ForNever (Volume 1)
by Lynette Ferreira
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Heather has lost her faith in love when her parents divorce, then she meets Keiran and Jayden, brothers that want to romance her. They have a lot to try to make up for in her mind, since she is sure that love doesn't exist. What Heather doesn't know in the beginning is this is not the first time this trio has meet and done with dance. Long ago in Salem, the trio was cursed by a witch and they repeat history over and over, forcing Heather to choose between the brothers, and when she chooses wrong, she dies and is reborn. ForNever is a complex title, in that it talks about Heather's believe that love never lasts and that they have been forced to repeat history over and over. Author Lynette Ferreira has developed a story that pulls you in, embraces the present and the past and has you turning pages and reading until the end.
ForNever is actually listed as Volume One, meaning that there is a follow up story of some kind after this book, which is interesting, because where it is going to lead is unknown. Author Lynette Ferreira is a great writer and this book was so compelling and captivating. It had me laughing, crying and rooting for true love. It is a great story and I easily recommend it for all readers of any age. This is really a fairly clean book, there is no sex and little language. I think it would be great for teens and middle school readers, as well as adults. Everyone can find something that fits them in this book.
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A Vampire's Christmas Carol
by Cynthia Eden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Ben hated his life, or unlife. Ben was a vampire, and not a happy one. He had never wanted to be a vampire, and he felt like everything in his life was taken from him when he was turned into a vampire.
As a vampire, Ben kills, but yet he kills criminals, feeling that at least this way he can make something good come of his change.
Christmas Eve and Ben is going to have his own Scrooge experience. He is visited by a demon, an angel and a shifter - all as part of giving him some perspective on his life and focused on getting him to change his ways and embrace his life as a vampire and stop trying to destroy himself.
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The Binding
by Victoria Clapton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
For most of her life Sybella Rose has never felt like she fit in. She was the only girl, raised by her father and six older brothers, who were all successful in their respective careers, whereas Syb isn't sure what she wants to do, so she packs up her life and moves to New Orleans, which immediately feels like home. Her apartment is above JoJo's Mojo voodoo shop, which becomes her first job. Josephine, or JoJo is also her landlord, along with her husband Al, who is the chef next door at Gumbo Gris Gris. On her first night in town she meets Demien. He might rub her the wrong way, but she feels these pull to him. The Binding is not only the title of the book, but a pull between two people fated, or meant to be mates. Author Victoria Clapton created a complex story involving magic, voodoo, ghosts, mates and protecting their home, New Orleans.
The Binding is such a complex and compelling book. I have read a number of books of the same title, but this book is completely different, other than the concept of a set of mates bound by something supernatural. This story is so full of layers and issues. First there is the resident ghost in Sybella's apartment, who has a mission for her. Then there is Demien, the strange pull to him that Sybella feels, his pushing her away, and the other people in town. This book had me turning paging over and over until the end. I loved every page and couldn't put the book down until it was done. Author Victoria Clapton was able to create such a complex story that is compelling and captivating. I recommend this book to anyone who loves New Orleans, the south, vampires, voodoo and food!
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Love, Alchemy
by Eden Ashley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Life is not a bed of roses for Davey, her mom is an alcoholic who has no problem using her for a punching bag. All she wants is to make it through her senior year and get out of this place, too bad she has resorted to illegal means to try to finance her plans. Her sometimes boyfriend is the son of a powerful judge, but that doesn't prevent them from getting into major trouble, thanks to Davey's mom Tina. Enter a strange cop, Ethan, who makes it his mission to protect Davey, even though there are major holes in his own memory. As Davey and Ethan end up on the run from a powerful drug lord, they become closer and a lot of Ethan's past starts to become clearer. Love, Alchemy is listed as a romance, and there is definitely that, but there is so much more. Action, adventure, cop chases, murder, lies, betrayal, deceit and a science fiction background. Author Eden Ashley creates an unbelievable story that pulls you and and keeps you until the last page.
Love, Alchemy is a wonderful story that keeps you guessing from the beginning to the end. You never know what is going to happen next, and the science fiction touches make you think of the possibilities for the future and what might be going on behind closed lab doors. Author Eden Ashley makes you feel for Davey, from the way she describes the home life to the need to earn money, from the way that people in town treat her, to her vulnerable emotions. This is a great book, and I recommend it to every reader, although given some of the themes I would not recommend it to younger readers. This book will have you laughing, crying and never putting it down until you finish.
