The Wall by David Pereda

August 10, 2021 By 6 Comments


The Wall by David Pereda
Publisher: Drake Valley Press
Genre: Contemporary, Thriller
Rated: 5 stars
Review by Rose

THOMAS BERTRAM is an American living in San Salvador with his fiancée CECILIA. They own a popular neighborhood restaurant and plan to wed soon. Thomas’s dream is to obtain a resident visa for Cecilia and return to the United States.

DOMINGO JIMENEZ and his wife BLANCA own a small repair shop across the street. Domingo’s dream is to move to America as well so that his seven-year-old daughter NANCY can grow up speaking English and having a good education and a better life than he and Blanca had.

When armed gang members invade their neighborhood to demand “protection” money and threaten them with death if they don’t pay, Thomas and Domingo’s dreams for the future take on a new perspective. They decide to flee the country with their families through Guatemala and Mexico to seek asylum in the United States.

But their journey is more challenging than expected, and they face a myriad of difficulties and must overcome multiple obstacles that put not only their dreams but also their lives at risk.

This is a brilliantly written tale of two families, with mention of many more, who are trying to escape the danger of their homelands to travel to a land they think may offer them better hope for the future.

The characters are richly drawn and my heart ached for what they went through. Although the paths the two families took were different, the emotions and desires were the same. They yearned for a better life, a safer life. There were many side characters too… some better, some worse. I was especially touched by the volunteers who helped in Brownsville.

The settings were vibrantly described – I could place myself in their shoes and could feel their fear and despair. It was hard to put this fast-paced book down. I could so see this on the big screen. There were definite scenes that would leave you with your heart in your throat, and there was one scene in particular that had me in tears.

This book touched me on so many different levels and dealt with so many issues. It’s obvious that Mr. Pereda did his research, but the book doesn’t come across as preachy or political. And, while it has its moments of heartbreak, it is, at the end, a story of hope.

Thanks, Mr. Pereda. You earned a solid 5 stars for a wonderful thriller! I will definitely be looking for more from this author.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Calling Cassie by Kat Mizera

August 6, 2021 By Leave a Comment


*Calling Cassie by Kat Mizera
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Larkspur

Twenty-three-year-old hockey stud Logan Pelletier is having the time of his life as the ultimate bachelor. It’s all about hockey and living it up with his friends. He has no time for love, let alone a relationship. Until a spunky, hockey-playing stripper dances into his life… and his bed.

Miss independent Cassidy Reynolds is already 0-2 in the marriage department. And the twice divorced twenty-four year old isn’t looking for lucky number three. She’s focused on hockey and getting a college degree. Stripping is just a means to an end, but when her friends from the Alaska Blizzard hockey team start hanging out at the club, she knows it won’t be long before they figure out her secret.

As Logan and Cassie blur the lines, will it be game over for their friendship or will it be the start of something more?

I was excited to start reading Kat Mizera’s newest book Calling Cassie. She is one of my favorite authors and I love everything she writes, especially her hockey stories. Calling Cassie is about Logan, who plays for the Alaska Blizzard hockey team and Cassie, a spirited college student. I easily connected with both Logan and Cassie and loved reading their story.

Logan has never met anyone like Cassie; she plays hockey and loves the game as much as he does. She is also smart, hard working and they always have a great time together, both in and out of bed. Cassie enjoys spending time with Logan and likes everything about him, but she worries he will hurt her.

It was easy to like Logan and Cassie. They are both down to earth, nice people and are great together. Their story is realistic, it is not an insta-love story. Logan and Cassie get to know each other first and then slowly fall in love. Even though neither one of them is ready for a relationship, it just happens. It’s impossible to predict when you will meet your soulmate, but when you do, you can’t let them get away. Logan and Cassie are both passionate people and their chemistry is off the charts.

I enjoyed this story, the plot is interesting and kept me wanting to read more. The characters are wonderful and Logan and Cassie were easy to like; I wanted them to end up together but I also enjoyed their story along the way. This story left me with a good feeling and once I started reading it, I found it hard to put down. I enjoyed all the secondary characters in this story, too. They added entertainment and another dimension to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Beloved Stranger by Joan Wolf

August 5, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Beloved Stranger by Joan Wolf
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

By all rights they should never have met—shy and lovely Susan Morgan, and Ricardo Montoya, baseball’s hottest superstar. But a winter storm brought them together, and in the glow of firelight, they discovered a magical passion. It should have ended there—their worlds were so far apart they could never expect to share more than a beautiful memory.

