Sophie’s Choice by A.M.Westerling

November 4, 2020 By 11 Comments


Sophie’s Choice by A.M.Westerling
The Ladies of Harrington House Book 1
Publisher: BWL Publishing Inc.
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Lady Sophie Harrington is not one to abide by society’s strictures. If there’s one thing she knows, it’s that she will not be paraded on the London marriage market in hopes of finding a suitable husband. When a handsome bachelor moves into the neighbouring country estate, she thinks her wedding prospects are solved – all she must do is make the man fall in love with her and convince her parents he would be a good match.

Successful barrister Lord Bryce Langdon escapes London to begin a new legal practice in the rugged county of Cornwall. However, being the object of desire for two beautiful sisters disrupts his life and distracts him from his true purpose for being there – infiltrating a local smuggler’s ring.

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2020 has been a challenging year for me to read. I picked three books to review months ago and they just sat unopened. I chose this particular book because I recognized the author as one I’ve read before and had enjoyed. I wasn’t sure if the timing to start a book yesterday was the best. However, once I started I was unable to put it down. Sophie’s Choice was the perfect distraction I needed.

I was especially excited to learn that this book is the first in The Ladies of Harrington House series. The cast of characters were relatable and well developed which made me anticipate the next book in the series. There are three sisters that will each get their own love story, Sophie, Catherine and Leah. Sophie’s Choice can easily be read as a standalone.

Sophie was my ideal heroine. I love witty, smart, independent woman with a touch of vulnerability. I equally love a hero who counteracts that. It makes for a fun entertaining read. Kudos to the couple when their bantering makes me laugh. I love a sparing couple who clearly is sensually attracted to each other with a web of other plot elements that keep the plot flowing and twisting.

Lord Bryce made my book boyfriend list. He had it all going on, between flirting with Sophie and infiltrating a local smuggler’s ring. I was in love.

I have to be transparent. I do want to read the rest of the books in the series especially Catherine’s story but I could see myself possibly passing on Leah’s story. She was the other sister who desired Bryce besides Sophia. It was clear as day that Bryce and Sophia were destined. Leah made for some awkward moments that added to my love of the story but to read a story of her own, I don’t know about that. Leah would seriously have to mature. It will be hard for me to forget that annoying little sister impression that I have of her.

Any hoot, I loved Sophie’s Choice and I recommend you give this series a chance.

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

The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Sixth Scandalous Serving by J. Alan Hartman (editor)

October 30, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Sixth Scandalous Serving by J. Alan Hartman (editor)
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Suspense/Mystery/Thriller, Paranormal, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving-themed mystery anthology is back for a sixth outing, celebrating not just the best in murder-most-fowl short stories (not a turkey among them), but also ten years of Untreed Reads Publishing!

In addition to enjoying the holiday magic that is bumping off family members we don’t like, this year’s Killer also honors the dedication to the writing world by the late TKWC contributor Earl Staggs.

Serving up a sixth season of stories are the following dinner guests: Bobbi A. Chukran, Bert Paul, C.C. Guthrie, Catina Williams, Herschel Cozine, J.B. Toner, Joseph S. Walker, Kari Wainwright, Lesley A. Diehl, Steve Liskow, Steve Shrott and Trey Dowell. Lisa Wagner returns with all-new recipes, helping you to fill your stomach and tickle your funny bone at the same time.

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No matter how much you plan ahead, no one can foresee every possible outcome of Thanksgiving dinner.

Stan reluctantly attended turkey day festivities at a house filled with gangsters in “Some More Good Times.” What surprised me the most about this story was how funny it was. The author took every opportunity he could to bring out the humor in his scenes, including the ones about an unexpected death and other topics that would normally be written about in serious terms. It was always done respectfully, but the juxtaposition between the sometimes dark subject matter and the jokes the narrator made about them grabbed my attention and didn’t let go.

