Review: Broken Dove by Chelle Bliss

Title: Broken Dove

Author: Chelle  Bliss
Pub date: 2/15/2022
Stars: 4

Summary: A simple arrangement. A complicated future.

Lia Dove has always been a free spirit, living life to the fullest and never putting down roots. But after finding her birth father, along with a group of lovable, rowdy bikers, she can’t imagine being anywhere else. Throw in a hot biker roommate who offers her no-strings-attached deal as the cherry on top and leaving becomes an afterthought.

Leo Hawk has never felt part of anything until he becomes a prospect in a local motorcycle club. But catching feelings for his roommate, who’s also the club president’s daughter, could spell disaster before he earns his patch.

But when the past comes back to haunt him thanks to his missing older brother, Leo will have to lean on his biker brothers for help, risking a future with the club and the woman he’s grown to love.

Broken Dove is an interconnected standalone friends-to-lovers, motorcycle club romance, but can be read and enjoyed alone.

Review: I have been waiting for Lia's story since reading Broken Sparrow. I like that it jumped a year in the story so Lia and Leo aren't total strangers. I absolutely adored this story as much as I did Broken Sparrow. I don't know if there is going to be a third story but if there is I'm here for it.

Review: Dagger's Edge by Lora Leigh

Title: Dagger's Edge 
Author: Lora Leigh 
Series: A Brute Force Novel
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: 8/28/2018
Stars: 4

Summary: #1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh is back—with a vengeance—in her latest novel of passion and intrigue, Dagger's Edge, featuring the men of Brute Force.

Ivan Resnova wants nothing more than to escape his hard, brutal past. Starting over is not so easy once you’ve been a powerful crime boss but now, instead of being punished for his alleged crimes, Ivan fears that the one woman he can’t forget is in danger of paying the price.

Crimsyn “Syn” Delaney thought the danger she’d faced was over, and that she could resume her life. She never imagined it would return with a vengeance and throw her back into Ivan’s world. But when an attempt is made on her life, she needs Ivan more than ever to keep her safe—even if she is in danger of falling deeply and dangerously in love. . .

Review:
I absolutely love Lora's work. It is always so well written and flows so well. The book had some real nail biting scenes and some big twists. The descriptive naughty scenes are so steamy it's like sitting in the bathroom with a hot shower on. The book just pleads with you to read it. I am all about a good dominance who is also crazy protective. But this book as much as I love the author and as amazing as it was and hit on some of my favorite things it just wasn't my absolute favorite book. I definitely suggest checking it out it is a great read I love the author she writes some real steamy romances but I don't know if I'd suggest this be your first book from her. I don't know if I can really pin point what made it not amazing for me. But some of the great things other than what I listed above is how it is very dynamic. It gives a good back story for the characters and shows how much they've grown. It has very relatable family drama. I like that it is based on a Russian and someone who is French but the whole story is based in the United States. When deciding on my star rating I was kind of iffy between a 3.5 and a 4. I went with the 4 because she is a great writer and it was a good book, it didn't seem fair to half point it off because something felt off for me. I have another book to read by her that's coming out in January, I can't wait to read it!

Review: Smiling Irish by Katy Regnery

Title: Smiling Irish
Author: Katy Regnery
Publication Date: 2018
Publisher: Katharine Gilliam Regnery
Series: The Summerhaven Trio
Stars: 4
Pages: 205


Summary:
Tierney Haven and Burr O’Leary come from completely different worlds…but there’s a reason they say opposites attract. Bookish Tierney Haven has always preferred places to people, and she especially loves the peace and quiet of Moonstone Manor, an estate museum located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where she is head docent, chief historian, and live-in caretaker. The very last thing she expects to find on the doorstep in the middle of the night is bruised and bloodied stranger, Burr O’Leary, in desperate need of her help. Against her better judgment and at the risk of her brothers’ wrath, Tierney offers Burr sanctuary at Moonstone Manor and nurses him back to health, surprised to discover that the dashing, enigmatic stranger loves the history and peace of Moonstone as much as she. But Burr has a dark history, and those who hurt him will stop at nothing to eliminate him…placing Tierney in grave danger until he is well enough to find them first.

