​Will Alexander is a lawyer, an up-and-comer at his firm who is just trying to get through the daily grind. His life changes when he meets Erica, a social worker turned energy healer.  Will and Erica are drawn to one another.  Erica sees a strong energy around Will, one that he doesn't realize he possesses.  Will tries to dismiss Erica's beliefs as eccentricities, however as he is pulled more into Erica's life and healing practice, Will's own beliefs begin to waver as Erica tells Will that he has helped her patients simply by being with them and one of Will's legal clients feels a weight lifted off of his shoulders after Will met with him.  Will begins to realize that there might be something about him that can help others, but his beliefs are still on the fence and his legal mind won't allow him to admit to doing anything, even as he begins to take on his own clients in Erica's practice.  

The Reluctant Healer is a book to read with an open mind.  It is the story of a perfectly ordinary man, Will -who thoroughly believes he is an ordinary man despite evidence of the extraordinary.  There isn't a lot of action or suspense in The Reluctant Healer, it is  mostly the story of Will coming to grips with forces within himself yet outside of his control, and slowly changing his worldview and belief system.  Even without a lot of excitement,  The Reluctant Healer still had me intrigued.  I really wanted to know what Will's ability was, how he was going to decide how to use it and if it had any limits.  Since this is a story of Will, his character is really the only one who is fully fleshed.  Erica is a large part of the story, yet I didn't get the feeling that I knew her too well.  Will's choices were what powered the story.  I found some choices very natural and some choices baffling, especially towards the end.  Overall, The Reluctant healer is a story of opening your mind to a world of opportunities beyond what you would normally consider.


This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Vivienne Davenport is a high-schooler who is still reeling after the death of her mother to cancer.  Now living with her grandmother, Vivienne looks back on memories of her mother and finds that she is adopted.  When her grandmother won't give her any answers about her biological mother, Vivienne enlist her friend Savannah to track down her biological mom.  Vivienne and Savannah find Claire easily enough, but not any answers.  When Vivienne returns, her mom has disappeared and Vivienne is let in on the secret of her adoption and the curse of her family.  She is a witch and an immortal has taken her mother in order to get to Vivienne.  Now, with a new family and new powers to figure out, Vivienne must find her mother and figure out their curse. 


This is a fast-paced young adult paranormal centered around witches.  I enjoyed the premise of the story with a young woman learning about her family of witches and trying a break a curse from the past.  However, the pacing of this book was extremely fast.  This made for a quick and easy read, but I was left wanting to know more of the characters, the setting and the curse.  I'm not quite sure that I really got to know Vivienne's character or any of her many family members that she quickly acquired.  I think I knew more about her best friend, Savannah through Vivienne's eyes.  I did like the overall themes of family, purpose and coming-of-age that resounded throughout the story.  I also thought the mystery of Vivienne's opal ring and the curse was intriguing.  I would have loved to see more of a developed story line for the ring's original owner, Lisette instead of just brief flashbacks.  The book did quickly wrap up with an exciting battle, but left me wanting more.  I would definitely dive into the sequel. 

​The DeVaughan children grew up in India where their father worked at a clinic saving lives.  After an unexpected tragedy the DeVaughan sisters, Quinn and Sarah and their mother pick up and move to Kentucky, leaving their father behind.  Quinn, the eldest sister, blames herself for the accident and their mother blames India.  Now as adults, Quinn is a neurotic mother of twins who is continuously used as the family doormat, younger sister, Sarah is an adventurous journalist whose assignments takes her to the most dangerous parts of the world and their mother has developed a spending habit that she absolutely cannot afford.  Sarah decides to break away from journalism and takes a job at a Bengal Tiger Conservation Organization in India, near their old family home.  Sarah becomes notorious internationally for her efforts to save a tiger cub and begins a project with the village women that she needs Quinn's help with.  With both sisters in India, Sarah and Quinn dig into their past and the truth behind the tragedy that ripped through their family while trying to protect the future of a young tiger family.

