it comes to fantasy novels and this one has met every one of my expectations. I was instantly taken into the foreign world created in this stunning fictional piece. The characters were believable. Enemies can be defeated and dreams can come true. I loved reading Hero of My Dreams. Overall, I highly recommend it to readers everywhere.

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: Monarchs and Mendicants

 

Synopsis:

A JOURNEY FROM DESPAIR TO HOPE

When a fourth homeless man is murdered by the Hacker, Gifford Ulrich leaves downtown St. Louis carrying his belongings on his back and wanders into the Benoit Neighborhood searching for shelter and safety. He finds abandoned buildings and abandoned people; drunks, drug addicts, gamblers; the outcasts; the unusual, the unbalanced, and the unlucky. His job cleaning bricks leads him to discover hidden forces at work in Benoit that throw him in the middle of danger and death. To fight his way off the streets, Giff must rely on his military training, his knife, and an anger born of loss. The only way to survive the passage from tragedy to triumph is to kill or be killed.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Monarchs and Mendicants by Dan Groat is a masterpiece readers can’t put down or ignore. This brilliantly told story features a man who is a retired Navy Seal. Soon, he ends up homeless and uses the skills he learned in the military to his advantage for survival. Living as a homeless person is by far the saddest and most dangerous kind of living one will ever take up…whether by force or by choice. A friend dies and now that friend’s dog and ex-Navy Seal will battle all kinds of danger. Whether related, unfair minimum wages, and a hired killer. Those who protest against the minimum wages given are taken down one by one…and soon Gifford Ulrich lands on that killer’s list. A realistic survival story that will keep readers intrigued as the plot continues to unfold. Fast-paced, highly entertaining, and suspenseful. Dan Groat has a talent for creating the best world of fiction. I was instantly pulled in frompage one and didn’t reemerge until the last page. Monarchs and Mendicants is like the Bourne movie series…full of action, fighting, and intrigue. Kept me guessing…and captivated. Overall, I highly recommend this stunning novel to readers worldwide.

Review: The Road to Rus’

 

Synopsis:

In the 9th Century, the Byzantine Empire was on the rise. The Vikings were also well on their way to influencing most of the known world with their spirit of adventure and quest for glory. Slavic tribes led by the Polians and their leader Vratymyr with the aid of the Vikings and their representative Askoldir organize a brazen attack at the heart of New Rome – Constantinople. Their goal is not only revenge but the formation of a new empire. There are battles, political plots, sea voyages, treachery, bravery, and death. This is a story of adventure. This is the only historical novel to date about this event. This is the story of the birth of Kyivan Rus’.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Road to Rus’ by Michael Hnatyshyn is truly a remarkable novel that captures a moment in time that no other novel has captured. Michael Hnatyshyn has brilliantly woven together real historic figures and history into his stunning novel, The Road to Rus’. I am a huge fan of history and loved how this tale captured one of my favorite places in history…Rome…or more specifically Constantinople. The characters were so well-developed that it was like watching a historic battle and play come, to life. The Road to Rus’ concentrates on the ninth century. A century full of upheaval. Battles from foreigners would be common place. Warriors could be found everywhere and greed like today was super bad. The talent is obvious to readers from page one. Michael Hnatyshyn definitely enjoyed bringing history and culture alive for readers everywhere.

Inside this new historical title, readers are taken back in time, of the Byzantine Empire. Vikings were very much real and a major threat. Many people got together to plan an attack on the New Rome, Constantinople. This is where the novel gets intense. A suspenseful yet highly intriguing read. Readers will get their first-hand taste of warfare back then…and feel as though they have been transported to the battle. The descriptions are vivid as well as the viewpoint in which the story is being told. I found it unique and engaging as I rushed to read every page. The reasoning for what the characters did seemed to be reason enough to attack their enemy…lives for lives. The Road to Rus’ will have readers on the edge of their seats breathless as the scenes are lived through the words of Michael Hnnatyshyn. A time of gruesome warfare and lives of many…I enjoyed reading this exciting tale and look forward to more future works by this writer.  Overall, I would highly recommend it to readers worldwide.

Review: At the Edge of Summer

 

Synopsis:

The acclaimed author of Letters from Skye returns with an extraordinary story of a friendship born of proximity but boundless in the face of separation and war.
 
Luc Crépet is accustomed to his mother’s bringing wounded creatures to their idyllic château in the French countryside, where healing comes naturally amid the lush wildflowers and crumbling stone walls. Yet his maman’s newest project is the most surprising: a fifteen-year-old Scottish girl grieving over her parents’ fate. A curious child with an artistic soul, Clare Ross finds solace in her connection to Luc, and she in turn inspires him in ways he never thought possible. Then, just as suddenly as Clare arrives, she is gone, whisked away by her grandfather to the farthest reaches of the globe. Devastated by her departure, Luc begins to write letters to Clare—and, even as she moves from Portugal to Africa and beyond, the memory of the summer they shared keeps her grounded.

Years later, in the wake of World War I, Clare, now an artist, returns to France to help create facial prostheses for wounded soldiers. One of the war veterans who comes to the studio seems familiar, and as his mask takes shape beneath her fingers, she recognizes Luc. But is this soldier, made bitter by battle and betrayal, the same boy who once wrote her wistful letters from Paris? After the war and so many years apart, can Clare and Luc recapture how they felt at the edge of that long-ago summer?

Bringing to life two unforgettable characters and the rich historical period they inhabit, Jessica Brockmole shows how love and forgiveness can redeem us.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

At the Summer Edge by Jessica Brockmole is a historical getaway where I was deeply enchanted by the beauty and emotional journey of this stunning tale. Imagine a gorgeous place where you can go to relax and heal. No worries at all. The fields surrounding you with a calm peacefulness. This is where two individuals will find both happiness and love only to be separated from one another. However, fate has plans for these individuals to meet once more. War, family, and distance have separated both man and woman and under chance, they met again. Hearts grow fonder through time or will tragedy and war take away what was meant to be?

