The Gemini Effect Review

Hi guys! I have a super exciting new book to tell you about- The Gemini Effect by Chuck Grossart!

A single raindrop opens a Pandora’s box when the spawn of perverse genetic research performed during World War II is unleashed on an unsuspecting modern world. By dawn, only a dead city remains, eerily quiet and still, except for mutant beasts that hide from the light, multiply, and await the shadows of night to continue their relentless advance.

Ordered to investigate the unfolding crisis, biowarfare specialist Carolyn Ridenour barely escapes the creatures’ nocturnal onslaught, saved in the nick of time by Colonel Garrett Hoffman, who lost hundreds of his troops to a swarm that neither bombs nor bullets can stop.


As Carolyn and Garrett race to stop the plague, a battered and broken government prepares to release the fury of America’s nuclear arsenal on its own soil and its own citizens.

The Gemini Effect is a wild roller coaster going 100 miles an hour to what you know will be your total annihilation, and you can't wait to get there!

We follow biological warfare expert Carolyn as she struggles to understand the virus that has been unleashed on America, President Smith as he comes to grips with the what has happened and decides the best course of action, and Vice President Allison as she watches her country  come undone. In 4 days, we see America spiral out of control and the end of the world as we know it.

I really did not expect to enjoy this book as much I did but I really enjoyed it! I found myself rooting for some characters, despising others, and terrified of the horde that was sweeping the nation. 

I was able to download this book as part of the Kindle First program as part of being a Kindle Prime member.

The Good Dog Review

As part of my personal young adult challenge I read The Good Dog by AVI. This was the first book I chose off the shelves and the first book I've finished as part of my challenge.

 
When the Wild Calls McKinley, a malamute, is a good dog -- he's reliable and trustworthy. Whether it's watching over the other dogs of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, or taking care of his human pup, Jack, McKinley never even thinks of letting anyone down -- until he meets Lupin. Lupin is a she-wolf and she's urging the dogs of Steamboat Springs to leave their domesticated lives and join her wild pack. And though she scares McKinley, he also finds himself drawn to her and the life of freedom that she offers.

For the first time, McKinley's loyalties are torn. Should he stay with his humans and continue to lead the dogs of Steamboat Springs? Or should he join the wolf and live freely, like his ancestors did? When the wild calls, what will McKinley's answer be?




My thoughts:
I would hesitate to call this a book for young adults. This was more a book for children ages 7-11. That being said, it wasn't a bad book and I did enjoy reading a less well-known AVI book. This book is about a dog, McKinley who has to deal with the struggle of whether is more interested in being a "good dog" or honoring his wolf ancestors. Because the book was more appropriate for a younger audience, the writing was quite simplified and the characters weren't extremely developed. The author did try to put human terms/objects into terms a dog might understand- for example "cold box", "more car place", etc. The book has a heavy message of what it means to be a dog owner and emphasizes kind treatment to animals and viewing our pets as equals rather than possessions.

Overall, this was a simple cute read that I would feel great about giving to any young reader, mostly a young boy who is dog-obsessed or into wolves. I don't think this counts as a young adult book however.

Review: The Eye of Minds by Jame Dashner

Earlier this week I finished The Eye of Minds by James Dashner. I'm a huge fan of Dashner's Maze Runner series so when I saw he had started another series, I eagerly snatched the book up at the library. I had high hopes for this novel because I know Dashner is a good author and the summary sounded promising. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as I hoped I would. Read on for my full review.

Michael is a gamer. And like most gamers, he almost spends more time on the VirtNet than in the actual world. The VirtNet offers total mind and body immersion, and it’s addictive. Thanks to technology, anyone with enough money can experience fantasy worlds, risk their life without the chance of death, or just hang around with Virt-friends. And the more hacking skills you have, the more fun. Why bother following the rules when most of them are dumb, anyway?

But some rules were made for a reason. Some technology is too dangerous to fool with. And recent reports claim that one gamer is going beyond what any gamer has done before: he’s holding players hostage inside the VirtNet. The effects are horrific—the hostages have all been declared brain-dead. Yet the gamer’s motives are a mystery.

The government knows that to catch a hacker, you need a hacker.

And they’ve been watching Michael. They want him on their team.

But the risk is enormous. If he accepts their challenge, Michael will need to go off the VirtNet grid. There are back alleys and corners in the system human eyes have never seen and predators he can’t even fathom—and there’s the possibility that the line between game and reality will be blurred forever.

