Glass Houses by Rachel Caine Review

Glass Houses

The Morganville Vampires Series Book One

By Rachel Caine

Super smart sixteen year old, Claire Danvers, is a misfit through and through especially considering the fact that she is a freshman in college. Soon after she starts her new life in Morganville Texas she bites off more than she can chew when she insults Monica and her gaggle of followers who are now out for her blood. After Monica pushes Claire down a flight of stairs she decides she must leave campus and find somewhere else to stay otherwise she may end up dead next time. She soon finds an add that takes her to a house that is best described as “Gone with the Wind meets the Munsters” and three new roommates each eccentric in their own way. Shortly after she moves in she discovers that Morganville is more than just the party town that it seems and is full of dark and dangerous secrets.

Ok so when I first heard about this novel I thought “Young adult romance called Morganville Vampires, another typical vampire romance, Skip it!” Once I started reading this novel it took me completely by surprise, not only is the vampires the bad guys in this book but it surrounds an entire town controlled by vampires and the humans know and most are under a vampire’s protection. After I read this I was hooked, I could not get enough of this novel with its witty repartee and a storyline like this it is an amazing read. Be forewarned this book has one heck of a cliffhanger so have book two ready to continue on!

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The Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux Review

The Summerhouse

Summerhouse Book One

By Jude Deveraux

On their twenty-first birthday three women met in New York as they are renewing their driver’s licenses. The three soon hit it off Leslie has come to New York to become a dancer, Madison was sent by her small home town to become a model, and Ellie has dreams of becoming an artist. Nineteen years later after Ellie has been through a horrific divorce she decides to reconnect with the two women who touched her life forever inviting them to spend their fortieth birthday at a Summerhouse in Maine. What turns out to be an ordinary vacation soon turns into an extraordinary opportunity that will alter their lives.

This is a novel of choices, the choices we have made in our lives and where those decisions have brought us. What if you had the chance to change something in your past? This is the idea that Jude Deveraux takes on with this novel, not only is it thought provoking the author is simple brilliant in the execution of this novel intertwining three very unique stories. The only thing I must say is that the story itself starts off a bit slow, but each character has an interesting back story somewhat making up for the lack of anything truly happening, the novel truly kicks off about halfway through when the three women meet Madame Zoya. Once this happens you truly cannot put this novel down until you find out how it will end, I cannot say weather this novel is suprising the first time I read it myself I was a teenager and I absolutely fell in love, so re-reading it for review I knew what would happen and I find myself falling in love with this novel all over again, definitely worth the read.  

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Something Borrowed By Emily Griffin Review

Something Borrowed

By Emily Griffin

Rachel has spent her entire life catering to Darcy’s needs, and always coming in second to the high strung and gorgeous Darcy. Then on Rachel’s thirtieth birthday she drinks a bit too much and finds herself in bed with Darcy’s fiancé. Rachel knows it is wrong but soon she can’t help the feelings that have grown inside of her as she realizes she loves Dex.

For the first time someone has taken the “other woman’s” side and though it may be an interesting perspective she is still the other woman, and with that comes the stigma of “she is such an idiot.” Emily Griffin manages to create such an unlikable character in Darcy you can’t help but side with Rachel no matter how hard you try, and just when you start to sympathize with Darcy and think Rachel is indeed a bad person she pulls something out of her sleeve that will make you rethink taking Darcy’s side to begin with. This wasn’t a bad book, it was certainly well written, I think this is one of those books that will be torn between sections you will either love it or hate it no middle ground.

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Murder Most Frothy by Cleo Coyle Review

Murder Most Frothy

Coffeehouse Mystery Series Book Two

By Cleo Coyle

Clare Cosi lives for coffee, ever since she was a child, so it is no surprise that she is a highly successful New York barista. Her millionaire friend David has asked her down to the Hamptons for the summer to train his staff at his new restaurant with all expenses paid for her and her daughter it is an offer she cannot refuse, but during a Fourth of July party she is catering she stumbles upon the dead body of one of her employees she takes it upon herself to find out who killed this man and if their attempts weren’t actually meant for someone else.

This was a great cozy, the first book I have read from the Coffeehouse Mystery Series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This book is witty and humorous fulfilling much of what I expect when I read a cozy mystery. The Author did a wonderful job in describing the coffee that even for someone like me, who doesn’t particularly like it; I wanted to taste the delectable creations that Cleo Coyle describes. The coffee isn’t the only thing that the author was able to create brilliantly; her scenes were able to draw you in so that you were able to fully take in what was happening, also the relationships that the author has created make you curious as to what has taken place in the past and what will become of the menagerie of characters. The mystery itself, though not intense since it is a cozy, will keep you guessing until the very last minute and the author does a remarkable job of tying up any “loose ends” that some mystery authors tend to overlook.

