Monday, May 27, 2013

My review of Park Avenue by Christopher Smith

My Review of

 
 
 

Blurb

Sometimes, even after death, revenge carries on. Targets remain targets. People will die.

From the grave, one man's will delivers the directive. Kill George Redman. Kill Leana Redman. Kill every Redman. Finish the job, crush them all, do it swiftly, rob them of their hopes, steal away their dreams.

In Park Avenue, the sixth book in the hugely popular Fifth Avenue series (Fifth Avenue, Running of the Bulls, From Manhattan with Love, From Manhattan with Revenge, A Rush to Violence), the heat boils over as characters from each book collide in a single collective nightmare.

For the Redmans, the problem is that this one man, long since deceased, is not alone in his quest to see them dead. Others are conspiring against the Redmans, which leads to a punishing series of events as they fight for their lives.

Park Avenue, which skewers New York society to its core, is the most complicated and satisfying thriller yet by #1 international best-selling novelist, Christopher Smith.
 

My Review

The most difficult thing for a reader to do is to begin reading a series without having read the prequels, but that was not the case with Park Avenue. Christopher Smith carefully weaves a fast paced tale of mystery and suspense while offering just enough backstory to allow a new reader to feel fully vested in the characters and their plights.
The plot twists and edge of your seat thrills kept me turning the pages, while the occasional splashes of humor had me grinning from ear to ear. Mr. Smith delivered a fantastic tale of intrigue and revenge while keeping the story believable.
I quickly became a huge fan of the two assassins, but still found myself rooting for a positive outcome for the Redmans. Social standing, riches and fame are wonderful, unless you're a Redman on Park Avenue.
Although this was my first time to read Christopher Smith, it will not be my last. I've jumped on board the Smith train!





Can the savior be reborn?

 
 

Amazon Link

 
Laura wants to have her husband’s child. The fact that he’s dead is only a minor setback. She’ll get what she wants, it’s just a matter of how.

Intrigued by Laura’s progress in the field of human cloning, Richard Avery steps up to the plate and offers the use of his secret lab facilities. Before he’ll allow her to clone a child of her own, she must first create one perfect clone for him- using DNA samples from the Shroud of Turin.

Laura takes on the cloning project and is plunged into a world filled with secret societies, deception, murder and…apparitions? As her perception on reality shifts, Laura begins to question everything. What if Richard’s quest to create a clone to save humanity, is instead, The Perfect Clone for destruction?


Author's note: The Community I’ve created offers surprises, splashes of humor, action, suspense, and unexpected plot twists. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed creating it. Welcome to the Community!
 
 


Friday, May 10, 2013

The Prince and the Singularity by Pedro Barrento

The Prince and the Singularity

by Pedro Barrento

Amazon link

Book Blurb:

 
The Prince and the Singularity - A Circular Tale is a take on the Creation myth, drawing from different religious and philosophical sources and mixing them in an original, challenging and often very funny way. It is written in a multi-layered format, allowing it to be read both as a simple and entertaining fable and as a deeply philosophical work, full of hidden references and satire.

It’s the story of the Prince aka the Master aka Francis, who is more or less immortal and goes through the millennia fighting Desire and Rejection, the roots of all unhappiness and evil. He always fails until the moment he loses interest and decides to die, which he doesn't. Instead he gets promoted.
 

My Review

I very seldom read a book that carries me to another plane of existence as this one did. The philosophical highs and lows were absolutely stunning. The author's fairy-tale twist on creation and existence was mesmerizing and kept me glued to the pages. This story was beautifully crafted and offered an open-minded way of considering the world around us. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is enjoys viewing things from a new perspective.



Review: The Vessel (The White Aura Series) by Felicia Tatum

The Vessel

(The White Aura Series)

by Felicia Tatum

Amazon link

Blurb

Scott and Olivia survived the dreaded dance, only to be faced with the aftermath of their meeting. Now, they are on the hunt for the descendant of Devlin Hart, the sorcerer who originally cast the curse on the Tabors family, while making the best of every moment they have together. With everything that's happening, will their love be able to make it?
Olivia’s happiness with Scott is cut short. When unexpected events thrust her in an interesting situation, she must make the best of what she has, while trying to save herself. She loves Scott, but can’t shake the uneasiness of what’s happening. When her parents are taken, her brother comes back to town, and mysterious men start following her, Olivia must reach deep inside to find her true self.
Scott is on the mission to break the curse on his beloved family, but will he also have to fight for Olivia's heart? When an interesting situation is thrown into their relationship, he must fight his jealousy and continue to woo the woman he loves. With the stress of the descendant and The Crimson Calamitous, will Scott be able to show Olivia just how much he cares for her before he loses her forever?

My Review

This easy to read series is intriguing, spell-binding, and fun. Felicia Tatum has taken magic, sorcery, mystery, and intense young love and combined them to create a spell binding tale that left me craving the next book in this series. After reading the first book (The White Aura) I immediately purchased the 'The Vessel' and dove right in. I was not disappointed.
The twists and turns in the first book intensify with this book and new twists are added. I enjoyed the way she describes scenes within the book without making it overbearing. I felt involved in the lives of the characters and found myself mentally urging them on.
Just when you think the solution to Olivia and Scott's problem is within reach, the dynamitic changes and creates an ever larger problem for the two of them. Are things what they seem or do we often close our eyes to the obvious? Will their love survive this new revelation or will hearts and souls be crushed? I eagerly await book 3. Thank you for another great story!




