Review: Recurve by Shannon Mayer

Recurve (The Elemental Series #1) by Shannon Mayer

My name is Larkspur, and I am an Elemental. My people use the power of the earth to sustain life and defy our enemies. I should be at my father's side as a royal princess. But as a half-breed, bastard child, that isn't going to happen. I've been accused of attacking the queen, my wicked stepmother, and my life is suddenly on the line. 

I have only two options left to me: banishment, or training to become one of the King's Elite Guards, an Ender. Option one will kill me. Option two is meant to break me, but is the only way to survive. Did I mention I have no power like the rest of the elementals, and my connection to the earth is worth next to nothing? Could things get any worse? Of course they can. Welcome to being an Elemental.

 

 NOTE: I was provided this ARC copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 I've been a follower of Shannon Mayer since the first Rylee Adamson series. I thought I'd never met a woman as fearless and fierce as Rylee. Now, I'm having second thought after reading Recurve. I think Larkspur aka Lark is the new heroine to watch out for.

 Lark is a princess without a crown. She's an Elemental without power. She's serving the Kingdom as a Planter instead of a Royal, simply because she was deemed useless without her elemental gifts. Haunted by her mother & brother's deaths, Lark did her best to be liked and loved by her Father, the King. But after being accused of attacking Queen Cassava, Lark found herself training to become an Ender. That is the only way she'd be able to survive. Little did she know that her decision might just be the catalyst to her death.

 I had a super great time reading Lark and her adventures. Shannon Mayer is a brilliant and impressive author, she immediately sucked me in to her fantastic world. There's so much awesomeness wrapped up in the book. Plus, the names of the characters are really cool and unique. From Cactus, to Coal, Raven to Belladonna, from Granite to Ash, from Fern to Griffin, these amazing Elementals just keep getting better and better.

 Although this first book is a bit longer than usual, Recurve is a pleasure to read. It doesn't feel rushed. Rather, the whole story resonates with substance and every page matters. The ending left an ample room for a sequel. It isn't like those first books where you are really left hanging with those unanswered questions on your mind. Simply put, Recurve is very satisfying.

 The urban fantasy and paranormal elements are intricately woven into the story. That's what makes Recurve an engrossing and heart-pounding read. I guess, many readers would agree with me when I say, Lark has surpassed its predecessor, Rylee.

  

Shannon Mayer lives in the southwestern tip of Canada with her husband, dog, cats, horse, and cows.

When not writing she spends her time staring at immense amounts of rain, herding old people (similar to herding cats) and attempting to stay out of trouble. Especially that last is difficult for her.

Shannon Mayer gained bestselling status with her Rylee Adamson series.

 To learn more about Shannon and her books, go to www.shannonmayer.com To get a taste of The Rylee Adamson Series, check out the cinematic trailer!

Book Tour: Forever In My Heart

FOREVER IN MY HEART

Author: Aleya Michelle

Series: My Heart, Book #3

~  SYNOPSIS ~

Roxy & Kade have finally reunited.

Soul mates destined to be together...

Their magnetism drawing them back into each other's embrace was far too strong.

Their Happily Ever After is written in the stars and their hearts beat as one in unison... All is magical...

So what could happen that could shatter their plans of forever after?

What evil force will be the one to alter the path of happiness & bliss?

And can Kade & Roxy's Love withstand the chaos and turmoil that is heading their way?

My Review 

I like reading novels with characters who are driven and full of passion. Kade & Roxy belong to that category. What I love about this couple is their undying love for each other that made them stronger and able to battle the fiercest winds and storms. 

Indeed Roxy & Kade had come a long way. They matured over time, trusted each other and vowed never to let go. Theirs is a love story waiting to be told. Both strive to make their relationship work, amidst all the leaps and bounds that come their way. Babies, paternity suits, vengeful and bitter ex-lovers, you name it, they got it. 

Will they end up together in the end?

Aleya Michelle concludes her My Heart series with a bang! Lots of steamy scenes in here, mouth-watering action and endless words of sweetness and passion. I'm not wondering why there were a lot of ants around me while reading this!

~ PURCHASE ~

AMAZON

~ TEASERS ~

 

 

~ MY HEART SERIES ~

Book #1: BREAKING MY HEART: http://amzn.to/1Fw3Wib

Book #2: HEALING MY HEART: http://amzn.to/1Fw46pP

~ ABOUT THE AUTHOR ~

Aleya Michelle

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia.

Happily married and mother of 3 gorgeous and very active boys. A true lover of reading and escaping into a book, I love to write and find solace and escape through my characters and story lines.

So excited to finally publish my debut novel Breaking my Heart in May, Book 2 Healing my Heart was released September 17th.

The third and final book in My Heart Series is Forever in my Heart and is releasing February 20th.

Favorite past times include shopping, reading, going to the beach and seeing friends.

Music is another great love.

Social media links:

AMAZON | FACEBOOK | WEBSITE | TWITTER

~ Tour Host ~

HEA Book Tours, PR &  More: 
http://heabooktours.blogspot.com/

Bound To The Bachelor

Title: Bound to the Bachelor 

(Montana Born Bachelor Auction #1) 

Author: Sarah Mayberry 

eBook provided by Netgalley 

Published February 20th 2015 by Tule Publishing

Lily Taylor knows Beau Bennett dislikes her, but that won’t stop her from asking him to volunteer for the Bachelor Auction she’s organized to help her friend Molly provide for her tragically injured son, Josh. If Beau’s gorgeous face, piercing blue eyes and chiseled body inspires the women of Marietta to dig into their pockets for a good cause, then Lily will do whatever it takes to secure his participation. 

