In the Wind by Lillianna Anderson---A Review

SYNOPSIS:

A storm raged the day she moved to our small town on the east coast of Australia. When we saw her, she was staring up at the sky with her arms outstretched, letting the torrential rain pour down on her as she laughed and spun around with absolute abandonment. Zeke and I watched her, mesmerised, until she spotted us and went still. It was that moment that everything changed for us. Up until that moment, Zeke and I were best friends - it was all we'd ever been, even though I’d always wanted more. Shea changed all that when she moved into the house next door.
If there was such a thing as magic then Shea held its source. She was light and laughter and everything everyone ever wished they could be. We were spellbound. Awestruck. Desperate to bathe in her light.
She would teach us about life. She would show us what was really inside our hearts, while forcing us to see the world through her free-spirited eyes.
She would teach us about love.
She would teach us about heartache.
She would teach us about loss on the day she disappeared...


She always said that one day she'd follow the wind again. Perhaps that's what happened, perhaps that's where she went - in the wind... 

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE:

In the Wind by Lillianna Anderson has virtually left me speechless.   I have read Anderson's work before and I enjoyed the romantic reads.   But In the Wind provided more than just romance.

It was a coming of age story with a lot of different treacheries within it.   Dawn was the main character and she suffered the same fate many teens do----she wasn't accepted and so she rebelled and became as positively different and unique as a girl could get.     Her best friend had been that one friend since they were small and then it happened.    Hormones appeared and the best friend became a desirable guy in Dawn's eyes, but she couldn't share that info with him because her own self image suffered to such a low extreme.     Then when the beautiful neighbor moved in all kinds of challenges occurred.    Did Shea feel attracted to Zeke?    He certainly was drawn to her.    Or was Shea a quirky girl who liked girls ...like Dawn?    This only scared and enthralled Dawn at the same time and she called her own sexuality into question.    There was teen age drinking, drugging and sex on the rampage.   There was adult-daughter sex abuse and mental status was questioned.    Questions of abandonment and betrayal roused angst and reflections.     This dealt with many many issues and the sexual content was quite explicit.

Every bit and piece contributed to the suspense and the sorrow that three teens brought upon themselves and upon each other as they struggled to survive being a teen.   And those who were responsible for them as kids, weren't the best qualified to lead nor guide them  through to adulthood.

It is purely and simply human nature to hold onto the tiniest grain of hope and this story had plenty of heart blended in that hope.   It was romance, it was angst, it was tense, and it was mind blowing....all rolled into one book.

I rated it a four wink read!

Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like.  I received a copy of this book from the author or their representative in exchange for an honest review.

It Happened in Las Vegas by Kathy Ryan-- A Review

SYNOPSIS:

It's party time in Las Vegas when four former college roommates and best friends converge on Sin City. Add in a crazy drunken bet about finding the "one that got away" to see if there's a spark still burning after all these years—how bad could it be? 

That's what Charlotte "Charlie" King thinks after agreeing to the foolish bet. Her friends convince her to reconnect with the one man she's been unable to forget. Only there's a catch—he's the older brother of her former fiance. 

Rodeo star Jared Drake is in Las Vegas for the Grand National finals. He's shocked to see Charlie at the arena. The split between her and his brother wasn't pretty. Plus, he feels partly responsible for their breakup, since the chemistry between him and Charlie was off the charts from the moment they met. 

Misunderstandings and lies kept them apart four years ago. Can they find a way past all their obstacles and take a chance on finding a path to happily ever after or will the lies from the past drive them apart forever? 

From My Perspective:

Kathy Ivan is a new author in my list of author's to follow, so let me sum up how I felt about It Happened in Vegas.   In one word, enamoured.

There was just something charming about this first story in the Wicked Wagers series.  The sizzling attraction between photo journalist, Charlie King and rodeo cowboy, Jared Drake was combustible.  I have felt that connection and passion for the only man in my life and could relive that excitement in my head as I read this book.   

Ivan was able to show the growth in her characters in a steamy little tale which was believable and flowed smoothly from start to finish.  This was a quick read, but so filled with emotion and twists of misunderstanding.    Sometimes it is so frustrating to be young, in love, and  challenged by hurdles you face to be with the one you love.

I loved that the author made me feel young again and stirred my heart for her characters.

I rated this a four wink read!!

 Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like.  I received a copy of this book from the author or their representative in exchange for an honest review.

Rev by Shauna Allen--A Review

SYNOPSIS:

***WARNING: This book contains content that may be triggers for anyone who has been abused or raped. Please read with caution.

