Sutherland
by Karen Trailor Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
Jennalee might be eighteen, but she is throwing a huge tantrum at having to move in the middle of her senior year, never mind that her father had a major heart attack and surgery and was told to give up his law practice and move somewhere quiet for his health, all Jennalee can see is that she had to move away from her first boyfriend and her beloved music teacher. Luckily for her, the fourth of July weekend sees the annual Sutherland family reunion at the quant hotel her parents now run. The hotel is packed full of family members that are trying to one-up the others, having affairs with each other, and all kinds of other general family feuds. Harley Laidlaw is one of the Sutherland family members, but he is nothing like the rest and an amazing violin player, over the weekend Jennalee and Harley bound over music. Sutherland is the story of a large family and their dysfunction while at the same time being the coming-of-age of Jennalee. Author Karen Trailor Thomas has created a multi-layered story.
Sutherland revolves around the dysfunctional Sutherland family, but it also is the story of Jennalee, her tantrum and the ability of an outsider to see what she is doing, how she is hurting herself to spite her parents, and to get her to focus on the big picture and stop blaming her parents for a move, that was necessary to save her fathers life, even though she won't admit it. Author Karen Trailor Thomas was able to weave two separate stories into one and create a wonderful novel of family and life. This story is definitely for the more mature reader as there is a great deal of sex and sexual references.
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Bitch Witch
by S.R. Karfelt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers favorite
Sarah Archer is trying everything in her power to be a good person and not to use witchcraft to benefit herself, which is what her mother and her aunt did all their lives. Unfortunately a late night run to Target in the middle of PMS and a rude woman honking at her in the parking lot was more than Sarah could take. When she allowed her inner bitch to come out the aftershock of the spell was way bigger than Sarah expected, and an innocent man is swept up into the mix. Bitch Witch is a tell of good vs evil, well really more like dark vs light instead of true evil. It is the story of Sarah trying to live her life but without following in the footsteps of her mother and her aunt. Author S.R. Karfelt creates a fun, easy and almost comedic at time story of life and love.
Bitch Witch is the story of a woman who doesn't want to be the same as her family before her, but has no real idea how to go about it. She works a clerk job to keep her mind occupied and keep herself from using the dark magic that courses through her veins. Author S.R. Karfelt has taken a modern story, a woman with a desire to be something different than her ancestors, but making clumsy attempts at it. When Paul is swept into the afterschock of her spell, he becomes a friend and confidenate that allows Sarah to find her way in the world. This is aqq reasonably clean book with no real sex or bad language, I defientely would recommend it to all readers. I found the idea of a woman breaking away from her past and trying to forge her own life away from what she has always saw her mother and aunt do as a refreashing plot line.
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Fire Warrior: Dark Warrior Alliance Series, Book 14
by Brenda Trim and Tami Julka
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Fire Warrior is book 14 in the Dark Warrior Alliance Series. That in and of itself is an amazing feat in that most series have to tap out at five or six books because they start becoming repetitive. Authors Brenda Trim and Tami Julka have not ran out of ideas yet and they are able to craft yet another book in the series that engages the reader as much as the first.
Fire Warrior is finally Breslin's story, and it has its own ups and downs.
In addition to fBreselin, we still get to keep up with the rest of the residents of Zerum and it is so much fun to see what is going on with them all and what new things are happening in the general population.
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Ramiel: Dark Warrior Alliance Book 15
by Brenda Trim and Tami Julka
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
In another life Ramiel was married to Elise before she became the Vampire Queen but now he is the Guardian Angel of her daughter Izzy for his final test as an Angel of Retribution. The biggest problem that Ramiel has is his temper, and then his anger over Elise being happy and moving on with her life after his earthly death. Now Izzy has been kidnapped by Lucifer and Ramiel is determined to rescue her on his own, problem is that he needs the help of a fallen to get into hell, and that requires a bond, which is not in his plans. Throughout this book there are also glimpses into life at Zerum and updates on all your favorite couples and characters from earlier books. Ramiel is the fifteenth book in the Dark Warrior Alliance series by authors Brenda Trim and Tami Julka.