Review:
You can never go wrong with a love story. The stranger on the door step is like every girls dream to find. The hot mystery guy that falls helplessly in love with you. It’s a classic and she wrote it beautiful. You can’t help but laugh at the sibling bond. It truly was a great book. That  makes you believe in love again. That sometimes things are worth waiting for. If you want a cheesy love story I would recommend this book. It truly was a nice break from reality. 

Review and Blitz: A Date for Hannah by Callie Henry

Title: A Date for Hannah

By: Callie Henry

Series: Love is for Everyone

Publisher: Katherine Gilliam Regnery

Publication Date: 2018

Pages: 78

Stars: 4

Summary: High-schooler, Hannah, has always been self-conscious about her weight, so when hottie swimmer, Lia, pays her extra attention at her sister’s wedding, she has a hard time trusting his interest. Throughout the evening, Liam’s charm wins her over, until they’re falling hard for each other. But the next day, Hannah learns something that may ruin it all.

Review: This book really does make you think about your high school years. This book probably hit a little closer to home and made me think back on those days. The way the author wrote the novel really puts it into perspective. It really shows how as a person looking at someone else, you really don’t see what they see. I was that kid in high school so felt like I never fit in and was over weight. I personally connected with the book a lot more than I thought I would. When the truth came out, I felt her pain. I felt how much that it hurt her, it was like a repeat in my life. But I feel like this is a book that should be mentioned in schools. I think it would be a good book to use against bulling, because at the end of the day we don’t know what someone else is going through, or how they see themselves. I would recommend that young adults take the time to read this, it would be well worth the read.

- Victoria

A Date for Hannah is now live!

Special Release Day Pricing of Only $0.99!

Amazon (US): http://a.co/32DzPbY
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Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Date-Hannah-Love-Everyone/dp/194481034X/

AudioBook: COMING SOON!

Website: http://katyregnery.com/love-is-for-everyone/

Early Reviewers are LOVING A Date for Hannah!

"A beautiful story that's universally relatable as well as irresistible."

"A Date for Hannah is the sweetest, most unique and bravest thing I’ve ever read."

"Don't hesitate to read this sweet story, you will love it too!!"

Details:

Series: Love is for Everyone

Genre: YA Romance

Fans of Hallmark movies and sweet stories of first love will adore Callie Henry's new series!

High-schooler, Hannah, has always been self-conscious about her weight, so when hottie swimmer, Liam, pays her extra attention at her sister's wedding, she has a hard time trusting his interest. Throughout the evening, Liam's charm wins her over, until they're falling hard for each other. But the next day, Hannah learns something that may ruin it all.

*****

All stories in the LIFE (Love is for Everyone) series portray true-to-life, teen-aged characters, with real personalities and common issues, who experience the lightning bolt of first love in their own, individual ways!

Amazon (US): http://a.co/32DzPbY
Amazon (UK): http://amzn.eu/1DkEegQ
Amazon (CA): http://a.co/hSOvujr
Amazon (AU): https://amzn.to/2KRwd8Z

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Celebrate the Release

Come join the amazing party happening in Katy's Ladies

There will tons of fun, games, and giveaways!

Join Here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/212507205594592/?ref=br_rs

About the Author

Callie Henry is the YA pen name of New York Times bestselling contemporary romance author, Katy Regnery

Katy lives in the relative wilds of northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, where her writing room looks out at the woods, and her husband, two young children, two dogs, and one Blue Tonkinese kitten create just enough cheerful chaos to remind her that the very best love stories begin at home.

Keep in Touch

www.katyregnery.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KatyRegnery

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KatyRegnery

Instagram: @katyregnery

Review: Whatever it Takes by Virginia Kelly

Title: Whatever it Takes

Author: Virginia Kelly

Publisher: Season Publishing
Publication Date: April 9, 2018
Pages: 222

Where to buy: Amazon

Stars: 4

Summary: A woman frantic to find her child…
Laura Iglesias’s young son was kidnapped by a powerful and unscrupulous San Matean ex-general turned politician in order to flush her father, his top rival, out of hiding. With a reward out for her arrest, she’s masquerading as a waitress so she can get inside the estate where she believes her son is being kept—until a stranger intervenes.