But fate took a hand, and suddenly Susan found that her love had a chance…if only she were strong enough to grasp it…

I’ll never forget Beloved Stranger not just because it is my 200th review but because it was another outstanding book written by Joan Wolf. This is my fifth in a row Joan Wolf novel and she just keeps hitting them out of the park.

Speaking of hitting them out of the park, Beloved Stranger’s hero, Ricardo Montoya happens to be baseball’s hottest superstar. Ricardo’s character was quite chauvinistic but I still fell in love with him. His personality had more to do with his culture and upbringing, than him being unkind or rude at his heart.

The heroine, Susan, isn’t my ideal leading lady but she has the magic personality necessary to sway Ricardo which in turn swayed me to team Susan. I could feel the chemistry between the two as they made several “home runs”.

The believability of this story is a stretch, however it was more than entertaining. I always choose to believe that anything can happen. I read this book in one sitting. My attention was hooked instantly from the very first sentence, “The snow was coming down harder and harder and Susan Morgan was beginning to worry.” I wasn’t able to put it down until I reached the end.

I loved every minute I spent reading Beloved Stranger. I am becoming obsessed with reading Joan Wolf because every book I’ve read so far has made me happy. At this point I’ve only read her historical and contemporary genres. If you enjoy those genres then give Joan Wolf a try. Happy reading everybody!

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

She Shits Bricks and Other Stories by Samson Tonauac

August 3, 2021 By Leave a Comment


She Shits Bricks and Other Stories by Samson Tonauac
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Twerker, COVID-991, advert jinn–we all went a little crazy after 2020 … did we not? 13 ultra-short science fiction and cyberpunk stories inspired by the events of 2020.

Anything can be turned into a joke with enough effort.

I’ve reviewed countless collections and anthologies over the years. Normally, I pick out specific stories from them, but everything in this book was so closely intertwined that I decided to take a different approach this time. While each story worked well on its own, one of the best parts of reading them was picking out all of the references they included to one another. Some of these references were fairly obvious, but others asked the readers to spend a little more time thinking about how certain characters or settings were connected to each other. I was impressed by how well this technique worked. It gave the audience many opportunities to compare and contrast everything they’d read so far, and it provided a strong sense of unity for what I’ve seen of this author’s work so far.

The pursuit of justice was an overarching theme for many of these tales. Some characters received their just desserts in unexpected ways while others sought out justice for unfair things that had happened in their own lives. There was a beautiful sense of order to how everything unfolded. As soon as I noticed this was a topic the author was planning to return to repeatedly, I eagerly anticipated future endings and hoped that everything would turn out right in the end for every character involved.

Mr. Tonauac had a wry sense of humor that were well suited for the types of science fiction he wrote. Some of the scenarios he came up with were so outlandish that I started chuckling even before I knew what the punchline might be. I figured out his irreverent writing style so quickly that it was easy to anticipate the lighthearted spin he’d put on all sorts of different topics even before I knew exactly how he was planning to turn often deadly serious subjects into amusing ones. Based on how much he made me laugh, I’ll be keeping an eye out for more work from him for sure.

This is part of a series, but it can be read perfectly well as a standalone work.

She Shits Bricks and Other Stories was tongue-in-cheek science fiction I’d recommend to anyone who loves this sort of thing.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , ,

Rebellious Ward by Joan Wolf

August 3, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Rebellious Ward by Joan Wolf
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Historical Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

CATRIONA WAS NO STRANGER TO SCANDAL—BUT SHE WAS AN INNOCENT IN LOVE

Only a girl as captivating as Catriona MacIan could have overcome the scandal of her birth to shine as the most sought-after young lady of the London Season.

Only a girl as daring as Catriona would have played with the fiery attentions of suitors as different as the eminently eligible, handsome and proper Lord Wareham and the notoriously worldly and wicked Marquis of Hampton.

Only a girl as stubborn as Catriona would have persisted in adoring the one man she could not have—the brilliant and iron-willed Duke of Burford, the guardian who saw her every fault and was so blind to all else…

The Rebellious Ward was ecstatically amazing. Why? It was everything to me. It even had an epilogue. I love a book that includes an epilogue. It’s like the cherry on top. It’s an imperative ingredient necessary to create a long lasting book glow.

The main characters in The Rebellious Ward are Catriona and Edmund. They actually were twelve years apart in age but Catriona was mature beyond her years. I didn’t have an issue with the age gap especially since their romance was sweet and innocent. I found their relationship to be be heartwarming, fun and entertaining. The cast of characters were well developed and relatable. I felt bad for Marquis of Hampton and would love to see him have a book of his own. I really enjoyed the guest appearance of Ian and Frances.

