Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Review: Winter by Marissa Meyer                                                                                            This is  the final book in the Lunar Chronicles Series. I loved the entire  series and it was hard to say goodbye to the characters  at the end.  There  is more room for story telling here  just  as there is at the end of the Throne of Glass Series. As I mentioned in a previous blog, this is  both good and bad. Good  in that the author can pick up the story line again at a later date if they want to. Bad in  that you are yearning for more.  All in all it is a successful end to the series. The plot line is well developed  and follows through with elements from the previous volumes while  adding enough plot twists to satisfy. The characters develop further  during this last offering  giving you more depth. Courage and personal determination of your fate are themes as well as love and sacrifice. Madness also makes an appearance.                                                                                                                                                                        The best part about this series is the high level  of adventure coupled with the compelling characters and the situations in whichntheybfind themselves. The bonds between the characters feel very real . You cheer for them and understand their in most thoughts and feelings. The unfailing loyalty is refreshing and vital . We should all have a friend or love interest willing to go to these lengths. Oh the feels! This is an action packed , never  a dull moment read. Plan to be in place for a while. Get all of your supplies ready so that you don't have to move.
Firewal by DiAnn Mills Review                                                                                                          After a whirlwind romance, Taryn Young is preparing to board a plane at Houston International Airport, bound for a dream honeymoon, when a bomb decimates the terminal. Injured but still alive, she awakens to discover her husband is missing and they’re both considered prime suspects in the attack. Further, the FBI is convinced her husband isn’t who he appears to be. Agent Grayson Hall’s number-one priority is to catch those responsible for the day’s act of terror. All evidence is pointing to Taryn and her new husband. But his instinct tells him her pleas of innocence are genuine. Is her naiveté just for show, or could she truly be another victim of a master scheme, possibly linked to the software she recently developed for her company? With both their lives and reputations on the line, and the media outcry for justice increasing with each passing minute, Taryn and Grayson have no choice but to trust one another . . . and pray they can uncover the truth before they become two more casualties.                                                                                                                                                                                                                     I love when the decent geek is the main character in a romance and even more so when there is suspense involved. This is not frivolous but edge of your seat. You care about the characters and the outcome. Good plot and character development keep you glued to the book , eager to find out what happens next . Tatum really goes through a lot and is admirable  as a person as is the FUN agent who is trying to put an end to all the madness. This is a wonderful thing . I also love the good back story with a family aspect for the agent. It adds a lot to the story. There is even a dog for animal lovers like my self.                                                                                                    Greed is at the heart of a lot of things in this world and this story is no exception. Revenge also rears.it's ugly head as does an international I final issue providing the motivation behind the dizzying ride. This is a well crafted novel with all the elements you want in a thriller. Good decent people are out to stop twisted weirdos from doing the unthinkable with a vulnerable person at stake as well as broader implications for the world economy etc. What a ride. Me. Mills knows just when to change this up and kick it up a notch during the story. She kills you in a good way. I will be reading the next in the series to let her finish me off. gladly.
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 Queen of Shadows Review                                                                                                     Sarah J. Maas's New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series reaches new heights in this sweeping fourth volume. Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire-for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past... She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight. She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return. Celaena's epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena's story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Reading this was bittersweet because while I had been waiting for the continuation of the story, I was also sad to get to the end of the series. The main characters have been through a lot at this point. Their experiences have changed them for good or I'll. There are revelations in store. There is also, dare I say it room for more at the end. It is conceivable that Ms.Maas may be able to pull another book in this series out if she so chooses in the future. Stay tuned. The ending was really full of potential new beginnings which was what really made me frustrated. It adds to the book hangover because now you wish that you knew what happened with that. This is a testament to the author and this epic series.                                                                                                                                                                                                            Among the evidence of a well crafted story: Just when you thought that you had the players and their roles figured out, you don't. Not only do we see  anew ally but there is a change in a villain. The whole dynamic shifts. We get to see Dorian' s fate finally and all the build up from the last book comes to fruition as the king is faced. Amazing to see who finally winds up with who also. Always New players and surprises around every corner are in store. You will definitely not be bored so get comfortable before you dig in. You may not move for a while.                                          

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Review:The Great Christmas knit Off by Alexandra Brown The perfect seasonal tale of how laughter, friends and wacky Christmas jumpers can mend a broken heart. For fans of Trisha Ashley and Jenny Colgan. Heartbroken after being jilted at the altar, Sybil has been saved from despair by her knitting obsession and now her home is filled to bursting with tea cosies, bobble hats, and jumpers. But, after discovering that she may have perpetrated the cock-up of the century at work, Sybil decides to make a hasty exit and, just weeks before Christmas, runs away to the picturesque village of Tindledale. There, Sybil discovers Hettie’s House of Haberdashery, an emporium dedicated to the world of knitting and needle craft. But Hettie, the outspoken octogenarian owner, is struggling and now the shop is due for closure. And when Hettie decides that Sybil’s wonderfully wacky Christmas jumpers are just the thing to add a bit of excitement to her window display, something miraculous starts to happen…                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         This book was sort of a cross between a Sophie Kinsella novel and Friendship bread by Darien Gee. It has quirky characters, heartwarming moments and the whole town comes together in time of need. It follows a young woman trying to heal and find a new direction for her life. The reader is taking an adventure with her . It is wonderful that two problems are solved at once both for the main protagonist and one of the villages elderlybresidents. It is also neat that there is a new and better man to consider. Very satisfying ending. I believe that this  is meant  to be the start of a series. It should be interesting  to see how the author carries on from here.

