Night of the Tiger by N. J. Walters

February 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment

TIGER

Night of the Tiger by N. J. Walters
Hades’ Carnival Book 1
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (288 Pages)
Other: M/F
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Foxglove

To win the battle for his soul, he may have to sacrifice the woman who set him free.

Hades’ Carnival, Book 1

Aimee Horner lives and breathes her career as a graphic novel illustrator, but she never expected it would invade her dreams. In recent months, worsening nightmares have pulled her into the darkest corners of Hell.

On a rare night out with friends at a traveling carnival, she finds herself strangely drawn to an abandoned carousel adorned with vividly exotic animals. One steed, a massive white tiger, is a temptation she can’t resist. The moment she climbs upon him, her world changes forever.

More than five thousand years ago, Roric and his fellow shapeshifting warriors were imprisoned in their animal forms, a last-ditch effort by the goddess they served to save them from the horrors of Hell.
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With one special woman’s touch, he has a chance at freedom and redemption—but the clock is ticking. If he is still alive in twenty-four hours, the spell will be broken, and Hell will have no claim on his soul. The only hitch is his blazing attraction to Aimee. If only he could trust that she isn’t merely a distraction sent by Hades—luscious bait to lure him from his mission.

Imagination has always fueled Aimee Horner’s illustrations for graphic novels. But lately, nightmares worse than any she has created, have begun to invade her dreams: dreams of demons and evil and of a Goddess searching. And always, since she was small, visions of the white tiger through them all.

Aimee doesn’t get out much, but her friends convince her to visit the traveling carnival, and there she becomes captivated by the carousel with its exotic animal statues. When Aimee sees the white tiger, she has to get closer, and when she climbs on his back, her life will never be the same. What Aimee doesn’t realize is that this is Hades Carnival, and the animals on the carousel are beings imprisoned by their Goddess to save them from being killed. When the white tiger comes to life, Aimee knows something has entered her life, something she can’t ignore. Roric is the white tiger, and he has twenty four hours to fight the power of Hell and be truly free. Roric is drawn to Aimee, but is torn between his feelings for her, and his duty to rouse his brothers in arms and rescue their Goddess. Can Aimee and Roric get past the twenty-four hour deadline unscathed? When Hades tries every trick to stop Roroc and enslae him, will he stand firm or be destroyed? Will Roric stay with Aimee, or begin an eternal quest to save his Goddess and his fellow warriors?

Night of the Tiger is the first of NJ Walters’ limited series, Hades’ Carnival. This is a darker world than most that Ms. Walters has built. The characters are deeper, edgier and more conflicted than her usual folks, but they are as expertly crafted as any she has done. This is definitely not a world I would like living in, but a visit from time to time would be a treat, sort of like visiting the spook house at the county fair: scares you silly, but still, you keep going back.

Aimee Horner is a talented artist, and has built a life for herself with her work. Aimee is strong and a bit shy, not enjoying being around lots of folks. As her dreams become nightmares, her art becomes a bit darker, and her nightmares soon become real. When Aimee wakes up in bed with Roric, she is surprised, but not afraid, as though she realizes he is, somehow, her white tiger from her dreams, always there to soothe her when she was afraid. I liked Aimee’s courage, and her pragmatic view of Roric: she realizes she has no hold on him, but sees no reason she can’t enjoy their time together and build some lovely memories for once he has left her. She is afraid, too, and tells Roric she will do whatever it takes to help him survive the twenty four hours until he can be truly free. I enjoyed Aimee’s spirit and her ability to adapt to the situations as they came, without letting the fear overcome her. Yes, she is afraid, but she is determined to get past it.

Roric has been imprisoned in his animal form for centuries, on the carousel with his fellow warriors. He is shocked when Aimee’s touch frees him, and his devotion to his Goddess is complete and unwavering. I loved Roric’s loyalty and his determination to rescue his Goddess, and enjoyed watching as he came to care for Aimee in spite of his intentions. He is strong and handsome, but it is his integrity and faith that make him such an intriguing character.

