Sunday, June 30, 2013

Operation Blind Date by Justine Davis



4 STARS

Cutter's Code #3

Operation Blind Date is good read. It is the first of the Cutter's Code series that I have read. I wish I had read the first two they sound good what little I know about them. Cutter is a dog who showed up and gets people to do what he wants. The people of the Foxworth Foundation trust him. They put a lot of faith in that dog.

Cutter was done at the groomers and Teague was asked to pick him up. When he did he realized the groomer had been crying. Teague hates dealing with woman's tears. But Cutter won't let him go till he finds out what's wrong.

Laney after a few minutes tells him about her friend Amber that she lined up for a blind date is missing. No one the police or even her friend's family think anything is wrong.

Amber has sent text messages from her phone and even email saying she is going away with a guy. Laney knows their is something not write about the texts. When she texts back asking questions they are never answered either. Amber always texts and called her everyday. She has not done anything for Amber to behave differently with her.

Teague tells her that his company can help. That they don't charge anything but if they take the case they don't quit until it is solved or the client tells them to quit. Teague has never taken a client to his boss before. His boss has rules about what cases and when to show where their office is.

Quinn listens to Laney and Teague tell her problem, then when Teague tells Quinn that Cutter really decided that Laney needs their help. Quinn agrees right then to take Laney's case. They will find out if Amber is just with a new boyfriend and in love or if something else is wrong.

The story builds slowly till you are in deep into the story. I like Cutter and would to read the others stories about him. I like that Laney is trying to do everything to find her friend. She notices that the information in the texts are not right. Laney cares about Amber and is willing to do anything to find her. Has lots of drama and some action. Lots of good guys. Couple of Love scenes that I skipped over.

I would also like to read more about the Foxworth Foundation and see all that they do to help others. What a great idea. Reminds me of the old TV series Equalizer kind of.

I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it by Netgalley.
07/01/2013 PUB Harlequin Romantic Suspense 288 pages ISBN:9780373278299

Description below taken off on Netgalley.

When a loved one goes missing...and no one believes you...
Weeping in front of customers isn't Laney Adams's style. She would have gone unnoticed if Security expert Teague Johnson hadn't come to her grooming shop to pick up his boss's dog, Cutter. Something about Teague-or maybe it's the uncannily perceptive canine-compels her to open up about her best friend who's gone missing and how she feels responsible. The confession reminds Teague of his own secret guilt. He can't turn away. With the help of the Foxworth Foundation-and Cutter­-Laney and Teague launch a dangerous search that leads to unexpected twists...and undeniable passion.

Saturday, June 29, 2013

A Texas Hero by Linda Warren



4 STARS

Willow Creek, Texas miniseries

This book left me with a smile. I really like Ethan's father language shazam! The plot had some nice twists, I guessed who the third man was pretty soon. Not all the motives though. The characters I loved especially all the minor ones. I hope we get to see some of them back in the other books of the series. Their was a few love scenes I skimmed over and one really dirty scene where they were covered in mud.

Abby is divorced mother with Chloe a three year old. She is running late because her ex called and said he could not take Chloe like he planned. Abby had to call her father for help with baby sitting. On her way to work she was frustrated and passed her exit and stopped in the middle of the road and was rear ended. She got off the phone and told the angry truck owner that she would meet him over by the bank to exchange information. The bank was in sight.

Ethan was on his way home after working all night to go spend time with his daughter he just got custody. He was not in the mood to be in a accident. He followed. as she was giving her name on a card & number the branch manager was about to unlock the door when two men jumped out and made them all go inside. It was a robbery.

The bank robbers heard sirens and they grabbed Abby and were forcing her into their van. Ethan said why don't they take him instead of her and they made both get in. Ethan and Abby were calm. Hours later they were taken inside a rundown cabin in the middle of nowhere. Ethan heard the bank robbers one of them wanted to take Abby with them. Ethan got him and Abby out of a broken window and they ran into the woods. They hid by a down tree. After awhile the bank robbers left them in 102 heat with no water. They started walking out.

Ethan is a detective working homicides. His partner and another friend a cop started working the case. They informed their families that they were kidnapped.

Ethan lived with his dad Walt on a ranch with his twelve year old daughter that he was just getting to know Kelsey. Walt is trying to clean up his language calling people baboons, shih Tzu ect. Kelsey is behind in school. She has never been in one school for a whole year. She is angry and scared at the new changes.

Abby is close to her father Everett but does not get along with her stepmom Gayle. She has never spent a night over at their new house. When ever Abby calls her dad to babysit it causes problems with Gayle. But Everett loves to see his granddaughter and Abby.

Some of the characters you don't like at first but the more you know the more you like them. The bank robbery and kidnapping made changes in a lot of ways to the people around them. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it by Netgalley.
07/01/2013 PUB. Harlequin Superromance 304 pages ISBN 9780373718610

Description below taken off of Netgalley.

Falling for her protector
For single mother Abby Bauman, a failed marriage and a troublesome ex are proof of love gone wrong. But once she's caught up in danger and saved-twice-by take-charge detective Ethan James, she considers whether falling for a true-blue hero is worth the risk. Even now, after the rescue, he seems bent on continuing to protect her and her daughter. Why?

There's more to Ethan's determination to stay close than he's telling her. But when she confronts him, he proves she's more than a means to solve a case. That tempts Abby to take a second chance on trust-and love. Which might be the best choice she's ever made.

Friday, June 28, 2013

A Vow for Always(Discovery #6) byWanda E. Brunstetter


5 STARS

Wow A Vow for Always is finally here.(Though I decided to read all six parts of the story at same time. I would say the same day but since I was up till 1:30am before I finished it. The Drama was still going strong. Still love the characters and was trying to figure out how it would all workout. A little surprise at the end I did not see coming but should have.

Meredith has accepted Jonah's offer of marriage. She still loves her late husband but things Jonah would be a good husband and father for her baby Levi. She figures her love for Jonah will get stronger.

Jonah loves Meredith and plans to be a good father for Levi and hope Luke's family will accept him one day.

Luke is starting to remember more and more. He is so grateful for the Bailey family that have taken him into their lives.

I really enjoyed this cliffhanger of a book. But if I had to buy it each leg of the story it would be expensive. It is not a story that you would want to skip a part of it. Well worth the money.
I was given this ebook to read and asked in return to give honest review of it by Netgalley.
publication: July 1st 2013 by Barbour Books 128 pages ISBN:1620291479

Description below taken off of Goodreads.

Book 6 of an exclusive 6-consecutive-month release Amish serial novel. Join Meredith and Luke Stoltzfus, an Amish couple who are faced with the greatest challenge of their young lives. A Vow for Always is part six of New York Times Bestselling author, Wanda E. Brunsetter’s The Discovery--A Lancaster County Saga.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Guest Blog by Marianne Spitzer




Marianne is on a blog tour for her new book The Annamarie and Magdalena tour. She agreed to write a guest blog for me so I asked Marianne Spitzer these questions. How do you find names for your characters? What is your favorite character name that you have used in your new book? Do you picture a real person to describe your characters looks? For A guest blog and this is what she shared with us.



Characters In My Book

By Marianne Spitzer

Annamarie and Magdalena is the sequel to Gypsy Spirits and most of the names are the same in both books. Gypsy Spirits was my first novel and I used some of the knowledge I learned years ago, write about what you know. I thought it would be easier to write the book with familiar names.

Daniel and Annamarie are the main characters. I have always loved the name Daniel and Annamarie was my mother’s name. That was easy. Deb and Bonnie are Annamarie’s best friends; they are also the names of my oldest and best friends. As I wrote, the names I needed popped into my mind.

My grandson Ben wanted to be part of the book and I used his name. He also wanted to be the murder victim. Teen boys have strange ideas. I also wanted my book to sound realistic. The Gypsy family in the book owned a carnival in Bavaria. My paternal ancestors also owned a traveling carnival before 1930. I chose the names Magdalena, Josef, and Georg for Annamarie’s ancestors. They were also the names of my great-grandparents. I did some research on names, but I preferred the names I had. A few of the remaining names in the book were dreamed up, but others were names of people I know.

My favorite name I used for a character in the book is Magdalena. For me, the name is mysterious and romantic. My mom was able to tell me what she remembered about her grandmother. I was able to add some of the physical and personal characteristics into her character.

