Saturday, August 31, 2013

Review: Heartwishes

 photo Heartwishes.jpgHeartwishes by Jude Deveraux
#5 in Edilean Series

Rating- Four Stars photo fourstars.png

Find this book on Goodreads

Book Blurb

Gemma Ranford wants the job cataloging the documents of the Frazier family so much that she is ready to do battle to get it. Fascinated with history, and desperately trying to finish her dissertation, she's hoping against all hope that the papers will yield new information to invigorate her research.

What she didn't expect to find is references to the Heartwishes Stone - believed by most to be pure legend - and said to grant wishes to anyone named Frazier.

As Gemma learns more about the family - and even begins falling in love with the eldest son, Colin - it becomes increasingly clear that their wishes are actually coming true. Together, Gemma and Colin must work together to find the stone that's been missing for over 100 years - and with an international thief also on the hunt, the clock is ticking. Because in the wrong hands, no one named Frazier will ever be safe.

My Thoughts

Gemma Ranford is a history student working on her dissertation. She is told about a job offered out of this little town Edilean in Virginia. Mrs. Frazier has just acquired a bunch of books that hold paper history of her husband's family from England. She goes to interview for the job and meets Colin Frazier, the oldest son. She is told she got the job and starts going through boxes only to read about a family story about a Heartwishes Stone.. She is of course intrigued by this and most find out more. Through out her learning more about the Frazier family history she starts spending a lot of time with Colin. Strange things start happening around town and they are thrown into the middle....

This is about as typical as a Romance Novel can get, but the characters are well developed and I found myself liking them all. You get to see how the characters from previous books are, which I always enjoy. I love the small town feel, you never have any secrets in a small town. It was a well developed story and I enjoyed it. I would probably read it again if the opportunity came about, but it didn't strike me as a favorite.

Friday, August 30, 2013

Feature and Follow #6

 photo FFbloglovin.jpg

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!





This Week's Question is: 
If you could only have ONE – one book – for the rest of your life. Don’t cheat…what would it be?

 photo Acheron.jpg

For me it's the perfect balance of a action and romance. Also, I loved learning more about Acheron. Some parts were hard to read, for me that just makes it that much more believable.


Next Week: 
 Bookshelf Tour. Give us a tour of your bookshelf.




Thursday, August 29, 2013

Latest Distraction: DIY Barbie House

So, I had planned to finish Strangers in Death by J.D. Robb and post the review today. Instead after I moved my daughters furniture and toys around in her room and had pieces of her plastic Barbie house fall off in my hands... I got to thinking if it was possible for me to use something else as the Barbie house. Something made of wood. With this thought in mind my web searching started. I love Pinterest. I found all kinds of Homemade Barbie houses, and before I knew it the kids were off to bed and I was still finding ideas for a Barbie house. Different furniture ideas, wall designs, flooring.

 photo House42.jpg
 photo House52.jpg

 photo House12.jpg photo House22.jpg

These are just some of the examples that I've come across. I've already seen a bookcase and a dresser that would probably work. I'm super excited about this, because with just a little work Bella (my daughter) will have a higher quality house to play with.

So, my book got pushed to the side.. lol. I know this is slightly off topic (for a book blog) but it's why my book got pushed to the side, so I figured it was alright.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Review: Iron Kissed

 photo IronKissed.jpgIron Kissed by Patricia Briggs
#3 in Mercy Thompson Series

Rating- Five Stars photo fivestars.png

Find this book on Goodreads

Book Blurb

When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it's up to shapeshifting car mechanic Mercy Thompson to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not. And she'll have to choose between the two werewolves in her life-whether she wants to or not.

My Thoughts

Mercy finds herself in even more trouble than previous books.. She is asked to help the Fae community with her keen sense of smell. They've asked her to help them solved murders that are happening on the reservation. Her mentor and friend Zee is accused of murder. Nobody else will help him so it's up to Mercy, and no matter how much Zee doesn't want her to she's gonna do it anyways. As if this isn't enough for Mercy, she must choose between Samuel and Adam.

