Book Review: Magic's Daughter

Book Title: Magic's Daughter
Author: Ann Gimpel |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Format: ebook

Cost: $2.99

Pages: 80

How I got it: Blog Tour

My Rating:★★★★☆
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Purchase: Amazon| Barnes & Noble| Publisher
Erotica Rating: 

Synopsis:

Destined to be surrounded by magic yet have none of her own, Cassie walks a thin line between love and danger. Her mother is dying and her boyfriend has turned into something which terrifies her. By the time she wakes up to the danger she’s in, it’s nearly too late. Cassie’s friend, Jeremy, warns her about her scumbag boyfriend, but she doesn't listen until deeply disturbing events unfold and her life hangs in the balance. With few choices left, she and Jeremy join forces to battle the darkness threatening them. Meanwhile, Cassie warms to Jeremy in ways she never could have anticipated. Love was there all along if she’d just opened her eyes and looked

My Review:
Let's just start with, ain't no way someone was pushing me out of my house or making me feel uncomfortable & I didn't fight back.  Cassie's life just went to hell in a hand basket, even more than she realizes, her mother is a shadow of her former self and Cassie is desperate to find a way to reach her, so she quits her job and creates the e Quija, yeah it's complicated.

For such a small book I was pulled in from the start, Cassie seemed to be struggling to keep her head above water, considering she's swimming with sharks and she's a dolphin, she's doing a decent job.  My only problem with her is her complete reluctance to get help, why why when your drowning aren't you screaming for the lifeguard in the form of her close friend Jeremy??   I can totally understand the feeling like a fool part, and not wanting to admit you were wrong, but man oh man did it really hit the fan.

For a fun fast read, it was well written, engaging, & funny. The characters were well written and drew you into the story from the very beginning. I couldn't put it down.  From the crazy talking bird to the wild cat and even the villain was pretty well written *in a way that clearly made him the villain*.

I really enjoyed the novel and the glimpse into a world inhabited by Druids who would do the CIA proud with their abilities to keep secrets. Fae hell bent on well what Faes are always hell bent on.

I heartily enjoyed it and hope you do to.
Check out more of Ms Gimpel's books on Goodreads and on her website linked above.

***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

Book Review: Conquer the Dark

Book Title: Conquer The Dark
Author: LA Banks |Website|

Publisher: Pocket Books
Format: Paperback

Series/ StandAlone:  Series
Genre: Christian Urban Fiction| Urban Fantasy
Purchase: Amazon| The Book Depository
Cost: $7.99

Pages: 339

How I got it: Library

My Rating:★★★★★
Erotica Rating: ★★★
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Synopsis:

The rapidly approaching battle between Dark and Light threatens to destroy mankind in this action-packed new series from New York Times bestselling author L.A. Banks.Celeste Jackson never had much hope for the future—and certainly never imagined that she would be living in an abandoned warehouse in Philadelphia with her magnificent protector Azrael, the angel of death, and a fierce battalion of warrior angels. But although her powers have bestowed the angels with the freedom to return to the Light or stay within the mortal realm, they need her more than ever. Celeste is one of the few remaining half-human, half-angel Remnant, with a unique ability to locate others of her kind. The search leads Azrael and his celestial brothers to Egypt to recover a powerful relic that can raise an army of bloodthirsty fallen if it falls into the wrong hands. It is a relic the dark angel Asmodeus will do anything to possess—and his quest puts Celeste in mortal danger. Soon Azrael faces an impossible decision: Can he surrender the woman who has become his salvation . . . or will he save her and allow all of humanity to perish?

My Review:
This is book two in the series, and it picks up a few months after book one took place.  I loved visiting this world again, meeting up with the characters and learning more about them.  Within the first chapter I got a new song, the one by Santana that one of the angels played. It's become a new favourite of mine. LOL, so while you read the rest of the review, click play and get into the feel of the book:

That first scene just blew my mind, I can't believe the author is no longer with us and won't be sharing more fun and fantastical tales.  I love Celeste & Az together, they just have so much chemistry, the struggle Az and the other angels feel as they get ready for the battle ahead, the way Celeste inspired them and gave them hope, just made me love her especially, after she comforted them.

