January 2013

Shadow of Night (All Souls Trilogy, #2) by Deborah Harkness

I read the first  book in this series last year and was so enthralled with the story of Diana and Matthew i purchased the second book when it came out.

I enjoyed reading this book so much.  I particularly enjoyed the time traveling twist into Elizabethan England.   The author obviously spent an enormous amount of time researching this era.  The details written in the story made this era come alive for me as I was reading.

I am looking forward to another story in the lives of Diana and Matthew.
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Moon Dance (Vampire for Hire, #1) by J.R. Rain

I just finished reading the first book in this series and is was so much fun to read.

An FBI agent turns Private Eye after she is bitten by a vampire and turned.  She is married with 2 young children.  Danny, her husband is a practicing lawyer and was so supportive when it first happened. Then things changed after the reality of it set in.  She knows he is having an affair but is still heart broken when he forces her to leave her 2 children and home.  Danny has a file that he gave his associate to hold in case anything happens to him.  This file if made public would expose her for who and what she is.

Sam is approached by Kingsley a well known and high profile lawyer to find the person who attempted to kill him on the courthouse steps.  She discovers he is a werewolf and fights a growing attraction to him.  Kingsley figures out she is a vampire and is becoming more and more attracted to Sam.

Sam figures out who is behind the attempt on Kingsley life as well as on her own.  Kingsley had a brief romantic interest in Sara a secretary working in his firm.  She became bitter and angry after he broke off the relationship. 

In the end Sam has a local detective show up in the nick of time to save her from being killed though Sara ends up dead.

I am off to read the next book in this series!
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 Vampire Moon (Vampire for Hire, #2) by J.R. Rain

 I am addicted.....

Moving on to the 3rd book in this series as I can't wait to read more adventures into the life of this PI vampire mother.
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American Vampire (Vampire for Hire, #3) by J.R. Rain 

Moving on to the 4th....  

This is such an addictive series.  So much fun to read.

If you thought the Twilight Series was the best then read these.  Just don't start reading them in the evening as they are hard to put down.
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 Moon Child (Vampire for Hire, #4) by J.R. Rain

This series just gets better with each book.  This book was the hardest for me to put down as I just needed to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next.

I bought a 6 book set and this is the last book in this series.  I will have to go find the rest lol.  I need to find out what happens next in the Samantha Moon series.

The last 2 books are from the Spinoza series.

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 The Vampire With the Dragon Tattoo by J.R. Rain 

 I enjoyed reading this book but not as much as the Samantha Moon series.  The was an interesting read but did not keep me glued to the book as the last 4 did.

I am on to the 2nd Spinoza...

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 The Vampire Who Played Dead (A Spinoza Novella) by J.R. Rain

 I enjoyed this one much more then the first one in this series, but I must say that my favorites by this author are the Samantha Moon series.

I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

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 Progeny (Paperback) by Shawn Hopkins

 I want to extend my thanks to the author, Shawn Hopkins, for reaching out to me with his book.

There are so many reasons I found myself fascinated with this story from the opening line.  The biblical references, the legends, mythology, and the research.  The story is well thought out and presented with great writing skill.

I became so involved with this story that at one point my husband had to nudge me to get my attention.  His comment "that must be a heck of a story you have your nose in, I have been trying to get your attention for the last 30 minutes", says it all.

Shawn you have an amazing writing talent and I look forward to reading more of your work in the future.

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The Prism of Ashlai (The Gailean Quartet #1) by Christine E. Schulze

 I wish to extend my thanks to the author, Christine E. Schulze, for providing me with a free copy to read and review.  I have been honored to read several of Christine's stories to date and I can honestly say that this story is my favorite.

Though I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story, I was left with feelings of wanting more.  I strongly feel that the author needs to put more adventure into the story as the pace is too fast.  The descriptions of the different races and the land they inhabit is well thought out and presented.  The author should put as much attention into the characters and the quests which would engage and involve the reader. 

