Out Of The Box Awakening By Jennifer Theriot, A Book Review

 

This story is a romance novel with the older generation, but it didn’t dampen or dull the senses due to the age of the characters; it woke them up. I felt it was sometimes patronizing of the elderly, as if age mattered concerning emotions. We put the limits on what people of certain ages can or should do, so I wasn’t in favor of that subtle nuance.

The main character was lovable and fun, but almost too much. Her new companion was a great person, and a little too perfect. Together, they were fun to follow, but left me doubting it could ever be true, believable, which taints the story a bit. I want happy endings, fun lives, and exciting adventures, but real life just doesn’t walk that easy path. So I wavered. My faith in the story, the characters, and the path became questions and doubts. Olivia was strong-willed, but without the confidence to venture forth alone, no matter what she thought about it. Some of the steps in the story were left unresolved, which piled onto the already questionable actions. Ash, the compliment to Olivia, was a little too perfect. With no flaws, he became a fairytale, one you couldn’t even see in the ending as real.

I did enjoy the story mostly, but I was disappointed in the holes and doubts the characters' personalities created. I think it should be tweaked and revised to bring the reader into the story to root for and hope for their great moves to successful growth, not just happiness because of others. I felt as if the character couldn’t have accomplished this on her own; she needed the perfect Ash to get her there. It was a dependent resolution, and that was unfortunate. The writing, overall, was good, though, so I still gave it 4 stars out of 5.

The Siege of Baradesh By Brad Stucki, A Book Review

 

A story to learn from and a delight to read. The book is well-written, well-versed, and told in a way that keeps you reading and your mind engaged with many thought-provoking ideas.

Reading the author’s notes at the end gripped me, making the story even more stunningly important. This book tells a story, a lesson we all should heed, learn, and practice. What a different society and culture we would have today if we had and did heed the lessons of the story.

Caleb, the heir, is not only brave and intelligent, but he also absorbed the knowledge given and utilized the keys to wisdom that Silas, his guardian, taught him. Recognizing the tragedies of the past is one thing, but creating a better future with wisdom is quite another. This story is not only entertaining, it is also a valuable lesson for everyone to learn, and hopefully, wisely, enact.

This is a timeless tale that everyone should read, and all will thoroughly enjoy.

Winter Star in the Scottish Highlands Book 2, By Lizzie Lamb, A Book Review

 Lizzie Lamb is an author who never disappoints. Another ‘hit it out of the park’ book that you enjoy too much to put down. This is the second book in this series; the first one is ‘Dark Highland Skies’. At the end of this book, Lizzie says Tor and Halley are her two favorite characters, and she’s not ready to let them go yet. I don’t want her to let them go yet either, but there are only these two books in the series, so…I will have to deal with that.

The writing is so involved, showing intrigue, passion, truths, deceit, and even contrition, giving the characters depth and relevance on each page. I can’t get enough of her novels, so I am sure you will see another review of another one of her books soon. If you read one, you will read another. Enjoy.

My Darling Bride (The Darlings, #1) By Ilsa Madden-Mills, A Book Review

 

What a fun read. The story was a pleasure to dive into and enticing without fail, page after page. The pace was constant, void of boring pauses, and the characters were lovable. That keeps you reading even if the story is not very good. Thankfully, it was a great story and entertaining.

There is some explicit sex, but not the whole book, for those who don’t read explicit romances. The characters shine in Lisa’s writing, leaving you with a sense that you really know them in real life. There are funny parts I had to laugh out loud at, and even exasperating parts that actually felt real, meaning my friends or I would have done that sort of thing.

A lot of romance novels are predictable and tried-and-true, with nothing new or fun. This book hits the mark; I would recommend it to everyone who likes romances. You will enjoy the story Lisa weaves.

Awakening, Book 2 of TheFortress Series By Lisa M. James, A Book Review

The second book was well worth the time to read. The pace was good with no downtime to let my mind wander. The ending was also great, and answered the many questions from the first book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The score is settled for Isaac and Kiatra, with their love on display for everyone to see. It was a story not lost in the weeds of deception as the two braved the turbulence of power and greed in their lives, fighting for justice and peace with love as the hidden truth. They both want to be secure, safe in their place in life, and free to love and enjoy the normal life easily afforded to others. Getting the courage to show their truth of love and hope was a long, hard road, but they did get there, and it was a breath-expelling moment of relief. They made it, and while they are all the better for it, it also soothes your soul.

If you read the first book, you can’t miss this second one. It completes the circle of questions with answers. There is a large leap from a depth of despair to a love from which the true heart and soul of faith resides. It’s a great story with an ending that calms the emotional heart-wrenching events, to a comforting and soothing peace and contentment.

 

The Riddle of Prague By Laura DeBruce, A Book Review

A story like the scavenger hunt game, with a riddle to solve and the discovery of whom to trust. It is a non-stop, moving story with questions galore, wondering who is who in the big picture, and how it will all end.

I did enjoy the story and kept turning the pages to find out what would happen next, and I was not disappointed. There were many characters, but they were essential to the story and all its twists and turns.

I don’t want to give anything away about the story and possibly ruin your fun of guessing and discovery. So, suffice it to say, this was fun to read, and I would read the sequel. 

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.

Harper’s Highland Fling By Lizzie Lamb, A Book Review

 

Another fun and enjoyable romance story. I have not been disappointed with any of Lizzie Lamb’s books ever. This story is entertaining from start to finish.

The characters are great! I loved all of them and would be friends with them if they were real and in my orbit. They all developed through the story, and surprises were had at many turns. Revelations were not just unexpected at times; they were welcomed accomplishments of character growth as well. It was so lovely to read a romance that made you feel like you were a part of the group, and rooting for them all.

Romance stories can be intimate in detail or intimate in the telling of each character’s emotions, thoughts, and actions of vulnerabilities or perseverance. This had a telling of the latter, which kept you reading, and turning the pages, waiting for love to win the dance. The character creations of Harper and Rocco were woven into an imaginative and inspiring love story, showing that you never know what can happen in life. Realizing the gifts given and taking action in time, though, is the trick. I thank Lizzie for creating them so uniquely and writing this story with such an engaging quality. It is a story very worth reading.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, if you couldn’t tell, and recommend it to anyone wanting an entertaining romance story that leaves plenty of intimate details to the imagination. I had to give this 5 out of 5 stars.

Tagged: The Apocalypse" by Joseph M. Chiron, A Book Review

 

A zombie apocalypse with subtle biblical references and prophecy, written with moving scenes of death and horror, keeps the story moving at a fast pace. I don’t really like zombies; they seem too unbelievable to me. In this story, however, they are quite a bit different, moving faster, having some intellect, and posing a little more difficult to kill because of it. Yet they don’t like light, so that creates a way to defeat them also.

The zombies I can get used to, but the debauchery of the people is disturbing to me. I get that it is most likely to happen, at least all the stories generally present that scenario, but it does not entertain me to read about it, so I could have done without that. I also had a hard time following where the characters were going and how they really escaped some situations. I couldn’t form a clear picture in my brain of the setup or the movement in a lot of cases.

The story was unique, though, and held its own. I would want to read the next book, to continue following the characters and what happens, to the end. I would just have to skip over any more wickedness or horror, but I don't see a book 2 available, so if you read this, don't be disappointed with no real ending. I had to give this a 3 out of 5 stars.