I did use parts of the personalities of two people I have known in my life for two characters in my book. They weren’t full personality profiles, but just a few funny quirks. They added depth to the character and brought back some fun memories. For other characters, I thought about their hair or eye color, how they dressed, or how they interacted with others. For many character interactions I remembered incidents I have witnessed between complete strangers while I was having coffee or dinner. People watching can be very useful when working on realistic interactions.

Each book is different. My third novel is complete fiction. Names, places, incidents, and interactions were all part of my imagination. I’m sure things I have seen throughout my life plays into my imagination, but nothing I can directly put my finger on. For my next book, I am not sure how I will come up with all the characters. Some may be strictly imaginary and some may be based on a memory of someone I met. That’s one of the best things about writing, the use of all our knowledge and imagination to form a believable story. Happy writing!

Annamarie and Magdalena

Synopsis: “Annamarie and Magdalena” is a supernatural thriller that begins where “Gypsy Spirits” ended. Annamarie walks home from the ordeal in the pines. Certain no one will ever know of her involvement, she tries to settle into the home she inherited from Daniel’s grandfather just two weeks earlier.
Daniel, refusing to accept his own death, has other ideas, and he joins his spirit with the spirit of his best friend, Garret, and an evil man Daniel had planned on killing. What Daniel doesn’t count on is that Annamarie is protected by her great-grandmother Magdalena’s spirit, and her Gypsy spirit family. Annamarie’s unexpected pregnancy drive Daniel to plot to steal his child while Magdalena does all she can to protect mother and child.
Daniel’s evil follows and torments Annamarie in every aspect of her life. Magdalena with the aid of Josef, Annamarie’s great-grandfather, begins a vicious battle of the spirits. Will good win over evil? Will Daniel’s evil be contained? Who will survive? Will Annamarie’s baby be safe or a victim of her father’s evil plan?

Marianne Spitzer


I was born in Milwaukee, and lived there until I was eighteen. Then I spent eight years in Washington state and California before returning to Wisconsin. I love eerie places and books. I began with a love of Nancy Drew books and as I grew I found H.P Lovecraft, Agatha Christie, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle among others. When I am not writing, I am reading or watching sunsets. I have been writing short stories since I was in grade school. Most were in the form of essays relating real life events. Many were purely imaginary trips to magical places and times. I enjoy making up stories about people I meet or see on the street. I can see a story in a picture, especially if the picture is eerie. My imagination runs wild and free. I have self-published a book of essays and a book of children's stories for my granddaughter, Brittney. Gypsy Spirits is my debut novel and the first in the series of three "spirit" books. I have self-published the second "spirit" book, Annamarie and Magdalena. I also self-published a supernatural mystery, THE LETTER. I plan to have the sequel to THE LETTER out this year and the third "spirit" book available winter 2013/14. From there I am sure my muse will guide me into another story plot.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Blog Tour for Evertaster & The Buttersmiths’ Gold by Adam Glendon Sidwell.


The Buttersmiths’ Gold

BATTLES. BLUEBERRIES. BOVINES.

TORBJORN AND STORFJELL’S HISTORY UNFOLDS IN AN EPIC EVERTASTER NOVELLA.


Everyone knows the most coveted treasure of the Viking Age was blueberry muffins. Blueberry muffins so succulent that if you sniffed just a whiff, you’d want a whole bite. If you bit a bite, you’d want a batch; if you snatched a batch, you’d stop at nothing short of going to war just to claim them all.

Young Torbjorn Trofastsonn comes from the clan that makes them. He’s a Viking through and

through – he’s thirteen winters old, larger than most respectable rocks, and most of all, a Buttersmith. That’s what he thinks anyway, until a charismatic merchant makes Torbjorn question his place among the muffin-makers. When Torbjorn lets the secret of his clan’s muffin recipe slip, he calls doom and destruction down upon his peaceful village and forces his brother Storfjell and his clansmen to do the one thing they are ill-prepared to do: battle for their lives.




About The Buttersmiths’ Gold

The Buttersmiths’ Gold is a spin off novella in the Evertaster series that tells the story of two Viking brothers and their adventurous past. The Evertaster series (Book #1 released June 14, 2012) is about Guster Johnsonville, who goes searching for a legendary taste rumored to be the most delicious in all of history. Along the way he meets a slew of mysterious characters, including two Viking brothers Torbjorn and Storfjell. The Buttersmiths’ Gold is their story. 124 pages. By Adam Glendon Sidwell. Published by Future House Publishing.






Evertaster, Book #1:

A legendary taste. Sought after for centuries. Shrouded in secrecy.

When eleven-year-old Guster Johnsonville rejects his mother’s casserole for the umpteenth time, she takes him into the city of New Orleans to find him something to eat. There, in a dark, abandoned corner of the city they meet a dying pastry maker. In his last breath he entrusts them with a secret: an ancient recipe that makes the most delicious taste the world will ever know — a taste that will change the fate of humanity forever.


Forced to flee by a cult of murderous chefs, the Johnsonvilles embark on a perilous journey to ancient ruins, faraway jungles and forgotten caves. Along the way they discover the truth: Guster is an Evertaster — a kid so picky that nothing but the legendary taste itself will save him from starvation. With the sinister chefs hot on Guster’s heels and the chefs’ reign of terror spreading, Guster and his family must find the legendary taste before it’s too late.



Author Adam Sidwell

In between books, Adam Glendon Sidwell uses the power of computers to make monsters, robots and zombies come to life for blockbuster movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean, King Kong, Transformers and Tron. After spending countless hours in front of a keyboard meticulously adjusting tentacles, calibrating hydraulics, and brushing monkey fur, he is delighted at the prospect of modifying his creations with the flick of a few deftly placed adjectives. He’s been eating food since age 7, so feels very qualified to write this book. He once showed a famous movie star where the bathroom was. Adam currently lives in Los Angeles, where he can’t wait to fall into the sea.

My Review of Evertaster Book 1
4 stars

Evertaster: Course of Legends

You thought you had picky eaters! This book makes you hungry. Talks a lot about picky eaters who only want the most pure food. It is over the top funny. Probably aimed at middle school age but is fun the whole family can enjoy. This is a battle around the one perfect recipe with the finest ingredients gathered from all over. One side wants to control it. They also want to destroy factories that make food for the masses. The recipe is supposed to bring world peace but it has never been made. It is now in the hands of a eleven year old Guster who is always hungry but won't eat food because it is not perfect. He is in the middle of the battle, he has to choose which side he is on.

Their is the bad chefs in the red hats. Their are giant chickens, giant Vikings, giant gorillas. The perfect ingredients are eggs growing from trees, a sugar mine underground. Many more mixed up food. They are chased in a car, their are explosions, secret passages, family fighting and pulling together. It is a fun book, a silly book, a action and adventure book and a cookbook all in one. It makes you want to eat fresh blueberry muffins, best tasting bananas and more food.

The characters are a regular family, evil chefs, private army and many more. Most over the top they will make you laugh or smile. You are pulling for Guster to choose right. His sister Mariah is smart she helps her brother. Zeke brother who teases. Henry Jr. the baby of the family he rides in backpacks of different members of his family. The mom who is trying to help her picky eater than keep the rest of the family safe as they go on the treasure hunt.

Can't wait to read the next book.

Okay now I have read Evertaster & The Buttersmith's Gold.


My review is below.
4 stars

Evertaster & the Buttersmith's Gold tells the story about the Vikings and how they came to have so rich butter from their cows. We met Torbjorn and Storfjell in book 1. This story is all about their Viking ancestors.

It is a lot shorter story, but a fun adventure one. A different Torbjorn and Storfjell are the main characters. They live in a village that was isolated from others. They would trade their butter and blueberry muffins to others then leave to go back home to wear they lived.

They said Torbjorn was old enough to handle the bargaining at a young age. He made a lot of mistakes as was normal for first timers. But one mistake he told his village greatest seceret.

The Buttersmith's gold is not over the top silly like the first book. You can almost believe that it really happened that way. It grabs your attention and holds onto it. It has a battle or two. Also Trolls chasing them. It shows how the different choices they made effected their whole tribe.

