Shadows of the Past
Others of Edenton, Book 2
by Brandy L. Rivers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Amethyst Lakes is running from her past. She wants to start over, away from the memories of a crazy stalker ex-boyfriend, so she heads to Edenton. The place that everyone goes to get away and begin again. She has friends there in Fallon and Jess.
As she gets to town, she is pulled over by an officer and taken to the station for speeding, a little bit of overkill on his part, but at least the Sheriff, Hayden Hunter is there to take care of things and get her back on track. Of course the poor sheriff is smitten with Amethyst.
Unfortunately, the ex-boyfriend, even though he is physically dead, is still a problem, since he was a warlock, and he has unleashed a problem that is making life very difficult in Edenton.
We catch up with Jess & Slater and Fallon & Brody. Some other old friends from the first two books are also here again, and some new people are introduced. Edenton is still the place that everyone wants to be, and is the place that you can fall in love with and want to live. This book is almost like returning to a hometown after a couple of years away, it all still feels the same, yet there is some catching up to do.
The whole series is so well connected that each book flows into the next, and you just feel like you are keeping up with friends, and even though each story is about a different couple, you still see and read about the couples and people you already knew about. It's one of those series' that you never want to come to a close because you have come to think of the people in the town as friends and you want to know more and more!
Others of Edenton
New Beginnings My Review Link
In Too Deep My Review Link
Shadows Fall My Review Link
Shadows of the Past My Review Link
Falling Into Place My Review Link
View all my reviews
Shadows Fall
Others of Edenton, Book 1.5
by Brandy L. Rivers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Shadows Fall is a short story that gives us more background into Amethyst Lakes. Amethyst's story is told in the next book, but there is a great deal of background that has to be left out, so this short story was added in to fill in that information.
Amethyst is a nymph, and she has been dating a warlock, Carl, but things aren't going well and she breaks things off. Carl doesn't take the rejection too well and starts to stalk her. She does everything she can to get him to realize that they are over, so he decides to be vindictive and reports her to the Silver Council saying that she bewitched him.
Amethyst is taken into custody, and things look really bad for her, because the guy in charge of the investigation has a history of abusing nymph's when they are brought in, but lucky for her, one of the guys who picks her up recognizes the name and her mother, and calls a family friend, who arrives just in time to prevent anything untold from happening.
This story then tells of the councils findings and Carl's actions, and what finally drives Amethyst to leave and move to Edenton, where her good friend Fallon is living, along with Jess.
Others of Edenton
New Beginnings My Review Link
In Too Deep My Review Link
Shadows Fall My Review Link
Shadows of the Past My Review Link
Falling Into Place My Review Link
View all my reviews
In Too Deep
Others of Edenton, Book One
by Brandy L. Rivers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Fallon's best friend Jess moved to Edenton, and before she went she tried to tell Fallon that they guy she was seeing was cheating on her, but Fallon wasn't listening. Now, after finding out on her own, she is riding her beloved Harley on the road to wherever, which just seems to be leading her to Jess and Edenton. On the road, she crashes into a werwolf, who happens to be being chased by two vampires. Fallon heals the werewolf and helps get rid of the vampires, and he finds himself attracted to her.
Brody has spent the last few years mourning the death of his wife, and hasn't been interested in women or dating, but when he runs into Fallon on the road, something is sparked in him that hasn't been there before. Of course Jess is trying to keep her mouth shut because she has already seen this over two years ago, but she know how Fallon hates for her to interfere with her physic gifts.
The attack by the vampires is something that needs looking into, and so Slater and the pack are working on what it going on. Turns out that someone is looking for Fallon too. Can Brody get over his wife? Can Fallon give in and let her desires for Brody take over? And can they figure out what is going on, and take care of it without getting hurt?
This is the second book in the Others of Edenton series, and you get some background into both Fallon and Brody. You also learn more about the people living in the town. Again it really makes you want to be in this town, to wish there was actually some place like this in real life.