I've found myself so wrapped up in these characters. I love them all. This was such a good story and it had me going thru all kinds of emotions, I even cried at one part.. This one just like the previous books is full of action and just enough left unanswered that you must pick up the next book and see how it goes.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Tuesday Teaser #6

 photo TuesdayTeaser.jpg
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:


• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

 photo th.jpgAbducted Heiress by Amanda Scott
#1 Secret Clan Series

"Dunsithe Castle, the Scottish Borders, 1527

When they came for her, she was sleeping. Her dreams were untroubled, for she did not yet clearly understand that her father- the big, laughing, teasing man she adored with all her heart- was gone from her life forever." Page 8/315 (ecopy)

Find this book on Goodreads

Monday, August 26, 2013

Review: Contract for Marriage

 photo CfM2.jpgContract for Marriage- Barbara DeLeo

Rating- Three Stars photo threestars.png

Find this book on Goodreads

Book Blurb

Property tycoon Christo Mantazis wants the one thing his riches can't buy--the villa where his mother has lived and worked as housekeeper for forty years. That it's the same house he was banished from after being caught making love to the owner's irresistible daughter stirs up old memories, and now he wants her more than ever. Magazine editor Ruby Fleming's not about to give up her home to Christo, the man who broke her heart--until she discovers her mother left half of the estate to him, and she realizes she's trapped. When Christo offers a marriage of convenience, Ruby knows it's the only way for them to get what they want. Ruby needs a link to her past, and Christo needs his mother to retain her home. But it's another need--to have Christo again--that Ruby must resist at all costs.

My Thoughts

I've never read this author before, and received this book in a giveaway. The story sounded interesting. The book immediately jumps into what seems like the middle of a storyline. I felt like I was missing something. Right from the start the two main characters Christo and Ruby have misconceptions of how each other felt when they were together years ago. This story line always seems to bug me.. why don't they just ask each other instead of assuming they know exactly how the other feels. It would save everyone a lot of heart ache. But it worked surprisingly well in this story. I really enjoyed Ruby and Christo. Ruby wanted a family and for her child to have a father, but wasn't willing to sacrifice her happiness for what looked to be perfect on the outside. Christo was too afraid to feel like he did in the past so he was trying to control everything. From the wedding to the doctor. I think it came down to the simple fact that if he didn't know how to deal with something emotionally he tried to control it physically. I would have liked for the story to be a little longer so that the characters could have been developed a little more. Christo's mother would have been a nice one to know more about. The ending seemed a little rushed to me. As for the epilogue it was almost like an after thought.. completely removed from the original story, I don't think it contributed much.

The story overall was a nice light romance, easy read. It kept my interest enough for me to want to keep reading. I would be interested in reading more from this author.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Review: Forbidden Falls

 photo ForbiddenFalls.jpgForbidden Falls by Robyn Carr
#9 in Virgin River Series

Rating- Four Stars photo fourstars.png

Find this book on Goodreads

Book Blurb

Virgin River is abuzz with the news that a stranger bought the town's abandoned church on eBay. The buyer, a young widowed reverend, is a little like the building itself: in need of some loving care. Noah Kincaid arrives ready to roll up his sleeves and revitalize his new purchase, but he's going to need some help. An ad in the local paper brings an improbable candidate his way. "Pastor's assistant" is not a phrase that springs to mind when Noah meets brassy, beautiful Ellie Baldwin. With her colorful clothes and even more colorful past, Ellie needs a respectable job so she can regain custody of her children. Noah can't help but admire her spunk and determination, and she may just be the breath of fresh air he needs. This unlikely duo may come from two different worlds, but they have more in common than anyone would have expected. And in Virgin River lasting happiness is never out of the question.

My Thoughts

The story is about Reverend Noah Kincaid. He buys the old town church and renovates it. He hires Ellie Baldwin to be his assistant. They work together to fix the church while learning more about each other along the way.

