Category: book review

One for the Rogue Book Review

One for the Rogue Book Review

In One for the Rogue, love is the greatest discovery of all.

One for the Rogue Book Review

About One for the Rogue

Geologist Gemma Hastings has no interest in pursuing romance and no patience for Lord Cameron Lisle, an esteemed fossil hunter who has a way of always honing in on her territory as handsome though he may be. But when a shocking attack puts Gemma in very real danger, she may have to accept Lisle’s offers of protection. Even if that means entering into a dangerous flirtation.

Lisle was once amused by Gemma’s dedication to her work. But now that he understands how much he’s underestimated her a woman whose beauty is matched only by her genius―Lisle is desperate to prove his respect…and prove himself worthy of her. But is he too late? A bitter rival, desperate to steal Gemma’s scientific findings, is still at-large. Can Lisle help uncover the culprit and keep her safe forever, in his loving arms?

My Thoughts

I loved this series of novels from Manda Collins! She takes a time period that didn’t encourage women to educate themselves but instead place the focus on their dowry and their ability to be quiet and defer to the men in their lives and she creates independent, strong, educated female characters ready to take on the world.

The focus of this novel is on Gemma, who is well-educated in the area of fossils – more so than many of the males she comes in contact with. But despite being so educated and knowledgable she is not welcome in this field where only men are deemed to be leaders and educators. Instead of letting this discourage her, she continues on her road – learning, recording and educating herself. She has setbacks but she never lets this stop her. She is a force to reckon with!

Enter her brother in law (who also happens to study in the same field) who unknowingly had rejected one of her articles and sparks begin to fly. He finds himself attracted to her intelligence, strength and independence. But Gemma is not looking for love and neither is he, so it was amusing at times watching their interactions.

Throw in a special fossil that is coveted by many in her field, murder and theft and you have one incredible novel! Gemma and Cameron need to solve who is behind the murder and trying to harm Gemma before they take her life and steal the coveted fossil that was left specifically for Gemma.

This was a great, well written novel with a great plot and even better characters. I loved Gemma’s strength and intelligence but also her openness to change throughout the novel. A great read from start to finish – I would love to see more in this series!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 4/5

About the Author

Manda Collins is the author of The Lords of Anarchy series, The Ugly Duckling series and the Wicked Widows series as well as several other Regency-set romances. She spent her teen years wishing she’d been born a couple of centuries earlier, preferably in the English countryside. Time travel being what it is, she resigned herself to life with electricity and indoor plumbing, and read lots of books. When she’s not writing, she’s helping other people use books, as an academic librarian.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Continue Reading

Through A Broken Heart: Finding Hope and Healing After A Break Up Spotlight

iRead Book Tours

The journey right now is dark and painful, but if you will travel with me using God’s word as our guide, it will eventually lead to a place of hope and restoration. Learn more in Through a Broken Heart: Finding Hope and Healing After a Break Up.

Through A Broken Heart: Finding Hope and Healing After A Break Up Spotlight

About Through A  Broken Heart: Finding Hope and Healing After A Break Up

Dear Broken Heart:

You must be hurting deeply. Perhaps you’re also feeling overwhelmed and completely alone in this place of emptiness and grief. I’ve been where you are and my heart aches with yours. I want you to know there is someone who sees and someone who cares. His name is Jesus. The journey right now is dark and painful, but if you will travel with me using God’s word as our guide, it will eventually lead to a place of hope and restoration. A destination where God’s love ushers you into wholeness. Where His healing hand won’t just repair your shattered soul, but will establish you in the truth that you are deeply loved and understood. In contrast to your current sorrow, this may seem too good to be true. I get that, I’ve been there. At this point, I’m only asking you to trust that He is able. I invite you to spend these next six weeks at the feet of Jesus and allow Him to enter into your wounded heart through this very place of brokenness. Will you give Him permission to transform you in a way that far exceeds your own expectations?

~ Colleen Meissner Married for the first time at 42. Colleen knows firsthand the pain of heartbreak, being single longer than expected, and the battle against fear and insecurity. She holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology and has spent over 10 years sharing her own experience and knowledge as a coach and mentor. She now has a vision to share the wisdom she’s been given with you.

You can purchase a copy of Through a Broken Heart on Amazon.

Through A Broken Heart: Finding Hope and Healing After A Break Up Spotlight

About the Author

I earned a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Azusa Pacific University in 2010 and have been mentoring women for over a decade. The most common area of counsel I provide is to single women not ashamed to admit they want to be married and have someone to share their life with. These women often without realizing it, are battling soul wounds (emotional and heart wounds) from their past that are preventing them from fulfilling this deeply held desire of marriage and family.

I consider there to be no greater privilege than to have women trust me with their deepest struggles and fears and to travel along side of them on their journey from a place of being held in bondage by lies (“I am fat, ugly, a loser, unlovable…”) to a place of freedom and victory. I know this journey well, I have traveled it; it is hard and it is long, and you cannot do it alone. There are seemingly impossible hills to climb, valleys to crawl out of and side-roads leading to nowhere. Perhaps more than a mentor, I am a tour-guide, leading you as you navigate your way to healing and overcoming those things that have kept you from embracing the fullness of life that the Lord came to give you (John 10:10).

