Sunday, November 30, 2014

Review: One Step Too Far By: Tina Seskis

One Step Too FarOne Step Too Far by Tina Seskis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I give this more 3.5 but rounded up.

The book goes back and forth, present and past, presenting a deeper look into the main character, Catherine Emily Brown, and her relationship with those around her and their lives - beginning with her decision to leave. Cat, as she is now being called, doesn't just leave, she removes herself from her husband, Ben Coleman and Simon's life. How could she leave them? Her ring in a sink at some terminal? Making a new life sharing a flat with strangers in London?
Slowly as Cat begins a new life, the old one is revealed. As Cat develops alcohol and drug problem, she climbs the ladder at work, but the spiral downward seems endless - or that is what it appears.
What are the secrets locked up inside of her? Those around? In one moment they all will crash and be revealed.

It's hard to like such a main character or even understand her, but after the revelation I found myself soften a bit, found certain aspects explainable even understandable. The ending was a bit rushed through but it gave everyone and everything a finale. Certain aspects were a bit disjointed, but considering that I read an ARC I am sure this is forgivable.



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Review: The Mistletoe Promise By: Richard Paul Evans

The Mistletoe Promise (The Walk)The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Richard Paul Evans has done it AGAIN! Another Amazing, Beautiful Holiday Treat that spreads the message of Hope, Forgiveness, Redemption, and Love!
Elise Dutton finds herself in a contract with Nicholas Derr over the holidays. They will essentially fill the lonely gap over the upcoming weeks, company parties, obligations, but this is business - nothing deeper than that. Elise hasn't allowed herself any happiness in years finds it a bit disconcerting, she also carries a painful secret that might blow any chance of happiness that might come from the feelings she is developing for Nicholas. She isn't the only one with a secret past, Nicholas has a few of his own, maybe even one that made him search her out for the contract, yet it doesn't stop him from falling for the woman he set out to make feel special.
Hopefully with love and some forgiveness (especially self forgiveness), miracles can and do happen - afterall it is the season for them.

Oh, I love Mr. Evans and his stories. This one is no different. Filled with flawed people yet the golden lining of happiness - I know I will re read this one and share it.

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Review: What A Wallflower Wants By: Maya Rodale

What a Wallflower Wants (Bad Boys & Wallflowers, #3)What a Wallflower Wants by Maya Rodale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

On her way to a marriage of convenience, Miss Prudence Merryweather Payton, finds her carriage taken by highwaymen and escapes. The 'Wallflower' finds herself in the company of John Roark, aka Viscount Castleton, waiting for the weather to let up and thinking of how she can find a husband for Lady Penelope's Ball.
After four seasons and not being married, Prudence has failed by society's standards, yet she carries a horrible secret about what happened her first season and just why she has avoided marriage and men for that matter as a whole. John has his own secrets that lead him on his way to The Great Expedition and has a few people counting on him. These two soon find that the attraction is great as long as they don't allow the secrets, the past, or other people to destroy what they have just started to build.
Ms. Rodale has taken a subject matter and written a wonderful romance novel with a heroine that comes into her own, a sensitive yet strong hero, and a very enjoyable storyline. I really enjoyed this book.

***** This is a First Reads, Thank You Goodreads *****

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Review: The 13th Gift A True Story of a Christmas Miracle By: Joanne Huist Smith


Review: The 13th Gift  A True Story of a Christmas Miracle        By: Joanne Huist Smith          4.5/5

Lift Your Spirits and Your Soul

A memoir of a recent widow and her family who receive mysterious gifts during the holiday season. The gifts are small but come in their own form of The Twelve Days of Christmas beginning with on the first day one poinsettia. This story is reminiscent of The Christmas Jars, yet it is a true account, and just as inspirational.





Ms. Smith gives an honest account of the pain of her loss and how the cheerfulness of the holidays infringed upon the grief that she was experiencing. With the little gifts, slowly her brokenhearted family was able to come together - pass the anger, the tears, and onto the other side to find the spirit within.
This is a great book, a great lesson in life, living, and hope - it also is one that makes the reader inspired to take action, to step outside of themselves, give of themselves to those that truly need it.

I received this book from Blogging for Books.