It was a sweet story and i enjoyed the progression of their relationship. I also really like that you still get to read about the lives of the past characters. When it would be really easy to push them aside and all but ignore them. I've always wondered how it would be like to live in a small town where everyone knows everyone and these stories seem to be a pretty good example. Everyone cares what happens to even the newest members of the town.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Review: More than Friends

 photo MtF.jpgMore than Friends by Barbara Delinsky

Rating- Three Stars photo threestars.png

Find this book on Goodreads

Book Blurb

The Maxwells and the Popes have been friends forever. The women were college roommates, their husbands are partners in the same law firm, their kids have grown up next door to each other, and the two families share both vacations and holidays.

Like Wisteria Lane, the "perfect" suburban street of Desperate Housewives, all is beautiful and serene -- until an accident forces these close neighbors to look beneath the surface. And when their idyllic lives are unexpectedly shattered by a moment that can never be erased or forgotten, their faith in one another -- and in themselves -- is put to the supreme test.

In this moving, unforgettable story, Barbara Delinsky exquisitely captures the depth and complexity of the human heart as few writers can.

My Thoughts

After reading the first 25 pages I almost put this book down because I disliked one of the story lines so much. But, I decided to give it a shot and see where the author went with it.

The main characters are Sam, Annie, Teke (Theodora) and J.D. They have been friends since college. Sam is married to Annie. J.D. is married to Teke. Both couples have kids similar in age and have done just about everything together. They seem to be a picture perfect family (of sorts). Maybe a little too perfect.. Life spins out of control after one lapse in judgment.

I have really mixed emotions about this book. I know that had I known what the main story line was before I picked it up I wouldn't have read it. I just don't enjoy reading stories that involve it. That being said, I did finish this book and after turning the last page honestly liked all the characters. They are all well written and the way they deal with the rough period is all very much real. They have a family dynamic (even though they are two families that are really close). I found myself pulling for a happy ending to such a rough story.

I don't want to give anything away, so I'm having a hard time here.. Huge issues are dealt with in this book. A family falls apart but out of the rubble comes a different shaped family that is even stronger than before. Overall this is a nice story.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Feature and Follow #5

 photo FFbloglovin.jpg

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!





This Week's Action is: 
Book Selfie! Take a pic with your current read.
This is me and my nook, I'm reading Strangers in Death by J.D. Robb

Next Week's Question: 
If you could only have ONE – one book – for the rest of your life. Don’t cheat…what would it be?


Review: Sins of the Night

 photo SinsoftheNight.jpgSins of the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
#7 Dark Hunter Series

Rating- Five Stars photo fivestars.png

Find this book on Goodreads

Book Blurb

In the realm of the Dark-Hunters there is a code of honor that even immortal bad boys must follow: Harm no human. Drink no blood. Never fall in love. But every now and again a Dark-Hunter thinks himself above the Code. That's when I'm summoned. Who am I? I'm the one thing the fearless fear. Step over the line and it's my wrath you will face. Nothing can touch me. Nothing can sway me. I am relentless and unfeeling. Or so I thought until I met a female Dark-Hunter who goes by the name of Danger-it's not just her name, it's how she lives her life. She doesn't trust me at all. And who could blame her? She alone knows that I'm here to be judge, jury and most likely executioner of her friends. Yet she is my key to saving some of them. Without her, they all will die. Dangereuse St. Richard is a deadly distraction. Something about her is reawakening a heart I thought was long dead. But in a race against evil, the only hope mankind has is that I do my duty. And how can I do my duty when it means that I will have to sacrifice the only woman I've ever loved?

My Thoughts

Danger is a Dark Huntress in Mississippi. Alexion is Archeron's second hand man. Alexion is sent to Mississippi because other Dark Hunters are coming together against Archeron. Of course this type of thing isn't allowed and most be stopped. Either the Dark Hunters stop what they are doing or they will regret it. In the middle of all this Danger and Alexion seem to work really well together. And they both find that it is easy to trust the other, despite their past histories.

