The Day After Yesterday

The Day After Yesterday

By Kelly Cozy





 

 

Daniel Whitman is a studio pianist and travel though out California, He does pretty well for himself so he and wife Sarah and young son Jacob live in the small college town of Los Cielos where his wife teaches. Sarah and Daniel have known each other since they were children and live next door to each other. Daniel was adopted and young age but once his parents had their own biological child Daniel was push away. That's when he met Sarah, she came from a large family and they took Daniel in as one of their own.

 

Daniel travels with his job and had done some work out of town most of his time is spent in California. Then he gets to opportunity to go to London to work with a prestige producer reluctant at first to leave home for so long he and Sarah decide it would be a great opportunity for him and chance to make some extra money. But Daniels life is torn apart when on his return he learns that his wife and son were killed after a tree toppled over their home during the Santa Ana’s. Daniels grief is intense and he blames himself for not being there and thinks all of their friends and family does as well. Depression really sets in and Daniel decides to disappear and try to make the pain and guilt go away.

 

Review:

I really enjoyed this book it is sweet story but it will definitely pull at your heart strings following the path with Daniel to his new life. The author really paints the picture very well, and made feel as I was right alongside Daniel the entire time. The only thing that bothered me was the ongoing tragedy and how it felt like Daniel just couldn't catch a break sometimes and how he never really forgave himself of what happened to his family, even after he mad leaps and bounds towards a new life without them.

 

Overall I would give these 4 out of 5 stars.

Without

Without

By

EE Borton

 

 

 

So the day begins like most other days he is on the downtown connector heading to work and at 8:13 everything changes. Anything powered by engine or battery goes completely dead, cars crash, power is out and from the looks of it downtown Atlanta is going up in flames.  He must get out of town and to the safety of the north Georgia Mountains. His only thought is how will he manage so many miles only on foot.  Everyone has the same attitude, lawless and trying to survive own their own. That means massive looting and basic survival. He is glad he had the frame of mind to be somewhat prepared. After his car crashed in the middle of the expressway he grabs his pack with most of his essentials and most importantly his main chance of survival, his weapons. He goes back to his apartment but only for the last few things to start his trek.  Little does he know that not only is all the power gone but Mother Nature is revved up for one crazy storm after another. Massive thunderstorms, biblical amounts of hail, and floods are just the beginning of life after 8:13

 

 

I absolutely love this book.  I am usually not that interested in end of the world type stories but this one is told from a completely different point of view and brought real prospective along with it.  The author keeps things in a positive upswing even though the subject matter is quite serious.  It really makes you think about the lives we live and how differently our world would be if the lights went out never to return.  I cannot say enough wonderful things about this book and how much I enjoyed it. This is the first of 3 books by Mr. Borton that I am reading and I am super excited to bring this wonderful story to my followers. I would give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

 

 

 



Just Another Sunday

It is 1968 and Lia Benedict is number 2 of 5 siblings and has spent most of her childhood in Brooklyn but her family has moved her to New Jersey. This is the 4th time they have moved and Lia already hates it and misses her New York lifestyle. She is 15 and really tired of changing schools and starting all over again. On her first day of school it's raining like crazy and she manages to get soaked just getting to the bus. That is where she meets Darla. Darla is also 15 and they are both in the 10th grade.

 Darla and Lia make fast friends and on their way home from school Lia meets Jesse Carlisle. Jesse doesn’t go to school with Lia because he dropped out to go to trade school. He becomes smitten with Lia right from the start and vows that he will marry her someday. Jesse and Lia date pretty seriously but that all falls apart when Jesse got in trouble with his friends and is sent to join the Army. Lia pines for Jesse for some time but with some help from Darla she begins to date again.
 
Over the next few years Lia and Jesse grow apart even though Jesse still loves Lia deeply. He sends letters but she rarely replies. Lia dates a little and spends time with friend but not Darla anymore. Darla starts to do drugs and her drinking gets out of control and that just isn't Lia's idea of a good time. She drinks a little but manages to keep it under control. All is well with Lia as she finished school and becomes a medical assistant in a doctor’s office. But her world is flipped completely upside down when her father dies unexpectedly. Her mother falls to pieces and looks for comfort in a different religion other than their devout Catholic ways. Lia wants to drown her pain and bad boy Vic Sommers is just the way to do that.
 
