The Sacred Flame: A Novel by Nanette Littlestone

Release Date: October 22, 2015
Publisher: Words of Passion
Author Website:  http://www.wordsofpassion.com

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
In Ancient Rome, the Vestal Virgins were seen as the harbingers of safety for all of the city. They maintained the Sacred Fire which could be seen by any Roman should he or she look its way, attended several important rituals during the year, and above all, provided Rome with the feeling that all was well. Livia, a Vestal Virgin, worked closely with the High Priestess for nearly thirty years, but was soon thrust into the leadership role as the High Priestess collapsed.

Even as she doubted her ability to lead the Vestals, Livia must confront her own growing desire to leave the world she'd known behind for one with her dearest friend, Keaseo. All seemed according to plan until the flame of desire for another took her attention away from her plans. Now Livia's entire world was thrust into turmoil as she fought to maintain control. Can she give up what she wants the most in order to keep Rome safe from Hannibal's clutches? Or will Rome fall with her?


Review:
I was presented the opportunity to read and give an honest review by the author through email. I really liked the cover when I opened the package. The thumbnail used in promotions didn't do the actually cover justice. It was another reason I was intrigued enough to read a story that wasn't my usual genre. Add to that my fascination with history and ancient cultures, I couldn't wait to start reading it. The author opened the book with a casual party setting where I found the characters were at ease with their places in the world. By end of the first chapter, that world was turned upside down in more ways than one.

Livia became the focus, not only of the book, but within the scope of Rome as the High Priestess of the Vestal Virgins. These women played an important role in making the citizens of the city and empire feel safe as they tended to an everlasting fire. It was up to them to also take part in various festivities and rituals during the year to ensure order within the city was maintained. The many castes of people were also explored in the book as well. From wealthy politicians to the lower classes which only carried one name, the author created a character from all walks of life that showed how divided that world was at the time and  how people from so long ago weren't so different from us today.  They squabbled over petty things, got jealous, and tried so hard to obtain the one thing they desired most. It was easy to put myself into those places throughout the story, especially through Livia.

While much of the book centered around Livia and her struggles, the author also included a bit of Roman history as well as their names for items or places. I loved learning the Roman names for things like the carriages or the different Roman baths that were available. The author slipped these in without making the reader aware that they learned something new. With a great pace set in the beginning of the novel, the characters became embroiled in the consequences of their actions or decisions quickly. Those consequences weren't always nice to endure, but I felt that some were necessary in order for the story to be told in a way that would have been true at the time. Humanity in all its forms, both good and bad, were put on display within the pages.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. To be honest, I didn't expect the ending at all. While I do think the ending served a greater purpose, I was definitely surprised at how everything played out. The story had so many layers, bits of action, and moments of romance that it was difficult to put it down. The ending did leave me with questions about the secondary characters, so I'm secretly hoping to hear that more will be coming down the line. If you enjoy historical romances or love exploring other cultures brought to life by a writer's hand, then definitely pick up a copy of this book!

The Sacred Flame: A Novel by Nanette Littlestone will be available for purchase on October 22, 2015. You can find more information about the novel by visiting the author's website ( http://www.wordsofpassion.com/the-sacred-flame.html ) where you can read an excerpt of the novel.

Fire Heart (Broken Bottle #2) by Pamela Taeuffer

Release Date: September 8, 2014
Publisher: Open Heart Press
Series: Broken Bottle series, Book 2
Author Website:  www.pamelataeuffer.com/

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Nicky Young thought she had her life after high school planned out. First, she'd graduate and attend Stanford. Second, she'd be free to explore all that college life had to offer. Yet, right before she put the plans into motion, she found herself torn between two men, Ryan and Jerry. As she explored the feelings that being with each bring out, her emotions range from pure bliss to reluctance and foreboding.

Spending time with either of them brought a sense of vulnerability to the fore of her mind. Nicky felt her walls immediately seal around her heart whenever either asked her to love them. Seeing the dysfunction of her parent's marriage and the phoenix-like revival of her sister's life after a devastating rape, Nicky wasn't sure that she could be intimate with anyone. Her newly-found feelings drove her forward, leaving her to decide which man will have her heart and where her future would led her.

Review:
Getting an email from NetGalley alerted me that both this book and the first, Shadow Heart, were available for reading. I took a step from my comfort zone of mysteries and thrillers to see what these two titles held. The first book left Nicky after a confusing and exhilarating night at a beach bonfire with Jerry while Ryan was away on a game tour. Today's book picked up the day after the events of that night and chronicled all the emotions on either end of the spectrum that both men brought out of her. Word of warning for this book - there was a large amount of information concerning sexuality and keeping oneself safe while engaging in adult activities. The information was very pertinent to a young adult in today's society, written to inform and empower both young men and women about their bodies. While the intimate situations between the young lovers weren't graphic, the instructional information was very much in the open between Nicky and her sister.

