Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Sweet, Sour, Bitter: A Tale of a Friendship, a Transplant, and a Lemonade Stand by Janie Whitlock and Lisa Woods Yarnell



This is one of those books that you just don't know where to start or where to end.  So I will start with the fact that this is a true story of a woman and her friend, and the journey they have taken together throughout life and how illness has affected it.  Janie has had a deluge of health issues for many years now.  Some of them were not as serious as others.  However, it came down to her almost dying and she moved in with her friend Lisa who she met in college.  They have kept in touch on and off through all of that time until it came to the point that Janie was very sick and needed a lot of help.  She is still trying to get a liver transplant and has many hard days.  The friendship between the two has survived through health issues, near death experiences (on Janie's end), husbands, boyfriends, and more.  When all else failed, their friendship survived.  It is an amazing thing really.  To have that type of friendship is rare and a wonderful gift not to be taken for granted.  The good thing is though that these type of friendships survive because they don't find it necessary to constantly be in touch with each other and should it be taken for granted, will often be forgiven.  It's not the same relationship as being married.  No, this is entirely different.  It is a rather intense read, but also very eye-opening at what people have to go through when they need transplants.  I would highly recommend this one!  And this is the end of my review on this.  Like I said, I have no idea how to end this and it isn't a happily-ever-after ending.  This is the reality of life and it's hardships, and a woman who is still fighting.  The end.


Gofundme -- http://www.gofundme.com/mvc.php?route=search&term=Janie%20Whitlock

connectpal -- https://www.connectpal.com/sweet-sour-bitter-a-memoir

whileaway lemonade facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/WhileAwayLemonade?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Janie's facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/janie.whitlock1

smashwords --  https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=sweet+sour+bitter

Amazon: (paperback)  http://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Sour-Bitter-Transplant-Friendship/dp/150021423X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1419874388&sr=8-2&keywords=janie+whitlock

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/janie_whitlock

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Darkness Awakened (Order of the Blade Series) by Stephanie Rowe

   Quinn Masters is an immortal Calydon warrior, and more importantly he is of the Order of the Blade.  They are the elite group that has the ability to do whatever it is necessary to protect the innocents against rogue Calydon warriors. Why do they go rogue?  Mostly because they have met their sheva.  A sheva is a soul mate and a very complicated matter.  There are several steps that a sheva and a warrior must go through to complete the bonding process and once it is complete, it will cause the warrior to basically go mad.  It is a destiny that all of the Calydons must face unless they never let the bonding process happen.  Quinn is determined to never let this happen to him until he sees Grace Matthews on his front lawn.  She is determined to get help finding her sister and she feels like this is the man to do it.  The bad news?  Well there's lots of it.  Ana (Grace's sister) is in a load of trouble and has been kidnapped, one of Quinn's blood brothers just took out all of his trainees and left him for dead, a bunch of Calydon warriors will soon be on their way to find Quinn because he knocked out his other blood brother in an attempt to get to the possibly rogue one first, Grace is an Illusionist who can't control her own illusions, oh and of course Grace is Quinn's sheva.  Not that she believes much of this sheva business because she doesn't really.  But when things start happening, she and Quinn get more and more worried that the bond will be completed.  Things just go from bad to worse when they find information on who could be behind all of the stuff going on.  It's a worst case scenario indeed.