Review:

This is meant to be a young adult novel but I think it would be a hard sell to a younger crowd. The book is a little slow so I think it would be better suited for adults. I'm also kind of unsure if this fiction or non-fiction. The author notes in her acknowledgements about how she used her own life to write the chapters, leaving me very confused about the content. I was also disappointed with the way the book ended, it just adbruptively ends with no real definitive idea of what actually happens. After all the details of Lia's life the ending seemed rushed. All in all I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Defiant Heart

Defiant Heart

by Marty Steere

 

Summary:

Our story begins in 1941 with young Jonathon Meyer, his parents and brother have been killed in a car accident so he is sent to live with his grandmother, who he has never met. He is leaving the big city of New York for small town Jackson, Indiana. Jon isn't so sure about such a small town but he arrives over the summer and gets to know a few locals after picking up a job at the local hardware store. Jon works part time over the summer to make some extra money for his grandmother so he can contribute to the household.

Jon begins the school year and meets Mary Dahlgren; Mary is the daughter of Jin Dahlgren the owner of Dahlgren's hardware store. Mary is by far the brightest most beautiful girl in school and Jon just can't get her out of his mind. Mary finds that Jon is also very well read and equally as smart and she begins to like him more and more every day. Jon is finding a hard time fitting into the new school and is picked on and put down constantly by the other boys at school because he is Jewish. Mary notices Jon is pulling more and more away from everyone do to the terrible harassment he is receiving from the local boys, especially hometown basketball hero Vernon King.

Before long Jon is let go from the hardware store, and Mary's father forbids him to have any contact with her. Jon is terribly disappointed and doesn't know what he has done to cause such an upset with Mary's father. Mary is outraged and puts her father on the spot and demands answer for his terrible behavior towards Jon. Jim Dahlgren tries to explain to his daughter that he is running for a senate seat in 1942 elections, and having an employee and/or friend of his daughter being Jewish could be a major setback in his chances as a United States senator.

Mary doesn't agree with this at all and begins seeing Jon in secret. Mary and Jon spend months keeping their relationship a secret from everyone. All is well until Mary is assaulted by a local boy and she is put into a coma, Jon takes the blame for the terrible act against Mary and is enlisted into the Army as his punishment, and is sent away not knowing if Mary will be ok or not. When Mary comes out of her coma Jon is away serving his country and has been told that Mary doesn't remember anything of the previous year, which means she has no recollection of Jon. Jon is heartbroken but continues on with his military training. Mary tries to return to a normal life or as normal as she can remember, when the events of the previous year comes back to her and she vows to find Jon and tell him how much she loves him.

Review:

I am so excited to bring this book to my readers. I was asked to read and review on behalf of the author. When I am asked to do that I never know if I am really going to enjoy the book or not. I generally stay away from historical fiction because honestly it is hit or miss. I either love it or hate it, but I have to tell you I absolutely love this story.

It is a beautifully told love story from the prospective of both parties. I was crazy about the main characters from the very beginning. I am pleased with how Mr. Steere created a wonderful love story without turning it into a cheap romance. I cannot say enough nice things about this book, but I hands down give it 5 out of 5 stars. If you want to read a beautiful and uplifting book this is definitely one I recommend!


I was giving one ecopy of this book for review purposes. I received no other compensation for this review.

 

 

 

 



33 Valentines

Today is my stop on the blog tour for 33 Valentines I'm so excited to bring this review to you for a great book. Along with the review I will be giving away this book in ebook format. Be sure to add your comments and I will choose a winner on March 1st.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

33 Valentines by Stephanie Monahan

 

Summary:

Sophie begins her least favorite month in just the way she should expect, in the emergency room with a broken left arm. And of course wouldn't you know it she's left handed, she had always taken pride being left handed. Now as if the impeding Valentine’s Day wasn't enough she's been sidelined with a casted broken arm. Maybe her best friend Sam could help if she would just get the nerve to own up to him how she is in love with him. But isn't that how she got the broken arm to begin with reading a stupid email from Sam stating he had found the girl of his dream and she was just "Perfect". What does perfect mean anyway? Oh yeah and let’s not forget new little-miss-perfect wanted so have the first date on Valentine’s Day. Sophie was pissed about this detail the most. Valentine’s Day had always been her day with Sam to watch horror movies and make fun of all the other people "in love". She tries to make up for it by making an ill-advised date with her exboyfriend but only follows Sam and new perfect girl so she can spy on them.

