Review: Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
My Rating:4 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow thinks that playing the role of the fairy queen Titania in a production of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream could be her lucky break - if she can pull it off. But when she meets the handsome Sonny Flannery, Kelley has to face the shocking truth that the world of Faeries is all too real - and that she is an unwitting part of it. Sonny warns Kelley that she is no mere mortal, and that she is being haunted by powerful forces from the Faerie realm. Now, Kelley must come to terms with her heritage - and her growing feelings for Sonny - if she wants to save not only herself, but also the human world that she holds dear.

My Thoughts:

This book is about Kelley, who is an actor in a play. She meets Sonny, who seems to be always around. The same night she meets him, she saves a horse. She goes home and the horse follows her there. The horse gets into her tub and refuses to leave. Things just keep getting stranger. Between, the horse that refuses to leave her tub to demon dogs, Kelley is just trying to keep up with what is going on around her. Sonny is determined to keep her safe and find out why the demon dogs are after her. She learns a lot about herself and her family that she didn't know. With her destiny looming over her, she has decisions to make. Decisions that could affect both mankind and Fae.

This is the first book I have read by this author. I enjoyed it immensely. I kind of wish that this was the 2nd book and the first had more of the background story. The story line is interesting. I like the whole fairies stole my child so I stole the king's child story. This book takes place as the children are now adults. I would definitely recommend this book.

Review: A Moment in Time by Bertrice Small

A Moment in Time by Bertrice Small
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Young Wynne of Gwernach believes love is an illusion. She devotes herself to managing the great family estate in Wales, vowing to protect it and her younger brother until he comes of age to inherit. Then Madoc of Powys enters her life, and all her beliefs are turned upside down. For Wynne and Madoc have been lovers in another time, another place. And an unfinished destiny lies between them . . .

My Thoughts:

As I finish this book, I am saddened to know that once I finish all her books there will be no more. Sadly, Bertrice Small passed away recently. I haven't read a book by her that I haven't loved. She had a gift of making you feel like you were in the time period of the book and experiencing everything with the heroine.

In A Moment in Time, you are pulled into the story of star-crossed lovers. They live life after life, trying to get their love right. They are always tripped up by others that are filled with hate. Their love transcends all time and they keep trying. You get sucked into the story and you can almost feel what the heroine feels; the love, the sorrow and the grim determination. Will these star-crossed lovers ever get a chance at true happiness?

I almost wish Ms. Small had been able to make a series out of this. She certainly could have written a whole series, or at least a trilogy, of their attempts throughout time. She was a true master of romance and tragedy. Some readers complain about all the tragedy the heroine goes thru but I think that is what makes it better. True love knows no bounds and will survive no matter what trials are in the way.  'Cos that's how true love creates its beautiful agony. All splendid lovers had just dreadful times! Er, Pelias and Melisande, Daphnis and Chloë. History's just jammed with stories of lovers parted by some silly thing! Sharon McKendrick (Parent Trap - the original version)

Review: Crossroads in Time by Sarah Woodbury

Crossroads in Time by Sarah Woodbury
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Three years have passed since the events chronicled in Prince of Time...

Anna has made a place for herself in thirteenth century Wales as a wife, mother, and healer. David has taken more of the kingdom's rule on his shoulders, even as his relationship with Lili has caused friction with his father, King Llywelyn. The King wants his son to seek a political marriage that will benefit his country - and possibly place the crown of England on David's head. 

England and Wales have shared a border and an uneasy peace for three long years.

And that peace is about to be broken....

My Thoughts:

David, Anna, Meg and Bronwen have settled down in 13th century Wales. A peace treaty had been signed 3 years ago between Wales and England so they were feeling pretty safe. Then they have a secret meeting with one of the English Lords. They are attacked before they can come up with a plan. Things are not as they appear and they rush to keep their castles safe from invasion. As they rush around Wales trying to warn people and escape capture, they piece together what is really happening.

I absolutely love this series. I love how the author has taken a single moment in history and changed it. This change has spun off this entire series. Wales certainly could have used some help back in the 13th century. This series gives us a glimpse at how different things could have been had England not conquered Wales. This is fast becoming one of my favorite series and I am looking forward to reading more.

Review: The Isle of the Lost by Melissa De La Cruz

The Isle of the Lost by Melissa De La Cruz
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Twenty years ago, all the evil villains were banished from the kingdom of Auradon and made to live in virtual imprisonment on the Isle of the Lost. The island is surrounded by a magical force field that keeps the villains and their descendants safely locked up and away from the mainland. Life on the island is dark and dreary. It is a dirty, decrepit place that's been left to rot and forgotten by the world.

But hidden in the mysterious Forbidden Fortress is a dragon's eye: the key to true darkness and the villains' only hope of escape. Only the cleverest, evilest, nastiest little villain can find it...who will it be?

Maleficent, Mistress of the Dark: As the self-proclaimed ruler of the isle, Maleficent has no tolerance for anything less than pure evil. She has little time for her subjects, who have still not mastered life without magic. Her only concern is getting off the Isle of the Lost.