Jessica Brockmole’s writing is marvelous. I felt like I was sucked into her world of fiction and planted into the main characters body…everything she saw, felt, or did became my own thoughts or actions. The love, tenderness, and emotions swept me off my feet. There’s something deep between both of the main characters, Luc, and Clare. Clare is helping the soldiers and Luc happens to be one of the ones she’s helping…the only question is wonders is if he’s still the Luc she got to know and knew. The intriguing plotline hooked me as I followed each character’s journey through life as they meet, then separated and finally brought together. With all wars there are scars that run deep both outside and inside of us…sometimes it takes a familiar face to help us through our struggles and to let go of the past. I was mesmerized by the inner struggles of both Luc and Clare. Their wounds go deep but their love is deeper yet. Overall, I loved reading this novel. I highly recommend At the Edge of Summer to all.

Review: The Cavendon Luck

 

Synopsis:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author comes a captivating epic saga of courage and honor, following the aristocratic Inghams and the loyal Swann family who have served them for centuries.

It is 1938 in England, and Miles and Cecily Ingham have led the family in bringing the Cavendon estate back from the brink of disaster. But now, with the arrival of World War II, Cavendon Hall will face its biggest challenge yet. It is a challenge that will push the Inghams and Swanns to protect each other and the villagers and reveal their true capacity for survival and rebirth.

Told with Bradford’s deft, evocative prose and featuring a beloved cast of characters, The Cavendon Luck is a story of intrigue, romance, sorrow, and joy that readers won’t soon forget.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Cavendon Luck by Barbara Taylor Bradford reminds me so much of my beloved favorite British TV program, The Downton Abbey.  Both are about keeping the family place afloat during tough times. There’s always a disaster of some sort just around the corner and right after everything seems to be doing well. Barbara Taylor Bradford lures her audience back to 1938 where it all begins…The Cavendon Luck is an extraordinary historical fiction that will grab readers instantly with its intrigue and fascinating cast of characters. The emotional journey is quite a ride. Just as in real life, the roads get bumpy, tough or easy and joyous.

After reading this stunning new title by Barbara Taylor Bradford, I would love to see this turned into a big motion picture. The story brings readers in both emotionally and physically. The scenes are so vivid that they pop off the pages into the reader’s mind. The tightly knit family showered with so much love makes readers’ hearts melt into butter. The idea of war and what it might brings sounds alarms within the characters. It causes a curtain of suspense to hang thickly in the air as every page is quickly turned. Cavendon Hall is brought back and safe for the moment but how much longer will that last if war does set in? Readers will love the two families both the Inghams and the Swanns.  The tale is switched from telling it from the character’s point of view to the narrator’s. Excitement, danger, and livelihoods are all on a tight line where the Cavendon Hall is concerned. So many have put in so much to keep it going…World War II is just around the corner fear, death, and loss will soon be upon them all. Friendship, romance, and courage are all a part of this magnificent thrilling novel. I couldn’t put the book down…until I read it all. Readers will indeed fall in love with this second masterpiece by Barbara Taylor Bradford. Overall, I highly recommend The Cavendon Luck to readers worldwide.

 

Review: Niveus

 

Synopsis:

Niveus is…perfectly peculiar.

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

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

 

Review: The Reader of Acheron

 

Synopsis:

Book One of the Slaves of Erafor series: Reading is forbidden, and the penalty for non-compliance is a life of slavery enabled by the forcible administration of a mind rotting drug. Yet, there are those possessed of the will to seek illumination. Kikkan, a former slave on the run, and Quillion, a mercenary and self-taught scholar. Together they seek out a small band of rebels living in hiding who offer the promise of a better world. Their leader is a mysterious figure known only as The Reader of Acheron.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Reader of Acheron by Walter Rhein is by far the most intriguing novel of its kind. Here, readers are introduced to a world where reading is forbidden. Many of us would die of shock hearing these world from our own government if one day this were to happen. Just reading the first sentence brings readers minds into a swirl of possibiites oh why, how, and who would make reading forbidden…I was definitely intrigued with that statement.

Inside this novel, readers will meet military men and men who have been turned into zombies. Those who read are taken as slaves and put on a drug that melts their brains and when they become so weak, they are let loose into the wild. It is then that they turn into these frightening zombies. Zombies that need the drug called Bliss to keep going…but instead go after other humans…if one of their own has been slaughtered…they eat him alive. Hence zombies is a correct term to describe the horrors, dangers, and suspense of this novel. The Readers of Acheron takes readers on an intense journey that will leave them on the edge of their seats, their palms sweating and their hearts pounding with fear. The anticipation of what is to happen next will keep readers turning this mind blowing read. Overall, I enjoyed reading this fantasy and look forward to the next book. Walter Rhein’s writing is suspenseful and vivid. His talent is amazing. I highly recommend The Readers of Acheron to readers worldwide. Beware once you open it, you will be plunged into one of the most dangerous worlds of fiction…

 

Review: The Damned of Petersburg

 

Synopsis:

GLORY TURNED GRIM…

…and warfare changed forever. As Grant pinned Lee to Petersburg and Richmond, the Confederacy’s stubborn Army of Northern Virginia struggled against a relentless Union behemoth, with breathtaking valor and sacrifice on both sides. That confrontation in the bloody summer and autumn of 1864 shaped the nation that we know today.
From the butchery of The Crater, where stunning success collapsed into a massacre, through near-constant battles fought by heat-stricken soldiers, to the crucial election of 1864, The Damned of Petersburg resurrects our Civil War’s hard reality, as plumes and sabers gave way to miles of trenches.

Amid the slaughter of those fateful months, fabled leaders—Grant and Lee, Winfield Scott Hancock and A. P. Hill—turned to rising heroes, Confederates “Little Billy” Mahone and Wade Hampton, last of the cavaliers, or Union warriors such as tragedy-stricken Francis Channing Barlow and the fearless Nelson Miles, a general at twenty-four.
Nor does Ralph Peters forget the men in the ranks, the common soldiers who paid the price for the blunders of leaders who’d never know their names. In desperate battles, now forgotten, such as Deep Bottom, Globe Tavern and Reams Station, soldiers on both sides, pushed to the last human limits, fought on as their superiors struggled to master a terrible new age of warfare.

The Damned of Petersburg revives heroes aplenty—enriching our knowledge of our most terrible war—but, above all, this novel’s a tribute to the endurance and courage of the American soldier, North or South.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Damned of Petersburg by Ralph Peters is an extraordinary novel taking readers deep into te heart of Civil War. Ralph Peters has masterfully captured each and every detail and organized his writing to relive the memorable moments in history. This is a novel all readers should read no matter what they’re preferred genre is. This story doesn’t feel real just because it was based, off of historical facts, but because of the talented writing of Ralph Peters. I got to experience the memories and daily lives that some of the men during this era. It was fascinating from page one and still captivated me until the ending.