The characters Torbjorn and Storfjell are just teenage brothers who are around 8 feet tall. Storfjell is the older brother. He makes a choice that his tribe does not like but saved them.
Torbjorn made a mistake and then kept it a secret and made the problem worse before he told his tribe. They are likeable characters.

I can't wait for the next Evertaster that brings Guster and his family their next adventure.
I was given these two ebooks and asked in return to give honest review as part of their blog tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Acre by George Johnson blog tour review


My Review of Acre
4 STARS

Acre is a fictional baseball player. I have to admit to crying a few times in the book happy tears and sad tears. Some of the book I thought repeated information too much. I know that some of it is necessary when Acre does the same things years after year for his ten years in baseball.

I really got involved in Acre's career. I was rooting for him to break records, win the world series, hit homeruns. I was sad when he lost and did not meet his goals for the year. I was impressed at all his hard work. He put hours everyday into practice his hitting and fielding. He was always studying the game of baseball and ways to improve his game. He was not willing to be satisfied with hitting 400.

I think fans of baseball will enjoy this book a lot. Also fans who like good positive characters will enjoy Acre. It has a lot of baseball history and facts told in a good story.

Acre at young age loved to hit a baseball. When he was left a sum of money when a relative died with his parents control until he was ready for it. His parents did not want to tell him till he was way older but did ask him if he could have one thing he really wanted what would it be? Acre wanted a batting cage.

Acre's dad was an engineer so he bought the supplies and rigged it out and made it as safe as he could. Acre would hit for hours each day. He started with slow speeds and worked up to different speeds as he could. His dad figured out different ways to help Acre to practice different things to help him get better.

Logan owned the farm next door to Acre's farm. He played professional ball for a few years. He was always sharing tips with Acre. Helping him to get better and better. Logan had two daughters the oldest was Sharon.

Sharon and Acre spent a lot of time together. She would help him practice. He would go to places that she liked. They spent a lot of time just talking on her front steps. They were excited when they would both be together in high school and could eat together every day. Acre planned on spending their future together. He was not interested in dating anyone else.

To me Acre was a real person. He worked hard and had good morals and when he said he would do something he would do it. He was always willing to help when he could. Some of it in secret and some he used his name and face to help children. He would go visit people in the hospital and retirement homes. I liked reading Acre and look forward to reading more books from George Johnson in
the future.

I was given this ebook to read and in exchange be a part of its blog tour and share my honest review of Acre.




Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Publication Date: April 7, 2103
Genre: Historical fiction

In Acre, George Johnson takes readers back to a nostalgic time in America's history.

Remember When Baseball Really Was America's Past Time?

Acre Thomas Tulley proved to be a product of his time. In the late forties and early fifties, back before laptops and computer games, he was outside more than indoors. He spent hours on the railroad tracks hitting cinders with a stick. Afternoons were meant for swinging at corn cobs or having cob battles between the barn loft and the cow pound with his friends. Acre, George Johnson's debut novel, is about a boy from the heartland of America, who grows up to become baseball legend. It is a story that takes readers back to a time when family was everything, contracts were sealed with a handshake, and a man was as good as his word.

From swinging sticks at cinders, Acre grew up to hit baseballs with his bat. From the beginning, Acre Thomas Tulley set his goals high. He was still a teenager when he accomplished feats in major league baseball never achieved by any other player in the history of the game.

Keeping to his good family roots, Acre never forgot a promise he made early in his career. But now, after achieving a legacy that will remain a benchmark for many years to come, will Acre Thomas Tulley walk away to keep that promise? Can he?



About the Author

George Johnson is a retired elementary school teacher from Prince George's County, Maryland.

He thought about Acre for two years before he finally put it in writing.Then, it took him three years, off and on, to complete it and put it in print. Being a late starter, the author completed his second book of fiction called Timber. Acre and Timber are brother and sister. Timber took him two years to complete.

At the present time, he is compiling a collection of short stories he has composed over the years. George Johnson lives in Hagerstown, Maryland with Sharon, his wife of fifty-four years.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Willowleaf Lane by RaeAnne Thayne



4 STARS

I just love the covers of Hope's Crossing books. It is surprising how much a cover makes me want to pick up the book even when it is a ebook.
Hope's Crossing is such a nice community coming together and helping each other when they can. I like the idea that Charlotte as she is running past houses she is thinking do they need help or what can I do for them. Great attitude.

The plot is that Spencer has come back to run the new community rec center after his professional baseball career is over with a injury and prescription abuse. Then he had two years of everyone thinking he got steroids for other team members. Also his wife suicide some wondered if he murdered her. He wants to get his life back.

Charlotte owns a candy store and makes her own fudge and other candy. In the past two years she has lost 80lbs. A young girl enters the shop. Peyton
does not want to live in Hope's Crossing. She misses her friends. She starts talking to Charlotte and tastes the different fudges. Peyton tells Charlotte that her mother had died and is living here with her father. Charlotte who's own mother died when she was around the same age gives her the candy she was going to buy as a welcome to town gift. Peyton is shocked that she just gave her the couple of pounds of fudge.

Peyton's dad comes into the store and Charlotte recognizes him. But Spencer is shocked when he finds out who she is. Spencer's mom used to work for Charlotte's dad café when she was sober. Charlotte would help him pass English. She is angry at Spencer and is rude to him.

Spencer wants to add on to the community rec. program. When Peyton suggest to do something for wounded vets and their family he jumps on the band wagon. It snowballs from there.

I got caught up in the story. Did not want it to end. (though I loved the ending). It dealt a little with eating disorders both the opposite of each other. With drugs addiction and wounded soldiers. I thought the issues were touched on just the right amount for the story. Made me think a little about each issue and it was good entertaining book at the same time. It also made me want some of the fudge.

I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it when I was finished by Netgalley.
publication: June 25th 2013 by Harlequin HQN 384 pages ISBN:0373777698



Description below taken off on Netgalley.

Sometimes going back is the best way to start over
Candy shop owner Charlotte Caine knows temptation. To reboot her life, shed weight and gain perspective, she's passing up sweet enticements left and right. But willpower doesn't come so easily when hell-raiser Spencer Gregory comes back to Hope's Crossing, bringing with him memories of broken promises and teen angst. A retired pro baseball player on the mend from injury-and a damaging scandal-he's interested in his own brand of reinvention.

Now everything about Spencer's new-and-improved lifestyle, from his mission to build a rehab facility for injured veterans to his clear devotion to his preteen daughter, Peyton, touches Charlotte's heart. Holding on to past hurt is her only protection against falling for him-again. But if she takes the risk, will she find in Spencer a hometown heartbreaker, or the hero she's always wanted?





About the author:


RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains, where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including three RITA Award nominations from the Romance Writers of America and a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews magazine. RaeAnne loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.raeannethayne.com.

The Newcomer ( A Thunder Point Novel #2) by Robyn Carr


4 STARS
I like A Thunder Point series. This book follows Wanderer with the same characters and a few new ones. I want to keep reading and learning what happens next? Their are a lot of changes that happens in the characters lives, some good and some bad. It is not a story of one couple meeting and falling in love, but a few relationships are continuing.

The plot of the story is complicated. Deputy sheriff Mac his ex-wife shows up in town after leaving him and their three kids 10 years ago without a word since. She walks into the café where Gina was working.

Gina has problems of her own with her daughter. Sarah has to decide some tough choices coming up with her career, she has to decide what would be best for her and Landon. Cooper loves his new life running the bar and having Sarah in his life. He gets thrown some changes that he did not see coming.

The cast of characters are all different ages and stages of life. Some character that I was iffy about in Wanderer now I pity for awhile I hated him. Their are a few new characters that I really like and admire. Can't wait to see more of them. Other new characters I hope we have seen the last of them. Their are a lot of twists and turns and don't want to say too much and ruin some of the fun of discovery of story lines.

Cooper has always been ready to move on but he has set down some really nice roots. He is living above the bar now. He has made himself part of the community.

I picked up the book and did not want to put it down till I was through and then I wished it had not ended I want to read more about thunder Point. I did read the description of book 3 and can't wait till it comes out. Robyn builds a nice community of characters that you want to keep coming back to. Their were a few love scenes that I skipped over.

I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it by Netgalley.
06/25/2013 PUB Harlequin Imprint Harlequin MIRA 368 pages ISBN:0778314529

Description below taken off of Netgalley.