Beau Bennett isn’t sure how he wound up on the auction block being eyed up by hundreds of eager women, but he knows who to blame for it – Lily Taylor, the sexy, distracting, off-limits best friend of his kid sister. As far as he’s concerned, the sooner this nightmare is over, the better. The last thing either of them expects is for Lily to wind up bidding on – and winning – Beau, or that their date will lead to Beau stepping in to save Lily when her past comes back to haunt her. 

As Beau does his best to keep Lily safe, they discover that maybe they don’t dislike each other quite as much as they thought. In fact, maybe it’s just the opposite…

4 stars!

 Tis' one of the really romantic books I've read this month of Love. If I do have ten thousand grand right now, I'll bid for Beau Bennett immediately, no questions asked!

Bound to the Bachelor is the first book in the Montana Born Bachelor Auction series. Lily Taylor asked Beau Bennett, as well as other hot bachelors of Marietta, to participate in a Bachelor Auction, to raise funds for their friend, Molly and son Josh who was recently involved in a tragic accident. Long before this auction bid took place, Lily and Beau had tried really hard to get away from each other. I basically didn't really know what made Beau dislike Lily so much; is it just because she's got the notorious reputation of being a stripper/exotic lap dancer once? I say, he was quite judgmental if that was his reason for avoiding her. But as the story progressed, we learned the real reason why Beau couldn't trust his heart to be near her.

 On the other hand, Lily's past found its way to come back and haunt her, ultimately putting her life in danger. An inheritance of some sort, amounting to ten thousand dollars, shook up Lily's nerves, and brought about the memories of her past. To get away from it all, she decided to use the money to bid on Beau Bennett. And their lives took a spin from thereon.

 I like happy endings, I crave for it every now and then. The author knew how to make readers swoon for the guy and cry with the girl. This book melts my heart, Lily & Beau have the perfect chemistry. Although their instant love connection and profession of love at the end of the book was too soon, I still liked that "having butterflies in my stomach" feeling after reading their book. It's my first Sarah Mayberry book and hopefully, not the last.

Princess of Thorns

Title: Princess of Thorns 
 Author: Stacey Jay
eBook, 400 pages
Published Dec. 2014
source: Netgalley

Game of Thrones meets the Grimm's fairy tales in this twisted, fast-paced romantic fantasy-adventure about Sleeping Beauty's daughter, a warrior princess who must fight to reclaim her throne. Though she looks like a mere mortal, Princess Aurora is a fairy blessed with enhanced strength, bravery, and mercy yet cursed to destroy the free will of any male who kisses her. 

Disguised as a boy, she enlists the help of the handsome but also cursed Prince Niklaas to fight legions of evil and free her brother from the ogre queen who stole Aurora's throne ten years ago. Will Aurora triumph over evil and reach her brother before it's too late? Can Aurora and Niklaas break the curses that will otherwise forever keep them from finding their one true love?

3.5 stars

 I’ve got mixed feelings about this book. A month ago, I've read Fractured Dream by KM Randall and I thought it was really great. I became a Storyteller and it was like the book version of Once Upon A Time, the TV series. Now, after reading Princess of Thorns, I couldn't help but compare the two books. Which is totally unfair because each book has its own story to tell.

 Truth be told, I’m a big fairytale fan and I like retellings, too, but I can’t say the same with Princess of Thorns. Somehow, Sleeping Beauty’s story has come to an end and so her daughter Aurora is next to the throne. But she can’t relinquish this throne because she’s on the run, together with her brother Jor; because once the Evil Queen learns she’s alive, Aurora might as well wish for her death. She must hide and save her brother, and then suddenly Prince Niklaas arrives. He thinks Aurora as a boy, so she pretends she’s Jor.

Suffice it to say, the book, in my opinion, was very well written & was quite engrossing. I admire Stacey Jay’s clear and concise descriptions and development of characters, as well as the pacing and magical adventures along the way. But soon, it became too much of a mixture of Mulan & LOTR, that it somehow lost its appeal in the end.

While evidently Aurora & Niklaas had chemistry, the uber romanticism on the latter part of the story became too much for me to bear. But surprisingly, my kids enjoyed reading it, and they told me Aurora kicks @ss. So we’re giving the Princess of Thorns thumbs up!

 

 S T A C E Y  J A Y

Stacey Jay is a recovering workaholic (or at least working hard at recovering) with three pen names, two small children, and a passion for playing pretend for a living. She’s been a full time mom-writer since 2005 and can't think of anything she'd rather be doing.

Her former careers include theatre performer, professional dancer, poorly paid C-movie actress, bartender, waiter, math tutor (for real) and yoga instructor. Learn more at http://staceyjay.com.