A man with a mission…
CIA special ops officer Mark Williams has no idea what he’s getting into when he helps a pretty waitress avoid the advances of the ex-general. When Mark realizes that she’s the widow of the man whose death haunts him, he vows to help her and her child get away. But helping her puts him at odds with his mission to take down the villainous ex-general. Torn between duty and the debt to a dead man’s family, Mark is forced to make decisions that tear at his soul and could end in disaster.

A country on the brink…
Pretending to be man and wife on a quest to find her son, Mark and Laura fight an overwhelming attraction and give in to desire. But when they discover where her son is hidden, the villain makes a final power play that could destroy the country. Mark’s choices are stark: stop him or save Laura and the boy. And when Laura learns Mark’s true identity and purpose, she must decide if she can trust this man who lied to her about everything, maybe even about the passion they shared.

Review: 
It has been a long time since I have read a romance book like a really long time. It is really refreshing. I really enjoy that this book is more focused on more than that. They are trying to find her son and obviously fighting the obvious. I feel as of late I have been a bit of a hard critic. This book started really strong it held my attention and then somewhere along the way I just got a little lost. I found myself having a hard time staying focused and wanting to pick the book back up. I found at times that I just wanted it to get to the point. This book however is good. It may unfortunately just be me and my patience and just looking for a book I absolutely love. This book has a fantastic ending and I do love it but I feel like there could have been a little bit more to it. Maybe I have high standards after not reading a lot of books for so long. I'm not sure but I do recommend giving this book a chance. It is worth it!

Review: I Scream, You Scream by Wendy Lyn Watson

Title: I Scream, You Scream

Author: Wendy Lyn Watson

Publisher: Obsidian Mystery
Published: October 6, 2009
Series: Mystery a la Mode

Where to buy: Barnes & Noble, Amazon

Stars: 4 stars

Summary: Recently divorced Tallulah Jones is mortified when she's stuck scooping sundaes for her two-timing ex-husband and his bodacious new girlfriend, Brittanie, at his company luau. 

But when Brittanie drops dead, Tally is suddenly the prime suspect in the murder investigation. To catch the killer, Tally will have to dip deep into her small Texan town's darkest secrets and churn up stories some would prefer to keep in the past. But can she uncover the real culprit before a murder charge puts her dreams on ice for good?

Review: 

This book was a very quick read, I honestly didn't expect to finish it so quickly. I have a lot of love for it. I am not going to lie two reasons I picked it was the ice cream and the fact that I love a good murder mystery. So it's pretty much a win, win. I have taken about 2-3 days to read this book considering I barley get three to five hours tops of spare time to myself. I have binging on books lately. This book has been nice it focuses a lot on the mystery at hand it hasn't been outright easy to guess. I've been kept on my toes while also really enjoying being able to connect with the main character. It has that bit of romance to it where you really hope they get together without getting off topic and being the main focus. There really are so many twists you start to wonder if it's possible to be reading a soap instead of watching one without it actually being cheesy. I do really enjoy this book. Now you may say but Kati... You put 4 stars... Yes, there were those points where it got a bit dry. I did have my moments where I just wanted it to get to the point or to have something exciting happen. There were some unrealistic things that happened in this book that kind of had me saying "oh come on". But apart from those few moments I would absolutely recommend this book to people because it is very good. I am kind of curious if the author knew that the "town" is actually a road in Texas in real life. The biggest twist to this book was by far the end of it. Man that was absolutely unexpected but the absolutely best way I could see that to end. 

- Kati

Review: Rest Haven by Erik Therme

Resthaven:

By: Erik Therme

Publisher: Kindle Press

Stars: 4

Summary: The last thing Kaylee wants to do is participate in a childish scavenger hunt--especially inside the abandoned retirement home on the edge of town. When she finds a bruised, deaf boy hiding inside one of the rooms, she vows to lead him to safety . . . only to discover the front doors are now padlocked, and her friends are nowhere to be found. Kaylee is about to learn that not everything that goes 'bump in the night' is imaginary, and sometimes there are worse things to fear than ghosts.

Review: Resthaven was interesting to say the least. It caught my attention from page one and I had hard time putting it down. The interesting part of the book was the author wrote in a way to make it sound like everything that was happening was in the girl’s heads. Resthaven moved at a fast pace and there was never a dull moment. There were moments it the book where you thought something was going to happen but instead went in the other direction. I would recommend this book more for young adults.

