Shelter Mountain by Robyn Carr (Virgin River #2)

 

John "Preacher" Middleton is about to close the bar when a young woman and her three-year-old son come in out of the wet October night. A marine who has seen his share of pain, Preacher knows a crisis when he sees one—the woman is covered in bruises. He wants to protect them, and he wants to punish whoever did this to her, but he knows immediately that this inclination to protect is something much more. Paige Lassiter has stirred up emotions in this gentle giant of a man—emotions that he has never allowed himself to feel.

But when Paige's ex-husband turns up in Virgin River, Preacher knows his own future hangs in the balance. And if there's one thing the marines' motto of Semper Fidelis—always faithful—has taught him, it's that some things are worth fighting for.

Why I decided to read this book: I signed up to try to win a copy of Promise Canyon on Goodreads and I decided to start at the beginning of the series so that book 11 would makes sense to me.  I was also able to download the first 4 books of the series on to my Nook as a book bundle! :)

Likes?.....: I really liked Preacher.  He's a big ole burly badass former Marine who doesn't think that he's capable of loving or being loved.  I also enjoyed Paige and Chris who bring out the best and at some points in the book, the worst in Preacher.  I also really enjoyed how the town rallied around Paige and Chris to make sure that they were safe from Paige's abusive ex-husband.  Oh and let's not forget about "unlovable" Preacher turned lover extraordinaire Preacher.  Everyone calls Preacher by his nickname rather than his given name in town, then Paige comes along and starts calling him John and to me that was pretty sexy in it's VERY simple way.

Dislikes?.....: Paige's brother and ex husband....They BOTH deserve to be beaten to within an inch of their lives in my honest opinion.  There were a couple of odd breaks in the story that seemed a little off to me but not enough to be distracting.

Overall: I think that this book was even better than the first book in the series.  Another one that once I started reading I had a VERY difficult time putting down.  I think that the series builds really nicely from one book to the next with the inclusion of new characters as well as reoccurring roles of the "regulars."  I can hardly wait to keep reading!  I'm just soooo mad at myself for not reading this series before now!

Virgin River By Robyn Carr

 

 Wanted: Midwife/nurse practitioner in Virgin River, population six hundred. Make a difference against the backdrop of towering California redwoods and crystal-clear rivers. Rent-free cabin included.

When the recently widowed Melinda Monroe sees this ad she quickly decides that the remote mountain town of Virgin River might be the perfect place to escape her heartache, and to reenergize the nursing career she loves. But her high hopes are dashed within an hour of arriving: the cabin is a dump, the roads are treacherous and the local doctor wants nothing to do with her. Realizing she's made a huge mistake, Mel decides to leave town the following morning.

But a tiny baby, abandoned on a front porch, changes her plans…and a former marine cements them into place.

Melinda Monroe may have come to Virgin River looking for escape, but instead she finds her home.

Why I decided to read this book: I signed up to try and win a copy of Promise Canyon on Goodreads and thought that I should probably start at the beginning so book 11 might actually make sense to me...provided I was able to win a copy. :)  Lucky me...I was able to find the first four books bunched together in a bundle available on my Barnes and Noble Nook.

Likes?.....: I really liked the premise of the story....Jack and Melinda (Mel) are both damaged souls looking for a change....and Boy Howdy do they get it in spades!  I also enjoyed the mostly good hearted turmoil between Doc and Mel....everyone thinks he needs some help and he doesn't.  I also enjoyed picturing Jack helping out the town as well as helping with a an abandoned newborn baby....Here's this big burly badass former Marine who is actually a gentle giant underneath all that big burly badassness.  I also enjoyed the reunion with Jack and his fellow Marine buddies and Jack's "fall from Grace" as a result of the reunion.

Dislikes?.....:  I think that the reason for Mel to stick around at times was a little thin.  Sure Mel's a midwife and babies are her thing but once she made sure that the baby was safely placed she could have easily taken off.  I also thought that in some places (not very many, just a few) that the story was a little bit rushed.  Another small thing that kind of rubbed me the wrong way a little bit at the beginning of the story was how Jack became almost instantaneously possessive of Mel.