Once again, Nicky related her story through her point-of-view. The reader received a front row seat to the warring emotions and feelings that filled her mind and journal. Much of the cast of characters which made up the first book also appeared in this sequel. Both love interests, Ryan and Jerry, made her decision to choose very difficult by opening themselves up to her. Ryan allowed her to meet part of his family and revealed more of his own dysfunctional family. Jerry made his own attempts to capture her heart, but his focus was divided between Nicky and his budding baseball career. Nicky's family were more prominent in this particular book, especially her older sister. A few new characters made their way into the story and brought out some hidden secrets and set up future conflicts.

Much of the pacing seemed slow but steady for the entire book. For me, the only time events picked up speed was when Nicky was invited to go to L.A. with a girlfriend and that happened for a weekend. The slow pace did allow for a softening of Ryan's character and a deepening bond between Nicky and her sister, Jenise. The constant shift between still being a child and becoming an adult showed up many times in both dialogue and her thoughts/feelings as they appeared in the book. As with many confused young adults, she could wear the clothes and makeup, appearing much older than her eighteen years, but she still had the thought processes and feelings of a young teen. Without experiences to judge which direction to turn, she was smart enough to go to someone older for advice.

Overall, I thought the book was okay. It was a quick read that expanded on the themes and circumstances which began in the first book. I did like how Nicky grew stronger as the book progressed. While still low, her confidence level shifted and allowed her to voice her opinion more often, especially toward the end of the book. Dialogue filled a large portion of the character's interactions and provided most of the information necessary to move the story forward. The way the dialogue was broken into many paragraphs did distract me at times. It became easy to forget which speaker was talking. Some of the characters spoke in such a similar manner that it also contributed to the feeling that one person was speaking when the book showed two characters. All that aside, it was an okay sequel to the first book and set up a number of questions to be answered in the next book. This book should be on your TBR shelf if you've read the first book or if you're a lover of people overcoming dysfunction in order to find love again.

Fire Heart (Broken Bottle #2) by Pamela Taeuffer is currently available at all major online retailers in either paperback or digital (Kindle) formats. Below is a link to the book's page at Amazon for purchase.
Fire Heart (Broken Bottle #2) by Pamela Taeuffer

Shadow Heart (Broken Bottle #1) by Pamela Taeuffer

Release Date: February 26, 2014
Publisher: Open Heart Press
Series: Broken Bottle series, Book 1
Author Website: www.pamelataeuffer.com/

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Dark secrets were found in many families, and Nicky's family was no different. Adapting to her father's condition, she and her sister adapted to the volatile ways of their home. Nicky became obsessed with her job of leaving home and attending Stanford, pushing aside all other distractions - especially boys. To help her application to Stanford look more enticing, she put together a business plan for the local baseball team to have a cheer squad. She worked hard to perfect the cheers, connect with the fans and hit each of the goals she'd put into the plan.

What she didn't count on was a popular player, Ryan Tilton. He kept his distance from her, guarding his own dark secrets and his feelings for her as much as she hid her own awakened desires. As they struggled with their respective demons, life kept bringing them into the path of the other. Nicky must make several decisions despite her confusion. Can she maintain a relationship with anyone and achieve her goal of attending Stanford? Will letting go destroy everything including her level of control on her life?

Review:
To be honest I might not have given this book a second glance if I hadn't received a promotional email from NetGalley. The romance genre wasn't always one I delved into, but I decided to take a chance to step out of my reading comfort zone and give them a chance when I read that the books were inspired by actual events from the author's life. From the very beginning scene, there was a raw grittiness to the memories of what the main character, Nicky, and her sister, Jenise, went through as children living in a home where alcohol reigned supreme. Not every scene was filled with the turbulence of home life as Nicky navigated the world while carrying the weight of her father's "condition" and wanting to achieve her lifelong goal of leaving the town behind by attending Stanford.

Written in first person point-of-view, the book followed Nicky through the strange, double-sided childhood that she and her sister endured before her junior year of high school. It was easy to understand how she could be such a conflicted character when it came to the way in which the world really worked. Her father was a severe alcoholic that didn't think twice about enforcing his version of discipline when he was drunk. Her mother struggled to work in order to provide for the family, protect her daughters when she was home, and find a way to endure her own hell with the man she married. Since you can't have a romance novel without romance, in walked Ryan Tilton, the ruggedly handsome baseball player, and Jerry, the boy she'd known for her entire childhood. Each of these guys made a dent in her walled-off heart, but Nicky struggled to choose between them. I think that stemmed from the duality of her home life as well because she tried to push them away whenever they attempted to break through the walls she put up around her heart.