All this brings up Sophie's past and her family that she has tried so hard to leave behind but just can't seem to shake. Her dad has broken his own rule and has driven into the city for a visit but not without his own bombshell, he's getting married again, to a dental hygienist no less, with her own built in family just dying to meet Sophie.

Review:

I really enjoyed this book; Sophie manages to get herself in quite the interesting situation. I really like the way the characters are written and really well written story, the only thing missing is a better grasp on Sophie's situation with her immediate family. I would have like to have seen a clearer understanding of the falling it out, that part seemed to be rushed and a little passed over. I would definitely give this 4 stars out of 5. I look forward to other books written by Ms. Monahan.

 

I received a free e-copy of this book for review purposes

 

 

Beyond Parallel

Beyond Parallel  by Matthew Turner

 

Beyond Parallel is the story of Clark and Bella and how their lives are destined to be together. The story follows the pair as they live lives separately and together. Bella and Clark both struggle with general anxiety about long term relationships, having both been through a lot of heartache and pain. Their stories begin while travelling around the world, and a chance meeting in Thailand.

 

It's quite an interesting setup I am not sure I have every read a book quite like this, which makes it unusually unique.  I was drawn in immediately by the characters and their side by side troubles which lead them through life.  The characters are very well written, but I found the pace to be numbingly slow, it took me over 2 weeks to finish.  Beyond the pace of the book, I really enjoyed the storyline and found that most people have struggled in their twenties just like Clark and Bella but some bits were quite predictable.  This is the first novel published by Mr. Turner and I'm looking forward to following his work in the future.  I would give this book 3 out of 5 stars.



Author Spotlight: Nikki Palomino/Dazed

Hey guys a little something different this week I want to talk about author Nikki Palomino and her book Dazed.

As a runaway, from the streets of NYC to the Strip of L.A., Nikki spent her youth as a grunge punk rock musician, racking up the confusion, frustration and passion leading her to writ DAZED (The Story of
a Grunge Rocker), the first in a series of novels about the drug and music culture
of the '90s. She learned life, drugs, and alternative music touring in a van packed with the rest of the band, equipment, and groupies, playing infamous clubs like CBGB's.

In 2003, Nikki was named Writer's Digest's Best Genre Short Story Writer. She's written stories for print rags, including Nightmares and Blonde on Blonde and has written erotica for Foggy Windows, as well as covering rock and country music for various rags, including Los Angeles Country Examiner, Buddy Magazine and Blast. She has studied under feature writers at both the Houston Chronicle and the Houston Post.

Nikki was co-writer and co-producer of Palomino Productions' 2004 film noir, Baby, and the award-winning dark comedy from 2007, The Rug later a TV pilot entitled Our Way of Life, originally
for Fox. She is currently working on the second in the DAZED series and an upcoming series of novels entitled The Underground Diaries.

Island of Lost Girls

 

Island of Lost Girls

By

Jennifer McMahon

 

 

Summary:

Rhonda is just waiting for her gas to be pumped when Peter rabbit appears in the Volkswagen Beetle and takes little Ernestine away. She doesn't know what to do she just watches, Trudy the girl's mother is furious that she just stood by and did nothing. She has an enormous amount of guilt and begins to pour herself into finding the little girl. Rhonda works phones at the call center and starts her own detective work to find out what happened to Ernie. Her childhood friend Peter is acting awfully strange and is beginning to look very guilty of being involved in the girls abduction, and the clues Rhonda find just lead back to Peter. All this brings Rhonda back to a time when she was younger and Peter's sister Lizzy, who also went missing, Rhonda wonders are the two connected and what exactly happened in 1993 when everything changed.

 

 

Review:

I have to say I really enjoyed this book, lots of action and a ton of suspense. This is the 2nd book I have read by Ms. McMahon and this book did not disappoint me at all. It is a well written and easy to follow through all the twists and turns. I really could understand Rhonda and the dilemma she carries of loving her childhood friend and not know who to trust. I would definitely give this book 5 stars out of 5.