With humor and insight, #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr explores letting go of the past-and finding something worth building a future on
Single dad and Thunder Point's deputy sheriff "Mac" McCain has worked hard to keep his town safe and his daughter happy. Now he's found his own happiness with Gina James. The longtime friends have always shared the challenges and rewards of raising their adolescent daughters. With an unexpected romance growing between them, they're feeling like teenagers themselves-suddenly they can't get enough of one another.

And just when things are really taking off, their lives are suddenly thrown into chaos. When Mac's long-lost ex-wife shows up in town, drama takes on a whole new meaning. Mac and Gina know they're meant to be together, but can their newfound love withstand the pressure?

The Loner by Lindsay McKenna


4 STARS

It seems to be that most of all Lindsay McKenna stories have some military theme to them. This is no exception. Dakota is an ex-navy seal dealing with PTSD. So he lives high up in the Teton mountains in a cabin no running water. He hunts for most of his food. He found a wolf pup that a bear killed his whole family and Dakota rescued and raised him. Storm he calls him.

When Dakota was out checking on his traps he runs into a grizzly bear. He takes a beating for he is able to kill the bear. He has his pockets full of items that he was trained to have with him. he uses a tourniquet to slow bleeding, puts pad and duck tapes his arm. He knows he need help fast and his truck is a mile away. He makes it to hospital parking lot.

Shelby is a deputy sheriff and is picking up some paperwork at hospital when she sees a truck park into two spaces and she thinks he is drunk when she sees all the blood. Calls for help and gets him into the hospital. Dakota has seen the doctor once before and she knows what is problem is.

Dakota gets Shelby to take care off Storm till he gets done. He has no plans to stay overnight in the hospital. Dakota tells Shelby that she won't know where he lives. Shelby is a tracker like Dakota and she knows right where his cabin is. She gives Dakota her phone number in case of emergency. He ends up needing it.

Shelby and Dakota end up tracking together to find missing campers and they work well together. Then they end up working too capture two escape convicts that are personal to both of them. They rape and tortured Dakota's older sister and Shelby is the one who tracked them down last time and took them in for it.

They sure encounter a lot of wildlife in the back country. This starts off with lots action and drama and continues throughout the book. It deals with some issues of PTSD that soldiers go through and law enforcement. Dakota helps Shelby to cope with some of the events that she is facing. Shelby helps him to cope with his problems and gets him to talk about what he went through.

I like it that they both end up saving each other at different times. They are able to work to save some of the lost. They are both strong characters and have good points and faults that make them human.

Their are a few love scenes and some scenes describing what Dakota's sister suffered through years ago.

I am sorry for all the soldiers that are facing PTSD and are having a hard time fitting back into regular life. I hope that the drugs work for them to help their cortisol levels even out. Thank you for your service where ever you serve or what ever you do to serve this country and keep us safe. Thank you.

I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of The Loner when finished by Netgalley.
June 18th 2013 by Harlequin HQN 384 pages ISBN:0373777728

Description below taken off of Goodreads.

A man at war with himself In all her years as deputy sheriff, Shelby Kincaid never met a man as stubborn as Dakota Carson. Practically eaten by a grizzly bear and still that man insists on returning, alone, to his isolated cabin in the Tetons. Shelby's not even sure why it ruffles her-but she suspects it has a lot to do with the instant, powerful connection she feels with Dakota. If only he'd let down his guard with her....

Ten years as a navy SEAL took its toll on Dakota's body, his mind and his heart. Since being released, he's endured months of painful physical therapy...and brutal nightmares. Dakota wants nothing more than to hide from the world, so why does Shelby's gentle presence suddenly make him question his seclusion? But when Shelby's life is threatened, Dakota knows his warrior spirit won't hide any longer. He just hopes it's not too late

Two of a Kind (Fool's Gold #12) by Susan Mallery


4 STARS

I really like the town of Fool's Gold. The characters make you smile. They don't stay out of their neighbors business at all. They get involved with each other good or bad. Some good drama, some funny moments, too much sex scenes and good friends make a enjoyable read.

Felicia is such a fun character to read about. She is so smart, organized and beautiful. When she is nervous she spouts of facts. The spiders are out to get her. I have felt that some times. She was raised by a collage that studied her. She joined the military early by forging papers. She is a good organizer it social situations that she has hard times fitting in.

Gideon owns the radio station. A few years ago over seas he had a one night stand with Felicia and that came to a end when their hotel door was broken into by her friends. Who also were the ones that broke him out of prison. He had been a prisoner of war and the only one of his group to survive the torture. He still has lots of issues with it. He had no idea that Felicia was a 24 year old virgin at the time.

Now they all lived in the same small town. Felicia was staying out of Gideon's way. Till she saw a spider and screamed. He burst into see what was wrong. After that Felicia turned to him when she needed a sounding board about taking a new job for the town of Fool's Gold. They started to sleep together and then date. When a surprise out of Gideon's past shows up.

Gideon never plans to get married or have a family and he warns Felicia. Felicia wants a normal life like everyone else but she has no ideas how to get it. She has never been on a date. She has worked with special forces but most of them treat her as a kid sister.
So Gideon agrees to date her.

It is easy to get lost in the story and you don't want to put it down. I admit I skipped over the sex scenes. I can't wait to see what everyone gets up to next in Fool's Gold.

I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it by Netgalley.
June 25, 2013 by Harlequin HQN 384 pages ISBN-10: 037377768X



Description below taken off of Goodreads.

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery welcomes readers back to Fool's Gold, where a one-time fling could become the real thing...
Felicia Swift never dreamed she'd hear a deep, sexy voice from her past in tiny Fool's Gold, California. The last time Gideon Boylan whispered in her ear was half a world away...on the morning after the hottest night of her life. Her freaky smarts have limited her close friendships, and romance, but she came to Fool's Gold looking for ordinary. Gorgeous, brooding Gideon is anything but that.

Black Ops taught Gideon that love could be deadly. Now he pretends to fit in while keeping everyone at arm's length. Felicia wants more than he can give-a home, family, love-but she has a lot to learn about men...and Gideon needs to be the man to teach her.

As these two misfits discover that passion isn't the only thing they have in common, they just might figure out that two of a kind should never be split apart

The Last Conquistador by Michael Elias


4 STARS

The Last Conquistador is entertaining. I would love to visit the Inca tunnels of Peru and see some of the ruins. It is a believable way how the lost city stays hidden in the Amazon. Their was a few parts that I got confused in but overall a good read.

Nina is leading a archaeology and they find two mummies. The problem one of them is still fresh, but done exactly like the old Inca mummies rituals. Her group hurries back to the city to report the child murder. The group was followed by Quiso a young Inca boy. They took his brother away. He must follow and retrieve his brothers body so he can rest in peace.

Quiso is very brave and smart. He has never been to the Spanish city or ride in moving cars.

Adam is a FBI Agent and when a American child is kidnapped he is sent into try and find him. While he is there a few more kidnapped children are taken. A Inca mirror is left in place. He finds out that it has happened before years ago children are taken and not asked for any ransom. Later they are returned with no memory.

This book is full of drama, history, real live events but it also brings a Inca city to life in a believable way. What life might be like for a isolated city from the world. It is easy to get lost in the story and want more of it.

I really like the character Quiso. He is brave does what he thinks is right. The other characters have likable traits and some not so likable ones.

I was given this ebook and asked to give honest review of it when I was done reading by Netgalley.
publication: June 25th 2013 by Open Road E-riginal 286 pages ISBN: 1480400033

Description below taken off of Netgalley.


A series of child abductions in Peru leads an FBI agent and an archaeologist to uncover the ultimate secret of the Inca Empire

On a Peruvian Andes mountaintop, archaeology professor Nina Ramirez and her students make two stunning discoveries: the five-hundred-year-old mummy of an Inca girl, the victim of ritual sacrifice, and in another grave, the corpse of a recently kidnapped boy wearing the same ancient costume. Child abductions are being reported throughout Peru, and when an American boy is snatched in Lima, FBI agent Adam Palma is assigned to the case.