Isda is the MAN!!! And he's so clearly Jamaican, I loved his character in this book, although his story was so sad, the heartbreak he must have felt knowing ... well I'll let you read and discover for yourself.  Aziza is my girl!! I loved her from the very beginning, she reminds me so much of several women I know that I couldn't  help but love her, the lessons she had to learn were clear though & man it's a lesson I needed as well.

The journey, the battle, the true stories shared within the fiction, the history lessons, I just was so floored, I kept going to google to see if what she was sharing (especially about the Founding Father, who broke the rules in Philly, yeah that was real too) was real and being surprised and happy when I found out they were. (then being freaked out that they were real..oh noo)

The few sex scenes between the couples were very sensual and well written, they just drew you in and were so sexy, hmmm.  Which is why I gave it the three stars,  not so much for the raunchy wildness but for the steamy love, especially on the train, WOW!!

Cons of the story, being the author passed away and wasn't able to finish the series, many of the characters' stories were just beginning to be told and having the series be incomplete meant that we only got the bare minimum on them, the battle isn't complete, it's just really beginning and it was left on a bit of a cliff hanger and I want to know what happened DAMMIT!!

Even though the rest of the series won't be done, each book does stand on it's own, the essential plot pieces for each book are taken care of in the book, but there are more pieces to the main puzzle that won't be revealed until the next one, which unfortunately won't be coming along.

It's a fabulous read, especially because the books are with strong black characters and have music within it. There are strong Abrahamic traditional information/messages within the book, so if you don't like Christian/Jewish/Arabic/Egyptian lore then this might not be for you, but if you don't mind that?? DIVE IN!!!

 

Book Tour Review: Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective

Book Title: Cassie Scot ParaNormal Detective
Author: Chrisitne Amsden |Website| Twitter| 

Publisher: Twilight Times Books
Format: Paperback

Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Cost: $4.99 (ebook)

Pages: 250

How I got it: Blog Tour

My Rating:★★★★☆
Erotica Rating: N/A
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | 

Synopsis:

Cassie Scot is the ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family’s reputation isn’t easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly belongs.

My Review:
Ok so when I first got this book I was a little scared it's a first time read from this author so I wasn't sure what was going to happen.  The story is pretty good, it pulled me in, Cassie's description of her desk alone was awesome.  I was drawn into the story and so wanted to know more about her world.

I was a little put off on the insistence in calling them sorcerers and sorceresses, but hey it's not my writing, Cassie was a pretty awesome character to read, strong, stubborn, hell bent on proving herself, you know a typical American woman. I liked that many of the side characters were actually well written as well; I can't wait to learn more about her brothers gift (being a healer seems awesome). I'm not sure how I feel about her going back and forth about Evan; either you do or you don't have feelings the outside stuff is just that stuff, deal with that later. In the end it doesn't matter because that spell seems pretty damn effective to me.

I'm sure there is going to be more explained in the next book, and this one really tied up the case well, but still left enough mystery about Cassie herself, like why is she from such a powerful family yet completely talent-less  Evan doesn't seem to mind, then again he's got a mind like a chess board and seems to playing way ahead of the rest of us.  As for her human boyfriend erm Braden Sir, why would you be happy to settle for being someone's backup plan instead of their first choice?? Cassie shouldn't even be thinking about that, considering how much danger she is in, although everydamnbody seems ready to let her go walking around without explaining the full danger she is in. Yeah that never goes wrong O_o

The world that was built was done in a way that wasn't ridiculous and let you fill in the blanks a little on your own, I read another reviewer on Goodreads who called it Dresden files in a small town, and I had to giggle because the comparison is actually spot on. It's engaging and pulls you in, without really bogging down the story. I'm sure more will be revealed in the next book & I can't wait to see how she handles all the little fires that are beginning to burn around her. Evan being the biggest one, her parents disowning her being the next, yeah, she's got a few issues to go handle.  Nothing a good normal detective can't handle.