Others of Edenton
New Beginnings My Review Link
In Too Deep My Review Link
Shadows Fall My Review Link
Shadows of the Past My Review Link
Falling Into Place My Review Link
View all my reviews
New Beginnings
Others of Edenton, Prequel
by Brandy L. Rivers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Normally alcohol doesn't effect Jess, but when someone brings homemade moonshine to the party, Jess ends up drunk at in bed with her pack Alpha, Gregory. This is the granddaddy of all mistakes! She wakes up and runs to her friend Gabe, she has to leave town and soon. Greg is a jerk, and once she has slept with him he is going to expect it all the time and won't take no for an answer. So Gabe gives her a lead on a bar for sale in Edenton, now she just has to buy it and get the pack alpha there, Slater to give her permission to move.
Slater is the pack alpha in Edenton, his second Liam is an old guy who is walking on shaky ground and the pack knows it, but they don't want to let him go without a good reason. Then there is the newest wolf, Brody, who Slater is good friends with and made an enforcer, which didn't set well with Liam at all. Slater and Brody are ready for Jess, who is not a wolf but a psychic and gets visions of the future to move to Edenton.
Edenton is a town of mostly others, the werewolf pack, some other shifters, a fae sheriff and a vampire. There might be a few humans in town too, but for the most part, it's a great place to be if you are on that other side of the realm. Jess is sure that this will be a great place to start a new beginning, but she is immediately attracted to Slater. She refuses to go there, she has sworn off wolves and alphas even more after the Gregory incident. Now she just wants to run her bar and have a good life.
Liam, and a need to avenge some wrong he feels was done will create havoc and chaos in town and within the pack. Will Jess's visions of this place come true? And what about her relationships with Brody and Slater?
This is a great start to a series on a town filled with others. Love the werewolves, but even more love that there are other people of other talents mixed into the town and they all work together and interact. There is a balance and a friendship that really makes you want to live in a place like Edenton. It sounds like and feels like a real hometown community.
No matter what you preference, shifters, fae, mage's, you will find them in Edenton and in this series and it is a great deal of fun. Each book plays off the other, so I really recommend that you read them in order, but you could go out of order. It just would introduce new people to town without the details if you did.
Others of Edenton
New Beginnings My Review Link
In Too Deep My Review Link
Shadows Fall My Review Link
Shadows of the Past My Review Link
Falling Into Place My Review Link
View all my reviews
Wolf's Haven
Caedmon Wolves, Book One
by Ambrielle Kirk
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Tamara's dreams of a happy life and future have gone down the drain and she has finally decided that tonight she will make her move. After years of lies and abuse at the hands of her fiance' Brad, she is breaking free. Brad and his gang have a break-in planned for tonight, and she is planning to call the cops and run. Of course, even the best of plans can go astray. Brad ends up asking her to help on one of the floors instead of standing at the door like normal, which makes it harder for her to escape. When she hears the sirens, she makes a rash decision and jumps to safety, away from Brad and the gang and heads into the woods. Problem? She has twisted her ankle badly in the fall, and she is looking into the eyes of a wolf. All the sudden the wolf seems to understand and takes care of Tamara and takes her to safety.
Devin is the bastard son of the former pack alpha of the Caedmon Wolves. He has left on his own for the last five years, while his half-brother has ran the pack after his father's death. Now his brother is dead, and his no good cousin is trying to lead the pack. He must protect the pack, so he heads back to vote. He never expects to run into a damsel in distress in the woods on his way home, especially one this beautiful and fragile.
Can Devin be the one to heal the wounds that Brad has inflected on Tamara's soul? Can Devin really give up what he does and take over the pack?
This is a well written beginning to a series on the particular pack of wolves, the Caedmon Wolves. Should be an interesting series, if this is any indication of the rest.
Caedmon Wolves Series
Book One: Wolf's Haven
Book Two: Wolf's Promise
Book Three: Wolf's Touch
Book Four: Wolf's Desire
Book Five: Wolf's Strength
View all my reviews
Taken Into The Wolfpack: Book #1
by Sadie Koenig
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Extremely short story. 16 pages on the Nook app on my iPad.
Sarah daydreams about men, and the woods during class. Then she was to walk through a small wooded area on campus to get home after her night class. She thinks she see's a wolf. She begins to dream about the wolf.
I should stop there or I "spoil" the story. It's a short story with not much of a plot. Not really even enough to make it into a full novel at some point, just 16 pages of daydreams and walking across campus.
