Callie (The Bayou Hauntings, Volume 1)
by Bill Thompson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
All her life Callie has felt like a failure, not worthy of the affection of her grandmother or anyone else for that matter, part of that came from the fact that her father took off the minute he found out her mother was pregnant, and part was the way the extended family treated her. Her misguided attempt to "grown up" and make something of herself found her estranged from her grandmother for the last decade. Now her grandmother was dead and Callie still found herself feeling like a failure. When her Uncle Willard calls to tell her that she must be in Louisiana for the reading of her grandmothers will, she found herself at his mercy as he had to wire her the money to get there. There is no love lost between Callie and her Uncle Willard, and once the will is read and what she inherits is discovered, it becomes clear that Uncle Willard wants what she got, and will do anything to get it. Callie, The Bayou Hauntings is the story of Callie's discovery of her family history and in turn of herself. Author Bill Thompson delivers a southern story high on suspense and family.
Callie is titled as the first Volume in The Bayou Hauntings, which gives the impress of a series, but not necessary following just the one character. Author Bill Thompson gives the reader a book high in suspense and supernatural or paranormal in the form of a friendly visitor that seems real but just might be a ghost. The key to the story is the discover of the family history, how everything that happened in the past actually came to be, and that history unlocks the secrets of the plantation mansion that Callie inherited and also allows Callie to come into her own. This book is clean in that there is no sex, although there are the mention on illegitimate children and there is only a few curse words spread throughout the story, they are appropriate when they come into play. Therefore I have no problem recommending this book to readers of all ages.
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The Darkest Legacy: Hints of Betrayal (Book One Omnibus)
by Jennifer Lynn Catz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed For +Readers' Favorite
Cara is your normal teenage girl, popular, on the dance team at school and an average student. Or at least that is what she has always thought. After a car accident left her in the hospital, she is finally back at school and ready for life to get back to the regular, normal routine but it seems that nothing is going to be normal. Her mom, Maria, seems to be acting weird, paranoid in some ways and then there are these bizarre headaches that knock her flat. One morning Cara wakes up to find nobody home, but that doesn't concern her, she thinks that her sister is at school and Mom at a meeting, until the noisy neighbor comes over and things take a bizarre turn. Turns out her family is kidnapped and she has to find them! The Darkest Legacy: Hints of Betrayal (Book One Omnibus) starts with us getting to know Cara, and at times she is a spoiled brat that has no concept of anyone or anything but herself. As the story progresses we see Cara grow as she learns secret after secret about the world and her own family. Author Jennifer Lynn Catz creates a story of good vs evil, white magic vs dark magic, but weaves it into a coming-of-age, young girl realizing her own worth and losing her brattiness.
The Darkest Legacy: Hints of Betrayal is set to be the first book in a series, and it really is a set up book. Most of the book is background, Cara fighting the neighbor who turns out to be so much more, and creating a context. For someone to have so much responsibility of the future on their shoulders, Cara is not what you would pick as a heroine. In fact, she is probably the opposite and so there is a lot that she must learn and go through, and this first book sets up the transformation that may or may not come in the future. Author Jennifer Lynn Catz gives you a sometimes comical story of a young girl coming to terms with truths she has never thought possible before. It is so well written and engaging that you are through with the book before you realize it. This is a great read for all ages, there is some language but it is typical teenage stuff.
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Mistletoe & Mayhem (Dark Alliance, Book 3.5)
by Brenda Trim and Tami Julka
My rating: 4.2 of 5 stars
Everything in Jessi's life has been turned upside down all because of a car accident, and the bite of an archdemon. Now, she is dhampire, part vampire and part demon. She's been staying with her best friend Cailyn, and her sister Elise, who just happens to be married to the Vampire King. They have been helping her adjust to this new life. Now she is headed home to break the news to her parents.
James is a shifter, new in town and just riding by when he sees Jessi at the gas station and can't help but stop and flirt a little. Thing is it is more than flirting, its full on lust, or at least that is what he is thinking. He asks her where to find food and she mentions a little local hangout, maybe she will see him there later.
