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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The Boy Who Came Back a Wolf(Space Shifter Chronicles, #.5)
by Kara Lockharte
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed For Readers Favorite
All through school Xavier and Lauryn had been best friends, he had been their for her when her sister was almost kidnapped, and yet when he tried to kiss her and make it something more, she pushed him away. She was afraid he would hold her back from becoming what she wanted, someone with enough money and power to always take care of her family. So Xavier headed off for ten years in the military, which left him extremely muscled and a werewolf. Now he's back and he wants Lauryn. The Boy Who Came Back A Wolf, is a short little novella that sorta introduces Lauryn and Xavier into the Space Shifter Chronicles Series. Author Lockharte has written a sizzle novel encompassing the dreams and fantasies of most mid-twenties-ish women.
The Boy Who Came Back a Wolf is part of the Space Shifter Chronicles Series, and since I am not sure exactly were at this one is suppose to be read, so it may introduce Xavier and Lauryn or it may fill in some background about them. Either way, it is a very short, maybe five chapter book that although was fun to read on its own, was definitely meant to fill in some information between two regular novels. This novella mentions Lauryn's sister Skye and her father, a space pirate. There is also mention of Xavier's mothers. Author Lockharte has taken a very short novella and given readers a look into a series that teases readers and gets them wanting to read more and find out about the series.
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Wolfhaven
by Jay Shaw
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
In an isolated area of the country, far away from society in general live two groups, that long ago used to be one. Wolfhaven and Silver Ridge, over in Silver Ridge they detest their human side and avoid shifting into it, staying in wolf form at all times, living in caves and living a completely rigidly controlled life by a powerful alpha. In Wolfhaven, they embrace the human side as much as the wolf side, understanding that both sides are equally important. They have built a functioning society with a common house for meals and cabins for family sleeping, along with a structured hierarchy of rule. Wolfhaven focuses mostly on life in Wolfhaven, but not just general life it focuses on the Grandmother, who is the leader of the pack, and the two grandson's, the oldest that is expected to take over Trey, and the younger Connell. This is more than a simple romance, this is a love story against all odds, this is a family saga, this is life and death, this is democracy vs dictatorship. Author Jay Shaw has created a deep and multilayered story of relationships, give and take, ruling with heart and compassion and family life.
Wolfhaven is written in such a way that you feel that it is covering generations, when in reality it only covers maybe a year in reality, but so many things occur. Author Jay Shaw has created so many complex layers and stories within stories going on, that when you sit back and think about the scenarios he put forth, mates across pack boundaries, you can see society and marriages across racial and ethnical divides. Although this is listed as a paranormal romance, it is a family sage and a novel that if you take the time to read and think about what you have read, you can draw parallels and your own conclusions to society today. There is some violence, a dual for a mate, then an ambush along with some very sexist language from some parties, and consensual and nonconsensual sexual encounters, so I definitely recommend it for a more mature audience.
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Witch Cake Murders(Sweetland Witch, #1)
by Zoe Arden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Ava has been raised hidden in the middle of New York, never attracting any attention, never doing anything fun or exciting and now she is turning twenty-one and the only thing different is the necklace her father gave her for her birthday. Then there are the two ladies that seem to know her name and look sorta like her. Oh the secrets her fathers has been hiding!
Guess what, Ava is a witch and she actually has family, two aunts, her mom's sisters and they run a witch bakery on an island where humans and witches live together in harmony. Even as her father forbids her to go, she is on her way to meet her aunts and take off, she has so much to learn and she will.
Trouble soon shows up on Sweetland and she is the first suspect, new girl in town, doesn't know anything about magic, easily taken advantage of and mislead, Ava is in for a battle, but with a couple good friends, her Aunts, and lastly her father, the truth will win out.
This is a cute, fun book that is a pleasure to read. It is defintly clean, no sex and alternative cursing, such as "oh my roses" which I loved!
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Mated To The Werewolf King
by Alena Des
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
All her life, Belle has been raised as the daughter of a powerful alpha werewolf and his equally powerful wife. Just as her eighteenth birthday is nearing her world is shattered when her parents finally reveal that they are not her biological parents but that she was found on the edge of the pack boundary as and infant and they have raised her and loved her no matter what, but the Demon Lord is after her. Enter the Werewolf King, who claims he will protect her, but they immediately get off on a bad note, he doesn't believe she is a werewolf and she thinks he is joking. He thinks she is a witch, and she doesn't even think such things exist, oh the sheltered world you lived in Belle. Mated to the Werewolf King is the story of discovering who Belle really is and why the Demon Lord wants her, why he thinks she is his mate, and why his twin brother thinks she is his mate, but why she feels like the Werewolf King is who she wants, after she gets past his over macho attitude. Author Alena Des has created a paranormal fantasy world of werewolfs, vampires, demons, fae, witches and more all living in the same world while a single girl has the power to upset the balance of everything without knowing it.
Mated to the Werewolf King is a complex and mutilayered family saga. We are finally able to learn the turn story of Belle's parentage, but even then there is some difficulties as in her parents were being chased and he took Belle to safety because he was injured and thinking her mother was dead, only she wasn't quite, he died from his injuries. This story is not just your typical girl meets boy, falls for boy but has to prove its real for boy to accept, this is a whole girl meets boy, boy runs from girl, girl runs from boy, boy saves girl, girl saves boy, together they save the world and finally they can be together. Author Alena Des has created a story that is complex yet feels almost natural, you can understand each point of view and why certain characters did what they did, but at the same time, there is some much going on that this is one of those books that you could probably read two or three times and catch things each time that you missed the first time around. There is some violence, its an all out battle for the world, and some sexual scenes, but pretty average for todays standards.
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When Worlds Collide
by Angela Christian
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed For Readers Favorite
At 5'2 you might dismiss Lisa, but don't, she's a witch with friends that include some mighty big werewolves. She is in the process of setting up her clinic to serve the supernatural folk in her area, when all the sudden her friend Ang's bar burns done, and John asks her on a date, then she is whisked away by the Dark Fey and asked to fight for them in a war against a Demon to save the worlds. So much going on all at once and all Lisa wants is to get the clinic open and date John. When World's Collide (Family Ties) tells the story of Lisa and her friends working together to try to keep their world from being destroyed and in the process different small family ties are uncovered that no one knew before, most are good, one or two have a little bad with them, but they are used well. Author Angela Christian has created a cute world were all the different supernaturals live together in peace and harmony.
When World's Collide is a fast paced, cute story that makes you feel good. It involves witches, vampires, werewolves, fey and more. They all get along with each other and live around each other, which you normally don't see, but its a cute story. Author Angela Christian has managed to create a world were even through they are facing a war, it still feels light happy, Everyone is still happy and moving on with their lives. This is definitely an adult book because there are a couple of intimate scenes between Lisa and John that are very steamy! And I do mean steamy!
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