The Damned of Petersburg brings, to life, the lives, hardships, and bravery of the men who fought during the Civil War. I love anything that is about history or brings, to life, the precious moments fought and lived by those now dead. Famous men such as Grant, Lee, Winfield Scott Hancock and many others will be popping off the pages as readers turn them. Ralph Peters has created a world, that lures readers in from the beginning. It’s fascinating how history can show us cruel life really was and what those moments may have been like if we were to witness them with our own eyes and ears. Many soldiers whose names we don’t know, as well as their leading officers, are also brought to readers’ attention. I loved that about Ralph Peter’s writing. He wrote The Damned of Petersburg in a way to remember everyone and not just the officers with special ranks. Warfare in it’s purest form is brought to readers everywhere. Overall, I found this novel to be remarkable and stunning. I highly recommend this read to readers worldwide.

 

Review: Turka Bella

 

Synopsis:

Compelling Military Love Story

A week after watching the events of September 11, 2001 claim thousands of innocent lives, Jonathan Feldman, a 23-year-old Jewish-American from Chicago’s affluent Gold Coast neighborhood, decides to join the U.S. Army.

With no prior interest in the military, but feeling lost a year out of college, Jonathan feels compelled to be a part of something bigger than himself. Like many young soldiers at the time, he enlists with ambitions of saving the world from Muslim extremism and visions of hunting down the evil perpetrators of 9/11.

Those dreams are shattered when he is transferred to a remote base in Germany that is soon to be closing down and left forgotten by the American government. But what happens when Jonathan’s brother and friends visit for Oktoberfest that changes his one-dimensional existence forever.

It is at that time, when Jonathan is perfectly unprepared, destiny brings Ela, a beautiful Turkish Muslim businesswoman from Istanbul into his life.

Love blossoms…

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Turka Bella by Jonathan Feldman is a stunning memoir that will automatically grab readers and take them deep within its pages. The people and scenes come, to life, on every page. Everything and everyone felt so real. Readers are taken back to the before and the aftermath of one of the most horrific events in the history of the U.S. The terrorist attacks of September 11th will forever haunt the American people especially that of one in particular. He can’t shake the terror he saw happening in his own country. I enjoyed following the character’s journey and his family heritage. A Jewish culture and language…along with the character’s sense of American duty that leads him on his new path in life. A path of love and destiny. Jonathan Feldman’s memoir is brilliantly well-written and will captivate audiences from all over the world for ages to come. Love, hope, and fate…are all a part of this fast-paced memoir. A memoir that has a little of everything and will never be forgotten by its readers. I enjoyed reading Turka Bella, and I look forward to reading more future works by this talented writer. I highly recommend this powerful yet beautifully told memoir to readers worldwide.

Review: The Second Chance

 

Synopsis:

Award winning author, Christina Paul, presents:

A SECOND CHANCE (First in the Bradford Series)

In this historical novel, set in early 1800s England, a young widow, an enigmatic injured man, a kidnapped woman and a smart-alecky butler come together in a moving adventure full of intrigue, suspense and of course romance.

While Graydon, a lead operative for the Crown, struggles to heal and regain his memory sufficiently to rescue his kidnapped niece, Kathryn wonders whether she can possibly risk trusting again and taking a second chance at love.

Laugh and love along with the characters of A Second Chance and watch as they learn that vulnerability can be the strength, and the most perplexing problems can be overcome with the support and resourcefulness of faithful friends.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

A Second Chance by Christina Paul is by far the juiciest and most addictive historical romance that I have ever read. The leading female character will draw readers in unlike any other. I have finally found a well-rounded leading female who isn’t flawlessly unreal and one who intrigues me more by every sentence. Christina Paul has beautifully captured the historical time period down to every detail. The language and scenes are vivid. Readers will feel as though they were watching the scenes in life than just reading them off the pages. A Second Chance is so much more than just two strangers meeting and given a chance to be together…it is about more than one character, given a second chance at having the life they always wanted but didn’t think they would get. Readers will instantly be pulled into this romantic yet funny tale as it unfolds.

Inside A Second Chance, Christina Paul immediately introduces readers to how women’s lives were so easily controlled by men. In the beginning, not only was one woman forced to love a man she didn’t love but so was that one man forced to love her as well. From there they went on to make a life out of what life tossed their way. Soon, Kathyrn’s life changes once more…this time her husband is gone and she’s left to raise her two boys. Time goes by and they are grown…then life decides to toss another unexpected outcome her way. Kathryn is soon led to a man who is injured badly. Right away, she goes about saving his life. While she helps him get back to health, she finds herself attracted to the handsome stranger. Once he heals, she and her staff find out who he is and what happened. That’s when her life goes from peaceful quiet to chaotic and interesting. Can Kathryn finally find the love she always wanted and what other surprises lay in store? Readers will love this exciting read from the first page and will not part with it until they finish reading it. A hot, sexy, yet sweet story that will forever, sweep readers off their feet. Danger, adventure, and romance await…I highly recommend this fascinating novel to readers worldwide.

Review: Journey to Munich

 

Synopsis:

Working with the British Secret Service on an undercover mission, Maisie Dobbs is sent to Hitler’s Germany in this thrilling tale of danger and intrigue—the twelfth novel in Jacqueline Winspear’s New York Times bestselling “series that seems to get better with each entry” (Wall Street Journal).

It’s early 1938, and Maisie Dobbs is back in England. On a fine yet chilly morning, as she walks towards Fitzroy Square—a place of many memories—she is intercepted by Brian Huntley and Robert MacFarlane of the Secret Service. The German government has agreed to release a British subject from prison, but only if he is handed over to a family member. Because the man’s wife is bedridden and his daughter has been killed in an accident, the Secret Service wants Maisie—who bears a striking resemblance to the daughter—to retrieve the man from Dachau, on the outskirts of Munich.

The British government is not alone in its interest in Maisie’s travel plans. Her nemesis—the man she holds responsible for her husband’s death—has learned of her journey, and is also desperate for her help.

Traveling into the heart of Nazi Germany, Maisie encounters unexpected dangers—and finds herself questioning whether it’s time to return to the work she loved. But the Secret Service may have other ideas. . . .

