The Cursed Canoe by Frankie Bow had some good writing and interesting characters, but I wanted more of the mystery and what saved the story for me is that I didn’t guess the ending, which is a huge plus for me, a very good thing.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Cursed Canoe by Frankie Bow.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Professor Molly Barda investigates a mysterious paddling accident near Hawaii’s Mahina State University, and realizes it isn’t just business majors who cheat to get what they want. Whether it’s moving up in the college rankings, getting a seat in the big canoe race, or just looking out for themselves, some people will do whatever it takes-including murder.
I received Cloak of Deceit from Gwen Mitchell some time ago and it got lost in the review pile. This year, I aim to catch up on every review owed, regardless of how long it has been.
Alex Moore is a college senior and her whole life had been planned out. Until now.
Her boyfriend broke the rules of the vampire society when he created her and now she is not only a vampire, she is a psychic and has telekinetic powers. The voices inside her head are the hive, a group of psychics called Gregori. But she is more than that.
She is an impossibility. She is a Gregori, a sworn enemy of the Undead, even though she is one of the Undead also.
I went through the painful, horrifying transformation with her. I heard the voices calling. I ran with her, though it was only in our minds.
Whether she was a violation of the law or a walking bull’s eye, it didn’t matter. Either way she was in deep danger. They all want her dead.
There would be no escape. Without Julian, a Knight of the Cloak, a sexy Undead enforcer, she didn’t stand a chance. Would he stand beside her?
When she talked of drinking the blood and the thickness coating her throat, it almost made me gag.
Tomato juice + cow’s blood = newbie cocktail
I enjoyed this vampire romance novel. Gwen Mitchell did an excellent job with descriptions and details of the fights and emotions of the characters. I loved and hated them and what more can I ask for.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Cloak of Deceit by Gwen Mitchell.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
When her latest bad-boy lover accidentally turns her into a vampire, college senior Alex Moore discovers her latent telekinetic ability. Psychic powers mark her as one of the Grigori, the sworn enemies of the Undead. No one has ever been both. Caught in the middle of a war she doesn’t understand, Alex’s only hope for survival is a Knight of the Cloak – a sexy Undead enforcer named Julian. But will he give up his rank and cast aside old loyalties to save her? Can she harness her psychic powers and her Undead instincts while being hunted by both sides? And given her track record, can Alex really trust any man she’s that attracted to?
New Adult Urban Fantasy Romance
Rated 17+ for language and sexual situations.
I was looking for something easy to read and all I had to do is sit back and enjoy. Well, My Big Fat Demon Slayer Wedding by Angie Fox was just the ticket.
Outrageously funny band of biker bitches witches help Lizzie battle the evil Earl and plan her wedding kept me laughing, because of its cast of quirky characters with magical spells that don’t always work the way they should and creatures that cover the supernatural world.
I picked this up on an Amazon free day and I’m glad it didn’t get buried in my Kindle.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Lizzie Brown is about to have the destination wedding of her dreams. But as this former preschool teacher knows, being a demon slayer makes everything more complicated. The vengeful Earl of Hell is still on her tail. And now it seems that one of the guests at the eccentric, seaside mansion is possessed and trying to kill her. Maybe she should just elope.
The groom, studly shape-shifting griffin Dimitri Kallinikos, vows to protect her at all costs. Yet even he is acting suspiciously. And minions of the devil are popping up everywhere. Now Lizzie must protect her socialite mother, her Greek in-laws and her grandmother’s gang of biker witches – all of whom are convinced they know what’s best for her, and her big day. As the wedding draws closer, Lizzie has to learn who is behind the attacks – and fast – or risk losing everyone she loves.
I didn’t realize when I got this that it was the second book in the series, but it really didn’t make a difference in my enjoyment of the story or make it difficult to follow.
Harmonia is a djinn, a TimeKeeper. She is of the water. She is head strong, stubborn, and determined to find her own answers to her questions. She is destined to join the sidhe and djinn. She holds the key to saving them all.
They have their own political problems and discriminations, just like us humans. Her marriage may be political, but could it be based on love too?
Tristan had no intention of marrying for political reasons either, but Harmonia wormed her way into his heart. Can they overcome their personal issues?
One wants to save the humans, the other want to enslave them.
Humankind is in danger and she must protect them. It will be a new world for the people and only she can do it. But…who to trust? The Gods?
Shapeshifter, Gods, djinn, sidhe, assassins, magic, nymphs, dryads, trolls and so much more. I love all the magical creatures.
You won’t get all the answers and there is more to come. I, for one, would like to be there to learn the end.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Emerald’s Ring by Jaylee Austin.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Harmonia Shae, a time traveler, faces a revengeful fallen sidhe queen set on enslaving humankind. A Sihir magician traps Harmonia’s freewill inside a talisman forcing her to submit to three summonses.