 

 

 

 



Liebster Blog Award

 

 

Okay, so I've been nominated  for the Liebster Blog Award. Thanks Kacii(@The Kooky Bookworm)!!!

 

In order to accept and partcipate there are some steps.

 

1. Tell 11 things about yourself.
2. Answer 11 questions from the blogger who nominated you.
3. Post 11 questions for those who will be nominated by you.
4. Nominate 11 bloggers who have less than 200 followers.
5. Get in contact with those 11 bloggers in order to inform them that you nominated them.

11 Things about me

   

     1.  I'm a natural redhead

     2.  I love sports but mostly Braves baseball

     3.  I'm stuck right in the middle so I'm a big sister and little sister

     4.  I once hiked 10 miles with 30lbs strapped to my back

     5.  I carry an nice purse but can still bait my own hook.

     6.  I love all kinds of music, but at the moment I'm in love with country

     7.  I would rather have dessert than dinner

     8.  My nieces and nephews all think I'm a rock star (all 15 of them)

     9.  My only child is a four legged friend that my husband found at 6 weeks old he's 13 now.

   10.  I knew that I was going to marry my husband the 1st time I ever saw him

   11.  The best I can figure I have read almost 300 books!

 

11 Questions from K.K. Cook (Kacii)

 

   1. What's the funniest book you ever read?

The Sweet Potato Queens trying to teach me be southern (but I'm already pretty southern)

 

  2. Do you prefer eBooks or print books?

My husband bought me a Kindle in 2010 and I haven't picked up a print book since.

 

  3. Favorite book of all time?

My favorite book of all time is She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb. It is a wonderfully written book about a young woman. I think all young women should read it in their 20's.

 

  4. What was the best childhood book you read as a kid?

I read the whole series of Little House on the Praire by Laura Ingalls and those really stuck with me.

 

 5.  Why do love to read?

I love stepping into someone elses shoes and reading about others experiences. You can move through space and time all in books. 

 

 6. Where do you like to read?  

I use to like to read in the tub but since I moved to an e-reader I basically read wherever I am not matter what I am doing if I have free time I'm reading.

 

 7. Who taught you to love books?

I'm not really who taught me to love books but I know that my parents strongly supported my love of  books and spent lots of money to make sure that I could have the ones I wanted.

 

 8. When did you realize you were addicted to books?

Very early on, some of my best memories are getting the Scholastic magazines to buy books or when the book fair would come, so I would say by the time I was about 8 or 9 I knew I was crazy for books.

 

 9. Who's your favorite author?

This is a particularly tough question because my favorite author changes quite frequently. I jump around genres so it is constantly changing. So at the moment I would say Alan Bradley.

 

10. Which book are you waiting in agony for this year?

I would have to say the new Flavia Deluce novel Speaking from Among the Bones. It is my new favorite series that I came across by complete accident. There is no schedule release date just early 2013, but I am so ready.

 

11. Favorite movie/TV show based on a book(s)?

My favorite movie based on a book is an oldie and it might not be popular today but it is To Kill A Mockingbird with Gregory Peck. To Kill A Mockingbird is standard read for 9th grade English but I read this way back in elementary school when my dad told me about it. I read the book and then he let me watch the movie with him and it was the first book that I read that had been turned into a movie. I thought I was such a big shot reading a grown up book and discussing it with my dad.

 

Questions for the blogs I'm nominating

 

 1. Why did you start blogging?

 2. What is your favorite book of all time and why?

 3. What format do you read? e-books, print, audio?

 4. What book effected your life the most?

 5. Where are you from?

 6. Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

 7. Who is your favorite author and why?

 8. What do you look for when choosing a book?

 9. How much time do you dedicate to reading and writing?

10. Any goals for 2013?

11. What is your favorite book cover and why?

 

 

My nominations are:

 

 1. @ Cover to Cover

 2. @ The Unexpected Path

 3. @ Book Cupid

 4. @Southern Owl Reads

 5. @Beauty But A Funny Girl

 6. @ Coffee Break

 7. @ Living Loving And Writing

 8. @Pray Read Write Live

 9. @Color The Pages

10. @Maureen's Book Haven

11. @Novellarella

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Mother Load

So this week I am reading from my own reading list some things that I picked up. Sorry for the delay between reviews I have had my another new adventure come my way that I am super excited about, I am going to be working from home part time. This is going to fit right in to what I have been doing for the last four months and I am looking forward to having another "purpose". Hope everybody has been doing well and getting the New Year off to a great start.