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A Threat of Shadows (The Keeper Chronicles, Book One)
by J.A. Andrews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
In another time, in another place, far away and long ago, those with the knowledge and studies were called Keepers, and they advised the Queen as well as studied everything. Alaric was a Keeper, but for the last year instead of doing his duties, he has searched the world over for a cure to the one poison, rock snake venom that has no cure. Alaric isn't after the cure for the good of many, just to save his own wife Evangeline. His quest has him teaming up with the most unlikely group of treasure seekers, a blacksmith named Brandson, a dwarf named Douglon, a wizard called Gustuav and an elf named Adya. Together the search for what Alaric hopes will hold the cure and in the process get into a whole different mission, that of saving the world. A Threat of Shadows bu author JA Andrews is a complex and captivating story of adventure and redemption.
A Threat of Shadows is called part of the Keeper Chronicles, Book 1, and although it seems to be a complete story, after thinking about it when I was finished with the book, I did see a number of ways a second book could be written off this excellent starting point. Author JA Andrews has crafted a wonderfully complex tale that has many layers and themes. The choices we make in life, how do they define us or do they? It is a story of redemption and atonement, not for sins but from choices and it is well written and compelling. This is an epic adventure story as well and would entertain a number of varied readers.
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Heat in the Bayou (Dark Warrior Alliance, book 4.5)
by Brenda Trim and Tami Julka
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What can I say, I am in love with this series! Even though this is a very short little story, set in-between two of the novels, it is so worth reading!
Zeke is a panther shifter, and second in command of the pack in Seattle, where most of the books take place. A few books back, Zander and his crew had to go to New Orleans and visit Madame Marie, the voodoo queen. On that visit they meet Tia, and Zander gave her the news that he knew where her fated mate was. So when Zander needed someone to go to New Orleans to look into Angel's Kiss, the only drug around that can effect the supernaturals like shifters and vampires, of course he sends Zeke, but without telling him why.
The minute Zeke walks into the Voodoo shop, he is struck by the beautiful Tia and has no idea why he is acting like a teenager. Tia sees him walk in, and she is sure that he is the shifter that Zander spoke of to her on his visit, and she wants to find out.
This is just a short story of Tia and Zeke, their meeting, getting to know each other and discovering their connections, as well as locating the Angel's Kiss in the area. Cute and romantic, it is a fast paced story that will explain Tia's presence in future books. It also goes back and connects to the original visit to New Orleans in book two or three.
I love the way the authors manage to go back and pick up a small event in a book and make a story out of it that will continue throughout the books. Each character in the series is part of a family, and so as the books progress there is the whole story line of the protecting the world from evil, but each book focuses on a member of the family, and so the whole series draws you in and makes you feel as if you actually known the characters and you want to hear their stories and see them all find love and happiness.
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Dark Siren (Dark Siren, book 1)
by Eden Ashley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Young and beautiful, Kalista was not your typical teenager, she drank of the souls of others, but of course she couldn't tell anyone about this. Adopted at the age of seven, when her parents died, she has always felt a little different, but when she blossomed as a teen and started drinking of the souls, she knew things were off. At the movies one night, she meets a handsome stranger that she can't help but feel she has known, and that begins a strange and dark course for her life that she never could have imagined. Rhane has been searching for Kalista for over 400 years, but she has been hidden from him, when he finds her in the body of a seventeen year old, he is unsure what to do, but losing her is not an option. Dark Siren is a complex story of love and lose, of supernatural forces and coming of age, forgotten memories and revenge. Author Eden Ashley weaves a tale that twists and turns to the point that you never know who to actually trust.
Dark Siren is said to be the first book in a series of at least four books, and that is a good thing because by the end of this book you are left wanting more. The story is complex and there are so many layers of things going on that you are always guessing. Author Eden Ashley creates a story that draws you in, has you wanting to know more, surprised at times, happy and sad within the same chapter and leaves you begging for more. There is some sexual references, but no actual sex in the story and there is a lot of adventure and fighting, but I feel comfortable recommending it for teen readers as well as adults.
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The Witch Lineage
by Marian Lindner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Lena is a gawky, nerdy, teenager who can't wait to get to college and blossom, like her older sister Linda did. For now, though she has to get through her eighteenth birthday with her father out of town. To make matters worse, she had a nightmare the night before, and once she makes it to school, she finds out it actually happened. One of the senior boys was attacked at a bonfire and is in the hospital. This brings out the ever present rumors of witches, which some people swear are false, but with some many people ignoring the rumors, could they just really be true? The Witch Lineage is a paranormal story of witches, lurking just beneath the surface of everyday life, and wreaking havoc on life without anyone the wiser, all because too many people discount the idea of witches. Author Marian Lindner gives readers a well written and complex story about teenagers, witches and legend.