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The Second Prophecy by R. Alan Ferguson Review

The Second Prophecy

The Dragdani Prophecies Part One

By R. Alan Ferguson

John Stark has been exiled to the “normal” world where he has married and created a life for himself, but one day a great wizard arrives to tell him that he is no ordinary wizard he is the last remaining descendant of the only Dragon/Wizard/Elf and he must return to his home to defeat the Evil Ulicoth. Things do not go as planned though as the King John Stark is murdered bringing about a reign of terror. When it comes to light that his wife is with child all they can do is wait for their savior to be born and come into his full powers. But Peter Stark is not like his father or any other that has come before him, he is something more powerful than their world has ever seen.

From the beginning this story captivates your attention; it is truly an imaginative tale full of creatures rarely used in novels to the most creative invention of beings. The story itself is fast paced with so many things involved I was afraid I would not be able to do it justice in my synopsis. The only problem I found is that there are quite a few typos, such as though instead of through, though they are small mistakes it gets a little annoying if not for this then this would be one of the best books I have read in a long time.

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The Sin Collector by Jessica Fortunato Review

The Sin Collector

Book One of The Sin Collector Trilogy

By Jessica Fortunato

Liliana was born a Sin Collector taking the sins of those who are dying so that they can be at peace in the world here after. She has seen many things in her one hundred years of life and it has been a long time since she has performed the ritual to collect sins. She has started to live her life as a normal person working at a library until one day a request for a book of Sin Collectors comes through the library making her afraid for her life.

This is an interesting novel it is very much fantasy with hints of mystery and romance. Liliana is a strong willed woman who rides around on her motor cycle like she owns the place which is fun to see in a character, girl power and all that, but she is also kind and caring with a great amount of love to give making her a diverse and provoking character. When you add in the story line and even the back story Jessica Fortunato creates a world unlike any other with Sin Collectors and an organization determined to kill off each one and when people from Liliana’s past come back into her life the drama that ensues is palpable. This book is worth the read, it’s not very long but the author fills every page with drama and intrigue.

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Kiss the Crystal Sun by Penelope King Review

Kiss the Crystal Sun

Book Two of the Spellbound Trilogy

By Penelope King

Calista isn’t an ordinary girl she recently found out that the special powers she has always exhibited have come from a long line of witches, but when she was a baby her mother placed a spell on her that made her all but invisible to the rest of her maternal family and when her mother died she grew up thinking she was the only one of her kind. Soon after she moved to California and met her maternal grandmother she also met the boy of her dreams literally, Nicholas he too has special abilities and grew up without the guidance of a family but unlike Callista he was able to explore many different facets of the magical world. Now Nicholas is trying to save Callista’s friend Justin and purge him of an ancient gypsy curse that causes him to kill witches making him a witch hunter.

This book is full of twists and turns not only is Callista trying to save her best friend but she also finds out that her grandmother has been hiding devastating secrets from her. We also find out more about Callista’s mother and Callista’s life before she moved from Louisiana, with all that has happened in this book I don’t know how Penelope King will be able to top it but I look forward to find out what she will come up with next.

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The Mine by John Heldt Review

The Mine

By John Heldt

Joel Smith, a geology major, is on a road trip with his best friend when they are detoured in Helena Montana decided to make use of their time in the small town Joel finds an abandoned mine and with his adventurous nature combined with his love of geology he has to explore it. But somehow he is transported back to 1941 and to an America that is on the brink of war, what he doesn’t expect on this adventure is that he will fall in love with the most captivating woman.

The Mine is an interesting historical novel; the author did a wonderful job in bringing to life a time in America when war is in the near future leading to a time of apprehension of things that have yet to come. A lot of authors have written about World War II but none have brought to the public a novel of what it must have been like right before Pearl Harbor was attacked. John Heldt did a wonderful job, the story is written so beautifully that the story takes on a life of its own with breathtaking scenery and heartfelt romance all against the backdrop of uncertainty and conflict. This story brings the question “Can love conquer all?” to the forefront in a most unusual way. If you are a fan of time travel romances I would definitely give this one a try.