At the home of a manic artist who was the sole survivor of similar kidnappings in 1962, Adam is shown a disturbing mural depicting the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro. In the painting, the conquistador’s face looks exactly like his own. Adam teams up with Nina, and with the help of a mysterious boy named Quiso, their investigation takes them deep into the Amazon jungle in a search for a lost city of the Incas, where the ancient sacrificial rituals may still be alive. As Quiso leads Nina and Adam closer to the city and its secrets, Adam realizes that the only way to save the kidnapped children is to make the past repeat itself. Adam, like his distant ancestor Pizarro, must square off against an Inca high priest.

Protector by Diana Palmer



4 STARS

It has been awhile since I have read a story about Jacobsville, Texas. A lot of tough guys live and work there. The description of the book is misleading for me. Or maybe it went over my head and I missed that part. It has happened to me before. There are a few love scenes towards the end of the book. Lots of drama and some action. Some interesting characters. Some good, some bad and some really bad guys. And one big iguana.

Sheriff is home on his ranch when he is shot. He never saw the shooter, but he had his phone and was able to call 911. When he woke up the doctor told him it would be awhile for him to heal from this bullet injury. He could not stay home alone and they could not get anyone to stay with him because of Andy. His six foot iguana that hated females. Hayes has no relatives, his housekeeper is out of town nursing his sick sister. He has one choice and he is not going to like it.

Minette Raynor is raising her little brother and sister. She also lives with her Aunt. Minette runs a newspaper and Hayes hates her. Hayes blames her for his brother dying of drugs during high school. She has never touched drugs or partied. She never gave drugs to his brother.
She offered to let Hayes stay with her family and recuperate on her ranch.

Hayes knows a secret about Minette that he promised his father that he would not tell anyone about it. It was not anything that Minette did but it is why he blames her for his younger brothers death. Now that secret would be coming out and would be dangerous for Minette and her family it could also save her family.

Minette and her Aunt are good cooks and Hayes loves to eat there cooking and it softens his attitude towards Minette. He also realizes that it was not her fault for his brother's death, She is a good mother to her younger sister and brother. Who are cute and like to be with Hayes.

There is a new drug lord from Mexico that is moving into Jacobsville. He is not wanted in the U.S. any of his illegal businesses are done in Mexico. He has lots of enemies and brings danger with him.

If you are a fan of Diana Palmer's you will enjoy reading Protector. I look forward to seeing what happens next in Jacobsville it is getting interesting there.

I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it when finished reading by Netgalley.
06/25/2013 PUB Harlequin HQN ISBN9780373777716


Description below taken off of Netgalley.

New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmer takes readers back to Jacobsville, Texas, where Hayes Carson is a lawman on a search for justice.


His brother had been the only family he had left in the world. Hayes, a long, tall and serious Texan, has long been suspicious of the blonde-haired, bright-eyed Minette Raynor, who is both mysterious and beautiful. And now he's convinced that Minette was involved in giving his brother the drugs that killed him. As far as Hayes is concerned, neither her looks nor anything else will stand in the way of him righting what is so very wrong.



Minette can't get Hayes off her mind, or off her back. His investigation of her is a nuisance, but as an undercover DEA agent, that's the least of her worries. Until she finds herself in great danger, and he's the only one who can save her. Can she count on Hayes believing the truth-and saving her life?

Cover Reveal My Own Mr. Darcy by Karey White






BOOK SUMMARY

After being dragged to the 2005 movie Pride and Prejudice by her mother, sixteen-year-old Elizabeth’s life changes when Matthew Macfadyen’s Mr. Darcy appears on the screen. Lizzie falls hard and makes a promise to herself that she will settle for nothing less than her own Mr. Darcy. This ill-advised pledge threatens to ruin any chance of finding true love. During the six intervening years, she has refused to give any interested suitors a chance. They weren’t Mr. Darcy enough.

Coerced by her roommate, Elizabeth agrees to give the next interested guy ten dates before she dumps him. That guy is Chad, a kind and thoughtful science teacher and swim coach. While she’s dating Chad, her dream comes true in the form of a wealthy bookstore owner named Matt Dawson, who looks and acts like her Mr. Darcy. Of course she has to follow her dream. But as Elizabeth simultaneously dates a regular guy and the dazzling Mr. Dawson, she’s forced to re-evaluate what it was she loved about Mr. Darcy in the first place.

AUTHOR

Karey White grew up in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Gifted, was a Whitney Award Finalist.

She loves to travel, read, bake treats, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband are the parents of four great children. She teaches summer creative writing courses to young people and is currently working on her next book.

COVER REVEAL





Excerpt 1




Janessa folded her arms and looked at me for so long I started to squirm. “What?”
“I wish you’d look at yourself. You’re ruining your life with this stupid obsession.”

“I’m not obsessed.” I stood up quickly, nearly tipping my chair over. I rinsed my plate and put it in the dishwasher. I could feel Janessa’s eyes on me the entire time, but I refused to look at her. “And just because I’m not interested in this guy doesn’t mean my life is ruined.”

“Let me guess. Was he blond?”

“Knock it off.”

“Too short?”

“He wasn’t short. I’ve got to go.” I left the kitchen with Janessa on my heels.

“Was he too cheerful?”

“Oh brother. I’m not having this conversation with you.”

Janessa grabbed my arm and turned me toward her. “Yes, you are.”

“I’m going to be late for work.”

“Then we’d better talk fast.”

“I don’t have anything to say,” I said.

“Then I’ll talk. You listen. You have to start giving these guys a chance.”

I folded my arms tightly. “I give them a chance.”

“You give them one date, two at the most. But you’re not really giving them a chance because your mind’s already made up before you even go out.”

I was getting annoyed. “I don’t have time for this conversation again.” Janessa was practically reciting word for word what she’d said after my last date. And the one before that.

“Lizzie. If you don’t want to have the same conversation, do something different. Shake things up a little.” She smiled and did a little shimmy. I refused to smile no matter how silly she looked.

“How do you suggest I do that?”

“If this guy… What’s his name?”

“Chad.”

“If Chad calls you back, go out with him again.”

“I don’t see the point.”

“Did you get a serial killer vibe from him?”

“No, I got a nice-guy-that-doesn’t-deserve-to-be-led-on vibe from him.”

“Nice guys are good. So you’ll say yes, right?”

“If I’m not interested, it wouldn’t be fair to say yes.”

“Oh knock off the baloney. You haven’t been fair to a guy since high school. You’re just afraid if you get to know a guy, you might like him. And wouldn’t that be awful? Was Chad funny?”

“Yes, he was funny.”

“Handsome?”

I sighed. “I don’t know if I’d call him handsome, but he was cute.”

“Cute is good. Especially if he was funny. So go out with him again.”

“You act like it’s all up to me.” I walked to the closet and collected my purse. Like a tiger leaping on her prey, Janessa pounced at the bowl on the entry table and grabbed my car keys. “This isn’t funny, Janessa. I’m going to be late for work.”

“Then let’s make a deal. You agree to go out with him ten times before you toss him aside and I’ll give you your keys.”

“Ten times? No way.”

“That’ll give you time to get to know him.”

“You’ve got to be kidding.”

“I’m serious, Lizzie. Ten is a good number. In that amount of time, you can make a real decision. Instead of one based on a stupid movie.”

Now Janessa was skipping through a minefield. “It’s not a stupid movie and I’ve got to go.”

“It’s the stupidest movie in the world if it ruins your life.”

“Nothing’s ruining my life and I’m going to be late. Give me my keys and we’ll talk about this later.” A little tussle ensued as I tried to rescue my keys from her clutches. I almost had them when she darted to the bathroom and shut the door hard and fast, locking it behind her. “This is real mature.”

“I don’t care about mature. You’re my best friend, Lizzie. I love you and I’m trying to save you from yourself.”

I banged on the door. “Give me the keys. Now.” My voice had become shrieky.

“I’ll give you the keys as soon as you promise you’ll go out with him ten times.”

“I doubt he’ll ask me out again.”

“Why? Were you a jerk?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

I hesitated, knowing I hadn’t been very good company. “I’m pretty sure.”

“If he doesn’t ask you out, you have to ask him.”

“No way am I asking out a guy ten times. No way!”

“You just have to ask him out once. If he doesn’t return the favor you can move on. But you have to be nice to him and give him a reason to want to ask you out again.”

“This is the dumbest idea you’ve ever had.”