Mal: At sixteen, Maleficent's daughter is the most talented student at Dragon Hall, best known for her evil schemes. And when she hears about the dragon's eye, Mal thinks this could be her chance to prove herself as the cruelest of them all.

Evie: Having been castle-schooled for years, Evil Queen's daughter, Evie, doesn't know the ins and outs of Dragon Hall. But she's a quick study, especially after she falls for one too many of Mal's little tricks.

Jay: As the son of Jafar, Jay is a boy of many talents: stealing and lying to name a few. Jay and Mal have been frenemies forever and he's not about to miss out on the hunt for the dragon's eye.

Carlos: Cruella de Vil's son may not be bravest, but he's certainly clever. Carlos's inventions may be the missing piece in locating the dragon's eye and ending the banishment for good.

Mal soon learns from her mother that the dragon's eye is cursed and whoever retrieves it will be knocked into a deep sleep for a thousand years. But Mal has a plan to capture it. She'll just need a little help from her "friends." In their quest for the dragon's eye, these kids begin to realize that just because you come from an evil family tree, being good ain't so bad.

My Thoughts:

So I watched the Disney Descendants movie with my kids when it came out. They loved it and talk about it all the time. I enjoyed the movie as well. I can't believe it took so long for Disney to do a movie with the kids of the villains and fairy tale characters that we all know and love. It got me thinking about a book like that. I discovered this book. This book takes place before the movie and then the movie picks it up (there is a Descendants book but the reviews claim that it is word for word the same as the movie).

This book takes you to the island 20 years after the villains were contained there. Mal, Jay, Carlos and Evie are not even friends at this point. They go to school and are taught skills that will help them be evil. Can you imagine taking a selfishness class or an evil schemes class? That is exactly the type of classes that these kids take. These four children of villains end up thrown together on a quest.

Ms. De La Cruz has woven her magic once more. She truly has a gift for storytelling. This book did not disappoint. I loved getting a back story for each of these characters. You could almost feel their loneliness coming off the pages. Are they truly evil like their famous parents ahead of them? Well I will let you read and decide for yourself. For now, I will hand off the book to my daughter who really wants to read this next. Happy reading!!

Review: The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers by Angie Fox

The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers by Angie Fox
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Demon slaying powers should come with an instruction book ...

Seriously. Why does a new hair dryer have a twelve-page how-to manual, but when it comes to ancient demon-fighting hocus-pocus, my biker witch granny gives me just half a dozen switch stars and a rah-rah speech? Oh, and a talking terrier, but that's another story. It's not like my job as a preschool teacher prepared me for this kind of thing.

So I've decided to write my own manual, The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers, because no one tells me anything. Dimitri, my "protector," may be one stud of a shape-shifting griffin, but he always thinks he can handle everything by himself. Only he's no match for the soul-stealing succubi taking over Las Vegas. If I can't figure out how to save him - and Sin City - there'll be hell to pay.

My Thoughts:

Lizzie, Dmitri, Pirate (the lovable, talking Jack Russell) and the biker witches are back in the second book of the series. Phil, Lizzie's uncle and fairy godfather, is in danger from a succubus. The gang is ready to help him with one small problem: Lizzie doesn't have a demon slaying license.

I loved this book almost as much as the first one. My only issue is that Lizzie is determined to do everything herself. The result is seeing less of Pirate, Dmitri and the biker witches. I really would love to see more of them in the next book. I love how they interacted with each other in the 1st book. The witty comments back and forth are what's missing from this book.

Review: Dead and Loving It by MaryJanice Davidson

Dead and Loving It by MaryJanice Davidson
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

-Santa Claws (originally published in Naughty or Nice anthology)
-Monster Love
-There's No Such Thing as Werewolves (originally published in Lighthearted Lust: Three Not So Serious Tales anthology)
-A Fiend in Need


The queen of comic, erotic, other-species romance brings her best setups and hottest sex scenes to this four-novella party. Three of them feature the bad Wyndham werewolves, who find unanticipated love with often reluctant earthlings. 



In "Santa Claws," Alec Kilcurt, the most powerful werewolf in Europe, falls for Santa-clad Giselle Smith and wins her over with lots of oral sex and a heavy Scottish accent. In "Monster Love," bad-tempered Janet Lupo is kidnapped by a sexy werewolf. Then there's the story of Doctor Drake Dragon and his unusual encounter with Crescent. Finally, following the events of Undead and Unreturnable, a psychic werewolf, Antonia Wolfton, receives a vision to show up at Queen Betsy's Minneapolis home to help and falls hard for George, the fiend in the basement. It's all pure Davidson fun. Ginger Curwen

My Thoughts:

This book is book 5 in the Wyndham Werewolf series and book 4.5 in the Undead series. In this book, there are 4 different stories so I will try to separate them for you.

1.  Santa Claws
Alec is a werewolf and he meets Giselle, who is a regular human. Alec is intrigued by Giselle right away, which makes Giselle a bit wary of him. There are quite a few funny moments in this book. Despite the shortness of it, it is a good story.