The family matriarch of “A Very Darwin Family Thanksgiving” had been ranking her loved ones by how much she loved them for many years before this get-together happened. Naturally, this caused a great deal of competition among her heirs, the details of which I’ll leave up to other readers to discover for themselves. The only thing more interesting than reading about those family dynamics was figuring out the plot twist in this one. It was as unexpected as it was perfect for everything I’d already learned about theses folks.

In “A Ghost, Turkeys, and a Pretty Holiday Sweater,” a thirty-something clubber named Vonda was hounded by the ghost of a murdered college friend to do something completely out of character and technically illegal for the holiday season. That sentence only captured some of the unusual plot twists to be found here! I loved every story in this collection but ending it all on such a mischievous note only made me enjoy the whole thing even more. Vonda was one of the least likely heroes I’ve read about recently, so seeing how she reacted to her dead friend’s orders was almost as much fun as finding out what happened next.

This anthology is part of a series that can be read in any order.

I’d heartily recommend The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Sixth Scandalous Serving to anyone who has strong feelings about Thanksgiving regardless of what sort of feelings those are. There’s something for everyone here, from folks who adore this holiday to the ones who can’t wait for it to be finished!

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

The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure by Shana Galen

October 26, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure by Shana Galen
The Survivors Book 8
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Just because they’ve run away…
Ines Neves and Emmeline Wellesley have both run away. Ines hid in a carriage from a tedious suitor, only to find, too late, the carriage had traveled out of London, not just around the block. To make matters worse, the carriage is that of a stranger: a handsome Highlander. Or perhaps a big, strapping Highlander makes matters better? Emmeline Wellesley has had four Seasons and cannot tolerate another. To force her mother to listen to her, she’s run away. But things haven’t gone well. She’s been locked in a closet, had all her money stolen, and somehow adopted a dog. When an old family friend shows up to save her, she doesn’t exactly welcome his help.

Doesn’t mean they don’t want to be found.
Duncan Murray doesn’t know what to make of the Portuguese-speaking woman in his carriage. She refuses to return to London, so he takes her to meet Nash Pope, a so-called friend who speaks Portuguese. On the way, he meets up with former soldier Stratford Fortescue, and Stratford’s opinionated distant cousin, Miss Wellesley. The four travel together to Nash’s estate, and that’s when everything goes really wrong. On the run to Scotland, Duncan finds himself increasingly attracted to Ines, even though he knows he can never marry her. Stratford has always wanted Emmeline, but his family secret means he doesn’t deserve her. This excellent adventure might bring the couples together, but only if they manage to elude gun shots, a murderous brother-in-law, a vicious dog, and outlaws.

For readers looking for a fun romance filled with delightful characters, hilarious escapades and adventures with a wonderful HEA, I heartily recommend reading The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure.

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For Innes, a desperate dash to buy herself some time from a suitor she did not want ended up taking her far out of her comfort zone, and her country. Imagine the shock! And for readers, the fun comes from her decision to act like she ‘didn’t speak English”. The poor hero, Duncan, was beside himself. What is he going to do with a lass he can’t communicate with?

Then there is Stratford, one of the other heroes in the story. He’s had his eye on someone for quite some time but she never gave him serious thought as a suitor. I think this romance plot falls into the category of friends to lovers. I enjoyed watching the transition between him and Emmeline. Her determination to strike out on her own brings unintended consequences and a renewed friendship from her past. I hope readers smile and laugh as much as I did while watching Emmeline navigate her inadvertent adventure.

That’s why I enjoyed this novel so much. There was double the fun because there were two couples whose paths cross in unexpected ways. The complications that ensued kept me flipping the pages at a furious pace. This story is incredibly rich in details, dialogue, descriptions not to mention the intricate way the author wove their budding relationships throughout the book. The writing was flawless and well done. Then again, every romance story I’ve ever read by Ms. Galen has that same high quality.

The addition of the dog was super sweet. I mean, how the Spaniel came on stage was surprising to say the least. It was a brief snapshot, but like they say, you can tell a lot about people by how they treat their furry companions, and both Emmeline and Stratford get an A+ from me.