This was free on BarnesandNoble.com and that is probably all it is really worth. I certainly wouldn't pay for it as there just isn't enough there to warrant. it
Oh, and it is marked as erotica. There are NO details into the ONE encounter at the end of the story, so I hardly think it comes anywhere close to qualifying as erotica.
View all my reviews
A Lycan's Mate
by Chandler Dee
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Super-short story. 51 pages on the Nook App on my iPad.
Jurisa is the alpha female of her pack, but her mate has passed away awhile ago and there has been a great deal of uproar amoung the community, or the rest of the packs for her to chose another mate. It is always best for an Alpha to rule as a mated pair.
Alphas from all over have come to this area to engage in a run to determine the new mate for Jurisa. She has laid out a path, practiced it many times, set traps and obstacles and done everything she can to make sure that only the strongest and best alphas, and the one she approves of make it to the end. In order to make sure some of the "slimier" alphas don't make it, she has slipped something into the evening meal.
The run begins, but in the end, the outcome in more than she had planned, and Jurisa as more to say in her choice of mate than she thought she would.
It is a cute store, very short, and very fast read. I think it could easily be taken and make into a full novel, just with the information given in this novella. The expanded work could be awesome. For a novella is was cute, and worth the price I got it for.
Free at BarnesandNoble.com, or at least it was when I downloaded it. Not sure if it is still now, but worth checking out, if you are looking for something to add for some quick reads this summer.
Also by Chandler Dee
Lycan's Sacrifice, Book 1
Lycan's Love, Book 2
Lycan's Promise, Book 3
Lycan's Mate
Lycan's Secret
View all my reviews
Saints in the Shadows ; a mystery of the mind by Alana Cash
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Life is in pieces for Maud. Her beloved father died in a car accident, and now her mother has remarried, so she leaves her home in New Orleans for New York to find a new life. She rents a small apartment next door to Lina, who just happens to be the building owner. Lina is an older lady with a unique history, who does psychic readings for clients on the side. Lina feels that Maud has the talent and when Lina must go out of town, asks Maud to fill in while she is away. Saints in the Shadows is the story of Maud and Lina, what happens as Lina trains Maud to fill in, and what Maud discovers, about herself and others during this experience. Alana Cash gives you two very different, yet similar characters in Maud and Lina, that are linked by this housing, and what they learn and teach each other is the focus.
Saints in the Shadows is a story of the paranormal, the supernatural, those who have the power to see things other's don't, be it dreams or the future. Is it something to be afraid of or something to embrace? Alana Cash gives us two woman, one on each end of the spectrum, and puts them in the same building, living together. Now one is training to fill in for the other, and the more she learns about dealing with the clients the more she learns about herself. This is more Maud's story of self-discovery and awakening than it is about Lina, yet Lina is the reason that Maud even has this discovery moment or time. This is a good book for adults, and it will give you pause to think.
View all my reviews
The Legacy of the Key
Ancient Guardians, Book One
by S.L. Morgan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
Reece is your typical college student, dealing with classes and unfortunately, her father's passing. At least that is what she thinks anyway. She is heading to San Diego to finish up things on her father's estate, when she notices two handsome young men at the airport, and then they are on her plane, which ends up having trouble and returning to Philadelphia. She later notices them again while out with friends, and while out on a run they save her from being abducted. Turns out they are her Guardians and she is someone called The Key. Now she must understand that there are other dimensions and worlds other than her own, all while hiding for her own safety. Ancient Guardians is a young adult tale of character and honesty. S. L. Morgan takes fantasy and morals and makes it into a wonderfully captivating romance novel between a young girl called the Key and her Guardian.
Ancient Guardians: The Legacy of the Key is the beginning of a new series, and it is a strong start to the series. It lays a good foundation for more to come. The guardians are shown to be a people that a strong, yet morally upright and have good values; which is why they were originally chosen as the guardians in the first place. Greed and power are the opposite and are shown to get in the way of life and what is really important. This fantasy novel is set in multiple dimensions, which is a fun concept to think about, with Earth being the central focus of the dimensions. Although there is some fighting, the crux of the story is the romance between the Key, Reece and her guardian, Levi. This is a great young adult and teen novel in that the romance is also woven in with a moral message of honesty, trust and doing the right thing. This novel will also appeal to older readers as well, and given that it is very clean, even mature younger readers would do well with the novel.