2. Monster Love
Richard (a vampire) meets Janet (a werewolf) and they schedule a date. Her boss (the pack leader, Michael) insists on a meeting immediately. She doesn't have enough time to leave a note for Richard. Richard (who doesn't know she is a werewolf) thinks she is afraid of him and running away. Things get a bit carried away. An enjoyable short read and briefly mentions Alec & Giselle from the 1st story.

3. There's No Such Thing As A Werewolf
Drake is a blind werewolf. At least until he meets Crescent. This is a fast moving, short story that will keep you enthralled until the end. There is an appearance of Richard & Janet from the previous story. Crescent's story is a bit of a surprise but I won't spill the beans. Read the story and you will find out.

4. A Fiend in Need
A misfit werewolf (Antonia) who can't change and sees visions. Then throw in some vampires from the Undead series and you got a wonderful story line.

I loved each and every one of these stories. I love how the author tied her two series together. The fact that characters from the one story appeared in the next was a nice surprise. Both of these series are on my TBR list so I will eventually get them all read.

Review: Starblood by Carmilla Voiez

Starblood by Carmilla Voiez
My Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

In a seedy Goth club, a beautiful woman dances, waiting to be set free. Along an unlit street, another woman stumbles, fleeing her pursuer. In a darkened room, a man speaks to demons.

Lust, obsession, terror and humiliation storm into the lives of Star and Satori, proving the age-old maxim – be careful what you wish for.

Starblood, the debut novel by Carmilla Voiez, is a tale of magic and horror.

Blinded by love, Satori, a young magician, attempts a spell that goes horribly wrong, resulting in the demon Lilith returning to Earth. Satori knows he must send Lilith back. The dark goddess brimming with power makes it her mission to wreak havoc on Satori's life by ensnaring Star, the woman he loves, and her friends in a web of chaos and deceit.

My Thoughts:

How do I even begin to review this book? Steve, aka Satori (his chosen name), tries to call forth a demon to help him win back Sarah (aka Star). Lilith is curious at who would do something so stupid, like call forth a demon, and steps through the rip. Steve has no control over her and is worried for Sarah's safety. Sarah has no idea what is in store for her.

 There is a bit of graphic violence. Lilith is a bad-ass and let's just say that she likes to "make the punishment fit the crime". Also, there is a bit of homosexuality in this book. This book was well written but not really my type of book. I am not much into horror and dark fantasy. However, if you like horror, goth and paranormal all rolled into one then this book might just be perfect for you.

Review: Gravity by Abigail Boyd

Gravity by Abigail Boyd
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

A lost friend, a new love, and a town full of secrets... One night in the town of Hell, Ariel's best friend goes missing. Those around her believe Jenna ran away, but when Ariel is tormented by nightmares and paranormal activity, she realizes Jenna's disappearance was part of a bigger mystery. Ariel's obsession with haunted houses and horror movies makes her the perfect detective.

But to complicate matters, a handsome newcomer named Henry Rhodes plagues her with unwanted attention. Though he doesn't believe in the supernatural events, she enlists his help and that of quirky nerd Theo. What is making the lights at school flicker? And why did Ariel dream of the old abandoned Dexter orphanage? When Ariel finally discovers the truth, it's much worse than she ever feared. 

My Thoughts:

Ariel is having a hard time. Her best friend has disappeared and she is just trying to get thru each day. Weird things are happening all around her. A new girl, a new guy and a guy she always thought of as annoying seem to bring her back to life again. She is smiling, having fun and falling in love. Then things fall apart.

This book is really interesting. I love that Ariel is able to see the ghosts of the missing girls. I don't like Henry's behavior towards her. I think there is more to it but I will have to wait until I read more to find out what it is. If you like mysteries or paranormal books then you will enjoy this series. This series is going on my TBR list.

Review: Prince of Time by Sarah Woodbury

Prince of Time by Sarah Woodbury
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Two teenagers catapulted back in time to alter history and save the medieval kingdom of Wales ... 

David and his man-at-arms, Ieuan, find themselves alone and on the run from a company of English soldiers who've sworn vengeance for the recent death of their king. Meanwhile, Llywelyn lays on his deathbed from a traitor's arrow. And once again, it is David and Anna, and all they represent, that holds the key to the survival of Wales. 

Prince of Time is Book Two in the After Cilmeri series.

My Thoughts:

This is book 2 of the After Cilmeri series and I loved it just as much as the other books. This time David is trying to escape. With Ieuan wounded and nowhere to go, he tests his time travel theory by jumping off a cliff, Lucky for him, it worked and he is back in the 21st century.

Ieuan is awed by the technology he sees. He gets medical care like he has never seen or imagined. This is where Bronwen is introduced. Between two different time periods, David is a force to be reckoned with.

I really loved how David was able to prove his theory and then use knowledge to achieve his goals for Wales. He realizes that he no longer belongs in the 21st century but that his home is now in medieval Wales. Ms. Woodbury has hooked me on this series. I love everything about it. The first book, Daughter in Time is what hooked me on time travel books. It is wonderful how she takes the past and throws some unsuspecting 21st century people in, changing it. She is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. I have already purchased the entire series so I will be reading the rest in the near future.

