Category: book review

November 27, 2017

Heart of the Highland: The Beast Book Review

In the Heart of the Highland, Keira is caught in the middle of a war that she does not understand, will Keira’s secrets be safe, or will she succumb to the Highland warrior who now threatens to capture her heart?

About Heart of the Highland: The Beast

For hundreds of years, Scotland has battled the English for their freedom. Now, they face a new enemy. In a divided world between politics and religion, the young King James V faces the threat of his own people rebelling against him. As civil war breaks out among the Highland clans, James recruits a secret group of warriors for protection. He calls them the Protectors of the Crown.

Ian MacKay has one mission; to defend the crown no matter the cost. Along with his men, Ian’s mission is to hunt down one of the most dangerous men in the Highlands. But when the daughter of an enemy enters his life, his heart becomes captured instead.

Keira Sinclair has lived a life of peace and simplicity until now. With her clan on the verge of losing everything, she is forced to wed a Laird from a neighboring clan to ensure that hers survives. During her travels to her new home, her carriage is attacked and Keira is taken hostage by a ruthless man.

My Thoughts

I am sure so many of you already know how much I LOVE historical romances. This is especially true for Scottish historical romances, I love the language, the strength in the characters and of course the romance!

This novel had everything I love about historical romances set in the Highlands and more with an amazing plot that kept you guessing as to what would happen next. In this novel, we have Keira a young woman who has been forced to wed a man that she does not love all because her clan is about to lose everything. This man clearly has no love nor respect for her as he refuses to meet her halfway for the wedding and sends young, untrained boys to help her travel to him in order for them to be wed. This is when she meets Ian – who mistakes her carriage for her husband to be.

Ian is still suffering under the weight of his deceased wife’s death. He holds the blame for her death and has had a hard time moving forward with his life. There is something in Keira that brings out the better in him, making him want to hope, be a better man and to protect her. He takes her under his wing and tries to help her see what a mistake it would be to marry her betrothed.

This is when the plot becomes really juicy! We learn about the deceit her betrothed had done to her and her Father, and how truly evil he really is. We learn about how her Father betrayed his own beliefs and family, and my heart broke for Keira. We also learn more about who Ian is and his connection to the Scottish crown.

This was an amazing novel from start to finish – it was full of excitement, betrayal, hope and romance. I loved how the plot was developed and there was an importance placed on the plot just as much as the romance. A great read for historical romance fans!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and iTunes.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

April is an Award-Winning Author for her Scottish Historical Romances. For more than ten years, she has worked full time in the direct marketing business, but developed a passion of historical romances through her love of reading, history and genealogy.

The Giveaway

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Disclosure: I received a digital copy in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

November 21, 2017

Ghost Owl Book Review

Ghost Owl is a compelling and inspirational tale and the third installment of the Avian Series which invites the reader to ponder the extraordinary treasures hidden in the ordinary events of daily life.

About Ghost Owl

Ghost Owl is a magical story of discovery, as a young woman seeks to understand her potential and confront her own shadow. Mariah Easter wakes up in the middle of the night to discover the world is as bright as noon—but for her eyes only. Urged by her godfather, she embarks on a mission to peer into the dark spaces normally hidden from view, leading her to confront the sinister nature of power, the vulnerability of the ill, and the hidden life of a homeless man: a journey that will bring healing to herself and the man she loves.

My Thoughts

This is the third book that I have read in the Avian series by Nancy Schoellkopf. While a third book, you do not need to read the other two to fully appreciate and understand this one but I would completely recommend it. You can find my reviews of Yellow-Billed Magpie and Red-Tailed Hawk.

In this book, Mariah starts to see the Ghost Owl in her dreams and around her in mysterious ways. The Ghost Owl is an animal that is connected with deep wisdom and people who have this as their spirit animal tend to see beyond what others see and when this animal guides you, you can see true reality beyond illusion. This is what happens to Mariah, she goes on a magical journey to a whole new level of understanding and see life on different levels and dimensions of the same person.

I really enjoyed this book the most out of the series but you do have to pay attention! The concept of the same person having different realities and dimensions can be a bit to take in so you do have to pay attention. Mariah is a very different young woman in this book! It is almost hard to believe to see how much she has grown from the first book. This is one my favourite parts about series – the growth and development of a character.

Ghost Owl is a well written novel that takes you on a magical adventure. It is a story of growth and understanding and completely unique in its plot. It keeps you guessing as to what and where Mariah is going and the why. It is a definite must read in this series, either alone or as part of the other two books.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 4/5

About the Author

Nancy Schoellkopf is the author of the Avian Series of novels including Yellow-Billed Magpie and Red-Tailed Hawk, as well as the short story collection Rover and Other Magical Tales. She has been telling stories and writing poems for many lifetimes. It goes without saying that she’s needed a second income, so this time around she happily taught amazing children in special education classes in two urban school districts in Sacramento, California. A full time writer now, she enjoys lavishing attention on her cats, her garden and her intriguing circle of family and friends.

You can connect with her on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

The Giveaway!