The Witch Lineage is listed as young adult, as the main characters are high school students, but yet adults play key roles in the story as well, so I would recommend it for any age reader. Author Marian Lindner writes a story of a legend of the area where the story takes place, witches and so many people refusing to even entertain the idea of witches, that the witches are able to do so much without notice. It makes for a good story of good over evil, but also about not discounting legends, being aware of the world around you and exploring every avenue. This was a captivating story that draws you in as a reader. It was clean, with no language or sex, so I recommend it to all readers.
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Shifter (The Were Chronicles, book 3)
by Alma Alexander
My rating: 4.95 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Saladin, or Chalky as Mal March has always called him, may not be family by blood, but he is the closest thing to a brother Mal has, and he has always been there for him. It stands to reason that when things get difficult for Mal, Chalky is the one he calls. When it comes to book three in the Were Chronicles, it also stands to reason that it should be Saladin's story. Shifter picks up the story were Wolf ends and continues it from there, while at the same time giving us Chalky's own history and story. Author +Alma Alexander has done it again with a third book in this series that is captivating, will have you reading to the end, while at the same time you will cheer and cry with the characters. Once you sit the book down, you will be thinking about all the events, the social injustices, the outrage and linking it to the current times.
Shifter is the third, and final, book in the Were Chronicles. You might be ok reading them alone, but the story is so much bigger and emcompasses so much more when you read all three together, in order. While it is fun and exciting to read about shape-shifters, there is a socially charged underlying story with the discrimination and forced labeling of their kind. Author Alma Alexander gives you what you want to read in a wonderfully written and page-turning book. Yet when you really think about what she is saying, you will find yourself thinking about the world around you and what occurs. It would make an excellent book club series, even moreso it would be a great series to read in school! I recommend it to all readers, of all ages, and I also recommend that you think and talk about it with others afterwards! This is the kind of book that while it was written for enjoyment, it has the power to change people and thinking.
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Wolf (The Were Chronicles, Book 2)
by Alma Alexander
My rating: 4.95 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Mal March has just set his life off in a complicated and unprecedented journey. He has become a were-wolf, a rare and totally not random shape-shifting form, which means that he will have to leave his family and become part of the wolf pack. For Mal, this means redemption and a way to find answers in his life, but nothing ever turns out exactly as planned. Wolf is the second book in the Were Chronicles, and were the first book was his younger sister Jazz's story, this book is Mal's story. It goes back and gives some history and his view on some things leading up to his turning into a wolf, which occurred at the end of Random. This book takes up were book one ended and goes one. Author +Alma Alexander once again gives a book that is captivating and exciting. You will not want to put it down until you finish it, and then you will be screaming for book three!
The Were Chronicles, book one Random and now book two Wolf, really need to be read in order, although you might be ok if you don't. I was so captivated by the story that I read all three books one right after the other! This book is all Mal's story and takes him from leaving his family through his journey. This book may be a paranormal, fantasy book but there is genetic testing and experiments, forced registration and so much more that is socially cutting edge. Author Alma Alexander gives readers a book that is fun and exciting, but if you sit back and think about it, it could provide excellent book club conversations! This series is my absolute favorite style, something that is fun and gets kids and teens reading, but at the same time has some many unlying socially conscious themes that it forces you to look at life and the world around you at the same time! Everyone should read this series!
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Random (The Were Chronicles, Book 1)
by Alma Alexander
My rating: 4.95 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
At first glance, Jessica March, or Jazz to her family, looks like your typical almost fifteen year old; but one look inside her family and you realize she is far from normal. Jazz, and her family, are Random Weres. This means that each month on the full moon, her parents change shape into their were form, and being random means that it can be anything that first time. Her older brother Malcolm, or Mal is almost eighteen, and still hasn't managed to shift, which is concerning, but when you start delving into her family it becomes understandable. Random is the first book in the Were Chronicles and focuses on Jazz and her life and the family up to the point of her first turning. Author +Alma Alexander creates a complex and socially relevant family saga that will keep you reading from page one to the end.
Random, being the first book in the Were Chronicles, focuses mostly on Jazz, in that it is her story throughout the book. It tells of the family's journey to this country and some history, but Jazz is the focus. This book, aside from being a fun story of were's or shape shifters, is the story of discrimination, forced registration, and social injustice. Author Alma Alexander writes a story that draws you in and is exciting and captivating, while at the same time is thought provoking and scary. One issue is that everyone who is a were, or shape shifter, must register and they have a government id that is unique, with a paw print on it, instead of plain. Humm, is it just me or does that make you think of the forced labeling of Jews during the reign of Hitler? I recommend this book to all readers, while it is fun and a great story, there is plenty to talk about when you really look at the story!
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