Category: book review

December 5, 2017

Beyond Forever Book Review

In Beyond Forever, just as their plan is set in to motion and they settle in to their new normal, they have an earth shattering encounter. In that moment it is revealed that they have much more than just a spiritual relationship with the beyond.

About Beyond Forever

Just as their life is seemingly back on track, Finn McDaniel’s gets news that sends him into a tail-spin. He is faced with the prospect of losing Olivia Henry forever. He immediately turns to Dan, Olivia’s deceased best friend, who is her loyal and constant guardian angel from the beyond, imploring him for his help. In the midst of all of the chaos a special package is delivered that changes their lives forever.

While Finn is determined to grow his restaurant to new heights by chasing after the coveted Michelin Star, it is Olivia who finally sees her dream come to fruition in a way never thought possible. Finn is determined to support Olivia through her shocking breakthrough and even has a very special surprise up his sleeve that she never sees coming. Just as their plan is set in to motion and they settle in to their new normal, they have an earth shattering encounter. In that moment it is revealed that they have much more than just a spiritual relationship with the beyond.

My Thoughts

I am a HUGE fan of this series. These novels are well written, witty with amazing characters. Olivia is that best friend that you have to love. She has her quirks but she is so full of life, hopes and fears. She is just that girl next door that you can’t help but smile at and love with all of your heart, while trying to protect her. Finn is the man of her dreams (and many women would love to call him their hubby!) and he would do anything for her.

In this novel, Olivia gives birth to her baby. The birth was extremely traumatizing and Olivia almost loses her life delivering her baby girl. It is quite shocking for her whole family but especially Finn who lost his first wife to cancer. As Olivia was laying there between life and death, she had an out-of-body experience where she meets Dan who promises to look after her daughter. Dan and Finn’s wife who passed away become the spiritual godparents of their daughter. As the novel progresses, we see their spiritual touch as they protect her, play with her and love her. I actually found this to be quite touching as I think all of us like to believe our loved ones are here with us, looking out for us and connecting with us.

This book also finds our couple recognizing the need to have family near by. Both of them are offered amazing experiences further from the location they are currently living in but will also draw them closer to family.

This was an amazing novel that was a pleasure to read. This book and the entire series is a definite must read.

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.

December 5, 2017

All Things Now Living Book Review

In All Things Now Living, her whole life Amy has been taught the people of New Lithisle deserve to die, but when she falls for Daniel, she determines to save him.

About All Things Now Living

Sixteen-year-old Amy doesn’t like anything to die, she won’t even eat the goats or chickens her mama has butchered every fall, but she can’t let herself pity the inhabitants of New Lithisle. In a few short months the dome they built to isolate themselves from the deadly pandemic is predicted to collapse, but her whole life Amy has been taught it’s God’s will they die. They traded their souls for immunity to the swine flu virus, brought God’s curse upon themselves by adding pig genes to their own.

Then, while on a scavenging trip with her father, Amy is accidentally trapped in New Lithisle. At first her only goal is to escape, but when she meets Daniel, a New Lithisle boy, she begins to question how less-than-human the people of New Lithisle are.

Amy’s feelings grow even more conflicted when she learns she didn’t end up in New Lithisle by mistake. Her father is secretly a sympathizer, and was trying to prevent the coming destruction.

Now time is running short and Amy has to decide if she will bring the computer program her father wrote to his contact or save herself. Installing the program could prevent the dome’s collapse, but if Amy doesn’t find her father’s contact in time, she’ll die, along with everyone else.

My Thoughts

This was an exciting young adult novel that I could not put down.

In this novel, we have two groups of people: the group that was banished outside the walls of New Lithisle and those who are inside. You would think that the group inside the walls would be those who were safe but they are not. They are a group of people with mutations that many of them willingly signed up. These mutations were supposed to protect them but instead it altered them physically – some were similar to rats, to coyotes, fish and pigs. What is even worse is that these people are doomed to die but they have no idea.

Amy was returning from a trip with her Father when she becomes accidentally trapped inside New Lithisle. She is quickly captured as the people realize her importance and the value of selling her could bring them. While on the inside, she discovers that her Father sympathizes with these people who makes her feel uncomfortable – her Father is a traitor and could be put away for these thoughts. He was trying to help these mutated people who God could never have created so they could have no souls (their thoughts) and she could just not understand this.

She meets Daniel, a boy from New Lithisle who has had his genes mutated to make him more attractive and intelligent. As their friendship evolves, she begins to question everything that she has ever believed. Can these individuals who appear less than human truly have the same feelings, thoughts and hopes? Could they really be soulless?

I loved how the story evolves especially within the context of the destruction of New Lithisle coming closer and closer. Amy realizes that there is so much more to a person than their physical features – that even though we are different, we are all the same on the inside. It is a fantastic story of hope, understanding, acceptance and faith. A great read for young adults and adults a like.