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Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

November 15, 2017

Beyond Love Book Review

In Beyond Love, Olivia is forced to decide whether to tell Finn or let it live in the past forever. Is their relationship strong enough to weather the storm or will it cause them to part ways for good?

About Beyond Love

After trusting in her beloved friend Dan’s guidance from the beyond, Olivia is finally on the path to realizing her destiny. Staring at a blank canvas after ditching her raucous corporate life and meeting the love of her life, Finn McDaniels, a hot, widowed celebrity chef, she is ready to begin anew.

Arriving back in Chicago, she receives more frightening news further delaying her future journey with Finn. Unable to control the outcome, she begins questioning her trust and faith in Dan once again. She distracts herself the only way she knows how, by diving head first into a new project. What seemed like a time-killer may actually be the thing that saves her and catapults her into a world she never dreamed of.

When Olivia and Finn finally reunite, a looming secret is uncovered threatening to ruin the relationship she has waited for her entire life. Olivia is forced to decide whether to tell Finn or let it live in the past forever. Is their relationship strong enough to weather the storm or will it cause them to part ways for good?

My Thoughts

My favourite character is back in the second installment of this series. Olivia is the girl you just have to love. She follows her heart, trusts in her beliefs, she is funny and honest but she is also very real and suffered her own heartbreak. This was the death of her best friend – something that has haunted her for a long time. She feels that he has become her guardian angel, protecting and guiding her and so far this guidance has taken her to Finn. Which I think many of us can relate to when we have lost someone who means the world to us. We hold on to them, look for signs and rely on what they would have said to us in our time of needs.

The relationship between Olivia and Finn begins to grow in this novel. They discover they have quite a few connections from their former relationships and friendships (can’t divulge much more without giving away the story). One of these past connections threaten their relationship and the trust they are working to build. Olivia first tries to hide the secret but this back fires on her and does it ever! The new couple have to work hard to figure out if this relationships is worth working towards and if so, how do they get over this lack of trust and forgiveness. Something we can all relate to!

I loved the second part of this book series, their story and relationship really develops and we get to know our characters much better. It was witty and well planned out. I couldn’t put this novel down!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

D.D. marx came barreling into this world with the “gift of gab”. Her parents quickly identified a pattern forming when each teacher conference contained the words “she’s a little too social”. d.d.’s biggest life concern was identifying which boy she’d be chasing at recess rather than mastering math problems. She parlayed this gift into creating play dates on the playground. If friendship were a business, she would be a millionaire. She prides her life on maintaining friends from every walk of life in every corner of the country. This is the fuel that fills her tank.

Graduating with a Communication degree from the University of Dayton, she attempted to break into the world of Public Relations but was instead side-tracked with a J.O.B. At the strong encouragement of her friends and family, who dubbed her a “funny story teller”, she stretched her comfort zone by entering the Second City program in Chicago where her itch for entertainment was finally scratched. Determined to share her story and create a legacy, she decided to combine these talents and become a writer. She returned to her alma-mater to immerse herself in a 3-day writing course where this dream finally came to life. Asked to imagine if she was a super-hero, her task was to dig-deep to describe her special powers. Based on the real-life tragedy of one of her best friends, that answer came without hesitation. All she’s ever wanted was the power to visit with him one last time. This is the inspiration that catapulted her into her debut project titled, the Beyond Series. She dove into a world imagining that he never left.

The Giveaway!

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Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

November 14, 2017

Cowboy Up! Life Lessons from Lazy B Book Review

Cowboy Up! is a collection of thirty-five personal stories narrated by Alan Day in his authentic western voice. These stories touch on topics that affect us all: friendship, family, business, politics, community, and conservation.

About Cowboy Up! Life Lessons from Lazy B

If you’re served a piece of humble pie, thank the server and choke it down. So says H. Alan Day, an award-winning author and American cowboy, who grew up on a 200,000-acre southwestern cattle ranch, made a hand at age five, and lived adventures most of us only witness on tv. While interacting with cowhands, horses, and the land, Alan learned valuable life lessons about loyalty, trust, humility, forgiveness, persistence, failure, innovation, and success (and so much more!). Now, this cowboy is ready to share his hard-earned wisdom with those who may never own or even ride a horse, much less rope a cow, train a wild mustang, or witch a well, but who, like Alan, contend day-in and day-out with the true grit of life.

COWBOY UP! is a collection of thirty-five personal stories narrated by Alan Day in his authentic western voice. These stories touch on topics that affect us all: friendship, family, business, politics, community, and conservation. As Alan learned early on, a true friend has your back for life, whether that friend has two legs or four legs. If you don’t learn to listen, you may end up swinging from your suspenders on a bunk house hook; and if your pickup is about to get washed away in a flash flood, you better do some quick, two-step thinking. Alan’s stories not only explore what it means to be human, they evoke laughter, disbelief, wonder, joy, and more than a few heartfelt tears.

My Thoughts

I remember the first time I visited Calgary, Alberta for the Stampede. I fell in love with the city, the nature and the way of life. People cared about each other and the value was in the land and the animals. At sixteen, I wanted to move out west and live the rest of my days on the land.