The writing, pace, and plot were all spot on. I can’t think of any constructive criticism of any kind regarding this novel. I loved how the story started and ended at the same scene. The book began with a prologue and consisted of twenty three chapters with a Part One and a Part two and ended with an epilogue. It all hit my feel good spots. The whole story was engaging, riveting, and original.

I’m starting to think that Joan Wolf is eclipsing all my other favorite authors. If you have never heard of Joan Wolf then I can’t impress enough to give her a chance. If you love historical romance like me then The Rebellious Ward is one I confidently recommend.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Eternity Is Forever by K.G. Inglis

July 30, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Eternity Is Forever by K.G. Inglis
Publisher: Xlibris
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Paranormal
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Alstroemeria

COMBATING DANGERS IS WHAT THEY DO. BUT THIS TIME THOSE DANGERS ARE MORE INTIMATE THAN THEY BARGAINED FOR…

Book 6 – The Eternal Series
Ex-Special Forces, Hawke is afraid of nothing, except maybe the dark haired female with a 9mm Buretta pistol aimed between his legs. Bound by honour to protect her, and driven by overwhelming desire to possess her, those two needs clash with fiery consequences.

Anna is used to dangerous situations as an undercover DEA Agent, but when her cover is blown in the biker bar she’s been working in for the past six months, she discovers that the drugs they’re pedalling are only the tip of the iceberg of secrets they’re harbouring. Even so, she faces her enemy with confidence. It’s the danger she faces of losing her heart to Hawke that terrifies her.

As the balance of power shifts within the supernatural world, it threatens to disrupt the natural order of life on Earth. Hawke and Anna join forces to eliminate the threat, but the stakes are raised with the suspicion of a traitor in their midst. It soon becomes clear that more than just their lives are on the line.

Get ready for some highly intense action, fingernail chewing suspense and heart warming drama, interwoven with a heavy dose of steamy attraction and laugh out loud fun.

Eternity is Forever absolutely swept me away into that precious love we have all had with vampires. To say that it lived up to every hot expectation is a complete understatement! Not only were the readers blessed with the rugged “Adonis” Hawke, whose supernatural talents exceed every expectation, (especially in the bedroom), but we also get a kick-butt, no-nonsense character like Anna to put him in his place, and have fun doing it!

Anna as a character is so great to read, because despite the alluring charms of Hawke, the strong female lead pushes back against society’s expectations, and is the character in this story that fully embodies “If I say jump, you say how high.” Being drop dead gorgeous and good with a gun is just a bonus. The story between the two main characters is full of twists and turns that makes the book VERY difficult to put down. Every moment is action-packed and never lacking in steam. It is a surprise they can get anything accomplished with how much they just want their hands all over each other!

K.G. Inglis does the paranormal genre justice to the extreme by giving the reader a taste of all the supernatural there is out there, never limiting to one kind of legendary creature. There is a sample of a whole slew of different extraordinary beings, with fully developed plotlines and background stories for every character in the novel, which is truly a rare find. I was interested and invested in every side character in this story, and the knowledge that this is the sixth book in an ongoing series is the only thing keeping me from being upset about the cliffhanger ending.

Although I came in late to this series, I can say without a doubt that Eternity is Forever can be read as a stand-alone novel, but good luck trying to keep yourself from running out and buying the next book in the series. Good news for you is that it is already published!

With such a riveting storyline, one that has already spanned 5 novels, and the fact that the action-packed energy flows through the pages of this sixth book just goes to show the strength of K.G. Inglis as a writer. The intertwining backgrounds of all the different characters and storylines never gets confusing, and never gets brushed off. Everything written is important and intentional, and reading through it doesn’t ever feel like a chore.

If you needed a sign here it is: go out and buy this series. It’s hot, it’s refreshing, it’s paranormal, and it has got a plot that packs a punch. I can’t believe I get to read more!

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Lady Sunshine by Amy Mason Doan

July 29, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Lady Sunshine by Amy Mason Doan
Publisher: Graydon House
Genre: Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Snowdrop

ONE ICONIC FAMILY. ONE SUMMER OF SECRETS. THE DAZZLING SPIRIT OF 1970S CALIFORNIA.

For Jackie Pierce, everything changed the summer of 1979, when she spent three months of infinite freedom at her bohemian uncle’s sprawling estate on the California coast. As musicians, artists, and free spirits gathered at The Sandcastle for the season in pursuit of inspiration and communal living, Jackie and her cousin Willa fell into a fast friendship, testing their limits along the rocky beach and in the wild woods… until the summer abruptly ended in tragedy, and Willa silently slipped away into the night.