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Journey to Munich by Jacqueline Winspear caught my attention because it’s a war novel. Nazi Germany…is nothing but a place of nightmares, terror, and mass murder. The cries of those who were killed can still be heard anytime the topic comes up…My grandma worked on the Nazi war crimes so, reading about this time and horrific period brings me a little closer to those who suffered, torn apart, and murdered. I don’t know how any can forget or move on…it was way before my time yet my heart breaks for all those people especially the children who died…because one man hypnotized a country into mass murder, destruction, and lies.

Inside of Jacqueline Winspear’s novel, Journey to Munich, readers are taken deep into the frontlines of war and the danger becomes real. One woman lost her husband and needs a purpose to move on…she is soon swept up into a situation that will be hard to get out of…like that of pretending to be one man’s dead daughter to get him out alive…all because the government wants him for their purpose. Readers will be brought close to what it’s like being a prisoner of war and the ugliness of how governments can be during these confusing, sad, and frightening times. A woman who’s heart stays true to her one and only love…a woman who won’t back down until she’s satisfied. What she doesn’t know she makes up with tenacity. This novel is well-written and the characters are more than well-developed. It’s the most intriguing read that will keep readers on the edge of their seats waiting to find out what’s going to happen next. I have heard so much about this novel before reading it and I wasn’t disappointed. Jacqueline Winspear is a talented writer who can drag every reader into her historical fiction. I loved it. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to readers worldwide.

Review: Dead Money Run

 

Synopsis:

Lou Malloy has just maxed out on a fifteen-year prison sentence for the theft of $15 million and just before leaving prison he learns that his sister is brutally killed. As he is leaving prison, he’s told to keep his nose clean or he would soon be back. As far as Malloy is concerned all bets were off, until he finds his sister’s killer. In the meantime, he has to fight off predators trying to get their hands on the money he stole and keep from being sent back to prison trying to protect those dear to him. He catches a break when he meets up with Hilary Kelly, a private investigator with an agenda of her own, She has been hired by the insurance company that paid on the theft claim of the money stolen from the casino by Malloy. In the course of events, Malloy and Kelly become more than just friends and Kelly decides to throw in with Malloy. Together they work to uncover exactly what happened to Malloy’s sister and why. Their search involves a vicious gang led by a vengeful old man and his crazy son who has his own problems keeping his hands off other women. To make matters worse, Malloy and Kelly’s search is complicated by the fact that Malloy’s sister was really a special agent with the Department of Homeland Security. She was working undercover when she was killed trying to locate the whereabouts of special plates to produce counterfeit currency that if the plates end up in the wrong hands, whole banking systems of major foreign countries could collapse overnight.

As Malloy and Kelly race to find the killer of Malloy’s sister, they enlist the help of Crusher, a pro wrestler who served in the cell next to Malloy at the Atlanta Penitentiary. The decision is made for Malloy and company to hit the same casino again that Malloy robbed fifteen years ago by a special ops unit of the Department of Homeland Security. The plan is complicated by the fact that the ops unit is a phony setup led by a former agent turned rouge, who is backed by another vicious gang with international contacts intent on getting their hands on the missing money plates. Malloy decides to go through with the heist of the casino a second time, but on a different schedule than planned. If they don’t make it they have no way to return to the real world. They are in a make or break it race. Read as they race to the finish line and learn if this where the run ends or the run begins….

Dead Money Run is a fast paced, action packed, crime thriller. This is the first book in the Lou Malloy Crime Series.

On the day Lou Malloy is to be released from prison, the warden calls him for a private meeting. “Ten percent of fifteen million is a lot of money,” the warden tells him. He’s probing Lou for the whereabouts of the $15M that was stolen from a casino 15 years earlier. Lou, however, doesn’t bite. He’s got big plans, which include finding the person who killed his sister while he was in the joint.

Enter Hilary Kelly, a 20-something beauty who gives Lou a motorcycle ride from the bus station. She claims to be a student, but Lou is far too wise to fall for it. After crashing in Hilary’s trailer, Lou soon finds her .38 Smith and Wesson and discovers she’s a private investigator who knows something about his sister.

Hilary a great character, and loaded with memorable lines: “Lou, sometimes you can be the nicest killer I have ever known.” Alas, she and Lou were made for each other – he likes to think of himself as a “compassionate killer.”

Fans of James Ellroy and Elmore Leonard are going to love James’ ingenious capers, devious characters, and wry humor. The entire book goes down like a strong yet smooth shot of bourbon.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Dead Money Run by J. Frank James is a must read for all. Readers will find themselves lost deep in one of the juiciest plots of all-time. A  murder case tied in with stolen money and a gang out to find the stolen money is one adventure reader’s don’t want to miss.

J. Frank James is indeed a talented writer whose characters are believable and his story pops off the pages. Scenes come alive as readers keep turning them. A race to find out what really happened to one man’s sister and why is a thrilling rollercoaster ride. Lou is just released from prison for having stolen $15 million dollars. His sister died while he was locked away and his only plans are to find the ones responsible for her death. In his mission to find out how and why Lou soon  finds himself attracted to a woman who is anything but what she claims to be. They both are soon following the mystery trail together. Readers won’t be disappointed in reading this suspenseful novel by J. Frank James. I loved reading it. Overall, I highly recommend Dead Money Run to readers everywhere.

Review: Legacy

Synopsis:

How do you want to feel today?

In 2041, the choice is yours.

San Francisco is deserted, the Bay Bridge bombed, and the BART subway trains grounded. The Guardians, members of an elite and mysterious government-appointed military police force, are maintaining order at all costs–thanks to emotion-altering drugs like Emovere that suppress fear and anxiety. Lex Knightley, daughter of a prominent forensic psychiatrist, risks entering the devastated city to partner with the Resistance, a group of rebels intent upon exposing the dangers of Emovere. Lex discovers an ally in Quin McAllister, a magnetic Guardian Force recruit with a haunting past that binds them together. As she uncovers the secrets of the Guardian Force and confronts the truth about her family, Lex begins to realize that even those closest to her are not quite who they seem.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Legacy by Ellery A. Kane is indeed one brilliantly well-written novel that readers have to add to their top reading lists. Ellery A. Kane has spun together a highly intense military novel that is so advanced it’s mind blowing…the military like always have a bad motive for doing what they do…and one woman teams up with others to stop them. A journey that drags readers in deep and holds them prisoner until the ending.