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the Next Always by Nora Roberts Review

The Next Always

Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy Book One

By Nora Roberts

Beckett Montgomery has been infatuated with Clare since he was in high school but when Clare came back home widowed and with three children to raise, he couldn’t bring himself to make her life any more complicated. As Beckett and his two brothers work on restoring the historic and haunted inn things also begin to change between Clare and Beckett. Everything seems to be going perfectly until Clare finds herself with unwanted attention from Sam and arrogant and conceited man who won’t take no for an answer.

Nora Roberts introduces us to her newest trilogy surrounding the inn in BoonsBoro, I have read a few of her trilogies before and so far this one is as promising as her others. Nora Roberts did a wonderful job in pulling you in with a wonderful romance then by adding a ghost and a stalker she adds to the fun, leaving you dying to know what happens next. This book was a bit sad for me I am not sure if others will find it this way but as a military wife when Clare goes into details about her husband and how he was killed in the Iraq war while she was pregnant, it is my worst nightmare but in the end it makes the story so beautiful and touching I couldn’t put it down. If you are a military wife you may want to have tissues on hand just in case but this is definitely worth the read.  

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Elizabeth Clansham by Catherine E. Chapman Review

Elizabeth Clansham

By Catherine E. Chapman

Elizabeth Clansham has recently moved to a small town in the Scottish Highlands in order to pursue her writing, all the while she teaches English part time. Across from her small home lives Andrew a former pop star who drifts listlessly through life until Laetitia and her daughter Lauren arrive on his doorstep, Laetitia is fleeing Glasgow when a menacing man shows up to her flat and threatens to hurt her daughter if she does not repay her debt. Then there is Angus, the gamekeeper and father figure who has taken in his niece when her mother has abandoned her. Between the four romance begins to bloom and each of their lives is changed by the others.

This book reminded me a lot of Debbie Macomber’s style of writing using real life scenarios as the focus instead of fantastical situations. If you enjoy a laid back approach to the romance genre and something more realistic than vampires or a serial killer who focuses on the main character for any number of reason you will enjoy this book. Each character goes through their own growth period and finds out who they truly are or want to be. Catherine E. Chapman managed to encompass four individuals but also Elizabeth’s students into the story each one having their own romantic trysts; it was very intricate and well written I only wish there had been more conclusions to some of the individual stories, but the author does a splendid job bringing each one to life.

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Matched by Ally Condie Review

Matched

By Ally Condie

Cassia lives in a world where the Society decides everything even who she can marry and have children with for optimum results. In a world where you are told what you can and cannot eat, where you cannot even run in public Cassia is content but when it comes time to her own match an error occurs she not only sees the face of her childhood best friend but also a boy who is a pariah in the Society, Ky, and should never have been entered into the match. When her grandfather slips her a forbidden poem from his deathbed and she starts to have feelings for Ky, it accumulates and she begins to have strange rebellious feelings towards the Society she has always entrusted.

The perfect Society where you have no choices whatsoever what would it be like to have your entire life broken down into statistics and from those statistics you become completely predictable? What would it be like for someone to be able to find that perfect someone for you and you never have to wonder about whom you will marry you would never even have to worry about divorce because they would be absolutely perfect for you. Allie Condie answers these questions and then brings it to life, yes if you knew nothing else it would seem perfect but when you get a taste of your own freedom what would happen. This was a great book it was well written and believable, you can see yourself in this world and how seemingly perfect it would be. The romance was beautiful and as Cassia deals with her own conflicted feelings the author manages to clearly express them so as we feel them too. I can’t wait until I can read Crossed book two of the Matched series and we can go on adventure with Cassia that I truly hope will not disappoint.

 

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The Moon and The Tide by Derrolyn Anderson Review

The Moon and the Tide

Marina’s Tales Book Two

By Derrolyn Anderson

The mermaids are scared someone is hunting them and one of their sisters has gone missing. Meanwhile on land Marina is coming to learn more and more of the people she is surrounded by and secrets that have been kept from her, her entire life come to light. Soon though a terrible accident causes her own secret to be revealed and she is caught in a dangerous world that will take every ounce of her strength to survive.

If it is possible this book was better than the first, we learn more about Aunt Evie and it isn’t quite what you would expect. Also Marina soon finds out love is a lot harder than it seems in fairytales and we go through a growth process as she and Ethan learn to cope with the progression of their relationship and Marina uncovers more of her own past. This is a great young adult book and Derrolyn Anderson has once again done a remarkable job intertwining several stories into one beautiful and thrilling novel. This book is a brilliant blend of suspense, romance, and fantasy. As this story progresses the more it draws you in leaving you eager to find out what happens next.