Review: Winds of Time by Sarah Woodbury

Winds of Time by Sarah Woodbury
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Meg had thought that taking a commuter flight from Pasco, Washington to Boise, Idaho would be a simple matter. But nothing is simple for Meg when it comes to travel, and especially not when she finds herself in the Middle Ages again instead of in a plane crash on a mountain side in Oregon.

And when the pilot takes off without her in a quest to return to the twenty-first century, Meg will need every last bit of maturity and knowledge she gained in the sixteen years she spent in the modern world--to survive even a day in this one.

A note from the author: Winds of Time takes place between Part 1 and Part 2 of Footsteps in Time, Book One in the After Cilmeri Series. I think you will enjoy Winds of Time more if you read Footsteps in Time first. Diolch yn fawr (thank you)! --Sarah

My Thoughts:

Winds of Time is book 1.5 in the After Cilmeri series. This book really belongs in the middle of Footsteps in Time (book1). It goes into detail the trials that Marged (aka Meg) goes thru to find her way back to Llywelyn (the man she loves), once she ends up back in time again.

I love how the author took the time to write a novelette to explain Marged's journey to find her way back. They only briefly touched on her journey in Footsteps in Time. This series took hold of me in Daughter of Time and hasn't let go. I really enjoy it.

Review: Undraland by Mary E. Twomey

Undraland by Mary E. Twomey
My Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

After her parents and twin brother died a year ago, Lucy Kincaid was determined to put together a normal life for herself. With her heart set on college life, Lucy’s dreams of medical school are dashed when a rabid bear attacks her in the middle of suburbia. When Jens, a handsome yet irritable stranger, saves her life, Lucy’s gratitude is cut short when he abducts her, taking her to a land filled with people and creatures she remembers from bedtime stories she assumed were just Scandinavian folklore. 
Jens takes Lucy to a world she never expected, and cannot escape. Undraland is teeming with oversized garden gnomes, warrior elves, Nøkken, Fossegrimens, and worst of all, Sirens. Lucy goes further and further down the rabbit hole until she signs up to join a band of thieves bent on taking down Pesta, the last Siren. 

My Thoughts:

Undraland is land full of magical creatures. You have elves, dwarves, gnomes and much more. Lucy is taken to Undraland after weres (werebears and weredogs) keep trying to attack her. There is so much about Lucy's life that is not as she knew it. Her family kept a lot of secrets from her. Not to mention that there is a siren after her. She is trying to piece together what is real, what family she has left and what she needs to do to survive.

This book has me intrigued. The series has real possibilities. Of course, the author left the ending hanging to make you want to read book 2. I wish the author hadn't drug out the beginning so much. Just as the book was getting interesting, it ended abruptly. I did like the way Jens & Lucy were together. She always had a sarcastic and funny reply for him.

Review: Razor Sharp by J.A. Schneider

Razor Sharp by J.A. Schneider
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

A Jack the Ripper type killer is murdering male prostitutes, with the exception of one young woman. Why? Police ask doctors Jill Raney and David Levine to help investigate.

'FROM HELL' the psychopath scrawls, taunting the NYPD with the original Jack the Ripper's 1888 letter to the police. They ask "one small favor" of Jill and David, police friends and - until now, detectives on their own.

"No warrant? No problem!" had been their mantra ... until their relationship with the cops got crazy; led to exhaustion, conflict, and not enough time to spend with their adored little son, Jesse.

But they share the horror that grips the country and agree to help, thus plunging into a terrifying maze of psycho-sexual obsession and madness. 

My Thoughts:

Everyone knows the story of Jack the Ripper. This story is about a serial killer that kills in a ripper-like fashion. The killer is escalating and seems to be playing with them. Jill & David (2 doctors) are called in from their vacation to assist where cops cannot seem to make any progress.

I really enjoyed this suspense novel. There are so many suspects and they all have different motives. I also loved the little boy (Jill & David's son). He was so adorable and seems to have a gift. If you are a mystery/suspense lover then you will love this book.

Review: The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox

The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

It's never a good day when an ancient demon shows up on your toilet bowl. For Lizzie Brown, that's just the beginning. Soon her hyperactive terrier starts talking, and her long-lost biker witch Grandma is hurling Smuckers jars filled with magic. Just when she thinks she's seen it all, Lizzie learns she's a demon slayer -- and all hell is after her.

Of course, that's not the only thing after her. Dimitri Kallinikos, a devastatingly handsome shape-shifting griffin needs Lizzie to slay a demon of his own. But how do you talk a girl you've never met into going straight to the underworld? Lie. And if that doesn't work, how dangerous could a little seduction be...? 

My Thoughts:

What isn't there to love about this book? You have an adopted woman who meets her crazy biological grandmother (a biker witch) on her 30th birthday, right before a demon shows up in her bathroom. Yes, a demon comes out of her toilet and tries to kill her. But hey, she finds out that she has magical powers through the experience. How cool is that? Then her Jack Russell Terrier (my favorite type of dog) starts talking to her.