Every page is suspenseful, dark, and intriguing. A drug that is so powerful, it’s scary to even think about it ever being anything but a fictional nightmare. Ellery A. Kane has beautifully brought readers one of the most entertaining novels I have read. This book should be a big motion screen picture. There’s action, love, and secrets as well as realistic characters that lure readers further into every page. Legacy is definitely one thriller I highly recommend to readers everywhere. Readers won’t be disappointed.

Review: The Bookshop

 

Synopsis:

Even I, who had resisted kicking and screaming, had to admit defeat. Why would love be impressed by the protests of a simple bookseller?

Jakoba has had enough. It is 1999 and she looks back on her life that began at the start of the century. Her arrival was unexpected, but joyfully welcomed, by her middle-aged parents. In a time where a middle-class girls has one destiny, namely to become a wife and mother, Jakoba is allowed to start working at a bookshop. Books become one of the loves of her life. Later she will inherit the shop.

She values friendship, but romance has no meaning for her. She values her independence too much and knows all too well what price women pay for being married.

It is German army photographer Armin who will change the course of her life. Jakoba is forty when she meets him. Armin is almost thirty, and Germany has occupied Holland. It does not matter. For him, she’s the one, and despite her hesitation both because of the war and because she can’t understand what this handsome man sees in her—a plain woman—she has to admit her feelings for him.

Such love has consequences for both of them that will reach far beyond the war and in ways, Jakoba could never have imagined.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Bookshop is definitely for fans of women’s fiction. Seeing as this stunning yet brilliantly well-written novel features a woman and her journey back to her younger life. R.A. Padmos takes us to the character’s beginning and all the way back to the present moment in time where the woman is old and sharing her memories with us. The tale is beautiful, sad, and sweet. A strong independent woman who has lived life to the fullest. I enjoyed reading this new book and I highly recommend it to readers everywhere. The journey is inspiring, motivational, and entertaining. Readers won’t be disappointed once they open up this story…

 

 

Review: Death Steppe: A WWII Novel

 

Synopsis:

Merriam Press Historical Fiction HF11 (First Edition, 2015). This World War II novel takes place in 1944, during Germany’s retreat from the western Soviet Union. The story follows the lives of a Russian war widow, Elena, a dissident, Christian, and black marketeer, as she serves as a medic on the front lines, and a disillusioned German lieutenant, Halder, a former professor and concentration camp officer, as he fights in a losing effort. In time, Elena and others, are forced into service as temporary navigators in an all-female regiment to the Red Army air force. After Elena’s plane crashes, she finds the injured Halder from the squadron she helped bomb. As enemies, the injured Elena and Halder alternate between helping and nearly killing each other. Eventually, the desperate soldiers discover an unexpected bond. Together they embark on a turbulent journey as lovers and disheartened deserters.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Death Steppe (A WWII Novel) by Judy Bruce is brilliant. Her novel takes readers straight into the plot. WWII in 1944 was indeed a scary time…what’s scarier is actually meeting the person whom one has tried to kill…meeting the person considered as your enemy can take a toll on a person. However, Judy Bruce takes an unexpected encounter of two enemies during this war time and force them to meet. Both are surprised but also weary of the other. Thinking of killing the other one or to work together to survive their outcome is a big decision that neither can take too lightly.

Judy Bruce has captured the realistic historical time period down to every specific detail as well as creating characters who will never be forgotten. I love anything featuring history and showing readers how difficult it was like back then and how every decision has a huge impact on one’s life. Just one decision can change your future forever…can Elena and Halder make the right choice? This tale like many others that capture historical moments will make readers cringe atwhat really happened and how cold people can be during this time periods. Haunting, dark, but with some truth and accuracy…readers will be taken back to the front lines of WWII. Readers will feel like they are actually witnessing the events in this novel through their own eyes instead of the characters. Judy Bruce has created a maserpiece when she wrote Death Steppe. I loved reading this book, and I highly recommend it to readers worldwide.

Review: Roses of Rome

Synopsis:

The storytellers told tales. The singers sang epic songs. The dancers danced the dance that dancers dance, on the floor and tabletops. The jugglers juggled fire. The fortune tellers only told the good part. And the Gods seemed pleased with all of Rome.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Roses of Rome by Robert M. Richburg is indeed a fascinating tale. It’s imagery and scenes are bright. Each page brings to life the journey and love that one Roman soldier brings to his home. He comes back from winning a battle and is soon to be married to a child…a beautiful child belonging to a senator. Her beauty and love of Anulus is easy to connect with…then there’s the slave women whom Anulus falls in love with and has children with…but he also, buys these women their freedom and gives them a better life.

Roses of Rome shows readers what it was like back then and how lives can be changed if someone deemed to do so. The rich and wealthy can easily change someone’s status making them free people of Rome just like the hero, Anulus has done repeatedly. Anulus suffers loss of those he loves and sees new life as well. He is just as human as any of us and goes through life the best he knows. Robert M. Richburg has maserfully woven a romance that takes on a literary and historical meaning that readers will enjoy. I felt like I was in high school, learning a new important piece of literature. I love the way this story was written and its characters were so believable and realistic. Readers will want to read this magnificent story…I highly recommend it.

Review: The Shadow of War (The Great War)

 

Synopsis:

The Shadow of War is the first novel in Stewart Binns’s new series which will see a book release for each year of the First World War.
June 1914.
The beginning of another long, prosperous summer for Britain. But beneath the clear skies, all is not as it seem – as the chill wind of social discontent swirls around this sceptred isle.
Shots ring out in a distant European land – the assassination of a foreign aristocrat. From that moment the entire world is propelled into a conflict unlike any seen before.
This is the story of five British communities, their circumstances very different, but who will all share in the tragedy that is to come. All that they have known will be changed for ever by the catastrophic events of the Great War.
This is a story of love and comradeship, of hatred and tragedy – this is the story of the Great War.
The Shadow of War, the first novel in The Great War series from Stewart Binns, is a thrilling read and perfect for those who enjoy the writing of Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Shadow of War by Stewart Binns is a sensational historical piece. Readers, who were born way after this war and WWII, will finally be able to get an insider’s view to the battle that happened in  June 1914. Stewart Binn’s novel takes readers deep into the historical events of the war. The people it affected and the places it took place. Brilliantly well-written and the characters are well-developed. Readers will feel like they went back in time and are experiencing it all first hand. The battles were real, the losses were many, and suffering all around you. Men going into the unknown to fight off enemies. Rich and poor will go through the war experience alike. Death…is like a black cloud that consumes men. Never know if you will survive the war or not. The fear feels so real, readers will feel their foreheads sweat in anticipation…and shivers down their spines.