A steady pace pushed the story from event to event, making this novel a fairly quick read. Though this was a romance novel, there wasn't an overabundance of sexual scenes. Many times the characters found themselves in compromising positions, but the author didn't cross the boundary into a sex scene. That allowed Nicky to retain her steadfast control on when, where and to whom she would delve into that world. Due to the father's battle with alcohol, or liquid candy as Nicky referred to it, domestic violence was commonplace in their home. Some of these scenes were very hard to read and I wanted to get through them as soon as I possibly could. Not only did these moments make the story darker, but they left lasting marks on the lives of everyone involved and led some down a dark path.

Overall, the book was pretty enjoyable despite the darker scenes that were sprinkled throughout it. The author did a good job balancing the cold, dark truth about growing up with a parent who fought with alcoholism and keeping comedic, light moments in between to lighten the book. At some points the dialogue between Nicky and Ryan seemed a little off to me, mostly from Ryan's side. I could understand why Nicky said and did the things she did, but things he said sometimes distracted me from the story itself. I was glad to read the book and definitely glad I stepped out of my comfort zone. If you're looking for coming of age story with a dash of romance or a book which explores how someone with a dysfunctial childhood finds her footing in the world, this is one series that does those two things and more.

Shadow Heart (Broken Bottle #1) by Pamela Taeuffer is currently available in either paperback or digital (Kindle) formats. It can be found at many online retailers including Barnes & Noble as well as Amazon. Below is a link to the book's page at Amazon.
Shadow Heart (Broken Bottle #1) by Pamela Taeuffer

Bridge to Destiny by April Marie Libs

Release Date: November 10, 2014
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Author Website: http://aprilmarielibs.com 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Avery Lawson's life was perfect in her eyes. She married her sweetheart, Mitchel, and had a smart, precious little girl, Hannah. In one fateful night her life was changed, leaving her lost and broken in so many ways. As she fought her way back from the edge, she took solace in her daughter. But life wasn't through with her and once again, Avery found herself nearly losing the last ray of sunshine in her life.

Pediatric neurologist, Dr. Nathan Banst, wasn't going to let anything happen to Hannah on his watch. As he and Avery's small support circle helped to put the broken pieces back together, Avery and Nathan grew closer than either of them anticipated. Was she really ready to love again so soon after losing Mitchel? Would she be betraying all their memories and their love by going with her heart?

Review:
Though I read a large variety of books by authors of all types, one of my favorite aspects of having this blog has always been giving a previously unknown or little-known author a platform to get their works out there. When the author of this particular book contacted me, I was happy to read the novel in exchange for an honest and fair review. Now, I did have some reservations about the book due to the women's fiction/romance aspects - only because I'm still fairly new to reading books within those genres. However, those disappeared within the first few chapters as the author made certain that this book was much more than the simple love story we've all come to expect.

Quite simply, the book described Avery's journey through some of the most horrifying events that could take place in a person's life. Her world was a typical one, full of friends and family, good times and magical moments that she thought would last forever. Within moments that life became a dream as her husband was taken from her, leaving her to struggle to find meaning in what was left. In her grief she discovered a small circle of people who became the lifelines she needed to regain control of her world. Her daughter, Hannah, and neighbors, Rebecca, Tom and Max, helped to make her life meaningful once again. Of course, life has a funny way of making you think everything's okay before it pulls the carpet from under your feet. And that's the point where Avery met Dr. Nathan Banst, pediatric neurologist at the local hospital.

Much of the first few chapters dealt with revealing Avery's world and the tragedy she overcame. I found the pace of the novel slow to start, but ramped up as the book continued. There were equal moments of sadness and comedy that kept me turning the pages. Now and then I felt that a few of the scenes were predictable in such a novel, but overall I think the author did a good job in keeping a fair balance of the ups and downs that are typical of life nowadays. For me, the meat of the story took place shortly after Avery found her spirit again right before another devastating accident threatened to break her heart once and for all. At that moment, the book took hold and I wanted to see the characters succeed instead of fail. It was easy to get caught up in the story and root for them.

In the end I have to say that I enjoyed the book a lot more than I initially thought. There were plenty of times when the sadness of the book weighed heavily, but then Hannah came in and brought her charismatic rays of sunshine with her. While a little of the book was predictable, the reactions of the characters differed from my expectation. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. While this was the author's debut novel, it didn't read that way to me. If you're looking for a novel with nearly true-to-life characters experiencing all the ups and downs that life can throw their way, this is the novel you should be reading!