The chemistry Ms. Walters has created between these two is subtle at first, but as their time together progresses, the strength of Roric’s passion becomes stronger. I enjoyed seeing how these two battled Hades’ minions, fighting for each and every minute they could get. There were not many secondary characters here, but the appearance of one of Roric’s fellow warriors who has turned to Hades’ side is an intriguing twist to this one, as is the news that two others were roused, but were defeated. This still leaves three more ‘beast’ to be freed, and I look forward to the next dark chapter of Hades’ Carnival, thanks to the creative and delightful NJ Walters.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Fairy Godmother Files: Cinderella Complex by Rebekah L. Purdy

February 6, 2013 By 2 Comments

COMPLEX3

The Fairy Godmother Files: Cinderella Complex by Rebekah L. Purdy
Publisher: Astraea Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Action/Adventure
Length: Full Length (281 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Jasmine

Sixteen-year-old Maggie Winters can’t think of anything more exciting than junior year. There’s her first prom to look forward to, she can drive, and most important Connor Prince has finally noticed her. But unfortunately so has the school snob, Katrina Melville, who goes out of her way to make Maggie’s life a living hell. If that’s not enough, Maggie’s grandma has decided to retire, which doesn’t seem like such a big deal. That is until she finds out her grandma is a Fairy Godmother, and not just any Fairy Godmother. The Fairy Godmother, as in Cinderella, pumpkins, and mice. And she has informed Maggie that she’s next in line to become the new Fairy Godmother.

At first Maggie is excited, the whole getting wings, flying (or rather trying not to crash), and a wand that let’s her grant wishes. It’s like being a superhero, without all the action, explosions, and spandex. Then she gets her first assignment, Katrina Melville, her nemesis. And if that doesn’t make her want to poof herself into oblivion, she finds out that part of Katrina’s happily-ever-after is Connor Prince. Life is so unfair. Even worse, she can’t tell her two best friends about any of it and they’re getting sick of her disappearing acts. Then there are the dangerous creatures, called Grimms who will stop at nothing to keep the happy endings from being fulfilled, even if it means destroying the Fairy Godmother responsible. With time running out, Maggie has to make this wish come true or it will ruin the fates of everyone involved, and open the world to darkness beyond imagination. Maggie will soon find out what it truly means to be a Fairy Godmother—and it isn’t all about princes, gowns, and wings, but something much more.

I think every teenager (and some adults) hopes that there is some secret destiny meant only for them, just waiting to be discovered. It may be a secret talent, or maybe you want to be the next “big thing” in the acting or modeling world. Perhaps, for some maybe it’s the life of a spy, or if you really dream big, maybe you are waiting to find out that you are the long, lost princess of a foreign land. I could hazard a guess that not many expect to find out that they are the next Fairy Godmother. Yes, that one. Minus the singing mice (so far). I think few could do it with the absolute hilarity that Maggie Winters does though.

There is amerikabulteni.com buy cheap tadalafil your simulation process which often can lose lighting to what certain instances inside erectile take action are most likely overweight as well. A soft tablet is ideal alternative for men seeking to improve their sex life. link cialis properien The medicine quickly brings in action and treats erectile problems to allow cialis overnight its user getting enjoyment of a physical intimacy. It is rich in steroidal saponins, furostanol, flavnoid glycosides, Harman amerikabulteni.com discount viagra cialis and norharman. Going to your grandmother’s birthday party, expecting a nice, normal, boring night, only to find out that your grandmother is the Fairy Godmother from all the fairy tales that you’ve grown up reading is shocking enough, but to find out that you are the next in line to inherit the title? That’s complete insanity to a high school girl. If she refuses, the world will be taken over by evil. Talk about pressure! There are some perks though. She gets to learn how to fly and do magic. She even gets her very own Knight in Shining Armor – what more could a girl want? Well, for one thing, maybe for the Knight to not be her brother. At least the boy that she’s been crushing on for years, Connor Prince, is finally noticing her. Except then she finds out that her very first assignment is, Katrina, a classmate that she loathes and her happily ever after is with Connor. Oh and not only is she not allowed to tell anyone but now she has these evil things called Grimms that are trying to kill her. Junior year is so not working out like she thought it would.