Mistletoe and Mayhem is a really short little short that slides into the Dark Warrior Alliance Series. It mentions events that are currently occurring during book 3, so timing wise it is after book 2, which is when we are introduced to Jessi and she is involved in the car accident, and before about the middle of book 3. This book gives us a little closure, so to speak on Jessi.
Although it is really short - only took me about half an hour to read, and it moves pretty fast, you kinda know what is coming in a way, this is just a sweet little Christmas romance, in that it takes place away from all the fighting and violence of the supernatural world, and is just about two people running into each other and finding their mate.
Another great book in the series!!!
Dark Alliance Series:
1. Dream Warrior
2. Mystick Warrior
3. Deviant Warrior
3.5 Mistletoe & Mayhem
4. Scarred Warrior - (originally slated to release winter of 2015 - not released yet)
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The McGregor Chronicles: Book 1 - Saving Mike
by Larry K. Collins, Lorna Collins
My rating: 4.3 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
When space travel is an everyday occurrence, sleeping for long periods of travel is the norm. As Matt is waking from his sleep, he is hearing voices. Turns out he has medical nanobots in his body and they are ready to help him. As Matt finally comes to, he realizes that his brother Mike is gone. The McGregor Chronicles: Saving Mike is the story of what Matt goes through to rescue his brother, including being paired with a young Federation Officer, Tracy Warren, who although she has a pilot license, has never actually flown a craft. Whereas Matt, who doesn't have a license, has grown up on a space craft. The two work together against pirates and even some shady officials to hopefully bring their family back together again. Authors Larry K. Collins and Lorna Collins have teamed up to create a new space adventure.
The McGregor Chronicles, is set to be a series and this book in particular is the beginning. As a beginning book in a series, we are introduced to a very large McGregor Clan, mainly focusing in Matt and somewhat Mike, but you meet a number of others. We are also given some background and history of Tracy and her unique upbringing. Authors Larry K. Collins and Lorna Collins have given the reader space travel, adventure, pirates, corruption, military, family and a touch of romance all in one story. All of this keeps the story moving along at a quick pace and before you realize it the book is over. There is also the nanobot technology and the moral and ethical questions in how to use it, which will cause you to pause and think. This is a very clean book, no sex or foul language. I feel confident recommending it to teens, young adults and older readers.
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Witch of Death
by Chrys Fey
My rating: 4.2 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
As a Detective, what do you do when your victim is floating five feet off the bed? Well you call in another Detective, who just happens to be a witch, what else. Liberty Sawyer is a witch, and she takes her abilities seriously and does what she can to prevent and help the police, including her Uncle. She can't help it if his new partner is good looking, and a real pain in the butt because he refuses to believe anything she says. Witch of Death is a short story about Liberty and Reid's interactions as she helps them with two murders, and hopefully to prevent a third, and as Reid comes to believe in something he doesn't understand. Author +Chrys Fey writes a well thought out story, with emotional impact. When Liberty makes a point to Reid, you can feel the tenseness in her body, the stress and power in her voice and the strong stance as she says it. Not every author can do that for the reader.
Witch of Death is a short story, I for one, really wish is had been about twice as long. Not that I wanted any more murders or anything, but more interaction between Liberty and Reid would have been great between the confrontation and the call for help. This is a quick read so great for a traveling book. Author +Chrys Fey really thought out the story, it makes sense to flows well and there is nothing in it that doesn't need to be. Of course it could be longer if the author added a bunch of filler, but sometimes it's better not to have all of that stuff. There is no graphic violence, although the deaths by magic are described and no sex, so this is a clean book for any reader. Not sure you want to try a paranormal or supernatural story, this is the one to start with, short, just enough to get you feet wet and make you want more.
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Rogue's Hollow
by Jan Tilley
My rating: 4.6 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
You've driven through them, those little places way out in the middle of nowhere that are no more that a collection of five or six houses, a store and a bridge or two. That is Rogue's Hollow, the old mill used to employ a lot of people, but when it shut down and most people moved out of town, Norma turned the mill into a general store. Now that Malachi has it, he's added a little history section, a guide to all the haunted places around the area and they do a pretty good business around Halloween. When a turn of events brings young Travis into his store and life, he finds a friend, and Travis finds a purpose. Author +Jan Tilley gives the readers what looks like on the surface a heartwarming story of an old man mentoring a young kid and both of them being better for it. Problem is, there are secrets, deep secrets they both hide, deeper that either of them realized at first.