   This was a really interesting book about not just immortals, but humans as well.  In a world where the lore of these warriors can be found on the internet, it seems very much like ours with a few differences, like the whole immortals being around and Illusionists like Grace and Ana.  They both are more powerful than what their kind is really supposed to be like.  They are powerful enough to cause actual injuries by making the mind think the body is being hurt.  It's an insanely scary gift to have for Grace.  In fact, she thinks it's a curse until she finds Quinn.  In him she finds the freedom and acceptance that she has wanted so badly but thought that she would never have.  Bad things have happened in her past and she doesn't like to get close to other people because they could get hurt.  But not Quinn.  He has ways to combat illusions and he's virtually impossible to kill.
   As much as I liked this really cool and weird world of the Calydon warriors, there were some things that I just didn't understand.  Like this need to fight something that is going to happen any way you put it.  They try so hard to keep from going through the steps of the bonding process, but every time one of them happens, they don't seem that messed up about it.  In fact, the closer they come to completing the bond, the happier they are every time one of the phases is complete.  For them to be fighting it so hard, sometimes it looks like they are diving into it headfirst at the same time.  Why fight something like that then?
   One other thing I didn't like about the book was how their ability to have a choice in the matter was taken away completely.  Or it kind of seems like it.  This whole sheva thing seems to take any choice out of the matter of who is your mate and what will happen once you bond.  It's kind of crappy if you ask me, not having a say in your own fate.  Because of the warriors going wild when they find their mate, the shevas are often killed.  They are more expendable than the warriors are.
   What I do like?  The fact that Quinn and Grace are both determined to beat the sheva curse.  It was a pretty good read and free on kindle right now!!

4 out of 5 stars!

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Unexpected Gifts (A Castle Mountain Lodge Romance Book 1) by Elena Aitken

   Andi Williams didn't like Christmas.  Call her a humbug if you like, but all it reminded her of were families.  She felt like Christmas was mostly for kids and families.  Not for people like her who were alone.  Her mom was off on a cruise and her dad just dropped the bomb that they he and her stepmother were taking her 3-year-old twin brothers somewhere else for Christmas.  That leaves her all alone.  As a party planner, she and her best friend, Eva, stay pretty busy this time of year.  But they got a promo for a lodge up in the mountains and Andi really wants to leave normal civilization behind for the Christmas holiday.  What she doesn't plan on is not having a room when she gets to the lodge and a very handsome Colin Hartford offering to share his villa with her since there was basically a snow storm happening.  Colin was a friend of her ex fiancee', but they definitely weren't close due to past circumstances.  Neither Colin or Andi are looking for a relationship, but their mutual attraction is unmistakable and Colin is determined to change Andi's mind about Christmas.  If only he knew the truth behind her reasons.

   This is not a very long book, but it is sweet.  It has a very holiday feel to it and would be great to read this time of year.  It is a complicated romance between two people with a very complicated past.  For it to be a shorter book, it packs a lot of complication in.  But it's a good thing!  It makes it interesting.  What I didn't like?  Well it's no epic romance, but it's a good romance.  Also, it seems like the catalyst happens at the very end and just when they are in the thick of things it suddenly ends and the book is over.  You never know much about how Andi and Colin's relationship plays out.  Andi's ex, Blaine, isn't a very rounded out bad guy.  He's not nice and that's that.  Andi makes it seem like he might not have been that bad, but he is very clearly an awful guy without too many sides to him besides that.
   I have a very hard time rating this one because it isn't a 4 star book and it really isn't a 3.5 stars either.  It is so very close to being a 4 star book, but it's not.  So the only thing I can do in good conscience is to rate it 3.75 out of 5!

Monday, December 22, 2014

It's a GIVEAWAY!!!

So Untamed by Brenda K. Davies is being released on December 27th and in honor of this I am giving away two ebook copies of it from Amazon.  All you have to do is go to my Facebook page in the link below and comment with your favorite book quote.  Two lucky winners will receive a copy of Untamed!!  Good luck!!

https://www.facebook.com/ClaricesBookNook/posts/665326080242747

Friday, December 19, 2014

A Perfect Escape by Gillian Felix BLOG TOUR


                                                                                                                                                                   
                Good Charlotte's Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous





Changes (Book 1)

Ready, Set, Drama
Adriana Banovic’s 15th birthday sucked! She got fired after eight years of playing Shayanne Montgomery on the #1 soap in the country, found out that her family was on the verge of bankruptcy and worst of all, forced to return to Westwood Academy. Her only saving grace was a chance glance at dreamy mystery boy Haze Lyndon. Armed with only his picture and a determination to find him—even if it means turning Los Angeles over on its ass.