The dialog and interaction between each of the characters is exceptionally crafted and I particularly enjoyed the “friendly” arguing between Mandolin and Aryl.  The stories Chamblin and Gailea told of their travels was fun to read.

With poetic lines such as “His fingers plucked the strings lightly and with ease as if they were old friends his fingers gladly waltzed with” the author shows an amazing writing talent.  There are many such lines throughout this story and these are the lines that made this a good read.

 

February 2013

The Twelfth Child by Bette Lee Crosby   

 Many thanks to the author, Bette Lee Crosby, for gifting me with a copy of her book "The Twelfth Child".  As I have not read any previous books written by this author I did not know what to expect.

I so thoroughly enjoyed reading about Abigail her hopes and dreams and the life she eventually had.  Once I started reading this story I was unable to put my eReader down.  This is not a suspense filled story but a wonderful story of a woman and the life she lived.  How she runs away from home at such a young age to avoid a forced marriage.  Living with an elderly author as her companion until she dies unexpectedly. How she eventually ends up single and a Librarian.  To eventually retire in her early seventies and meeting Destiny.  A young lady she would grow to love as the daughter she never had.

Such an interesting story and a plausible one.  I was just left with one thought as I finished reading this story...... "What happened to the bonds"?  lol.

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 The Covenant (Abram's Daughters, #1) by Beverly Lewis

Another great read by Beverly Lewis.  This is such a heart warming story of young Amish people as they grow into young adulthood.

I enjoyed reading this story about Leah, her sisters, parents, neighbors, friends and the young man she falls in love with.

If you enjoy Amish stories add this story to your read list.

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 The Gatekeeper (The Keepers: L.A., #0.5) by Heather Graham

It is never disappointing to pick up a book written by Heather Graham.

The Gatekeeper is another good read in this series.  Saxon is elven and a cop.  The story opens with a bloodbath.  Nineteen dead and forty-nine hospitalized.  This story is a paranormal/mystery read that is fast paced and well written. 

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 Infinite Sacrifice (Infinite Series #1) by L.E. Waters 

This is a fascinating read.  The story opens with a Prologue that just grabbed me and pulled me into a wonderful reading experience. I wasn't sure I would enjoy reading a book on death and the afterlife.

The story is about Maya who after her death travels to what she thinks is heaven.  She meets her spiritual guide and a fascinating journey begins.  You, the reader quickly discover that this author spent an enormous time in research as she adds so much detail and thought into the lives of Maya.  The priest, the slave, the mother and the wife of a wealthy man.  The only life we didn't discover is the one she just lived through.

This was such an wonderful read and I was left with a whole new perspective on what the afterlife might be like.

I am looking forward to reading more from this talented author.

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Naebody's Hero by Mark Wilson

Many thanks to the author, Mark Wilson, for making his latest book "Naebody's Hero" available to me.

This is such an interesting story in so many ways. A young boy abandoned by his parents, raised by foster parents, and his discovery of super abilities.

The story of Rob Hamilton and the people he meets and gets to know is an exceptionally crafted story with so many layers.

I found myself pulled into the story from the first page and stayed interested to the last page.

I was happy to read that there will be more Rob Hamilton adventures to read and enjoy.

Mark, you have such an exceptional writing talent and I look forward to seeing more of your work in the future.

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Lethal by Sandra Brown 

As always, picking up a book written by Sandra Brown is never disappointing.  The opening sentence in this book grabs you.  The rest of the book is just as attention grabbing. 

Honor Gillette, a widow, with a young daughter becomes the hostage of Leo Coburn.  This man is wanted by the police and FBI for murdering seven men.  He threatens Honor and the safety of her daughter if she does not help him find something that her husband had possession of.  What follows is such an intriguing story that keeps you fascinated and engaged to the very last page.

If you love a good mystery then pick up this book or any other Sandra Brown.  You will not be disappointed.