“Listen Liz, I’m doing this for you. Give a guy a chance before you give him the old heave-ho.”

I leaned my head on the door. “Just give me the keys. Please.” Now I was whining.

“You’re the one keeping yourself from your keys. And probably true love.”

I looked at my watch. Now I’d have to risk a speeding ticket or get to work five minutes late. I wasn’t sure which was worse—a ticket from a police officer or a tongue-lashing from Delia.

“Fine. I’ll go out with him again if he asks me.”

“And?”

“If he doesn’t ask me, I’ll ask him?”

“Right. And how many times will you go out with him?”

“Way too many,” I said under my breath.

“I can’t hear you.”

“Ten times. If he asks me.”

The door cracked open. “And you’ll be nice to him?”

“Whatever you say. Now give me the keys.”

Janessa emerged from the bathroom and triumphantly dropped my keys into my outstretched hand.

“You’re an idiot,” I said.

“An idiot that loves you and wants you to be happy,” she said. She turned and headed down the hall. “Someday you’ll thank me,” she sang.

“If I don’t kill you first.” I slammed the door behind me.










Excerpt 2




It was a busy Monday morning. I was looking out at the line of waiting customers when he walked in. I gasped, shut my thumb in my cash drawer, and then tried not to cry while Mr. Sandoval from a hearing aid store asked me if I was okay.

When I finished Mr. Sandoval’s transaction, I looked at him again. He was taller than anyone in the room. Of course. His hair was dark and a little disheveled. It was hard to see from where I was, but his eyes looked like they were blue. And best of all, he didn’t smile. He looked gorgeously unpleasant and impatient. He looked around the room and his eyes met mine. Still he didn’t smile. My heart was racing. He looked perfect.

I did my best to time it so I’d be his teller. I went a little too fast with one customer and accidentally shorted her a twenty dollar bill. I tried to concentrate as I corrected the transaction. I slowed way down on the next customer, but just when I thought I was finished and would be able to help him next, my customer asked me to break a ten into change. He walked up to Courtney’s window while I counted out nickels and dimes. Furious, I stomped my foot. Not too loudly but enough to release a little of my frustration.

I listened closely as Courtney helped him to see if I could learn anything, but he hardly spoke. He gave a terse nod when Courtney thanked him for coming in and turned on his heel and left. He had excellent posture and a nice, confident stride.

I finished with my customer, and then before anyone else could step forward, I picked up the phone and dialed Courtney’s extension. She glanced at her phone’s display and looked over at me curiously.
“Who was that?” I whispered when she picked up the receiver.

“Elizabeth, look how many customers there are.”

“I know. Just tell me who that was.” I watched as Courtney picked up her last transaction slip.

“His name is Matt Dawson.”

“Is he married?”

“I have no idea,” Courtney said.

“Was he wearing a ring?”

“I didn’t look. What’s going on, Lizzie?”

“I just need to know about him.”

“Well, I don’t know anything about him and Delia’s watching us. I’ve gotta go.”

Matt Dawson. Matt. Matthew. Like Matthew Macfadyen. Dawson. It was pretty close to Darcy. The only way it could be better is if his name was Fitzwilliam but I’d never met a Fitzwilliam in my life.

Matt Dawson.

This had to be a sign.

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Jack Templar and the Monster Hunter Academy (Book 2) Blog tour , Review and giveaway

My Review

5 STARS

I reread Jack Templar: Monster Hunter last night then started Jack Templar and the Monster Hunter Academy today. I really like both books. They are filled with adventure, heroes who are regular kids that overcome their fears to help their friends. That just because some say this person is bad and all should be killed is not always the best policy. The book has lots of different monsters that are trying to kill Jack and friends. Lots of battles are fought. Lots of action , drama and being friends. It is a clean read. it can be a stand alone book but I would read 1 before 2.

Jack, T-rex, Will and Eva are on their way to the Monster Hunter Academy to be trained to fight monster hunters. Eva keeps telling them that it is really dangerous to go there. Eva is a trainer at the last Academy. She starts training Jack as they travel on a boat heading toward the Alps.

Jack Templar wants answers. Is his father still alive and being held prisoner? What are the Jerusalem Stones? What did his mom do that she wants Jack to forgive her for.? Did he kill Ren Lucre or just wounded him. Why do people think that he is special? His Aunt raised him after his parents died. But she was really a demon wolf and raised him so he could be turned over to Ren Lucre when he turned 14. But she fell in love with him and gave her life to protect him.

Will is Jack's friend. He is short but feisty. His parents beat him and wont miss him. To fight monsters is his chance to belong and make a difference. Jack's Aunt was more of a mother figure for him too.

T-rex is a scared friend of Jack & Will. His grandmother raised him and now they were going to put her in a home and he will go in foster system. He does not want to be a fighter, but would not mind working in the kitchen to help.

Daniel is one of the trainers. He likes Eva but takes a dislike right off the bat to Jack. He is willing to have Will be in his group. He hates the wolves and wants to destroy them especially the big one with white marking on his chest.

This is a engaging series of books I will plan to read the next one when it comes out too.





Jack Templar and the Monster Hunter Academy (Book 2)

After barely surviving the onslaught of monsters that tried to kill him the day before his fourteenth birthday, Jack Templar leaves his hometown on a quest to rescue his father and discover the truth about his past. Joined by his friends Will and T-Rex, and led by Eva, the mysterious one-handed monster hunter, Jack sets out for the Monster Hunter Academy where he hopes to find answers to his questions. Little does he suspect that the Academy is filled with dangers of its own, many of them more terrifying than anything he’s faced so far.




Jack Templar: Monster Hunter

Orphan Jack Templar has no memory of his parents and only the smallest details from his Aunt Sophie about how they died. The day before Jack’s fourteenth birthday, things start to change for him. At first it’s great: A sudden new strength helps him defend his nose-picking friend “T-Rex” from the school bully, and even his crush, Cindy Adams, takes notice. But then a mysterious girl named Eva arrives and tells him two facts that will change his life forever. First, that he’s the descendent of a long line of monster hunters and he’s destined to be in the family business. Second, that there’s a truce between man and monster that children are off-limits…until their fourteenth birthday! Jack has only one day before hundreds of monsters will descend on his little town of Sunnyvale and try to kill him.

As if that weren’t enough, things get even more complicated when Jack discovers that the Lord of the Creach (as the monsters are collectively known) holds a personal grudge against him and will do anything to see that Jack has a slow and painful death. To stay alive and save his friends, Jack will have to battle werewolves, vampires, harpies, trolls, zombies and more. But perhaps the most dangerous thing he must face is the truth about his past. Why do the other hunters call him the last Templar? Why do they whisper that he may be the “One?” Why do the monsters want him dead so badly? Even as these questions plague him, he quickly discovers survival is his new full-time job and that in the world of monster hunters, nothing is really what it seems.

MY REVIEW OF JACK TEMPLAR: MONSTER HUNTER can be found at http://readalot-rhonda1111.blogspot.com/2013/01/jack-templar-monster-hunter-by-jeff.html



Author Jeff Gunhus

Jeff Gunhus grew up in Cyprus, Greece, and Saudi Arabia where there was a distinct lack of television. He quickly found books were the gateway to incredible adventures, fascinating characters and unbelievable discoveries. Now, with five children of his own (all who watch too much television, in his opinion), he has enjoyed revisiting his old books and reliving those adventures all over again.