Participating in the Pumpu Up Your Book Tour Party!! Happy Reading

***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

Book Review: An Angel For Christmas

Book Title: An Angel for Christmas
Author: Heather Graham |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Format: paperback

Cost: $7.19

Purchase: Amazon| Barnes & Noble| The Book Depository|
Pages: 224

How I got it: Library Book Sale

My Rating:★★☆☆☆
Erotica Rating: N/A
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Synopsis:

Christmas has never brought out the best in the MacDougal family. Still, year after year they gather together in the Blue Ridge Mountains to try to make the season merry and bright. But this year is an especially strained one, with Shayne's impending divorce, Morwenna's slavish devotion to work and Bobby's reluctance to face what life has to offer. They've never felt less like a family.Then, in the midst of a sibling shouting match, a mysterious stranger appears. He could be a criminal, a madman—or something far more unexpected. Despite their fears and the growing danger in the dark woods around them, the MacDougals take a leap of faith. But when another stranger arrives on the mountainside, they don't know which of them to believe. One of these men can't be trusted. And one is about to bring Christmas into their hearts.

My Review:

I'm beginning to think Christmas books should only be read during Christmas, because then we are a little kinder, more willing to believe.

This was a different kind of Heather Graham book, mostly because I may have read horror books, this was really in your face Christmas themed. It's still good, it was kinda more of a Christian fiction book.  It's not really what I expected from her, but it's really still good.

I liked Stacy but at times she was also stubbornly stupid in my opinion.  Why did she have to do it right then??  It wasn't until the end of the book that I caught on to "who" the criminal and the cop really were.

Now I know this makes me a little heartless but it's how I feel. If you're told not to do something, you do it and almost die, in the process?? Yeah you so deserve it. Even if you're a kid, especially because we don't want you passing on the "stupid gene". All the time in horror movies it always the idiot kid who was told to stay put who causes everybody to die. Grrrrr

It was an okay book, I really think I might have had a different thought if I read it during the holidays, we tend to let the corny slide during the holidays.

Happy Reading!!

Book Review:Indulgence in Death # 31

Book Title: Indulgence in Death #31
Author:   JD Robb |Webste| Facebook| 

Publisher: DoubleDay Books| Putnam Books
Format: Hardcover Books

Cost: $25.95

Purchase: Amazon| Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository 
Pages: 373

How I got it: Library

My Rating:★★★★1/2
Erotica Rating: N/A




Synopsis:

First it was a limo driver shot through the neck with a crossbow. Then it was a high-priced escort found stabbed through the heart with a bayonet. Random hits, thrill kills, murderers with a taste for the finer things in life-and death-are making NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas angry. And an angry Eve can be just as an efficient and dangerous predator as the killer. As time runs out on another innocent victim's life, Eve's investigation will take her into the rarefied circle that her husband, Roarke, travels in-and into the perverted heart of madness... Discover more in the In Death series »

My Review:
Ohh this very well might be one of the better books. LOL Eve, that's a great present to your hubby for your anniversary, every once in a while Eve does something totally awesome.  Good to know Ireland hangs onto it's charm after the Urban Wars.  Ahh I'm guessing this book is going to be character driven then?? Yep it's going to be character driven.

Yeah it's going to be really awesome.(I'm on page 13 so let's hope it stays that way).  Okay onto the review: this has got to be the best of the series, they actually do some really good work in this one.

I still couldn't believe the nerve of the thrill killers like really??? Who the hell does that?/ Just because your...well I'll let you read and discover why. This is one of the few times I was with Eve the whole way, the story grabbed you from the very beginning and made you love Eve and Roarke even more than before.

I loved the character development that was taking place, especially between Roarke & Eve, they really kicked butt this book (I'm not sure I would be comfortable on a squeaky bed in my families home, just.NOT.happening ).  It's a really great fast read and kept you hooked, I believe I read it in one day it was that awesome.

Happy Reading my loves, I hope you enjoy it!!