This book starts off with a bang and just keeps going. You have demons, witches, a griffin, trolls, pixies, imps and werewolves. To top it off, this is just the first book in the series. Yes, I plan on reading the next one. I mean who doesn't love biker witches and talking dogs, right?

Review: A Midsummer Night's Scream by H.P. Mallory

A Midsummer Night's Scream by H.P. Mallory
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Fairy and law enforcement agent, Dulcie O'Neil, finds her life is pretty boring at the moment. Her hunky boyfriend and boss, Knight Vander, is busy setting up the new world order in the Netherworld and hasn’t been around much. Consequently, Dulcie is put in charge of Headquarters for the ANC (Association for Netherworld Creatures). Unfortunately for her, she doesn’t have a whole lot to keep her occupied…

Well, that is, until Jax Rochefort storms into Headquarters and her life. Jax, who’s a member of one of the most infamous illegal potions rings, ups and turns himself in with little to no explanation. Dulcie takes it upon herself to solve the riddle of Jax Rochefort, all the while trying to dodge his obvious advances.

Dulcie learns that the new Netherworld government is threatened by the potions cartels, who wish to see their own in power. Things heat up when Jax kidnaps Dulcie, all the while claiming to be following orders for his mysterious boss.
After discovering that everyone she cares about is directly in the line of fire, Dulcie must do everything in her power to ensure their safety as well as the security of the new Netherworld government. 

My Thoughts:

This is book 7 of the Dulcie O'Neil series. If you have been reading this series, then you know that book 6 came out in 2012 and this one finally arrived in 2015. Three long years before we finally to get know what else is happening in Dulcie's world.

Knight is in the Netherworld for business while Dulcie is holding down the fort at the ANC headquarters. She is bored until Knight shows up with a prisoner. Jax has turned himself in, supposedly wanting to get out of a life of crime. Of course, things are not as they seem and Dulcie is in trouble.

I really like this series so I am glad the author brought it back. Hopefully, we don't have to wait 3 more years for the next one. This one left me hanging, wondering what happens next. Gotta love those cliffhangers!

Review: Entranced by Jessica Sorensen

Entranced by Jessica Sorensen
My Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Alana Avery’s life is far from normal. Most of her family are Keepers, warriors chosen to protect the human race, and for as long as she can remember, she has been training to become a Keeper herself. So when she’s chosen to be a Guardian, investigators who solve paranormal crimes and murders, her life changes in an instant.

Alana has to attend Guardian Academy to train for her new role as a Guardian investigator. There, she meets Jaxon Gray, her new partner who happens to be a werewolf. Jaxon is smart, cocky, sexy, and drives Alana absolutely crazy.

Despite Alana’s confliction with Jaxon, her training and new life seem to be going well. That is until her grandfather is murdered.

Alana is determined to track down who killed her grandfather, even if it means getting help from Jaxon. But as she digs deeper into the case, she discovers there might be more to her family and the academy than meets the eye.


(A spin-off novel series from the Fallen Star Series about Gemma and Alex’s daughter, but the Guardian Academy Series can be read on its own.) 

My Thoughts:

This is a spin-off series of the Fallen Star series. Alana is the daughter of Gemma & Alex from that series. She is chosen to be a Guardian unlike the rest of her family, most off which are Keepers. Her grandfather gives her a dagger for protection. It isn't until late that she realizes that the dagger is more than he let on.

Her grandfather is murdered and Alana insists on helping the investigation, despite not being trained yet. Her family is treated badly because they think her grandfather was a thief. Lots of supernatural creatures are turning up dead and the Guardians are tasked with this investigation.

I liked this story but it really felt unfinished. I hope that book 2 will finish it for me. I loved all the supernatural creatures. I also haven't finished the Fallen Star and the Fallen Souls series so I plan to go back and read those.

Review: The Open Doorway by Madeleine Mitchell

The Open Doorway by Madeleine Mitchell
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Time travel hurts. You don't need machines or black holes or event horizons - just Shawnee magic, an electrical storm, and a dose of good old fashioned agony. 

It’s the summer of 2015, as British dancer, Leigh Boswell, flees her abusive husband, Daniel, on a vacation trip to Gettysburg, USA. If the creepy child she meets at the Devil’s Den isn’t enough to freak her out, the storm the girl summons blasts Leigh into the aftermath of one of America’s bloodiest battles on 3rd July 1863 where, sick and disorientated, she’s helped by a young confederate soldier, Lewis Thornton Powell, whose simple act of compassion has repercussions across two centuries. 

In the Federal field hospitals of Old Dorm and Camp Letterman, and the notorious West's Building Prison Hospital in Baltimore, Leigh is taken under the wing of confederate sympathiser, Maggie Branson, and endures the horrors of Civil War nursing as she struggles to adapt in an alien world. Fate and circumstance take her deep into the Virginian countryside where she’s adopted by Daniel's ancestors; the Chandlers, and meets once more with the enigmatic Powell, with whom she seems unable to escape a mutual destiny. 