I didn’t follow that path (although there are many times when I see friends photos from out West that makes me want to pack it all up and move) but my love and fascination of living on a ranch and being with animals hasn’t changed. Cowboy Up! is an intimate look at ranch life told in a series of stories that not only entertain but give a great life lesson in many different areas of life.

Alan has a great way of writing that is so personal – you can picture the scenes right before you and at times I was left laughing out loud or became teary eyed. He is honest and real – life isn’t always pretty (and doesn’t have to be!), we learn a lot from the difficult times. This is what Alan teaches us and more. He shares the best and worst moments and some pretty good problem solving skills!

The stories are broken down by specific life lessons. The life lessons all include some background history, the problem and the solution. Alan uses humour and honesty to really drill home the importance of his words and it works. While you may not be able to put yourself in his exact feet with the cowboy lifestyle, those same situations can be seen in city life as well. You learn a lot about living on a ranch, the beliefs of the cowboys (some of the stubbornness too – including wearing not so warm gloves!) and their love of the animals and their land.

Cowboy Up! Life Lessons from Lazy B is an excellent story that makes you laugh, tear up and think about your own life. I enjoyed every moment of this book.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

H. ALAN DAY was raised on and managed the 200,000-acre Lazy B ranch in southeastern Arizona. With his sister, Sandra Day O’Connor, he coauthored the New York Times bestselling Lazy B: Growing Up on a Cattle Ranch in the American Southwest. In his second award-winning memoir, The Horse Lover: A Cowboy’s Quest to Save the Wild Mustangs, he tells the story about creating the first government-sponsored wild horse sanctuary and caring for and training 1500 wild mustangs. LYNN WIESE SNEYD is a professional writer and owner of LWS Literary Services, an agency specializing in editing, ghostwriting, and book publicity. She also serves as the literary consultant for the Tucson Festival of Books.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

November 6, 2017

Momentus: Small Acts, Big Change

Momentus: One person, one action, one moment can make a difference.

About Momentus: Small Acts, Big Change

One person, one action, one moment can make a difference. Momentus: Small Acts, Big Change provides tangible, real-life, and current examples that back up this idea. This book is more than a “how-to” guide―Hannah Alper gets to the heart of what sparks people to create change. A youth activist herself, Hannah explores the lives of the social activists who have inspired her and the significant impacts they are making locally and globally. Featuring 19 exclusive interviews conducted personally by Hannah with activists, youth change-makers, and celebrities, the book highlights practical examples of the power of positive change in the world, whether large or small. Hannah also shares her personal journey as a youth activist, blogger, motivational speaker, and WE Ambassador. Momentus: Small Acts, Big Change will motivate you to find your spark and give you the tools to make your change happen. “I believe we all have the capacity and responsibility to create change. I don’t care how old you are or how young you are, where you live or how much money you have. The ability to create change does not discriminate, it’s in everyone.” ― Hannah Alper

My Thoughts

Being a young adult is hard – you have these amazing and creative ideas because you look at the world in a different manner than adults do but it is hard at times to get people to listen to you. You may feel like you are too young to accomplish the things you want, that your voice will not be loud enough, that your help wont make a difference and would your peers treat and look at you differently if you don’t follow the norm?.

But what if our young adults (and pre-teens) are given the tools, the support and the encouragement to know that you can make a difference?

Momentus is an amazing story of a young girl who wanted to make a change and understood that it is little changes that make a huge impact and the world a better place. Hannah began her journey at the young age of nine! Yes nine – pretty amazing right?

I fell in love with the way that Hannah writes, she is so personal and has a way of reaching out to you from the pages. Her book feels more like a one on one conversation with her, with her there making you laugh, sharing the good and bad and encouraging you on your own journey. She shares both her good and not so good moments (like when her class mates can make unkind remarks about her ‘changing the world’) and I liked her honesty. This is a tough age for our youth when they are expected to act like adults but not always given the same independence in return. Sometimes they need that extra encouragement from someone who has already been there to help them along with their own journey.

The book is broken down with Hannah’s role models and they are all incredible. It was very interesting learning about their stories, some of them I never knew about before. We learn about the issue that they are addressing (anything from homelessness to environment to bullying), what their special gift is and Hannah’s reflection and suggestions on how you can help out in that area.

Momentus: Small Acts, Big Change is a truly special book written by a gifted young author. She has an amazing talent in writing and inspiring both youths and adults! This book is a must read for all young adults so that they can see even the smallest acts can make a great difference in this world.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon and Chapters. You can purchase a copy in store at Indigo, Walmart, Shoppers Drug Mart and Mastermind.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

As a young Canadian writer, activist, public speaker, and global citizen, Hannah Alper started her career in activism at the age of nine. Now 14 years old, Hannah has found power in using her voice to inspire, motivate, and empower people of all ages to identify their passion and take action for a better world. Her journey as a youth activist shows that when it comes to leading social change, there is no such thing as “too young.” Perhaps best known as WE Day motivational speaker and WE Ambassador, Hannah is committed to promoting that big change begins with small, everyday actions.

You can connect with Hannah on her website, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.