Other Links:
Blog
Facebook
Website
View all my reviews
Rise of the Gryphon
Belador, Book Four
by Sherrilyn Kenyon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Rise of the Gryphon is the forth book in the Belador series by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love. If you read no other series but one this year, make it this series, please! It is amazing, truly.
Things are moving along! I mean it almost feels like we might be getting close to finding some real answers, and we do find some in this book, but they only serve to actually raise more questions!
Evalle and Storm are still searching to get Tristian and the other Alterants to come to Macha, and the Maedb are trying to get them for their own evil purposes. Nothing of course is going as they plan it to go and they have to take things on the fly and do what they have to, without even talking to each other at times.
Tzader and Quinn are each having their own problems, and poor Evalle is trapped in the middle in that is can't talk to them about what she is doing and everyone is playing on her insecurities, telling her they are betraying her and trying to make her betray them.
Macha is trying to force Tzader and Brina to give up on their love and doing a good job of playing them against each other up to this point so far. Not sure how long it will work because they are both strong people, but you just know it has to come back and bite her in the butt.
Major fighting between the Meadb and Belador's occur, and the secret origins of the Alterants are finally discovered. Although the Belador's are able to win the battle, it seems that all is not actually over, because some new and shocking twists are revealed at the end of the book. Things that no one saw going up until now!
Belador
Book One: Blood Trinity Link to My Review
Book Two: Alterant Link to My Review
Book Three: The Curse Link to My Review
Book Four: Rise of the Gryphon
Book Five: Demon Storm
View all my reviews
The Curse
Belador, Book Three
by Sherrilyn Kenyon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Curse in the third book in the Belador series written by Sherilyn Kenyon. Let me just put this out there at the start, if you have read anything by Sherrilyn Kenyon, then you are probably hooked! She is a fabulous writer and just draws you into the story so easily that you feel part of it! I have cried, laughed, screamed and everything else under the sun along with the characters in the books.
Evalle has little time to find Tristian and the origins of the Alterants. Of course Sen refuses to give her any time off from her Belador responsibilities to do that and is watching for any and every mistake of fault she might make. And there is still a traitor in the Belador ranks. To top it all off, Storm is missing.
Storm, after being thrown into a wall by Sen as he was trying to protect Evalle, has being lying in a coma for three weeks, hover on the edge of death. His spirit has been keeping him alive, but this is his last chance, and he is fighting back. Once he comes back to Evalle, there is a little tension, as to who his spirit had to trust to take care of Storm while he was out, Adrianna.
This book focus' a little more on the prophecy, or curse as Flaevlynn likes to call it of what must been done to allow the Queen to live forever and not die on her 666th birthday. It also gives more insight into why they are hunting for Evalle and the other Alterants and what their plans are to do with them.
As always, Evalle is working her hardest to do everything she can for Macha. Tzader and Quinn, along with Storm are there to help her the best they can, but for the most part she is limited in what she can actually tell Tzader and Quinn, so she has to rely on Storm the most, which is growing the relationship between them more and more. That is a pleasure to see, especially after everything that happened to her growing up. She deserves someone like Storm.
Belador
Book One: Blood Trinity Link to My Review
Book Two: Alterant Link to My Review
Book Three: The Curse
Book Four: Rise of the Gryphon Link to My Review
Book Five: Demon Storm
View all my reviews
An Almost Perfect World
Legend of East Series, Book One
by Carrie-Ann Barnes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Miranda loves acting, and has always been great at memorizing her lines, but she is taller than most of the boys in school, so life has been a little rough. Finally in this play her co-star is her same height. Miranda has always known she was adopted, but what happens in the next few days rocks her world like no other. Two strange boys appear in the neighborhood, Alex and Griffin and attempt to get to know Miranda. Although attracted to Alex she tries to avoid them to the point that they are forced to kidnap her. Turns out that Griffin is her brother and Alex his best friend, and they live on another world. They have to take her home for their mother's funeral. Once there she meets her father and twin brother Evan, she gets a job as an actress and learns more about herself. She also finds some secrets. An Almost Perfect World is the story of Miranda's life as she is reintroduced to life on Utopia. Carrie-Ann Barnes tells an inventive story of a promised child, hidden away and brought back to save the world.