With a powerful opening that gave insight into the entire DeVaughan family dynamic in one sentence, I knew I was going to fall deep into Three Ways to Disappear.  Combining literary fiction with family drama and environmental fiction created a dual story of the DeVaughan family and Machli the tiger' family trying to navigate life.  From the beginning Sarah's character gives absolutely stunning descriptions of the beauty of the wild's of India and the contrast of the small villages and colorful cities that made everything feel as if I were there.  There was also a deep understanding of tigers and their role in nature.  Machli, Akbar and their cubs were characters in the story just as much as Sarah and Quinn, with personalities and goals that I cared about.  The focus of the story however, is on Sarah and Quinn and how they are still trying to find themselves apart from the tragedy that defined their childhood.  Sarah and Quinn take very different routes to find who they really are, although the tigers and the magic of India helps them both in their journey.  A highly emotional ending closes out this impactful story that left me thinking about my the effect of my actions on the Earth and those around me. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

Rhett Masters is high school royalty, wealthy, good-looking and a star football player. Rhett has a new girl every day and plans to go to school on a football scholarship.  After a family tragedy that Rhett believes is his fault, his life spirals downhill and causes him to loose his chance at a football scholarship.  Rhett changes his focus to becoming one the Elite, a secret society in New Orleans that recruits seven members a year.  The Elite will pave the way for Rhett's future, but getting in will come at a price.  The task that the Elite give Rhett seems simple for a guy like him, but once Rhett learns more about the the woman he has to target, he has to choose her reputation over his dream.


From the absolutely heart-wrenching opening of Lust, I knew I was hooked.  I really liked the idea of the secret society, The Elite and how they were based on evil and sin.  Rhett seemed like he was going to be the stereotypical good-looking bad boy, however, his motivations were much deeper.  From the beginning, I could tell that Rhett had much deeper emotional motivations than her ever showed on the surface.  Rhett's initiation into the Elite was intense, but predictable.  Although, Rhett and Chastity did make a really cute couple and the heat and dirtiness factor ramped up when their relationship took off.  I can't wait to go deeper into the stories of the other seven member, especially Rhett's friend, God.


This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

Mason and Evelyn Blackwell have been in the foster care system for years.  Mason is almost out when the siblings are placed with the Griffin family.  Lillian Griffin decides that Mason will be the perfect leader for her secret society since he has so much to lose if he doesn't do exactly as Lillian says.   Holding Evelyn as a bargaining chip, Lillian puts Mason through hell until he agrees to lead the initiates of the Elite.  Mason must delegate evil deeds to the other members to complete as well as complete his own.  Mason's task is to expose the dark secret of the new Theology professor at St. Augustine University.  However, once he finds out who the unlikely professor is, Mason's task becomes much more difficult. 


The second book in The Elite Seven series focuses on the group's leader, Mason who has been given the sin of pride.  So far, books one and two have meshed together really well, keeping characterization and timeline all in sync.  In Pride, the evil nature of The Elite Seven becomes apparent as Mason is a very reluctant initiate.  Mason's life has not been easy, so his character is more relatable than Rhett in book one, Lust. Through Mason, we find out a lot more about LIllian's character, her motivations and how much pull she has within the Elite.  Mason's story line is as much seated in revenge against Lillian as it is his relationship with his target, Meghan.  Mason and Meghan's relationship was explosive, dirty, hot and incredibly sexy.  These steamy scenes also happened a lot throughout the book, so this one has a high heat rating.  Pride's story pushes along the plot of the Elite Seven society and leads into the next story of Wrath. 
 
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

​808 West Washington Street in the small town of New Water, Illinois has had a varied past.  Now the house has been converted into profitable apartments by the industrious Dolsen Worthington.  His renters are comprised of Macey, a makeup artist and her teenaged daughter Emma, Sonny Vice a war veteran with a permanent leg injury who drowns his depression with gambling and drinking, the Allen siblings whose parents both died recently and the elderly Fernie Braley, a former nanny.  Dolsen has secretly placed security cameras in each apartment, except for Fernie.   Dolsen fulfills his voyeuristic tendencies by watching the security footage often and gets a sneak peak into the private lives of his tenants.  However, he might find some things that he would rather not know and miss some things that he would like to know.  