Bridge to Destiny by April Marie Libs is currently available at several online retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It can be purchased in digital format. The following link will bring up the book's page at Amazon.
Bridge to Destiny by April Marie Libs
  

Queen Mab: A Tale Entwined with William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet by Kate Danley

Release Date: January 14, 2013
Publisher: Createspace
Author Website:  http://www.katedanley.com

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Betrayed by a member of House Montague, Queen Mab vowed to see all in the house crumble and die as punishment. She put her plans into motion through her dominion over the world of dreams until her plans were revealed to Juno, the Goddess. She vowed to follow through with ending the Montagues after she was punished, forced to live within a frozen world and ice encaged her heart.

As she began to plant the seeds of failure, she happened upon a mortal man who possessed the key to melting her frozen heart. The spark of love beating within her chest gave her a new outlook on how the events of Verona were unfolding. To prevent losing everything she now held dear, she would go to any length to protect the man of her heart against any foe - especially another demi-god's jealousy.

Review:
One of the many books I've discovered thanks to OHFB, I was intrigued by the idea that the events of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet were orchestrated by something otherwordly. The author was able to create another dimension to the world that Shakespeare created in his work. Therefore, the reader was provided another view of the tragedy which occurred. Though the two works shared the same setting and much of the same cast, this book expounded on the history and lessons put forth in Shakespeare's novel. The mixture of opposites, including love, loss, trust and betrayal, gave the various political maneuverings a deeper level of impact during the course of the book.

Much of the novel centered around Queen Mab and the consequences of her actions. She wasn't the only demi-god that meddled with the lives of the people who went went about their normal lives in Verona. Faunus, the pipe-playing demi-god with cloven feet, sought win Mab's realm by coercing her into a wager. Each would chose a champion from either the House Capulet or House Montague. This champion determined which of the houses would fall and by proxy, which demi-god would win. Familiar characters from the original work danced through the novel to their intended ends. Romeo and Juliet, Mercurito and Tybalt - all of them followed the trajectory of the original, but the author of this book gave all the characters an emotional depth. With the primary focus on someone other than the couple, it allowed the secondary characters to come alive in a way that differed from the original.

It took a little while for me to become hooked by the story, but within a few chapters, I kept wanting to read more than the time I allotted myself. Because Queen Mab was a demi-god and ruled the world of dreams, she affected the lives of the people for centuries. Once the first betrayal revealed the players, the game was afoot. Wheels of time began turning at a quicker pace when Romeo met Juliet during the masked ball thrown by her father. The multi-layered designs that both Mab and Faunus put into play rushed the downfall of both houses and ushered in the rebirth of said houses with a deeper emotional connection. For me, the book's pace became steady the moment that Faunus stole something from Mab and lasted until the very last word.

Overall, I found this book quite entertaining and an interesting way to look at a work that I first read in middle school. It presented the tragic love story in such a way that the reader experienced the full gamut of emotions. From anger, lust and betrayal to love, acceptance and empathy - all these made an appearance at some point in the book. By using a feud between two demi-gods, the author explored more of the cause and effect of decisions made in haste. I enjoyed the transformation of Mab as she learned the lessons through experiencing some of these same emotions herself. It made the story more intimate in a way that I enjoyed. If you're looking for a fresh take on a beloved classic or need a dose of political intrigue among supernatural beings, then this is the book you should be reading!

Queen Mab: A Tale Entwined with William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet by Kate Danley is available at a number of online retailers in either paperback or Kindle (digital) formats. The following link will take you to the book's page at Amazon.
Queen Mab: A Tale Entwined with William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet by Kate Danley
 

Plan Overboard (Toronto #14) by Heather Wardell

Release Date: May 28, 2014
Publisher: Holly Leaf Press
Series: Toronto series, Book 14

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
After failing to achieve her lifelong dream, Corinne took some time to create a new, deeply detailed life plan for herself before putting it into action. Nearly three months later she was enjoying a long overdue time of relaxtion on a cruise. Her intention to study her books and go over her future plans vanished the moment she laid eyes on Austin. His easy-on-the-eyes looks and carefree attitude excited her, but also sent shivers of terror through her. His presence threatened to derail every bit of her plans.

Warm, sunny days and beautiful, star-filled nights made it too easy for Corinne to drop her guard around Austin. The more time they spent together, the more she questioned her decisions. As they neared the end of the cruise, a heavily hidden truth revealed itself and sent Corinne reeling for a second time in her life. Months of changes followed the cruise. So did the lingering questions. Should she give up her methodically planned life for something more exciting? Will she ever let go of the past enough to have a future?

Review:
I was offered the chance to read this title by the author herself in exchange for a fair and honest review. This book followed the last two books by Heather Wardell that I reviewed (Everybody's Got a Story and Fifty Million Reasons). It's also the long-awaited sequel to All at Sea which chronicled the events between a portion of the key characters which frequently appeared throughout this novel. This story stood well on its own, but the author did a wonderful job weaving in the events of the previous one without shifting the focus away from the main character of this story, Corinne.