I really enjoyed this story, Danger and Alexion are very interesting characters. I loved that once again you got to learn a little more about Archeron. Simi was great in this book (although not in it very much). The end had me crying, but it all worked out. Another great story in the Dark Hunter Series.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Review: Lover Awakened

 photo LoverUnbound.jpgLover Awakened by J.R. Ward
#3 in Black Dagger Brotherhood Series

Rating- Four Stars photo fourstars.png

Find this book on Goodreads

Book Blurb

The third book in the series tells the story of the vampire Zsadist, a former blood slave with a violent past. When he meets Bella, Zsadist thinks her human love could be his path to salvation. Then Bella is kidnapped, and Zsadist will stop at nothing to get her back.

My Thoughts

This story is about Zsadist and of course the Brotherhood as a whole. When i first met Z he was a little scary. He didn't talk much to even the brothers, and they tended to avoid him. But as his story progressed and you learned more about him, it all came into focus why he didn't want to get close to people. Z has an instant attraction/pull towards Bella, and she to him. When Bella is kidnapped Z flips out and doesn't give up.

I have come to love Z. He definitely grows on you. He has been through so much and has so much baggage that he doesn't think there is anyway that Bella would really want him and think that he is handsome. I like Z and Bella together, and there story is just so awesome.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Tuesday Teaser #5

 photo TuesdayTeaser.jpg
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:


• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

 photo StinDeath.jpgStrangers in Death by J.D. Robb

"'Ah, come on, Dallas' The very idea brightened Peabody's voice. 'Go somewhere with girlfriends, hang, drink lots of wine or fussy drinks, get facials and spa treatments, or lie on the beach, and talk about stuff half the night.'
Eve glanced over.'I'd rather be dragged naked over jagged glass.'
'Well, I think we should do it some time. You, me, Mavis, maybe Nadine and Louise. And Trina--she could do our hair and--'
'If Trina comes on this mythical nightmare I get to drag her naked over jagged glass. That's my bottom line.'" Page 17-18/285 (ebook)

It is a little more than two sentences, but I couldn't help it.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Review: Spell Bound

 photo Spellbound.jpgSpell Bound by Rachel Hawkins
#3 in Hex Hall Series

Rating- Four Stars photo fourstars.png

Find this book on Goodreads

Book Blurb

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident. Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

My Thoughts

I had forgot how much I liked this series.. maybe that is why I put of reading this last book in the series. (I have a tendency to do that) This book is very well written, from the moment I picked it up I didn't want to put it down. I like Sophie, she is almost the best of both worlds.. She isn't afraid to stand up for herself and her friends but at the same time she shows her emotions. Archer is a good fit for her, he supports her but isn't gonna let her just walk all over him when their opinions don't match. Jenna and her pink strip of hair is awesome.

The story is believable, for the world that has been built. There are a couple of shocking turns and emotional spots. I really enjoyed reading this book and was sad to have the series end.

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Review: Lover Eternal

 photo LoverEternal.jpgLover Eternal by J.R. Ward
#2 in Black Dagger Brotherhood Series

Rating- Four Stars photo fourstars.png

Find this book on Goodreads

Book Blurb

Mary Luce is dissatisfied with her life and her job. But when she is unwittingly thrust into the vampire dominion, everything changes. Falling under the protection of the Brotherhood's strongest member, Rhage, she soon finds herself drawn to his animalistic urges.

My Thoughts

This is the second book in the series. I would definitely recommend that they be read in order, they have a progression that goes through the books that if read out of order wouldn't make very much sense. This book is about Rhage and the beast that lives within him. Rhage comes off as a player in these first two books. Which i was turned off by to begin with. After reading his story and experiencing everything that he goes through, i found him growing on me. His character and all the others in this book are very well developed and they just pull you in.