-Victoria

Review: Harmony, USA by Lewis Bryan

Title: Harmony, USA
Author:  Lewis Bryan 
Publisher: BookLogix
Publication date: April 22, 2015

Stars: 4

Summary: Harmony, USA, the quintessential, idyllic small town, is full of beauty and simplicity. But behind the scenes of this neatly kept town lies a killer, and once you begin to peel back the layers, Harmony has secrets upon secrets. 
Everything you convinced yourself is good and pure about small-town life is challenged. One by one, the secrets of Harmony are revealed. You must decide what is right, as you believed it, and what is justice. 
Will those who have done evil ever pull themselves away from the darkness, or will their past consume them forever? 
Harmony lays in the balance.

Review: Harmony, USA by Lewis Bryan was an interesting book to say the least. You would not expect what happens in this little town. Bryan does a great job with the theory of small towns have their secrets. Harmony sure had plenty. Each page kept me intrigued to find out what happened. I myself am not a big fan of mysteries, I feel like you can pick out the killer in the first few pages. But Bryan’s mystery was one that was hard to break. He wrote it in a way that kept you interested yet you couldn’t name the killer. It took me till almost the end of the book to figure it out and I was still shocked at who it was. Although I did feel like focus of the book was not around the killer so much has around sexual assault. There was something that made me feel uncomfortable at times when every character had been sexually assaulted at some point or another. Regardless of that fact the book was extremely well wrote and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a fast yet good read. 

-Victoria

Review: Becoming Rain by K.A. Tucker

Title: Becoming Rain
Author: K.A. Tucker
Publisher: Atria
Publication date: March 3, 2015

Summary: Luke Boone doesn't know exactly what his uncle Rust is involved in but he wants in on it—the cars, the money, the women. And it looks like he's finally getting his wish. When Rust hands him the managerial keys to the garage, they come with a second set—one that opens up the door to tons of cash and opportunity. Though it's not exactly legal, Luke's never been one to worry about that sort of thing. Especially when it puts him behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 and onto the radar of a gorgeous socialite named Rain.

Clara Bertelli is at the top of her game—at only twenty-six years old, she's one of the most successful undercover officers in the Washington, DC, major crime unit, and she's just been handed a case that could catapult her career and expose one of the West coast's most notorious car theft rings. But, in order to do it, she'll need to go deep undercover as Rain Martines. Her target? The twenty-four-year-old nephew of a key player who appears ready to follow in his uncle's footsteps.

As Clara drifts deeper into the luxurious lifestyle of Rain, and further into the arms of her very attractive and charming target, the lines between right and wrong start to blur, making her wonder if she'll be able to leave it all behind. Or if she'll even want to. 

Review: I absolutely loved this book! It is the first book in a really long time I've been able to just jump into. At first I will admit I wasn't quite sure I would be able to read it. For me it started out kind of dull and slow. But soon enough I was hooked and hoping to not have to go to work so I could just keep reading. I fell in love with Rain and Luke quickly and always hoped for the best. Books like this always renew my belief in Love. The best part about this is that the whole focus is not romance. Yet it feels like that's all that matters. I absolutely will be looking for more books by this author. As always I wish the story would never end! 4 stars

Review: A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

Title: A Farewell to Arms

Author: Ernest Hemingway

Stars: 4 Stars

Summary: The best American novel to emerge from World War I, A Farewell to Arms is the unforgettable story of an American ambulance driver on the Italian front and his passion for a beautiful English nurse. Hemingway’s frank portrayal of the love between Lieutenant Henry and Catherine Barkley, caught in the inexorable sweep of war, glows with an intensity unrivaled in modern literature, while his description of the German attack on Caporetto—of lines of fired men marching in the rain, hungry, weary, and demoralized—is one of the greatest moments in literary history. A story of love and pain, of loyalty and desertion, A Farewell to Arms, written when he was thirty years old, represents a new romanticism for Hemingway.