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Falling Like Snowflakes by Denise Hunter.                        
Eden Martelli is too busy fleeing the clutches of danger to realize she’s running straight into the arms of a new love. Speeding north through rural Maine, Eden Martelli wonders how her life came to this—on the run with her mute five-year-old son dozing fitfully in the passenger seat. When a breakdown leaves them stranded in Summer Harbor, Eden has no choice but to stay put through Christmas . . . even though they have no place to lay their heads. Beau Callahan is a habitual problem solver—for other people anyway. He left the sheriff’s department to take over his family’s Christmas tree farm, but he’s still haunted by the loss of his parents and struggling to handle his first Christmas alone. When Eden shows up looking for work just as Beau’s feisty aunt gets out of the hospital, Beau thinks he’s finally caught a break. Eden is competent and dedicated—if a little guarded—and a knockout to boot. But, as he soon finds out, she also comes with a boatload of secrets. Eden has been through too much to trust her heart to another man, but Beau is impossible to resist, and the feeling seems to be mutual. As Christmas Eve approaches, Eden’s past catches up to her. Beau will go to the ends of the earth to keep her safe. But who’s going to protect his heart from a woman who can’t seem to trust again?                                                                                                                                            This book had very engaging characters and drew me in right away. First there was the situation that the main characters were in, then the intersection between them and the Callahans and finally the wonderful plot development delivered without breaking your heart in the end. The novel deals well with the feelings  of the traumatized. It ultimately explored the issues of fear that they were struggling with. Fear limits your life and holds you prisoner. You have to decided to surmount it. It also explored people's reactions to loss. I loved the way that Eden/Kate' s dad pops up towArd the end. It was a nice tie in. If you are not a fan of insta love the rapid development of the relationship may be a sore point but It was done well all things considered.

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

!Review Moments of Truth by Sandra D. Bricker.  Regan Sloane was married once. Eight years, no kids, she got the house. In the years since the divorce, she's managed to keep afloat with the only real skill she has: Writing. She hadn't really noticed how her readership had blossomed until a well-known reviewer noticed her sweet little lifestyle blog. When had it transformed into a single woman's go-to? With the life and loves of her four BFFs to fuel the content and have her back at every turn Regan realizes that something magical happens when women join forces. Girl Power just might be the new super power!Regan Sloane was married once. Eight years, no kids, she got the house. In the years since the divorce, she's managed to keep afloat with the only real skill she has: Writing. She hadn't really noticed how her readership had blossomed until a well-known reviewer noticed her sweet little lifestyle blog. When had it transformed into a single woman's go-to? With the life and loves of her four BFFs to fuel the content and have her back at every turn Regan realizes that something magical happens when women join forces. Girl Power just might be the new super power!
 This is the latest offering from one of  my favorites Sandra Bricker. It is also  a bit of a departure in that this project is for Bling Romance a new imprint of edgy inspirational fiction. It is the wonderful story  of the friendship shared by five women. Sometimes life is just more bearable in all of its ups and downs with people who get you. People who are there  to support you through those moments of Truth. The author does a great job of selecting women who are in various life situations and are from various backgrounds. Each has major challenges  and decisions. Through it all they are there for each other. I liked the feel of  the bond between the characters as much as I do in Neta Jackson's Yada Yada series. Since that is one of my all  time favorite series that is really saying something.                                                                                                                                                                                            I thought that it reflected the situation of a lot of people who have a mixed bag of people in their lives. Some are grounded in their faith and may have come to faith after some adventures in other lifestyles. Some consider questions of faith when facing serious illness or loss. Some people do not have a faith life and are accustomed to thinking in a different bent. They find it difficult to believe that others could find happy living according to the tenets of their faith in the modern world  with its prevailing attitudes.                                                                                          Friendships are the relationships which we ourselves choose. They cross boundaries of race,religion ,socio-economic status etc. A unique connection is forged and enriches our lives. The love and support women give to.one another  and the difference that it makes in their lives was the subject matter here and masterfully communicated.                                                                                                                On the technical side, Me Bricker developed her characters well  and have us a glimpse into their inkjet world. The plot was organic and well executed. Even when she kills.US it is.still ok because we want to know what happens next. I enjoyed reading this book and am glad to known that there is more to come from this author including an interactive work based on the successful Emma Rae Creation series . This will.continue where the last book left off.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Review: Good Clean Murder by Traci Tyne Hilton. Bible school student Jane cleans houses to make ends meet. She’s getting by just fine — until she finds one of her customers murdered in his bed.                                                                                                                                                     Actually she finds both her client and his wife dead which kicks off a whole series of events that directly impact Jane. I really liked this first book in the series. The characters were interesting and the plot held my interest throughout. The author kept you guessing who the culprit was and kept throwing out possible suspects and plot twists. The main character is well meaning and actually gains valuable insight into herself and also into her readiness to go off to a foreign mission field. I liked the touch of romance thrown in and well worked into the plot line. I actually read this as an ebook with audible narration and In was also very satisfied with the accompaniment of the audio book. The narrator did a nice job.