Overall:  I think that this was a pretty good start to the Virgin River series.  Minus my few quirks with the book I think that it was a VERY good. Once I started reading it I was pretty much sucked in and could NOT put it down.  But my quirks prevented this story from getting a 5/5.  Jack and Mel's story is very sweet and it makes me wish I had a big burly badass Marine who's just a big ole gentle giant underneath all that badassness!

Falke's Peak by Anna Leigh Keaton & Madison Layle ~ Contains Adult Content

 

She couldn't believe her eyes.


Stressed out ad-exec Dakota wandered into Catamount Outfitters in search of a guide for a wilderness excursion. She didn't expect to be greeted by not one, but five of the most ruggedly delicious-looking men she'd ever seen. Not to mention a live cougar guarding the shop.

The Falke brothers have more than just good looks in their genes.

Eldest brother Axel agrees to guide Dakota on her mountain trek. In cougar form, Axel's twin, Gunnar, was there as a protection from predators—but he had his eye on the sexy client instead.

Into the wild...

While the rule with clients was "paws-off," both Axel and Gunnar couldn't resist Dakota's seductive Native American beauty and determination. As cold days led to hot nights in the cabin, Axel and Gunnar wondered if they'd finally found a woman strong enough to tame them...



Why I decided to read this book: I was looking through all the new releases on Netgalley and saw this one and as you can see from the reading the synopsis, it really tripped my trigger.  That and the cover I think is pretty neat too.

Likes?......: What really drew me into the story was Dakota.  The way she's described you think "fluffy city girl," but the farther you read into the book you definitely start to change your tune about her.  I also liked the premise of "modern day" shapeshifters....Especially extremely HOT "modern day" shapeshifters who give one hell of a back rub!  Is it wrong that I really liked the internal struggle of Axel and Gunnar?  Cause I REALLY did.

The sexual stuff?!?!?!?...Just as HOT as the "modern day" shapeshifters!

Dislikes?......: I don't have very many....I didn't particularly care for the "deception" scene.  I did feel that at certain points the story was a little bit rushed.  Overall, not too many dislikes.

Overall: I really enjoyed this story.  Even with the couple of dislikes that I found in the story I think that this is a VERY good beginning to the author's series.  I can hardly wait to check out the rest of the series!  Hopefully each of the remaining brothers and Heidi will get their own stories!

Moon Crossed by Patricia Briggs

 

Title: Moon Called
Author: Patricia Briggs

Series: Mercy Thompson #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated

Release Date: 2006, January 31

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 304 pages

Source: Paperbackswap.com

Rating: 5/5

 

Synopsis:

 

Werewolves can be dangerous if you get in their way, but they'll leave you alone if you are careful. They are very good at hiding their natures from the human population, but I'm not human. I know them when I meet them, and they know me, too.

 

Mercy Thompson's sexy next-door neighbor is a werewolf.

She's tinkering with a VW bus at her mechanic shop that happens to belong to a vampire.

But then, Mercy Thompson is not exactly normal herself ... and her connection to the world of things that go bump in the night is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.

 

The "Short Story:"

 

Were-wolves, shape shifters, vamps and more oh my!

 

The "Long Story:"

 

Now that I've actually read the first book in the series so many things from the last book I read in this series makes sense.  I really like Mercy....She's a "no nonsense" take no prisoners type of heroine...I really LIKE ass kicking heroines!

 

I also was really impressed by all the attention to detail towards how the relationships between all the different types of paranormals in the book work as well as the politics.  I'm not usually big on politics but I think that the politics in this book were pretty alright.

 

Alright....I'm jealous of Mercy.  Who doesn't want to have the attention of not 1 but 2 sexy werewolves?!

 

The suspense kept me turning pages.  All the twists and turns kept me wanting MORE! I really hated to put the book down.  The only thing I didn't really care for was how LONG it took me to get this book read....DANG YOU REAL LIFE!