Review: The beginning of the book was a little slow for me. But then I started swearing at Miss Van Campen for being such a mean old lady. It's been a while since I've sworn at a book. Some people just can't leave well enough alone. I like Catherine. Maybe I'm just biased on the name tho. :) The end of the book... Seriously just makes me want to cry. Where is the happy ending? Where's my hopeless romance? Why do you have to be so sad and depressing? OK sorry to many questions for a review. Haha. I do recommend this book. 4 Stars!

Review: Relentless by Robin Parrish

Title: Relentless
Author: Robin Parrish
Series: dominion (#1)
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication date: July 1, 2006
Pages: 448
Stars: 4

Summary:
In the space of a breath, what he thought was his life…shattered. Grant Borrows has been Shifted- in the silence between heartbeats, his whole life fundamentally altered. There's another man in the world wearing his face and living his life. What's more, the man staring back from his mirror is a stranger. But the changes don't stop at skin-level. Inexplicably, he's able to affect objects around him by simply thinking about them. And as he soon learns, he's become the central figure in a vast web of intrigue that stretches from an underground global conspiracy to a prophecy dating back over seven thousand years. Enemies and allies find him at every turn, but one thing they learn all too soon is that you don't want to push Grant Borrows too far... Can destiny be undone? The players are ready. The game is in motion. And the pace is: Relentless. (The Dominion Trilogy Book 1)

Review:
I really enjoyed this book. It's not quiet like anything I've ever read before. As always the characters were amazing. I felt all of Grants pain and anger. I understood so much of how he was feeling. I feel like this is one of those books that should be made into a book. It had so much detail I felt like I was watching it rather then reading it. After I finished reading the book and writing my review I looked up other reviews. People either loved it or hated it. 4 Stars.

Review: Tempest Revealed

Title: Tempest Revealed
Author: Tracy Deebs

Series: Tempest (#3)

Publisher: Walker Childrens
Publication Date:  June 4, 2013

Reviewer: Kati

Rating: 4 Stars

Summary: Half-mermaid Tempest Maguire is trying to have it all: fulfilling her duties as second-in-line to the merQueen Hailana while periodically returning home to the California coastline to be with her family and longtime boyfriend, Mark. Living under the sea and rebuilding Coral Straits is grueling work, while being back home reminds her of everyone she loves and misses. But when her old flame Kona arrives bearing news that Hailana has died and Tempest is now officially merQueen, she returns permanently to Coral Straits--even though it devastates her family and rips her apart from Mark. Once there, she discovers that an old enemy has resurfaced, hell-bent on taking over her throne...with or without her. As Tempest prepares for her final showdown against Tiamat and anyone who stands with her, she must decide what--and who--is really important to her. Because there will be few survivors in the ultimate sea battle that is brewing--and Tempest isn't sure she will be one of them.

Review: I read the first two books of the series and loved them. I really couldn't wait for it to continue and was excited when it finally did! But sadly this is the last book. Total bummer but I'll find another book series to latch on soon enough. From start to finish the book was amazing! I absolutely loved it! So sad that it ended. But I can't wait to read more by Tracy Deebs. I just wanted it to be like the energizer bunny and just to keep going and going. Loved it. The end was awesome I was so happy with who tempest chose!

Rate (1-10)[low to high]:

Quality of writing: 8

Pace: 7

Plot development: 8

Characters: 8

Enjoy ability: 8

Insightful ness: 8

Ease of reading: 9

-Kati

Review: Freestyle Love by Marcus Lopes

Title: Freestyle Love
Author: Marcus Lopes
Series:---
Publisher: Lazy Day Publishing
Publication Date: November 29, 2011
How Received: For Review
Rate: 4

Summary (as quoted from Amazon)
When it comes to one-night stands, Malachi Bishop has “rules”. No pillow talk. No sleeping over. No planning a future hook-up. First names only. It’s just sex, not a prelude to love. But when Cole Malcolm, a smooth-talking management consultant, woos Malachi into bed, the rulebook is tossed out the window.
The one-time fling leaves Cole reeling: Malachi is his first real shot at happiness, his “forever” man, and he’s determined to show Malachi just how good they could be together. But Malachi doesn’t believe in happily-ever-after, and dodges Cole’s play for his heart. After all, Malachi is still mourning the loss of Taylor Blanchard, whom he hoped to love forever. Then there’s Zach Brennan, a handsome twenty-five-year-old and student at the college where Malachi teaches. Falling for Zach could destroy everything he’s worked for, but Malachi can’t help himself.
Caught by love and in its betrayal, it’s a later affair with a beautiful stranger that changes Malachi’s life most dramatically. Now Malachi must confront his present and his past that bring into question the larger fantasies of home and his place in the world.