Book Review: Guarding The Princess

Book Title: Guarding The Princess; Sahara Kings #5
Author: Loreth Anne White |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Harlequin Romantic Suspense
Format: ebook, paperback

Cost: $3.82, $4.95

Purchase: Amazon| Barnes & Noble| Publisher| The Book Depository
Pages: 288

How I got it: NetGalley

My Rating:★★★★★
Erotica Rating: N/A
Add to Goodreads

Synopsis:

"You're not just a job anymore." It was supposed to be a 72-hour mission, in and out, until Brandt Stryker got stranded in the arid African plains with predators before him, a killer at his heels and an exotic princess by his side. Dalilah Al Arif stirs his blood, makes him crave things he'd lost long ago - but she is off-limits, promised to a sheik. Dalilah's wedding contract stipulates she must wed before her 30th birthday - just months away. It's a duty she accepts. But in the arms of her handsome protector, she's torn between her sense of duty and honor, and her freedom. And as the terrorists close in, she fears the most dangerous creature in the savannah is Brandt himself…...

My Review:
I haven't read any of the other books in this series and I so need to get on that.  This book is so awesome. I loved Dalilah as an character, she was strong, she knew what she wanted and when it looked like her life wasn't going the way she wanted she made the tough choices and did what made her happy.

OmGosh I so fell in love with them as a couple, and with the landscape as it was being described. I so fell into the story and felt like I was right there with them as they struggled to make it out of the country.  Brandt was so well described ( I love the show Arrow on the CW and he reminded me of the man who was teaching Oliver you know the hot Aussie para military guy, yeah him hotness) so that's who I pictured Brandt as, and man oh man I totally understood his dilemma,, but I personally really did feel bad for that girl she was a class A idiot. And she left Brandt with scars because of her stupidity. Just some people really don't deserve a good thing when they have it.

I loved the story of Jock & of South Africa, of Brandt's home. Poor Brandt had a tough life, and I never really thought of what it meant to be a princess and seeing Dalilah's choices and the brutal life she and her family has had was heart breaking.  I loved that they fought for their happiness, as it wasn't easy.  I loved that she faced the practicality that it was lived with her ideals and die or  do what was necessary to stay alive (even though she was a little stubborn at first).

In the end the intensity of feelings expressed in the book drew me in, I am intrigued enough to put her brother's stories on my list of books to read sometime in this lifetime.  This has been a first time read from this author, and her writing is so beautiful that I will be checking her out again ( at least four more times as those are the books in the series).  ohhh I also learnt something I never knew about giraffes, that was pretty interesting.  I loved how the Safari played just as much a part in the story as the characters did as well.  And the symbolism at the end of the book wasn't lost on me either. Yeah the Lions have certainly returned.

Highly recommend it my loves, so enjoy it and fall in love with Brandt, Dalilah and the beautiful Safari.

 

***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

ARC Book Review: Lucretia & The Kroons

Book Title: Lucretia & The Kroons
Author: Victor LaValle

Publisher: Spiegel & Grau via Random House Digital
Format: ebook
Genre: Adult Fiction

Cost: $0.99

Pages: 100

How I got it: Publisher via NetGalley

My Rating:★★★1/2
Erotica Rating: N/A
Synopsis:

From one of the most acclaimed young writers of fiction in America today comes a fast-paced and fantastical novella about a young girl's journey into a dark netherworld to find her missing best friend. This eBook edition contains an exclusive excerpt from Victor LaValle's new novel The Devil in Silver, about which Gary Shteyngart raves, "Literary horror just found a new master." Lucretia's best friend and upstairs neighbor Sunny-a sweet pitbull of a kid, even as she struggles with a mysterious illness-has gone missing. The only way to get her back is for Lucretia to climb the rickety fire escape of their Queens tenement and crawl through the window of apartment 6D, portal to a vast shadowland of missing kids ruled by a nightmarish family of mutants whose designs on the children are unknown. Her search for Sunny takes Lucretia through a dark fantasyland where she finds lush forests growing from concrete, pigeon-winged rodents, and haunted playgrounds. Her quest ultimately forces her to confront the most frightening specter of all: losing, forever, the thing you love the most. Lucretia and the Kroons is a dazzlingly imaginative adventure story and a moving exploration of the power of friendship and the terror of loss. This all-new novella serves as the perfect companion piece to The Devil in Silver, a thrillingly suspenseful work of literary horror that continues the story of Lucretia.