In this new adult novel you'll meet Robin Banovic, Adriana's father; financially challenged, dealing with the death of a family member and his brother's disappearance. You'll meet Savannah DaCosta aka Savi, mother/manager; Savi enjoys the life her rock star daughter Leighann has provided. When Leighann makes a choice to end her career, Savi sees it as a personal attack.

You'll meet college boy Haze Lyndon; New to Los Angeles, Haze soon realizes how quickly money changes hands in the City of Angels. Will he return to questionable ways to survive or go back to the safety of his family in Wisconsin?
Banovic Siblings (Book 2)

Blackmail is a gift that keeps on giving.
College boy Kevin Banovic’s casual affair with Savi DaCosta suited him perfectly. Things change when he finds out that Savi is his mom’s high school bestie. When Kevin tries to end their affair, Savi blackmails him. After Kevin rescues Savi’s stepdaughter, L’Wren, from her abusive boyfriend, he can’t stop thinking about her. He must find a way to handle Savi, protect L’Wren, and keep his sanity.

Bad girl Adriana Banovic is pleased with herself for getting her nemesis expelled from Westwood Academy. As feelings between her and her latest victim Haze Lyndon escalate, an unexpected rival discovers her secret and threatens to expose her. With emotions on the line, will her new rival beat her at her own game or end up another casualty of Adriana’s wrath?

Zax Banovic has it all. Tall and handsome, he’s an academic genius, with a killer smile and a heart of gold. When his best friend gets into trouble, he feels responsible and covers for him. But his best friend is not as honorable and has other plans for Zax.

My Review: http://claricesbooknook.blogspot.com/2013/11/family-portrait-vol-2-banovic-siblings.html



Bastard’s Brew (Book 3)

Everything we touch we destroy
When L'Wren's ex-boyfriend Jeff suddenly disappears, she turns to Kevin to help her find him. With one phone call, Kevin makes sure that Jeff stays hidden and that L'Wren's heart is broken, leaving the door open for Kevin to pursue her. But Kevin is not as free as L'Wren thinks; she is in the dark about his affair with her stepmother, Savi. Savi constantly reminds Kevin of his devious ways and uses their secret to keep him as her toyfriend.

“You don’t deserve to be loved, and you don’t deserve to be happy. You and I are the same … we’re broken inside. Everything we touch, we destroy. We don’t get happily ever after … we don’t get to ride off into the sunset. You know who gets that? L’Wren … she gets it, she gets the guy, and she deserves a decent guy.”- Savi

Kevin desires to be the man that L'Wren deserves, but before he can assume the role of white knight, he brews one last plan to get rid of Savi for good. Will L'Wren, the innocent victim in their twisted game, become a casualty?

Kevin may have sold his body to the devil in stilettos, but he'd be damned if he let her have his heart.

My Review: http://claricesbooknook.blogspot.com/2014/09/bastards-brew-family-portrait-book-3-by.html




Perfect Escape (Book 4)

One person’s perfect escape is another’s perfect hell.
In this coming-of-age story, teen singing sensation Leighann DaCosta tries to find out who she is without her music career. A career that has been part of her life since before the age of ten. When Leighann’s estranged father enters her life, she is caught up in a tug-of-war between both parents. Does she trust the man who abandoned her as a baby, or a mother who is losing her mind?

When heartthrob Zax Banovic is assigned to tutor Leighann, he provides her with the perfect escape from the madness in her life. Enter Kristin Newman, Zax’s super-hot, sickeningly perfect, tennis-pro girlfriend, who dampens any chance Leighann has with him.


After the unthinkable happens, Leighann’s world is shattered, causing her to shut everyone out. Unable to cope, Leighann accepts help from her frenemy, but will the help she accept come with a hefty price?