Buying Time by Pamela Samuels Young Blog Tour

Title: Buying Time
Author: Pamela Samuels Young

Series:

Genre: Fiction, Thriller

Publisher: Goldman House

Release Date: 2009, November 1

Format: Paperback, 370 pages

Source: Received for the blog tour

 

 

Rating: 5/5

 

Smuttiness: N/A

 

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

 

Waverly Shaw is a down-on-his-luck lawyer who stumbles upon a potentially lucrative business just when he's about to hit rock bottom. In his new line of work as a viatical broker, Waverly comes to the rescue of people in desperate need of cash. There's a catch, however, his clients must be terminally ill and willing to sign over rights to their life insurance policies before they receive a dime. Waverly then finds investors to advance them thousands of dollars—including a hefty broker's fee for himself—in exchange for a significant return on their investment once the clients take their last breath. The stakes get higher when Lawrence Erickson, who's bucking to become the next U.S. Attorney General, hires Waverly to broker the insurance policy of his cancer-stricken wife. But Waverly's clients start dying sooner than they should, and Erickson—who has some skeletons of his own to hide—is unwittingly drawn into a perilous web of greed, blackmail, and murder. With two determined federal prosecutors hot on his trail, Waverly is on the run, and this time he might need some life insurance.

 

Review:

 

I was asked if I would be interested in reading this book as part of a blog tour and I happily agreed.  This is the first thriller that I've read that has been written by a woman also.  I'm so very glad that I was asked if I wanted to participate because I thought that this book was AWESOME SAUCE!

 

Buying Time is an extremely fast paced read as well as being a page turner.  Once I started reading this work of art I was fully sucked into the story.  I did think that as the book was progressing there were a lot of "cliff hangers" throughout but the farther I got into the book everything fell into place and I was plesantly surprised.

 

The way the book was written I thought was pretty unique.  There are two side stories in Buying Time an I found that with the I was constantly trying to figure out what the link was.  I thought that all of the characters were pretty interesting as well....They all have there own conflicts and issues going on and I thought it was great how all those conflicts and issues help to form the story.

 

Another big plus (at least in my opinion) is that by the end there is no clearly defined hero.  I think that's a first for me also.  Almost all of the books I've read there is a hero.  So for the author to have no hero got her a lot of bonus points with me...keeping things interesting is AWESOME SAUCE.

 

Overall, I thought that this was a exceptionally well written thriller that has a VERY strong plot and VERY strong solidly written characters.  I'm also very impressed by how well researched the book was.  Pretty much what I'm telling you is to add Buying Time to your TBR pile!  Do it...you won't be sorry. 

 

Arson by Estevan Vega

Title: Arson

Author: Estevan Vega

Series:

Genre: YA, Paranormal

Publisher: Tate Publishing

Release Date: 2010, May 4

Format: Paperback, 318 pages

Source: Received from the author

 

 

Rating: 4/5

 

Smuttiness: N/A

 

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

 

ARSON GABLE FEELS LIKE A FREAK. HE CAN CREATE FIRE. HE NEVER ASKED FOR IT. HE NEVER WANTED IT. BUT HE CAN'T SHUT IT OFF.

 

 

Before now, three things were true: he both loved and despised his grandmother; his life was going nowhere; and he was alone. But when a strange girl-who feels more normal behind a mask than inside her own skin-moves in next door, Arson hopes to find something he's never had: purpose. Using what he fears the most about himself, Arson must face his consuming past and confront the nightmare that is present as he walks the fine line between boy and monster. Dark, moody, and breathtakingly relevant, Arson, the chilling chronicle of an isolated boy with unimaginable ability, is sure to ignite the hearts and minds of a new generation.

 

Review:

 

Oh my goodness!  I've seen reviews for this book all over the book blogging community and it really caught my attention.  The cover has just enough "creep factor" that I had to get my hands on it.  I mean just look at the cover!  A Freddy Krugerish "mask" and flames!  Anyway....moving on.