My Review:

"Being young doesn't protect you, horrors come for kids, too"

It took forever to get to this book, and it's one of the few novellas I have read that went as fast as it did.  I've never read this author before, so his writing style was new to me. The story just jumped right into it, now pretense or build up, it just went right to it.

Now this is a very different kind of book for me, a bit of a magical realism, yet very different.  Loochie is a kid who doesn't realize that the world is kind of harsh; her best friend was sick from leukaemia and dying and she still doesn't understand just how bad the disease is.  When her older brother visits just before her friend comes over to celebrate her birthday, he shares with her the story of the Kroons as a way to scare her about being alone in the house for the first time by herself.

I was kind of confused reading this book, what would have happened if her brother didn't tell her about the Kroons?? How would have this worked out?? How comes she didn't hear the sirens and think anything about it?? I knew immediately what was wrong, but she was completely clueless.

I felt so bad for her knowing what was going on and she didn't know.  Then the Kroons happened and I was just engrossed in the story. Holy Crap, I just...WOW.  What a story. I was still confused reading it, the main thing that stuck out to me was the fact that if her brother didn't tell her this story about the Kroons would the rest of it happen??

It's an okay story, engaging while you're reading it. The ending didn't make any sense, why not say ok maybe I was dreaming; but she refused to back down even when it meant she was going to get into trouble.

Enjoy while reading, he's an interesting author.

 Buy on Amazon                        Add to Goodreads

***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

Book Review: About Last Night

Book Title: About Last Night
Author: Ruthie Knox | Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads

Publisher: LoveSwept, Random House Digital
Format: ebook

Cost: $2.99

Pages: 248

How I got it: NetGalley

My Rating:★★★★1/2
Erotica Rating: N/A
Synopsis:

Cath Talarico knows a mistake when she makes it, and God knows she’s made her share. So many, in fact, that this Chicago girl knows London is her last, best shot at starting over. But bad habits are hard to break, and soon Cath finds herself back where she has vowed never to go . . . in the bed of a man who is all kinds of wrong: too rich, too classy, too uptight for a free-spirited troublemaker like her. Nev Chamberlain feels trapped and miserable in his family’s banking empire. But beneath his pinstripes is an artist and bohemian struggling to break free and lose control. Mary Catherine—even her name turns him on—with her tattoos, her secrets, and her gamine, sex-starved body, unleashes all kinds of fantasies. When blue blood mixes with bad blood, can a couple that is definitely wrong for each other ever be perfectly right? And with a little luck and a lot of love, can they make last night last a lifetime?

My Review:
I'll be honest, I didn't get much work done yesterday because of this book. It was slow at work so I read while I should have been doing 'busy' work, you know the crap that normally doesn't get done during a regular week, you do when there is nothing left. Yeah I said screw that & stuck my nose to the phone screen so I could read this book.

I was totally engaged and engrossed I almost didn't get any sleep trying to finish this book.  I knew I loved this book within the first chapter when Cath had me laughing out loud on a crowded bus.  Cath is witty, sarcastic, funny and the kind of woman I could totally be friends with, so I loved her as a character.   Plus she works with the arts, like knitting and the awesomeness of history and knitting, yeah I was all over that.

City, good gawd City, can I have one of him served up please??!!! What a guy, what a man. I just wow, He was everything awesome that scene with them after he blind date?? Especially when she said 'don't murder me" I was laughing and snorting so much on the bus, the guy next to me moved.  You could feel the chemistry from them, they were great from the first. Especially when you realized City liked her as much as she liked him

I really wanted them to get together, I just knew that the crap was going to hit the fan when he took her home.  I couldn't wait to read the fireworks between Cath & his mother, they were also awesome, especially when they went head to head, then Cath did what she does so well.  If I was Nev I would have kicked my siblings' a**, you not pulling this crap round here. Nope not going to happen sir..