My Review:

In the fourth installment of the The Family Portrait Series, Zax and Kristin are THE item at school now days while Leighann looks on with jealousy and Zax's best friend Joel is looking at her.  It is a vicious ring of love, hate, jealousy, and deceit in this one.  Just the norm for a high school full of rich, spoiled kids.  Some of them, however, have some real problems in their home life right now.  Leighann is one of them.  Her dad has suddenly come back into her life and her mother is swinging back and forth on the mood swing pendulum.  Savi makes no attempt to cover up her contempt for her own daughter and it is worrying L'Wren, Leighann's half sister.  Leighann starts hanging out with Joel some and he is hoping she will give him a chance.  They are more alike than Leighann realizes.  Things come to the boiling point when Savi threatens to take Leighann away from her father forever, sending a chain of events into effect that cause Leighann so much pain she withdraws away from everyone but Adriana, Zax's sister.

I do like in this book that we finally see Adriana try to do something for someone else without it directly benefiting her in some way.  It's about time.  It's also about time that we see Savi get a little taste of her own medicine.  Kevin Banovic, Zax and Adriana's brother, is behind a lot of the things happening with Savi.  He is so wrapped up in illegal activity that he can't get out of it and if someone hurts a person he cares for, he hurts them back.  And he has his ways, and resources.  He is a bad boy on the outside filled with good intentions and a heart of gold at times.  He is no doubt the most complicated character right now, at least to me he is anyway.  It was a great, and very entertaining, read!



Excerpt:  

Seventeen-year-old Zax Banovic was tall, gorgeous and smelled like citrus with a hint of musk. His sandy blond hair, mesmerizing blue eyes, and kissable lips complemented his athletic body perfectly. Leighann DaCosta, like many other girls at Westwood Academy, got an eyeful when he ran out of the boys’ locker room in his underwear chasing some girl down the halls of Westwood Academy. Leighann blushed when she saw his ripped abs, tight ass and generous package filling out his heather gray CK briefs. Since then, he frequented her dreams a million times, but instead of chasing after another girl, he ran to her, pinned her up against the lockers and ravaged her.
In reality, Zax represented the other half of Westwood Academy's super couple…
Kristin (The Bod) Newman was the lust object of every boy at Westwood Academy. She was the school's tennis champ and well on her way to going pro. Girls hated her, not because of her killer legs or the way she rocked her tennis outfits, but because she was dating Zax Banovic. They were the Brad Pit and Jennifer Aniston (pre-Angelina) of Westwood Academy. Together they were known as ZaxTin. Together, Zax and Kristin were sickeningly perfect. They walked the halls of Westwood Academy cooing at each other, totally wrapped up in their own universe.
Zax was the first boy who had taken Leighann out on a date. She was so giddy with excitement that she didn't realize that he'd only ask her out to make Kristin jealous. Their second date (pre-Kristin) was cleverly orchestrated by Zax's bratty sister, Adriana, who used Leighann's crush on him as a bargaining chip.
Leighann opened her locker and glanced at the locker next to hers. The locker, which now stood vacant, once belonged to Adriana Banovic. Despite her prickly personality, Leighann missed her, and the school wasn't the same since she'd gotten expelled, or ‘transferred’ as they were calling it. Adriana was interesting to watch, she had a way of twisting things to make it work in her favor no matter how wrong it was. Leighann admired her confidence and fearlessness as much as she admired her style risks. Adriana wore what she wanted, when she wanted, and however she wanted. Her style was copied by several imitators that had popped up since her expulsion ‘transfer’. The students of Westwood Academy seemed to have a weird love-hate obsession with her. Even though they missed her, no one ever dared come out and admit it.
When the bell to Math class rang, Leighann's stomach churned. She hated math and failed every test that she’d been given. She desperately needed help, but was too ashamed to ask. When Mr. Wells, the Math teacher, returned her test results, once again he asked to see her after class. Leighann was used to their talks, and while Mr. Wells did his best to help her with extra lessons, it took too much of his time. This time he presented her with a possible solution; the Give Back Program. He explained that the graduating seniors of Westwood Academy who excelled in a particular subject would volunteer to tutor juniors who were struggling in their area of expertise. The program had a 100 percent success rate, and he believed that the success was because students learned better from their peers.
"The list of juniors waiting to get in the program is very long, and we have more juniors waiting to get in than seniors willing to tutor."
"What are my chances of getting in?" Leighann asked hopefully.
"You're in," Mr. Wells replied happily. He had already enrolled her, knowing that she wouldn’t object. He suspected that she wanted to do well.
Leighann was thrilled. She thanked him profusely and received instructions to meet her tutor at the east campus library after school.

