#REVIEW: Awakening Kiss by Sharon Kay

Title: Awakening Kiss
Author: Sharon Kay
Series: Watcher's Kiss #4
Publisher: CreateSpace
Publish Date: September 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-1536964103
Pages: 358
Buy It Link: Amazon
Synopsis: As part of the Watchers, Rhys is used to all types of combat, pursuit, and interrogation. But hacking and tracking through hidden online channels is where he excels. Shattering codes and sneaking around firewalls comes as easily to him as a swordfight or street brawl with a predatory enemy.

Cooking up sweet new pastry creations is Enza’s dream job. Kitchen appliances never fail her, unlike every computer she’s ever touched. Her fledging baking business is doing well, yet as streetlights flicker with her changing mood, she can’t shake the feeling that she’s different from everyone else. But life as a regular Chicago girl is all she’s ever known…until one hot summer night.

Violence threatens both of them when her world collides with Rhys’s in a dark city alley. As a raw and formidable ability awakens in her mind, she becomes targeted by the last person she expects. Drawn to his sweet baker with a pull he can’t deny, Rhys vows to protect her—no matter the consequences that will change their lives forever.

My Rating: 4 1/2 stars

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
From the very first book I read from the author, Sharon Kay, I fell in love with her world. It reminds me a lot of JR Ward's series, Black Dagger Brotherhood. Very much a contemporary romantic paranormal genre. Her books are full of strong women, alpha warrior men, lots of paranormal activity, even an off-world, with a very contemporary, realistic Earth at the same time.
Enza is a co-owner of a pastry, coffee shop, and an amazing pastry chef in Chicago when she gets caught in the middle of a fight between dark elves and demons. Rhys, one of the Watchers about to break up the fight, thinks she is the enemy as she runs straight into a portal. And thus starts the next book that makes me love Sharon Kay more and more.
Enza is a strong woman emotionally, as she is faced with a new reality of her world that she once thought was so secure, as we all do. I'm not quite sure I would be quite so resilient in finding these things out and having my reality flipped on its ear.
Rhys is a Lash demon and one of the alpha warriors in the group called the Watchers. He is just as hot as all of the Lash demons have been in this series. While he is an alpha, he isn't an ass, being at least understanding as Enza struggles to come up with some understanding of the new knowledge of the worlds that she is coming across.
The action and romance in the book is amazing, and keeps the storyline going. It kept me reading far into the night, and until it was done the next day.
So, if you have never heard of this author, but love JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhoood, I suggest you check out Sharon Kay! She's definitely your next author on your list. Her books are just as addictive.

#REVIEW: Against All Grain Celebrations by Danielle Walker

Title: Against All Grain Celebrations
Author: Danielle Walker
Series: none
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Published Date: September 27. 2016
ISBN: 978-1607749424
Pages: 352
Buy It Link: Amazon


Synopsis: When people adopt a new diet for health or personal reasons, they worry most about the parties, holidays, and events with strong food traditions, fearing their fond memories will be lost along with the newly eliminated food groups. After suffering for years with a debilitating autoimmune disease and missing many of these special occasions herself, Danielle Walker has revived the joy that cooking for holidays can bring in Danielle Walker's Against All Grain Celebrations, a collection of recipes and menus for twelve special occasions throughout the year.

Featuring a variety of birthday cakes, finger foods to serve at a baby or bridal shower, and re-creations of backyard barbecue standards like peach cobbler and corn bread, Danielle includes all of the classics. There’s a full Thanksgiving spread--complete with turkey and stuffing, creamy green bean casserole, and pies--and menus for Christmas dinner; a New Year's Eve cocktail party and Easter brunch are covered, along with suggestions for beverages and cocktails and the all-important desserts. Recipes can be mixed and matched among the various occasions, and many of the dishes are simple enough for everyday cooking. Stunning full-color photographs of every dish make browsing the pages as delightful as cooking the recipes, and beautiful party images provide approachable and creative entertaining ideas.

Making recipes using unfamiliar ingredients can cause anxiety, and while trying a new menu on a regular weeknight leaves some room for error, the meal simply cannot fail when you have a table full of guests celebrating a special occasion. Danielle has transformed her most cherished family traditions into trustworthy recipes you can feel confident serving, whether you’re hosting a special guest with food allergies, or cooking for a crowd of regular grain-eaters.

My Rating: 2 stars


My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review on NetGalley.
Maybe I was just expecting something different but I was very disappointed in this book. Grain-free, dairy-free, gluten-free comfort foods...it sounded like heaven! I so looked forward to the recipes in this book, but when I started delving into the recipes, they were so difficult. The ingredients aren't anywhere easy to get, the recipes take an awful long time to prepare and serve.
I just don't think it is worth the hassle.

#REVIEW: Delta: Revenge by Cristin Harber

Title: Delta: Revenge
Series: Delta Series
Author: Cristin Harber
Publisher: Mill Creek Press
Published Date: April 26, 2016
ISBN: 9781942236344
Pages: 250
Buy It Link: Amazon

Synopsis: A Tortured Hero with a Heart of Gold
Growing up on the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Javier Almeida has only his older sister to protect him. When she’s sold to a human-trafficker, he vows to hunt down those responsible.