Book Review: Wicked Road

Wicked Road: Midnight Scars Series Book 1
Author: H'deel Batnij

What does a dark but innocent girl do when Death follows her, and hurts all that she loves?
"It brought on a memory of my parents. I remembered the screaming, the pants, the gasps, the pain, the cries, and the burn. It also brought on the memory of Mathew dying. I closed my eyes and sighed deep as I counted from ten to one backwards a couple of times, something I learned from therapy a long time ago.After I reopened them and collected myself I looked into the distance. I couldn’t keep count of how many times I had felt paralyzed lately.I watched the fire till it all burned into ashes, till there was nothing left of it, till there was nothing left of the evidence just like the memory of my house burning down into nothingness.I was wrong.Revenge isn’t always beautiful."
Donnie not being able to take control of her own body during the day of the "recording" was terrifying and hard to believe. Thanks to Marylin, the Goth guitarist in her foster brother's band (or used to be), is not just any normal Goth. But a practiced Demon summoner looking towards a high seating in Lucifer's chair. And to do so, he needs an innocent lady who shall be his virgin bride. Donnie was perfect to his set of eyes.Donnie falling madly in love with her best friend, Ronnie Sykes, was not in her hands to stop it. And as the grieving months passed by she was losing herself into her own heart. Being alone definitely sucked for her when her friends were nowhere near her anymore, her best friend moving to another state, and her foster brother being dead...Yeah, Hell was on the loose.Will hope be there for her? Is there a light ahead for her at the end of the road?

Cheers to a new haunting series! Wicked Road is H’deel Batnij maiden offering and I am already impressed with her writing. Although I read on the editor’s note that this novel had to go through some rigid editorial task, as a grammar guru myself, I can say that this book is perfect – in storytelling, in capturing the attention of the readers, in mesmerizing and urging the reader to read until the end and clamor for more. That is exactly how I felt upon reading Wicked Road.

The story begins with an abandoned child at the footsteps of Dr. Todd Ronalds’ home. He named the newborn child Mathew who was loved and well-taken care of. Fast forward five years later, a girl named Donnie Sparks witnessed the death of her parents due to fire, just one day before her birthday. Tragic, isn’t it? Luckily, Todd came at the right moment and adopted her and raised her as his own. Together, Mathew & Donnie bonded and shared what natural siblings have – a family – a real relationship between a brother and a sister.

It wasn’t long after Donnie grew up and turned into a beautiful but goth-like lady, with tattoos, weird hairstyles and piercings on her body, a far cry from what she had envisioned herself as a magical pink princess before her parents’ death. She had a bestfriend – Ronnie, who also played on her brother’s band, whom she was slowly falling in love with. Things got way too complicated when one day, the guitarist of the band, Marilyn, had somewhat controlled Donnie’s mind, causing her to strip her clothes in front of him. Oh my! That’s when I knew something menacing and disturbing lurked behind his eyes.

The book in its entirety is a fast-paced, easy to read and positively scary! Satanism was introduced in the story, which was really frightening and hair-raising. I cringe a lot whenever Donnie’s mind got controlled by Marilyn, which were really too creepy and sick. especially with him playing tricks with Donnie, plus a number of deaths surrounding them. ! H’deel Batnij ended the story with one hell of a cliffhanger, a gateway to a more complex sequel that I am sure, is going to be another nail-biting experience. This is a highly recommended read!

Meet H’deel Batnij

I am a twenty-one year old college student who is currently married to the man of my dreams. I live in Houston, Tx. When I’m not writing, you can find me getting lost in a book, smoking flavored tobacco (hookah) while drinking mango juice, listening to new music, and attending classes to keep me busy. I plan on taking a BA degree in Literature to teach High Schoolers.

I want to be that type of teacher that gives motivation to her troubled, and untroubled students…Or to anyone for that matter…

I also plan on taking film classes in order to film my own novels/short stories cause surely I don’t think anyone else is going to do it for me as the way I want it. Plus, I prefer to learn things on my own…

Life is too short to not get anywhere where you want to in life.

Random fact/s: I like collecting candles o.o and different various pens. And I’m a big shopper!

Find me on the internet!

websitehttps://www.facebook.com/AuthorHdeelBatnij

twitter usernameSkeletons93

Review: Breaking My Heart by Aleya Michelle

Title: Breaking My Heart
Series: My Heart #1
Author: Aleya Michelle
Kindle Edition, 300 pages
Published May 5th 2014

Roxy is a fighter, she is strong and independent. 

She knows exactly what she wants and is not afraid to go after it, especially when it comes to men. 

Roxy thinks she has men figured out, that is until she meets Kade. He storms into her life like a knight on a white horse to save her. He makes her question everything she ever thought she knew about life, men and herself. 

With a past that keeps holding her back will Kade be able to break down her walls?

Will he be able to prove to Roxy that everything she thinks she knows about men is wrong, or will he prove her right?

Oh. My Gosh… I actually felt my heart pulsing, my mind racing & my cheeks blushing while reading this!

Aleya Michelle found a gold mine in this provocative first novel of hers. Roxy clearly got issues with men, so it’s understandable how she is with guys around her, and those she meets in bars and parties. It’s understandable how she continuously puts up a wall around her heart when men like Kade profess feelings for her. But Kade is entirely different from all the men who came into her life. A surfer guy, thoughtful, one-woman man and oozing with great personality, what’s not to like? Of course, Roxy would feel insecure, would think that there are a lot of girls falling for Kade, so she’s guarding her heart against disappointment and jealousy. But clearly, what her mind tells her to do does not agree to what her heart feels for Kade. So she gives in to her emotions and makes a life with Kade… until he eventually breaks her heart.

Ouch! I couldn’t put words to what I felt when Kade seems to drift away from Roxy. I am aghast with chock and pain. I’m not surprised if Roxy feels the same.