Rogue's Hollow is the perfect name for the town. The only two people left in town that we meet are Malachi and Roberta and they are not about to move. They are definitely rogue's not conforming to the idea of leaving this old forgotten place and moving on. Slowly over time you learn the history of each of the places that are said to be haunted, and some of them are truly haunted it you're willing to be patient. Over time the history of the town and the forefathers is revealed as well, and that is a little different to say the least. Author +Jan Tilley writes a wonderful heartwarming story with dark undertones that you just can't figure out until the last page. It is a great read for anyone, young adult through old adult. This is really going to keep you glued to your chair!
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A Gift of Ghosts (Tassamara, #1)
by Sarah Wynde
My rating: 4.9 of 5 stars
**If you have been reading me long you know that I rarely give 5's. To me a 5 is perfect, and no book can really be perfect, right, but it can come darn close. This was one of those!!**
This book has been sitting on my reading iPad forever it seems. I downloaded it one time when it was offered for free on Amazon and it has just sat there waiting on me to get the time to read it.
Arika Malone is a scientist, but she also see's ghosts, which has done nothing but cause problems for her. Her father was a science man, told her they were just energy, to ignore them so she tries to and never learns anything about them. One paragraph in a research paper that she mistakenly mentioned spirit energy in and the college she was teaching at all but told her that she was done. Arika was on the hunt for a new job, and fast when an odd offer came.
Zane Latimer is in charge of interviewing the people his father, Max is having brought in for this "job". He sets up in a fake boring office and waits, but Arika is not what he expected, and Zane is not what Arika expected, he is gorgeous but he seems to have no clue and is mysterious. When he hires her immediately for a two-year contract and tells her she can research all she wants, she is even more confused.
Soon Arika realizes that everyone in Tassamara is "different", she can see and talk to ghosts, a lady on the street can read aura's and no one thinks anything about this. She is so used to having to hide her ability, to treat it like a curse that she doesn't understand these people or town that treats it as normal, or as a gift.
Arika makes friends with the teen-age ghost in her rental car, then the ghosts living in her rental house and slowly she starts to come to terms with her ability, but is it not until she accompanies Zane on an abducted child case that she learns things that complete turn her beliefs upside down! Now what is she going to do?
This is a wonderful introduction to the town of Tassamara, as this is dubbed to be the first book in the series. We meet Arika and feel her confusion as she meet the people of the town, her disbelief that a place like this can exist. We get a beginning introduction to the Latimer family and their homegrown company, General Directions. Zane in the younger son, and manages the day-to-day stuff at the office. We learn bits and pieces of the rest of the family, just enough for us to anticipate each members upcoming book.
Now that I have read this first book in Tassamara, I am dying to dive into the next book! I have found that I enjoy the family dynamics of the Latimer family, the dynamics of the town of Tassamara and I just want to know more, I want to hear the stories of the people and the ghosts.
This is a great read, would make a great television series! Anyone that loves a series based on a family, paranormal or para-senses, then you should take a read.
Other Books in the Tassamara Series
A Gift of Thought
The Spirits of Christmas
A Gift of Time
A Lonely Magic
Author's webpage: www.sarahwynde.com
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Eye of The Storm: Eilida's Tragedy (Ruthless Storm Trilogy) (Volume 1)
by Elle Klass
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Eilida is planning to meet up with friends at the local bar, but instead something draws her to the neighbors house. As she slow sneaks over and looks in, what she sees is so horrific and terrifying that she takes off running, it has started storming hard, but she just keeps running until she slide down a hillside landing in a heap against a rock. Sunshine is a receptionist at the Lyden Times Newspaper and she loves her neat and orderly world, only this day nothing is neat and orderly. A young woman was found in the woods with no identification and no memory, strange thing is she looks just like Sunshine only with different color hair. Eye of The Storm: Eilida's Tragedy (Ruthless Storm Trilogy) (Volume 1) follows Sunshine as she turns reporter and tries to discover what sent this woman running and ending up in her town. Elle Klass gives us a wonderful tale of tragedy, survival, repressed memories and recovery.