Leighann waited outside of the library, where the other juniors were gathered. One by one they paired off with their respective tutors and disappeared. She prayed that her tutor would be patient and wouldn't make fun of her because she was a slow learner. Leighann often wondered if she had a learning disability. All her life she’d had to fit her academic schedule around her music career, and this was her first foray into institutionalized education.
At the age of ten, Leighann won her first Grammy, and since then, she’d had a career that most fifteen-year-old girls would kill for. But she wasn’t happy and longed for a life outside of stardom. With the support of her sister/confidante, she resigned from the music business at the height of her career and faced scathing backlash from the press, the record label, disappointed fans and especially her mother/manager.
Leighann’s quest for a normal life began when she moved to California to live with her sister, L’Wren. She enrolled in Westwood Academy of Higher Learning, the Rolls Royce of high schools in California and possibly the country. Her father was an alumni, and recently she’d found out that her mother was as well­—even though her mother never graduated. Leighann was determined to graduate and possibly go on to college like L’Wren. The thought of that excited her, but she doubted herself. What if she couldn’t cut it? What if all she could do was sing and play instruments? Could she go back to the industry that she’d shut the door on? The thought of that sent shivers down her spine.
Almost twenty minutes had passed, and all the tutors and tutees were paired up. Leighann began to wonder if she had been stood up by her tutor. What if her tutor had found out that they were assigned to her and opted for someone else? Leighann's heart sank. She wanted to prove to her mother that she was good at something other than singing and performing. Her mother had beaten it into her brain that she would never amount to anything other than a singer, and Leighann began to wonder if she was right. Maybe she should drop out of school and beg the record label for another chance. Her songs were still on the charts, and maybe it wasn't too late. Leighann left the library disappointed.
"LD!" she heard a familiar voice call out, and footsteps running behind her. She froze; only one person on the planet called her LD.
Oh God, please don't let it be … she prayed, then turned around.
"Sorry I'm late. Basketball practice went a little long," Zax apologized.
His eyes … those eyes … mesmerizing, seducing, enticing … pulled her in.



Purchase Links

Book links for Amazon:

Changes

Banovic Siblings

Bastard’s Brew

Perfect Escape








Author Links











Monday, December 15, 2014

The Amazing Adventures of Toby the Trilby by Angela Castillo

   Toby is a one of a kind.  He is 12 and was created in a lab.  He calls the six who created him, his grambles.  Kind of like grandparents.  Toby has mostly human DNA with a bit of cat DNA as well that has given him a few feline features like how he is rather short for his age, has a tail, ears, and a keen sense of smell.  But he looks much like a human boy would otherwise.  He lives underground with his grambles and has never seen what is on the surface.  It was foretold that the end was coming for mankind and the grambles were scientists sent down below to prepare massive areas for people to escape to, however, they never came.  So no one knows what is up there.  Toby has a keen interest in going to see, and he keeps hearing a voice that it is obvious no one else is hearing.  He seeks to find the owner of the voice and to find the answer to his greatest question: does he have a soul?  Because of how he was created, he has doubts about it.  So he sets off on an adventure to find out.  This adventure will be dangerous.  Not all of those who are left are nice.
 
   This book is geared to a younger audience, but I still found myself intrigued with the plot.  It is an interesting story and very clean.  This would be a great kids book and a safe one.  No romantic gestures in this one to worry about and it is inspirational.  Toby is seeking the Soul Creator to find the answer to his question.  He comes upon the good, the bad, and the ugly of what is left of humanity.  Not only are people sometimes openly hostile, but some have pretty much lost their minds.  It is a dismal state of affairs really, but Toby's journey is one of hope.  And hope can change everything.  I am interested to see where Toby's journey takes him next!