Years later, Titan Group’s Delta team finds him, tattooed and brawling, a vigilante protector with information they want. They take him in and train him, working him harder than a man should be driven, until he’s a soldier harboring an obsession. Ready for revenge, Javier ghosts his way across the globe, tracking the men who took his sister and working elite private security jobs.

Meets Sweet and Sassy

Jilted at the altar, Sophia Cole turns the reception into a one-woman party. She’s intent on devouring all the cake and champagne, so she can bask in the calories she’s been avoiding. In the midst of the revelry, he walks in, the one man she can never ignore.

Javier is her older brother’s black ops teammate—an automatic Do Not Go There. But if there’s one thing better than fondant and a buzz to ease the wounds of a cheating fiancé, it might be a one-night stand with a South American military man.

It's a Game Changer

Javier didn’t expect to see Sophia again. He never thought he would even want to see her again. He shouldn’t have touched her, but his mind won’t stay away from her.

Now, Sophia Cole is thousands of miles away from the safety of her parents’ lavish estate and working alongside him in hell. She’s a staffer at an Embassy, and he’s there to keep them alive. There are bombs and bullets and blood-hungry enemies.

And then she’s taken. Gone. Just like his sister. But so much worse.

My Rating: 4 1/2 stars

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Javier Almeida grew up on the streets of Rio De Janeiro, fighting to survive, while in another country, Sophia Cole is living the life of one of the very wealthy. Fast forward years into the future, and Sophia is left at the altar, but when she comes across her older brother's teammate, she totally goes for that, and it's so much more filling than the cake and champage she was about to consume.
Oh Cristin Harber, how I love thee! With as many military, black ops romances as she has written, and she can always come up with something different than the ones she has written before. The plots are always written to keep the reader involved in the characters and suspense. She always writes female characters that are both relatable and people that you would want to emulate, either in their sassiness, intelligence, or in this case, just plain backbone. Sophia is a fantastic character, yes, she was brought up in a lifestyle that I could only dream of, but she's down to earth enough that she wants to work hard and make something of herself, not just have it given to her.
As usual, Cristin delivers an exceptional plot, and amazing characters, romance and suspense. I can't wait for the next in the series.

#REVIEW: Flawed by Cecelia Ahern

Title: Flawed
Author: Cecelia Ahern
Series: Flawed #1
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Published Date: April 5, 2016
ISBN: 9781250074119
Pages: 336
Buy It Link: Amazon
Synopsis:
Celestine North lives a perfect life. She's a model daughter and sister, she's well-liked by her classmates and teachers, and she's dating the impossibly charming Art Crevan.
But then Celestine encounters a situation in which she makes an instinctive decision. She breaks a rule and now faces life-changing repercussions. She could be imprisoned. She could be branded. She could be found FLAWED.
In her breathtaking young adult debut, bestselling author Cecelia Ahern depicts a society in which perfection is paramount and flaws are punished. And where one young woman decides to take a stand that could cost her everything.

My Rating: 5 stars

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I've seen some pretty bad reviews for this book, and I understand where they are coming from. Looking from the outside in, how can you not think this whole society set up is stupid, and ridiculous?! Looking from the outside in at segregation, or slavery, or homophobic actions, or equal rights for women....it all looks stupid. How can they not see how ridiculous and narrow-minded and stupid they were all being?!
But that's the point of the book. While we are in society, right now, in the present, we live in a society that for some people is *just fine the way it is*. And sometimes, there are no big society changes, no civil rights movements that are shaking our society as we know it, and in that peaceful blessed moment, everything is just fine the way it is. But it doesn't mean there is some inner turmoil, some injustice happening.
Celestine finds herself in that peaceful, blessed moment where everything is right with the world. And then, in a moment where her heart, her morality rules over what society expects of her....that's when she becomes the Flawed one, the one who is outcast. And suddenly she and her family see what it means to be on the outside of the normal society.
I absolutely loved reading this book, before the summer brought the upheaval of society with the Black Lives Matter movement, and the violence against police officers, before Trump or Clinton became a household word, and families broke apart as battle lies for rights were drawn in the sand.

#REVIEW: Angel In Training by CL Coffey

Title: Angel in Training
Author: CL Coffey
Series: Louisiangel #1
Publisher: Smashwords
Published date: February 17, 2016
Pages: 312
ISBN:9781502592095
Buy It Link: Amazon

Synopsis:

After a night out turns fatal, a misunderstanding with the Archangel Michael presents Angel with a chance at Eternal Life: the opportunity to earn her wings and one day become an archangel herself. Angel is given the task of protecting her charge, trainee detective, Joshua Walsh.

There's no denying the attraction between Angel and Joshua, only Michael has pretty strict rules: no drinking, no drugs, and certainly no relationships with humans. Thankfully, she's got other things to deal with, like trying to convince Joshua New Orleans has a serial killer who is preying on other angel potentials like herself.

Angel must quickly learn that when keeping someone safe, doing the right thing is not always the easiest, especially when you've got an archangel looking over your shoulder.