Eye of The Storm centers around Eilida's fear of storms. She hates them, and as the story progresses we slowly learn the reasoning. Sunshine on the other hand can never remember a day of rain, but as she investigates this case, she is suddenly plagued by storms. Elle Klass creates a compelling story using tragedy, survival, guilt, repressed memories, visual triggers and storms to create a tale that empcompasses so much more than you expect. The tragedy of three families are told in this one story. It is a well written and compelling story that is worth the read. Great for young adults and adults as well.
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Primary Fault
The Schattenreich, Book One
by Sharon Kae Reamer
My rating: 3.2 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
Primary Fault is the first book in a series called The Schattenreich, which is a realm or another place in the book. The story is set in Germany, where Augustus and his father have always lived. Now that his father has passed away, and his mother also, Caitlin, who lived in American with her mother, has returned to Germany to be with her brother. Augustus is an earthquake researcher, and where they are is along a primary fault line, so there are earthquakes in that area. Augustus is kidnapped and a doppelganger is going around committing crimes that Augustus is being blamed for, Caitlin alone is determined to find the truth. Sharon Reamer brings together other realms, people from those other realms interfering with life here and earthquakes to form a unique story.
As Primary Fault is set to be the first book in the series, it does not really explain the whole Schattenreich idea to you. It is mentioned, and you sort of figure out that it is another realm, and this one family is in charge of guarding the gateway, but that someone has broken through which caused the kidnapping of Augustus. What you never figure out is what is actually is, why they protect the gateway, and who this family is. Maybe that is to come in the later books. Sharon Reamer does a good job in writing a story that you want to read to figure out what is going on, but at the same time you are a bit disappointed in the end that you haven't figured it out. Which is good for a series, but not so good for readers.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The Shayton Chronicles Book 1:
Destiny Sets
by Karen Fainges
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Here on Earth the stories of vampires are a bit twisted and not so true, but in another parallel dimension there is a world called Shayton that is inhabited by real vampires and they are nothing like the stories. On Shayton the world is in danger of collapsing and the ruling Council is always on the lookout for ways to correct the issues and stave off the collapse. Lisa is the daughter of the king, but she has been banished from Shayton and lives on Earth. Now the council wants her back, and selects a human to bring with her for a purpose, providing a godChild. The Shayton Chronicles Book 1: Destiny Sets follows Lisa as she is brought back and conceives not one but two children and the lives of Lisa and Tony, the children and Shayton that follows their conception and birth. Karen Fainges takes a paranormal or fantasy novel and adds the elements of a family saga to give a new and different novel on the idea of vampires and their coexistence with our world.
The Shayton Chronicles Book 1: Destiny Sets begins what promises to be a unique and fun novel series. Even though it could be called paranormal or fantasy, I think the best genre label for it should be family saga. It follows Lisa and Tony, then their children around through life to the point where they are once again reintroduced to their parents. Talkar is followed as he fights for his place in the world of Shayton, then as he leaves and finds a fulfilling life on Earth with Molly, and later a child with another species. Karen Fainges does a wonderful job of creating a story that you want to follow from the beginning, characters that you relate to and feel for. Although this book spans a great deal of time, it almost feels as it is all happening within moments of each other. This is definitely a good book for adults, highly mature young adults and those loving the idea of a new approach to vampires.
The Shayton Chronicles
Book One - Destiny Sets
Book Two - Tamal's Journeys
Book Three - The Children of Tamal
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Trust
The Hero Chronicles, Book Two
by Tim Mettey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
We originally met Nicholas in the first book of this series, Secrets, and this book continues the story. The secrets are now out in the open, or at least some of them and now it is a matter of who to trust and what to do to stay alive and continue life. Nicholas has started a relationship and for the first time in his life since his parents death, he and his Aunt are not moving at the end of the school year, they are staying put and continuing with life. Now they have to Trust that they made the correct decision and to learn more about the heritage that Nicholas just learned about. Tim Mettey takes the second book of the Hero Chronicles and doesn't miss a beat. This book continues the story and yet still keeps the excitement and the thrill, the reality and the story that entranced readers in the first book.