On the brink of death, she finds an unwanted champion in Tristan Avery. Upon awakening, she is in his house. Frightened, she scrambles to escape his overbearing need to protect her. Time is short, she must find the ambassador of the gates and return to her cousin’s house to formulate a plan of action to undo the cataclysmic effects she is compelled to inflict on an unsuspecting city once she completes the queen’s commands.
The wild cowboy sidhe, Tristan Avery finds the dark haired beauty unconscious and poisoned with copper. Determined, to find out why she is here, he follows her every move. When a calamitous earthquake hits Sedona, he is sure she is connected to the mystifying vibrational energy storming through the ley lines of magick. As minder of the Kingdom of Sidhe, he becomes entangled in a battle to safeguard Sedona and defend the women he’s vowed to protect.
Harmonia and Tristan can’t stop the tempestuous hot relationship developing between them as they each hide their own secrets. Will these two overcome the obstacles and find love?
ABOUT JAYLEE AUSTIN (from Amazon)
Rocket, my loving terrier, comes barreling in my office and jumps on the coffee table determined to out wait the computer. He crosses one paw over another and watches me with his chocolate eyes. He waits for a pause and then decides it’s his time and leaps into my lap. I haven’t figured a way to create a bed on my desk. He’s the kind of dog that likes to feel the warmth of human contact. He’s my pal and part of my daily writing routine.
On any weekend you can find me surrounded by faeries, dragons, and angel figurines inspiring me with creative ideas. I live in Apple Valley, California and during the day I teach Language Arts, hopefully inspiring other young writers. Since childhood creating stories has always been a favorite hobby of mine. As an adult I’m grateful to write and share my thoughts with others. Happy reading and may the magic of life fill you with dreams of hope.
There are two songs that jumped out at me as I read Chasing Fireflies by Taylor Dean. I opted to use the Pina Colada song, because I love it and it makes me feel good to sing along to it.
I have been a huge fan of Taylor Dean’s for some time now, so I am excited to check out another one of her novels, Chasing Fireflies.
Her sisters act like mothers as they do their best to dissuade Savannah from going to China for four months, but she knew HE was there and she had to find him, her true love. She’ll be OK, she has her magic cloak and that makes her invisible.
Emotions bubble to the surface early as I read of the loss of her parents. Can someone die of a broken heart?
OK Taylor, Ive got my tissues by my side, so let’s go find Paul, come hell or high water.
She’s shy, but that doesn’t mean she not observant, taking in everything around her,a spectator of others.
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” What a great quote.
I found it easy to relate to her difficulty with social situations and turbulence. I am a huge fan of my own company and God forbid I end up on a plane with turbulence.
Just like the fireflies my sisters and I tried to catch on the warm summer evenings of our youth, the dream seems beyond my grasp.
I could follow her life long dream and head to China but that elevator scene…having a hard time getting there. Stopped me in my tracks. Taylor Dean is a must read author for me, and I do love a happy ever after, but this scene struck me so wrong…I’ll read on and see if she wins me over. I know..it’s fiction…just have to go with it.
Taylor Dean is very good with sweet, clean, innocent romance and she is sure to include the despair she feels when her dream is crushed. Ah, the sweet agony of youth and its naivety. She is so different from me but I do remember my broken heart and the soul crushing sorrow…that in hindsight seemed to end very quickly. Did more time pass than I thought?
I don’t mind predictable,the familiar. It can be warm, cozy and comfortable. I didn’t get into this one as much as I normally do her stories. They usually wrap me up in emotions and require tissues. Chasing Fireflies had its moments and is well worth the read.
Chasing Fireflies is one of a series of stand alone novels connect to The Matchmaker.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Chasing Fireflies by Taylor Dean.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
My sisters think I’m crazy.
But, I’ve never forgotten the mysterious woman from my childhood who told me Paul is the name of my one true love.
She told me to search far and wide for him.
I haven’t stopped looking ever since.
When I stumble across an article about a successful American entrepreneur named Paul who lives and works in China, I’m intrigued. When the opportunity to teach English in China presents itself on the same day, I know it’s not a coincidence.
It’s destiny.
My sisters say I’m chasing a dream.
Just like the fireflies we tried to catch on the warm summer evenings of our youth, the dream seems beyond my grasp. Will my quest for the elusive Paul always be just short of fulfillment?
My sisters tell me it’s a fool’s errand.
Until I remind them of the day we saw the Red Bird.
The memory silences them.
The Red Bird Incident remains inarguable—and proves my search for Paul is not a silly fantasy.
I will find Paul . . . I will.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense—you’ll find all sub-genres of clean romance in her line-up.