Oh, Corinne. The poor woman's world crumbled the moment she failed to achieve a dream that had been the driving force of her life for over a decade, maybe longer. The weight of that failure drove her to the other extreme and led to what many would consider to be a life-altering decision. I was a little taken aback by what she did because her behavior at the start of the novel didn't lead me to believe that she'd do something like that. Then again, I could understand it as the story progressed. Most of the characters in this novel had easygoing natures which made a lot of the book a fun read. Each of them kept their individuality while blending well when grouped together, especially during the cruise segments of the book.

As I mentioned before, some of the characters were introduced in an earlier book. Nick, Mel and Austin all had their histories and reasons explored in more depth in it, but the author was able to weave in the important events during conversations and other small ways. Not only did it help to me understand the reasons why they said or did something, each instance helped to advance the plot in a way that kept me interested. The pace of the story was fairly consistent from beginning to end, allowing me to enjoy the story but also helped keep those pages turning.

In the end I found myself enjoying this book for a couple of reasons. The main reason was the fact I could relate to Corinne in the way she perceived herself for not achieving what was her lifelong dream. I've been there myself. I've also met a man similar to Austin in a lot of ways. Though he's not as well off as the character, it was a treat to read a book and see similarities in one's own life. Now, I will admit that I found a couple of the plot devices as easy to guess. However, the chapters before the ending really hit the nail on the head in regards to realizing what life was all about. It made the ride worthwhile for me. If you're looking for a book about an instant connection, dealing with the shards of broken dreams, or coming to terms with life and its scorn of plans, then this is the book you'll want to add to your collection.

Plan Overboard (Toronto #14) by Heather Wardell is currently available for purchase at many online retailers including Amazon as well as Barnes and Noble. It can be found in either paperback and Kindle formats. Below is the book's Amazon page.
Plan Overboard (Toronto #14) by Heather Wardell

Fifty Million Reasons (Toronto #13) by Heather Wardell

Release Date: November 28, 2013
Publisher: Holly Leaf Press
Series: Toronto series, Book #13

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Who hasn't dreamed about hitting the big jackpot of a lottery drawing and what he or she would do with the winnings? Angela played the same numbers for years, never winning more than a few bucks here or there. When she least expected her life to change, she became the winner of Toronto's largest jackpot - fifty million dollars.

From the moment her winning ticket was confirmed, her life changed. People she didn't know and others she trusted were among those with their hands out. It was clear from the beginning that the plans she'd always dreamed of weren't the best in reality. Would she be able to whether the storm of such an affluent life? What would she be willing to sacrifice in the process?


Review:
After reading a previous title offered at NetGalley (Everybody's Got a Story: Toronto #12) by the same author, I was really happy to see this title available as well and eagerly put it on my TBR list. Because I enjoyed the previous book, my expectations for this title were a little higher than usual. However, I'm happy to report that this book fulfilled those expectations with ease. Though the book was part of a larger collection concerning the city of Toronto, it stood well on its own while including a bit of the history from the previous titles.

The book opened with the main character, Angela, sharing a secret with her neighbor's son, Zack, as they pay the bill for a person behind them in the drive-thru lane. This interaction revealed a lot about Angela's character and the easy-going relationship that she shared with a number of the supporting characters in the story. As events began to take place, it wasn't hard to see how easily a person's life and thoughts can change when presented with such a life-altering situation. Throughout her struggles with coming into a vast sum of money, Angela tried to not let it change who she was at her core. A lot of the incidents in the book between she and strangers, even some family members, were pretty close to what I would expect from the world in which we currently live. I was a bit surprised at how far a few people went to get at her money but not completely shocked.

It was such a wild ride from the moment Angela realized that she was a winner to the very end when many of the issues were resolved. For me this book was one that I could have read all the way through in a matter of hours if it weren't for prior obligations. I really felt for Angela who seemed to be a good-hearted person that only wanted to do right for the people in her life. There were a few moments were I was beating my head against the wall because of the stubbornness of a few characters. Without spoiling the book, let's just say that there were a time or two where a slap upside the head may have done the trick to wake him or her up a bit. Despite these feelings of mine, the book moved smoothly from chapter to the chapter and left the story at a natural conclusion.

Overall, I really liked the book. I could relate to Angela in her everyday life before the big win and often found myself doing the same type of daydreaming about spending the jackpot. The way in which she did spend the money was really a smart way to go about it and I'll have to keep it in mind if my numbers ever do win. The author did a great job of presenting strong female and male characters in this story which made it better, in my opinion. Not your usual romance, this book gives you a real world glimpse of what happens when the blue-collar struggling type suddenly becomes Ms. Multi-millionaire. If you're looking for an almost real romance with a few million tossed in for excitement, pick up a copy of this book today!