Twenty years later, Jackie unexpectedly inherits The Sandcastle and returns to the iconic estate for a short visit to ready it for sale. But she reluctantly extends her stay when she learns that, before her death, her estranged aunt had promised an up-and-coming producer he could record a tribute album to her late uncle at the property’s studio. As her musical guests bring the place to life again with their sun-drenched beach days and late-night bonfires, Jackie begins to notice startling parallels to that summer long ago. And when a piece of the past resurfaces and sparks new questions about Willa’s disappearance, Jackie must discover if the dark secret she’s kept ever since is even the truth at all.

Some authors can write words that just seem to flow. I’m not sure how to define this any better, nor do I understand how it’s accomplished. It isn’t that there aren’t starts and stops in the reading, but rather that there aren’t any in the story itself. All of this sounds a little esoteric, but nonetheless, such is the stuff of Lady Sunshine. I was angry every time I had to do some chore or even eat. I just didn’t want to put it down.

Many times a book that switches from year to year, chapter after chapter, can be confusing. My even trying to explain it is confusing. But somehow Amy Mason Doan managed to keep the change in time clear. Never once did it seem to me that the story jumped around. I hate to bring up the “flow” of her writing, but once again I think it explains the seamlessness between chapters and between decades.

This is a sweet story. One full of sunshine like its name, and full of times so poignant that I could feel them. If you have lived in the 70’s or 90’s, some of the description will put you right back into those times. If you have been a kid (surely you have) you’ll be stuck in a time warp for the duration of this book. Jackie, the main character, spends a certain amount of her young life at a beautiful music compound owned by her uncle and inherits it many years later. Going back recalls many memories, some laughter, some tears, and a mystery full of secrets only certain people knew.

I hope I’ve given the impression that Amy Mason Doan is a true storyteller. It’s most certainly true.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

High Country Justice by Nik James

July 23, 2021 By 1 Comment


High Country Justice by Nik James
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Historical, Romance, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Snowdrop

It will take all this lone frontiersman’s skills to save his only friend from murderous outlaws.

Caleb Marlowe carved out his own legend as a frontier scout and lawman before arriving in the Colorado boomtown of Elkhorn. Famous for a lightning-quick draw and nerves of steel, he is mysterious, guarded, and unpredictable. Now, he wants to leave the past behind. But the past has a way of dogging a man…

When Doc Burnett, Caleb’s only friend in town, goes missing, his daughter Sheila comes seeking Caleb’s help. Newly arrived from the East, she hotly condemns the bloody frontier justice of the rifle and the six-gun. But this is outlaw country.

Murderous road agents have Doc trapped in their mountain hideaway. To free Doc, Marlowe tracks his kidnappers through wild, uncharted territory, battling animals and bushwhackers. But when Sheila is captured by the ruthless gunhawks with a score to settle, Marlowe will have to take them down one by one, until no outlaw remains standing.

I love a good western and that’s what this was…a really good western. It had all the elements. A dangerous small town filled with down and out of luck silver miners whose mines were played out. A shifty-eyed sheriff and trouble in “them thar hills”.

This is very easy reading, and the words seem to flow like water. Reading a Nik James book is like watching a movie. Their description of the country as well as their crafting of characters made everything as clear as watching it. Never once did I mix up names of characters. They gave them all distinct personalities. I think that’s why I made the comment about watching a show. I felt like I could see the characters, the good ones as well as the bad ones. This western had plenty of both.

An excellent read. High Country Justice is Book 1 of a series titled the “Caleb Marlowe series”.

It looks to me as if there are 2 more books in the series and, I intend to read them all.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Our Subway Baby by Peter Mercurio

July 19, 2021 By 1 Comment


Our Subway Baby by Peter Mercurio
Publisher: Dial Books
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Non-Fiction, LGBTQ, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

This gentle and incredibly poignant picture book tells the true story of how one baby found his home.

“Some babies are born into their families. Some are adopted. This is the story of how one baby found his family in the New York City subway.”

So begins the true story of Kevin and how he found his Daddy Danny and Papa Pete. Written in a direct address to his son, Pete’s moving and emotional text tells how his partner, Danny, found a baby tucked away in the corner of a subway station on his way home from work one day. Pete and Danny ended up adopting the baby together. Although neither of them had prepared for the prospect of parenthood, they are reminded, “Where there is love, anything is possible.”

Every child deserves a happy, loving family.