To find out what Taylor Dean is up to, follow the links below:
Slayed on the Slopes by Kate Dyer Seeley is a cozy mystery that is sure to hit the spot, when you are curled up in your favorite reading place with a warm beverage.
As our adventure on the slopes begins, shades of The Shining rears it ugly head…the Timberline, snowcats…and I give Meg a lot of credit because she is terrified of most outdoor things, and Kate Dyer Seeley puts her in harms way to entertain us in this fun cozy mystery, with travel tips for your visit to Mt Hood, Oregon.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
After talking her way into a job writing for Portland’s Northwest Extreme magazine, Meg Reed may now really be in over her head. Actually, about 8,000 feet over her head. . .
She’s at Mount Hood’s remote Silcox Hut, covering the the seriously hardcore Ridge Rangers– Oregon’s elite high-altitude rescue team–during their four-day winter training. Sure, Meg beefed up her outdoor skills over the summer . . . but she’s still hoping to cover the event with some hot chocolate by the cheery fireplace. Then, during a sudden blizzard, she swears she hears gunshots. No one stranded in the hut believes her . . . until self-absorbed Ridge Ranger Ben Rogers is found outside in a pool of frozen blood. Meg’s now got to find this killer quickly . . . before cabin fever does them all in!
The mystery has begun and Lisa Lutz kept me guessing until the end.
Tanya’s husband falls down the stairs and dies. When she finds him, she runs. Why?
On the run, she hooks up with Blue…WHOA. She is a badass and could definitely teach Tanya some lessons. Wonder what her story is?
Trouble comes looking for them and bodies fall.
How would you go about creating a new identity….a new life?
Their life keeps getting more complicated and I wonder what will become of them. My curiosity and Lisa’s pacing and suspense keep me tearing through the pages, wanting answers, but…
Lisa Lutz is not new to me. I have checked her books out from the library and enjoyed them. Passenger is full of a lot of words and some took me on long convoluted paths. Were they there to just lengthen the story or were they essential to the character development and suspense? I don’t expect fiction to be ‘real’ but, to me, a suspense novel like Passenger doesn’t need events just to have them. Know what I mean? It just slows the pacing and lessens the suspense and I like the white knuckled, breath holding, must know what happens next feeling.
I don’t quite get what’s going on and don’t find out why she is running until the last 20%. I do love that I didn’t know the story and had to read to the end to find the answers I was seeking.
Blue kept popping in and out and I loved it. There are no heroes here. All in all, I enjoyed the story.
I read an ARC, so I hope Lisa trims the fat and makes this the top notch book I feel it can be.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Passenger by Lisa Lutz.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
In case you were wondering, I didn’t do it. I didn’t have anything to do with Frank’s death. I don’t have an alibi, so you’ll have to take my word for it…
Forty-eight hours after leaving her husband’s body at the base of the stairs, Tanya Dubois cashes in her credit cards, dyes her hair brown, demands a new name from a shadowy voice over the phone, and flees town. It’s not the first time.
She meets Blue, a female bartender who recognizes the hunted look in a fugitive’s eyes and offers her a place to stay. With dwindling choices, Tanya-now-Amelia accepts. An uneasy―and dangerous―alliance is born.
It’s almost impossible to live off the grid today, but Amelia-now-Debra and Blue have the courage, the ingenuity, and the desperation, to try. Hopscotching from city to city, Debra especially is chased by a very dark secret…can she outrun her past?
ABOUT LISA LUTZ
Lisa Lutz is the New York Times bestselling author of the six books in the Spellman series, How to Start a Fire, Heads you Lose (with David Hayward), and the children’s book, How to Negotiate Everything (illustrated by Jaime Temairik). Her latest book, The Passenger, a psychological thriller, will be published March 2016 by Simon and Schuster. Lutz has won the Alex award and has been nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel.
Although she attended UC Santa Cruz, UC Irvine, the University of Leeds in England, and San Francisco State University, she still does not have a bachelor’s degree. Lisa spent most of the 1990s hopping through a string of low-paying odd jobs while writing and rewriting the screenplay Plan B, a mob comedy. After the film was made in 2000, she vowed she would never write another screenplay. Lisa lives in the Hudson Valley, NY.
Hop aboard for an alien adventure in this scifi tale of mystery, intrigue, romance and intergalactic travel.
I love their description of us humans, but you will need to check out the book for yourself to learn it.
Denokin was an abductor of earthlings. It had become ho hum for him. Until…
Stewart and Mindy worked at the division that regulated alien traffic on earth and were responsible for their presence being kept a secret. For all we know, one could be sitting right beside us, right now. Look to your left, look to your right. Could they be an alien?