 

What really turned me on about this book was the writing.  From the very first sentence until the very last sentence the way that it was written kept me engaged and reading and pretty much putting my life on hold because Arson's life was oh so very interesting.  Oh well, Arson is oh so much more fun than doing laundry anyway.

 

The characters in the story for the most part I really enjoyed.  I did at times have trouble relating to/understanding a couple of the characters.  That is the main reason that I wasn't able to give Arson 5/5.  After learning all sorts of secrets as the book progressed I am looking forward to learning even more about all of these very interesting characters in the sequel that's coming up.

 

Overall, Arson is most definitely the most "different" (in a good way) book that I've read in the past couple of months.  Once you get past the "creep factor" I think this book is pretty dang good.  I think that Estevan Vega hit a home run with this one!



Mini Review ~ Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Title: Mockingjay

Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger Games
Genre: YA
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: 2010, August 24
Format: Hardcover, 390 pages
Source: Bought


Rating: 5/5

Smuttiness: N/A

 

  

Synopsis:

"My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead."

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans -- except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay -- no matter what the personal cost.

 

Review:

I was really uber excited about this book.  Though I throughly enjoyed the book there were a few times that I thought that the story was dragging on.  I also didn't enjoy how everyone had all these carefully laid out plans and hidden agenda's and kept Katniss in the dark and treating her at times like she's almost disposable.  Even with those few quirks I still gave this book a 5/5 rating.

I felt horrible for Peeta.  Being treated the way that he was by The Capital.  I guess the saying "war is hell" is pretty applicable to a lot of what went on in this book.  The descriptions and imagery were excellent as usual.  The characters new and old were adding new twists and turns all over the place. The story line was pretty good even though there were parts where I felt it dragged on a little bit. I think overall this was a good ending to the trilogy.

NOTE: I purposely kept this review short, sweet and vague to not giveaway anything to anyone who hasn't read this book yet.

Mini Review ~ Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins

Series: The Hunger Games

Genre: YA

Publisher: Scholastic

Release Date: 2009, September 1

Format: Hardcover, 400 pages

Source: Bought

 

Rating: 5/5

 

Smuttiness: N/A

 

Synopsis (From Goodreads):

 

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

 

Review:

 

Another Awesome Sauce installment of the Hunger Games Trilogy!  I couldn't read this one fast enough...So far this series is one that once you start it it SUCKS YOU IN!  In other words...VERY HARD TO PUT DOWN!  The original cast of characters are back and better than ever. Even the new characters that are added for the Quarter Quell flow nicely with the original "cast".  The storyline is riveting and sucks you in. The harshness and bloodlust of the games are very vivid.  I LOVE this series enough that I've converted a couple of my co-workers into Hunger Games junkies!

 

NOTE: I kept this review a mini review and pretty vague to keep from giving away anything to anyone who hasn't read this book yet.

 

 



Radiance by Alyson Noel

 

Title: RadianceAuthor: Alyson Noel
Series:
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Romance
Publisher: Square Fish
Release Date: 2010, August
Format: Paperback, 192 pages
Source: Bought

Rating: 3.75/5

Smuttiness: N/A

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Riley Bloom left her sister, Ever, in the world of the living and crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. Riley and her dog, Buttercup, have been reunited with her parents and are just settling into a nice, relaxing death when she's summoned before The Council. They let her in on a secret—the afterlife isn't just an eternity of leisure; Riley has to work. She's been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a curious boy she can't quite figure out.
Riley, Bodhi, and Buttercup return to earth for her first assignment, a Radiant Boy who's been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But he's never met Riley...
 
Review:
 
I had read some pretty great things about this book on my travels through the book blog world.  When I started reading it I was really impressed with how well the author was able to write form the point of view of a pre-teen.  In my opinion she did an excellent job of connecting with the teen reader.
 
The different descriptions were well written also.  The description of life in "here" was really good.  There is no sense of time in "here" hence why Riley says she lives in the "here and now."  The description of what being dead feels like was even better in my opinion.
 