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The Talisman of EL by Alecia Stone Review

Talisman of El

By Alecia Stone

Charlie has had a rough life his mother died when he was born and when he was ten years old a tornado claimed the life of his father. Now four years later he has been placed with a thief and murderer. Even though things may seem at their worst it is only the beginning of a set of events that will make all the hardships worth it. Charlie meets a set of people who will accompany him on a journey that will lead him to the center of the earth where he will find a magical world full of angels, demons, phoenixes, werewolves and even a ride on a Pegasus. Along the way his friends become his family and he learns the true meaning of destiny.

This was an absolutely riveting novel not only was it full of action and adventure but it was a heartwarming story of self-discovery and sometimes how we get to choose our families. Alecia Stone did an amazing job setting the scene and drawing us into the story, the world she created was thoroughly planned and executed so vividly you will have no problems imagining the perils her characters face. This is a one of a kind novel blending religion with mythology and introducing an idea that is surely original “The Garden of Eden is at the center of the Earth.” I can’t wait until we can follow Charlie on another adventure as he searches for the missing pieces of the Talisman of EL, and we can see what other powers it harnesses.

Be sure to stop by http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/ april 29^th for a guest post from Alecia Stone!

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Few Are Chosen by M T McGuire Review

Few Are Chosen

By M T McGuire

K’Barthan Trilogy Book One

The Pan of Hamgee is accident prone to say the least and when he accidently burns down a mob boss’ flat he soon wiggles his out of a cement box into being the greatest getaway driver K’Barth has ever seen, because if there is one thing The Pan knows how to do it is run away. This is only the beginning for the Pan though he soon becomes wanted not only by Lord Vernon the ruler of K’Barth but also wanted by the head of the resistance which seem just as bad as the current rulers, and for some reason an Old Man seems to bring him even more trouble as the man searches for the person who is destined to rule over the land.

This book is witty and fast paced, The Pan often finds himself saying the most inappropriate things at the most inopportune times leaving you silently chuckling to yourself at the audacity of the guy. M T McGuire has also seemed to imagine some of the most interesting characters for instance the three foot tall creatures with cat’s facial feature and only one leg, which becomes very angry if you mention their height. This book is certainly entertaining and imaginative I can’t wait to read book two The Wrong Stuff.

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Ignite by Kaitlyn Davis Review

Ignite

By Kaitlyn Davis

Kira has just moved from New York to Charleston in doing so she has caught the attention of a group of strangers who for some reason won’t quit staring at her from across the lunchroom, but among the group one guy she doesn’t quite mind his look, Tristan. When it turns out Tristan is a vampire and she was actually born with the sole purpose of killing them will they be able to find a way to be together?

Kaitlyn Davis has done an amazing job with this book; I don’t say this lightly since I am pretty much over vampire romances, but in this book we get to see a twist on the classic Romeo and Juliet story. The best part of this book was the ending I was so engrossed I didn’t want it to end and if the scene itself wasn’t enough to bring you back sore more the author blindsides you with a bit of information to make sure you will. Definitely worth the read even just for the end! I can’t wait to read book two Simmer.

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Witchy, Witchy by Penelope King Review

Witchy, Witchy

By Penelope King

Calista is not your ordinary teenage girl; she has always been blessed with special gifts, like opening her curtains with the flick of her finger. Though she had no idea just how special she was until her and her father move to Crystal Cove Estates in Southern California, there she finds out that she was actually born a witch, and the lady of the house who has hired her father to be her new caretaker is actually none other than her own grandmother, Ana. Not only does Calista have to start a new school and deal with the local bully she must also be on guard against a group of people who had been cursed with an insatiable need to kill witches, witch-hunters. Thus begins Calista’s new life and to make matters more interesting she has been having dreams of a guy she met on the beach her first day there, making her feel like a love sick child, but there is more to these dreams than even she realizes.

So much happened in this first book I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to do it justice. I loved how Penelope King explained her version of witches; it was very unique and intriguing, that when the world began normal human being could not survive so the Gods created a special group of kind hearted people who were blessed with powers of the lesser Gods. Penelope King was able to write a beautiful love story, but also a story about a young woman finding out about herself and for the first time in her life actually having friends that are as close to her as family. The only thing I wanted more of from this book was the story of her mother but I am hoping that, that story is more intertwined within the next books. I definitely can’t wait to read the next book this one was left on such a cliffhanger I am almost itching to know what happens next.

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