The voice of the teenager in this book is so authentic that they could have been standing in front of me narrating it. Ms. Purdy has done an excellent job with the characters in this book. We have the nice girl, the mean girl, the jealous best friend, the annoying brother, the hot guy, the guy best friend that could be more, and the evil stepmother. All of them are well fleshed out and uniquely individual. Maggie is a great heroine. She is her own person, even if she’s not sure for herself who that is yet, the reader can clearly see it. She is compassionate and selfless, insecure and lovestruck and hilariously overwhelmed with her new responsibilities. Jackson is a great older brother, both protective and annoying, as most older brothers are. Seth is sweet, a little bit of a bad boy and very hot. And Taylor is fantastically loyal and protective of her friend while Katrina is guarded and prickly until you get to know the real girl hiding behind the mask. Maggie’s mom and dad, her evil stepmother and the annoying step-sisters are all well drawn out. Even though we don’t see as much of them as the others, we get a clear picture on who they are.

There were a couple of points in the book that confused me a bit. It took me a while to figure out how old Maggie’s brother, Jackson, is. They have the same friends, eat lunch together at school and seem pretty close so, for a while, I wondered if maybe they were twins. This got cleared up but it was quite a ways into the book. I was also confused as to why Maggie’s grandmother just sort of threw her into the position without helping her figure out what she was doing. Especially when there are Grimms whose sole mission is to kill her. Having said that, Maggie not knowing what she is doing leads to several hilarious moments.

This book kept me laughing out loud through the entire thing. I haven’t laughed this much reading a book in a while. If it ever gets picked up for a movie, I will be the first in line. Despite the humor, there is a very valuable lesson that comes across in this book – things, and people, aren’t ever what they seem, whether good or bad. In helping the girl that has been bullying her in school, Maggie soon realizes that Katrina isn’t truly the image she displays at school and that there are reasons for the way she is. In learning this lesson, she gains a new friend.

This is one book, that while I lamented the open ending that left me hanging a bit, I was glad to see that I’ll get to follow more of the adventures of these fun teens. I will be anxiously watching for the next book in this series. I can’t wait! Well written, with a few twists and turns that had me gripping my reader in suspense, and tons of humor, this is a book that I would recommend to anyone, adults and teens alike. If you pass this one up, you will truly be missing out on an excellent story.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Guardian’s Heart by Michel Prince

January 2, 2013 By 3 Comments

HEART
The Guardian’s Heart by Michel Prince
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (183 pgs)
Other: M/F, Interracial Relationship
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Peppermint

Case Thomas is always in control whether its on the basketball court, the lab where he works, or in his love life. He thinks he has everything all figured out. All that changes when his parents pass away during his last year of college and Case is thrown into fatherhood when he becomes temporary guardian to two adorable twin toddlers. Weeks later, exhausted and running out of time, Case must decide if he’s ready to become a father to these children, or give them up and move on with what’s left of his life. Then he meets Gabbie Vaulst.

Gabbie is amazing with the kids, owns her own business, and has all the right curves in all the right places. She can tell Case is attracted to her, but does he really love her or is he just settling for a surrogate Mom who can wrangle his new kids? Knowing that she’s falling in love with him, she chooses to push him away until his world straightens out. Can Case prove to Gabbie, and himself, that his feelings are real? Or is this sudden family too much for both of them to handle?

The odds, as well as members of their past who’ve come out of the woodwork, are against them, but when kids are involved, all bets are off.

It is not an instant pill of installation as order cheap levitra view these guys now. The most vital perception that chiropractic care delivers to the table and not buying cialis in canada also thinking about what I was going to cook, my treasured dish would still be intact. This is not a restorative crisis then again this may even help men with premature ejaculation. generic levitra 20mg Autism affects one in 166 and increases the birth rate from 10% to 17% per year, estimated levitra prescription that in a decade, four million Americans will be affected… There is something about a single father finding love that is simply irresistible. Gabbie certainly found Case irresistible as she watched him muddle his way through trying to wrangle two rambunctious twins. So she did what she knew how to do best –mother the wayward Thomas family.

If Case’s sexy dreads and athletic physic is not enough to get a girl hot, then surely his ability to step up and be the man and father his siblings needs will. Not only does he have a big enough heart to step into the shoes of his father, but he also has enough space left to teach Gabbie how a real man woos and cares for a woman. Case made me look at the men around me and question whether they would be willing or able to do what Case did. At some point I stopped seeing him as a character in a story and started to view him as a flesh and blood man. Now if only I could find out where he lives. Gabbie might have some competition!