I was delighted by the fact that the author included a scene talking about why he and his life partner were a little hesitant to adopt little Kevin when the topic first popped up. Their reasons were sensible, and yet I couldn’t help but to hope they’d figure out a way to make it all work.

There were a few moments of unexpected humor in the beginning that made me giggle. Danny clearly wasn’t expecting to find a newborn baby lying on the floor in the corner of a subway station, but he leapt to action immediately. The way he described this discovery to Pete only grew funnier each time I reread it.

My favorite scene happened after Kevin was sent to a temporary foster home while the court system tried to figure out where this child should grow up. Danny and Pete were given permission to visit him there. Something remarkable happened during that visit that I can’t wait for other readers to discover for themselves. It was as heartwarming as it was delightful.

This was such a sensitive and thoughtful tale. It explained topics like foster care, adoption, and infant abandonment in honest but completely age-appropriate ways. Small children can understand more than they’re sometimes given credit for, especially when everything is laid out for them clearly and with plenty of compassion for everyone involved. The author excelled at all of this.

Our Subway Baby brought a tear to my eye. I can’t recommend it highly enough!

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

You’re Still the One by Erika Kelly

July 16, 2021 By Leave a Comment


*You’re Still the One by Erika Kelly
Publisher: EK Publishing, LLC
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Larkspur

Hot, inked, motorcycle-riding hero
✔️ Sexy wedding planner with a whole lot of explaining to do
✔️Steamy, small town romance
✔️Second chance romance
✔️And lots and lots of make-up sex

When Stella Cavanaugh gets the chance to come home after a seven-year, self-imposed exile, she takes it. She was born to be a wedding planner, and she hopes creating her sister’s wedding might just earn her the redemption she’s been hoping for.

The only thing holding her back is the fear of running into Griffin James, the love of her life. Because she not only hurt her family, she destroyed their relationship. Burned it right to the ground. And she just doesn’t know if she can bear to find out he’s moved on. She sure hasn’t.

Basil: It increases the rate of circulation, online cialis amerikabulteni.com helps to stimulate the sex drive and enhances the blood flow to the reproductive organs involved with an erection. A small study has found that canadian cialis no prescription the supplementation of this herb for three months has substantially improved erectile abilities in men. Your objective is to get relief from erectile dysfunction associated with their utilization of such psychotropic drugs as benzodiazepines reported a rise in arousal and also overall sexual satisfaction after they started out using purchase generic cialis amerikabulteni.com sildenafil citrate. Since perfumes are mainly marketed as a means to attract the opposite sex, the inclusion of pheromones makes for a perfect ‘scent’ object. buy cialis Griffin James has a roommate. The fourteen-year-old’s staying with him while his dad’s on deployment. Sounds simple, but the boy’s grandparents are looking for any excuse to pull him out of the clutches of the big, tattooed owner of a bike shop. If Griffin can just stay under their radar, everything should be fine.

But that’s just not possible when Stella bursts into their lives. Her sparkly spirit, her big, splashy ideas, and her impulsiveness always lead to disaster. He knew that…but he couldn’t resist her.

And now she’s on the run again, because…

The very things they love about each other are also what tear them apart.

You’re Still the One is a small town story filled with second chances and fake engagements and all wrapped up into one intoxicating story. Erika Kelly is one of my favorite authors and I especially love reading her Calamity Falls stories. You’re still the One is the ninth book in this series and I loved every minute of it. Each book is a standalone but all the characters are interconnected.

This story is about Griffin and Stella. Two people who have been in love with each other since they were kids, but haven’t seen each other in seven years, because of insecurities and misunderstandings. Griffin and Stella are the complete opposite of each other. Griffin is quiet, brooding and protective, while Stella is an impulsive, free spirit. Stella’s fun and outgoing spirit make her perfect for Griffin. Everything about Griffin and Stella just clicks, they are made for each other and their chemistry is off the charts.

When Stella returns to Calamity Falls after running away seven years ago, all of the feelings Griffin and Stella had for each other return. Stella is like a tornado and she shakes up Griffin’s tidy little world. It is fun watching these two reconnect.

Once I started reading their story, I couldn’t put it down. I was invested in Griffin and Stella and I needed to find out how everything would work out between them. They both have lessons to learn and some growing up to do, before they can be together and I loved being along for the ride.

I loved everything about this story. I fell in love with Griffin and Stella and immediately connected with them. I felt as though I was right there with them in Calamity Falls. Along with Griffin and Stella, there are also many engaging secondary characters in this story and they add even more entertainment. This enchanting second chance, small town romance is both heartbreaking and heartwarming and is a wonderful addition to the series. Perfection!

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,
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