A Life Unbroken by K. M. Hewitt

January 21, 2015 By Leave a Comment

LIFE
A Life Unbroken by K. M. Hewitt
Publisher: Create Space
Genre: Mystery/Suspense, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (327 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

As the sole witness to a devastating accident at a secret Biological Weapons Lab, Alex McKay vanishes while on assignment in South America. Six years later… through luck and a twist of fate… she resurfaces in the U.S. with a new name, a new face and a new identity. Alex has a frightening story to tell and she knows it could send shockwaves throughout the nation and world… if she lives long enough to tell it.

A Life Unbroken starts out mild and gentle with just a hint of suspense. Then it escalates to a terrifying, horrifying time in Alex McKay’s life that is incredibly cruel. It goes from having a lazy nap after a good meal to a South American dungeon prison and finally to Washington D.C.

When I talk about restoring penile overnight cialis delivery health I have their attention” Dr. Younger men especially can improve their sex lives are not giving slovak-republic.org sildenafil uk them satisfaction. Information about Kamagra Two chemical components are produced by Ajanta Pharma, which is a well renowned Indian pharmaceutical company that manufactures Tadalista in different levitra generika http://www.slovak-republic.org/museums/ forms or strengths. Some medical stores are making huge money by selling counterfeits and toxic buy viagra pill medicines. Her life is not her own for many years. How she copes when she knows her life teeters on the edge is spellbinding. How she rises from hopelessness to a position of power had me cheering for her every step of the way—at least, when I wasn’t holding my breath, hoping she’d survive with her sanity.

The major characters, both good and bad, depict the best to the worst characteristics of humanity. Much of the action reads like the things reported in the daily newspaper.

Cindy and Barry, two people Alex meets in the South American prison, are strong influences in Alex’s life as she moves into a life far removed from how she lived as a research scientist then a prisoner. At the Galindo estate in South America, the reader sees a new Alex McKay emerge under the tutelage of Alain Galindo, the rich oil man who has a common enemy with Alex.

Ms. Hewitt’s writing style is distinctive. While the main character, Alex McKay, a scientist, tells much of the story in first person, there are other characters’ point of views and author narrative. The reader needs to pay attention so the full benefit of the different point of views and the narrative can be appreciated. These aspects of the story reveal different facets of this mystery/suspense novel that give special insight into what is happening.

I stayed up far too late, reading to make sure some of the despicable antagonists got their comeuppance. Of course, I was also hoping for a happy-ever-after or, at least, a happy-for-now.

A Life Unbroken is the first in the Alex McKay Series. There are many characters introduced and involved in the machinations and clandestine dealings. I’m looking forward to seeing some of them again in the books yet to come.

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

The Dream King’s Courier: Payback by Patrice Sikora

October 3, 2014 By Leave a Comment

KING
The Dream King’s Courier: Payback by Patrice Sikora
Publisher: CreateSpace
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (409 Pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Animal Control Officer Gwen Revmore has no use for the gods. They’ve never answered any of her prayers-even after a tragic accident leaves her husband dead, and her young son gravely injured.

But after her estranged grandfather shows up at the hospital to urge her to try one more time to save the boy, Gwen decides there’s nothing left to lose. She asks Nathao, the powerful King of Dreams, for help, and he agrees to save Sam-but like most favors, the help will come at a price.

Many users are there brand viagra 100mg who are suffering from erectile dysfunction. The greatest benefit one can experience from an option to levitra cheap or levitrais the firmness in erection. As physical therapists now have their online presence, you can visit their website and look vardenafil cost for the services they are offering. This medicament is known to increase the blood supply to the female reproductive system is increased leading to the treatment of abnormal functioning of female reproductive system.Person having the history of high/low valsonindia.com online cialis blood pressure, yeast or fungal infections,2. King Nathao needs to replace an employee killed in an attack on his lands, and he promises to save Gwen’s son if she agrees to take on that very important job of Courier. Gwen will work closely with Nathao’s other staff, including her grandfather, and serve as the King’s public face for his congregations around the world. She will also be his official emissary to other gods.

Gwen soon finds herself caught in a dangerous conflict as Nathao and rival god Bayel struggle for followers and power. In a world where gods are created and shaped by human belief, these beings will stop at nothing to gain more worshippers-regardless of who is caught in the crossfire.