Very well written, I was even crying at parts. Would definitely recommend this series to others.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Review: The Wishing Pearl

 photo WishingPearl.jpgThe Wishing Pearl by Nicole O'Dell

Rating- Four Stars photo fourstars.png

Find this book on Goodreads

Book Blurb

Sixteen-Year-Old Olivia Mansfield dreams of a land far, far away.. A land far away from her stepfather's abuse and torment. A land far away from her mother's blind eye. A land far away from the haunting memories of her past.

But then reality sets in, and Olivia knows she must make the best of her dire situation- at least until her high school graduation. But when poor choices lead Olivia to the brink of a complete breakdown and she finds herself dealing with the unexpected death of her best friend, she comes to a crossroads.

Will Olivia find the path to ultimate hope and healing that her heart longs for? Or will the demons from her past prove too much to bear?

My Thoughts

This book does have a christian base to it.. even if it doesn't really seem like it in the beginning. I know that some people don't like reading books that have a church undertone, so I figured I would mention it. This book tackles a very tough topic, and I feel it does it very well. Olivia has been through a lot in her life, and isn't even an adult yet. She falls in with the wrong crowd but eventually gets presented with a opportunity to better herself and takes it. She realizes that not everything that has happened to her was God's doing, but that through it all God was there supporting her and waiting for her to acknowledge him. Olivia develops some really great relationships and develops feelings for a boy. The characters are all very well developed and the social issues that they all face in their various lives are well addressed.

I went into this story expecting one thing and came out with something completely different. I'm an emotional reader, and this one had my crying at parts. I understand that this type of story isn't for everyone, that some people don't like them. But I've come to love books under the "Christian Fiction" umbrella. I enjoy reading a story that an author as constructed to display the christian faith. I enjoyed the story and am very glad I picked up this book.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Feature and Follow #4

 photo FFbloglovin.jpg

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!





This Week's Question is: 
Share something you’ve learned about book blogging or just blogging in general in the last month.

I haven't been book blogging for long, and am still learning really. But since I'm just now starting out I'm trying to have a post every day. Hopefully eventually I'll be able to post more than one thing a day. Right now I just try not to go without posting something. I've also learned to do the posts ahead of time and just have them scheduled to post on a given day. It makes me less stressed and I can enjoy my reading more.

Next Week's Question: 
Book Selfie! Take a pic with your current read.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Review: Lethal

 photo Lethal.jpgLethal by Sandra Brown

Rating- Four Stars photo fourstars.png

Book Blurb

When her four-year-old daughter informs her a sick man is in their yard, Honor Gillette rushes out to help him. But that "sick" man turns out to be Lee Coburn, the man accused of murdering seven people the night before. Dangerous, desperate, and armed, he promises Honor that she and her daughter won't be hurt as long as she does everything he asks. She has no choice but to accept him at his word.

But Honor soon discovers that even those close to her can't be trusted. Coburn claims that her beloved late husband possessed something extremely valuable that places Honor and her daughter in grave danger. Coburn is there to retrieve it - at any cost.

From FBI offices in Washington, D.C., to a rundown shrimp boat in coastal Louisiana, Coburn and Honor run for their lives from the very people sworn to protect them, and unravel a web of corruption and depravity that threatens not only them, but the fabric of our society.

My Thoughts

Honor Gillette is spending a normal day at home with her four year old daughter Emily when Emily notices a man laying in their yard. The man turns out to be Lee Coburn who is accused of murdering seven men the previous night. Coburn is desperate and needs a place to hide, he informs Honor that if she does everything he says he wont hurt her and Emily. Honor finds out shortly that Coburn searched her out specifically, Coburn believes that her late husband Eddie left information behind that would help him. Honor's world is turned upside down and she must put all her trust in this man that everyone says is dangerous and a murderer.

This book pulled me in from the beginning. I didn't want to put the book down, I wanted to find out what happened next. It has plenty of twists and I for one could never figure out who done it. The characters were well developed and I found myself pulling for Coburn and Honor.