It's a good engaging read. I had quite a few laughs at Cath's expense, I totally get that she doesn't want anymore mistakes, and Nev's answer to that just floored me.  I love them together, I really loved the ending, I personally loved that Cath had extensive tattoos and was such a buttoned up woman at work; & that Nev's job was so boring but he was such a passionate artist. Just goes to show you never know.

A definite must read, it was extremely fast and funny, & wasn't too outlandish like so many other romance scenarios now a days, which made it even more fun to read, because you could totally see this happening.

Have a fun time reading my loves.

 Buy on Amazon                          Add to Goodreads

***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

Book Review: How to Sell Your Crafts Online

Book Title: How To Sell Your Crafts Online
Author: Derrick Sutton | Author's Website | Author's Twitter

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Format: Paperback

Cost: $21.99

Pages: 206

How I Got It: Borrowed From the Library

My Rating:★★★★☆
Synopsis:

With over 400,000 sellers on Etsy, how can you make YOUR shop stand out and increase your sales? This is a key question for many crafters and artists who are selling online these days. Now here are all the answers and much more from author and Etsy seller Derrick Sutton. Based on his self-published guide, and drawn from his practical experience, you will learn how to boost your Etsy sales, attract more customers, and expand your online presence. Derrick shares his proven online sales and marketing knowledge in an easily accessible format, complete with simple actions steps at the end of each chapter. Learn how to completely optimize your Etsy shop, website, or blog, and much more.

My Review:
My sister is a businesswoman and she has been pushing me to make my scarves and sell them for years now. Before I jumped into the fray I decided I needed to know more.  This book is great for those who have never used Etsy before and wanted to know how to use the craft site and promote your products without going to a website developer.

I have personally played around with Etsy for a little while. I was once going to start selling my crochet crafts but decided to focus on finishing school first. Maybe one day I will go into selling my stuff online and because of this book I will be well versed in how to get it done and done well.

The books is very easily laid out. The author is well informed and makes using Etsy extremely easy. The author shared so many great tips on how to maximize your viewership & search ability as well as your optimization of your website. Along with how to link and share with others your site, how to get your name out there, how to add other features onto the site and even how to make your pictures of your products look great.  I especially liked learning how to use the stats section of the website, so you know who is viewing & what they are looking at, which helps with product productions and sales.  I also especially loved learning more about apps I already use but haven't completely taken full advantage of for instance Google's Document Section.  This gave me tons of ideas for regular use, not just for the suggested options in the book.

Everything you need to know to START an Etsy is in this book, but for more detailed business aspect information you will have to look at other books, the author does give some great resources wit the book on finding more information and how to expand your brand. But of course no one book can give you everything.

I would highly recommend this book for those looking to jump into Etsy, as it's specific to Etsy but it's also great for those who need some information on selling crafts online.  It's a crafter's resource, especially because it's set up artistically as well. Many of his suggestions are great for us bloggers as well. So when you see changes around here, you know where some of it is coming from.

 Buy on Amazon                      Add to Goodreads

Book Review: The Officer Breaks the Rules

Book Title: The Officer Breaks The Rules (Semper Fi 2)
Author: Jeannetter Murray

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Romance
Format: ebooks, paperback

Cost: $6.99

Purchase: Amazon| Barnes & Noble| The Book Depository | Publisher
Pages: 336

How I got it: NetGalley

My Rating:★★★★★
Erotica Rating:N/A




Synopsis:

Captain Jeremy Phillips believes in doing his duty...both as a son and as a friend. This means that he should obey the "friend code" and stay away from his best friend's little sister. Too bad Madison O'Shay doesn't believe in his code and is ready to break all of the rules As a Navy nurse, Madison is finally stationed next to the man she's been dreaming about for years. And she's ready to launch a full-scale attack to show this thoughtful, handsome Marine that they belong together.

My Review:
So apparently there is a book before this one & I'm sooo going to have to get it and the one after this?? Yes I NEED that one I can't wait to dive in. Navy Nurse Mad has been in love with Marine Jeremy ever since her brother brought him home from basic training many years ago.  But how does she show her brother's best friend that loving her doesn't break the rules??