An Almost Perfect World, is a cute title given that the world we are taken to is called Utopia. Everything is not perfect on Utopia, and Miranda learns from Jackson that she might be the one that is suppose to save the world. Although at the end of the book, leading into a second we get a hint that someone higher in the family thinks Jackson has it wrong. I found the novel to be interesting and truthful, I mean how would you feel if you were suddenly dropped onto another plant at age 18 and had to figure out everything all over again. It rang true, and felt like something that could really be happening. I enjoyed the characters, something in each of them spoke to me. This is set up to be part of a series, you can tell by the abrupt ending of this book, which is not one of my favorite things, and you can tell that certain characters are keeping secrets. Although billed as a young adult book, this is a great read for young adults, teens and adults as well.
View all my reviews
Cloak and Silence
The League, Book Seven
by Sherrilyn Kenyon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Cloak and Silence is labeled as book 6 in the League series, but I call it book 7, because I don't label books as 2.5 and such. So my numbering is sometimes a bit off the numbering on the books themselves, but I still keep them in the correct order, and work very hard to make sure that I get books that come out later worked back into the series where they rightfully belong.
The last book was Darling's story, so we saw a great deal of Maris, now we get to move on to Maris and find out his story! Maris is just one of those guys that you can't help but love. He is just always looking out for his friends, always ready with a joke and making everyone feel better and we all know that underneath it all he is probably hurting but won't let anyone know it.
Maris comes from another of those war-mongering planets that believes a man is measured by his might in battle. So for a young man like Maris, who is gay, growing up there was extremely rough! His own family took out hits on him. But the thing about Maris is that when you become his friend, he is loyal to the bitter end.
Ture has lived all his life on the same small planet, doesn't know much about other cultures or planets, but he was disowned by his parents when he told them he was gay, and he is only looking for someone who will love him for who he is and not try to change him.
Maris and Ture are introduce by Zarya and it is an instant attraction, but both have been hurt before and are a little guy shy of trying another relationship. This is a well written and beautiful relationship that unfolds in this story. Just because it is about a gay couple, don't let that turn you off the book, it is well worth the read. This is a future world that will give you pause to think about your own world, and some believes and traditions going on now.
The League
Book 1: Born of Night
Book 2: Born of Fire
Book 3: Fire & Ice
Book 4: Born of Ice
Book 5: Born of Shadows Link to My Review
Book 6: Born of Silence Link to My Review
Book 7: Cloak & Silence
Book 8: Born of Fury
Book 9: Born of Betrayal
Book 10: Born of Defiance
Book 11: Born of Vengeance
View all my reviews
Born of Silence
The League, Book 6
by Sherrilyn Kenyon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The future worlds under the protection of the League are once again the setting for this, the fifth book in the series. Sherrilyn Kenyon takes us back to a cruel and tough existance of this future, yet one where poeople who truly find love, love more deeply than anyone else.
This story will follow the Sentella agent Kere, the governor to be Darling Cruel and the leader of the resistance forces, Zayra. Zayra and Kere, meet on missions and fall in love, and although he has managed to keep his indenty hidden form her, to protect Sentella and the organization, he is ready to reveal all to her, but he needs four days he tells her to protect his family. Of course, we all know what happens to the best laid plans of mice and men.
Darling Cruel may be his name, but he is anything but cruel, although that is not what the world thinks of him, and he just lets them think what they want. The abuse and torture that Darling endures throughout his life at the hands of his Uncle, schoolmates, doctors, guards, and captors is beyond belief. It is more than anyone one person should ever have to go through, in fact it is probably more than ten people should have to go through. Does it explain who he is? Sorta, but more it makes the love he feels for those friends that he holds dear that much more remarkable. He is willing to die for certain friends that have proved their loyalty to him. There is enough detail in the accounts that you understand what is going on and what happened to him, but not so much that you are sick to your stomach.
Now, I have read a few reviews that said they HATED this book because they felt like the author jumped ship with Darling. I am not sure what they are talking about. They felt that the author "turned a gay character straight" and I think that is silly. In the entire series I have never though Darling was gay. Yes he hung out with Maris, who is clearly gay, but I got the feeling more that Darling didn't want anyone to know anything about his love life, it was a closely guarded secret, not that he was gay. So this book did not seem a departure from the past storylines for me, in fact I felt it fit in perfectly.