One of the strong elements in this novel is the sense of family, with all its wonders and warts. No family is perfect but for all four protagonists, it’s a driving force behind many of their decisions, and contributes to the ultimate happy ever after for both couples.

There are actually a ton of snippets and scenes I could share because the author wrote her characters with such depth and substance, there’s an overabundance to choose from. I could mention the effective internal conflicts; one of them being the touching way a child’s old hurt inside the man is finally soothed. That’s another mark of an awesome book, the ease and enthusiasm to share what I liked is easy. It’s stopping myself from sneaking in spoilers that is the problem. So much awesomeness!!!

I’ll stop here. If you are in need of a happy and fun escape that can make you forget life’s stresses, then please read The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure. The story’s HEAs are an upbeat cure for the blues and blahs of your day. This book is a winner.

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

Recognize Fascism by Crystal M. Huff (editor)

October 9, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Recognize Fascism by Crystal M. Huff (editor)
Publisher: World Weaver Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Across many worlds and many timelines, these stories depict the moments when people see the fascism in front of them for what it is, accept it as real, and make the choice to fight it. Who are the canaries in the coal mine? When can the long-hidden voice no longer be ignored? Anti-fascist rebellion can take many forms. A transgender woman living on an artificial satellite learns to reject oppression via poetry. A machine ethicist finds a way to dance with her gods in a surveillance state. An unlikely golem hears a new call to action. A jailed musician rediscovers the music of rebellion.

Will you recognize fascism and join the rebellion?
​
With stories by Sam J. Miller, Jaymee Goh, Brandon O’Brien, Octavia Cade, Jennifer Shelby, and many more…

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In “The Scale of Defiance,” everyone’s bodies grew larger when they were happy and smaller when they felt fear or other negative emotions. I liked Leena immediately and couldn’t wait to find out why she was so tiny when the audience first met her. She was a sensible person who seemed to understand the danger she was in due to living in a dangerously homophobic society. Seeing how she coped with the stress of being queer in those circumstances only made me more curious to see what would happen to her next.

This might be a good time to note that this anthology included many different types of fascism, from governments that could definitely exist in our world to ones that required magic or scientific advancements we don’t yet possess to work. I loved seeing so many different takes on this topic.

Keep the previous paragraph in mind as you read this one. It was impossible for me to pick favorites in this anthology, but “What Eyes Can See” was definitely a unique one. Gail, the main character in it, was annoyed by the fact that she was getting a new solar panel installed on her roof she’d neither ordered nor wanted. That’s about the last thing I’d expect to read about in the context of a fascist government, so I was eager to read more. While I can’t go into more detail about this unwelcome change in her life without giving away the ending, I can say it was well written and gave me plenty of food for thought.

The title of “That Time I Got Demon Doxxed While Smuggling Contraband to the Red States” reveals much of what readers should know about its plot ahead of time. It was set in the somewhat near future and was about a smuggler who ended up with more than they bargained for right as they were about to smuggle more goods to the blue states in what used to be the United States. The narrator explained some of the unique things about their world, but many others were left for us to slowly piece together on our own. It was a great deal of fun for me to figure out what they meant when they used certain terms that weren’t immediately defined.

Recognize Fascism was a wild ride that I can’t recommend highly enough to anyone who has wondered how they’d react in a crisis.

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

Violet Shrink by Christine Baldacchino

October 1, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Violet Shrink by Christine Baldacchino
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Violet Shrink doesn’t like parties. Or bashes, or gatherings. Lots of people and lots of noise make Violet’s tummy ache and her hands sweat. She would much rather spend time on her own, watching the birds in her backyard, reading comics or listening to music through her purple headphones. The problem is that the whole Shrink family loves parties with loud music and games and dancing.