Roxy & Kade are the next hottest book couple to watch out for! That much is true!

P.S. I got this book courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

About ALEYA MICHELLE

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia. Happily married and mother of 3 gorgeous and very active boys. A true lover of reading and escaping into a book, I love to write and find solace and escape through my characters and storylines.

Favourite past times include shopping, reading, going to the beach and seeing friends. Music is another great love.

Review: His Frozen Heart by Nancy Straight

Author Nancy Straight will be touring His Frozen Heart from November 3-14, 2014.

Join us for reviews and more!

Author: Nancy Straight

Publisher: Self-published

Age Group: NA

Genre: Romantic Suspense

For best friends, Candy and Libby, money is tight with hardly enough to cover their living expenses. When they are desperate for grocery money, the girls bet on their pool playing skills to add to their income.A simple wager on a quiet winter evening has devastating results, with a stalker determined to kill them both. With Libby in the hospital after a vicious attack, and Candy being pursued by the same stalker, she vows to find Libby's attacker.
What she finds is Dave, an old friend with a secret past filled with misfortune. Will Dave’s past provide the answer to all of Candy’s problems or will it become Candy’s worst nightmare realized?

---

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read the latest contemporary romance novel penned by Nancy Straight and I am proud to say that I’ve read the whole story twice. I just can’t seem to get enough of Candy Kane, (the character, not the sweet candy treat I usually get every Christmas) and her one-of-a-kind man, Dave. I have indulged myself in this story, even imagined myself as Candy, and made me fall in love all over again.

The premise follows BFFs Candy and Libby breaking in. Actually, it was Libby’s idea to go to her professor’s house (Mr. Brink) and tee-pee the ground (wrap the lawn with rolls of toilet paper) and sneak out. But their plans went awry when an “Intruder Alert” boomed across the lawn. Cut to graduation day, Candy couldn’t take a look at their superintendent’s face while getting her diploma because the house they actually TPed was the superintendent’s house and not Mr. Brinks’. It was actually a cute scene.

Then Candy’s parents had to move to New Mexico and had to leave the house to Candy & Libby who would shoulder the rent. The two struggled financially, to the point that they no longer had anything to eat. So they resorted to sharking pool in a nearby bar, where Candy was awarded chicken wings and Libby hustled off $400 from two brothers. However, things didn’t go well with the guys; the older brother warned Candy & Libby to leave immediately after his younger brother reluctantly and violently paid them. Things got down harsher and dirtier when midnight came, after Candy went to her work at a gas station. She almost died when stranger attacked and shot at her. Good thing she was inside a bulletproof booth, so her life was spared. Before the attacker left, he told her about getting back the $400 that she and Libby had sharked from his friend and he told her that he had gone to their house and made sure Libby won’t be talking soon.

Candy’s life shattered after this. Her bestfriend was in the hospital in a life-and-death situation, her house was broken into and the attacker was waiting for her to come home, but thanks to her elderly neighbor, she managed to escape death again. But the one surprise she didn’t count on was seeing Dave, who was once her high school classmate. Dave had grown into a beautiful man, far different from what he used to be. But one thing that really worried and puzzled her was Dave’s involvement with the thug inside her house and with the brothers that they have hustled off in a pool game. Dave had always been mysterious in high school, and five years later, he still mystified Candy to no end.

I won’t divulge the rest of the story, but one thing for sure, this is one of the best and wonderfully written books I’ve read this year. Candy’s & Libby’s emotional life stories made me cry, Dave’s childhood had me sobbing and the ending really kept me on the edge of my seat. It was a really sweet end that made me believe in happy ever after. Although there were still some questions left unanswered, I was left grinning from each-to-ear and had me dreaming about the characters at night. I seriously thought I was part of the book and I actually yearned to be in Candy’s shoes, except for those brush with death scenarios.

Nancy Straight has done it again! I’ve actually been a fan of hers from her first book, Missing Destiny, up to her Legacy series. Nancy Straight is a pure genius. She knows how to tickle a poor hopeless romantic like me. She describes the characters and the plot with vivid details. From the first page all the way to the last, I never got bored with her writing. The story was something that would stay on my mind for the next weeks or months to come. Those nights that I stayed up late just to be able to finish His Frozen Heart was all worth it.

Amazon 
Nook 
Kobo 
iTunes

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Author Nancy Straight Bio: 
I LOVE Starbucks’ White Mocha Latte and Mountain Dew, (but not together). I have a lead foot so I set cruise control when I drive, even in 25 MPH zones. I almost never win when I play Angry Birds, but have my 9 year old close, so he can clear the hard levels for me. I grew up on a farm and am opposed to eating fresh chicken (not opposed to meat - just opposed to any meat that was alive a few hours before lunch). I am a huge fan of the show, Big Bang Theory, on CBS. I share my life with two fantastic sons, three rotten dogs and a husband that I adore. 

Twitter: @NancyStraight
Blog: www.NancyStraight.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nancy-Straight/243616005687882
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4114202.Nancy_Straight

promo tour courtesy of WordSmith Publicity

Book Review: Lament

Title: Lament (The Faerie Queen's Deception)

Book 1 of 3 in Books of Faerie

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Paperback, 325 pages

Published October 1st 2008

Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand -- one who can see faeries.Unexpectedly, Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy named Luke who enters her ordinary life, seemingly out of thin air. But his interest in her might be something darker than summer romance. When a sinister faerie named Aodhan shows up with deadly orders from the Faerie Queen, it forces Dee right into the midst of Faerie.  Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend. Deirdre had been wishing her summer weren't so dull, but taking on a centuries-old Faerie Queen isn't exactly what she had in mind.