Connect with her on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This is a spotlight tour, I received no compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

Continue Reading

Deliverers (Mud, Rocks and Trees Book Six) Review

Deliverers (Mud, Rocks and Trees Book Six) Review

Three Seals. Three Deliverers. One last chance. Will anyone escape Tzoladia alive?

Deliverers (Mud, Rocks and Trees Book Six) Review

About Deliverers

“Our pride rules the empire now.”

A new era has begun in Tzoladia! But lions are not the only things prowling the streets. The brash young ruler has inherited an empire full of divisions, intrigue, assassins, and disease. Have the last days arrived? Where are The Deliverers?

Brina matches wits with the ruthless and brutal Bladar. Amanki fights the faceless and deadly blue sickness. Moshoi battles the restless and all-consuming desires of his own heart. Three Seals. Three Deliverers. One last chance. Will anyone escape Tzoladia alive?

My Thoughts

This exciting series comes to a close in this amazing finale. The whole way through this series we were never sure what was going to happen, will the three deliverers ever meet? Will there be a new rise to power? Was the prophecy interpreted wrong?

This novel was one of change and understanding. Our characters have survived through the impossible on this mission, they have been faced with death, betrayal and even an almost break with their faith and mission. So many times they were tried with unbelievable circumstances that made them questions their own beliefs in God, the world, people and their place in protecting the seals and the future of their people. Each one emerges through this journey in this novel in a different way. Amanki finds peace with his faith and his place to guide others. He does not want the glory and power, he wants to help others find peace and acceptance in the face of pain. Brina (my personal favourite character) has grown so much through her trials and has become a strong young woman who is fearless and confident in her choices and faith. It is Moshoi that struggles the most with the need and desire for gold and pleasure. This was shocking to me! He always seemed like the quiet, obedient young man but when faced with so much fortune it was difficult for him to continue on his path. The death of an important person to him in this book, further sends him spiralling out of control. It is hard to tell whether he will be able to reel himself in, in order to complete his mission or if he has even remembered his mission!

This was the perfect ending for this book and not what I was expecting from book five. It was powerful, moving and hopeful for the future. The ending gives hope for all people in this incredible land and a future full of promise and acceptance of diversity. I loved every moment of book six – this is a definite must read series!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

R.A. Denny started writing epic fantasy novels when, after watching the first Hobbit movie, she began excitedly spouting off information about C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien’s writer’s group called the Inklings and how their greatest fantasy novels were created. One of her sons commented, “We could do that.” She laughed. Then, he turned it into a challenge.

Her unexpected journey had begun. For several years, she continued her day job as a criminal prosecutor and escaped by night to the world of the Tzoladian Empire. Then, she decided to just do what she loved.

She completed writing her six-book epic fantasy series: Mud, Rocks, and Trees. The series should be read in this order: Refugees, Seekers, Captives, Warriors, Visionaries, and then Deliverers.

R.A. enjoys ancient history, board games, and LEGO. That’s the nerd in her. She rides horses, raised flying squirrels and lives with two cats. That’s the animal lover in her. Oh, and did I mention that she loves a challenge? That’s the adventurer in her.

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

Continue Reading

Bitten Book Review

Italy Book Tours

Nature has lost patience with humans. Unless something is done immediately to reverse the destruction of the ecosystem, Nature will retaliate by deploying the terrifying forces at her command. And as a first step in wreaking her revenge, she instigates a reign of terror by the deadliest creature on Earth.

Bitten Book Review

About Bitten

In the not-too-distant future, Italy is in disarray. It has voted to leave the EU in an attempt to regain control of its laws, finances and commerce. Even so, the country’s economy is shrinking and its national debt rising. There is a marked escalation, too, in unemployment, bank loans and immigration. Production and service companies are in difficulty. The only thriving business areas are the black market and organised crime. There is discontent and protest on all sides.

In Florence, the local Mafia boss, more accustomed to gunrunning and trading in plutonium, is involved in organising a silent auction for the sale of one of the world’s most valuable lost paintings – a sixteenth-century masterpiece, which was appropriated in World War II by Stalin’s Trophy Brigade. A British art expert is set to buy the picture on behalf of his client, a South American billionaire – yet surprisingly two Italian undercover intelligence agents, acting as antique dealers, submit the winning bid.

All the while, human beings continue to harm the Earth by destroying land, sea, air, animals and trees. Global climate change, polluting the atmosphere, depleting the ozone layer: these are some of man’s crimes against Nature. But time is running out. Nature has lost patience with humans. Unless something is done immediately to reverse the destruction of the ecosystem, Nature will retaliate by deploying the terrifying forces at her command. And as a first step in wreaking her revenge, she instigates a reign of terror by the deadliest creature on Earth.

My Thoughts

An excellent novel that really pushes you to open your mind and examine your own actions with how you treat the environment and the limited power have as humans versus Mother Nature.