Fifty Million Reasons (Toronto #13) by Heather Wardell is now available at many online retailers and local bookstores. You can find a copy in either paperback or Kindle formats. Click the link below to visit the book's Amazon page.
Fifty Million Reasons (Toronto #13) by Heather Wardell

The Here and Now by Ann Brashares

Release Date: April 8, 2014
Publisher: Delacorte Press

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Prenna spent the past five years trying to navigate the world of an American teenager after immigrating to the US at age twelve. She carried the burden of growing up as well as the burdens of her community - the rules, the obligations and the secrets. It wasn't just that Prenna was new to the US. She was new to her place in time.

Having come from a plague-ravaged future, she did her best to keep within the rules. Until she met Ethan, a time native with his own secrets. Prenna began to question everything she thought she knew and soon a new, heavier burden was given to her. She must stop her future from happening at all costs. Can she do what was asked of her? Will she ever understand where all the puzzle pieces fit?

Review:
Browsing through the offerings at NetGalley, the premise of this book caught my eye. The fact it was was both a time-traveling story and a YA book intrigued me. Stories about time travelers often fall victim to the "either like them or hate them" category. Because not everyone shares the exact outlooks, beliefs, etc., some readers find it hard to suspend enough belief in order to simply enjoy the story. Add the YA elements to that, and it may not go over well at all.
 
However, I think this story was able to pull off many of the elements that were attempted. While some of the information from Prenna's future seem far-fetched, I can see how the people within the story got to that point and how gradual that slippery slope led them there. It was hard to relate to Prenna in the beginning, but I feel that went along with the rigid rules under which her community lived in order to keep them and time natives safe. I'll admit that I had a couple of head-scratching moments when a few characters went completely against what I knew of them at the time. Some were later explained, while others were simply weren't.

The pace of the story did start out slow as the groundwork was laid. Once the basics were covered, the book gathered speed. In fact, it nearly reached a frantic pace as the emotional and mental health of a few characters neared their breaking points. The resolution was somewhat expected but written in such a way that the reader can see the hope in the characters. The fact that there are things left unexplained and a few doors still open lead me to believe there may be another visit with Prenna and friends.

Overall, it was a good book and I think it will work well within the YA genre. The Romeo/Juliet element as well the setting in modern times will help young readers to connect with it on many levels. Though there aren't many technical discussions about the time travel, the ones that appear aren't watered down completely. I felt the explanations were easy for the common person and yet not too easy. This actually made me want to keep turning the pages. If you're looking for a thrill ride into the future (and the past) and a bit of romance, pick up this book!

The Here and Now by Ann Brashares is currently available for purchase at many retailers in hardcover, Kindle or Audio CD. A link to the book's Amazon page is provided below.
The Here and Now by Ann Brashares

Relatively Risky (The Big Uneasy Book 1) by Pauline Baird Jones

Release Date: June 11, 2013
Publisher: Pauline Baird Jones
Series: The Big Uneasy

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
After running down the would-be carjacker, Nell Whitby finds herself in a world of trouble not even she could have ever imagined. She moved to New Orleans a couple of years earlier to start a new life for herself. What she finds is a lot more than she anticipated.

Alex Baker, homicide detective and near victim of a carjacker, knows a thing or two about connections. One of several cops in his family line, he trusts his gut when it tells him something's wrong. And with Nell, there's a whole lot wrong. Going up against some of the most well-connected people in New Orleans places both Nell and Alex in the path of harm. Can they keep from becoming a ghost in a city full of them?

Review:
I won this book through a free giveaway at Goodreads.com. By the number of pages in the book, you think it's going to take a long while to read, but it doesn't. The story is really engaging and keeps you wanting to know more than the characters are willing to tell or investigate. I found myself coming back to the book time and again to snatch a few more pages whenever I had a free moment.

The first in a series, Jones sets the groundwork in this book. I was concerned that it would be a simple information dump with some romance sprinkled here or there. In all honesty, it was a really well-woven story that gave just enough information as necessary at the appropriate time. Not all the answers are given by the end of the book - hence the series. But it does give a satisfying conclusion to many of the questions we, the readers, have at the beginning.

Though there is some romantic moments in the story, they add to the story and not overwhelm it. There is a progression of emotions and feelings by those involved that does lend a realistic feeling to the characters. I couldn't help but chuckle as one or more of the characters were increasingly frustrated by events beyond their control. Not entirely in the romance department either. Each character had his or her own life within the pages and it made for an enjoyable read.