Private Pursuits is a is a domestic melodrama that will keep you guessing.  The writing focuses heavily on the characters and moves quickly but sort of clunky through the many points of view.  It seemed the most time was given to Macey Burris and very little to the others even though Fernie is a driving force near the end.  Also, why does nobody in this book have a regular name except for Emma?  Bane, Kettie, Dolsen, Fernie- all in one place at a time?  Anyway, with a look into each of these characters intimate moments, a suspense and intrigue was created.  I had a feeling that something big was going to happen in order to bind everyone together; however that never really happened.  There were several bigger moments that could have accomplished this, but just sort of petered out. Overall, an interesting look into people's private lives that didn't quite hit the right notes for me.
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This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

Kyle is a college senior who is failing English Composition.  Lani is junior, a dancer who is a pushover.  Lani is in trouble for covering for a friend.  Kyle and Lani both end up in a special class to make up for their transgressions- Extra Credit.  The class ends up being more of an examination of how they ended up there and utilizes partnerships for the semester to help each other with their issues.  Kyle and Lani are partnered up.  Kyle needs help getting words on paper, Lani needs to learn to stand up for herself.  As Kyle and Lani help one another the tension between them grows until their academic partnership is more like a partnership with benefits. As the end of the year approaches for Kyle and Lani, they have to make decisions about where their short but intense partnership will take them.

Sexy, sweet and fun, The Partnership is a realistic new adult romance with characters that I could easily relate to. With the point of view switching between Lani and Kyle, I was able to see what was going on inside each of their heads.  I love seeing when the guy is just as unsure about a relationship as the girl.  Lani and Kyle both had a great energy that pulled them towards one another for a passionate romance. The sexy times were great, not over-explained but genuine and true to a college experience.  In addition to the sex and romance, Kyle and Lani's story is about growth, change and entering adulthood.  One of my favorite characters was the Extra Credit teacher, Marjorie who tells the class: "Trust...You should all be working on trust-when to give it and when to withhold it."  I think we all should have taken Marjorie's class in college.  I would love to continue this series and see where the rest of the relationships in the Extra Credit class go and find out more of Marjorie's advice.  Overall, The Partnership is a fast-paced, sexy, New-Adult read. 
This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 
​

​Trisha deTours is a book editor for women's erotic fiction at Pinnacle Books.  Her personal life often reflects the books she edits as Trisha hunts for men on the beach and discards them after sex.  When scientist, Daiva Izokaitis moves into Trisha's complex, Trisha finds a new friend and discovers that she has written a manuscript.  The manuscript doesn't exactly fit in with with Pinnacle's normal works, but might be exactly what they are looking for.  As Trisha dives into Daiva's book, Citadel described as a post-lesbian, scientific look at our future, Trisha becomes immersed in the characters and story so much that she begins to mix reality and fiction to become one of the characters herself.  As Citadel blends more into real life, Trisha and Daiva are helping to create the future of Citadel. 

Citadel is a very different and surprising work.  Using the technique of a book within a book, we see the editing process as well as the effect that a book can have on the reader.  When Trisha began to read Daiva's manuscript, I think I was just as confused and intrigued as Trisha.  The manuscript is difficult to read at first, however, like Trisha, I could see parts of myself and other women I know in the characters.  The writing is very in your face, not hiding any of the issues that women in every culture may deal with on a daily basis.  There is also a good amount of science involved in the novel as Daiva works with genetics and bases her book on current research such as creating life without the Y chromosome.  With this addition of science, a lot of important questions arise such as: What is human?  What is desire?  Can we ever live together peacefully?  For me, the most interesting part of the story is that Citadel begins to become reality as more people read Daiva's book.  Overall, a unique and important story that will connect with many readers. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Chloe is fun, effervescent and energetic.  She is super excited that she is finally old enough to be a counselor at Camp Winnipeg with her best friend, Millie.  She is also enthusiastic that she might catch the eye of equally fun and sociable second year counselor, Alex.  The only down-side is Alex's best friend, Drew, who made fun of Chloe's perky attitude all of last year giving her the nick-name of Alka-Seltzer.  However, when Chloe arrives at camp it is Drew who greets her warmly and helps her with her bags.  Chloe learns that she and Drew will be going to college next to each other this coming fall.  Chloe and Drew spend more and more time together, but Chloe may still be hung up on Alex.  Chloe sorts out her true feelings for Alex and Drew when she is kissed in the dark, but by the wrong guy!  Now Chloe has to start all over again after making things weird with both Alex and Drew.