I enjoyed the role reversal of the story. And that Madison didn't have to compromise her career, I loved it!!  This story was funny, quirky, immediately draws you in & keeps you hooked in. I really fell into the story because it was so beautifully written.  I also loved the wit and conversations between the characters. I really enjoyed Jeremy's journey to accepting what he wanted for himself and not what his Dad wanted for him, he struggled with his desire for Mad because he didn't want to ruin his friendship with his best friend but he so wanted her.  Jeremy got real clear when he realized that Madison was willing to move on and the thought of losing her made him get his stuff together real quick.

The growth that takes place between the characters as a couple and for Jeremy as a man was awesome and inspiring to read. I really loved Matthew & can't wait to read his story.

I really loved how well this book captured the love of service that many Navy Nurses feel; I enjoyed reading the military speak especially Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (WTF, incidentally this was used in my favorite show Scandal this season. & this was really perfect because I'm really trying to break my extremely bad habit of cursing up a storm).

I like how the author also confronted the aspect of them getting into trouble with the military for breaking the rules, even though they are in different branches, it's still a big deal.  So the title is very appropriate for all the rules he was breaking, his own personal rules, the military rules, his dad's rules, his belief of societies rules. Yeah this is one of my Favorites and I will be getting a physical copy for my shelf.  I highly recommend this book.

***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

Book Review: Running for My Life

Book Title: Running For My Life
Author: Lopez Lamong

Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Format: Hardcover

Cost: $24.99

Pages: 226

How I got it: From the Publisher's 

My Rating:★★★★☆
Erotica Rating: N/A

Synopsis:

"Running for My Life" is not a story about Africa or track and field athletics. It is about outrunning the devil and achieving the impossible faith, diligence, and the desire to give back. It is the American dream come true and a stark reminder that saving one can help to save thousands more. Lopez Lomong chronicles his inspiring ascent from a barefoot lost boy of the Sudanese Civil War to a Nike sponsored athlete on the US Olympic Team. Though most of us fall somewhere between the catastrophic lows and dizzying highs of Lomong's incredible life, every reader will find in his story the human spark to pursue dreams that might seem unthinkable, even from circumstances that might appear hopeless. "Lopez Lomong's story is one of true inspiration. His life is a story of courage, hard work, never giving up, and having hope where there is hopelessness all around. Lopez is a true role model." ―MICHAEL JOHNSON, Olympic Gold Medalist "This true story of a Sudanese child refugee who became an Olympic star is powerful proof that God gives hope to the hopeless and shines a light in the darkest places. Don't be surprised if after reading this incredible tale, you find yourself mysteriously drawn to run alongside him." ―RICHARD STEARNS, president, World Vision US and author of "THe Hole in Our Gospel"

My Review:
When I was prepping for the Olympics ( to watch, not compete) the Visa commercial came on about Lopez Lamong and how he ran. I was so intrigued I started looking into his story, the publishing company for his book happened to be Thomas Nelson which is the originator of the Booksneeze book exchange program I was so happy. I had to snag that book immediately.

When I started reading I was immediately drawn in by his story.  I was both heartbroken and devastated when reading the book. To think that people who would do that to children, & to know that it wasn't being covered by the news, that the information wasn't being shared with the western world.

The book has strong religious overtones, but considering that his how he dealt with the trauma of his life, you can't escape how instrumental it is to his survival.

Reading about the life he had in the refugee camp and what happened there, about the food situation especially, just really made me sad.  How could the organization thing that one meal a day really helped?? I mean considering the option of starving, yes it helped, but to give only one meal?? What happens to all the money we donate?? Who the hell is getting it then?? Is it like the Reservation and Bureau of Indian Affairs, where when they were first created, white supervisors would take the food, blankets and aide sent by the government to the Native Americans forced onto the reservations, and would sell the best cuts, then give the rotting meat, the infested blankets and dirty tools to the Tribal members, until it was exposed and brought to the attention of the President.  Is that what is happening, because I don't understand how these organizations collect so much money each year and can only afford enough food for these refugees for one meal per day and meat only once a year.  I think we need to start asking questions about this.