Despite taking a step out of my reading comfort zone, I really enjoyed the blend of romance and mystery/suspense within this book. I want to know more about the power struggle within the city - on both sides of the law - as well as what happens to some of the characters I grew to like. If you're looking for an exciting and quirky ride through New Orleans, pick up this book!

Relatively Risky (The Big Uneasy Book 1) by Pauline Baird Jones is currently available for purchase in paperback, audio-book and Kindle/e-book formats. You can buy a copy through Amazon at the link provided below.
Relatively Risky (The Big Uneasy Book 1) by Pauline Baird Jones

Beautiful Whispers by Alice Ayden

Release Date: June 4, 2013
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Sharing a name with a famous author is tough, especially when you're a direct descendent living on the author's estate. Combine that with unexplained memory losses and conflicting stories from everyone around, one can understand why Jane Eva Austen had such a hard time trying to find her place in the world.

Despite the forgotten periods of time, she manages to live a fairly uneventful life until someone from the past returns to the estate. Unanswered questions, unending feuds and a nagging sense of deja vu makes the return all the more interesting and painful for Jane. Will she discover the missing memories in time to save herself? Will she forgo knowing everything to keep up appearances for the family or choose her heart?

Review:
This book was a prize sent to me from a Goodreads.com giveaway. Honestly, I'm torn about this book for several reasons. The premise behind the story and the way the plot reveals itself is well done. The reader is given enough information to answer some of their questions but not enough to ensure that he/she turns the page. The author did a great job in describing the estate and created a lot of colorful characters that brought a bit of levity after some of the more serious or darker parts of the story.

However, I was constantly thrown off by the fact that the main character, Jane, was to be 21 years-old. To me, she acted much younger than that. My first impression of the character was that she was in her early teens and her behavior does little to change that image until I nearly reached the end of the book. There is a sense of growth within the character during the book but to me, it wasn't believable from the start. Maybe if her actions were given a bit of explanation such as being caused by the trauma or memory loss, it would have been different for me.

I was also distracted by quite a few typos, grammar errors and punctuation mistakes. I realize that no manuscript is ever perfect. Even some of the best-selling authors have problems with their books. For me, the mistakes took me out of the story for a moment and that made it difficult to get back into the groove, so to speak. I wholeheartedly believe that will a little more polish, this could be a great read.

Overall, I thought the idea, the plot and many of the characters really made the book worth reading. The way the point-of-view switches between chapters does take a little getting used to, but it was interesting play on our generation being caught up with that of the past. If you're looking for a book filled with love, choices, unexplained time loss and intrigue, then this is one you should check out.

Beautiful Whispers by Alice Ayden is available at Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle forms. Click the link below for purchasing details.
Beautiful Whispers by Alice Ayden

I Kill Me: Tales of a Jilted Hypochondriac by Tracy H. Tucker

 Rating:  3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Christine Bacon had plenty to worry about in her everyday, run-of-the-mill type of life. With her job as a teacher, her insurance selling husband and two girls, there was plenty to worry about - and then some since she's also a hypochondriac. Every little bump, bruise, mole, cough - it all is a small piece of a much larger, more terrifying puzzle that will ultimately lead to her death. Or so she believes.

Stepping out of her comfort zone in order to keep her world together, Christine decides to give into one of her husband's fantasies. Unfortunately, it all goes horribly wrong and she winds up on the receiving end of a divorce petition. While navigating her increasing number of symptoms to a myriad of diseases, fighting the good fight with both preteen and teenage angst, and learning to love herself completely, Christine must find a way to take back her identity or risk losing everything all at once.

Review:
This book is definitely written for a mature audience for its adult themes and language. Right from the start, we're thrown into the middle of Christine and Richard's marriage as it falls apart. They were living the all-American dream complete with the dog, house and two kids. Life was going well, or so Christine thought. As we ride along with Christine, we can see that she loves her husband enough to force herself from her comfort zone and battle the inner diagnostician as they arrive at the hotel for the encounter guaranteed to spice up their love life.

It all goes downhill from there for the characters. Each of them must deal with the fallout from the infidelity, divorce and moving on in their new roles. The honest way in which the author portrays the characters helps to keep the story moving at a steady pace as well as provides the emotional punches to which many can relate. Though divorce may be common in this country, the road labelled "moving on" isn't always an easy on to take. Both Christine's and Richard's journeys reflect that in the book.

All in all, I loved how honest the main character's reactions were. She clearly had issues stemming from childhood that no one really wanted to take time to address. Again, that's something many could relate to. The author is able to draw you in and make you care about the characters, leaving you with tears of both sadness and happiness by the time the end of the book comes along. This book is definitely a great story if you're looking for a guilty pleasure and want to root for the underdog!