You can find more reviews on the Litfuse blog tour page and can purchase a copy here.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Rondi Bauer Olson is a reader and writer from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where she lives on a hobby farm with her husband, Kurt. She has four grown children, works as a nurse, and also owns a gift shop within view of beautiful Lake Superior.

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

December 4, 2017

The Rogue is Back in Town Book Review

In Book 3 of The Wayward Wallflower series, The Rogue is Back in Town, Lord Samuel Travis is back and let the games begin!

About The Rogue is Back in Town

Equal parts scoundrel and seducer, he’s returned to London determined to mend the rift with his older brother. All Sam must do is take possession of a tumbledown town house. A seemingly simple task, except the house is occupied―by an infuriating, whip-smart beauty who refuses to do his bidding.

Miss Juliette Lacey’s wallflower days are over. She has a plan to turn her eccentric family into the toast of the ton―but the devilishly handsome rake trying to oust them from their home thwarts her at every turn. How can one man be so vexing and make her simmer with desire?

As her attraction to Sam deepens, Julie’s problems grow―she may have, once upon a time, secretly shared a kiss with his honorable older brother. Suddenly, Julie’s caught between a rogue and a marquess, between passion and respectability. Torn between two brothers, what’s a girl to do?

My Thoughts

I have truly enjoyed the Wayward Wallflower series, these ladies are not your damsel in distress nor are they your typical proper London young lady. They are brave, bold, unique and not afraid to speak their minds. They know what they want and are determined in their convictions. They are also fully supported by their family and close friends in these convictions which is what makes them an outsider by society standards but amazing in any one else’s eyes.

In this story we have Juliette as our main character. She runs the home of her eccentric Uncle who took her and her sisters in when they were left alone in the world. While she is definitely young by any standards, she has given up on the thoughts of marriage especially after having her heart-broken by a man whom she thought was quite honourable.

Enter in Sam, who has one huge reputation with some of it earned and some of it not. His brother has given him one last task to redeem himself – evict the residents of a town home he has inherited. This home is Juliette’s Uncles, which they believe was gifted to them on their marriage. What he fails to tell Sam, is that he has an infatuation with Juliette and kissed her the season before and left no promises.

As the plot develops, we see a new side of Sam and realize that things are not always as they seem. Those who seem honourable are actually out for blood and are hiding dark secrets. They would do anything to ruin anyone that steps in their way. Juliette begins a race against time to find the deed to the town house and prevent her Uncle’s and her own life from crumbling apart. Sam has a huge decision to make – side with family or discover and honour the truth.

This was a well written and developed romance novel – the plot was very unique and fit the characters perfectly. This is one suspenseful romance you wont want to miss!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Anna Bennett started swiping romances from her mom’s bookshelf as a teenager and decided that books with balls, dukes, and gowns were the best. So, when she had the chance to spend a semester in London she packed her bags―and promptly fell in love with the city, its history, and its pubs. She dreamed of writing romance,but somehow ended up a software analyst instead.

Fortunately, a few years and a few careers later, Anna found her way back to writing the stories she loves and won the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart®. She lives in Maryland with her husband and three children,who try valiantly not to roll their eyes whenever she quotes Jane Austen. She is the author of My Brown-Eyed Earl.

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

December 4, 2017

Twofer Murder Book Review

Twofer murder? What’s a twofer murder?

About Twofer Murder

Twofer Murder is a treat for fans of best-selling author Lauren Carr’s fast-paced mysteries! Lauren’s latest novel contains the main characters from her three successful series: Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose mysteries. The guys go away for a fishing weekend only to get caught up in the murder of a journalist investigating fraud at a timber company. Meanwhile, the ladies are spending the weekend in the presidential suite at a posh resort where Jessica Faraday is to accept a lifetime achievement award for her late grandmother at a murder mystery writers conference. But before they have time to get their facials, they get wrapped up in their own real mystery when an up and coming author ends up dead!

Lauren Carr’s Twofer Murder is a 2-for-1—making it a must-read for any mystery fan!

My Thoughts

Lauren Carr is by far one of my favourite authors to read. Her books are always fantastic with a great plot, full of suspense and completely different than anything I have read before. This book is all that plus more with a double murder and mystery! You get two for one in this novel and it is worth every moment.

In this novel, our favourite characters are all back but this time they are on a girls and guys trip away from home. The boys have gone on a fishing adventure (which in itself is quite hilarious as several of them are not your typical outdoorsmen and get up to quite a bit of trouble just fishing!) and find themselves caught up in a murder, fraud and an old fling. I personally liked their murder mystery the most in this novel. It has so many different layers that I never really saw the ending coming, which is my favourite part of the way that Lauren writes. Their murder mystery involves fraud in a timber company that has seen thousands of dollars being stolen from residents along with an affair that could destroy several people.