My thoughts:
Freestyle Love was a very good read. The story revolves mainly around two men, Malachi and Cole, who are both searching for a passionate love that most believe is only in the movies. Malachi is a successful writer and part time creative writing teacher, who is very happy with his job, but still can’t help but feel like there is something missing in his life. With a string of relationships that have been destroyed - the love of his life dying in a car accident, an unsuccessful relationship with a fellow writer, and a student whom was infatuated with him dying from a drug overdose - Malachi has pretty much given up on the notion of love. Cole is a consultant, and, ever since his dear brother Paul died, he has always felt alone. When Cole and Malachi meet at a local bar, they feel an undeniable connection - one that turns a one-night stand into a possible serious relationship. Fast forward four years later ,and Cole and Malachi are living together. The beautiful, passionate love they once shared has turned into silence and coldness. As they both run into previous lovers, their faith and loyalty in each other is tested … and they must decide whether to let each other go, or find a way to fuel the spark that once made their love so bright. I liked Cole and Malachi a lot. They were both smart, funny characters, who made me frustrated with their indecision while at the same time had me empathizing with the pain of their emotional baggage. I also really liked the secondary characters, such as Malachi’s sister Sarah, his best friend Shane, and his ex-lover Chad. They were all funny, witty, and absolutely essential to the story. Without them, Malachi - and Cole for that matter - would not have been able to realize that they were holding on to the past without really living in the present. Freestyle Love is a good book, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a fast-paced, emotional, romantic read.
4/5
~Moujnir

Confessions of a Color-Blind House Painter by Selwyn Mills Ph.D

Title: Confessions of A Color-Blind House Painter
Author: Selwyn Mills Ph.D
Series:---
Publisher: Create Space
Publcation Date: November 19, 2011
How Received: For Review
Rate: 4

Summary (as quoted from Amazon): “Confessions of a Color-Blind House Painter," a collection of autobiographical writings by Selwyn Mills, offers an account of the author’s life as well as his ruminations on painting, psychotherapy, friendship, romantic love, poetry, prison, philosophy, relationships and cats, among other topics. Mills split his professional life between two concurrent careers – he worked as a decorative painter in the mornings and led psychotherapy sessions in the afternoon. Although these types of work might appear quite different, Mills describes how each profession deals with depression and renewal. He offers an eclectic collection of musings on various topics, each one weaving personal narrative with opinion and insight. “Confessions of a Color-Blind House Painter” reveals a portrait of a life made up of equal portions of intellectual, creative and emotional elements. Written in a roving style quite different from a straightforward autobiographical account, the book is intended to entertain and engage readers with a broad range of interests.

My thoughts:
Confessions of A Color-Blind House Painter was a very interesting read. Full of different poems, articles, and general musings, the book holds many keen observations on human nature. Out of the many different topics, three in particular caught my eye. One was the discussion of left brain/right brain differences (for example, the left brain is rational and the right brain is irrational). A lot of artists and craftsman discuss how they are left/right brained, and how it affects their profession. Mills Ph.D take on the subject was unique and insightful - especially the whole “neat/sloppy” concept - the idea that people who have neat/sloppy behavior are leaning either toward the left hemisphere or the right hemisphere of the brain- which I had never heard of before. The other subject that I thoroughly enjoyed reading about is a part entitled “Love Addiction”. It is about a conversation Mills Ph.D (as a psychiatrist) had with one of his patients who was having an affair. He breaks down how people, even if they are in a happy relationship, seek a love that they can control - a tamed love- so to speak - and how a love addiction is just as bad as any other addiction in the way that it can destroy your life. I also liked the part where Mills Ph.D discusses in detail color blindness, and explains that he has red/green perception, meaning that he can see a lot of colors, but that colors close to green and red are difficult for him to perceive. The only thing I didn’t like about the book was how many quotes there were. I’m sure that for people who like quotes, they would love those parts, but for me, it disrupted the flow of the writing and sometimes made it hard for me to follow the thread of the topic I was reading about. Other than that, I really enjoyed Confessions of A Color-Blind House Painter, and I recommend it to anyone seeking an interesting, insightful read.
4/5
~Moujnir