I Kill Me: Tales of a Jilted Hypochondriac by Tracy H. Tucker is currently available in both paperback and Kindle forms. The paperback version was originally released in Jul 2012 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing. Either one of the forms can be purchased at Amazon.com by clicking the link below.
I Kill Me: Tales of a Jilted Hypochondriac by Tracy H. Tucker

Gorgeous by Paul Rudnick

Rating:  4 out of  5 stars.


Synopsis:
Gorgeous is a coming of age story in which we meet a girl named Becky. Born into a remote, small town, she doesn't seem to have very many paths available to make something of herself. She lives at home with her overweight mother and works at a local store with her best friend. Only after turning eighteen and losing someone very close to her, Becky is presented with the choice of a lifetime. She can choose to stay plain Becky or she can throw caution to the wind and become Rebecca, a devil-may-care woman who women will want to be and men will want to be with. Having made a promise that she intends to keep, Becky makes her choice. She begins her whirlwind journey, finds what love truly is along the way and learns how devastating secrets can really be.


Review:
 I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of this book through a giveaway at Goodreads.com and thoroughly enjoyed the book. I can't say that I didn't struggle to get through some parts of the book. There were a few times where I thought the style of writing changed and made it difficult to stay within the story all the way through. However, the story itself was enough to keep me reading and held my interest until the very last page. The relationship between the charachters was explored and believable, in my opinion. I did think one of the characters needed a swift kick in the behind as he was fairly standoffish and cruel at times. Yet, it was the way the character had to be in order to do what needed to be done. All in all, Gorgeous was a delightful story that didn't end the way I thought it would. Surprising to the very end, you will be entertained.

Gorgeous by Paul Rudnick is currently available in hardback, paperback and Kindle form. It can be found at Amazon.com at the link below.
Gorgeous by Paul Rudnick

Synthetic: Rise of the Siren by Shonna Wright

Rating:  4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Kora is an expert in synthesizing creatures, real or imagined but she has a rule that she follows, no matter the cost. She refuses to create a vampire - period. While kept locked inside her laboratory, Kora was commissioned to create her greatest synthetic yet, Siren. The creature is beautiful beyond words and soon becomes wanted by a very wealthy client that Kora's boss cannot refuse. The Siren, along with Kora and her faithful squid companion, are whisked away to the home of the client. It is then that the truth behind the commission is revealed to Kora's horror. She must make her prized creation into a vampire or risk never leaving the grounds alive again.

In the midst of this turmoil, forgotten memories and familiar faces beg Kora to remember events best kept buried. She races to find the answers behind all of her questions while trying to save herself, the Siren and many more who come to depend on her.


Review:
Okay, I admit that when I saw that this was another new take on vampires, I inwardly groaned. No, I'm not a fan of a certain trilogy no matter how many chances I'm begged to give it. I pushed myself to give this book a chance. That was a very good decision on my part. The book doesn't try to change the vampire mythos or pretend to be some lost knowledge. Since the vampires are scientifically created, it would not be difficult to imagine that they are somewhat different than what is commonly thought of as a traditional vampire. It was refreshing to see a different way of looking at vampires, to be honest.

The cast of characters in the book also plays a big part in my enjoyment of the book. Each definitely had their own personality. Some I despised and some I felt drawn to almost immediately. I liked how the author wove several smaller storylines into the large storyline and created a fairly good read that kept me entertained for quite a while. If you're up for something a bit out of the ordinary, you should definitely consider picking this book.

Synthetic: Rise of the Siren is currently available in Kindle form. It can be found at Amazon.com at the link below.
Synthetic: Rise of the Siren by Shonna Wright

UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn

Rating:  3 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Poor Mina Grime is a down-on-her-luck high school student who finds her world turned upside down during a class field trip to a local bakery. She had always been a magnet for unhappy events and had grown accustomed to the worst possible endings. It was a huge shock to her when she ends up saving the day, and the boy, when an accident occurs on the field trip. Overnight, her place in the world shifts and the attention places her under intense scrutiny that her family had fought to keep from her. It comes to light that Mina is descended from a line with a past which is difficult to outrun or avoid. She makes the decision to face it head on, no matter the sacrifice. In the process, she comes to learn who she truly is and what is truly important to her.

Review:

First time reading the story, I did find quite a few grammatical and spelling errors that distracted me. It did seem as though many should have been caught before publication. As the story progressed, the errors became less noticeable and I was able to enjoy the story for what it was. I thought the idea was a creative way to retell the stories we've heard as children. By the end of the book, I was hoping for more and wondering how Mina, the main character, was going to finish the task given to her. It was a good read for a gloomy afternoon. If you are a fan of young adult novels or simply looking for something a little out of the ordinary, you should definitely give this book a try.

UnEnchanted is available in both paperback and Kindle form. It can be found at Amazon.com through the link below.
UnEnchanted by Chandra Hahn