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Catalyst by D. Andrew Campbell

   In D. Andrew Campbell's second book about Catarina Perez, the action is almost a never-ending sequence.  This is one year after she turned into what we think of as a vampire.  She isn't human anymore and there is a darkness within her that threatens to come out to play.  Even though she is still wreaking havoc on the local drug lords, they have gotten a little smarter and are at least giving her more of a challenge these days.  But Cat has a bigger issue to worry about this time named Chadwick Morrin.  He's smart.  Maybe too smart.  It's possible she and Ren, the guy helping her, are over their heads, by a lot.  Constantly pushing her limits, Cat plays with the darker side of her while trying to catch this guy.  He knows exactly how she ticks, it seems, and every time she thinks she has him, he up and disappears.  He's like a ghost, and that ghost knows all about who Catarina Perez is.  Well, all except that part about her not being human.


   What an excellent read!!  I really enjoyed reading this one!  I enjoyed the first one, Catharsis, as well, but this one trumps the first book with a vengeance.  Maybe it's the fact that the main character has now become a little darker in her pursuits to do good.  Cat having some help also makes things much more interesting than just her running around being a vigilante.  The stakes are higher this time and the technology is pretty awesome, some real undercover type stuff!
   My biggest question:  Who is Ren?  Who is this man behind the curtain that we know so little about?  He has a deadly blood disease, is incredibly fit, and is very smart.  My thoughts often wander when it comes to this guy.  They wander in the direction of how he almost seems super human.  In this world Campbell has created it wouldn't surprise me too awfully much.  At the same time, perhaps it is his background that lends to these abilities.  Maybe a former military man?  One can only guess at this point and hope that Campbell clears that up before he ends this series of books!  Ren really is the wizard, just like the Wizard of Oz.
   I can't say much more than that without giving away too much of the book.  The ending had me gaping a little.  Had no idea it would end like that!  And it does seem a little abrupt, oh and definitely a cliff hanger.  However, it was still a great ending that kind of made it feel like the movie The Punisher.  Now I just have to patiently wait for the next book...

A big 5 out of 5 stars!!!

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Cursed Beauty (A Fairy Retelling Book 1) by Dorian Tsukioka

   We all know the Disney fairy tale version of Cinderella and her glass slippers.  What child doesn't?  But did you ever think that perhaps the story was a little bit off?  That maybe there was more to it?  Well, there is.  This novelette is another side of Cinderella that you've never seen before, but explains so much.
   Adelaide was born with a hideous birthmark scarring half of her face.  It makes her feel ugly and although people in the village where she lives have generally gotten used to it, they still whisper about it.  And she knows they do.  People won't even look her in the face when they talk to her.  Word is that she was born cursed.  Her mother died long ago of the pox, the same night that the younger Prince Julian lost his mother to it as well.  Her father had been off to the castle trying to save the queen when Adelaide's mother died right beside her.  The happenings of that night stayed with her for the next several years.  The prince had lashed out at her when his mother died.  He was mean to her and she had never forgiven him.  Now, several years later, he delivers the news of the death of her father.  While she grieves though, her stepmother, Celeste, seems cold and uncaring.  Due to her father's death, Adelaide is forced to become a servant in her own house.  During this time of readjustment, the prince tries to make amends with her by inviting her to the ball for his older brother's birthday.  There's no way Adelaide can go, for several reasons.  An old woman shows up with magic slippers saying she's her fairy godmother.  Even though she wears the slippers, there is a terrible price to pay to use them.  The price is much steeper than Adelaide is willing to pay once she has what the old woman wants.  After all, nothing is free.


   I love the retelling of this old tale.  Disney makes it into a wonderful, feel good story for kids to watch.  But let's be honest here: no one falls in love the first night they go to a ball and dance with a prince.  That's called lust.  This gives Adelaide and the prince a former history already that spans several years.  Not only that, but the poor girl has been deemed cursed by the community because of a prominent birthmark.  And then there is the fairy godmother.  Well this one seems kind of scary to me.  I also like the part Celeste plays in this.  Everything has its explanation and it is a somewhat disturbing tale.  It's short, and definitely not what you would call sweet, but it is a good retelling of it!

5 out of 5 stars!