WARNING

Yeah, you read it right. I’m a monster hunter. Back before I actually became one, I would have thought that sounded totally awesome. And don’t get me wrong, in a lot of ways it is. But most of the time, I’m either running for my life or hiding in the shadows, praying the monster chasing me doesn’t pick up my scent. And I’m almost always scared to death. In a few pages, I think you’ll see why.
But there are a few things I need to warn you about before I tell you my story.
First, this isn’t a cartoon. These are bloodthirsty creatures who will stop at nothing to kill. They are scary. Very scary. Second, the only way to stop them is to kill them first…and that gets gross and messy. Third, this is all real.
You think I’m kidding, don’t you? I can almost see you smirking as you read this. But this isn’t a joke. Monsters are real and the story I’m about to tell you really happened. If you’d rather walk through life believing that monsters are only found in books or on the movie screen, then you should shut this book right now and go do something else.
I give you these warnings because the story I’m about to tell you isn’t for everyone. Not everyone can handle it. The blood. The gore. The monsters.
This life was thrust onto me. I had no choice but to take up a sword and fight. But you can still walk away and pretend this dark world doesn’t exist. Or you can walk through the door that I’m about to open and find out the truth about the world around you.
But I warn you (and this is a big warning), if you read this book, if you learn about the monsters that roam among us and the hunters who fight them, if you decide to learn the truth, then you will become fair game for the monsters to chase.
Make sure you understand what I’m saying.
If you read this book, you will be part of this world and the monsters will come after you too. You will start to see things that no other humans can see. The shadows will move when you walk near them. The creatures of the night will seek you out, testing the doors and windows of your house, looking for a way in.
And, at some point, they will find you, just like they found me, and you will be forced to defend yourself.
So, think carefully before you turn the page, because once you do, there’s no turning back.
Ever.
Once a monster hunter, always a monster hunter.
See you on the other side.
If you’re brave enough.
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Sunday, June 23, 2013

Review North Dakota Weddings by Elizabeth Goddard

My Review North Dakota Weddings
4 stars
North Dakota Weddings is a collection of three Christian romance novels that have been written by Elizabeth Goddard and put together. They do talk about God, prayer and some scripture as part of the story. Not over done. They are clean reads.

Disarming Andi
Vance Young is supposed to go on vacation but he forgot to take his new telescope and it is late at night goes into work to get it. The security guard goes up to get him and finds a disk and hands it to him. Before he goes on main vacation he drives to where his uncle had left him a house in farm land.
Vance is surprised when he gets to address it is a old missile control center underground. He takes all the stairs down to see what it is like.
Andi Nielsen has started her own business to do construction and her big brake had been to make the decommissioned control center into a high end home. Then he died.
Andi had come back to home to raise her sister Elisa after her other relatives had died. she found a letter saying that her grandfather had hidden something in the missile control center when he was stationed there as a young airman. She hopes it is something that can help her.
Andie sees a car and goes down and meets Vance and talks him into completing the work that will help her make ends meet.
Elisa and Andi are having issues about what Elisa needs to do. and not to do.
I liked the story but would rather have a longer ending. But it was a good story. I would be interesting to see what a home would be that far underground. Never really thought of what happened to all the old missile control bases.
I liked The scene a lot where Vance shares his knowledge of the stars with Andi and Elisa one night.
I would have liked a little more of the storyline of what was going on with the disk that the security guard gave to Vance and what he found out about it.

Exposing Amber
Amber is not sure what exactly she wants to go in for college. Her advisor told her to get a internship and helped her to get one at small museum to see if she wanted to go in that field. She was excited to start her summer internship until she was told she would be working in the gift shop. Not working the fossil digs or tours or working with the exhibts.
Amber had lost her mom and sister a year ago. Her only relative was her brother who she blames their death on him. He has cost her a lot.
Brandon has been running the museum for the last three years. He does not want any interns because of what happened in his past with one. He needs to help get the museum accredited and more donors.
Amber runs the first day and runs into Brandon. She has no idea who he is but ends up telling him that it was part of a bad day. Tells him that she thought to be starting internship instead gets to work in the gift shop.
Brandon decided to make a difference with Amber and puts her on the tours. Brandon is attracted to Amber a lot but he does not want to get involved.
Amber is mad at God and does not feel she can pray but she does not give up reading the bible. She just feels he let her down.
Brandon is a Christian and a scientist and its hard for a lot of people to be in science and a Christian. Does talk a lot about forgiving. Fits right into the story.

Praying for Rayne
This story was my least favorite. Had a hard time connecting with all the characters. Trying to figure out why and can't narrow it down.
Rayne Flemming is a creative force and works on developing water fountains she is expecting a new promotion at work that she hopes will make her parents proud of her. They wanted her to stay on the farm.
When Rayne gets back to work she finds out that her boss went and hired someone else for the job.
Jack Kostner has just moved to North Dakota to head up the creative team. He was hurt by his fiancé and was dumped a few days before the wedding. They worked together and that made it hard.
This story had something lacking for me.
Over all I enjoyed reading North Dakota Weddings. I look forward to reading more of Elizabeth's work in the future.
I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it by Netgalley and Barbour books.
07/01/2013 PUB Barbour Publishing, Inc. 368 pages ISBN 9781624162558

Description below taken off of Netgalley.


True life threatens true love in three contemporary romances from North Dakota. Andi is remodeling a decommissioned missile site and searching for a treasure hidden within. Can she detonate her feelings for the owner when romance gets in the way? Amber is excited to be a new summer intern for the Harrington museum and Dr. Brandon Selman. It’s the opportunity she needs to determine her future, but will past secrets be her undoing? Rayne’s job designing magnificent fountains for FountainTech is a dream come true until charges of corporate espionage swirl. Is it the end of her dream. . .and love?

Friday, June 21, 2013

Above Rubies (Rockland Ranch) by Jaclyn M. Hawkes



My Review

5 STARS

Lately I feel overwhelmed with all the books I need to read so instead of reading the ones next I am going out and getting the first book in the Rockland Ranch series to read. I really liked Above Rubies. The characters were all good looking guys, but inside they were even more beautiful. Kit was so talented and had so many trials at a young age. I was worried about how that would play out but it worked. I recommend reading Above Rubies and I want more Rockland Ranch stories now!

Kit we meet walking down Las Vegas Strip alone with her guitar and back pack when she is attacked by gang members. Kit is hurt badly.
We don't get to find out about her for a few chapters and the more we learn the more I admire her. I am glad she is finally has a safe place to work out her problems. Kit is young in age but old in a lot of ways. She is smart, talented and a hard worker.

Rossen Rockland and is roping partner Slade Marsh just won the National finals Rodeo were getting gassed up and heading back to Wyoming with Slade's fiancé too in the truck. When Rossen sees Kit walking into trouble. He and Slade rush to Kit's aid and gets her away. When they get to hospital they finally get the bleeding to slow down and stop in some areas when they tell the hospital that they don't know her name. The hospital can't go ahead for the surgery she will need on her elbow to set it. Till Kit can wake up and give some information.

They do put a soft cast and give them some idea how to take care of her and agree that it would be safe to drive her to their personal doctor who will treat her. So they took her to their home or at least to their local hospital and had their doctor meet them and prepare to treat the arm. Kit only woke up to toss her cookies. Rossen stayed at hospital so she would not be alone while Slade and Isabel took the horses home to the ranch.

Rossen's mother came to the hospital and between the two of them Kit was never alone and when she was well enough they took her home to the Rockland Ranch and into their family.

I did not want to put the book down. I loved how the Rockland family just took her in and tried to help her because it was the right thing to do. They gave her love, support, knowledge and let her do what she could do. They were even prepared to cope if she was a drug addict. It really touched me.

Their are so many character's in this story that I want to know more about and I hope they get their own story too. I just smiled thinking about this book and the story. What a great feeling to have after I was finished.

I was given this ebook to read and asked in return to post a honest review of the book for part of the book tour for Above Rubies.
Publication Date April 13, 2013 Publisher: Spirit Dance Books LLC; 1 edition 400 pages ASIN: B00CCQ1CAC



Above Rubies

His chivalry was strangling her.
He thought he was helping her—and in truth, he was. She was in desperate straits. But as honorable as he was, he was also breaking her heart.
Her attraction was drowning him.
When World Champion rodeo cowboy Rossen Rockland and his friends rescue a young runaway who has been abused by her foster father and take her home to his parents’ ranch, he expects her to turn out to be a pain in the neck. And sometimes she is.
It doesn’t take him long to figure out that she has way more than her allotment of troubles—and far more than her share of gifts. Lovely, talented, and ravingly brilliant, Kit Star is too young, unbelievably humble, and oh, so loveable. Knowing that she needs his protection and time to grow into her potential, Rossen also figures out that what she really is, is a pain in the heart.
Watch for more of the Rockland Ranch Series!

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Peace River (Book 1)

The police didn’t understand the danger, but she did. Her father had always been abusive, but now, with a ten million dollar Thoroughbred farm on the line, and a powerful bookie leaning on him, her father had become out of control. But how do you get away and take a world famous stallion with you? Carrie was getting desperate when a handsome and honorable but thoroughly cynical rodeo cowboy from Wyoming happened to show up with a horse trailer. He didn’t ride a white horse, but he was definitely a knight in shining armor.