I have loved this series, and excited to say that it looks like there are at least three more books scheduled to be released in the series, or at least the author have given out titles for three more. I also happen to love the setting, the future and this harsh and unforgiving world, where people love better. Sometimes I wish I could actually go there!
The League
Book 1: Born of Night
Book 2: Born of Fire
Book 3: Fire & Ice
Book 4: Born of Ice
Book 5: Born of Shadows Link to My Review
Book 6: Born of Silence
Book 7: Cloak & Silence Link to My Review
Book 8: Born of Fury
Book 9: Born of Betrayal
Book 10: Born of Defiance
Book 11: Born of Vengeance
View all my reviews
Born of Shadows
The League, Book Five
by Sherrilyn Kenyon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Caillen Dagan has spent his life taking care of his sisters and getting them out of one scrape or mess or another, so when his sister needs helps he thinks nothing of coming to her aid. It never occurs to him that he might end up with a death sentence on his head. A last second stay of execution turns his world upside down, when he finds out he is not who he always thought he was, and now must adjust to a new life and a new role. Good thing he has friends in high places to help him through it.
Desideria is a bodyguard for the Queen, her mother, but she has much to prove, since her father was not of their planet, she is looked at as less of a warrior. When she overhears a plot to kill her and her mother, no one believes her, until she is attacked and Caillen comes to her rescue, only problem, she jumps to help him in the fight and they end up in an escape pod, only to be later labeled as the murder's of their parents.
Now they must work together, with a few good friends of Caillen's to uncover the plot, and figure out who is out to frame them both and how it all is connected. Especially since they had never meet before that day. At the same time, Caillen and Desideria find themselves falling for each other.
Travel back to the future world of Sherrilyn Kenyon and The League, and those ever rogue good guys, the Sentella. I have to say that this is probably one of my all time favorite series, at this point I am even thinking about going back and rereading the beginning books. It is just that I love the world that the author developed the idea of this League and this band of rogues that need to police it and take care of things no one else can.
You will again see favorite characters from the first two book, since this book goes back to the first generation again.
The League
Book One: Born of Night My Review Link
Book Two: Born of Fire My Review Link
Book Three: Fire and Ice
Book Four:Born of Ice My Review Link
Book Five: Born of Shadows
Book Six: Born of Silence My Review Link
Book Seven: Cloak and Silence My Review Link
Book Eight: Born of Fury
View all my reviews
Sweet Talk Me
by Kieran Kramer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Life hadn't been easy for True Maybank, but at this point she was hoping that things were looking up. She was going to finally marry the boy her family always thought she should since high school, after all these years, too bad none of them were going to be around to see it. She had managed to hold her family home together and get her younger sister through high school and Weezie would be off to college this fall. She was feeling pretty good. Then she had to see HIM when she went to pick up her wedding dress.
Harrison Gamble might be a famous country singer today, and everyone might fawn all over him, but there was a time when not everyone in Biscuit Creek was pleased to see him. He and True had been friends, then there had been that thing between them at prom, but she had set him straight, he wasn't good enough for her. Why then did the sight of her all these years later make him crazy? He wasn't sure but all he knew was that he had to find out what she was up to, no matter what his people were wanting.
As Harrison and True spend some time together, old feelings are rekindled. Not only that, but True learns more about herself and her fears, and why she has always been afraid to follow after what she wanted. It is a story of love and romance, of shallow southern boys, and good old southern boys. There is self discovery and reflection and peace of mind.
This is a wonderful little novel that is enjoyable to read. It is well written and you feel part of the family.
View all my reviews
Hope For Garbage
by Alex Tully
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
To say that Trevor has had a rough life is putting it mildly. He currently lives with his Uncle, who really wants nothing to do with him, and he is seeing a therapist only to appease his best friend and next door neighbor, who just happens to be a seventy year old man. He's never had a girlfriend and he rides his bike everywhere he wants to go. One day he meets Bea, a privileged girl from the rich part of town, and they seem to like each other. They start to develop a relationship, but it is plagued by problems, one of which is her mother. Hope for Garbage is the story of a short period in Trevor's life, from the time he meets Bea until a few months later. Things seem to go from bad to worse, then better. Alex Tully gives the reader insight into the world of this lonely and scared young man.