 

My Rating: 4 stars

 

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my gosh, what an awesomely fun book to read. Having grown up in New Orleans, I love reading books with New Orleans as the city in the story. And yes, that was the main reason why I started reading this book. But, ultimately it was not New Orleans that kept me reading page after page with my kindle glued to my face. The author has a fantastic way of writing a story that keeps you reading, creating characters that keep you engaged, and a storyline that doesn't lag behind.

Angel is more than a little miffed at the way her answer to the question that basically boiled down to, "Do you want to live or die?" turned out. And who can blame her? She's just out of her teens, her life has been turned upside down, she's now an "angel in training", she's supposed to protect a super hot guy, and keep her hands off him. Well, I think I'd be a little miffed too. And of course, trying her hardest isn't enough for her trainer, the archangel, Michael himself.

I'm not sure I've ever read anything by this author before, but this is a new series to keep on my radar!

 

#REVIEW: The Silent Sounds of Chaos by Kristina Circelli

 

  A silent call for help began the friendship between two children. A bond unlike any other kept them together. Finn was just a kid when he first heard Snow’s voice inside his head, two children in need of a friend and finding one in mysterious strangers. Never meeting in person, the pair grows up as opposites – Finn the boy who loves to get in trouble and works for the toughest drug lord in town, Snow the good, sheltered girl who wants to be a doctor. The bond built upon a strange ability to hear each other’s thoughts is threatened when Snow is abducted, her screams for help consuming Finn’s mind until they disappear completely, submerging him in a terrifying silence he’s never known before. Now it’s up to Finn to save her, led only by Snow’s sporadic thoughts as she floats in and out of consciousness. But the search for Snow leads him to a truth he isn’t prepared to face, a truth that has the power to unravel his entire world. The people he thought he knew, the life he thought he’d made, the best friend he thought he could protect – all point toward a brutal reality should he fail. And as Finn struggles to find Snow before she slips away, he must fight to keep that reality out, lest he let the chaos in.
Purchase Amazon- http://amzn.to/1WBOF84 iBooks: http://apple.co/1TAUpNy Smashwords: http://bit.ly/1PSOdd2 B&N: http://bit.ly/1Sa9ssi

My Rating: 4 1/2 stars

My Review:  I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. That's all I can say. This book blew me away, and its not the only book that Kristina Circelli has written that has done this. She is an amazing author that has created books that have stayed with me. I knew when I heard she had come out with another book, I definitely needed to read it. But even if it wasn't by her, the synopsis of the book would have drawn me in. I love the idea of two children being able to connect telepathically. Would it be a sci-fi book? A psychological thriller? A fantasy book?
From the very beginning, I was pulled into the story of these two children, one boy named Finn in the darker, seedier side of life, and the innocent well-to-do girl, Snow. As the book continued and the book followed their lives, my heart broke for Finn and the life that he doesn't seem to have much control over. I kept hoping that the growing connection between the two children would start to show Finn that people can be better, he can be better.
And then heartbreak happens as Snow is kidnapped and I was pulled along helplessly as Finn desperately searched for her and time started to run down. But wait....oh no....
The plot twist happens and all I can say is that my head spun. I sat there after finishing the book and couldn't get it out of my head of a good week after I finished the last page. Now I want to read it again just to see if there were clues somewhere, anywhere that pointed towards that end.

Meet the author:

Night owl, Dorito lover, and quiet eccentric – Kristina Circelli is the author of several fiction novels, including The Helping Hands series, The Whisper Legacy, The Never, and The Sour Orange Derby. Her latest series, The Whisper Legacy, features Beyond the Western Sun. This book is what all fantasy adventures must strive to be: a complex, intricate examination of human emotion set within the context of worlds known only in our imagination. Melding fantasy and legend in an epic quest, this series signals the arrival of Kristina Circelli as a master storyteller and an important voice in Native American literature. A descendent of the Cherokee nation and niece of a Cherokee elder, Circelli holds both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in English from the University of North Florida, where she teaches creative writing. She also heads Red Road Editing, a full-service editing company for independent authors and commercial clients. She currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband, Seth, and cats, Lord Finnegin the Fierce and Mr. Malachi the Mighty.

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#REVIEW: Ecstasy Unbound by Setta Jay

Title: Ecstasy Unbound

Series: The Guardians of the Realms #1

Author:  Setta Jay

Published Date: January 29, 2014

Publisher: BookBlinders

Format: ebook

Pages: 302

ASIN: B00I55WP00

Genre: paranormal romance

Add to: Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

Rating: 3  stars

Synopsis: As one of the twelve Guardians, Urian has spent the last several centuries in a constant battle to keep the inhabitants of Earth’s Realms under control. Humanity has to evolve, hell beasts need to die, and Immortals need mates. But lately, Uri's mind is overrun with thoughts of when his sexy voyeur will find him again, watching him from the shadows, continuing their wicked game. All Guardians are forbidden contact with the little goddess and her brothers, but his need for her escalating, he finds it increasingly difficult to keep from pinning her down on the nearest surface and making her his.

Alexandra has managed to evade the Guardians and being cast out from the human Realm for centuries, ever since the Creators sent the Gods to sleep for their sins against humanity and banished all Immortals. Always sensing that she was needed on Earth, only once has Alex gone against her instincts and the price she paid will forever haunt her. It is for that reason she forces herself to stay away from the only male who has ever truly enticed her. The only one who has ever made her long for what she knows is dangerous. 