Deirdre is a brilliant harpist. She has gigs and competitions almost everyday. The only problem is: she hates being in front of people. Aside from that, she throws up before her performances. On the day of a particularly important competition, she has just fled to a bathroom and is starting to throw up when someone holds her hair back and tells her its almost over. 


The strange boy who helped her is Luke; who is actually a guy from her dreams - literally she dreamed of him the night before. As things progress we learn Dee has more power and strength inside than she ever expected and that Luke has some dark secrets. This is only part of the problem for Dee is being hunted for her powers that rival the Faerie Queen's, and the Hunters want to torment and play games with her. 


The only thing that has a chance of stopping the Faerie Hunters is Iron and a strange substance her grandmother made. What happens when Luke tells her he loves her and the same day she gets a text saying that James loves her? Who will she choose? Is Dee strong enough to take on the Faerie Queen and her minions and rule the Faerie world?

Truth is, I kinda liked the story. It's something new compared to those other fairy-infested myths I've read. I had fun with the characters, especially James.  I really liked that about this book it had a great message and that is about the difficult choices one has to go through in life and how those choices make up the person you become.


Looking forward to reading the 2nd book - Ballad; which is about James this time. 

--------------------------------------------------------

About this author :

Maggie Stiefvater

New York Times bestselling author of The Shiver Trilogy, The Raven Cycle, and The Scorpio Races. Artist. Driver of things with wheels. Avid reader.


All of Maggie Stiefvater's life decisions have been based around her inability to be gainfully employed. Talking to yourself, staring into space, and coming to work in your pajamas are frowned upon when you're a waitress, calligraphy instructor, or technical editor (all of which she's tried), but are highly prized traits in novelists and artists. She's made her living as one or the other since she was 22. She now lives an eccentric life in the middle of nowhere, Virginia with her charmingly straight-laced husband, two kids, two neurotic dogs, and a 1973 Camaro named Loki.

Jumper & Friends

Title: Jumper & Friends
Author: Rebecca Scarberry
ebook
Published September 5th 2014

Jumper, the friendly talking red ball, goes on more great adventures with his owner, Tony Thompson and Bouncy Brianna, Emily’s red ball. They both experience new things like tubing, sailing, and Jumper has a wonderful Christmas.



I love this book, not because my own kids’ names were in the story, (yes, my sons Kyle & Kian are characters here!) but also because the story of Jumper and his friends brought so much joy to those who read it.

Jumper made new friends and enjoyed every minute they’re all together – festivals, sailboat rides, Halloween, Christmas, and yes, even when the thought his friend Bouncy disappeared because the magician “magicked” her, Jumper still had a lot of fun being a red ball.

My kids really enjoyed listening to me when I read them this book. They actually jumped up and down everytime their names were mentioned in the book. It was an awesome experience!

Thanks so much Miss Rebecca Scarberry for this wonderful book, for including my kids’ name and making them friends with Jumper, and bringing unlimited supply of smiles to everyone. I am personally touched by this book. Again, thank you!

Security by Mandy Baggot

Title: Security
Author: Mandy Baggot
Kindle Edition, 354 pages
Published June 30th 2013

Autumn Raine is a pop vocalist at the very top of her game. She’s a style icon, the paparazzi’s darling and everyone wants to be her friend. But when her safety is threatened, her whole life starts to unravel.Enter Nathan Regan, an ex-elite soldier who is assigned to protect her. He’s a good man doing bad things but what drives him? Passion? Madness? Or grief? Demons from his past are threatening to consume him. Can he win the fight alone or will he have to admit he needs help?As the threat deepens, Autumn starts to find out who she really needs in her life. Is there still room for personal assistant Janey or rapper boyfriend Rockweiler? When everyone around her is feeding her lies, how does she work out the truth? Does her record producer know more than he’s letting on? What is her mother, the British Foreign Secretary’s involvement in the situation? And can Autumn put her faith in a forty-something Jamaican woman who handles an automatic weapon as expertly as she cooks?Eluding kidnap and trying to stay alive, can Autumn find the strength to be the person she longs to be? And can two people, poles apart, forge something strong enough to survive anything?

I've watched The Bodyguard before & when I got this book by Mandy Baggot, at first I thought this was just another one of those rip-offs. But when I started reading Security, I was clearly mistaken. 

This book focused more with the safety & security of a famous celebrity because of her ties with the Foreign Secretary & As-Wana, a terrorist group under the Al-Qaeda. Autumn Raine, the famous celebrity/singer was regarded as a wild-child, OC, & spoiled brat. She seemed to have everything and had everyone wrapped around her finger. She had her bestfriend-turned personal assistant, Janey, and a rapper-wannabe boyfriend at her beck and call. And there were the fans, the paparazzi and the awards, all at the tip of her fingertips. But these people didn't know what Autumn really desired. Deep inside, she longed for a mother who would nurture and care for her ever since her father died when she was young. 

When Foreign Secretary Alison Raine, hired a bodyguard for her daughter without her knowing, Autumn's chaotic yet organized status turned into a world full of danger, betrayal and seclusion from celebrity life. Especially now that there were groups of people wanting to kill her.