Friday, December 5, 2014

Favorites Friday





I will now be hosting a Favorites Friday on the Facebook page for this blog where you can comment with your favorite authors, books, buy links, street teams, etc.!!  Come on by my page and check it out!!

https://www.facebook.com/ClaricesBookNook/photos/a.437822892993068.1073741827.370017496440275/656456081129747/?type=1&theater

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Graveyard Shift by Angela Roquet

   This book is no doubt a mishmash of different religions and faiths all brought together in a rather sacrilegious story about a three-hundred-year-old girl named Lana that is a reaper of souls.  She is low on the totem pole in Limbo City and has no aspirations of greatness.  She doesn't want the lime light or extra responsibility.  Her boss, Grim (the original reaper), has other plans for her.  He doesn't trust Lana, that's for sure, but someone has recommended her for a certain task because of her unique ability to see more into a soul than the other reapers do.  It's the reason why she bends the rules so often for them.  It turns out that Maalik is the one who has gotten her this new job she didn't ask for in the first place.  Maalik likes Lana a lot, and few could resist his looks and charm.  However, Lana keeps him at arms length and does her best to keep it that way.  But it's hard to do with him popping up so often and now being on the council with Grim.  Not to mention, her life is starting to spiral out of control now with this new job.  She and the others on her team are looking for a soul to replace a thousand-year-old woman named Khadija.  She is very powerful.  In fact, she is the one that created Lana and made sure that she had the unique ability she does so that one day there would be someone to find a replacement for her.  If they don't find the replacement, Hell is going to break loose.  And unfortunately it's starting to slowly happen already.  Lana's team is repeatedly attacked by demons when they go out to harvest the souls on their list.  It seems like they always know when and where they will be, which makes Lana think there's an inside man spilling secrets.  Still, she must finish the job and try to stay alive in the process, which could prove tricky.

   My first thought when I started reading this book was one word: weird.  And it is definitely weird.  But mainly because it introduces ideas and a story that are new to me as a reader.  It's a unique look at the after life, and although I don't harbor the belief that it will be anything like this when we die, it was a very entertaining and different read.  I really liked the story line and the uniqueness of the book really does go a long way.  It pushes your thoughts and imagination to stretch beyond the normal box of our minds.  If you are looking for something new and different, then this is it!

4.5 out of 5 stars!!

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Thank You to....

Thanks so very much to the ones who contributed prizes to the big giveaway!! Without you and without those of you who entered the contest, there wouldn't have been much of a contest! A big thanks to:



Jeni's Bookshelf
Pamela Labbe
Sarah Blausey
Erica Stevens 
Riley Y.J. Jensen 
Christina Escue
Victoria Danann
Wendy Garfinkle
CD Taylor
H.L. Burke
Sunniva Dee
Shay West
Kelsey Jordan
Pembroke Sinclair

Monday, December 1, 2014

The Banesville Trilogy by Dorothy Dawson






Banesville: The Love of Lydia Monroe (Book One)

   Lydia Monroe has moved around her entire life.  Her dad is in the military and they move like every six months.  She is used to new schools and new friends every so often.  At this point, she just takes life as it comes.  There's no point in it being any other way to her.  When her family moves to Banesville though, things are different.  A new guy starts at school the same time she does.  His name is Carter and he looks kind of like a guy she keeps dreaming about, but she can't be sure.  Turns out he's her dad's guardian angel and has been in love with her for pretty much forever.  They had been together several lifetimes, but things always ended badly.  And when I mean badly I mean he would get shot or they would both die in a plane crash.  He only has a short time to be with her (and he was just basically on leave from his angel duties) before he "dies" and leaves her somewhat heartbroken.  Lydia knows that what he says about their past lives are true.  However, a new guy moves in next door to her.  Abner is the polar opposite of what Carter was.  She and Carter basically couldn't be together and her life was supposedly going to be short this cycle.  But how short was just a guess.  Lydia just can't stay away from the motorcycle-riding, home-improvement-making, thrilling Abner.  Meanwhile, Carter makes it difficult for her with his showing up at random times to grill her about him while her teacher turns out to be Father Time, and he's in charge of how much time she has left.  The only thing is that Father Time is biased in his opinion of her life.  Things get more complicated with the revealing of what Abner is.  He isn't exactly normal either.  But then again, what is in Lydia's life?
   Lydia Monroe is one easy-going teen.  I only wish I had been that way as a teenager.  She takes on life's hurtles one at a time and doesn't let stuff bother her too much.  Well, that is until she finds out about all of the weird supernatural stuff in her life.  I would be more than weirded out about it.  Lydia takes it rather well.  I think that Lydia Monroe is a strong and pretty great heroine in this book that has some very normal teenage issues.
"It was so funny to me how even though I had become aware of an entire immortal world, I had also let myself become a teenage cliche'.  Not knowing which boyfriend to pick, lying to my best friend about said boyfriend, and hiding things from my parents were all now part of my angsty resume."