Tormented by her knowledge of the future, Leigh is driven to the sprawling metropolis of Washington DC in a desperate bid to alter fate and change history; but as her nightmare unfolds, she finally uncovers the terrible truth about the man she loves. 

Based on true events, The Open Doorway is a novel of struggle in adversity, timeless love, and karmic absolution. It pits the past against the future where for everything given in life, a price must be paid; and for everything taken, something wonderful is offered in return. 

A sweeping saga of a novel in the tradition of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind, Diana Gabaldon's Outlander, and its own unique voice. This is history with a punch!

My Thoughts:

This book starts out in 2015. Leigh is married to Daniel, a very abusive man. He receives an inheritance from family in America and they go to visit. She has decided to use their trip to Gettysburg to escape him. She is running from him during a storm and is caught up by blue orbs of electricity. She wakens to find herself on the battlefield in 1863 during the actual battle. She is hurt and a confederate soldier risks getting captured to help her.

Scared and not knowing how to get back to her time, Leigh helps nurse the injured soldiers. She manages to find Daniel's relatives that he eventually inherits from. She explains that she is a distance cousin and stays with them. She realizes that when the war ends, President Lincoln will be assassinated and hopes to stop it.

I love how the author took such a monumental time in history and had the character try to change it. Also, the little bit of revenge Leigh got on Daniel was priceless (no, I am not going to tell you what she did- you need to read the book to find out). This book is definitely worth a read.

Review: Opening The Veil by C.L. Clark

Opening The Veil by C.L. Clark
My Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

One choice can change everything.

When Cassie agrees to go on a date with her gorgeous new neighbor, she doesn’t expect the night to end with a glimpse into eternity. Within twenty-four hours she discovers not only are young women being brutally murdered around her beloved town, but an ancient evil is using her new neighbor like a puppet to do the killing. Knowing the police won’t believe her without solid proof, she makes it her mission to find the evidence they need. Add to that how her cat has started talking to her, plus she's seeing ghosts that want her help, and it’s no surprise that she’s beginning to question her sanity. Will she be able to help the living and the dead and not end up another victim? She'll need to learn fast if she wants to survive in one piece.

This is the first book in the New Sight Series - a paranormal mystery series about a young woman whose eyes are opened to the hidden world around her and her compulsion to help the dead seek answers and justice.

My Thoughts:

This book is really different than what I expected. It is like Nancy Drew meets the ghost whisperer. Add in a talking cat with some pretty cool powers and this is the book you get. LOL

Cassie is the office manager at an insurance agency. She wants to be an insurance investigator which totally explains the urge to investigate crimes. She meets a very dangerous man and her cat starts talking to her to explain the danger that she is in. Then the ghosts start to appear. She is trying to make sense of what is happening all around her.

I really did not expect this book to be like this. When I read the synopsis, I kind of stopped when I read that the cat talked to her. Enough said, right? LOL! The book was a bit slow at the beginning but I pushed thru and it definitely got better. I will most likely read the next book in this series.

Review: I Am Alive by Cameron Jace

I Am Alive by Cameron Jace
My Rating:5 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Fans of Divergent, Hunger Games and Ready Player One will crave this world of dark secrets, intrigue and thirst for a better tomorrow.>

When they say you can't... it usually means you can.

I am not my heart rate.
I am not my stress.
I am not my fears.
I am not how I look like.
I am the very essence of me.
I am my will.
My passion.
My beliefs.
I am how much I can give and receive love.
I am infinite and possible & unpredictable...
I AM ALIVE!

Where Decca Tenderstone lives she is considered a monster, the lowest rank in Faya, where teenagers are ranked on a scale from one to ten on their sixteenth birthday. There's never been a Ten., but Six and above are permitted to live and grow up into adulthood. Five and below become monsters and are brutally killed for entertainment by the Summit. Period.

But Decca is different. She refuses to give in.

And when she meets the mysterious Leo Van Ark, who, in spite of being a Nine, is also hunted by Summit, she has a stronger reason to survive.

Will Decca and Leo ever make it, though no monster has ever survived? Will Leo open up to get and tell her about his secret? Will they change the world together? And most important of all, could Decca become the first Ten in Faya ever?

Celebrating the release of its sequel, I Am Alive is discount to $0.99 instead of $3.99 for a limited time. 

My Thoughts:

This is book 1 in the series. If you liked Hunger Games then you will most likely this series.

Decca is supposed to be a seven (a rating system that people are discriminated by) but she decides to swap her rating with someone rated a "monster" (below a 5). Her friend, Woo, was in the previous years' Monster show and supposedly died. She doesn't believe he died as his body was never recovered.

She meets Leo, a nine, who rebelled against the system and is being punished. Now they have to survive the Monster show which is entirely hazardous to your health. There are buses blown up, tigers and so much more that they face. Hundreds of  "monsters" go in and statistics show that none ever come back.