 

THE MOTHER LOAD

BY KEELEY BATES

 



 

 

Summary:

Following the family of Sophie Ellison this book is a nice look at a "normal" family. It follows Sophie, her sister Emma, and her sister in law Bridget. Sophie is a former lawyer now stay at home mom with two little rambunctious children Owen 7 and Molly 5. Molly is just starting out school and getting her 5th birthday out of the way. Sophie is trying to get her household to run smoothly but finds it quite difficult with a 5 year old hanging from your leg and a mother in law who is anything but supportive.

 

Emma is a 40 year old single mom just trying to raise her soon to be teenage son. It stays pretty busy being a school teacher, mom, trying to keep her younger sister out of trouble and away from their rather gruff and grumpy father who also lives with her. Dating is almost always a disaster and she couldn't remember the last time anyone was even remotely interested. She compensates by spending most of her free time with her sister and her family, while her sister tries desperately to help her get her love life back on track.

 

Bridget is a pediatrician who is recently married and trying very hard to cut back her hours so she can start her own family. She and her husband have had quite a bit of trouble conceiving, so they start fertility treatments. Treatments and crazy work schedule just seem to be adding more stress to the situation instead of the other way around.

Review:

I really enjoy these types of books with just a light look about how a family runs. It's a nice change of pace from a lot of more serious stuff that I read, so I like to throw these in sometimes just to mix things up. This one was really good and I liked it for the most part except for a couple of minor details when the book was a little crude for my taste and didn't really keep up with the rest of the dialog. I would give this book 3 out of 5 stars and would recommend to most anyone looking for something a bit more relaxed to read.

 



The Perks of Being a Wallflower

 

The Perks of Being A Wallflower

By Stephen Chbosky

Charlie is 15 and beginning his life in high school, so he decides to write an anonymous friend letters instead of keeping a diary because someone could always find a diary. Charlie is shy and keeps to himself but it doesn't take long for him to find his own group of friends. They are typical teenagers going to school, football games, and parties. They find their way to all sorts of alcohol and trendy drugs.

 

Charlie, Sam and Patrick are best friends and Charlie finds himself just a little bit in love with Sam, even if she told him that he was too young for her. He doesn't care he can't just help to love her. Charlie likes high school ok but the thing he likes the most is his English teacher, who said they were friends and Charlie could call him Bill. Every week Bill gives him a new book to read and write a report for that book. The books are as interesting as everything and Charlie learns so much from his books.

 

The year passes quickly and all the trials of being a teenager weigh Charlie down, his older friends are getting ready to leave and Charlie just isn't sure he can face each day without them. His whole world starts to fall apart and Charlie has to go away to pick up the pieces.

 

Review:

 

 

This is one of the best books I have ever read. The whole book takes place in 1991 and 1992 which I love because I was 14 in 1991, and Charlie and his friends could have been anyone that I knew. I think as adults we forget that as teenager we are living with all sorts of adult problems just try to cope and go day by day. I really love how the author caught the real essence of that in the creation of all the characters. I would quickly put this on a list of book that everybody should read by the time they are in their 20's.

 

 

I really got myself wrapped in the characters and really related with Charlie's grasp of not knowing what was happening to him when his mental illness took over. It is so frightening for a young adult to have such deep rooted problems and have no idea where it comes from, what it is and how to stop it. To say I love this book is putting it lightly, I hope anybody who gets the chance to read this will read and come away with the same uplifting experience as I did.

 



Colorado Mandala

I have been given the opportunity to review this book before it is released. I am super excited about the release of this book and can't wait to share it with you. As of now this book will be available on Amazon on February 15. Look for it soon!