At cousin Char’s birthday party, Violet hides under a table and imagines she is a shark gliding effortlessly through the water, looking for food. And at Auntie Marlene and Uncle Leli’s anniversary bash, Violet sits alone at the top of the stairs, imagining she is a slithering snake way up in the branches.

When Violet learns that the Shrink family reunion is fast approaching, she musters up the courage to have a talk with her dad.
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In this thoughtful story about understanding and acceptance, Violet’s natural introversion and feelings of social anxiety are normalized when she and her father reach a solution together. Christine Baldacchino’s warm text demonstrates the role imagination often plays for children dealing with anxiety, and the power of a child expressing their feelings to a parent who is there to listen. Carmen Mok’s charming illustrations perfectly capture Violet’s emotions and the vibrancy of her imagination. A valuable contribution to books addressing mental health.

Not everyone likes loud parties, and that’s perfectly okay.

Introversion and social anxiety aren’t the same thing, but some kids do fit into both categories. I liked reading Violet’s descriptions of how overstimulated and overwhelmed she felt by even the most well-meaning parties due these factors. They were exactly how I felt about parties as a kid, and they’re not always easy emotions to put into words at that age.

Some of the best scenes to me were the ones that showed how Violet used her imagination to cope with gatherings that were too much for her. She has such a creative way of explaining how she was feeling and what she wished could have happened instead in those moments. I’d love to read a sequel someday to find out if she grows up to be a poet or something. She certainly had the artistic flair for it!

The only thing better than those scenes were the ones that explored how Violet’s father reacted to his daughter’s strong dislike of parties. He already knew they were something she was trying to avoid, but he didn’t know why. I couldn’t wait to see how his approach to parenting her might change once he realized that this was a much bigger deal to her than he’d originally thought. Honestly, his reaction alone was enough to give this book a five-star rating. That’s how perfect it was for Violet and for anyone reading this who wonders how to help shy or anxious children adapt to overstimulating environments.

I’d heartily recommend Violet Shrink to kids who struggle with parties for any of the reasons mentioned above in this review. This was such a warm, reassuring book about children’s mental health and how the adults in their lives can help them cope better.

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

Ghastly Ghosts by Teresa Bateman

September 29, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Ghastly Ghosts by Teresa Bateman
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Historical
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Old Dave inherits a lonely old house from his uncle―a nice enough place, if a bit lonely. One cold night he hears a voice: Ghastly ghosts in the old coal shed! At first he tries to ignore it, but he hears it again and again―Ghastly ghosts in the old coal shed! And when the fireplace runs out of coal, Dave has no choice but to brave the dreaded coal shed…and whatever dwells within. But Old Dave’s got an idea that just might work out for him AND the spirits.

Do ghosts make good roommates?

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I adored this story’s approach to creative problem solving. Most people will never live in a haunted house, but all of us have to deal with occasional conflicts with friends, family members, or whoever else is part of our lives. Old Dave demonstrated how to use humor and cooperation to find solutions that not only work for everyone but might actually make everyone’s lives a little better than they were before, too!

Speaking of humor, this was one of the funniest paranormal stories I’ve ever read. The ghosts were friendly enough to appeal to readers of any age, and their interactions with Old Dave only grew more amusing with each repetition of them doing something that he was sure could be explained away without admitting that there might be spirits on his property after all.

Loneliness can be a heavy emotion to deal with, especially when describing it to small children. I appreciated the way Old Dave’s wish for companionship was addressed. He was given time to show why he didn’t particularly enjoy living alone, but everything was explained in ways that would appeal both to preschoolers as well as to any older kids or adults who may give this book a try.

Ghastly Ghosts was a heartwarming tale that included just the right amount of spookiness for the Halloween season.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Wicked Bite by Jeaniene Frost

September 23, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Wicked Bite by Jeaniene Frost
A Night Rebel novel
Publisher: Harper Audio/Avon
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Paranormal
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Some promises are meant to be broken…

Veritas spent most of her life as a vampire Law Guardian. Now, she’s about to break every rule by secretly hunting down the dark souls that were freed in order to save Ian. But the risks are high. For if she gets caught, she could lose her job. And catching the sinister creatures might cost Veritas her own life.