I really loved this book. I am not surprised because Cameron Jace is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. He has such a wonderful imagination and story telling ability. I just couldn't put the book down once I started reading. I have read books from 3 other series and a standalone book and I can't choose my favorite. I love them all!!

Review: The Owens Legacy: Revelations

The Owens Legacy: Revelations
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

When telepathic twins, Piper and Ryder Owens are dumped at Evermore Academy, they thought that the only thing they’d have to worry about was Piper staying out of trouble long enough for them to graduate. They will not, for any reason, be separated. But someone at Evermore knows about their secret and wants to separate them permanently.

But then Piper’s Achilles Heel shows up: a good looking guy. Victor Mira is everything Piper is supposed to avoid, yet she feels drawn to him in a way she never imagined. But Victor is hiding a dangerous secret too, and what he knows could be the one thing that could divide the sisters. Forever.

My Thoughts:

Piper and Ryder are twins. They have been shuffled from one private school to another for years. They end up at Evermore and they really like it. Piper meets Victor and Ryder meets Finn. Things are looking up for them for the first time in years.

Something is really wrong. Ryder is being followed and was attacked. People are not what they seem to be and the twins have no idea who to trust. Do they trust the boys they have fallen for? Do they trusts their friends and teachers? They push to learn what is happening and why people seem to know things they don't know. This is when the revelations start and they don't like what they learn. The time for desperate choices has arrived.

I really enjoyed this book. I was sucked in immediately and was surprised with the paranormal twist. This book is a must for YA and paranormal readers out there. I have already added the second book to my TBR list for the near future.

Review: Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs

Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs
My Rating:5 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Narrator Phoebe Castor 17, descendant of goddess Nike, cannot control her powers, and fears boyfriend Griffin returns to ex-girlfriend Adara. Stepfather Damian, principal of the Academy for divine descendants must enroll Pheobe in summer Boot Camp for ten-year-old girls. Can Adara and camp counsellor stepsister Stella train her in time to pass test?

My Thoughts:

This is the 2nd book in the Oh.My.Gods series.

Phoebe is settling into her new life as a half goddess. She is the great grand-daughter of the goddess, Nike. Her powers, that just started to show last year, are overwhelming. If she even daydreams, then something odd happens. She thought about surfing and her stepdad ended up soaked. The gods are watching her and have decided to test her control of her powers. Her stepdad enrolls her in goddess boot camp to help her control them.

I absolutely love this series. This one might actually be funnier, though. I love the things that happen while her powers are out of control. The entire series is worth a read. Mythology just comes to life in these books.

Review: Charmed Again by Rose Pressey

Charmed Again by Rose Pressey
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Reluctant witch Halloween LaVeau never guessed that inheriting LaVeau Manor would be so difficult. Sure, she was named Worst Witch of the Year, but her botched spell-casting is all behind her now, right? Everything changed after discovering the ancient Book of Mystics. She’s now the leader of the Underworld… whatever that means. Apparently, she’s in charge of keeping order within the paranormal world. 

If that wasn’t enough, Halloween—or Hallie as she prefers to be called—has two gorgeous men making her life even more confusing. The sexy vampire Nicolas Marcos has been accused of stealing another witch’s powers. With the help of Nicolas’ brother, the good-looking warlock Liam Rankin, Hallie must discover if Nicolas is guilty as charged. How will she navigate this Underworld?

My Thoughts:

I read Forever Charmed a year or so ago. I always meant to read book two so I finally got around to it. No disappointment here. It is just as good as the first one was.

Halloween is now the leader of the underworld and it is up to her to mediate and make judgments as necessary. Her first issue crops up almost immediately and it hits close to home. Nicolas is accused of attacking witches, turning them and stealing their powers. She doesn't believe he could do something like that but she decides that she must hear both sides and investigate first.

As per usual, their is a lot of magic spells cast. Once again, her spells are wonky and she has ghosts being reanimated. It is a race against time to find out who is doing what and how to stop them.

I absolutely loved this book. It has witches, vampires, warlocks, ghosts and demons. Everything paranormal readers love. It also has quite a bit for the mystery and romance lovers out there as well. I have already bought the next book and plan to read it soon.

Review:The Billionaire's Bride of Convenience by Miranda Lee

The Billionaire's Bride of Convenience by Miranda Lee
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Kathryn thought she knew Hugh Parkinson, a charming, rakish playboy who was used to women being served to him on a plate. In his eyes she was just his utterly efficient, slightly uptight assistant.

Until she nearly lost the thing that mattered most to her, and unexpectedly Hugh was there to help: he was prepared to marry her! But the catch… Hugh wanted this convenient marriage to keep Kathryn not only as his trusty assistant—but also to warm his bed…. 

My Thoughts:

Kathryn is working as a personal assistant to Hugh. Her fiance Daryl is not happy about this as Hugh is a well known rake. Hugh is starting to feel attracted to Kathryn but knows that she is engaged so he is trying to steer clear but he is very distracted because of her.