Riley in the beginning of the book was more of a follower/tag along who also happened to be pretty mouthy.  But as the story went along she grew stronger and wasn't so much of a follower anymore.  I think that she was headed more towards being a leader....even though she was still pretty mouthy.
 
Bodhi is Riley's guide.  When Riley first meets Bodhi he's dressed as a bit of a geek.  But the more time that Riley spends with him the more she realizes that there's more than what meets the eye.  In this case it also hands Riley a pretty sizeable piece of humble pie.
 
Buttercup....poor Buttercup.  See Buttercup is a LARGE MALE Labrador Retriever that accompanies Riley and Bodhi on their journey. I feel for Buttercup...His name alone is, in my opinion, meant for a k-9 that is much smaller and FEMALE.
 
I guess what disappointed me about the book was that it was one "mission" for both Riley and Bodhi and then the book is basically over.  I guess I was just hoping for a little more out of the book.
 
Favorite Quote: "You do know you can manifest a whole new wardrobe right?  We're really not bound to the mistakes of our past.  So go ahead, knock yourself out.  Just close your eyes and ask - What would Joe Jonas wear?"

Review ~ The Iron Daughter **Contains a few spoilers**

Title: The Iron Daughter
Author: Julie Kagawa

Series: Iron Fey #2

Genre: YA, Paranormal, Romance

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: 2010, August 1

Format: Paperback, 359 pages

Source: Bought via Barnes and Noble webpage

Rating: 5/5

Smuttiness: 2/5

Synopsis:

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron Fey, iron-bound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's alone in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

Review:

I LOVED The Iron King and I could hardly wait for the second book in the series to come out. This book came out and because I ordered it with a pre-ordered book I had to wait for it!  It was the LONGEST 26 days EVER!

The story starts out with Meghan saying good bye to her family, yet again as she's about to fulfill her contract with Ash and head for enemy territory. When Meghan get's to the Winter Court she is basically a prisoner to Queen Mab and Prince Ash abandon's her.  Needless to say that the Winter Court is NOT happy to have Meghan around at all.  SPOILER AHEAD>>>When the Sceptor of the Seasons is stolen and Prince Sage is murdered by the Iron Fey, Mab becomes enraged, because she doesn not believe that these Iron Fey exsist and think that Oberon took the Sceptor, and a war between the Courts is in the works.  The Iron Fey are looking forward to the long trail of death and destruction that will come from the war. END SPOILER.  Now Meghan and her crew are on a journey to find the Sceptor of the Seasons, return it to the Winter Court and stop the bloody war that is taking place.  All of this while being hoplessly in love with Ash.

Book number 2 in this series is just as captivating as The Iron King was.  The writing is very intense and extremely passionate.  In book 2 Julie Kagawa continues to build the world of Nevernever even bigger and badder than in the first book.  Nevernever only get's even more dangerous (as if that were even possible) in this book.  There are new characters that will have you completely mesmerized.  The plot, I think is better in this book, there are all sorts of twists and turns and it keeps you guessing.

This book is very fast-paced and I totally felt like I was there in Nevernever and as another member of Meghan's team trying to get back the Sceptor.  I had a hard time putting this book down.  Ms. Kagawa does an excellent job of describing Faerie politcs in this book, just to show how very dangerous the Fey can be.  The book is also a little bit of an emotional rollercoaster.....Meghan learns some things along the way...some good and some not so good.

I was really happy with Meghan's personal growth along the way.  She's powerful and yet vulnerable as well....You mash those two things together and you get a pretty badass combination if you ask me.  There are times when she's struggling pretty badly with all the things that are going on around her.  She also makes some pretty bad decisions too....But in the end she rises to the occassion.  Meghan really is a force to be reckoned with!

OMG!  The romance triangle! As much as I love Puck I'm Team Ash (I have a "thing" for the "bad boy" types).  Puck has a lot of amazing qualities and when things started to heat up with Meghan I got a little bit worried.  But then along comes Ash, who has long since given in to his feelings for Meghan, and things get a "little bit" explosive.