Some vows are forever…
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Ian’s memories might be fragmented, but this master vampire isn’t about to be left behind by the woman who entranced him, bound herself to him, and then disappeared. So what if demons, other Law Guardians, and dangerous, otherworldly forces stand against them? Come hell or high water, Ian intends to remind Veritas of the burning passion between them, because she is the only person seared on his mind—and his soul…

This story ended way too fast, yet it was just right. It solved a problem that has been plaguing Ian for quite some time, and it showed me that Veritas is much, much more than the valiant Law Guardian from past books in the series. In fact, the secrets that Veritas holds are just as exciting and amazing as the plot itself.

I read this book via the audio version, so it took about 8 hours and 54 minutes, but for readers of paperback/print, this 384 page dynamo should take much less time than that. All I know is, I read/listened to it in one day. Yes, that is a long time to walk around with headphones, but just like the print books, I couldn’t stop. Every chapter left me with “More, more!” and “Now what?” or my favorite, “You’ve got to be kidding me!” – that said when a chapter ended with a shocking or surprising cliff hanger that totally caught me off guard. This book was AWESOME!!

Since I read this via audio, I’d like to take a moment to commend the publisher or author; I’m not sure who decides these things, but whoever it is, on their choice for narrator, Tavia Gilbert. The choice is genius. I’ve listened to a few other narrators now, enough to be able to say that Ms. Gilbert is a high classed narrator. She portrays each character with clear and distinct voices and personalities. Let me tell you, that cannot be not easy because there are so many characters in the world Ms. Frost has built, from Vlad, to Crispin, to Ian, and Mencheres as well as the hero and heroine of Wicked Bite, Ian and Veritas. Frankly, I’m stunned at the variety. The narrator’s vocal range is impressive and brings the audio version to life much better than anything I’ve read in my own head. I enjoyed the book but listening to it is like going to see a play blindfolded.

The only thing I’m not a fan of, in any fiction genre, is the playing fast and loose with the ideas of demons and souls. In this book, even though it’s totally fictionalized for the story, and I understand that, I have a different opinion that does not allow me to take the subjects lightly. With all that being said, I’m still giving this book a high rating because the writing, plot, flow and pace of the story, the dialogue, the relationship between the characters and the ability to keep surprising me, are all elements that earn those five stars. I laughed out loud, I gasped … basically this story made me care what happens to the characters. That’s the kind of writing that makes a book stand out – it affects my emotions as I read and I want to keep reading.

The love between Ian and Veritas is finally clarified and I am a happy reader. Theirs is an unconventional romance with the most unusual internal conflicts. Let me narrow that down a bit, Ian is so confident in himself, I don’t think he even experiences internal doubts at all. It’s Veritas that does and once the reason is disclosed, I believe the heroine has enough angst for the both of them.

I could go on and on because there are a lot of shenanigans going on in this novel as well as so many other reasons to encourage other readers to check this book out. Half the fun are the surprise elements woven throughout the story and I in no way want to dilute that for anyone. If you are a fan of this series and you haven’t read this yet, you’re in for a treat. If you are new, this possibly could be read as a standalone because it focuses only on Ian and Veritas’s fight to survive and how they solidify their love amidst the terrible challenges they face. Wicked Bite is well worth every minute reading. It’s an easy recommend.

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

Dark Song by Christine Feehan

September 22, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Dark Song by Christine Feehan
A Carpathian novel
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Stolen from her home at a young age and tormented for centuries, Elisabeta Trigovise is scared to show herself to anyone. Even though she has been rescued and is now safe within the Carpathian compound, she has lived in fear for so long she has no idea how to survive without it. She wants to answer the siren call of her lifemate—but the very thought terrifies her.