Security is a well-written book, bursting with drama, action, suspense and romance. An enjoyable read! I loved the twists and turns in the story, how Autumn was betrayed and almost killed by the people she trusted. How Nathan Regan, her bodyguard, had changed her life's perspective and opened her eyes to the real world. Mandy Baggot's writing is genuine and highly recommended. Hoping to read more of her stories in the next days. 

Review: Kelly's Quest

Title: Kelly's Quest (NYC Love #2) 

Author: Jennifer Ann

Age: NA

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release date: October 14, 2014

Publisher: Treetop Fantasies

Goodreads

Shunned by her family back home, she followed her best friend to New York with aspirations to start over. Now broke and homeless with two guys vying for her affection, she realizes she made a colossal mistake. If she gives in to her desires, will she only be breaking the rule she set for herself, or will she also be proving she’s the disappointment her family sees her as?

Kelly Cavenaugh is a lot of things: intelligent, sexy, vivacious, and a great friend. But the one thing she’s determined to prove to herself and others is that she’s not promiscuous. So why do a spoiled rich boy with a dark past and a former Marine with a high-powered job have to come along and try to break her resolve?

Theo Roberts and Erik Murphy only have two things in common: they’re both dangerously gorgeous, and have their sights set on Kelly. Everyone tells her Erik isn’t someone she wants to get involved with, however, and Theo seems to be the total package. If Kelly allows herself to be with one of them, the choice should be easy. But it’s complicated, and she’ll find herself struggling to separate passion from reality while trying to establish her new life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1yq-VPM11U

My Review:
★★★★★

Kelly's Quest is the second book in the NYC Love series and I'm happy to have read the first one Adam's List a few months ago. The 2nd book is another "hard to put down" and I don't know how Jennifer Ann does it!

When Jewels and Adam Murphy decided to move to New York after the couple battled with their own dark secrets, Jewels' best friend Kelly Cavenaugh decided to come along with them to help them move. Then she met Theo, the hottie guy next door, and there's also Erik, Adam's equally handsome brother with a dark past. Just when they all thought she was just in NYC for a couple of days, she surprised all of them when she declared that she won't be coming back to their place in Wisconsin, because she got a one-way ticket to NYC and stay for good.

Things got a little tense between Kelly and her bestfriend when she thought Jewels was selling her out to ex-Marine hunk Theo for a one-night stand. And there's the issue of Adam's brother Erik whom everyone seemed to hate because he was obnoxious and playboy. She further made things worse when she decided to be Erik's room mate, much to the disappointment of everyone who advised her to stay away from him.

And then there's her problem at home. The main reason why she moved to New York in the first place. The one reputation that she tried to uphold, only got shattered because of sick rumors and one cheating bastard. When she decided to find herself in another place, she told herself she's gonna change. The more she tells herself to stop thinking about sex with random men, the more she was drawn to them.

I liked this second book. I actually had expected it to be good but after reading it, all I can say is wow! I wasn’t prepared for all the emotions it entailed. Kelly Cavenaugh may not have been the ideal girl I envisioned her from Adam's List, but in her quest for true love, I've grown to like her more. All the characters have their distinct personalities, which made this story much more appealing. Jennifer Ann's writing is great, I'm glad I was able to read her first book, and now this! I can tell she puts so much passion in her writing and I know she has a lot more surprises up on her sleeves. I'm so looking forward to her next book in the series.

About the Author:

When Jennifer Ann isn't writing heart wrenching romance novels with hot scenes or chasing her children around southern Minnesota, she either has her nose stuck in someone else's book, is curled up watching a movie, can be found taking pictures of other people (not in a creepy way), or is rocking out at a concert.

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJennif...
Pinterest: https://www.Pinterest.com/AuthorJenni...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5765367.Jen_Naumann
Jennifer also writes YA paranormal under Jen Naumann.

The Billionaire (Simone: Adventures in Dating #1)

Title: The Billionaire (Simone: Adventures in Dating #1)

Author: Riley J. Ford
Kindle edition; 72 pages

  SIMONE: ADVENTURES IN DATING (Book 1: The Billionaire) is a prequel to the hilarious bestselling series, CARPE DiEMILY.

All my life, I've been a man-magnet. Everywhere I go, guys drop at my feet. After all, I have a perfect body, insatiable sex drive, and a razor wit. I'm also modest (can't you tell?). Trouble is, I've never been lucky in love. I only attract guys who forget their wallets and show up to dates wearing #@%#-stained clothes. With my best friend's wedding around the corner, I finally decide enough is enough. I'm not only going to find the perfect date to her wedding, but I'm going to find Mr. Right: a gorgeous man with a great sense of humor, a chiseled bod, talent in bed, and a big...(ahem) wallet. Is that too much to ask? If all goes right, my quest will lead me into the arms of my perfect match...or will it? Simone meets a mysterious and charming billionaire who sweeps her off her feet. He might just be her perfect date...and more. But does he have a secret side?

Holy Guacamole!! I was really in for a treat with Simone’s dating adventures and sexcapade. I’ve been a fan of Riley J. Ford, ever since I’ve read Carpe DiEmily which was really hilarious. Then I also got Into You where I “enjoyed every kissing moment of it.” And now for this Dating the Billionaire series, oh well, I had to fan myself a few times! I was pleasantly surprised with myself, because I actually loved what I read.