My new favorite character is most defiantely Ironhorse!  He's a bad guy turned good.  And that's HOT!

Overall, I'm hopelessly hooked on this series and I'm finding it VERY difficult to wait until February for the Iron Queen to come out!

Review ~ A Proper Suduction

Title: A Proper Seduction

Author: HelenKay Dimon

Series: N/A

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Release Date: 2010, May 18

Format: eBook

Source: Bought via My Barnes and Noble Nook

 

Rating: 5/5

 

Smuttiness: 5/5

 

 

Synopsis:

 

Don't get even. Get everything...

 

Even before her bad marriage ended, Lauren MacDonald lost everything—her job, her friends, her self-esteem, and her sexual appetite. Now that she’s finally free, she’s struggling to regain control of a life her ex did his best to destroy.

 

The plan: sex with Justin Scott, her ex’s business partner. The man her husband invited into their marital bed, forcing her to realize it was time to get out. Justin was the star of the fantasies that helped her endure her marriage, so she can’t deny she wanted him—but not like that. She wants him like this—alone. In her bed. For exactly three nights.

 

Justin screwed up with Lauren, and in the past she’s made no secret of the fact she loathes him. So when she walks into his office flashing miles of long, lean legs, his brain cells misfire. Three nights of meaningless sex? He’s all over it. Not only does he have the chance to unleash his desire for her, it’s the opening he’s been waiting for—to convince her to give him more.

 

 

Review:

 

I saw a review for this e-book on another blog that I follow and it sounded VERY interesting. I checked to see if it was available for Barnes and Noble Nook owners and low and behold it was! So naturally, I downloaded it and devoured it!

 

The premise of the book is about a woman who just got out of a TERRIBLE marriage and is looking to gain a little bit of control back in a certain part of her life....The Bedroom. So Lauren makes a proposition to Justin.....3 nights of mind-blowing, no-kissing-on-the-lips, business like sex. Which he isn't comfortable with but agrees to because he has a "thing" for Lauren. Actually, they both have a "thing" for each other if I'm being honest here.

 

Anyway, this is one of the shorter e-books I've read but I really enjoyed it. The plot and premise were really good in my opinion. The hero....A HOT SEX GOD! The heroine....a little beat down but comes out on top (in more ways than one) by the end of this book. The sex scenes....SCORCHING HOT!

 

Review ~ The Life O'Reilly

 

Published: August 18th 2009 by iUniverse (Rising Star) (first published 2009)

Details: Paperback, 276 pages

Rating:

 

.75

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

At once a bittersweet love story and a young lawyer's journey of self-discovery, this auspicious debut delivers an emotional wallop and will move readers in unexpected ways.

Review:

I'd like to thank the author Brian Cohen for contacting me about reading and reviewing his book on my blog.  I'd also like to apologize for taking so long to get it up on the blog.  I'm really sorry about that.  When I was first contacted about this book the little bit that I was able to read of it on Brian's webpage really peaked my interest.  After reading the first chapter I had to read the rest of the book!

Now I know why this book is an award winner!  I didn't realize how many awards it had gotten until I logged onto Goodreads to add it to my "read" library.

The book itself is billed as "modern day love story" but it is soooo much more than that.  It's about knowing what you really want out of life and going after it full speed ahead.  It's also an emotional roller coaster...I'm usually not much on roller coaster's but this one was a good one.  It sucks you in and you have to know what happens next!

The plot?  Really liked it alot!  I don't want to give away too much but I will say that I sooooo did NOT see that twist coming at all!

I guess the only fault that I could really find with the book (which prevented it from getting a higher rating) was the ending wasn't as detailed as I would have liked to see.  The beginning of the novel was excellently detailed...I just didn't feel the same about the end of the book.  That's it for faults and even that isn't all that major of a fault, in my opinion anyway.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Life O'Reilly and would recommend it to other readers as well.  Pick up this book!