Review: Lies Beneath by Ann Greenwood Brown

Title: Lies Beneath 

Author: Anne Greenwood Brown

Publisher: Delacorte Books

Release Date: June 12, 2012

Received: For Review

Age Group: 

Challenge: DAC, YA Fantasy

Rate: 4 Stars

Summary: Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistable good looks and charm on ususpecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.
Review:
I didn't really know what to expect from this book. I like merpeople but this storys facts are different from any I've ever heard. I thought only certain kinds of merpeople killed people not all. Oh, plus this story is told from a males perspective which made it a bit harder for me to connect to right away. This book reminds me of why I don't like girls they are deceptive and mean. Ahaha. Seriously though these mermaids are crazy! The story seems to be rather unexplainable (thats kind of a good thing). I love Lily she's different, fun, strong and, really smart. But at the same time she's pretty stupid... But who doesn't have their stupid moments. The merman is different and everyone in the book seems to know other then him. But isn't that how it always goes. Their were a few cleshays (sorry I don'thave spell check right now) in the book but that's ok because the end was pretty great.
-Kati

Angel of Death

Author: Karen Dales
Series: The Chosen Chronicles
Publisher: Dark Dragon Publishers
Publication Date: May 15, 2009
How Received: For Review
Rate: 4

Summary: (as quoted from Amazon) The Vampires of London are being murdered and only the Angel of Death can save them. When Father Paul Notus is captured and threatened with a gruesome death by the Mistress of London and her Vampires, the Angel is forced into a dark world of murder and deception to discover who is killing the Vampires of Britain. Forced into a partnership with the Noble Fernando de Sagres, a vampire of sadistic tastes, and joined by the beautiful and mortal Jeanie Stuart, the Angel seeks out who is behind these killings. Plagued by demons from his past and his increasing affections for Jeanie, the Angel walks a fine line between his heart and his fears. He discovers the culprits but at a high cost - the irrevocable discovery of what he truly is and the Destruction of one he loves.
My thoughts:
Angel of Death was a very entertaining read. The book, told through multiple viewpoints, is a beautiful balance of horror, mystery, and romance. The story starts when a man - know as "the Angel" - is forced to accept a summons to the Vampire Court, as they have kidnapped his Chooser, Notus. There, he, and another vampire (normally called Chosen) are thrust into a mission to discover who has been tainting human beings blood, and rendering Chosen unable to feed. As the Angel and Fernando - the other Chosen - search for an answer, along with Jeanie, the Angel's housekeeper, they find that not is all as it appears to be. I especially loved Karen's ability to write such a mysterious, well crafted story. Also, having Fernando, a seemingly cold-blooded killer, pair up with the Angel, a Chosen who despises bloodshed, called for a lot of funny moments that had me laughing out loud. Jeanie's Scottish accent was adorable, and her iron-will and determination made her both a relatable young girl and an amazing heroine at the same time. The only thing I think could've been improved in the novel is the punctuation, as well as sentences that seemed like they should be rearranged as to be clearer to the reader. Besides that, Angel of Death was a very thrilling read, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in the next installment, Shadow of Death.
4/5
~Moujnir

The 19 Dragons

Author: S.M. Reine
Series: ---
Publisher: 
Publication Date: July 8, 2011
How Received: For Review
Rate: 4


Summary:
There are nineteen provinces in the Land held aloft by nineteen pillars. Above the earth there is sky, and nobody knows what goes below except the Nineteen Dragons.
That is all you need to know, but that is not all there is to be known.
The Device has been stolen and the godlike Dragons have been rendered mortal. Someone is murdering them one by one, and each death brings the world closer to its end. Unless the the Device is somehow restored to its deceased owner, the Dragons are doomed to destruction-- and the human world will go with them.


Review:
Normally I don't like short stories because I always feel there is so much more to be said but this was.. Breath taking and kind of poetic. Normally its not my cup of tea but I liked it. I also like how the story ties together.