He’ll protect her from the mob, but can she survive falling in love with a bull rider?

My Review of Peace River found at
http://readalot-rhonda1111.blogspot.com/2013/05/peace-river-rockland-ranch-series-by.html

Author Jaclyn M. Hawkes


Jaclyn M. Hawkes grew up in Utah with 6 sisters, 4 brothers and any number of pets. (It was never boring!) She got a bachelor’s degree, had a career and traveled extensively before settling down to her life’s work of being the mother of four magnificent and sometimes challenging children. She loves shellfish, the out of doors, the youth and hearing her children laugh. She and her fine husband, their family, and their sometimes very large pets, now live in a mountain valley in northern Utah, where it smells like heaven and kids still move sprinkler pipe.
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Thursday, June 20, 2013

A Lost Witch (A Modern Witch, #7) by Debora Geary


My Review A Lost Witch

5 stars
This is one of my favorite series of books. I can go back and reread them and be able to enjoy them so much. They are filled with warm, loving characters, some wacky ones, talented, accepting and such a sense of community. A Lost Witch does not disappoint at all.
This is the last book in the A Modern Witch series but not the last book with these characters in it. They will be back in Sept. In Witch Central series.
Debora is spoiling us with a new book out every 3 months or so. It seems so long at times because we want are fix of good clean loveable characters.
If you have not had the chance to read any of the series give yourself a gift and get A Modern Witch book 1.
This A Lost Witch is good. One of my favorite of the series. I think I say that each time. Nell is going to turn off the fetching program and finds two words on her computer Help Me! She calls in her friends and family to help when she realizes where and who is saying that.
Hannah Kendrick is crazy. She can't meet new people if she sees someone new she breaks down and has to be drugged. It is bad. She has been in put in a home for crazy people. Her doctor is trying to help her but they don't know much. Only some ways to help her avoid attacks.
Lauren and Tabitha go in to talk with Dr.Max Torres at Chrysalis House. Max had work before with Tabitha and seen how she can reach out to her patients with a little something else. He is open for them to talk to Hannah if she is willing it might be a really slow process.
Hannah sometimes sees the future. She sees two woman come to Chrysalis house to meet her. She welcomes the chance to have someone help her. She handles meeting Tabitha but when she's Lauren she gets attack and is able to runaway from them. Lauren feels bad that she was not able to help her.
But Dr. Torres knows that it was a success. Hannah was able to run away usually she had to be drugged after a seizure. Hannah was able to control with Lauren's help for awhile and be able to cope after. That is a positive step that she has not been able to do before.
The story draws you into the characters so fast. I did not want to put the book down once I got it. I started reading it within minutes of receiving the book. I love the way the stories go. The characters are my friends and I want to laugh with them again and sometimes cry. See how much the babies are growing and changing. See Marcus happy and enjoying life. I don't want to say goodbye for months more. Never get enough of these characters, these witches and loving friends.
I do need to warn you that reading these books might get you addicted to knitting, cookies, Nutella, yarn and wanting more books to read. I have not tried to pickup knitting, weaving or Nutella yet. I do have a small yarn stash all over my house to make hats. I do want more I would love to go visit Carol's store.
I was given this ebook to read by Debora Geary and asked to give a honest review of it.
Published June 19th 2013 by Fireweed Publishing 493 pages ISBN:B00DI8TUHU

Description below taken off of Goodreads
Hannah Kendrick has spent the last twelve years fighting for her sanity. And the doctor who has stood by her side has run out of options.

A small computer tracking spell will find Hannah—but can Witch Central save her?

This is the seventh and final book in the bestselling A Modern Witch series, but have no fear – your favorite characters will be back in September with the launch of the Witch Central series. Lots of witchy love, laughter, and tears yet to come :).

Rift Healer blog tour & review


My Review

4 STARS

I was surprised to find out this was the first book. The background on what happened last summer was so well remembered and discussed between the twins and Taylor. Really well told back story. This is a fantasy adventure, clean read that keeps you spellbound with it's magic. Lots of magical creatures. Lots of scary creatures I would not want to deal with. Some human teenagers who have some talent of their own. A epic battle if the fail life will not be the same.

Lacey and Haley are fourteen year old twins who parents got divorced last year. They are spending the summer with their grandmother out in the country. They are excited because last summer here in the forest they met some fairies and other magical creatures some good and some scary ones. They learned about gathering herbs in the forest from Gisele their grandmother's friend.

Lacey also found a boyfriend Taylor. She is excited to spend time with him again this summer.

Gisele Westerfield knows that this summer will be different. It will be dangerous and take a lot of magic to close all the rifts in the forest. They had to close them 50 years ago and one of her friends did not survive it. Her family has magic and are caretakers of the forest. They have to stop the dark creatures from coming into our world and destroying it. Her family don't believe that it will be bad again. Only her great nephew Micah at 16 and his distant cousin Selena have come to help her.

Micah has lots of magical gifts. One he knows when someone is going to play a big role in his life. He sees a picture from last summer and is drawn to Haley. He knows she is to be part of his future. He can tell her apart from her twin in the picture. He can force anyone to obey him, fight with a sword and wand. He is sixteen.

Selena is fifteen and small. She is in love with her cousin Micah. She will do anything for him. She knows that this summer will be the summer they get back together.

When shy Haley and Micah meet everyone else disappears. They are so drawn to each other. Haley is scared about all of Micah's powers.

Gisele had tried to keep them from meeting. She told Lacey, Haley and Taylor that they needed to stay out of the forest this year. It was dangerous. To go home till they can close the rifts.

As the three leave and ride their bikes back to their grandmother's they see a unicorn and follow it into the forest. Haley feels like she can close the rift and stretches out her hands and goes into a trance. Haley is then attacked. Lacey and Taylor start firing their water pistols at the creatures and they kill them. When the rift is closed Haley falls to the ground. They know they need to find the others and help them.

The story goes from everyday summer fun to fights to close the rifts. They have to wait so long between times they can go back in and fight. It does a good job of mixing the two vast different times together. Lots of action, drama, fights and teenage angst as they fight their fears to save the forest. Some of the magical creatures our fairies, trolls, dragons, unicorns, Tinks, and many more surprises.

I enjoyed reading Rift Healer and look forward to more adventures into the forest. I was given this ebook to read and agreed in exchange to give honest review and be part of their blog tour.


Rift Healer

Rift Healer is the first installment of the ‘Forest Magic’ series, a Young Adult Fantasy/Romance set in Central and Western Massachusetts.
After a minor earthquake, the enchanted forest in Bidwell, MA, is infested with monster-spewing rifts. Gisele Westerfield’s great nephew, the gifted Micah, and his distant cousin, Selena, arrive to assist. Together with Gisele’s summer students, twins Haley and Lacey, they will try to heal the magical forest.
Much to the consternation of the beautiful Selena, Micah identifies Haley as The One whom he’ll share his future. But after witnessing a terrifying display of Micah’s Gift, Haley cools to his advances and unexpectedly discovers her own Gift– she can heal the earth.
Monsters, mayhem, and teenage angst follow the small group as they confront evil in the forest and a dangerous prediction that ‘one will fall’. Will they heal the rifts in time? Can they save the unicorns? And is Haley really destined to be with Micah?

Author Diane M. Haynes

Diane has lived in Massachusetts all her life where early on, her artistic talents were fostered, though her skills as an “excellent report writer” were often noted in previous employment.
On her brother Rick’s birthday, November 16, 2004, seven months after his death, she woke from an amazing dream which would not fade. She outlined the dream, made a few quick notes and days later produced a 12 page short story. After deciding her story was interesting but incomplete, she began writing her first novel, using her dream as its climax. She now believes the dream to be a ‘Spirit Gift,’ sent by her brother.
Diane continues to reside in Central MA with her husband and a very naughty Basset Hound named Basil and his new adopted sister-Basset, Ruby, both of whom cleverly wreak havoc on the Haynes’ formerly well-ordered lives. She spends her time writing, reading books about writing, talking about writing, painting with watercolors, antiqueing and attempting to train a very reluctant Basil and a willing, but highly comedic Ruby.