The Shadow of War by Stewart Binns captures the realism of the war and the people involved. Stewart Binns definitely knows how to bring history alive to his readers fingertips. I love history. This story was fast-paced, thrilling, and absolutely spectacular. The people who lived during this time period were fascinating. Readers will get a glimpse into those people’s lives especially the poor ones. Railroads taking away business from towns…are left struggling to keep their towns running. Education, water, and illnesses are transparent all inside this great read. It was like watching it all come live in front of one’s eyes. I can see this book and many others by this talented writer in becoming a movie series. Not many today understand, remember, or know what it was like during this time period…until the read this fictional piece containing the historical realistic times in an entertaining book. Stewart Binns also beautifully captures the Pennine dialect of the North-East Lancashire. Dwindling resources….war…death…and much more is penned perfectly for all to enjoy. I look forward to reading more novels in the future by Stewart Binns…he writes his historical fiction in a way the allows everyone to understand and witness the war. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to readers worldwide.

Review: Amish Sweethearts

 

Synopsis:

Their Two Worlds Couldn’t Be Further Apart.
Can Anything Bridge the Divide Between Them?

For years, Zane Beck and his Amish neighbor Lila Lehman were the best of friends. But just as Zane gathered the courage to discover if their friendship could develop into something more, her controlling father arranged for her to be courted by their bishop’s son. Zane, heartbroken and frustrated, joined the Army, running away from his shattered dreams.

The passing of time and the distance between Zane and Lila haven’t been enough to halt their–now completely hidden–feelings for each other. Any hope for their love grows even more impossible though as Zane’s service takes a dangerous turn when he’s deployed to Afghanistan. Being on the frontline, confronted with the hard choices of war, has him questioning everything, including whether he can continue to serve or not. But all choices have consequences, and with Lila preparing to marry another, will these one-time sweethearts ever find the life together that they both still long for?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Amish Sweethearts by Leslie Gould is indeed the most awe-inspiring romance novel I have ever read. Readers will be intrigued from the first page and onward. A sweet romantic read that will leave readers laughing, crying, and falling in love. Leslie Gould has a talent in bringing the Amish lifestyle to readers everywhere and to lure readers deep into the juiciest plot of all. Fear, anger, surprise can also, be felt as readers continue to follow the leading protagonists.

Amish Sweethearts is a must read for readers everywhere. I read the entire novel in one sitting. Then, there is an Amish girl and an Englishman who lived nearby and became best of friends. Both enjoyed each other’s company until they got a little older and life got more complicated. College and the Army were two of the things Zane, an Englishman, wanted to do. But then there’s Lila, he best friend and an Amish woman. She and Zane must find figure what they want in life and where it will leave them. To complicate things further, Lila wants to stay home with her family and her father wants her to marry an Amish man. Leslie Gould’s novel is beautifully woven with love,  friendship, and tenderness. Readers will fall for her characters hard. I highly recommend this brilliant  romance to readers worldwide.

 

 

Review: A Wicked Hunger

 

Synopsis:

A hundred years after vampires revealed themselves to the masses, the world is still recovering from the hysteria and war that devastated much of the Earth. And though peace has been brokered between the human and vampire nations, it is tumultuous at best.

Orphaned at the age of ten, Coraline Conwell has struggled to survive a turbulent existence growing up alone on the harsh streets. Until a wealthy man provides an escape from her vagrant life by offering his hand in marriage. Out of place in the upper-crust world, Cora has done her best to adapt to her new role as wife, but when her husband is brutally murdered, she is ripped from her secure life at the hands of the Vampire Enforcement Agency.

Now her survival teeters on the whim of a brutally handsome vampire named Mason as she is hunted by those who would see her dead. She must keep unwanted desires for the sexy vampire from leading her down a dangerous path while she discovers there is more to this world, and herself, than she could have ever imagined.

My Rating: 5 stars

My Review:

A Wicked Hunger by Kiersten Fay is one smoking hot read. Readers will be dragged instantly into the novel. At first, readers are taken on one woman’s journey of seducing her husband to her being shot at and then to find that her husband is dead. But that’s not all. Someone wants her dead. Cora ends up finding herself being taken into protective custody by none other than a hot sexy vampire. One that feel the spark of attraction when he first spotted her in nothing more than a coat and sexy lingerie.  Mace is on a mission to take Cora’s husband alive as a prisoner for criminal actions but then all hell breaks loose. Soon, he takes Cora into his care. Along the way their lust and something else begins to develop. As for Cora, her crazy yet dangerous journey as only just begun. Kiersten Fay is a superb writer with skills that will heat up the night and send a shiver down readers’ spines. This was the first novel, I have read by her and I highly recommend it to all. The ending will only leave readers begging for more. I can’t wait to read her next masterpiece. (Warning this read will create a wicked hunger for more novels by Kiersten Fay.)

 

 

Review: Lost in Tanganyika

 

Synopsis:

In 1862, William and Elizabeth Darmon escape from Zanzibar, crossing hostile territory to Lake Victoria. Pursued by ruthless slavers, they flee to Niam Niam country in Darkest Africa. There, William is forced on a desperate mission to save his wife from cannibals. Upon his return, he discovers evidence that she has been sold as a slave to the Arab Rashid family in Hayil across the Red Sea. His chase ends in a disaster beyond imagination, with redemption dependent upon solving Emir Talal’s demise.

My Rating: 5 stars

My Review:

Lost In Tanganyika by Thomas Thorpe is a fascinating adventure novel. One that will lure readers from everywhere. The well-written plot instantly takes readers on a journey of a life time. Danger and suspense hanging in the air, causing a shiver to run down the backs of readers as the characters race against everything to make it back home safe. Or will they?

Thomas Thorpe’s novel, Lost In Tanganyika, is by far one of the greatest reads I have stumbled across. Not only is his story highly entertaining but it also, shows readers the real scary truth about the world. Slavery, war, and even cannibals can be found inside this read. Readers will be left on the edge of their seats as they turn the pages wondering what happens next. The characters, William and Elizabeth as well as their new friend were perfect for this eye opening read. I can’t imagine Lost In Tanganyika without these three believable characters. They make the story pop to life and leave readers falling from their seats into the book itself. Beware, the heart pounding fear and visual scenes will take you on an incredible journey. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to readers world wide.