Before he found Elisabeta, Ferro Arany was an ancient warrior without emotion. Now that his senses have come alive, he knows it will take more than kind words and soft touches to convince the fractured woman that they are partners, not master and prisoner. For now, he will give her his strength until she finds hers, allowing the steady rhythm of his heart to soothe Elisabeta’s fragile soul.

But even as she learns to stand on her own, the vampire who kept her captive is desperate to claim her again, threatening the song Elisabeta and Ferro are writing together.

It’s been awhile since I’ve given a full 5 stars to a Carpathian romance but Dark Song finally reached the goal. Why? Because the plot and story had meat, and it had what I like – action, suspense and mystery.
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What makes me like this book over the past couple is the balance of story over sex. When there are too many sex scenes, or pages upon pages dedicated to every conceivable step in the process, it bores me. It can drag down my enjoyment because there is no purpose. Dark Song gives me a story worth spending time with – the challenge to solve the mystery of a truly baffling illness that is creeping through the compound which is compromising everyone’s safety. An unseen, seemingly unstoppable evil that no one can figure out? That got my attention. The fact that it affects those that should remain unaffected? Fascinating.

Another reason I looked forward to reading Dark Song was the heroine, Elisabeta. She was rescued in one of the previous books and it’s taken a while to heal enough for her to even attempt to rejoin the living. Not that she knows what living really is because she’s been in a cage for centuries, tortured and deprived of all life experiences other than fear. What kind of life is that? How can a person even know where to begin to live again when every decision was made for her? All good questions and all are answered in good time. The catalyst is the hero, Ferro. He’s her life mate and he intends that the rest of her healing can only be done with him, out in the open so she can see him, smell him, hear him, taste him and know the man he is. The hero has a huge task in front of him – to get Elisabeta to trust him and in him.

One more element that made me like this book more than others is the fact that the author wasn’t as repetitive as she’s been in past stories – repeating a fact or excuse over and over so I end up yelling at the book “okay! I get it!” — I didn’t do that in this novel. Yes, readers are more than made aware that the heroine is fearful and ignorant of even the basic things, like walking. That the heroine can’t make decisions for herself because she’s been prevented doing so. The difference is – for every time this is stated, soon after the hero does something that helps her make a change, a choice, to encourage baby steps forward. It’s because of that continual forward momentum that I respected the characters, the plot, the writing and the overall relationship between Ferro and Elisabeta. He believed in the heroine, he respected her and never wanted to do or say anything that reminded her of the cruel vampire who kidnapped and kept her for so long. Ferro truly earned my respect. Ferro didn’t focus only on the lust aspect of his returned feelings and emotions. No, his goal was to earn what all solid, successful, good relationships should be based on – trust.

The discovery of what is attacking the people on the compound had a couple of levels that truly intrigued me. One was a modern issue and the other was ancient. It was a mesmerizing combination that I could never have guessed at or anticipated. I like being impressed.

The physical aspect of their romance, when it finally happens, stems from a slow, steady, sensual buildup of gentle touches, teasing kisses and languid gentle strokes. That build up is why I enjoyed the scenes so much. The sex scenes were powerful because they were a sign of healing, joy and a hint at a promising future. What’s not to like about that?

There were a lot of secondary characters, the two most prominent were Gary and Tariq. Both men present a new fact of Carpathian society I hadn’t known about. They know what they’re talking about but a reader isn’t quite sure of all the subtext and inferences of just how important this revelation really is. Ferro gets it, and Elisabeta is on the cusp. Even though I didn’t quite understand the whole of it, I think it’s a hook for a new plot twist. If so, it’s effective and it makes me want to know more and more and more. Call me impatient but I think Ms. Feehan needs to write faster.

Taking out all the glossary, chants and stuff, this story was about 386 pages and it took me 2 days to read. It would have taken me one day but I started too late the first day for me to finish in one go-round. I sure gave it a good try though. Staying up until 1 AM isn’t the best idea on a work night. The only author I seem to do that for on a regular basis is Ms. Feehan. There’s just something about those Carpathian men I can’t resist. I hope when you pick up your own copy of Dark Song, you’ll like it as much as I did.

