Premonition The Fortress, #1 By Lisa M James, A Book Review

 

Premonition is just that, a sight of the future that one young man could see. It is a great story, without dead zones, waiting for the story to move forward. That made the story easy to read, quickly.

The characters stayed true to their initial depiction, evolving a little, but still staying true to their core being. So you knew what to expect of them, and wanted to emotionally coax them to ‘get it together’ sometimes, too. The pace and details were involving and entertaining. There were some scenes that I didn’t like, or maybe prefer is a better word, but they seemed to be needed for historical relevance.

Isaac was tormented by his gift and lived life hiding it. He also suffered family issues because of it. Kiatra was a priestess, set on discovering all Isaac’s secrets while ruling the kingdom without appearing weak or showing favoritism toward Isaac.

I really enjoyed the story. It was different, well-paced to keep me reading, and written to draw you in and keep you there. I liked it so much, I just bought the sequel, so I can find out what happens next. If you want a good, fun, engaging read, get this book.

Dark Highland Skies By Lizzie Lamb, A Book Review

Another great romantic read by Lizzie Lamb. I have read several of her books, and not one has disappointed my criteria of ‘needs to be’ for a good story.

In this story, the life experiences and determinations of Halley Dunbar feel real, authentic, and so emotional. It could be you or your friend; it is so true to life. The feelings the author writes for her get transferred to your heart, leaving you hanging on to her story, hoping she gets the ending you want her to have, so your heart can beat normally again. The same is true for Tor. His need for healing and finding the right person to share his life with is a prescription many face, and most likely another person you feel you know.

Granted, the story is quick down the love tunnel, but isn’t it always? I don’t think we fall in love on a slow boat; we just don’t realize the depth of our feelings at first. We are slow to entertain feelings a lot of the time, doubting ourselves. Halley is right there, denying, postulating her thoughts, and shunning the truth of her investment. Tor, on the other hand, is certain of his love but cautious of committing, knowing she won’t be staying in Scotland. She has a career elsewhere, and he doesn’t want to make her choose because he is certain it would not be him. Their emotional dance is wrenching and sometimes irritating because we can see the whole picture of what both are thinking, but if you only see from one of them at a time, it is so real to life, it’s eye-opening. I see it in myself and others as we navigate our relationships, which makes this an immersive story of romance.

This story is romantic, nicely paced, and emotionally detailed without being sexually explicit. A well-done journey of love and life. If you like romance stories, you will enjoy this one.

Trials of Hallion, Two of Swords #1 By Maria Greene, A Book Review

This was a complex story that took you from real New York to Scotland and then to other dimensional realms. The scenes were described with a detailed eye, but it was truly difficult for me to follow and absorb them from a simplistic view of what was happening. I don’t know if it was the new world that I couldn’t understand, or the plot. What exactly was happening to whom or why, maybe more importantly, was elusive to me.

This is a fantastical, magical story that leaves nothing common, boring or untouched with mystical fantasy from another level of experience. An animal becomes a person, a land becomes an evil and oppressive existence, but the emotions of the people fighting to survive and mend the tragedy are real, raw, and felt by the reader.

The story is long as they traverse the continents, fighting to save the light and good from being overcome by the dark. It is an interesting and colorful story that keeps you wondering how it came about and how it was going to end. Authors can be so creative that you wonder how they thought it up and developed it into a story. This story is just that.

I enjoyed the story even with my silly difficulties. If you like Science Fiction and Fantasy, you will like the story and its explicit delivery, creating a magical world you won’t forget. I gave this 5 stars mostly for creativity.

 

About Hana (The Hana Du Rose Mysteries #1) By K.T. Bowes, A Book Review

This was an interesting and somewhat complex story, which I had a difficult time immersing myself in the whole plot. I couldn’t figure out where the story was going, and felt the immensely descriptive and detailed writing was fluff covering an undefined picture. Wordy. Verbose overkill, and yet I couldn’t stop reading, page after page. Something about that very writing I was questioning kept me intrigued, excited, and stuck to the story I was trying to figure out.

I’m sure glad I did, too. Even with the rough beginning for me, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and want to read the sequel. The characters were real, giving me the exasperation and exhilaration any other person would feel at the different times in the story. Hana was complex and yet simply sweet in living with and addressing her demons and life-changing experiences. Logan was a puzzle. Only some things were revealed about him in this book, so there are a lot of questions you would love to have answered, hence the sequel and its appeal.

I have enjoyed other books by this author, and this was no exception. I was surprised by my complications at the beginning of this book, but not surprised by the artistry of her writing in creating such a great story. This is a great read, and you will want to read the sequel, too.

 

Cyborg Spell Shop: A Harkon Colony Short Story By James Chalk, A Book Review

 

A very short story, and fast paced. It was interesting and could have been expanded for a longer book, but entertaining just the same.

The story can't really be told here without giving it all away, but it was a surprise ending and kept you turning the pages.

It's a good, quick read for fun.

Girl In The Castle By Lizzie Lamb, A Book Review

 

Another great romance story, fun to read, and engaging all the way to the end. I haven’t read a story by Lizzie Lamb that wasn’t fantastic.

Henri, short for Henriette, is a professor and a romantic. Although she has denied herself the love marriage, kids path as she sought her academic goals, this new interim job changes everything. Henri is not impressed with the heir to the dilapidated castle, so just doing her work of cataloging the library is her avoidance tactic, and it works. Right?

Keir, the heir, isn’t so impressed with Dr. Bruar either. That is, until he gets to know her, and a lot happens in between it all. The story keeps going, one event, or emotion, or person to another, keeping you engaged and entertained. Waiting for these two to recognize their attraction is fun. There were laughs, surprises, and even sorrow in a great story, so very fun to read.

If you like romances, you will really enjoy this book. I gave it 5 out of 5 stars.

 

The Errant Flock-The Flock Trilogy #1 By Jana Petken, A Book Review

 

This story is a dark, mysterious telling, consistent with times as portrayed by historians. I love stories in this timeline. The story sparks truth and entices the reader to seek comfort for the characters, the only way they can, by turning to the next page. Page after page.

Written with character depth and intrigue, Jana didn’t skip sordid details or gut-wrenching emotions, which gave the characters broad, eventful lives. She also kept to the beliefs of the time, grounding them in their reality, as difficult and crazy as it was at the time.

Stories of this era are fraught with power plays and control of the people, which seem to always be present even today. In this case, however, the good guys suffering don’t end up the sole victors, which keeps it interesting. The emotional and physical impact of the events is felt by all and carried on by those who survive.

The ending left me wanting to read the next book, even though the trauma in some of it was hard to read. Light overpowers dark, and I want to make sure that happens, one page at a time.

If you enjoy historical tales that accurately depict the past, then you may like this book. The story is not a faint-of-heart, whimsical tale. It stays in the realm of what times were like then, so be prepared, and enjoy the tale. The book was worth reading. It was written well, and I gave it 5 stars out of 5.