 

 

Review: Lilac Girls

 

Synopsis:

Inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this powerful debut novel reveals an incredible story of love, redemption, and terrible secrets that were hidden for decades.
 
New York socialite Caroline Ferriday has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon. But Caroline’s world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939—and then sets its sights on France.

An ocean away from Caroline, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she is drawn deeper into her role as courier for the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences.

For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power.

The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross continents—from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland—as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.

In Lilac Girls, Martha Hall Kelly has crafted a remarkable novel of unsung women and their quest for love, freedom, and second chances. It is a story that will keep readers bonded with the characters, searching for the truth, until the final pages.

My Rating: 5 stars

My Review: 

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly is a powerful story for readers everywhere. It’s war time and the Nazi are a real nightmare. Many have forgotten the horrors tha tmany have faced. Innocent lives struggling to survive the horrendous fate awaiting them. Inisde this historical remembrance tale, readers meet three women whose lives will forever change history. Martha Hall Kelly has brought readers a first hand glimpse into one of history’s most frightening memories. A novel that brings to life what these women and many others suffered.

Martha Hall Kelly’s debut novel, Lilac Girls, is symbolic of what happened in the past. Lilac being the flower that struggles through a harsh winter and yet still blooms later. Lila flowers grew in the back yard of one of the three women protrayed in this brilliant masterpiece. Readers will find three different paths crossing into one as they journey back to 1939. World War II was a terrible time. A time most would like to forget. Generations have no idea what it was really like during these times nor what suffering a majority of people were forced to take. Caroline, Kasis, and Herta are the three women described and relived in this stunning piece. Each one has a life so different than the others yet, all brought together. Death, loss, and fear were strong elements in this story. Yet love and hope persisted. I was moved with tears for all the lives lost during World War II. Overall, I highly recommend Lilac Girls to readers world wide.

Review: The Siege Winter

 

Synopsis:

A powerful historical novel by the late Ariana Franklin and her daughter Samantha Norman, The Siege Winter is a tour de force mystery and murder, adventure and intrigue, a battle for a crown, told by two courageous young women whose fates are intertwined in twelfth century England’s devastating civil war.

1141. England is engulfed in war as King Stephen and his cousin, the Empress Matilda, vie for the crown. In this dangerous world, not even Emma, an eleven-year-old peasant, is safe. A depraved monk obsessed with redheads kidnaps the ginger-haired girl from her village and leaves her for dead. When an archer for hire named Gwyl finds her, she has no memory of her previous life. Unable to abandon her, Gwyl takes the girl with him, dressing her as a boy, giving her a new name—Penda—and teaching her to use a bow. But Gwyn knows that the man who hurt Penda roams free, and that a scrap of evidence she possesses could be very valuable.

Gwyl and Penda make their way to Kenilworth, a small but strategically important fortress that belongs to fifteen-year-old Maud. Newly wedded to a boorish and much older husband after her father’s death, the fierce and determined young chatelaine tempts fate and Stephen’s murderous wrath when she gives shelter to the empress.

Aided by a garrison of mercenaries, including Gwyl and his odd red-headed apprentice, Maud will stave off Stephen’s siege for a long, brutal winter that will bring a host of visitors to Kenilworth—kings, soldiers . . . and a sinister monk with deadly business to finish.

My Rating: 5 stars

My Review:

The Siege Winter is outstanding. The first page sends you full blown into an intricate plot with history, adventure, and suspense. Readers will enjoy reading this well-written plot as it unfolds before them. War, upheaval, and danger lurk everywhere. Ariana Franklin’s  talent is one to behold. She will leave her readers in awe.

The Siege Winter by Ariana Franklin is a novel that is worthy for all. Inside this brilliant re-telling story, two family members go heead-to-head in war over secruing a crown. One has taken the crown for the moment, and the other is now battling for her right to have it back. Who will win is the intriguing part. Then there’s the falling out of the people with the current ruler in England. Many will fall back and help the other side. But still a battle remains. Mercenaries come, and a father is warned that one of them has a thing for little redheads…he holds his daughter close in fear. A man warns him to keep his daughter safetly away.  Soon winter comes and the man’s little redhead daughter will play another role in this historical read. I loved how Ariana Franklin has started out with a dying monk telling his story before the last leaf falls. There’s a bit of humor and an evil man who won’t quit until he gets the little redhead. Overall, I highly recommend this medieval thriller to readers world wide.

 

 

 

Review: The Secret Language of Women

 

Synopsis: 

Set in China in the late 1800’s, The Secret Language of Women tells the story of star-crossed lovers, Zhou Bin Lian, a Eurasian healer, and Giacomo Scimenti, an Italian sailor, driven apart by the Boxer Rebellion.

When Lian is seventeen years old, she accompanies her Swiss father, Dr. Gianluca Brasolin, fluent in Italian, to tend the Italian ambassador, at the Summer Palace of Empress Dowager, where she meets and falls in love with Giacomo.

Through voyage and adventure, their love intensifies, but soon is severed by Lian’s dutiful promise as the wife to another. Forbidden from pursuing her chosen profession as a healer, and despised because she does not have bound feet, she is forced to work in a cloisonné factory while her in-laws raise her daughter, Ya Chen. It is in Nushu, the women’s secret writing, that she chronicles her life and her hopes for the future.

Rebelling against the life forced upon her, she empowers herself to act out against the injustice and becomes the master of her own destiny. But her quest for freedom comes at a costly price: The life of someone close to her, lost in a raging typhoon, a grueling journey to the Yun-kang Caves, and a desperate search for beauty and love in the midst of brutality.

My Rating: 5 stars

My Review:

The Secret Language of Women is a powerful and enchanting read. A brilliantly well-written tale that takes readers on one woman’s journey. For fans of Romeo and Juliet this is a must read. The entire novel is told from Zhou Bin Lian’s point of view. I found it highly interesting to see things from an a smart, beautiful, and determined young Chinese woman. The story from eyes, makes readers feel like they are indeed right there with her while everything is happening. The most exciting or shall I say turning point is when she meets Giacomo for the first time. Loss, love, and duty all can be found in this masterpiece by Nina Romano.