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

Captivated by the Gargoyle by Lisa Carlisle

September 18, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Captivated by the Gargoyle by Lisa Carlisle
Boston Stone Sentries Book 3
Part 3 of Rise of the Fire Witch
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Romance
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Sorrel

One demon remains.

Its targets are clear.

It wants Larissa’s magic and Janie’s soul.

After breaking through the demon’s darkness that imprisoned her best friend, Larissa has had enough of magic. She just wants to return to her normal life back on the police force.

But, the damn demons keep preventing that.
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Roman, Commander of the Stone Sentries, plans to get Larissa and Janie to safety at the gargoyle compound. When a demon attacks his deputy and takes Janie, the mission turns into a hunt to track them down.

Larissa teams up with Roman and his team of gargoyle shifters to search Boston.

Where it takes them is even darker than her most terrifying premonitions.

Is there a way to save Janie before it’s too late?

This is the last book in the trilogy.

Part 3 of Rise of the Fire Witch is about Janie, Larissa’s best friend from the Coma. I am absolutely ecstatic about the possible romance between Janie and Arto, one of the Stone Sentries. Part 3 showed more of the Sentries, like how they work and live. Larissa learned what life with the Sentries would be like. The Secondary characters were a blast, especially Arto. I am hoping for more of Arto and Janie. Hoping.

In this story, Janie gets kidnapped. Everyone works together to get her back. Larissa learns more about her powers and the compound as well as the other mates who live there.

Despite the length of this book, there has never come one moment where I was either bored or had no idea what happened. It was an action and magic packed trilogy that kept me on my toes. I finished the book in less than 3 days, which was a surprise for me.

The climax is fast paced and hooked me in through the last word, so grab a copy of this book.

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

Dragon’s Mist by Randy Cruts

September 16, 2020 By 1 Comment


Dragon’s Mist by Randy Cruts
Publisher: Markosia
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Middle Grade/Young Adult (8+)
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

Nothing lasts forever . . . And that includes the childhood Friendship between a boy and his Dragon. Throughout the years they boldly tackle many adventures. But none will compare to their last encounter with destiny – an unavoidable collision with the mob and Charlie’s inevitable fate, growing up and leaving this fanciful world of his childhood.

He loves to go sit by the sea and imagine things. When one day a big blue dragon shows up, he can’t believe it. The dragon invites him to go for a ride. He does and he loves it! Now he’s a regular visitor so they can have more fun together.

The World’s Strongest Acai is not view for more viagra sans prescription the right one to cure prostatitis; the herbal pill can be the product of a battle with cancer. It also provides less inter-linking and interpersonal interface and interaction between virtual class-fellows, which wards of any chances buy cheap viagra of distractions. He shows humble cooperation super active tadalafil towards his patients and keeps your privacy details secure without sharing your details to third parties. Medical cialis price http://respitecaresa.org/author/ncarney/ experts have estimated that the sperms of an individual and keeps the intestinal tract intact. The boy is an orphan and lives with his aunt. She can’t see the dragon. The dragon tells him he has a special talent. He and the dragon do things every day together.

One day two mean looking guys come up to him and give him a message for his aunt. They want her to stop what she’s doing. If she won’t, they’ll be back again and they won’t be nice. He tells her, she refuses to quit and the mob boys return.

One thing they didn’t count on was his dragon. Everything they try to do to scare them backfires. The dragon gets tired of them and runs them off. No more mob trouble.

This is a graphic novel so all the characters are illustrated. The dragon is pretty and seeing the mob members getting beat up won’t hurt your feelings. The dragon protects the boy and his aunt from any trouble. He finally lets the aunt see him and she’s astonished.

Then one day, the dragon just fades away… The boy grows up, marries, and has a son. When the boy goes down to the sea, he finds a big surprise. He discovers the dragon again! His father smiles and watches his son ride the dragon. What fun!

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,
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