In a desperate need to help her beloved brother, she will have to go to the enthralling Guardian, her dark obsession, and even though he will surely attempt to exile her, she won't go easily… 

Warning: This book contains explicit and sizzling sex scenes with big dominant males. MFM, ménage, and light bondage.

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book reminded me of an old porn movie; where the storyline exists just to get you to the next sex scene. And it was a tenuous thread at times, leading to the next scene. At times, the back story was a tad bit confusing, I think it could have been delved into much deeper to make a much better, richer world building.

The characters were well built but I didn’t really get much of a personality of Uri, other than an alpha male, testosterone driven one. Alexandra was probably the well-written character, but at times, she was only three dimensional enough to revolve back to sex. For instance, her bond with her brothers and the shield that protects her….activated only when she orgasms….see?

I was hoping this would be a deeper series than just a cover-up for between the sex scenes, which were smoking hot, by the way. There is a rape scene in it, which was a big turn off for me, but at least explained a little of the story line, but was it really necessary? I would have liked to see more depth, more world, more character to the people. Make them real for me.

#REVIEW: Omega by SM Reine

Title: Omega

Series: War of the Alphas #1

Author:  SM Reine

Published Date: April 2, 2015

Publisher: Red Iris Books

Format: ebook

Pages: 243

ISBN: 978-1508704379

Genre: urban fantasy

Add to: Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis: Ten years ago, Deirdre Tombs died. When she was reborn the next day, Deirdre had become a shapeshifter who can't shift shapes. Nobody knows what animal she's supposed to be. She's definitely not a werewolf. The Alpha, Rylie Gresham, can't force her to transform like other members of her pack.

Now Deirdre is considered an omega, the weakest shapeshifter in the pack--a vulnerable position when Everton Stark demands tribute from Rylie. He wants to be the dominant Alpha. The only Alpha. And he plans to make her pack submit whether they want to or not. Stark can make every shapeshifter obey him by force of will alone.

Every shapeshifter except Deirdre.

The shifter who can't shift is the only hope for Rylie to win the war against Stark. It will take everything Deirdre has to survive undercover in his den. But can an omega's will be stronger than that of a charismatic, deadly Alpha like Everton Stark?

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book sets itself years after the world as we know ends. Some sort of destruction that is in one of the previous series by the same author, something known as Genesis. Genesis is kind of hard to understand if you haven’t read the previous series. I didn’t but I got the general gist that something big happens, everyone died, some came back as fantastical creatures, each with unique abilities. Except of course, our heroine, Deirdre. Deirdre is apparently a shape shifter who can’t shift, she has no animal to shift to. Of course, this is the tension, both self-inflicted and outside, that drives the story along. What is Deirdre willing to do to find out what animal she should be able to shift into and thus, become like everyone else?
While this story line had enough suspense to push the story along, there’s only so much self-hatred and angst a story can have, and it felt like it was a little overboard. At times, I was ready to slap some sense into Deirdre and tell her to get over herself. So she’s not like everyone else, guess what? Maybe her perceived weakness is actually her strength…somehow I think that is where the storyline is going.   

#REVIEW: The Cinderella Princess by Melissa McClone

Title: The Cinderella Princess

Series: Royal Holiday #1

Author:  Melissa McClone

Published Date: March 31, 2015

Publisher: Tule Publishing

Format: ebook

Pages: 163

ISBN: 9781942240532

Genre: contemporary romance

Add to: Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis: Thanks to a philandering father, ad exec Emily Rodgers knows happily ever after doesn’t exist. Relying on a man only leads to heartache. She takes care of herself, and work defines her life. But Emily soon finds herself in the hands of a real-life prince who defines the words charming and sexy. Not to mention reckless. If Prince Lucas doesn’t find a royal bride, Emily’s dream of being named a partner at the advertising firm will die. 

Luc’s fun-loving ways have made him a magnet for scandal. His father gives Luc an ultimatum—find a wife on a reality TV show or be disowned. Rules require him to marry nobility, but after he meets the uptight American sent to find him find a princess bride, his search for Cinderella might be over. Too bad Emily wants nothing to do with him. Perhaps he can show her that fairytale endings can happen in real life…

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Have you ever read the storyline that goes something like….king tells son that if he doesn’t marry within a certain time, he will lose his inheritance? Yeah, I think I’ve read that one too, a few times. It’s a great fallback storyline when you don’t have any fresh ideas. However, that’s where the similarities end. Now the author puts that storyline into modern day, and not just any modern day, like literally, it could happen today. It’s the prince that makes the tabloids with his wild antics and partying hard lifestyle. Of course, tabloids don’t always show the real truth, only snippets of what they think the juiciest gossip is that will get people to buy the magazine. Add in a reality show to find a royal bride, which is probably the most unrealistic part of the entire book, and you have a storyline that will keep you reading. Both Emily and Luc find themselves shafted by their circumstances, and it’s this storyline that truly helped me to finish this book. Overall, it’s a fun little read to get away from reality for a little while, but don’t take it too seriously.