I bear the wounds of battle.
I suffer the scars of shame.
A shell of the man I once was, I survive now only to honor my fallen friends.
I have been hardened by war and fractured by guilt, but Jewel Jackson has found a way into my heart, and I’d die to protect her—even from myself.
~~~~
I have been hurt. My body and my spirit have been beaten down.
I’m struggling to pick up the pieces.
To have a life.
To find my strength.
So what am I to do with Micah Christian—the only man who’s ever truly threatened my heart?

***All books in the Jack 'Em Up series are standalones with HEA but if you'd like to enjoy them in order... 
Burnout (Prequel - Blake & Delilah: The Beginning) 
Crank (Book I - Blake & Delilah) 
Torque (Book II - Jesse & Rachel) 
Hitched (A Jack 'Em Up Wedding - Jesse & Rachel) 
Throttle (Book III - Trace & Tori) 
Rev (Book IV - Micah & Jewel)

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE:

I love, love, love Shauna Allen's writing!   Did anyone know that already?    Has anybody heard me?   Well, it's true!

Rev is the fourth book in the Jack 'Em Up series, but it may not be the last, I have heard whispered.  And I love to believe in whispered words.   The characters in this book were both broken....viciously broken.    Shauna has presented us with a domestic violence subplot and a PTSD subplot as well as the tender love story that brought two wounded souls together.   She created a very believable, troubled romance where healing had to begin in order for love to survive and it was a riveting book.

This book released on March 4th 2016 and was well worth the wait.    As I read each and every book in the series, I felt like each successive book was better then the previous and the very last book(IV), did not break that thought at all....it was the best of them all!

Shauna is notorious for hiding little quirky nuggets within her penned stories, or a twist you didn't expect to see.    She builds suspense in a very intense manner and you sigh in relief as you read that very last page, but you also regret it because it's just never enough when you bond with her wonderful characters.

I think I have read all of her published works and I am amazed at her growth in writing and developing exactly what I love to read.

I rated this wonderful book, Rev, a five wink read!

 ABOUT SHAUNA ALLEN:



Shauna grew up an only child with two open and loving parents in Central Texas. She’s married to her high school sweetheart and is the mother to three fantastic children, including one she recently sent off to the Air Force. 

When she’s not reading or writing, Shauna is a freelance editor and lover of all things Gerard Butler.

She also writes Contemporary YA under the pen name SC Montgomery.

Shauna would love for you to visit her at her website at: www.shaunaallen.com
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/shauna.allen.12
Twitter : http://tiny.cc/s0dlmw


 Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like.  I received a copy of this book from the author or their representative in exchange for an honest review.

FEBRUARY Reading Recap

Happy March my friends!  It has been a long February with those 29 days and my plans for reading just really suffered due to this cancer thing I have been drawn into.    Somehow, doctor appointments to hurry up and wait, steal the time I have to read and create away and there isn't so much time to read...nor the incentive to review and blog.    Lately it has become a mental challenge for me to get much of anything productive done.

In February I did indeed finish five books.   The first four were romance stories.   Shauna Allen's book REV and Kathy Ivan's IT HAPPENED IN VEGAS, are yet to be reviewed and posted.

JULLIETTE by Anita Claire, THE MISDEMEANOR SUSPENSE SERIES by Joanne Jaytanie,
Angela Ford, Jackie Marilla, and Lauren Marie, were a lot of fun to read but all had some pretty explicit sexual pages.   Still, they were enjoyable.

The fifth book I read in February was quite disappointing to me--NEVER NEVER Part III by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher.    Basically a paranormal wrap up to this three book series by this pair of authors, it was short and should have been compiled into one book.

   

Hopefully, March will be a better reading month, although I will be starting chemo on St Patrick's Day and the doc thinks that will kill about four days of the month for me.    So time will tell, as it does in all things!

If anyone prays, please pray for strength as I undergo chemo.   No one wants to entertain a cure that seems worse than the disease itself, but it is what it is, and I will need God's help to do this.   I thank you in advance!

God Bless and keep those beautiful eyes reading.   I'll try to also!

Miss Beth! 

Welcome Steven Manchester--Guest Blog re: The Changing Season

Welcome author, Steven Manchester as our guest blogger today.    In THREE days, his latest book, The Changing Season will be released!!    It is more than awesome!!!

My review of this coming of age story can be found here:  http://bethartfromtheheart.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-changing-season-by-steven.html

In 1991, I served in Operation Desert Storm—and experience that proved to be a brutal one for

me on all fronts. I remember making myself a promise in the desert, “If I make it home, I’m

going to chase my dream of becoming an author.” And I did.