Colorado Manadala

By Brian Heffron

 

 

Summary:

The story follows friends and business partners Michael and Paul in the late 1970's in a rural town in Colorado. Michael and Paul cut and sell rare gems and other types of jewelry. Michael and Paul have a brotherhood type bond by both being Vietnam War veterans. Paul stays with Michael and his girlfriend Sarah and Sarah's son Stuart. Michael likes Sarah very much but sees that Paul might be better suited for Sarah. He continues to attempt to keep their relationship alive by taking a spelunking trip with Paul and Stuart. Although Michael's intentions were good, the trip is a disaster for him and in the end Paul winds up the hero in Sarah's eyes. Paul is unsure how to handle the situation, his loyalties lie with Michael but he has to admit he has feelings for Sarah too. Before Paul knows it Michael has forsaken him and Paul stumbles across a secret Michael has been keeping to himself since being discharged.

 

 

Review:

This is a lively novel; I loved the story that tells of brother ship, friends, and the mutual love for one woman. I have never visited Colorado but the author's description and detail brought me right into the story. The characters are wonderful. I find myself sympathetic to both Michael and Paul with their entanglements with each other. The ending is very dramatic and leaves the story off where a follow up book could easily be picked up. I am so glad that I have had the opportunity to read this book before release. I think is a wonderful book and I am looking forward to what the future might hold for my favorite characters. Once again the book will be available on February 15 on Amazon.



 

Deadly Deception

Deadly Deception by Andrea Johnson Beck

 

 

Summary:

The story begins with Dr. Anne Jamison; she is just coming out of a hypnosis session. Anne suffers greatly from severe anxiety attacks. The attacks have been coming to her for the last three years, ever since her boyfriend Carter Leeds went missing and was presumed dead. Anne has spent the past three years in treatment and trying to rebuild her life. She is very pleased with the progress she has been making moving forward and recently became engaged to Adam and believes that things are progressing smoothly.

Anne is a physiologist and shares a practice with her long time best friend Casey Adler. Casey is well aware of her friend's shaky stability and tries her best to keep her grounded. All Anne's work to restore her mental health is put on hold when she receives an envelope containing photos from Carter's last camping trip and a note in his handwriting. Anne believes that this is someone’s idea of a sick joke; she and Casey pursue surveillance footage to see who could have left the envelope.

While waiting on the surveillance tapes Anne goes away for the weekend with Adam. While Anne waits for Adam to come home one evening Carter comes bounding out from the shadows. She is quite stunned to see Carter, and he goes on to tell her that he has been in hiding and that she is in great danger with Adam. Anne goes on the confront Adam and he proceeds to tell her that it is the other way around and she should be anywhere near Carter. Anne is so upset from all the lies she has been told and doesn't know who to believe.

Review:
 
I don't really know where to begin, I like most of the book, but the parts that I don't like make me crazy. I think the author meant for Anne to be the heroine of this story but it just doesn't read that way. She is jumping to one man or the other and her emotional state is in such shambles that you can't tell from minute to minute if she is a weak link, or strong ultra-heroine. The action in the book is superb but I feel like the romantic scenes are very plain and somewhat cheesy.

I was slightly disappointed with the ending. It felt a little rushed it leads up to a phenomenal cliff hanger which sets it up perfectly for the next book, since this the first book of a series, but I came out of that wondering exactly what happened leading up to the cliff hanger.

All this being said I think the characters are well written and there is a ton of potential to become a great series. I give this book 3 stars out of 5.

I was provided 1 eBook copy of the book in return for the review. I received no other compensation.



The Second Daughter

The Second Daughter by J. Jeffery

 

 



 

Summary:

The book follows the lives of Theodore and Helen Gale from their initial meeting throughout most of their lives. Theodore and Helen begin there married life together and conceive their first daughter Regina, after the birth of their little girl they felt they had a perfect life; things were going quite well for them. Another year passes and they welcome another beautiful baby girl Debra into their crazy lives. Immediately Helen realizes she was not prepared for a second child, and to make matters worse her second baby was not as "easy" as the first. There were long sleepless nights and frustrating days but Helen and Theodore try to power through and move forward.