#REVIEW: Gwendolyn's Sword by E. A Haltom

Title: Gwendolyn’s Sword

Series: none

Author:  E.A. Haltom

Published Date: May 8, 2015

Publisher: Wisdom House Books

Format: ebook

Pages: 354

ISBN: 9780996307307

Genre: historical fantasy

Add to: Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Synopsis: Cornwall, England, 1193. Eleanor of Aquitaine, the indomitable dowager queen, has ordered all of England onto a war footing while her son King Richard languishes in a German dungeon. When Gwendolyn de Cardinham happens upon mercenaries from Prince John's rebellion, she draws her sword and defends her home as well as any knight could have. But more of John's mercenaries are coming, her sister-in-law claims Gwendolyn’s husband has died on crusade, and the local prior has absurdly informed Gwendolyn that King Arthur’s fabled sword is destined to be hers. Self-educated and martially trained, Gwendolyn gave her husband her oath to guard and protect their estate of Penhallam while he fought in the crusade. Gwendolyn travels to London with her constable to present herself to the dowager queen. But Gwendolyn has a secret that could put all of Penhallam—and herself—at risk if the queen discovers it.

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a fictionalized account of a female descendent of King Arthur’s, living in the 1100’s. When I say fictionalized, I mean it. Despite having historical figures in the book (Prince John, King Richard I, Queen Dowager Eleanor), culturally, it was about as far from history as it could be.

These were truly the Middle Ages, where females, especially noble females, were seen as property, unable to do anything besides marry and give birth. It was rare that they spoke of their independent thoughts and expectations for the future, and they certainly didn’t wield a sword. Christianity was a forerunner during this time. A woman who spoke freely about how she didn’t believe in God would have been labeled a witch and killed as a heretic. Men definitely didn’t see them as their equal, which was so prevalent in this book.

Once I could get past the obvious historical issues, this wasn’t too bad of a book to read. The premise of the story is good. The writing is well-done, and I was able to enjoy the characters. Gwendolyn is a strong, independently minded woman, and her husband has given her free rein, especially as he is away in the Crusades with King Richard.

#REVIEW: Black Dawn by Cristin Harber

Title: Black Dawn

Series: Titan #6

Author:  Cristin Harber

Published Date: July 14, 2015

Publisher: Mill Creek Press

Format: ebook

Pages: 279

ISBN: 9781942236085

Genre: black ops romance

Add to: Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

Rating: 4 ½ stars

Synopsis: Parker Black wants the one woman he shouldn’t have—his buddy’s girl. She sweet and smart, but clueless about how deep Parker lives in Titan’s virtual world. Everything is controlled. Chaos is mastered. Black and white data and risk analyst. That is the way he understands his world, how he plays his role to keep Titan teams alive.

But he’s wrong.

About everything.

Lexi Dare lives two lives. She’s an unhappy fiancé stuck in a spiraling relationship, unsure how she ended up with a ring on her finger and an abuser in her bed. But she’s also elusive. Elite. A master hacker playing deadly stakes.

When the lines blur and the truth comes out, Lexi’s only shot at survival is the trust of her rival—her equal—before it’s too late.

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved the Titan men since the very beginning of the series, and for just as long, I have secretly crushed on the guy in the background, Parker. Now that he had his own story, I knew I had to read it. It is Parker’s book, so if you’re looking for guns and mayhem from the very beginning, you won’t find it. That doesn’t mean you won’t find an amazing story because it is just as amazing as every single one of the other Titan books.

It just has a different vibe to it because Parker is different. The author has done an amazing job with being able to differentiate her characters, and create books with the uniqueness each character truly has. Not only that, but she has created women who are just as strong in their own right. Lexi is a woman who I can relate to. I have been in a relationship like hers with her fiancée, and it is so hard, it takes such a core of inner steel to be able to do what she did. Lexi may not be Sugar, but she is just as tough and gritty in her own way.

If you’ve ever been that nerdy girl, that girl geek, the one who would rather curl up with a book on some obscure subject like Biblical Aramaic (*guilty*), then Parker is your Titan man.

#REVIEW: Mermen by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

Title: Mermen

Series: Mermen Trilogy #1

Author:  Mimi Jean Pamfilhoff

Published Date: May 10, 2015

Publisher: P & S Inc

Format: ebooka

Pages: 249

ISBN:  0990304876

Genre: contemporary fantasy

Add to: Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis: These Mermen Don’t Have Tails, They’re Deadly as Hell, and They’ve Got Something He Wants…

INFAMOUS BACHELOR and SELF-MADE BILLIONAIRE ROEN DORAN IS A BASTARD. Yes, he knows it. And no, he doesn’t care. He’s got money and power, and he depends on no one. But when his estranged father dies, willing him a secret island, Roen will come face to face with an even bigger secret: its occupants. And these savage, sea-obsessed warriors are quick to make their position clear: Leave now or die.

There’s only one problem. Nobody tells Roen what to do. Ever. Oh, and one other thing. He’s just met the island’s other new “guest” and something about her brings out his possessive side.

SOLE SHIPWRECK SURVIVOR LIV STRATTON had been adrift at sea for ten grueling days when salvation miraculously appeared: an uncharted island. Only, the deceivingly beautiful men who live there aren’t interested in saving her. No, not at all. Because they somehow believe she is their property, a gift from the ocean to do with as they please. This is not good.