My Review of The White Aura by author Felicia Tatum

The White Aura

by Felicia Tatum

Amazon link

 

Book Blurb:
 
How do you live with the gut clenching truth that the one you love will die if you meet them? Twenty year old sorcerer Scott Tabors is learning how. After seeing seventeen year old Olivia Whitehead outside of a coffee shop, his heart will never be the same. He longs for her, he wants her, and he knows she will be his. They are heart mates. …but due to a curse on his family, he can’t meet her. Not yet. So for now, he visits her in her dreams. Her dreams where he can tell her everything but his name.

Olivia Whitehead is a typical junior in high school. She and her best friend are having the time of their lives, but she can’t help but notice the changes happening to her. Especially the changes in her heart after she begins dreaming about a mysterious dark haired young man. But what will happen when the school heartthrob decides he wants Olivia? Will she realize the dream man is real or will she move on?
 

My Review

 
The White Aura is a refreshingly light and easy read. Felicia Tatum does a spectacular job of combining magic and intrigue without losing focus on the plot. I really enjoyed this YA paranormal/romance.
Olivia is your typical 17 year old who enjoys all the typical things most young women do, but she harbors a secret that she doesn't even share with her best friend. Every night, a sexy stranger visits her dreams.
Scott is a sexy sorcerer who wants one thing—his heart mate, Olivia. The fact that a family curse stipulates that he can't meet her until 6 months before her 18th birthday doesn't keep him from bending the rules by visiting her in her dreams.
When an evil sorcerer sets his eyes on Olivia, Scott rushes to find a way to protect his love while trying to avoid the devastating results which would happen if he disobeys the family curse and meets Olivia in person. Can he protect his heart mate from a distance or will Olivia fall victim to the evil plans of an ancient sorcerer?
I devoured this book in a day and now I'm off to read the second book! Thanks for a great story Felicia!

 



 


Thursday, May 9, 2013

Hell's Gate by Benjamin Daniels

My Review of

Hell's Gate by Benjamin Daniels

Amazon link

 

Blurb

The gates of Hell are open. Angels and Demons fight for our mortality and dominance of earth. The rapture diminishes the human population and very few remain to defend what God gave us. It is up to the Angels to fight the war, the humans to survive and the druids to protect the earth.
Cole wants nothing more than to be left alone until the war is over and see who wins. He doesn't care for rules of any kind and wants least of all to choose a side. Fate however, has different plans for him. His only friend is being held hostage by a Demon with a plan to win the war and return the earth to what it once was. It is up to him to rescue her with the help of a fallen Angel who comes to his aid to ensure his survival.
The Druids are the only ones who can save his friend, but they have an agenda of their own. The demon is demented but has the best intentions with what she believes. Cole finds himself lusting after the fallen Angel and must choose between her and saving his friend. The problem is that he doesn't know who he can trust.
Armageddon is here and Hell on earth has just begun.

My Review

I'm a sucker for religious speculation, but when you combine that with the elements of fantasy, it's hard to go wrong. Ben Daniels delivers a cast of fantastical creatures which leap from the page and fill your imagination. Just when I thought the author had created the ultimate villain, he out does himself and continues to bring new ones to life. I would have enjoyed a bit more dialogue, but overall I was intrigued by the creativity of the story and was transported to a world which exploded to life. Angels, demons, humans and Druids…oh my!



Review of 3 Days by Krista Madden

Review

 

3 Days by Krista Madden

 
 
Blurb:
Kara Laquin wanted nothing more than to forget. Forget the past, live in the present, and ignore the future. When a massive solar flare destroys all electronics and throws the country into chaos, Kara is nearly a whole state away from her lost love, Blaine. He can wait only three days before moving on. With access to fuel limited, she must do anything necessary to get to him before he is forced to move on, but society is crumbling around her. Looters and murderers prowl the cities during the day, and something even worse roams at night.
 
My Review
If you are looking for your next addiction, this is it! 3 Days was fun, easy to read and well crafted. The author wove a captivating dystopian tale that kept me turning the pages and the underlying sweet romance was perfect.
What would you do if the power went out and life as you knew it came to a screeching halt? Would you be able to do whatever it took to survive? Could you defy the odds and learn to adapt or would you refuse to believe the new reality and fall victim to your circumstances? That's what the young adults in this story had to face.
Kara's struggle to survive while attempting to locate her lost love was believable and it didn't take long before I was cheering her along. Blaine quickly became a guy that I wanted to know more about. I was pleased as his strength and compassion became evident and then I couldn't get enough of him. Jared was another one of my favorite characters and seemed like the type of guy you want to know and have on your side.
I have added this book to my list of favorites and eagerly await book 2 in the series.  Kudos Krista Madden! I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to teens and adults alike.

 
 

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Review of Truths of the Soul (Soul Seers #3)

My review of Truths of the Soul (Soul Seers #3) by Rene Folsom


 

I'm in love with this series. Johan and Ella are my new favorite couple and I can't get enough! Rene Folsom has created a spellbinding story that makes me want more. 'Truths of the Soul' was a great addition to a series that has me eagerly anticipating the release of each installment.

Can dreams give the dreamer insight into their own fate? Can we discover love while our eyes are closed and remember that love once we open them? Well, you'll just have to read the series to find out!

I am officially addicted!

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

A writer's soul

Every story holds insight into the writer's soul. If the soul can't be found, the writer didn't bleed enough. ~ M.L. Stephens