After returning home from the war, I worked as a prison investigator in Massachusetts. Needless

to say, there was great negativity in my life at that time. I decided to return to college to finish

my degree in Criminal Justice. During one of the classes, the professor talked about police work

but nothing else. I finally raised my hand and asked, “The criminal justice system is vast. What

about the courts, probation, parole – corrections?” He smiled and told me to see him after class. I

thought I’d finally done it! In his office, he explained, “There’s no written material out there on

corrections or prisons, except from the slanted perspective of inmates.” He smiled again and

dropped the bomb. “If you’re so smart,” he said, “why don’t you write it?”

Nine months later, I dropped the first draft of 6-5; A Different Shade of Blue (under the pen

name, Steven Herberts) on his desk. From then on, I was hooked. I was a writer.

Fast forward 24 years and I’ve written a dozen and a half books, with four of them (The Rockin’

Chair, Twelve Months, Pressed Pennies and Gooseberry Island) becoming #1 national

bestsellers.

In the spring of 2014, I met with my publisher (as well as mentor and friend), Lou Aronica in

Connecticut to discuss my next project—an emotional, highly-relatable novel for you and old, as

well as male and female. After a two hour lunch, I drove home story boarding The Changing

Season in my head.

I decided I wanted to write a coming-of-age story that addresses the time frame between high

school and college (which two of my children have recently experienced, while a third on his

way). I’d set the story in New England and create an endearing tale between a boy (Billy) and his

loyal dog (Jimmy), as they experience a summer of firsts: first love, first job and the first time

the weight of responsibility is felt. Amidst the twists and turns, I’d make Billy (with Jimmy by

his side each step) learn how one wrong decision can change the outcome of a lifetime and how

the right decision can bring as much pain as it does joy.

After several months of research, I started the writing to discover that the greatest challenge for

me would be time. First and foremost, I am a dad and my children come first. After that, there

are other responsibilities that need my attention. To overcome the obstacle of time, I made

writing a priority over watching TV and sometimes even sleeping. Once my family is taken care

of and the world closes its eyes, I’m up for a few more hours each day—creating Billy and

Jimmy’s world on paper.

In the end, The Changing Season took me eight months to complete. It is, by far, one of my

favorite novels to date—as I truly believe it is a tale that most people can relate to and feel

deeply.

On Sale Date: February 23, 2016
9781611882261, 1611882265
$26.95 USD, $26.95 CAD
Fiction, Coming Of Age
The Story Plant
300 pages - 6 in | 9 in

Miss Demeanor Suspense Series by Joanne Jaytanie. Angela Ford. Jackie Marilla, & Lauren Marie---A review

SYNOPSIS:

Four women meet in an internet group called “Lady Cops.” All work for police departments in small towns and realize that they have no hope of being promoted over their male counterparts. They band together and buy a private investigation business in Seattle and name it “Miss Demeanor Private Detective Agency.” Follow the women on their journeys as they are thrown into the dark under belly of drugs, murder, kidnapping, counterfeiting, and all the lies and unthinkable deeds the big city draws. 

From My Perspective:

Four distinct characters; four authors creating those personalities and mysteries---one book that draws the reader in from start to finish.   

Each of the four PI's were new to Seattle...each was beautiful in their own right and each had a different case to solve.   Each met an attractive male while working their respective cases.    These stories were full of suspense and romance.    Each PI handled their cases in their own style and reacted to the men  in their lives uniquely.    

This was a fun quick read and quite enjoyable.

I rated this a four wink read.

Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like.  I received a copy of this book from the author or their representative in exchange for an honest review.

RELEASE DAY PARTAE>>>DARKLY, DEEPLY, BEAUTIFULLYby Megan Tayte---including review

Welcome to Megan Tayte's release day party!     Darkly, Deeply, Beautifully releases today; it is the 5th in the Cerulean series and the conclusion!     All five of these lovely editions are meaty reads and build the suspense beautifully right to the end of this fantasy series.

SYNOPSIS:

DARKNESS HAS FALLEN, AND SHE ALONE WILL SEE THE LIGHT.

The Ceruleans: mere mortals infused with power over life and death. Five books; one question: If the might of the heavens were in your hands, would you be sinner or saint?

With her mother’s life hanging in the balance, Scarlett is devastated – and done with being in the dark. She wants answers, all of them.

But when was her pursuit of the truth ever straightforward?

Pulling a single thread impels a great unravelling. And each revelation will force Scarlett to rethink what she thought she knew about the Ceruleans, the Fallen, her family – herself.

All that came before was a mere prelude to this, the last journey. From London to Twycombe to Hollythwaite to Cerulea, Scarlett will be stalked by the ghosts of what has been, what may have been and what may come to pass. Until she reaches the place where it all began, and it all must end.