Her only hope? Billionaire Roen Doran, of all people. A man who’s said to care for nothing and no one. But if he’s so heartless, then why is he about to risk everything to help her?

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I have read by Mimi Jean Pamilhoff, and I was impressed. This book is a fresh, intriguing take on mermaids and mermen. The very first page finds us in the middle of the ocean, fighting off dehydration and inevitable death with Liv Stratton, the only survivor of a sunken ship. And from there, it only gets better as Liv washes ashore on an island filled with testosterone laden men. If you think this is every woman’s fantasy….think again, this is more nightmare-inspiring.

The characters really made the book. Liv hadn’t changed much through out the book except for her hormone driven lust for Roen. You could see that she was a strong, independent woman, as she struggled to survive after the sinking of the ship, out in the water. This continued on to the end of the book.

Roen started out as a heartless billionaire, willing to destroy anyone or anything that got in his way of making more money .Once he got to the island though, something changed, perhaps because he wasn’t under the scrutiny of society, but he became very human, especially in his feelings towards Liv. The change between the sweet caring Roen, and the crazy testosterone Roen of the island was like dealing with someone with multiple personality disorder.

The book ends on a fantastic cliff-hanger: one that had me immediately looking to see if I could get the next book.

#REVIEW: World After by Susan Ee

Title: World After

Series: Penryn and the End of Days #2

Author:  Susan Ee

Published Date: November 19, 2013

Publisher: Skyscape

Format: ebook

Pages: 336

ISBN: 9781444778540

Genre: post apocalyptic fiction

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Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis: In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world.

When a group of people capture Penryn's sister, Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Most sequels fall flat. That’s the curse of the sequel. If you are really lucky, the author finishes the series before it is so horrible that readers just stop reading. It happened for Fifty Shades for me, it happened for numerous other series for me.

The first book in this series was dark, terrifying, and thrilling, all at the same time, and it ended in such a way that I immediately picked up the next book without taking a breath. The end of the first book was an emotional, heart-rending experience and I needed some sort of happy ending. Instead, I was tossed into a book where people think Penryn is dead in front of them, Paige is some sort of miniature Frankenstein, their mother is even crazier than before, and Raffe? Oh Raffe….

The more I think about it, the more it shows how, when push comes to shove, any society sees what is right in front of them only superficially and judges, not on the person’s inside, but on their appearance, basing the person’s morality on how they look. And aren’t we as a society so very guilty of that too?

This book did not succumb to the curse of the sequel; instead it was just different enough to not be a carbon copy of the previous book, but just as exciting. If I could have, I would have read it in one sitting. This book was just as dark, and emotional, and gripping as Angelfall, if not more so.

#REVIEW: Angelfall by Susan Ee

Title: Angellfall

Series: Penryn and the End of Days #1

Author:  Susan Ee

Published Date: August 28, 2012

Publisher: Skyscape

Format: ebook

Pages: 288

ISBN: 9781444778519

Genre: post-apocalyptic fiction

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Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis: It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.
Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.
Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.
Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a dark look at angels, but it was so enjoyable, I didn’t want to put it down, and I talked about it at work. From one of the very first scenes, the author sets a dark and fearsome image of bloodthirsty, furious, condescending angels. Angels who aren’t cherubic, who despise humanity, and see themselves as so much better than us that they see us as “monkeys”.

Despite that, Penryn, a 17 year old girl who is on a mission to save her handicapped little sister from the angels who kidnapped her, makes a very uneasy alliance with Raffe, a warrior angel whose life she saves. This leads to an adventure that is a rollercoaster of emotions and crazy violence and desperation. There is nothing more desperate than seeing someone who eats kitty kibble without a second thought.

The last 1/3 of the book makes the book. There is so much action going on, so much heartbreak going on, so many feels going on, it just drags you kicking and screaming and crying to the end. And then you NEED the next book….which thankfully I had!

#REVIEW: Forty Days Through Genesis by Ron Rhodes

Title: Forty Days Through Genesis

Series: none

Author:  Ron Rhodes

Published Date: February 1, 2015

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Format: ebook

Pages: 304

ISBN: 9780736960960

Genre: Bible devotional

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Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis: The opening scenes in the story of redemption are essential for understanding what the rest of the Bible has to say about God, the world, and you. As you uncover the mysteries of the beginning of time, you'll discover how the sovereign God cares for the world, blesses those who walk in faith, and keeps his covenant promises.

To help you personally interact with the vital truths of Genesis, trusted Bible teacher Ron Rhodes provides...Scripture Readings and Insights--short passages of Genesis and easy-to-understand notes on each verse Major Themes--brief summaries of the most important ideas Cross-References--several other passages you can look up on relevant topics Life Lessons--practical applications to everyday life Questions for Reflection and Discussion--thought-provoking conversation starters for group discussions or personal journaling

Use this 40-day journey alone or with friends to fortify the foundations of your faith.

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t get that much out of this, definitely not as much as I thought I would. I will put the blame on the difference in theological beliefs that the author and I have. I think that because of those differences I couldn’t take this book as seriously as I would have normally. I also didn’t enjoy it as much because I found myself arguing internally with the beliefs.