Most of us would do nearly anything to save a loved one. Gwen Revmore is no exception. When a horrific car accident takes the life of her husband and leaves her son, Sam, critically injured, Gwen, who never had any time for the gods, pleads with the god Nathao, the powerful King of Dreams. Timing is everything. Nathao has just suffered the loss of two of his mortal employees at the hands of the rival god Bayel. Nathao grants Gwen’s wish, but in return, she will now serve him as his new Courier, his representative to the other gods and the most powerful of his mortal employees.

The Dream King’s Courier is an engaging fantasy novel with a most interesting philosophical premise. The gods need followers and in turn the gods grant requests. As Lord Veron, the Lord Justiciar of the gods says, “We need the faith of committed followers to feed our strength so we have the power to support their needs and answer their petitions. Of course, that in turn confirms their faith and commitment. It’s the Great Circle.”

I found the characters, especially Gwen, to be fully developed and believable. The gods and the various mortals have their strengths and weaknesses, and Gwen has to learn how to navigate a totally new reality. She tries to stand up to Nathao and tell him what to do and not do with her children, and she quickly learns that it doesn’t pay to contradict a god. At the same time, Nathao respects her and over time, their working relationship develops and changes. In addition, Gwen needs to work with the riders, Nathao’s other mortal employees, and to assert her authority over them in a way that doesn’t also alienate them.

The pacing is excellent, and once I got into the book, I found it very difficult to put down. However, I wasn’t immediately drawn into the story. I found that the first two chapters left me wondering why I was reading it. I continued, because I did have to review the book, and I am ever so glad I did. From the opening of the third chapter I was totally hooked and from then on, I was caught up in the details of the gods’ realm, the intrigue and excitement of the conflict between Nathao and Bayel, and the non-stop action of the plot. The information from the first two chapters is relevant. It just didn’t grab me until I knew why it was relevant.

Readers of fantasy are sure to enjoy The Dream King’s Courier. The story not only has a number of interesting and exciting plot twists, but the setting is fascinating, and there are a plethora of interesting characters who support or try to stop Gwen on her missions as Nathao’s courier. I look forward to reading more of Gwen’s adventures.

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

Drawn by Marie Lamba

April 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Drawn by Marie Lamba
Publisher: Lamba Associates, Inc., Createspace
genre: Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full length (296 pgs)
Age recommendation: 12+
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Water Lily

3rd Place BoY 2012

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Michelle De Freccio moves to England seeking a normal life, but someone starts appearing in her sketches. Then he grabs her at the castle, his pale green eyes full of longing. She’s immediately drawn to him, but is Christopher Newman real? She’s either losing it, or channeling a hot ghost from the 1400’s. History calls him a murderer. Her heart tells her other truths. Now Michelle faces endless dangers…and a timeless love.

I was drawn (pun intended) into this book from the first page and couldn’t put it down. I love Michelle. She’s both a typical teen and uniquely herself—talented and liked, but not popular. She’s pretty without being gorgeous. In a word, she’s real. Her worries about making friends and fitting in felt honest without being too angsty. She deals with the strange things that happen to her in a believable way.

When Michelle is drawn into the past it naturally makes her question her sanity. I liked how her mother’s wackiness and her brother’s disease add depth to her worries and to her father’s, making what someone else might pass off as vivid dreams into something truly disconcerting. The setting is wonderful and highlights the changes from past to present and back in an organic way that make the transitions seem effortless. This story is so deftly created that I was in each setting and could easily “see” Michelle’s art without illustrations.

I enjoyed how Ms. Lamba seamlessly inserts “Back to the Future” references. They compliment Roger’s character, fit the plot, and help explain how changing the past can change the present. They clarify things for Michelle and force her think about what she’s doing and realize by simply being in the past she changes the present. In the midst of her growing affection for Christopher, she has to weigh the risks and possible consequences of her actions to decide what action, if any, to take.

I loved how the book ended. It wasn’t what I thought it would be and different than Michelle thought it would as well, but it felt right and was very satisfying. I recommend Drawn to tweens, teens and above. It has the perfect amount of romance, and enough action and suspense to keep the most distracted reader turning the pages.

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