Trust follows secrets, just as in life once you learn the secrets now you need to trust what you feel and go with your heart. This book follows in such a normal and life-like pattern that, even more than the first book, the reader is pulled into the story. You can actually feel as if you are part of the story and you want to help Nicholas and to understand what is going on as much as he does. It is a wonderful story that will encourage and inspire the young adult and teen reader, and even restore faith in the youth of the day to the older reader. Tim Mettey may be a newer author, in that Secrets and trust are his first books, but he has a style and ability that will have you wanting more from him as soon as you finish this book. In fact, I was surprised to find that the author was male, in so much as I find that it is harder to find a male author that can connect so directly with the reader. There are those out there, and when you read them they become a readers favorite immediately. This author has the talent and ability to be one of those rare writer, if he isn't already and it is worth the time to read his books.
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The Hero Chronicles
Book One - Secrets My Review
Book Two - Trust
Secrets
The Hero Chronicles, Book One
by Tim Mettey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Nicholas has moved at the end of summer every year that he has lived with his Aunt since his parents death. It's just part of his life, not that he likes it, but that is the way his Aunt says it has to be, and he has to keep from making friends or talking too much about himself. This time they move closer to his old hometown, the first time they have come back this way since they left, and things are beginning to change. He falls for a girl, and wants to form relationships for the first time, but his Aunt is still cautious but allows him more this time around. Only problem, strange things are happening. Tim Mettey takes the concept of a hero, adds some paranormal and a world in flux after a huge natural disaster to create a story that you want to be part of. Secrets starts out this series with the knowledge that there is a great deal in the world that Nicholas doesn't know about, and now is apparently the time for him to find out about a number of those.
Recently hero books seem to be all the rage, but this book is different. Nicholas is considered a hero by a number of people, but he doesn't think that way. He thinks he is a normal teenager, which gives this a different vibe. Nicholas is not a cocky kid, but a true humble and confused teenager and that is part of what makes Secrets a wonderful book. Secrets is the first book in the Hero Chronicles series that Tim Mettey has created. This book will pull you in and remind you of high school if you are an adult, but be so relate-able to the young adult and teen market. The paranormal slant to the book gives it a new and different vibe, but at the same time I could easily see Nicholas fitting into our local high school. I found this to be a easy to relate to novel that drew me in. I love it for the young adult and teen market, in fact will gladly share it with my teens at home. This is definitely worth the time to read.
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The Hero Chronicles
Book One - Secrets
Book Two - Trust My Review
My Letter to Fear: Essays on Life, Love and the Search for Prince Charming
by Patricia L. Steffy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
Are you reaching out for all that life has to offer or are you sitting back wondering why you haven't achieved what you wanted? My Letter to Fear is a collection of short essays, each chapter is really a different topic and focus, but Fear connects them all. Some of the chapters are funny, with past experiences recounted for the benefit of the reader to prove a point, others are words of encouragement or even chastisements. Each addresses the many ways that we allow fear to stop us from becoming all that we want or deserve to be in life. Ms. Patricia L Steffy does a fabulous job in putting all these different essays or chapters together into a cohesive book that is not too stuffy, but gives the right amount of correction and encouragement.
My Letter to Fear is a collection of essays, each chapter is a different essay, and written to stand entirely alone. As the author, Ms. Patricia L Steffy researched her own life and collected stories from others, you never know which essay is about her or someone else, but they all provide the gentle encouragement that is needed to push the reader to action. This book is about realizing that fear is holding you back from accomplishing what you want in life, and addressing that fear and moving on. Now it doesn't give you step by step self help advice, it is more a gentle, funny way to help you realize what you are doing. I found it to be a fun read. Some chapters are more laugh producing than others, but in the end, if the reader has opened their mind and read with a willing heart, they will realize that there is at least one chapter that relates to their life and there is something they can wok on. I feel this is a great book for all readers, including the young adult and college age reader, in fact it might do them more good than the older reader, but it is still worth the read.
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To Tempt An Angel
The Douglas Trilogy, Book One
by Patricia Grasso
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Angelica may cheat at cards and dice, but she still tries to hold herself as a lady. It's not her fault that her family is in ruins and that she must tempt fate to support them. Robert, on the other hand may be her undoing. He is handsome and charming and she is mesmerized by him, but who is he really, and can he really help her.