Saturday, November 15, 2014

Review: The Awakening Of The Goddesses The Balance By: Morgan Shores

The Balance: The Awakening of The GoddessesThe Balance: The Awakening of The Goddesses by Morgan Shores
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A legend of two sisters, one the Goddess of Light, one the Goddess of Shadow, separated through time and distance. The story of a betrayal between the soul mate of Goddess of Shadow harming all, twisting all to gain more, even destroying his brother the soul mate the Goddess of Light.
The waiting is over. Lilith Nolan and Sophia Moore have reached their twenty fifth birthdays and they have awakened. So have their soul mates - for good and evil. This is a fight for the balance of the world. So many people, so many light keepers and workers, and so many secrets.
It begins with the reoccurring dream and the introduction of Lilith, a detective on the Galveston Police Force. Something strange is in the air - I am reminded of something wicked this way blows - and soon she is introduced to Sophia. They are brought together a few times and the group they know seems very familiar to each, they both receive a rare amulet passed down in each family as a present as a gift.
At this time Sophia meets and is immediately attracted to Ceron Murray - who has quite a reputation. Shadows and darkness begin to plot and make their moves for time is essential. Some crime scenes are so strange there seems to to immediate cremation of bodies at the scene, bringing Lilith in contact with a Samuel Duffy whom she has a visceral reaction to. All is revealed as the Goddesses are awakened and there is only one that has the power in their hands and has to make the choice - to bring balance back.

I liked this book, I found the tale interesting and the characters well developed. I think I really wanted more - more action, more interactions - but I think I will be getting more with another book in this series. I feel the need to warn some, that like GRRM, Shores does not fear messing with a reader a getting rid of a beloved character, but at least it's not gruesome.

*****This is a First Reads, Thank You Goodreads*****

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Review: Garden Spells By: Sarah Addison Allen

Garden SpellsGarden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the one that started it all and will make a reader fall in love with Ms. Allen - her writing, her stories, and simply the world that we fall into as we turn page one.
Bascom, North Carolina is a small town with legends of sorts, the Waverley family is the source if quite a few of them, their garden is definitely one of them. Claire Waverley embraced cooking from her garden, learning from her grandmother the messages the herbs and flowers could give. She even has understood the boundary between her and the town, what she doesn't understand is her attractive new neighbor and her sister sudden reappearance with a niece in tow after leaving ten years ago. Sydney Waverley brings with her a lot of wounds that Claire wasn't ready to deal with and some women in town still find her a threat. What Sydney has left behind to come back is even more dangerous than gossip or the apple tree out back and what she is hoping for can scare her even more - a happy life for her and her daughter.
Healing and magic, relationships and growth, all come into the picture. When you enter this book you will be spellbound and not want to leave. Wonderfully written and so enjoyable that you will want to revisit this world and feeling again and again.

*****This is a First Reads, Thank You Goodreads*****

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Review: Dr Who The Crawling Terror By: Mike Tucker


Keep the Dr Fix Going and The Creepy Crawlies Away

Review: Dr Who The Crawling Terror  By: Mike Tucker                4.5/5









When the TARDIS brings Clara and The Doctor to Wiltshire nothing at first seems out of the ordinary, that is until 1. the strange readings on the ley lines and 2. the giant web with a human body in it. Soon it becomes clear exactly why they are there, giant beetles, mosquitoes, spiders, and ants - all that are acting with some form of military tactics and taking over the town and the town people, turning them zombie like and manipulated.
There is a history to this quiet little town and the Doctor has been here before. A message was received from space and Great Britain and the Nazis were in a race to achieve it's capabilites, not knowing exactly what it was opening. A teleport device to allow the dangerous race of Wyrresters (scorpions) through. Only a few survived.
Unfortunately, one survivor has found another way to make it possible to bring the Wyrresters to Earth, and now only one man can stop him - The Doctor.

I hate creepy crawlies. I have a horrid fear of the weird facts that I eat spiders in my sleep throughout my lifetime. But all these fears did not dissuade me from picking up this book and go through an amazing adventure with The Doctor. It was fast paced, had my heart beating and racing, also held elements that had me wondering about truth in legends - ie Die Glocke, Brad Meltzer Decoded style - which is wonderful. It is time to get a Who fix before the Christmas special, pick up a book, you won't be let down.

I received this book from Blogging for Books.