Lydia Monroe: living life fearlessly








Banesville: Initiation on Briar Reeves (Book Two)

   Briar Reeves is currently mourning her good friend, Lydia, who died in a tragic accident recently.  During her mourning, a long lost friend of hers shows up and it's apparent that Briar's boyfriend, Warren, has a real problem with it.  She doesn't know what's up between the two of them, but they obviously know each other.  Naturally she thinks that maybe they had been in a relationship before or something of that sort, but they are definitely hiding something from her.  When she can't take anymore of the secrets, they tell her the truth.  Warren is a reaper and her friend, Tatum, is a harbinger.  She is a sign of something to come basically.  Kind of like an early warning system.  Tatum's presence isn't usually a good sign.  What's more important is that Briar is a hunter.  Someday soon she will be one of the ones to hunt down evil in the world and keep the balance.  It's really quite a bit for her to take in.  Briar isn't like Lydia was.  Lydia just took it as is and went on with things.  After a few emotional breakdowns, she starts her training because a strange new supernatural is in the area causing some problems that no one knows how to stop.  It could be that they are way in over their heads.  A local werewolf gets kidnapped, a store is blown up, and things just keep happening.  Not to mention, Briar and Warren's relationship has taken a nose dive and Briar is making googly eyes at the wolf pack's leader, Nelson.

   Briar has really grown up in this book compared to the last one.  Grief and loss has hit her and when she finds out about who she is, things change for her.  She has a big responsibility as a hunter and her thoughts are with Lydia so much.  Knowing that she and Abner got their happy ending makes her feel better though.  This supernatural entity they are all facing is very dangerous.  It can do things that none are supposed to, but there is more to this creature than meets the eye and Briar is the key to everything, she just doesn't know it for a while.  This book has evolved some from the teenage drama of the last one to a book about a girl who has to grow up and face life head on.

Briar Reeves: a hunter being hunted






Banesville: The Reckoning of Rebecca Thorne (Book Three)

   Rebecca Thorne is a werewolf that recently escaped from Xavier's secret, underground lair.  When she returns though, she brings some interesting news with her.  Briar's mother is still alive and being held prisoner by Xavier.  Also, Xavier is working on some crazy creations that could make life difficult for the other supernaturals and immortals in Banesville.  The group of friends must stop him before he tries to take over Banesville and then the world.  Xavier is a crazed, power-hungry warlock with enough power to be a real problem.  Not to mention he has friends in places that no one ever expected.  The ultimate betrayal to Rebecca's friend, Briar Reeves.  Rebecca must help stop him and because she escaped, she knows more than anyone else about his underground lair.
   Seen through the eyes of Rebecca Thorne, the third book in the series has some very stunning secrets that come to light.  Honestly, I was kind of conking myself on the head for one of them thinking "Duh, that makes so much sense now!"  After reading tons of shifter and vamp books, things that make me this surprised are very welcome and awesome to read!  I had a little difficulty at the beginning of this one deciding who was saying/thinking what at first, but it ironed itself right out and had a fantastic ending to the trilogy!  Too bad we aren't seeing more of Banesville, because I know I would like to!

Rebecca Thorne: shifter out for vengeance
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