As historical romance unfolds you will find that everything is not always as it appears. The people you thought did you wrong, may not have had anything to do with it at all, and the people you thought might have done something to you might have just been victims.
This is a sweet and fun romance, with the notice that it is the first in a series, so I would expect the next books to follow the younger sisters of Angelica, which would be nice. Especially if we get to check in on this family every now and again too.
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Wraithsong -
Desirable Creatures Series, Book I
by E.J. Squires
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
It's her senior year in high school, yet Sonia isn't quite looking forward to the end of school like she thought she would. He mother has hinted that they are traveling to Wisconsin, of all places, but she won't tell Sonia anything more. Now she has to spend time working with a gardener at school after classes. Not what see wants to do, but she earned her punishment expect it turns out this gardener is another senior, and a good looking male at that. As Sonia and Anthony find themselves attracted to each other mysteries of another generation and realm come crashing down on them.
Sonia is a Huldra, and she comes into her full powers on her eighteenth birthday. All the sudden her mom has disappeared. Anthony and Sonia share what knowledge they can and work together to find her mom. Maureen, who is Anthony's mom is the one who has Hedda, maybe. It seems that Maureen wants Sonia to think Anthony is the bad guy, and Layla thinks Anthony is the bad guy, and Olaf is acting the bad guy? What is a young girl to do?
This is a touchy and heartfelt story of an innocent and pure relationship between Anthony and Sonia that they were neither looking for, but were afraid of and had been told to avoid. Yet the love that they have sets a beacon and shining light for all in the story and for all who read. It is not a story of physical love, but of a true emotional and caring connection made. It is in such sharp contrast to the ruthless manipulation of Maureen and the world today, that it is shocking at times, hard to understand at others and a clear as black and white still at other times.
The author E.J. Squires has written a few other books. This is third now that I have read by this author. I am always surprised to find that she has put so much thought, meaning and life into each character that you feel they are real people, not just stories in a book. Not only does she create this characters that you like and you want to read about and you connect with, but she does it with her settings too. The realms in this book, although I did note a couple of the same realms coming up in the books, but the places in America too. She describes everything with such an eye for detail that you can feel like you are there, but yet at the same time, she is able to edit enough that you are not overloaded.
At this point in time, I feel more than comfortable in saying that if I walked into a bookstore and saw this author's name on a book, I wouldn't even have to read the covers, I would buy it straight up. I have read enough to know that I will be pleased with what she writes. Anyone who is looking for a good romance, some Norse mythology and fantasy all mixed together, this is your book. Young and old alike, I even feel more than comfortable allowing my teenage daughter to read this book.
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Arielle: Immortal Awakening
Immortal Rapture Series, Book One
by Lilian Roberts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
Arielle has always been a bit different, she can read the mids of some people. Aside from that, she has searched, never really dating all that much, looking for a prue and true love, one that resembles that in her favorite novel. Sebstain is far from normal and her knows it, but he has spent his entire life looking for the one person her can truly love. While Arielle is on vacation, Sebstain spots her and knows that she is the one, but it takes him almost two months to work up the courage to talk to her. Now he can't imagine life without her, there is only one problem. Arielle is a human and Sebstain is immortal. How will Arielle take the news, and how will Sebstain keep her safe from another immortal that has vowed to destory all he loves? Lilian Roberts gives us a new and differnt paranormal story, no vampires but immortals and blends it with a deep and immediate love story. Arielle Immortal Awakening is the first book in a series that will follow Arielle and Sebastain to hopefully answer the qestions.
Arielle Immortal Awakening is scheduled to be the first book in a series, and be forewarned, it does end on a bit of a teaser, which will have you waiting impatiently for the next book. The idea of immortals has been around in stories with the vampires and other paranormal creatures, but there was always a price to their immortality, with vampires it was blood. That is not the case here, but yet there is a deep ad quick love that develops that results in trust questions only because of the speed in which they fall. Lilian Roberts has done a wonderful job in giving the reader a new look into the paranormal romance genre and this is defintely a book for those who are looking for a heart-stopping romance. Although it is a romance, it could actually be read by young adults as well as adults.
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