Readers will fall for Zhou Bin Lian and for her lover, Giacomo. No matter what efforts the lovers put together fate always has a way of keeping them apart. Not only is the love kept pulled away but also, a rich culture comes to life, when reading these pages. Readers will also love how every chapter teaches them a little bit of the Chinese language.  Sadness takes over Zhou Bin Lian’s heart, where she has lost many loved ones. Her mother, then her father, and then an unexpected death will occur. Tugging at readers’ hearts, The Secret Language of Women, is a vibrant and earth shattering novel. I would highly recommend this to fans of The Fault in Our Stars. This intriguing and heartbreaking story will capture the hearts of many just like that famous movie. Overall, I loved reading Nina Romano’s stunning piece, and I recommend it to readers world wide.

Numb3rs

Chapter One

Nothing but numbers everywhere. Dead bodies could be found every place you looked. Those that survived were either barley hanging on or buried under many who were dead. Bombs, machine guns, and terrorists were to blame. It’s no longer just fear foreigners, but fear your neighbors and now family members. People were so easily turned to the other side. No one wanted to die. Yet so many were killed. Torture and rape were only used on those that were liked by the terrorists. And even then they killed you.

One way to survive the attacks was to go into hiding or hide behind those that were already dead. So that the evil men and their weapons wouldn’t find you. But, it was getting harder and harder to hide. No place nor stone left unturned. Terrorists could be anyone. Someone who you knew your entire life could suddenly be one of them. In order to live they would turn on others they loved or ever cared about. Like my brother. He disappeared when the terrorists first came then he suddenly popped up looking real bad. He was tortured. We took him in without hesitation and helped him heal…only to have been traded in… his life for ours. Apparently, he thought sacrificing our lives was the best choice. Unfortunately, he didn’t think the terrorists would kill him after they killed us. Mom, Dad, and CeCe were killed in a shoot out. I wasn’t there because I went to help a friend. I came back home to find my family’s car outside on the street. Their bodies were shot in multiple spots. My brother’s body wasn’t there. I went into the house. On the living room wall was the word traitor written in what looked like blood. Then, stepping further in, I saw my brother’s body. He was shot too, but still fighting death.

Leaning over him. I told him it’s going to be okay. But he kept trying to talk. I leaned closer. I killed them. I killed…them…sorry…then he stilled. No more fighting. Just dead. My whole family was dead.

I felt like crying. But the terrorists were not done. They wanted to finish my family off, and so far, I was still alive, walking and breathing. I was very much alive and that ruined their happy side, if such a side ever existed. Nothing but evil existed in their black souls. I only had seconds to get out before a bomb exploded. I barely made it out. Guns were going… I laid as flat as possible. Thankfully, the sky was getting dark and, just like the night, I would flee as far as my legs would carry me. Home was no longer safe. Nothing to keep me fighting at home. If my home was targeted so were neighbors. There had to be way to stop the terrorists. There has to a plan and there was only one way to defeat the bad guys…Numbers.

Numbers as in an army that would stand united against all evil.

But, for now, I had to run deep and as far away as possible. Only time will tell when those numbers will be found and put together. Life or death hung in the air. I chose life. If that meant hiding until the right time, then so be it. I will be ready to fight them. To take from them like they took from me.

Short Story: Madness Part 2 (Written by Me)

“Carrie, we have three new doctors coming to aid us with the injured soldiers!” I nearly shouted with joy. As I made my way over, I noticed Carrie sitting on her bed. She looked awful.

“That’s good news.” She said.

“Carrie, what happened to you? Here let me clean you up?”

I moved for the medical kit I held under bed just incase. I began cleaning Carrie’s face up then did her hair for her. “Thank you, Kim.”

“Your welcome. That what us nurses are here for. We stick together.”

“Kim?”

“Hm?”

“Can you..”

Just then doctor Bernstine came into our tent. He looked at Carrie. And Carrie looked away. Very unusual. I will have to ask her what was going on. She seemed distant. Like she was pulling away from me as well.

“What are you doing in the nurses tent, Dr. Bernstine?” I asked him head on, forcing him to look at me instead of Carrie.

“I just wanted to let you all know that the three new Doctors arrived.” And then he left the tent just as abruptly as he came in.

“Carrie, you ready for the meeting of our new doctors?” Hoping that by changing the topic from what her and I were going to talk about would help relieve whatever demons she was silently facing. She won’t be facing them any longer once I get to the bottom of this. Carrie was our best head nurse. To see her like this was a red flag to me and anyone who really knew her.

Getting up, she look wiped her palms against her uniform looked at me, “Yes, I am ready. Besides we have tons of patients that need us. Come Kim.”

Smiling a tiny bit of relief took over me. Now, that was Carrie I knew. But little did I expect of what was going to happen next…

Part 3 Coming Soon!

Madness by Me

Madness

“Kim, hurry!” Carrie yelled for the tenth time.

Soldiers were coming in by the dozens. So many of them injured beyond help. Blood has become a common site around here. Not just by the surgeons doing everything they can in the operation room. Us nurses have seen our fair share of the wounds our strong men come back with. Nothing can take back the tears that pour down my face as yet another soldier is needing my dire attention. How do you possible help them all. Limited nurses here an only two surgeons it’s hard to give them all the most immediate care that they all deserve.

“Kim!”

There goes my call. I am needed in another room. Rushing through the tent’s flaps, I find my way over to Carrie. Seeing a man who now has no legs. Carrie is stripping him of his pants and taking fresh clean water cleaning his wounds before wrapping them tightly so as to stop the bleeding until the surgeons can take him in.

“There three beds to my right, a man is need of your immediate attention.” Carrie told me. I rush over three beds away, there the soldier is slowly dying. I can see it and I know he knows it too. I hold his hand and silently say prayers that God will watch over take good care of him. The soldier briefly squeezes my hand letting me know he’s happy I am there with him and that he’s not going to die alone. His eyes soon shut close and his hand goes limp within mine. It’s still warm but soon will grow cold. I have to help move him to make room for another injured soldier. A few men who help move soldiers come to the bed. Lifting away the man and taking him to his new grave. My eyes sting with tears for the loss of the man whose hand I held. Each man who dies causes my heart to weep. Wiing my tears away, I take a deep breath and began cleaning the bed to prepare it for another man.

More and more soldiers come. There is no end. Not until the war is fought and over. But still the scars and numbers of the dead will forever stay with those who have survived to live another day.