Mini Review ~ Spirit

 

Published: January 14th 2010 by AuthorHouse

Details: Paperback, 356 pages

Rating:

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Randall Lender was a Wanted Man. He was wanted by the Clergy of the Major Organized Religions, the Governments and the New World Order, but that was the least of his problems. After going out of body (astral projection) Randall Lender suddenly found himself in such a paradox where the surrealism meets dilemma. Within this phenomenon of Looking Through the Hour Glass he unfortunately after leaving his physical body ended up into another's. This was his paradox. This was his dilemma. This was his surrealism. And regrettably for Lender this was the real quantum problem. Randall Lender found himself on an unexpected journey with its twists and turns until he realizes that he must die to live for his return to his former body. And now the elixir of questions remains: What? How? And Why? Then you'll ask why me? Why him? And What If?

Review:

I was asked a little while ago if I would read and review this book on my blog.  I agreed because the synopsis really drew me in.  When I was e-mailed about the book I was warned about the strong language that was used in the book as well.  I guess that is what really turned me off to the book.  I thought the well written prologue was the beginning of great things to come but I was saddened when it went drastically downhill from there.  I'm not opposed to the occasional "four letter" word but used as a regular part of conversation it's a turn off.  As a result of this I easily lost interest and was not able to finish the book.

On the plus side I did like the premise of the story and the author is a very talented man but the excessive strong language is what did his book in for me.

Review ~ Spiral of Destiny

Published: May 6th 2010 by Gryphonwood Press Details: Paperback, 248 pages  Rating:

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Forget everything you thought you knew about unicorns and maidens... A unicorn is not supposed to survive the death of its rider, but Majherri did. Now he is a pariah, mistrusted by the Greater Herd. To reclaim his lost honor and status, he will entrust the remnants of his life to a new human female while unraveling the mystery of his continued existence. Kayleigh Reese is not Battle Maiden material. She's three years older than any other recruit and has enjoyed a peaceful, nomadic life working with her artist mother. The rigors of joining the High-King's elite unicorn cavalry are clearly not for her. Now, with a bond to Majherri, she must overcome her mother's disapproval, the ire of her commanding officer and fellow trainees, and, most importantly, the secrets of her unicorn's past if she is to become a legendary warrior. To prevail, they must quickly come together as a team and unlock the powerful and dangerous magic inside them.

Review:

I was asked by the author if I would be interested in reading and reviewing his book on my blog.  Again, I apologize for taking so long getting this review up...Real Life has been really crazy.  The synopsis really drew me in...this is not usually the type of book I would be interested in.  I'm glad to say that I proved myself wrong by throughly enjoying a book about unicorns and maidens!

What I really liked about this book was that the unicorns actually played an very large part in the storyline...I mean what's a story about unicorns if the unicorns aren't brought in to the story?!  Another part of the story that really made me happy was that there were parts that were told from Majherri's (the unicorn) point of view.  I also really enjoyed "seeing" how Majherri interacted with all the other characters in the book....human's and unicorn's alike.

What I also liked about this book was that it was very fast paced.  Once I got into it I had a hard time putting it down.  Which seems to been a reacurring thig for me lately....after my slump I've been "zooming" through books left and right!

Mini Review ~ Passion Fish

 

Published: February 16th 2010 by Omnific Publishing (first published 2010)

Details: Paperback, 400 pages

Rating:

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

With $3 million for the Santa Barbara Museum of Art on the line, curator Eve Carwyn hardly has time to focus on the state of her love life. Struggling to escape the clutches of a creepy ex and looking to add some adventure to her personal life, Eve is off on a much needed escape, and a business trip to Boston. But before she goes, her pack of dedicated girlfriends plan a send-off party that includes mind-bending kisses from not one, but two, sensational -- yet anonymous – partners. Will a chance encounter and a searing kiss somehow end in a love match? Will her career take off or lie in ruins when the grant results are in? Join Eve on her whirlwind journey through intrigue and ingenuity, terror and true love. Once the passion fishing starts, her life will never be the same.