So the lesson is: a Bible devotional has to at least line up with your beliefs at least somewhat otherwise, you most likely won’t get anything out of it. That can be more detrimental than helpful.

#REVIEW: The Crimson Cord by Jill Eileen Smith

Title: The Crimson Cord

Series: Daughters of the Promised Land #1

Author:  Jill Eileen Smith

Published Date: February 17, 2015

Publisher: Revell Publishers

Format: ebook

Pages: 368

ISBN: 9780800720346

Genre: Biblical Fiction

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Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Synopsis: Wife to a gambler who took one too many risks, Rahab finds herself sold as a slave to cover her husband's debt. Forced into prostitution by Dabir, counselor to the Syrian king, Rahab despairs of ever regaining her freedom and her self-respect. But when Israelite spies enter Jericho and come to lodge at her house, Rahab sees a glimmer of hope and the opportunity of a lifetime. In one risky moment, she takes a leap of faith, puts her trust in a God she does not know, and vows to protect the spies from the authorities. When the armies of Israel arrive weeks later, Rahab hopes they will keep their promise, but she has no idea what kind of challenges await her outside Jericho's walls--or if she will ever know the meaning of love.

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have completely fallen in love with Jill Eileen Smith as an author of Biblical fiction. It started with Sarai, the story of Sarah, and from there I was hooked. She does such an incredible job of bringing each of the characters to life and introducing them to the reader. After finishing one of her books, the readers truly feels as if they know the character personally and have walked beside them. Her characters stay with you long after the book is put away.

From the first page I was transported into biblical Jericho, the famed, walled city that no one could get past. The story of the spies and Rahab is dry, as is most of the Bible. The author brings these rather boring stories into beautiful color and life, giving each character depth and beauty, even the ugliest of characters. 

If you have never read Jill Eileen Smith before, this is an author you really should add to your bookshelf.

#REVIEW: Judas the Apostle by Van R Mayhall Jr

Title: Judas the Apostle

Series: The Sicari #1

Author:  Van R Mayhall Jr

Published Date: Aug 7^th 2012

Publisher: iUniverse

Format: ebook

Pages: 300

ISBN: 9781475931556

Genre: fiction

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Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis: Ancient language expert Dr. Clotile Lejeune is happily living a quiet life in Seattle when her world is profoundly shaken. After she learns that her estranged father has been murdered, Cloe must travel with her son, J. E., back to her Louisiana hometown to unlock the mysteries of a two-thousand-year-old oil jar her father has left in her care—a jar inscribed with the name Judas Iscariot. Anxious to find her father’s killer and dispel her own personal demons, Cloe has no idea that what she is about to uncover has the potential to set the international religious community on fire.

With the help of a mysterious cleric, her son, and a letter from her father, Cloe soon realizes the African oil jar her father picked up during the war may be the most important relic discovered in centuries. But it is only the beginning. Across the globe, a billionaire arms merchant is leaving a trail of bodies in his wake in his pursuit of the jar and its contents.

In this religious thriller, the race for answers takes a language professor on a dangerous quest across three continents in order to discover the identity of Judas Iscariot. Now only time will tell if Cloe can find out what the past is reaching out to tell her—before it is too late.

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Throughout the story it is packed with different theories about why Judas, easily the most hated man in the Bible, betrayed Jesus to those who were after him. I admit to a large fascination with Judas, and more than a little sympathy for him. This book was a great way for me to feed my need for more information.

It is a fictionalized account of a man who accidentally stumbles upon a clay jar during World War II, and brings it home, where it stays on his mantle until present day. Suddenly, forces are at work to gain possession of the jar, which include killing the now elderly man, and going after his daughter and her son with murderous intent, before they can figure out what exactly is inside the jar itself.

The author wrote the book well, allowing enough detail in the book so that readers could visualize the scenes in their minds, while not becoming cumbersome and bogging the storyline down. The action was well-placed, and kept the storyline going at a decent clip.

The next in the series promises to be just as good.

#REVIEW: Only For Him by Cristin Harber

Title: Only For Him

Series: Only #1

Author:  Cristin Harber

Published Date: Feb 24, 2015

Publisher: Mill Creek Press

Format: ebook

Pages: 126

ISBN: 9781942236108

Genre:  contemporary romance

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Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis: Grayson Ford and Emma Kinglsey—close since they were kids, opposites in every way. He’s the stuff high school crushes are made of, Mister Popular, and captain of every team. She’s artsy, cute, and not in his league, though fully aware of Summerland’s "I Dream of Dating Grayson Ford" support group.

I can’t say no. The girl’s had my heart since before I knew it went missing.

He hides a life of hell. His father hates him, his mother’s gone. Emma is his only savior, yet she doesn’t know her power over him. She’s the only girl he wants, the only one he could ever tell—though he won’t.

I’m stronger, bigger, more of a man than he’ll ever be, but because I ruined his life, I’ve taken his crap, his attacks, the vulgar nature of his existence.

Until she discovers Gray’s embarrassment, his humiliation. Emma fights for him, for a chance. Theirs is a Cinderella story that she believes impossible. But as the layers peel back, it’s just a guy who needs a girl in order to keep breathing.