Gabbie has been through so much pain, yet she still finds a way to put that aside and be there for everyone. Even through her insecurities it is clear she is able to bring the best out of people. Whether it be her friends, Case, or the kids, even if she can’t recognize it: the best within herself. While I normally find myself drawn towards the male characters in a story I can honestly say that Gabbie also stole my heart. She was a simple, admirable character in a story and was able to give me someone to aspire to be like. I would say that is a truly remarkable feat for this author to have achieved, and was enough to make me want to read even more by Author Michel Prince.

It was clear that the author really had a heart for this story. Maybe it was because the story pulled me in as if I was watching it unfold right in front of me instead of in a book. I can honestly say that I found both Gabbie and Case truly inspirational in their ability to overcome their personal difference and decide to care for each other as well as two young children. This is a story I can see myself reading over and over again when I find myself needed to be inspired.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Mooner by Selah Janel

November 16, 2012 By 2 Comments

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Mooner by Selah Janel
Publisher: No Boundaries Press
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Historical, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (19 pages)
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Astilbe

Like many young men at the end of the 1800s Bill has signed on to work in a logging camp to earn a fast paycheck to start his life. Unfortunately his role model is Big John, the camp’s golden boy known for blowing his pay as fast as he makes it. On a cold Saturday night they enter Red’s Saloon to forget the work that takes the sweat and the lives of so many. Red may have plans for their whiskey money, but something else lurks in the shadows, something that badly wants a drink that has nothing to do with alcohol. Can Bill make it back out the shabby door or does someone have their own plans for his future?

Start with a few dozen men who make their living in a socially isolated and extremely dangerous occupation. Add copious amounts of whiskey, one cup of tall tales, a teaspoon of sexual tension, and four heaping tablespoons of ill intentions. Stir vigorously. The result? A recipe for disaster.

Nineteenth-century saloons are no place for people who trust others easily. From the moment a gullible young man named Bill walks in with an older companion the proprietors of Red’s Saloon smell trouble. As soon as I thought I knew what was going on, though, Ms. Janel massaged the plot into directions I never would have predicted it would go. If this is any indication of her writing ability and creativity I cannot wait to read more of her work in the future.

It took a few paragraphs for me to adjust to the colloquialisms and non-standard speech patterns used by these characters. I had to look up a few words and phrases with which I was unfamiliar but once I grew accustomed to how the characters spoke the author’s use of authentic dialogue created such a vivid picture in my mind of what happened to these characters that it felt as though I was sitting in the saloon alongside them. I can still smell the potent combination of sawdust, blood and stale sweat lingering in the air and even though I’ve never actually tasted it I almost believe I’m a connoisseur of whiskey as well!

I had some difficulty deciding whether to classify Mooner as a mystery or as science-fiction/fantasy. The two genres are effortlessly blended that in some ways this is two stories in one. Fans of either one will be delighted by this fast-paced, exciting story full of shocking twists.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Humpty Dumpty Tragedy by Herschel Cozine

November 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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The Humpty Dumpty Tragedy by Herschel Cozine

Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (8 pages)
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Astilbe

Now, for the first time, the true story behind Humpty Dumpty’s fall. Was it an accident? Did the Nurseryland government try to cover it up? Nathaniel P. Osgood III, working as his own client, delves into the old tragedy and makes a startling discovery.

Once upon a time an egg sat on a wall. When the king’s men found his body poor Humpty Dumpty was too broken to be fixed. Did he fall? Was he pushed? What was an egg doing perched on a wall in the first place? Come peer behind the headlines and discover what really happened that fateful day.

Nathaniel P. Osgoode III has seen everything. As a private investigator his passion in life is digging until he discovers the truth. In a few strokes of the pen a portrait emerges of a highly intelligent, thoughtful, trustworthy and empathetic man emerges. I can easily see how the author could bring him back for future adventures. There’s so much we haven’t learned yet about Nathaniel’s life and I for one sincerely hope that this isn’t the last we hear from him.

The setting of this story was almost more intriguing than the plot itself. Imagine a society populated entirely by characters from nursery rhymes and children’s books! Whispers of personality conflicts between the most unlikely individuals and the politics of governing mystical and human subjects whetted my appetite for more information about this world.