The novel starts off examining politics in Italy with a focus on finances, job unemployment and general dissatisfaction with the government. At first, I did not understand how this would tie into the novel but as you keep reading everything comes full circle. At the heart of the story is Mother Nature and her power to keep humans in check. As humans, we think we are the greatest species. We build remarkable architecture, make great discoveries all at the same time ignoring the signs of Mother Nature that she is not happy with how we are treating her. No matter how strong we think we are, we are truly at the mercy of Mother Nature and yet we do not fully respect her power. We make rash decisions based on cause and effect without thinking about the longer affects these decisions could make.

Claudia is an intelligent young woman who is investigating the evolution of the mosquito and their spread into Europe and for the purpose of this book, Italy. Mosquitos have evolved to be bigger, stronger and hungrier than ever, while carrying even more deadly diseases then before. After the mosquitoes begin to fight back with deadly attacks on citizens throughout Italy (even playing a role in the devastation of Venice) Claudia valiantly tries to make her co-workers and others understand that you can’t just deal with the problem by eradicating mosquitoes as this in turn causes even greater problems. This is a significant idea throughout the novel but people continue to ignore it thus causing even greater problems. This is all in the backdrop of art smuggling, narcotics, politics and murder! Claudia is one of the best characters I have had the pleasure of reading about – she is strong, intelligent and passionate about her work, the environment.

This novel is thrilling, suspenseful but full of important messages for all. It is a great read for older young adults and adults alike. A definite must read that does not disappoint!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Born in Surbiton, Surrey in 1944, Alan Moore lives in Barnes, SW London, with his wife, Amber. They have two daughters and a son, who between them have two boys and two girls with another boy expected in May. Alan was educated at Oundle School in Northamptonshire and at London University, where, as an external student, he obtained a BA degree in English. Thereafter, for 25 years, he single-handedly ran his own book publishing company, which at one stage was producing up to 20 titles a year. Now, at the age of 74, he has self-published his first novel.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Continue Reading

Visionaries Book Five of Mud, Rock and Trees Book Review

Visionaries Book Five of Mud, Rock and Trees Book Review

“The only thing keeping that seal around his neck is his head. Heads are easily removed.” – Visionaries

Visionaries Book Five of Mud, Rock and Trees Book Review

About Visionaries

“The only thing keeping that seal around his neck is his head. Heads are easily removed.”

Time is running out. Tzoladia is under siege. Heads will roll.

As the prophecy unfolds, young people dream and old men see visions. Emperor Zoltov’s forces move to exterminate the “Subhumans.” Risky alliances are formed as Metlan’s ambition propels him into places of mystery and murder. Brina and Amanki sail through a sea filled with enchantment and betrayal. Moshoi is dazzled by treasure as he faces the horrors of an evil empire. All forces converge on Tzoladia. Time for a showdown. Will mud, rocks, and trees come together at last?

Who will lose their heads?

My Thoughts

I could not put book five down! Visionaries was full of suspense and action, leaving me craving and needing more.

The capital city is under siege by the “sub-humans” and the Emperor is being forced to make rash decisions. The battle (from book four) seems to have backfired on him – it has created Metlan’s new position of power. Metlan has become a key figure in this series and we are left wondering where exactly his place will end up. He has a strong connection to the throne, has made others believe that he has completed great feats and has schemed with strong political alliances to ensure his future. I had originally really liked his character (and thought there could be more between him and Brina) but this book left me wondering about his character and his true actions. It is clear that the Emperor and his past mistakes have come back to haunt him and his time is up.

Our main characters (Amanki, Brina, Moshoi) are so close to finally coming together with the seals but yet are still so far! They have all made it to the capital but just not together and they are still missing one seal that was stolen by Metlan. You can feel the story coming to a climax and it is so exciting! There were several intense moments for Amanki that left you wondering if he would make it out alive but with his wit (and luck?) he finds a way to save himself (and his head!). While he was doubting his role in the beginning of the novel by the end, you can tell why fortune had chosen him to be a leader.

Visionaries is an intense installment in the Mud, Rocks and Trees series! You can almost see the ending in sight for our main characters but are not quite sure how it will end. You will not want to put this novel down.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

R.A. Denny started writing epic fantasy novels when, after watching the first Hobbit movie, she began excitedly spouting off information about C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien’s writer’s group called the Inklings and how their greatest fantasy novels were created. One of her sons commented, “We could do that.” She laughed. Then, he turned it into a challenge.

Her unexpected journey had begun. For several years, she continued her day job as a criminal prosecutor and escaped by night to the world of the Tzoladian Empire. Then, she decided to just do what she loved.

She completed writing her six-book epic fantasy series: Mud, Rocks, and Trees. The series should be read in this order: Refugees, Seekers, Captives, Warriors, Visionaries, and then Deliverers.

R.A. enjoys ancient history, board games, and LEGO. That’s the nerd in her. She rides horses, raised flying squirrels and lives with two cats. That’s the animal lover in her. Oh, and did I mention that she loves a challenge? That’s the adventurer in her.

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

Continue Reading
Working Mommy Journal
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.