My mind is already doodling Mrs. Grayson Ford in imaginary notebooks. He has no clue where my head is at… But, given that I didn’t see what just happened coming, maybe I have no clue where his head is at either.

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It has been such a long time since an author made me cry, but I bawled halfway through this book.

This is a quick, fast reading novella, and just like the author’s other contemporary romance, Sweet Girl, it is just as amazing. Every single book that Cristin Harber comes out with is so well-written, you cannot help but be immersed into the story, as if you were right beside them.

As with the rest of her books, I have fallen in love with Gray and Emma. Their characters are so well portrayed I can’t help but feel as if I’ve known them my whole life. I am chomping at the bit for the next book, as the cliffhanger at the end of this novella made me want to cry…again. Emma and Gray promise to be yet another couple of Cristin Harber’s that will stay with you forever.

#REVIEW: An Uncertain Choice by Jody Hedlund

Title: An Uncertain Choice

Series: An Uncertain Choice #1

Author: Jody Hedlund

Published Date: March 3, 2015

Publisher: Zondervan

Format: paperback

Pages: 254

ISBN: 9780310749196

Genre: Historical romance

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Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis: Due to her parents' promise at her birth, Lady Rosemarie has been prepared to become a nun on the day she turns eighteen. Then, a month before her birthday, a friend of her father's enters the kingdom and proclaims her parents' will left a second choice. If Rosemarie can marry before the eve of her eighteenth year, she will be exempt from the ancient vow. 
Before long, Rosemarie is presented with the three most handsome and brave knights in the land. But when the competition for her heart seemingly results in a knight playing foul, she begins to wonder if the cloister is the best place after all. If only one of the knights the one who appears the most guilty had not already captured her heart. 

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rosemarie starts out with a headful of naïve, no, I shouldn’t say that, because she’s got a heck more than a head full of naiveté. Somehow she thinks that once she enters the cloistered life of the monastery, she will continue to rule the lands she has inherited through the demise of her parents. Has no one told her that once those vows are said, all lands go to the king? That little fact seems to be overlooked in the book.

Through her parents’ friend who is also her godfather, she is shown there is a loophole to the promise given. She must fall in love and marry before her 18^th birthday, which is only a month away. And of course, he gives her three choices in men.

It’s obvious from the beginning who the winner of the contest for Rosemarie’s heart will be, as the other two seem far too shallow for her tastes and have nothing in common with her. Now it’s just a race against time and the elements who would prefer to see Rosemarie safely cloistered away so they can have full control over her lands. Maybe the bad guys didn’t get the notice either the king should get all her lands….

Overall, this was an enjoyable book to read. It was fun to see the three men competing to win her heart over, though her Godfather seemed to know the end result far in advance (poor Rosemarie being played by all these men). It was a cute romance, and I can’t wait to see how the next in the series is.

#REVIEW: The Furious Muse by AJ Nuest

Title: A Furious Muse

Series: The Golden Key Legacy #1

Author:  AJ Nuest

Published Date: November 27, 2014

Publisher: HarperImpulseUK

Format: ebook

Pages: 106

ASN: B00O7CP4ZI

Genre: fantasy

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Rating: 4 ½ stars

Synopsis: Since the day of her birth, Princess Faedrah Austiere has been defined by her place within the kingdom. As the single heir to the half-blood gypsy king and his prophesied white queen, she is fiercely protected, shuttered inside an ivory castle and well-trained in the art of war. Yet neither her obligations as future queen nor the black infestation threatening her kingdom fail to hinder the mysterious pull of the antique armoire hidden in her parents’ bedchamber. And stealing the golden key for a leap through time is the only way to confront the dark lord haunting her dreams. 

One face. The image of one defiant, relentless woman has been stuck in Rhys McEleod’s head ever since he was old enough paint her luscious curves on the canvas. But the day she walks into his life off the street—sexier than hell and itching for a fight—he’s not convinced she’s the same women he’s envisioned since childhood. That is, not until he spots the golden key around her neck—an object he’d never fully shown in any of his paintings.

Now if he could just persuade his lovely muse he’s not the enemy. Unless the elusive Faedrah Austiere learns to trust him, he’ll never have her in his bed—the one place he’s convinced she belongs.

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book starts out with Faedrah, the princess of the Austiere Kingdom, trying desperately to measure up to the high self-imposed expectations she has in regards to her mother. She wants to be just as beautiful, strong, warrior-like, graceful…the list goes on and on. In finding out that an evil mage, apparently the same evil mage that has been haunting her nightmares, is destroying her kingdom, she goes against her parents’ wishes and enters into the magic mirror.

And suddenly we find ourselves in modern-day Chicago. How she didn’t suddenly have a massive culture shock is beyond me, but of course, she is Faedrah. She meets Rhys, whom she instantly distrusts and is convinced he’s the evil wizard. Rhys is just an artist obsessed with a certain woman in his head, who just so happens to pop into real life, in the form of Faedrah.

The world built around the book is fascinating. I love the change of language tone between Rhys with his modern day speech, and Faedrah, with her stilted, overly formal speech. I haven’t read the first series, so I wasn’t introduced ahead of time to the previous characters of the King and Queen, but its really not necessary to enjoy this series.