Hope for Garbage is not only the coming of age story about Trevor, but it is the healing of Trevor. He has scars from his life with his mother, before her death, scars from living with his Uncle, and then scars from the events that occur during the story after he mets Bea. He doesn't trust the therapist he is talking to, but there comes a breaking point, and he finally opens up to her, and the healing is able to begin. Alex Tully gives the reader a story about resilience, about overcoming the bad in life and finding a new purpose and new meaning. Trevor is the embodiment of that concept. This is a great book for young adults and adults alike. It truly will make you think about your own life and what you are doing with your own life.
View all my reviews
The Ghosts of Rue Dumaine
by Alexandrea Weis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
Danica grew up in New Orleans, but moved away after her mother's passing, went to college and married badly. Now that she is free of the ex-husband, she is back wanting to rent her former home again. Not just for the memories, but because she left behind something else, her bet friend, a ghost that haunts the home, Gaston. Slowly Danica realizes that she is in love with Gaston, but can she truly be happy in love with a man that can not hold her or kiss her? As The Ghosts of Rue Dumaine unfolds more than just the ghost of Gaston will become evident, and this new ghost is not as welcoming to Danica as Gaston is. What is in store for Danica? Can she survive the ghosts and will she find what will truly make her happy? Alexandrea Weis writes a southern novel, set in New Orleans that resounds with the spirits of the area.
Alexandrea Weis takes the favorite local of ghosts and ghost stories, New Orleans and puts a real life family kind of story into it. Danica grew up and lived here, loved here and lost here. This is where she belongs and where she comes back to when she needs to find herself again. The Ghosts of Rue Dumaine has your typical good ghost and bad ghost, but you never quite know how is good and how is bad to whom, until the very end. Each has qualities that can make them both, but in the end it is what they are willing to give up for others that determines their status. This is a lovely novel that treats you to some local fare of New Orleans that is welcome in any story. Perfect quick novel for those wanting something to read whether you like the romance or not so much, and there are non-believers of the ghosts in the books, so if you are not that into the ghosts, you still might enjoy this book.
View all my reviews
The Boy From The Woods
by Jen Minkman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
For the last couple of years Julia has dreamed of the high school golden boy, Michael. She has used him to inspire her poetry and music and she has thought herself in love with him, at the graduation ball he finally asks her to dance and kisses her leading to a "date", then nothing. He never calls or texts her back, and when she runs into him on the street, he acts like she should be grateful he gave her the time. She is devastated. Now Michael has been in a motorcycle accident an is acting different. Should she given him a second chance? The Boy From the Woods takes us to Austria, to follow Julia and her group of close friends in the summer after high school. They give her advice on Michael, and see what transpires. Jen Minkman weaves in the local and life of Austria with Celtic folklore and traditions to create a story of young love and broken hearts.
The Boy From the Woods is set in Austria, and when you start reading, this is the first thing you need to know, because if not you will be confused as to why at a high school graduation party they are drinking beer. That is party of the beauty of this story, no one gets drunk, they never drink that much, it is one or two and that is it. I think it sends a wonderful message to American youth that not all people look at drinking as something to do only to get drunk. Also being set in Austria, Jen Minkman uses typical German phrases and greetings in the book frequently, which lends to the authenticity of the story. It also makes you want to live in a place with so much history that certain things are continued through the generations. Add to that the forest and Celtic folklore and you have a full and wonderful romance, coming of age story that is wonderfully written and great for any age reader.
View all my reviews
Shadow of Time
by Jen Minkman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
For years Ben and Hannah have summered in their mom's cabin in St. Mary's Port. They grew up there and formed great friendships with Josh and Emily from the nearby reservation. Hannah hasn't been back in four years, but after her first year of teaching she needs the summer break. What she finds is not what she expected. Josh, her brother Ben's best friend has grown up and even though he is younger than her he seems so much older and so good looking. She is not sure what to think or what to do, and he seems just as confused. After being stranded and having to wait for the guys to pick her up, Hannah is threaten by three drunks, which starts a series of weird and scary dreams. As she tries to understand them, she only gets more confused until finally Josh is forced to break down and explain himself to her. Shadow of Time is a wonderful mix of romance, history, legend and modern. Jen Minkman does a superb job of mixing so many concepts into one book without it seeming overwhelming.