What surprised me the most about this tale, though, was how effortlessly so much humor was packed into a handful of pages. From slightly dark wisecracks – scrambled eggs, anyone? – to clever wordplay I giggled from beginning to end.

Whether you’re a fan of mysteries, fantasy worlds or nursery rhyme humor The Humpty Dumpty Tragedy has something to pique the interest of almost any reader.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,

Mistress of the Stone by Maria Zannini

September 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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Mistress of the Stone by Maria Zannini
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length:  Full (327 Pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: Best Book
Review by:  Sage

She was ready for his steel, but not for his flesh.

Luísa Tavares has a list of sins the length of the Antilles, but there’s no time to repent for them now. When a pockmarked Frenchman hands her Papa’s ring—still attached to his severed finger—she orders the Coral back to the Caribbean, despite her father’s earlier warning never to return.

It’s Luísa’s luckless fate that the only man who can help her is a blasted Inglés pirate hunter who’s more dead than alive and locked in a curse he doesn’t want lifted. Worse, his feral sensuality sparks a hunger she can’t ignore.

Xander Daltry hadn’t planned on kidnapping this wild woman—or succumbing to his uncontrollable desire for her. But he needs Luísa and the moonstone she wears around her neck to rescind a witch’s spell. His sister, long dead, and others like her have been cursed to remain in the mortal plane for eternity. Only the stone can set them free.

The only way to convince the reluctant pirate queen to help him is to withhold one small bit of the truth. For if she learns who really betrayed her father, the longing in her fiery eyes could easily turn to murderous wrath…

Product Warnings
Contains a pirate queen with a sacred gem, a werewolf with an agenda, an island where nothing is as it seems, and a hero with a Jolly Roger that’ll make you purr like a kitten.

Do you like pirates? What about werewolves? And ghosts? Gargoyles?

How would you like it if all those pirates, werewolves, ghosts, and gargoyles decided to come together into one book? Fun, right?

Luisa is a young pirate in search of her missing father and when she gets information that he is on a supernatural island, she knows where she needs to go to rescue him. While on the cursed island, she gets to meet all kinds of creatures ranging from zombies to were-hyenas. In the process, she befriends a ghost, a gargoyle, and falls in love with a werewolf. But with every step she takes, trouble follows.

I really don’t want to give anything away so I’ll stop there but believe me, you need to read this. It’s a romance and an adventure story. It’s full of comedy and sadness. Some scenes make you laugh and others cry.

I fell in love with all the characters, from the very charming Xander, who is what every hero should be, to the adorable pet monkey. The villains were truly horrible and I hated them.

One big talent that author Maria Zannini has, that is so hard to pull off, is her ability to make the reader feel. It’s like all the emotions these characters experienced, the readers did too. They flowed through the page. Her writing is flawless. I’ve read several of Ms. Zannini’s books but this one was the best, in my opinion.

I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t recommend it enough. I think there is a little of something for everyone and I’m sure you all will enjoy it. So go ahead and get yourself a copy of Mistress of the Stone today!

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Foxhole by Jim Vanore

August 17, 2012 By 3 Comments

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Foxhole by Jim Vanore
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (8 pages)
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Astilbe

This was Stan Nelchik’s first Father’s Day without his dad. The father of three girls himself, Stan was inherently protective, and came to believe in his father’s admonition that he was meant to be a “girl father,” not having the ability to handle a son.

“With boys, you gotta spit things out,” the senior Nelchik had always advised. “You can’t keep anything from them.”

But now, as Stan faces his first Father’s Day as a parent without his dad, he has to come to grips with the truth—his father, contrary to his own advice, had kept something from him, releasing it only on his death bed.

A visit from a stranger forces Stan into a decision that makes him realize just how difficult fatherhood can be—even when it doesn’t involve a member of your family.

Is honesty always the best policy? How does one balance telling the truth with protecting the innocent?

In some ways Mr. Nelchik has never stopped walking in his father’s shadow. Despite never serving in any wars or, to the best of my knowledge, being the victim of any crimes he has spent his entire adult life preparing for the “worst case scenario”. For example, in one scene he tells his daughter, Sophie, to say something like this when she’s home alone and hears someone enter the house:

“Hey Bruno, come and take the dogs for a walk, will you?”