It was Bruner’s job to prove of the aliens existence. The poor guy is being duped and used by his own government.
When confiscating Denokin’s ship, Stewart failed to secure all the aliens on the ship, so Earth has some unexpected visitors…Trespassers.
The aliens lives mirror ours, in some ways. They have families, they go to school, they get married, they take vacations…
I couldn’t help but laugh when Mindy realized she was attracted to Stewart, as if seeing him for the very first time…and he’s HOT. I don’t feel this is a spoiler, because, come on, we all know its gonna happen.
There are many different types of aliens and Earth is considered a resort stop for them. Seeing Earth through their eyes makes me appreciate our world even more, reminding me of its beauty. I prefer to think of it as a resort destination, like them, and wonder at the marvels before me…water, nature, hills and valleys.
Trespassers by Tim & Todd Wynn is a science fiction fantasy unlike others I have read. The writing is serious, but not dark. The characters had me in their grasp, as I decided which I liked and which I didn’t like. Some were just doing their job, but I still didn’t like it. There were no villains, in my mind. Just human beings trying to do the right thing. We are primitive, they are so much more advanced than us.
All in all, a fun read with entertaining characters and, maybe, there is even a lesson to be learned through fiction. So, hop aboard and meet the Trespassers.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
B.R.A.G. Medallion Winner 2015
When four alien visitors arrive on Earth and disappear into the cornfields of Indiana, it is Stewart Faulkner’s job to find them. Who they are, where they’re headed, and what’s important enough to make them jump from a moving spaceship are all questions that Stewart must uncover. And he will have to do it all while
1) training a new team member named Mindy—who is developing a crush on him;
2) flying under the radar of his boss to make sure he’s not removed from the case; and
3) staying one step ahead of a government agent named Karl Bruner, who is determined to expose the presence of aliens on Earth.
I did enjoy The Point of Death by Roslyn Woods that reads like a character study of the good and the bad people do, how they perform in dangerous situations, under pressure, as the gals draw in their small circle of close friends and put the pieces of the mystery together.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Point of Death by Roslyn Woods.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
This is a prequel to the Michelle Hodge Series: Twenty-four year old Shell Hodge is in the final stretch of her quest for a master’s degree in art history when tragedy strikes at her art co-op near the University of Texas at Austin. She finds the body of beautiful and charismatic Dr. Leone, her art teacher from UT, and she is forced to endure a long and aggressive interview by the police. Believing that the approach of the detectives–targeting the students who cared most about their teacher–is unlikely to result in the capture of the real murderer, Shell embarks on her own search for answers. A strange circle of clues leads back to her best friend’s ex, Jeremy. Meanwhile, that same best friend, Margie–an aspiring chef and a successful baker–has some ideas of her own about Jeremy, one of them being that she wants to keep her little dog and herself as far away from him as possible. Enlisting the help of a handsome psychologist seems like a good idea at first, but learning that he also has a secret and that it, too, leads back to the murder victim, puts Margie on an emotional rollercoaster while Shell winds up at the point of death when she finds herself facing a killer.
WHOA, might think about calling the cops after reading about murder, a psychopath, child abuse, pedophiles, a porno ring…that started kind of slow and not so great in the beginning, but hang in there because these two feisty, strong girls will take you to a great ending.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Sinking Stones in the Sky by M E Purfield.
3 Stars
AMAZON SYNOPSIS
In the 8th book of M.E. Purfield’s addictive noir fantasy series, two characters from two different novels come together to find a killer and break a chain of evil.
Miki Radicci, a teen psychic who can experience one’s pain and death, lives in Manhattan where she tries to drown her past sins and guilt.
Lorelei Cox (Party Girl Crashes the Rapture), a recovering addict, lives in Jersey City with her one true love and works as a waitress, far from the dark past that almost killed her.
When Lorelei is accused of killing a police officer, Miki spares no expense in helping her friend prove her innocence. The girls soon discover a child pornography operation from out of the past that is run by a demon that will bind them forever.
3 Stars
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Rocket, my loving terrier, comes barreling in my office and jumps on the coffee table determined to out wait the computer. He crosses one paw over another and watches me with his chocolate eyes. He waits for a pause and then decides it’s his time and leaps into my lap. I haven’t figured a way to create a bed on my desk. He’s the kind of dog that likes to feel the warmth of human contact. He’s my pal and part of my daily writing routine.
Lisa Lutz is the New York Times bestselling author of the six books in the Spellman series, How to Start a Fire, Heads you Lose (with David Hayward), and the children’s book, How to Negotiate Everything (illustrated by Jaime Temairik). Her latest book, The Passenger, a psychological thriller, will be published March 2016 by Simon and Schuster. Lutz has won the Alex award and has been nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel.