The girls have gone to a super posh hotel for a very exclusive writers conference where Jessica is set to accept a lifetime achievement on behalf of her late grandmother. When they arrive, they are greeted not very kindly by the man who was accused of murder and who was humiliated on television by her late grandmother. He is out for revenge! While there an up and coming author (whose story is very similar to the murder that he was accused for), turns up dead.

This was an amazing story that was rapidly evolving. I could not put this one down, I had to know what was going to happen and I was reading long into the night! This is a definite must read.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, romance, and humor.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, and three dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Book Trailer

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.

December 1, 2017

Colorless Audiobook Review

In Domengrad, there are rules all must live by: Fear the Gods. Worship the Magicians. Forsake the Iconoclasts.

About Colorless

To Annabelle Klein, the rules laid down by the Magicians are the mere ramblings of stuffy old men. As far as she’s concerned, the historic Iconoclasts, heretics who nearly destroyed the Magicians so long ago, are nothing but myth. She has much more important matters to worry about.

Heiress to a manor mortgaged down to its candlesticks and betrothed to her loathsome cousin, sixteen-year-old Annabelle doubts the gods could forsake her more.

Then Annabelle is informed of her parents’ sudden and simultaneous deaths, and all of the pigment drips out of her skin and hair, leaving her colourless. Within moments, Annabelle is invisible and forgotten by all who know her.

Living like a wraith in her own home, Annabelle discovers that to regain her color she must solve the mystery behind her parents’ murders and her strange transformation.

Meanwhile, hundreds of the Magicians’ monks, with their all-black eyes and conjoined minds, have usurped control of Annabelle’s family manor. An Iconoclast is rumored to be about—a person who they claim goes unseen, unheard, and lost to memory, yet is the greatest threat to all of Domengrad. For the first time in a hundred years, the monks plan to unleash the dire wolves of old.

Their only target: Annabelle.

My Thoughts

In this novel we are transported to a fantasy world of magic, religion and myths. The audiobook opens with a little bit of background information and the death of our main character, Annabelle’s parents. Their death marks a huge turning point in her young life, a parent passing away is awful enough for a young child but in her case it becomes even worse. Annabelle begins to lose all of her colour – it literally drips off of her. To top it off anything she touches loses its own colour – her furniture, paintings – everything she holds dear. Slowly everyone forgets her and it is almost like she has never existed. What I found amazing was that animals could still recognize her presence and a few special people who want to help her.

The monks in this story are maddening and creepy. They make you feel angry and wish they would just leave Annabelle alone. She is fighting for her life against the monks and you want to be able to defend her every step of the way. You are constantly on the edge of your seat the whole book waiting to see what happens next for her.

I listened to the audiobook of this novel and I really enjoyed the narration of the characters. It was easy to identify by voice alone who was speaking and the narration really helped to bring the characters alive. The monks voices especially! They leave you with this yucky feeling and that you want to lash out at them on Annabelle’s behalf.

This was a fantastic audiobook although the beginning left me a bit confused as I tried to follow the history, I would have loved to have known a bit more about the history and religious beliefs in the beginning but it doesn’t affect your understanding of the novel throughout.

You can purchase a copy of this audiobook on Audible and Amazon.

Rating: 4/5

About the Author

Rita Stradling is the author of Ensnared, Making Bad Choices, The Deception Dance series, the Dakota Kekoa series and The Fourteen Day Soul Detox Novella Serial. She has a BA in Art History and a particular love for modern and medieval art.

Rita lives with her husband and son in Northern California.

She has an insatiable novel addiction and mostly reads young adult and adult: romance, paranormal, urban fantasy and high fantasy.

About the Narrator

Lauri Jo Daniels has had her nose in a book since before she started kindergarten and has been reading stories out loud to anyone who would listen ever since. Her mom has always said that from the moment she was born she has never shut her mouth, so it just makes sense that she would make a living with her voice.

It was this love of reading that inspired her to major in English Lit and later to become a Young Adult Librarian and it was this career that introduced her to the wonder of audiobooks. She began dreaming of narrating them one day herself. Today that dream has become reality.

Lauri Jo has a very versatile sound and a knack for character voices, both skills that truly bring a story to life. Those skills and her passion for storytelling have made her dream a reality.

When she’s not busy trying to organize the chaos of 2 teenagers and 6 animals at home, Lauri is producing material from The Huffington Post, Slate, and Playboy for SpokenLayer’s news podcast, SpokenEdition, voicing Alexa flash briefings for Biden’s Briefing, and narrating news and short stories for Medium Members while working on her next audiobook masterpiece.

Book Trailer

The Giveaway!

Colorless Giveaway: $20 Amazon Gift Card or Colorless Swag

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