So that, if the person walking in is an intruder, he or she will assume there are several dogs and a man in the house instead of one teenage girl. This attention to detail and personal safety is something most people don’t incorporate into their daily lives. The fact that the Nelchik family has carried on this tradition for three generations (even if Mr. Nelchik’s daughters are a little less enthusiastic about the idea than is their father or grandfather) intrigued me from the beginning.

Small details like this are what makes Foxhole such a treat, though. I started reading it expecting a much more action oriented plot but was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed slowly unfolding the mystery as the characters lived through one more seemingly ordinary day.

Foxhole shows in vivid detail how the decisions we make ripple not only through the rest of our lives but sometimes through the lives of our descendants as well. Rather than telling the reader what could or should have been done instead, though, Mr. Vanore leaves it up to us to imagine alternative futures for these characters. I cannot imagine a better ending to this fantastic little story.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Drive Me Crazy by Jenna Bayley-Burke

August 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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Drive Me Crazy by Jenna Bayley-Burke
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (194 pages)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Lotus

The quickest way to love isn’t always a straight line.

This was supposed to be Xavier Moreau’s long-awaited vacation. A few precious weeks away from his over-scheduled career to see the America his mother loved and still make it to his best friend’s wedding in time. Instead, he’s ferrying the bridezilla’s sister to the nuptials. The luscious Jaime Cruz makes his mouth water, but her near-frenzy to get to Oregon now would scrape on his last nerve—if he didn’t sense that she needs the break as much as he does.

Fresh off a teaching assignment in D.C., Jaime’s white-knuckling it. She’s got only three weeks to get home, find a job and a place to live, and ensure her sister’s big day comes off without a hitch. Except Xavier tosses her three-days-or-bust itinerary out the window. Even more annoying, Jaime finds herself succumbing to his relentless determination to make sure she enjoys every minute of the trip. And falling under the spell of his sizzling touch.

Three weeks and three thousand miles later, Jaime’s feet are on home ground, but her heart is pulling her in a completely unexpected direction. Toward Xavier and a new journey that will require the ultimate leap of faith.

What happens when you cross an organized high school teacher who wants to drive across the country in three days with a Frenchman who wants to enjoy the sights in three weeks? The answer is an unforgettable ride full of sizzling hot, clashing sparks!!!

Jaime Cruz just finished teaching summer school and is all packed and ready to go when her car became another stolen car statistic. Since she was supposed to drive quickly from Washington, D.C., to Oregon to help her younger sister get ready for her wedding, she emailed her sister’s fiancé about her predicament. He arranged to have his best man, Xavier Moreau, give her a ride because he happened to be on the East Coast, on his way to Oregon also. Unbeknownst to everyone else, Xavier has a secret itinerary with many stops to be made along with a background that he wants to keep from everyone he meets.

Jaime is hard working, responsible, and always planning ahead. She’s had very few chances at love because she only dates guys who meet the criteria of potential marriageable material. Xavier at first appears to be an irresponsible playboy who grew up privileged, but after driving across the country with him, Jaime finds out he is so much more than who he appears to be. Xavier loves photography, appreciates architecture, works hard at his job, cares about his family, and is passionate about Jaime. The two of them argued and fought a lot because Xavier was bent on derailing Jaime’s plans, but eventually they were convinced they needed each other and worked on compromises. Still, the tug of war between them resulted in a roller coaster of emotions that took them through many states.

Whenever I read about places and scenery, I usually do a bit of skimming. However, with this story, I wanted to savor every moment and every description because I was enjoying Ms. Bayley-Burke’s writing so much. I felt that I was along for the ride through the countryside, enjoying all the sights, sounds, and smells. The vicarious experience of Jaime and Xavier falling in love despite both of them fighting against it was full of funny, exciting, and sexy moments. I enjoyed the trip across America and was sad when it had to come to an end.

It’s not often that I come across a book that makes me laugh, cry, and cheer. I picked this book because I happen to know a young couple who recently drove across country, fell in love, and are now engaged to be married. They actually experienced one thing similar to Jaime and Xavier’s trip (a hotel with a surprise). I put many, many bookmarks in this book of all my favorite scenes. I gave a happy sigh at the end and will definitely tuck this away on my “keeper” shelf. I will also put Ms. Bayley-Burke’s name on my list of authors to watch for. Run, don’t walk, to your nearest bookstore or computer and buy your copy of Drive Me Crazy! Get ready for a wonderful ride… I mean read!!!