Daryl, in a fit of jealousy, hits Kathryn and she throws him out. Hugh becomes very protective of her. He realizes that she is not upset over Daryl but something else. He gets her to tell him about a will where she is required to be married before she turns 30 (5 weeks away) or she loses the house. He offers her a marriage of convenience. They will get divorced after she turns 30 and has the house. There is a saying about "best laid plans" and it definitely applies here.

This book was a quick and easy read. I wouldn't say there was anything that stood out above other romance novels like it. It is still well written and definitely worth a read. It is one of those books that you curl up with on a cold day.

Review: Kidnapped the Wrong Sister by Marie Kelly

Kidnapped the Wrong Sister by Marie Kelly
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

“I had a phone call from my brother not long after I left you … he told me that you had ripped up the cheque, he had a lot to say about that, along with a few other things, none of which I will bore you with…. Not a smart move Miss Brown”

“And why is that Mr Dranias” she had bit back her eyes angry daggers 

“Because you forced my hand….I told you there was no way that I was letting you get your greedy little hooks into my brother.. so welcome to my island”

Diona had looked at him, the confusion on her face so clear

“Wh…what do you mean” she stuttered

By now Nikias Dranias had moved so close to her that there was only about a foot between them, and she could see his dark eyes as they looked down on her with triumph on his face

“I mean Miss Brown that you will be staying here, until you’re due to return back to the UK, when I personally will put you back on the damn plane and out of our lives. My brother, has a very short attentions span Miss Brown, and I’m sure that once you are out of the way, he will quickly find other little playmates with which to fill his day.

Diona had looked at him with shock, her eyes wide with disbelief

“You can’t do that “she cried out

He had smiled back his eyebrow lifting 

“I think you will find I already have” 

Mistaken for her sister, Diona Brown had been tricked into visiting the island home of the Billionaire Nikias Dranias, who planned on keeping her there as his prisoner to stop his brother from marrying the woman he believed to be no more than a gold digger.

However passion had quickly flared between the two, and now Diona had found that she has to escape to not only save her sister but also herself from the enigmatic and distrustful Greek.

My Thoughts:

Diona gets home from work to find a note that her sister Daryl is in love and getting married. Despite being terrified of flying, Diona gets on a plane to Greece to talk some sense into her sister.

Daryl tells her sister that she is truly in love with Alexis and wants to marry him quickly before his brother catches up with them. To say Nikias disapproves is to put it mildly. The man actually kidnapped Diona, thinking she was his brother's girlfriend.

Sometimes I liked Nikias and other times, not so much. I think that love/hate struggle is what makes this book so good. You don't know whether to love the character or hate him- LOL. It does, however, make for a good romance novel. This is the first I have read anything by this author so I think I may have to check out some of her other books.

Review: A Cupid kind of Day by Lindy Dale

A Cupid kind of Day by Lindy Dale
My Rating:4 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Lily Appleby was down on love. Her dreams trampled on, her belief in romance shattered, she was about as happy discussing Valentine's Day as a vegan discussing meat options.
Then, she met Damon in a cobbler's shop, of all places, and over a near death incident with a hairy spider and a mix up over shoes, a bond was formed. For Lily, the attraction was instant and beyond chemical. She felt as if someone filled her veins with champagne and the fizz was overflowing. For Damon, it was just as strong. So strong, in fact, that he was prepared to go to all manner of lengths to ensure that Lily ~ the girl he barely knew ~ had the best Valentine's Day ever and that her faith in love would be restored.
Or would it?

Will Lily fall hopelessly in love over a CD and a Crunchie Bar? Or will she choose NOT to love again?

My Thoughts:

So Lily is still recovering from her last relationship. The guy got a promotion and without asking her thoughts, he just told her to start packing. Like any woman is going to pack up her entire life on the spot just because a guy told her to.

Damon comes to town to help his grandfather for a few days. They meet in the cobbler shop when she tries to pick up her shoes. Instant attraction.

I love this story. It shows that all men (or women- cause it can be reversed) are not all the same. Like I told a friend recently, you have to kiss a lot frogs to find your prince. For all you romance lovers out there, this book is a feel good romance that won't let you down.

Review: A Night of Forever by Lori Brighton

A Night of Forever by Lori Brighton
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Who is Aidan Callaghan? Mary Ellen James is intent on uncovering the truth about the mysterious man. But as she soon finds out, some things are best left buried in the past.


Originally published in an Anthology called Entangled with Michelle Diener, Cynthia Eden, Jennifer Estep, Misty Evans, Nancy Haddock, Liz Kreger, Dale Mayer, Michelle Miles, and Edie Ramer, plus a novella by Allison Brennan.

My Thoughts:

I have read many books by Lori Brighton and I am never disappointed. This book is no exception. It is well written.

Mary Ellen is about to be introduced to the ton in London for the coming season. She was poor for so many years until her sister married well. She is determined to marry a rich & titled man so that she will never experience poverty ever again. Then Aiden walks into her life and she is determined to ignore him as he does not make her list of eligible men. Aiden also has a big secret.

I really enjoyed this book. The only thing is that it is so short. I really would have liked to this to be longer. The book is well worth the read though.