The Dark Warrior Alliance is an amazing series, especially given the fact that Ramiel is book number fifteen. Authors Brenda Trim and Tami Julka still are able to weave a story as fresh and new as they did in book one. Personally I have read every book in this series, and I am always amazed at how the authors are able to weave the story without repeating plotlines and ideas. Each book is new and unique, and could, if needed stand alone, but the story makes more sense when read in order. Ramiel again is able to pull the reader in and have them feeling as if they are part of this unique and varied world. These are definitely adult books, as there is a good about of talk about fated mates and the intimate acts that go with that, yet at the same time the writing about those acts fit the story and are not overly graphic. There is also a good deal of violence between the Warriors and the Demons, but that is to be expected when you are talking about Lucifer wanting to take over the world and get rid of the human population.
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Ice Warrior: Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 13
by Brenda Trim and Tami Julka
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is Bhric's story....
Those of us who have followed this story have been waiting for Bhric to finally get his story, to change his ways and to become the warrior we all know he can be. Finally we have that story.
Alex Layne is a human doctor, working in the same hospital as Jace but still completely naïve in the ways of of the supernatural world. Fate is in control when Bhric is attacked by a rogue vampire bent on killing him and he is brought to the ER, Dr Alex is the one who takes care of him and instead of being completely frightened by him she is determined to keep him from becoming an experiment.
As with all the Trim and Julka books, this is amazing and so worth reading! I have loved every minute of this series and have read every book. That says something because ususally authors run out of ideas after five or six books, but here we are at book 13 and it is still as exciting and intriguing as book one.
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Faces of Betrayal: Symphonies of Sun & Moon Saga Book 1
by Daniele Cella
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
In another world, in another place, in another time warriors and clans rule the world. Marriage is a contract to bond clans and ensure peace, but sometimes betrayal taints the contract. In Faces of Betrayal by authors Daniele Cella and Alessio Manneschi, we follow a number of different players in a complex tale of war, peace, marriage and betrayal, power and greed. There are a number of characters and each has a chapter(s) to tell what it going on from their view. Through all these different views we learn of greed, the want for power, and detailed plans to wrench power from those who have it instead of taking it through peaceful means. There are also some complete innocents in this story that are swept up in the aftermath of the betrayal, and even though they don't know the full extent of the betrayal, they have to forge a way in this new world on their own, without knowing who they can actually trust.
Authors Daniele Cella and Alessio Manneschi have created a unique world with its own history of war and peace that is slowly unraveled as you travel through the Faces of Betrayal. Each person that we meet in the story has a different view, a different knowledge of what is happening and a different connect to each of the other people. Everyone is intertwined together, yet it is not until the end of the book that you finally realize how they are intertwined together and what their roles were in the fate of the other people. This is a well written story that keeps you reading because you feel the need to fully understand what is going on, and you only get glimpses of the big picture until the very end, even then you are left reaching for the second book to figure out more. There is some sex and lots of violence as there is a war taking place, but it is all well written and definitely fit in the story. Given all that, I would recommend this to adult readers.
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Ghost of Bliss Bayou
by Jack Massa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
Life for seventeen-year-old Abby Renshaw has not been easy. Her father died when she was young, her mom moved her from Florida to New Jersey away from her Granma, and she started having vivid dreams and visions. Of course she was treated by a psychiatrist for those in New Jersey, but they have started to return only now Abby feels compelled to return to Florida to visit her Granma on Bliss Bayou. While there Abby has more visions, only this time she learns more about her family history and the history of Bliss Bayou as a magical place, and is introduced to Violet who practices magic and is able to help Abby understand the visions and not run from them. Ghosts of Bliss Bayou by author Jack Massa tells the story of the Renshaw family and the practice of practical magic that existed in the area. The truth of the family history has been buried in lies by those greedy for power, and it becomes Abby's job to uncover the truth and set things right.
Author Jack Massa has created a wonderful little world that is historic and steeped in tradition and magic, but not your wand waving kind of magic, the more practical magic of a naturalist, listening to the elements of the world and being in tune with them. Ghosts of Bliss Bayou falls into the paranormal genre for the appearance of a number of ghosts who help lead Abby to the truth, as well as the use of the practical magic. It is just as much a coming of age story as Abby finds her way in the world and what she wants to do and who she really is. This is a well written and engaging book that is great for young adults, teens and adults alike. Although at times the visions get a bit confusing, it you just press on reading, it all becomes clear. This is a very clean book, no language or sex, so I recommend it for any reader.
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