Like most people time for Theodore and Helen kept marching on. Their daughters were growing so fast and they couldn't seem to get along at all, which put major pressure on an already rocky marriage. Debra finds that early life with her mother is difficult and seems to be the odd one out with her sister. She finds that her father tries to give her the love and affection she is missing in her life but realizes that he is quick to put his family aside for his own personal gain. Though through the years Debra finds a closer relationship with her mother and this pleases her to no end.

Review:

This is a wonderful book; I had no trouble following the lives of the Gale family through all the ups and downs of life. The author told a beautiful story of a true American family with great perspective. Most interesting to me was just the normal everyday lives of the rich characters. I figure most women would relate closely to the mother daughter dynamic since both daughters are so different. You could probably say that you were one of the daughters at some point in your life.

 

 

I do have a few small idiosyncrasies that bugged me through the entire book (this might be my own personal issues but none the less they bugged me.) Nowhere in the book does it the book tell you the city or state the Gales lived in. This might be a minor issue to some but on my own personal level but it was very difficult for me to wrap my mind around places the family went and where they lived. There is one other thing that I have to mention. Only one place in the entire book does the author tell you what year it is, this again was very troublesome to because the book jumps around in time quite often and it left me confused about the sequence of events. Overall though the books was very moving and a very heartwarming story. I would definitely have to give it 4 out of 5 stars.

I was provided 1 eBook copy of the book in return for the review. I received no other compensation.

 

 



Into the Dark

Into The Dark by Stacy Green



Summary

Emilie Davis works as a bank manager in Las Vegas, her world gets turned upside down after an attempted bank robbery. She is held hostage for several hours and her capturer seems to have taken an unhealthy interest in her. Once SWAT comes to resolve the hostage situation, "The Taker" tries to take Emilie into a hidden passage that lead to drain system under the city. Then she realizes the taker has been stalking Emilie for some time and is still after her. A newspaper article runs after the robbery, some of Emilie's secrets from the past have been made public. Emilie is trying to keep her life on track and put the past behind her. Keeping away from "The Taker" becomes harder and harder.

Nathan Madigan the SWAT negotiator failed to catch "The Taker" before he goes into the drains. He has to turn over the case to the detective and the FBI, but really can't seem to get over putting Emilie in danger. Nathan doesn't want to fail Emilie like he failed his own family when he was young. He wants to help keep Emilie out of harm’s way but someone seems to be helping "The Taker", and Nathan takes it upon himself to try to protect Emilie.

Review

I really felt like I knew each character and was able to lose myself inside the story. The characters were very well written and there was so much depth and insight into their past. I really could relate with Emilie the most because she has such a troubled past involving her family.

It has been a while since I have read a suspense or mystery novel, so I just loved this one. Honestly I can't say enough nice things about this book. It was so well written, I have to tell you if you enjoy a good mystery you will love this as much as I did. I will have to give this 5 out of 5 star. Love love loved it!

I was provided 1 eBook copy of the book in return for the review. I received no other compensation.




Leaping Out On Faith

Leaping Out On Faith by Rochelle Campbell



 

Leaping Out on Faith is a collection of short stories. The stories are from four very different women in completely differing situations.

I enjoyed the collection, but I have to say short stories just leave me wanting more. I normally don't read short stories for this very reason. The writing is superb, and I love learning about these extraordinary ladies. But I would love to see one of these stories turned into a complete novel. I look forward to more wonderful works from a very talented author. I would give this 3 out of 5 stars.



Right Where I Belong

Right Where I Belong by Krista McGee

Summary

16 year old Natalia is leaving her life in Spain behind to go live with her stepmother Maureen in Tampa, FL. Natalia has recently found the lord and her friends and family in Spain ridicule her new beliefs. Maureen has taught Natalia so much about God, but she desires more knowledge. Maureen takes Natalia to her native country with hopes of moving on and bringing Natalia to a better spiritual environment.

Natalia is enrolled in the local Christian school and immediately makes friend with the pastor’s son Brian. Brian and Natalia teach an ESL class to locals as their community service credit for school. Natalia loves her new school and learning more and more about the bible. Brian thinks of Natalia as more than a friend and finds it quite frustrating that Natalia refuses to date. Natalia is very reluctant to make any kind of commitment to a boy, because she has seen her parent fail in their marriages and she feels as if she would be doomed in any relationship. She hopes with help from Brian and his family to have a better relationship with God and to plan her future with his will in mind.