But in the final reckoning, none will survive unscathed. And some will not survive at all.

In this explosive conclusion to The Ceruleans series, all must be defined by their actions: sinner, saint… or something more beautiful entirely?

EXCERPT:

I kissed Luke then. I kissed him. Like I hadn’t kissed him in more than a week – since before London,

since before Hollythwaite, since Barcelona: when we’d been just a regular couple on a city break,

wrapped up in each other. Through the kiss I heard his sigh, the release of emotion. And then he

pulled me to him, onto his lap, and I kissed his lips, his jaw, his collarbone, his shoulder, and he

kissed my lips, my earlobe, my neck, my –

‘No!’

My robe had slipped, exposing my back, and I struggled off him and wrestled with the fabric

entangled at my waist.

He stood up. Put his hands on my shoulders. Said my name with so much tenderness that I had to

stop. Had to look at him. The room was steamy, the glass doors occluded. No one could see. Only

him.

‘Trust me,’ he said.

I did.

Slowly, he turned me. I steeled myself as he took it in, the brand I now wore. Non Serviam. I will not

serve. Emblazoned on my back in the form of angry, jagged scar tissue.

When I felt his lips on the nape of my neck, I jerked in shock. But his hands on my hips held me still

as he traced the path of the scar, one kiss at a time, from its very top to its termination just above

my bikini bottoms.

‘Beautiful,’ he said.

I turned to him. He smiled up at me.

Sinking down so that we were both kneeling, I said, ‘How could you…?’

‘How could I not?’ was his answer. ‘I was there, Scarlett. I saw what you did for your mother. That

scar: it’s beautiful.’

‘But it’s a punishment, Luke. Because I sinned. That’s not beautiful. It’s dark. Wrong.’

‘No! Don’t you say that. Trying to save your mother – that could never be wrong. If I’d had the

chance, I’d have done it. My mum, my dad, Cara… I’d have saved them all. And you. I would always

save you.’

His eyes were glistening, and I lunged for him and hugged him hard.

‘So stop hiding it from me,’ he finished, his voice muffled in my hair. ‘Please. Because I love that scar

on you so goddam much.’

I nodded into his shoulder and he squeezed me.

It was calm in our little haven. Still. Warm. Nothing existed but Luke and me. We held each other for

a long time, drifting in the haze.

And then Luke sat back and said, ‘So, you and me. We’re good?’

‘We’re good,’ I told him. Then I frowned and added: ‘For now. You know, Gabe, the Fallen: I have 

no idea what we’re getting into.’

‘Me either.’ He reached out a finger and drew, in the condensation on the glass door, a little

lightbulb. ‘But whatever lies ahead,’ he said, ‘it has to be better than living in the dark.’

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE:

I hungrily devoured the pages of this last book in the Cerulean series;  I wanted to read the conclusion and see if it fell into place seamlessly or if it would be rushed and an ill-fitting ending.    That sometimes happens in a series.    Kudos to Megan Tayte, the ending was a great fit for a wonderfully entertaining series.  
The stories are definitely paranormal fantasy in nature, but Megan created characters we were drawn to, characters we could love and wanted to follow from start to finish.   And this the last in her series was a beautiful conclusion, so very much was explained and revealed.    Scarlet could hardly have reacted differently as many mysteries were exposed for the lies they were.

Tayte thrives with a complex storyline and realistic and endearing characters.   Hers is some of the best escapism writing I have read and thoroughly looked forward to!

I rated this last of the Ceruleans series a 5 wink read!

BUY LINKS

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Darkly-Deeply-Beautifully-Ceruleans-Book-ebook/dp/B0183XAE2O

http://www.amazon.com/Darkly-Deeply-Beautifully-The-Ceruleans-ebook/dp/B0183XAE2O 

MEGAN TAYTE BIO:

Once upon a time a little girl told her grandmother that when she grew up she wanted to be a

writer. Or a lollipop lady. Or a fairy princess fireman. ‘Write, Megan,’ her grandmother advised. So

that’s what she did.

 

Thirty-odd years later, Megan is a professional writer and published author by day, and an indie

novelist by night. Her fiction – young adult romance with soul – recently earned her the SPR’s

Independent Woman Author of the Year award.

Megan grew up in the Royal County, a hop, skip and a (very long) jump from Windsor Castle, but

these days she makes her home in a village of Greater Manchester. She lives with her husband, a

proud Scot who occasionally kicks back in a kilt; her son, a budding artist with the soul of a

palaeontologist; and her baby daughter, a keen pan-and-spoon drummer who sings in her sleep.

When she's not writing, you'll find her walking someplace green, reading by the fire, or creating

carnage in the kitchen as she pursues her impossible dream: of baking something edible.

You can find Megan online at:

http://megantayte.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13478850.Megan_Tayte

https://www.facebook.com/megantayte

https://twitter.com/megantayte

https://www.instagram.com/megantayte/ 

GIVEAWAY:


a Rafflecopter giveaway Darkly, Deeply, Beautifully Release Day Party: 16 February