Overall a story I would read again, although I felt it was cut off very abruptly at the end. It would have been nice to have some kinda epilogue to see where they went from there.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Review: For a Few Demons More

 photo Forafewmoredemons.jpg
For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison
#5 in Hollows Series

Rating- Four Stars photo fourstars.png

Book Blurb

Despite dating one vampire and living with another, Rachel Morgan has always managed to stay just ahead of trouble . . . until now.

A fiendish serial killer stalks the Hollows, claiming victims across society, and the resulting terror ignites a vicious Inderland gang war. And while the ancient artifact Rachel is hiding may be the key to stopping the murderer, revealing it could also create a battle to the death among the numerous supernatural races that live in and around Cincinnati.

For every action has its price, and when the vampire master Piscary is set free and the demonic Algaliarept dares to walk openly under the sun, even Rachel Morgan can't hide forever.

My Thoughts

It normally isn't very hard for me to put my thoughts about a book into words... But I'm finding it is with this one. At the end of A Fistful of Charms I was actually looking forward to reading this book and seeing a change in Rachel and Ivy's relationship because I figured it had to change after what they went through together. They are the most stubborn characters I have ever met. My emotions while reading this book went from one extreme to the other. I seriously didn’t like Rachel for a good bit of this book.. and was annoyed with Ivy. A lot of the characters are being shown in a new light in this book. It’s nice to see the characters grow and change with the story lines. The story twists were interesting and made it so I didn’t want to put it down. The ending was sad for me, didn’t like that it ended on that note.. but it served its purpose, I want to continue to see what happens. I enjoyed this book more than any other in the series. I’m happy I have continued this series.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Tuesday Teaser #4

 photo TuesdayTeaser.jpg
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:


• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

 photo Forafewmoredemons.jpg
"'Kitty, kitty,kitty,' Jenks slurred as he landed next to me and his honey. 'Kitty wants some honey? S' good hu-honey?'
Yeah, my life was weird, but it had its moments." page 252/456 (Hardcopy)

Monday, August 12, 2013

Review: Exclusively Yours

 photo ExclusivelyYours.jpgExclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey
#1 in Kowalski Family Series

Rating- Four Stars photo fourstars.png

Book Blurb

When Keri Daniels' editor finds out she has previous carnal knowledge of reclusive bestselling author Joe Kowalski, she gives Keri a choice: get an interview or get a new job.

Joe's never forgotten the first girl to break his heart, so he's intrigued to hear Keri's back in town-- and looking for him. Despite his intense need for privacy, he'll grant Keri an interview if it means a chance to finish what they started in high school.

He proposes an outrageous plan-- for every day she survives with his family on their annual camping and four-wheeling trip, Keri can ask one question. Keri agrees; she's worked too hard to walk away from her career.

But the chemistry between them is still as potent as the bug spray, Joe's sister is out to avenge his broken heart and Keri hasn't ridden an ATV since she was ten. Who knew a little blackmail, a whole lot of family and some sizzling romantic interludes could make Keri reconsider the old dream of Keri & Joe 2gether 4ever.

My Thoughts

Keri Daniels is a journalist for a magazine and the high school sweetheart of now famous author Joseph Kowalski. Keri's boss tells her she has to get a exclusive interview with Joe because he won't give an interview to anyone. Keri goes back to her hometown and meets up with Joe. Joe says that he will give her an interview but she has to go on vacation with him and all of his family for two weeks.


At first I almost didn't read this story after I figured out that this was a high school sweetheart coming back together story, because most of the time they aren't exactly believable. But the Kowalski family pulled me in from the beginning. Even though Joe is a famous author is family and him are still very "normal". I loved the vacation and all the extended family.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Review: Better Part of Darkness

 photo BetterDarkness.jpgBetter Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay
#1 in Charlie Madigan Series

Rating- Four Stars photo fourstars.png

Book Blurb

Atlanta: it's the promised city for the off-worlders, foreigners from the alternate dimensions of heaven-like Elysia and hell-like Charbydon. Some bring good works and miracles. And some bring unimaginable evil....