Now I have to continue reading to be sure I’m not mistaken with my presumption about The Billionaire. Let’s see: For starters, he looked like Paul Walker (RIP) who happens to be on eof my Hollywood hottie crushes, so I’ve been imagining him in my head while I pretend to be the banker Simone. Hmm. This is really an intriguing book! A must-read! Can’t wait to read the second book!



About the Author:

NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestsellling author Riley J. Ford has always been a writer, but she’d read somewhere that you should never write for publication until you’ve gained a lot of life experience first. She took this advice seriously, especially during her time in college when she attended as many social gatherings as possible while still maintaining an honorable grade point average. She took great pride in her degree until the graduation commencement speaker joked, “I hope all you English majors consider the extremely low-paid but rewarding profession of teaching, as that is all your degree is good for.” He was met with an abundance of eye rolling and nervous laughter, most of it from Riley J. Ford who was thinking, “No way in hell.”She can be found through the following links:

website

http://rileyjford.com/

twitter username : @rileyjford

Lazar's Darkness (Jack Lazar Series Book 5)

Title: Lazar's Darkness (Jack Lazar Series Book 5)

Author: Kevin Sterling
Kindle Edition

My rating: ★★★★

In this fifth, sexy, edge-of-your-seat thriller, one of Jack’s closest friends is getting married at a villa in Tuscany, and Jack’s best man speech seems like the most taxing part of the trip. But things get complicated when he romps with the maid of honor, Francesca, an Italian lingerie supermodel. She has a brother at the Vatican who’s in a difficult jam, and she convinces Jack to help him out.
It doesn’t take long before Jack gets entangled with a dark conspiracy against the pope, and the group behind it will kill anyone who gets in their way. To make matters worse, their top henchman, Diego, has his own horrendous scheme going on, elevating the evil tempest of death to something even more appalling.
In no time, Jack is running for his life, and everyone around him including Francesca ends up in jeopardy. Ultimately, it’s more than he can handle on his own, but with a little help from his friends in the intelligence community, maybe there’s a way to get out of this mess alive.

Coming from bestselling author Kevin Sterling, the Jack Lazar series had been touted as James Bond meets Fifty Shades of Grey. When I first heard about it, I had to think twice if I'm going to read this. Firstly because, I'm not really into the BDSM genre and secondly I didn't really like those bondage scenes in 50Shades. But I decided to take a chance and delve into this book and know more about Jack Lazar. He could be compared to James Bond with a strong character, appealed to the womanfolk and had looks and brains that suits his personality.

In Lazar's Darkness, a new pope had been selected. Cardinal Narducci believed he should have been the one selected on the conclave to be the next pope, but he was robbed of the title. On the streets, someone accused Marco Ferrera of conspiring against Cardinal Narducci, a chase was soon ensued and then, he got killed. Diego, the pursuer, after having killed Marco, was next seen sacrifizing a lady on the chains, tortured her and eventually killed her, much to his delight. Then he got a call from his boss to recruit an Antonio Sabatini.  Jack Lazar, on the other hand, was invited to the wedding of his bestfriend in Italy and he was set to be paired with Francesca Sabatini, a hot & sexy lingerie model. Their first encounter left a sour note on Francesca's mouth, on their second meeting, they still got into the wrong foot but soon on their next reunion, there was a 180 degree turn. Before they knew it, they got tangled up in sheets and in the conspiracy in the Vatican, since Antonio is actually Francesca's brother, the personal butler of the pope.

This novel is a fast paced thriller and mystery and got lots of sex. Admittedly, I was bothered by the extremely explicit sex scenes. Bondage, menage-a-troi-whatchacallit? What I do know is, there's more than ample violence and sex in the book, but the essence of the story was still there. And what I did like in the book is, the author exerted meticulous attention to detail. The action scenes were full blast, Jack Lazar got everyone on their toes, and the mystery was resolved, although there were still some missing links. Overall, Lazar's Darkness is a very entertaining read, and one that would make the reader feel hot and bothered.

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To know more about the critically-acclaimed author, Kevin Sterling, you can visit him at:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1606124.Kevin_Sterling/blog

And for his Lazar series, feel free to check out his website at: http://www.jacklazar.com/

Crossroads from Damascus: Mississippi Headlights

Title: Crossroads from Damascus: Mississippi Headlights
Author: Jason Akley
Kindle edition, 269 pages

My Rating: ★★★★

The legalization of marijuana is becoming an issue more mainstream these days, but most of its advocates still come from the underground. Crossroads from Damascus is a chronicle of the consequences of pot addiction. As a collection of stories and poems connected by non-fictional, inter-related narrative passages, they also tell what was happening while writing them--a tragic yet funny chronicle of working as a traveling lab tech while trying to hide a weed habit. The stories roam from St. Louis to Montana, Texas, and New Orleans, stories that include an account of a real murder that took place in St. Louis back in 2005, a recounting of a pot run to Spokane with Mush, a Native American off The Rocky Boy Reservation (a 1500 mile road trip across the Rocky Mountains in an overheating truck with a half-pound of weed inside), a funny episode about hiding fake pee at a clinic in Texas, and a poem about a birthday in New Orleans with Harry, an old hustler who fixes shoes on Oak Street. 