A cute, sweet and easy young adult romance that is perfect for the summer.  The point of view switched between Chloe and Drew giving a great sense of both sides of a budding romance that I often miss. Chloe's character was infectious and I'm sure we all know someone just like her.  I enjoyed watching Chloe realize that her initial summer crush may not be the best choice for a relationship and watching her go through the confusion of a first love.  Drew's point of view was great to read, since he was equally as confused in romance as Chloe.  Through their awkwardness and uncertainty, both Chloe and Drew grow and are able to begin a super sweet romance.  I can't wait to read book two, which will be centered around Millie.  Overall, an adorable and entertaining young adult romance.

Millie has been working as a counselor for the summer at Camp Winnipeg.  Her best friend, Chloe is working with her.  Chloe's task for the summer was to try to win the affections of fellow counselor Alex, but has instead fallen for Drew.  Now, quiet and creative Millie has a lot of time to spend with the goofy and popular Alex.  Both Millie and Alex feel lost in love having been publicly humiliated by significant others before.  Now, Alex's ex is back at camp as well. Could they be falling for one another now and could they make it work if they were?

  This is a fun, sweet romance, perfect for the summer that captures the uncertainty of young love.  Book 2 of the Accidental Kisses series picks up right where Camp Crush left off except now we get to see a romance bud from Alex and Millie's points of view.  Alex and Millie are opposites and  written very realistically, like people I know. Once again, Tammy Andresen has been able to capture the vulnerable and awkward side of teenage dating from both the male and female perspectives.  The writing and dialogue is down to earth and natural.  I was able to relate to the fears of dating as well as the inevitable pull of love.  Overall, another enjoyable, fast-paced, sun-soaked romance.  It seems that the next book will focus on one of Drew's band mates, I can't wait!

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

​Derek is the lead singer of the band, Echo Station.  Tattooed and burly, Derek fits the look of the bad boy to a tee, and usually has a short term girlfriend to match. Derek has just had a crazy breakup with now ex-girlfriend Nicole and decides to swear off women for a while.  Band mate Drew brings in marketing major, Melissa to watch the band perform and see if she can help them get bigger crowds.  Melissa is career focused and has a plan for love and boyfriends.  While trying get some promo shots, Melissa instantly notices Derek's presence; however this bad boy is not the Harvard guy she imagined herself with and Derek seems to think she an annoyance.  At some point these two realize that love doesn't always look like they think it should.  


The third installment in the Accidental Kisses series does not disappoint.  In Love Notes the sweet and sassy romance continues with the friends of characters met in the first two books.  This being said, you do not have to read the first two books to understand this one, but it was nice to see the other relationships from the outside.  Melissa and Derek are complete opposites.  Melissa has life planned out in her head, with a man exactly like her.  Derek thinks he can only have girls that fit into his rock lifestyle, but those girls are always caustic.  When the two meet, sparks fly, but not in a good way.  Like the other books in the series, the point of view alternates between the the two so we get an inside look into Melissa and Derek's thoughts.  I enjoyed seeing the uncertainty and leaps of faith as the romance blossomed. I liked that Derek didn't fit his outward stereotype in the end and that both Melissa and Derek both could see that there is more to a person than their outward appearance.  An intense and fast-paced sweet romance that I read in one sitting, I can't wait to see who falls in love next.


This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

About the Book:
Heartbreak and transformation in the beauty of a Ukrainian village.
For seven-year old Angela, happiness is exploring the lush countryside around her home in western Ukraine. Her wild imagination takes her into birds and flowers, and into the waters of the river.
All that changes when, one morning, she sees her mother crying. As she tries to find out why, she is drawn on an extraordinary journey into the secrets of her family, and her mother's fateful choices.
Can Angela lead her mother back to happiness before her innocence is destroyed by the shadows of a dark past?
Beautiful, poetic and richly sensory, this is a tale that will haunt and lift its readers.

Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
 
Review:
For the seven years of Angela's life, her mother has seemed sad.  When mother Lyuda's sadness reaches its peak, Angela uses her intense imagination and her Nightguide to transform and seek out help from her deceased grandmother who now resides in the willow across the stream.  Angela doesn't know if it her absent father, the deaths of her grandparents or some other lost dream in her mother's life that causes the sadness.  It seems like too much for a seven year old to handle.  With the help of the spiritual world, Angela will go on a quest to help her mother find happiness, even if she is not a part of it.

A story of heartbreak and depression told through the eyes of a child who shouldn't have to experience that pain.  This story took me a while to get into; the writing is lyrical and poetic with a lot of language and metaphor. It was difficult for me to find the story through the words in the beginning.  The writing is beautiful, but I didn't have any context for what it meant.  For example, a passage that stuck out to me:
"I am an intricate construction of fibres held together by the pull of beauty, a strange gravity suspending colours and filaments and cambia through long, sunshine moments."
This didn't make any sense till much later in the book.  There were also lush description of the Ukrainian countryside, a setting that I found very interesting to explore within Angela and Lyuda's spirituality, cooking, environment and lifestyle.  Once I was able to get into the story, I found Angela's character enchanting with her transformation into birds in order to escape and her conversations with her deceased grandmother in the willow tree in order to understand what is happening around her.  Then I was able to realize that this is a story of sadness, grief and regret.  For at least two generations, the women in Angela's family have passed down the sadness for their role in settling into lives they believed were unfulfilling.  Angela takes on a unique role through magical realism in bringing her mother through depression and helping her realize that her childhood dreams can grow and change as life moves on.  Overall, this is a distinctive book that deals with many difficult issues while blending contemporary fiction and magical realism.  The writing style may not be best for every reader, but if you stick with it, the writing take you on a journey.


This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

About the Author:
Leonora Meriel grew up in London and studied literature at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and Queen’s University in Canada. She worked at the United Nations in New York, and then for a multinational law firm.
In 2003 she moved from New York to Kyiv, where she founded and managed Ukraine’s largest Internet company. She studied at Kyiv Mohyla Business School and earned an MBA, which included a study trip around China and Taiwan, and climbing to the top of Hoverla, Ukraine’s highest peak and part of the Carpathian Mountains. She also served as President of the International Women’s Club of Kyiv, a major local charity.
During her years in Ukraine, she learned to speak Ukrainian and Russian, witnessed two revolutions and got to know an extraordinary country at a key period of its development.
In 2008, she decided to return to her dream of being a writer, and to dedicate her career to literature. In 2011, she completed The Woman Behind the Waterfall, set in a village in western Ukraine. While her first novel was with a London agent, Leonora completed her second novel The Unity Game, set in New York City and on a distant planet.
Leonora currently lives in Barcelona and London and has two children. She is working on her third novel.
 
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​Joelle is dead; but she is just beginning to find out her purpose.  Joelle is hit by a vehicle while saving a child.  When she dies, Joelle is welcomed into heaven and immediately told that she will be serving as a guardian angel.  Joelle's trainer, Josh delivers Joelle to her first assignment, a twelve year old girl in Scotland named Hannah.  Joelle's job is to give Hannah a helping hand as she navigates life in an orphanage.  Joelle may also help Hannah get adopted into a loving home.  However, as Joelle and Josh spend time with Hannah and a potential adoptive mother, Joelle learns of evil angels that may turn her plans awry.  


This is a book aimed at the Young Adult crowd with a religious leaning.  I could guess from the title that this book would involve religious figures, there was just a little too much religious ideology for me to really enjoy it.  The author makes it known from the beginning that she is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and creates Joelle as a member of the Church also.  Many tenants of the religion are placed throughout the book such as modesty and good overruling evil.  As the author's first book, some of the writing was a little clunky and I felt there were some parts that were really not necessary for the plot, like an angel that constantly hit on Joelle and did n't seem to take no for an answer.  Although the religious tones overwhelmed me a bit, I did enjoy the overall story.  Joelle's personality was strong and she changed the way guardian angels were trained. I was compelled to find out how she was able to help Hannah and untangle the mess that has befallen her and her potential adopter, Ruth.  The end was very exciting and suspenseful and carried me through.  Although I may not be quite the right audience for this book, I do believe someone in the  YA audience with a strong sense of spirituality would enjoy this book as well as the rest of the series. 



This book was received for free in return for an honest review.