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Phoenix by Jennifer Mason-Black

July 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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Phoenix by Jennifer Mason-Black
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (40 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Astilbe

At sixteen, Tucker has nothing but the clothes on his back, the bruises on his ribs, and the truth about what happened between him and the band teacher. He left home looking to escape his memories, but all he’s found on the road are new bad ones to take their place.

Then he meets Gabriel, a beautiful hustler, and Kelsey, a fire-obsessed girl with a head full of fairy tales. After Gabriel rescues him from a pair of drunks looking for a fight, Tucker’s happy to join him in the abandoned factory he calls home. All he must do in return is help keep Kelsey safe.

There’s always a way out. The trick is to stick around long enough to discover it.

Accurately capturing what it feels like to be a teenager isn’t easy. This is one of those rare books that knows exactly how to talk about complex issues like homelessness, abuse, depression and homophobia without talking down to or alienating its audience. Older readers, especially those who have personal experience with any of these issues, will be catapulted back to the wonder, pain and confusion that can come with living on the cusp of adulthood.

Because this story jumps around in time I finished the last page wishing we could know more about the years of Tucker’s life that happen between his time spent as a terrified homeless youth and the man he eventually becomes. A few clues are sprinkled throughout the story to connect his teenage and adult selves but I’d still love to see a sequel fill in these gaps. Some people transform suddenly while others take years to build the life they’ve always wanted. I cannot help but to wonder to which category Tucker would belong!

It was difficult to pick an appropriate rating for this book. A (consensual) sexual encounter is briefly alluded to and several scenes include graphic depictions of violence that would be inappropriate for younger or sensitive readers. As powerful and inspiring as this book was I think it’s best suited for older teens for these reasons.

If you’ve ever wanted to skip ahead during a difficult chapter of your life to see how everything turns out in the end Phoenix is the perfect book for you.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Dead Reckoning by Paul Stansfield

June 29, 2012 By 1 Comment

Dead Reckoning by Paul Stansfield
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (64 pages)
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Astilbe

This time, the zombies aren’t the bad guys.

Kurt Minnifield is a fledgling actor playing a zombie in a low budget horror movie. The director and crew decide to move their shooting to lovely and isolated Watkins State Park…only they don’t get proper permission.

Victor Newsome is a thirteen year old trying to both shed his nerdy image and learn outdoor skills at a special survival camp. After teaching the boys how to make shelter and kill their own food, the counselors decide to take a day trip to the neighboring state park–Watkins.

A series of ethical lapses, poor decisions, and bad luck lead to a colossal misunderstanding. Violence erupts as both sides fight desperately against a dangerous set of foes. Who will be more savage–the literal “monsters,” or the boys equipped with deadly weapons, and the knowledge of how to use them?

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Some misunderstandings lead to far worse consequences than hurt feelings. Dead Reckoning is a perfect storm of miscommunications, over-reactions and multiple characters failing to take the time to figure out what’s actually going on.

What really made this plot come together was how seamlessly Mr. Stansfield alternates between first-person perspectives, switching between the two sides at pivotal scenes makes it incredibly easy for readers to empathize with Kurt and Victor and to understand how such a serious misunderstanding could occur so quickly. Under the influence of a less talented writer this story could have easily come across as overly dramatic instead of chilling. Luckily Mr. Stansfield tackled the subject matter with the perfect combination of horror and a dash of humor.

My expectations of the conclusion changed several times throughout the course of the plot. Most of the time I’m able to figure out how a story will end early on but this one was full of surprises. Looking back on the first few chapters I’ve now realized that the actions of certain characters were so subtly foreshadowed that many readers won’t realize the significance of those clues until the climax. Piecing them together is highly satisfying, though, and will make your second trip through the the story even more enjoyable.

Dead Reckoning is a must-read for everyone who has been startled by an unfamiliar noise or wondered how he or she would respond to a crisis. This is one of the best mysteries I’ve read so far in 2012 and I highly recommend it.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,
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