Review

I think this is a great coming of age story that all young women should read. I loved how the author kept teaching Natalia about God's will and how to apply it to her everyday life. I like how pure Natalia's intentions are when itcomes to boys, I think a lot of young women could use it as a guide in their own lives. I really liked how the author let you hear Brian's voice for his fondness of Natalia, and the frustration he felt toward making that relationship work. Overall I absolutely loved this book and gets 5 stars from me.

I was given 1 ebook copy from the author for review purposes. I didn't receive any other compensation


Blog Tour: Black and White and Dead All Over

 

Today is my stop on the Black and White and Dead All Over Tour hosted by Sage's Blog Tours.

 

Summary:

 

Brian Wilder, the one-time war correspondence and Pulitzer Prize winner, has put the high profile journalist lifestyle behind him to work on a small newspaper in Newark, Delaware. He and his photographer Jessica are covering a story of a house being moved to make room for a new development for the weekly paper when all of sudden a skull is uncovered; the remains belong to missing local girl Mary Fleming. Before Brian knows it he is caught up in a 22 year old murder investigation involving the most prominent political family in town.

 

Review:

 

This book is the first in a series featuring Brian Wilder.  I thought this was a pretty good book, I thought it was a nice story line and I enjoyed the character building with Brian.  I wish the book had been a little longer, and I can't wait to see Brian build closer relationships with those around him. I am excited for the next book in the series. Over all I enjoyed the book and I would give it 3 out of 5 stars.

I was provided with 1 eBook copy to write my review. No further compensation was provided.

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Milledgeville Misfit

Summary:

14 year old Juniper Summerville has lost both her parents in a terrible car accident, which has also caused her to go mute around adults. She is being placed in the care of her Aunt and Uncle in their Milledgeville home, Dearborn.

When she arrives at the home is surprised to see that is a very old home and decrepit, and at one time it was an orphanage. Her first impression is that this place looks haunted. Juniper or June Bug, quickly finds that she is making friends with the other children who live in the house. She can speak to the children, but not her aunt and uncle.

She finds the time she spends with the children is helping her get over all her grief of being left alone without any parents.  Quickly Juniper gets caught up in mischief with some of the other children. She is very surprised that none of the other children will except blame for the trouble they cause her. So she is always the one to take the blame and the punishment.

Review:

I normally don’t read YA genre but I absolutely love this book, it is very short but I read the whole thing in one day. I really felt like I was sucked into Juniper's world and caught up in some of the trouble that she and children got themselves into. One of the things that I loved the most is the author is from Georgia, like myself and I loved all the references to local places because I could put myself in the places this made the characters more real for me. It was a great piece of writing and I would absolutely read a follow up to this book. I did have a few issues with the book but they are minor editing issues that I am sure could be fixed easily. I would definitely recommend this book! I give 4 out of 5 stars.

I was given 1 ebook copy from the author for review purposes. I didn't receive any other compensation.






 



Author Spotlight

I am participating in a blog tour, the tour will be stopping here on December 17th but I am going to spotlight the author Michael Bradley today. This is a great book and I look forward to bringing the review next week.

Michael Bradley

Born and raised in southern New Jersey,

Michael Bradley is an author and IT consultant,

whose frequent travels bring him in touch with
a variety of people up and down the east coast.
When he isn’t on the road, Michael hits the
waterways in one of his three kayaks. Being an
avid Apple fan, Michael loves to preach the benefits of Apple’s Mac OS X and iOS.Before working in information technology,
Michael spent eight years in radio broadcasting, working for stations in New Jersey and West Virginia, including the Marconi Award winning WVAQ in Morgantown. Becoming an author has been a lifelong dream for Michael, which was finally realized with the release of his first book in 2012.

Among the writers in which he finds inspiration, Michael favors P.D. James, Raymond Chandler, Leslie Charteris, Simon Brett, and Ian Fleming. He lives in Delaware with his wife, Diane, and their two furry four-legged “kids”, Simon and Brandy. Michael does all of his writing on an Apple iPad 2 with a Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover.

Contact:

Michael Bradley

Email:

mjbradley88@mail.com

Blog:

http://mjbradley88.blogspot.com

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/mjbradley88