The book left me bewildered and wondering from the beginning. I couldn't stop reading because "The Swab" intrigued me. The author used very effective words that makes the reader turn the pages further and further. In addition to an engaging story, the book also includes poems & short stories, personal thoughts and verses that speak of the author's emotions and not-so-fictional life as he struggles with pot addiction. Ideally, Jason Akley brought up a few issues that a man under the influence wouldn't be able to ponder about.

Among the short stories I liked was the Candlestick, which really tells something about one's quest for the light at the end of the tunnel, that whether or not you are under the spectrum of light or shrouded by darkness, the light of the candle will lead you to your soul and make you in control. Another favorite of mine is Abracadabra - which featured motivating conversation between Mr. Tambourine Man and Mr. Brown. For how many questions you have in life, you will always end up answering them as you journey through time. And greatness is born everytime something dies. This had been a truly wonderfully written & inspiring book.


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Check out the author's blog: http://jasonakley.wordpress.com/

I Think I Love You

Title: I Think I Love You
Author: Stephanie Bond
Kindle edition, 369 pages
Published October 2011

So there's some bad blood and bruised egos among the Metcalf sisters. At least they're reuniting. A cause to celebrate? Not for Justine, Regina, and Mica. Their parents are splitting up and the family business is going on the auction block--just a little reminder of how much they really have in common...
Take the local bad boy who proposed to Justine, seduced Regina, and ran off with Mica. Add the unsolved murder they witnessed when they were young girls, and their vow to keep it a secret. Toss in their knack for being drawn to shady men, and there's only one thing left for them to do--put the bonds of family loyalty to the test.
But it takes courage to outsmart a murderer, know-how to avenge the cad who betrayed them, and patience to bring their parent back together. Three talents. Three sisters. And who knows? Maybe even three new chances to fall in love when Justine, Regina, and Mica discover how much they're willing to risk--and forgive--in the name of sisterhood.

I very much liked the setting and characters of the story. I was able to relate with the sisters, since I also have two other sisters who sometimes can't bear to see one another and yes, oftentimes, want to grab each other's throats.

But despite the animosity  we sometimes feel for each other, we can't deny the fact that we are of the same blood and that we really love one another and would do anything to protect our family. Much like Justine, Mica and Regina. A quick recap of the three main characters: Justine, the eldest in the brood, an office girl who goes after married men. In short, a bitch. LOL. Next is Regina, the level headed sister who tried her best to stop her parents' divorce. And lastly, Mica, the hair model who was living in with her boyfriend, who was formerly engaged to Justine. Dysfunctional, huh? You bet, they were a bunch of crazy girls. But, it was Regina's attempts to unravel the mystery of a murder in the past and finding a key that might be connected to them kept me entertained. There was a believable plot, good mystery and surprisingly a dab of romance in the end.

This is a very good quick read and perfect to those who love to guess "who done it" mysteries. As usual Stephanie Bond delivered a satisfying read ;-)

Round and Round

Title: Round and Round
Author: Jordan Morris 
Kindle edition; 276 pages

Everyone thinks high school is hell. Students in the town of Tartarus might actually be right.
Mythical mortals once lived at the whim of the gods. A hundred generations later, little has changed. Bastian Vandenberg’s fate as a fifteen year-old is still governed by godlike elders. He finds himself powerless over his feelings for Dora Peterson and Evie Smith. And his uncontrollable best friend Noah is going to get him stuck in detention (if not a youth detention centre.) Round and Round is the story of four students grasping at control of their destinies and trying to break free of their tragic flaws. They uncover a mystery that begins with the disappearance of the school’s most gifted pupils, and goes all the way up to the principal and the head of the school board.
At which point, four teenage mortals take up the task of bringing down the gods.

At first I thought I was going to read a book similar to Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series. Boy, I was so wrong. This isn't your any other ordinary book that re-tells a story. Round and Round is larger than life. This masterpiece by new author Jordan Morris is very unique in its own way.

In this book, I was able to meet the reincarnations of famous characters such as Evander - the hero of Arcadia, Eve, the temptress wife of Adam, Pandora of the mythical Pandora's box, and Noah, the man who built The Arc. Four different people whose fates never collided with each other. But close to a hundred thousand years later, these historical characters' lives have changed when they were reincarnated.

The reincarnated souls can be found at present time in Waratah High School. Bastian, or Sebastian Vanderberg, a simple guy who follows school rules and falls helplessly in love with Dora Peterson and Evie Smith. Ironically, Dora and Evie are bestfriends, but both have different personalities. Dora always has been curious about the things and people around her. While Evie does her best to persuade her friends and classmates to take things into action. Noah, Bastian's bestfriend, on the other hand, always has inventions and tricks up to his sleeves, causing everyone to throw blame at him in every possibility.

Waratah High School is the setting of the story where all things are happening. On the first day of the new school year alone, someone pushes a girl down the stairs. There's also the news about the disappearance of the school's most intelligent and talented students. It is up to Bastian, Noah, Evie and Dora to uncover the mystery surrounding the school, because they cannot trust or count on Principal Desmond Hay to cooperate. Will they ever find out who is behind all these?

Round and Round has been written so well that I found myself reading up until the wee hours of the morning. I liked the book a lot because it has a strong plot and quick pace. The character descriptions were detailed, the personalities were developed as the story progressed. The introduction of the storylines were carefully thought of and the revelation in the end was not rushed. That said, I highly to recommend this book not just to students but as well as to adults or parents who want to better understand their offsprings.