Shadow in Time is set near an Indian reservation, so we learn some true Indian history, some Indian legend in this story, but never once is any of that boring or stuffy! It is told in dreams and remembrances and scenes that make perfect sense so that it fits perfectly in the story. Not only that but there is romance, past lives, curses and coming of age all wrapped into this story. Three people; Ben, Hannah, and Josh are at the center of this story, but you don't realize it until closer to the end that all three are involved. It can almost be said this book is a walking advertisement for the ideal that people come into your life for a reason because in this story, there are reasons that each person is where they are. Even the grad student Nick, that seems out of place has a purpose, he gets them all talking about history of the Navajo and is able to put some perspective on certain things that Hannah and Josh are too close to see at first. That message in the book is classic. This is a great book for young adults and teens, but I can easily say that adults will be able to find the beauty of the story just as well.
View all my reviews
The Thirteenth Tower
by Sara C. Snider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
In a medieval time period of manor houses and servants, of travel by walking and visiting troops of entertainers that created a festival in town, we are introduced to Emelyn. Emelyn has the unique history in town has the baby that was left on the doorstep of the manor house and they allowed the housekeeper to raise the baby and she became a servant girl. Everywhere she goes she see's pity in the eyes of some, promise in the eyes of a few but no real hope for her in the town of Fallow. Just outside of town is a large tower, this is the home of the Magistrates, of Magi what they really do is unknown to most and Emelyn knows even less about them, but as she is on an errand the morning of the village festival she sees two of them walking past the manor house. The evening of the festival becomes strange and unsettling, a young man Corran befriends Emelyn and rescues her from a dance which everyone seems entranced in but her. The Magi come and offer her escape, and she and Corran follow. The Thirteenth Tower follows Emelyn and Corran on this journey, which will become on of self-discovery for Emelyn. Sara C. Snider does a wonderful job of wrapping a message into a neat package of a story.
The Thirteenth Tower is about the Magi towers, but it is also about discovery. Emelyn will discover who she really is on this journey, what she is capable of where she wants to go with her life. She will face fears and challenges that she never expected and find truths that she never imagined. This is not only about Emelyn, but we learn about the Magi, about two in particular Percival and Aldren, two completely different men. One willing to go to any lengths necessary to gain knowledge no matter the cost, the other determined not to repeat his own mistakes. Sara C. Snider not only gives us a story on the growth and development of a little girl, but on the corruption that power and absolute knowledge can also bring. Humanity is the balance and it must always be weighed when counting the costs of gaining knowledge. This is a great book for young adults and older readers as well. It has a theme and story that should entertain and well as educate readers.
View all my reviews
The Fifth Season
by Rayna Dee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Fifth Season starts in Delphi, India and the main characters are of Indian origin, which given the readers own origin either explains or confuses some of the events that occur in the book. For the most part though everything is told in such a way that no matter your own origins, you can follow along and understand eveything that is going on and why. There is a glossary of some of the common terms that are used in the book often at the end.
Daman is a man of means. He was raised poor, lost his mother to illness when they didn't have the money for treatment, his father to sucide from the guilt to be raised by his Uncle. He has built his Uncle's business into what it is now that they do not have to worry about money, but at the same time he has closed himself off to love. He refuses to allow anyone to get close to him for fear of losing them again.
Muskaan has grown up in a poor family, but there was much love in her family and she never felt the need to amass riches, she is looking for love. She is a free spirit and everything that Daman is not. When their worlds collide, she is hired to be his grandfather's reader and guide, everything they both had planned for life is turned on it's ear.
Just on the verge of what should be happiness for Daman and Muskann, his arrogance and disbelief in love threatens to ruin it all. As she slowly learns what he has done wrong and the effects it has hard on not only Muskaan, but himself, can he learn to change? Can he learn to lower the walls and allow himself to love? More importantly can he earn Muskaan's forgiveness?
Author Rayna Dee takes the reader on a true journey, starting in India and finishing in America while spending time in London. In each detestation there are places and events that are talked about in detail and involved in the story, but all are parts of the story in a whole. There is a purpose for each of the events and places, they are not just filler. It makes for some interesting reading.
View all my reviews