I remember that moment in the Olympics as well; the moment that sparked his interest, that gave him something to hope for, watching Michael Johnson tear up that track was inspiring for me as a kid as well.  His story of writing the plea, of being on the plane and being too afraid to eat, to the language barrier, it all just pulled your heartstrings and pulled you in.

 I laughed when reading about his many discoveries when he immigrated to America, & I totally understood his determination to do more for himself and for the others that weren't allowed to immigrate as well.The devastation & fear he felt on September 2001, I totally get it, feeling you were safe then discovering that violence goes everywhere must have really thrown him for a loop. I know it did many of us that day.

Reading this story made me grateful, grateful for the family, friends and experiences I have had. It made me thankful for the relative peace we have had growing up.  It has made me re-evalauate many of the people & things I have allowed into my life, & has reminded me that not everyone is so lucky.  Yet he did it, he made something of himself, when many here can't.  He has done more with his opportunity than many of us Americans have.   it's a humbling experience and one I don't mind sharing.

This is a definite must read and a book we should all pass on to our friends and book lovers.

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***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

Erotica Book Review: Table for Three

Book Title: Table For Three ( New York Book 1)

Author: Lainey Reese

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Format: ebook, paperback

Cost: $4.24 $11.90

Pages: 208

How I got it: Purchased from Publisher

My Rating:★★★★★

Erotica Rating: ★★★★☆

Synopsis:

She’s taking two bites out of the Big Apple. New York, Book 1 Riley Ramirez knew that moving to New York would change her life. She just didn’t expect it to start on her very first night in town. Her attraction to nightclub owner Kincade Marshall is instant, mind-blowing—and mutual. When she finds he is a Dom who requires her complete surrender, even when it comes to submitting to his best friend, Trevor Wellington, she finds herself willing and eager to embrace the sexual adventure. From their earliest days, Cade and Trevor have shared everything, including women. Yet it only takes one night with Riley to know she is their forever lady. Convincing her that this is more than a temporary fling, though, will take every tool in their sensual arsenal. As Cade and Trevor set their sights on Riley, however, they’re unaware—until it’s almost too late—that someone is targeting their fragile relationship. Someone who’s taking deadly aim at Riley. Suddenly their struggle to keep their forever woman is a fight to keep her alive… Warning: This book contains m/f/m ménage, bdsm play, lots of steamy p.d.a, and a fine dining experience that will leave you salivating for more.

My Review:

I got this book because a reviewer I love (Emily) gave it a high rating, & it sounded awesome (confession I only read the synopsis after i purchased it, because she loved it so it had to be good). OMgosh, I love this book. I loved this book, I laughed pretty hard @ nerdy moments, got really into the adventure of their love, & was really drawn in to their stories.

Riley is new to New York, and the first club she walks into belongs to slightly jaded Dom Cade, he thinks she doesn't belong there (and he is right) but he decides to get to know her and after he meets her knows that she is it, the one he and his best friend Trevor have been looking for.  This book for such a small tome really a had a great tale. I enjoyed it because the characters were well written, the adventure, the building of a couple trio was well written with all, even the 'side' characters.  

The villian in this story went all out, I mean really though?? Who does all that?? They don't even know you exist, but a woman scorned and all that jazz.  When Riley ends up in the hospital and all the nurses are betting on who is her boyfriend I had to laugh, because so sounded like a couple the nurses I know. 

Ummm I so need to read Brice's story, he was everything awesome. That scene with Cade & Riley, with Brice watching is just so hot. I can't even begin to describe how hot it was.  Riley was pretty good, someone I woul like to know, she had spunk, & according to her "gumption".  There is a slight BDSM theme in there, no real heavy stuff, but it is there, especially in that first scene between the trio & Riley couldn't  pick which was more dominant, yeah that was a good scene as well. And at dinner when Riley first met Cade, WOW!!  

I really enjoyed the book & it will definitely be a favorite re~read. I'm going to go buy the second book in the series, I'm sure it will be just as good. Happy Reading my loves

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