Passion Fish is one part romance and one part heart pounding thriller. An innocent game of sexy distraction ignites a spark of love and a dangerous obsession in this exciting debut novel from Alison Oburia and Jessica McQuinn. Oburia and McQuinn offer an intriguing, suspenseful spin on the games people play when it comes to love, and the surprising lengths to which they’ll go to earn it... and to keep it.

Review:

I was asked if I wanted to read and review this book on my blog a little while ago.  I apologize for taking so long to get this review up....Real Life has been really crazy lately...especially on the work front.  Really, I am glad that I was asked to read and review this book.  It was a step back from what I had been reading up to that point.

As stated in the title of this post, this is going to be a mini review.  Basically, I really liked this book....a fraction of a step away from LOVING this book.  This book was an emotional rollercoaster...full of all sorts of twists and turns.  It's sexy, funny, got some romance thrown in and a bunch of "OMG!" too.  Once I started reading this book I found it VERY hard to put it down...It just sucks you in and you HAVE to know what's going to happen next!

Mini Review ~ Hot Finish

Synopsis (from Barnes and Noble):

Desire is about to reach its peak.

Suzanne Jefferson is broke, which is why she's given up charity work for wedding planning. Fortunately, she has a high-profile client and best of all, he's paid in advance. There are two teensy problems: the bride is a bona fide bridezilla, and Suzanne's stock racer ex-husband is the best man. At least she thought he was her ex-husband....

Review:

I LOVE this series! This is the third book in the Fast Track series and I can honestly say that it was well worth the wait! Suzanne and Ryder have always been two of my favorite characters in this series, though the other characters are pretty great and HOT too...they're exes who are constantly sparring with one another.....It makes for some pretty interesting scenes. And in their own book throw in a pinch of bridezilla who is incapable of making up her mind, a small dose of the fact that they (Suzanne and Ryder) are still indeed married, a LOT of miscommunications and even MORE REALLY HOT SEX and stir that all together and you have a recipe for a pretty dang good story in my book.

Mini Review ~ In The Name of Honor

Barnes and Noble (will take you to the book's page)


Review:
The book deals with a lot of current issues...Iraq, the military, war in general, and one of the possible battle scars that can come from going to war...PTSD. The story revolves around a miltary officer, Lieutenant Brian McCarran, who is just home from Iraq and is being tried for the murder of his wife....But was it really murder or was it self defense? The book has a TON of twists, turns, secrets and tension. Throw in some close friends and family..."Some" military courtroom action....PTSD and all the twists, turns, secrets and tension mentioned above and you get the makings for a pretty dang good story. Though for me personally, I thought the story was a little bit slow to build and there were a few parts near the beginning where it had a hard time holding my attention. But once things started rolling it became another one of those that I couldn't put down. So overall, I liked this book. I will be checking out more books by this author in the future.

Review ~ The Hunger Games

To sign up for The Hunger Games Book Club click here

Barnes and Noble

Review:

NOTE: My computer is not letting play the copy and paste game right now for some strange reason...so if you click on Barnes and Noble it will take to the page for The Hunger Games.
......Now back to our regularly scheduled programming......OH MY GOODNESS! WHERE HAS THIS BOOK BEEN "ALL MY LIFE?!" Since I've started book blogging I've come across many reviews of this book and the vast majority of them have been really shining reviews. But it wasn't until last week that I actually took the book off my shelf and read it. I'd like to thank my co-workers for that....They were talking about the book at work and started giving me crap cause I hadn't read it yet. As my co-workers say....."It's Awesome Sauce!"

I really don't know what to say beyond the above words that are in all capital letters. I don't want to say to much because I don't want to give anything away....I'm occasionally bad about putting in unintentional spoilers. I LOVED this book. I LOVED the story line, I totally felt like I was there. The main character is very real and relatable, you totally feel her pain. The secondary characters are also written in a very real and relatable fashion. The games themselves are written in a way that it paints a vivid and brutal picture of what it must be like for these kids. I guess the only problem I had with the book was the end....I didn't want it to end....cause when the book came to an end I'd have to wait to start reading Catching Fire because I lent it to a friend to read.