Charlie Madigan is a divorced mother of one, and a kick-ass cop trained to take down the toughest human and off-world criminals. She's recently returned from the dead after a brutal attack, an unexplained revival that has left her plagued by ruthless nightmares and random outbursts of strength that make doing her job for Atlanta P.D.'s Integration Task Force even harder. Since the Revelation, the criminal element in Underground Atlanta has grown, leaving Charlie and her partner Hank to keep the chaos to a dull roar. But now an insidious new danger is descending on her city with terrifying speed, threatening innocent lives: a deadly, off-world narcotic known as ash. Charlie is determined to uncover the source of ash before it targets another victim — but can she protect those she loves from a force more powerful than heaven and hell combined?

My Thoughts

The main character is Charlie Madigan, She works in the police department.. It's based in Atlanta, it never says what year exactly but seemed future Atlanta to me. There were other worlds that had been discovered and as a result of the different worlds inhabitants moving to Earth they had created "ITF" (Integration Task Force), which is the department that she works for.

I really enjoyed it. It is light on the police procedure, which there is no telling if the same is true for coming books. It has all the workings of a series that i will enjoy reading. Right from the beginning her family and friends are threatened and the world is at risk.. Great suspense and action.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Review: Love Remains

 photo LoveRemains.jpgLove Remains by Kaye Dacus
#1 in The Matchmakers Series

Rating- Four Stars photo fourstars.png

Book Blurb

Every grandmother wants to see her grandchildren happy, especially when it comes to their love lives. Join five active senior ladies—and one gentleman—who take a great interest in the lives and loves of their single grandchildren and become The Matchmakers. Zarah Mitchell and Bobby Patterson become the first focus of meddling grandmothers when he moves back to Nashville to work for the Tennessee Criminal Investigations Unit. Will Zarah be able to forgive the man who years ago chose a military career over her—especially when she learns he is investigating the historic preservation agency for which she works?

My Thoughts

I want to start off with just a note: This is a Christian Author, and is written with church and faith based characters. So, if that is something you have no interest in reading then I would suggest not picking this book up. That being said, I don't have a problem in reading faith based stories as long as they aren't preachy.

The underlying story in the book is a group of Grandmothers who are trying to get their grandchildren married so that they have great-grandchildren running around soon. I found the Grandmothers had the right intentions, although I probably wouldn't like my Grandma meddling in my love life.

The other big story in this book is Zarah Mitchell and Bobby Patterson. They have a history, which is unclear exactly what that is when you start the book. Bobby just moved back home and is trying to get adjusted to a new job and social group along with rejoining his church from his youth. Zarah moved to town after a falling out with her father, her Grandparents live in town. It is set in Nashville, and even though I've never been there the descriptions are so good that I was able to picture how things were. The characters while having a strong faith have their faults and are by no means perfect, which is nice cause it's hard to read a story about someone who is almost too good to be true. I was surprised to find that there was a good mystery element to this story. It was interesting. I enjoyed reading about the two getting back together without all the drama, they seemed very grown up about it.. wanting to clear the air and get everything straight. I really enjoyed this book and will be reading more from this author.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Feature and Follow #3

 photo FFbloglovin.jpg

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!





This Week's Question is: 
Back to school. Create a reading list for the imaginary English Lit class you’ll be teaching this semester.

When I think of English Lit I always think of all the various books I've read in English class..

We read, among other things:

 photo Mythology2.jpg  photo Ishmael2.jpg  photo Homer2.jpg  photo GrapesofWrath2.jpg
 photo Beowulf2.jpg  photo JaneEyre2.jpg  photo HuckFinn2.jpg



I know that's not exactly what the question asked.. But I have never had any interest in being a teacher and couldn't imagine picking books for a class to read. None of these books were very pleasant to read.. but I came to expect that in english and just read my own books for pleasure.


Next Week's Question: 
Share something you’ve learned about book blogging or just blogging in general in the last month.