My summary: This book is set in the far future where everyone spends as much time as possible on the VirtNet. You access the VirtNet by laying in your "Coffin"- so named for its shape and how you lay inside it. The coffin then inserts metal wires into your skin and you're off to the VirtNet to experience real life- only realer. Through VirtNet you can enter a variety of games- the typical fight zombies, shoot laser beams, go on epic adventures kind of games. But the most popular aspect of VirtNet isn't the adventures but the ability to experience real life online. You can shop, eat, and hang out with friends in the VirtNet. The books begins with our hero Michael hearing some of the villain's exploits for the first time. The next day, Michael is approached by VirtNet security and is quickly entrusted with a state secret and the mission to find the villian in the VirtNet. Michael brings his friends in for the mission and so starts a dangerous, fast-paced adventure to stop a madman.

My opinion on this book:
This book was way too fast-paced for me to truly enjoyed it. In the Maze Runner series it made sense for the reader to discover the world quickly along with the narrator but this kind of fast-paced world building doesn't work for this book.

I wish we could have been introduced to the VirtNet and the culture of the world before all the action began. It also seemed a little rushed that Michael hears of the villain and the next thing anyone knows, he's being threatened by the VirtNet security to find the bad guy. The way the security team approached Michael was unbelievable. The security team basically kidnaps a 16 year old, threatens him and his family, and then entrusts him with a state secret after he promises not to tell? And then sends the 16 year old off on a dangerous mission with only a "We'll be watching. Your friends can help if they want to." It's not believable. It's not even believable in the "It's a weird culture in the future" kind of way. The adventure is strong and interesting and because it was such a fast read it held my attention but some aspects are just too unbelievable to be entertaining.

The hero of this book felt rather two-dimensional to me as well. It seems like all he cares about is reaching a new level in the VirtNet and he feels really self-absorbed to me. He doesn't notice for days that his nanny has been kidnapped? killed? misplaced? He is approached by VirtNet for his amazing hacker abilities but we actually see his two friends do more of the hacking than he does. The characters just all felt two-dimensional and I can't say there was a character I truly cared about in this book.

The ending was over quickly and to be honest, I was a little confused over what was going on. I didn't know what Michael was doing or why he was doing it. The whole ending was just wrong to me. There was a plot twist revealed in the end of the book that seemed to be a bit of a stretch for the reader to believe.

Overall, I just did not care for this book. I hate giving negative reviews but there were too many issues for me to overlook. I loved Dashner's Maze Runner series but it seemed like he tried to recreate the action in a different setting and it didn't work. This was a book that required more world building and character development. I understand that some books require a suspension of reality but parts of this book were just too unbelievable to be accepted. It was an interesting idea but definitely could have been executed better.

On a positive note, the book was fast and hopefully the plot will encourage more teenage males to read. The idea of the VirtNet is quite interesting.

I have read several positive reviews of this book and it has a high rating on Goodreads so please be aware, this could be my personal issues with this book and you may love it to pieces. I cannot in good conscious recommend this book because I didn't enjoy it but if the plot sound interesting to you and you are willing to overlook the above issues with it, don't let my review keep you from trying this book. I am also fully aware that I may have had too high expectations for this book as I am a huge fan of the author's Maze Runner series. I knew the author was capable of greatness so I held him to that standard.  If I pick up the sequel it will be out of curiosity, not any real excitement to continue this series.

In the end, it is up to each individual reader to form their opinion about a book.That doesn't mean book reviews are useless. It is more a matter of finding a reviewer who seems to have the same opinions on books you do and taking every review with a grain of salt. It also means listening to the issues people have with books and asking yourself if it's something that will bother you or if you're willing to overlook it. If you are just looking for a fast-paced adventure novel set in a high tech world- this book may be just what you're looking for. If you're looking for a solid futuristic read with a world you can explore and immerse yourself in, I would not recommend this book.

Have you read Eye of Minds? What did you think of it? What do you think of negative reviews? Should a blog post a negative review or only write reviews of books that the reader enjoyed? How much world building do you need to enjoy a futuristic book? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Review: Plague Town by Dana Fredsti

My first book of the year was Plague Town by Dana Fredsti. This was a fast paced, fun zombie book that I laughed out loud to. Read on for my full review. 

Synopsis: Ashley was just trying to get through a tough day when the world turned upside down.

A terrifying virus appears, quickly becoming a pandemic that leaves its victims, not dead, but far worse. Attacked by zombies, Ashley discovers that she is a 'Wild-Card' -- immune to the virus -- and she is recruited to fight back and try to control the outbreak. 

It's Buffy meets the Walking Dead in a rapid-fire zombie adventure!

My summary: Ashley was living a normal life - trying to get over the flu, dealing with an impossible teacher's aid, and  homework until a midnight picnic with her boyfriend adds zombies to the mix. This story follows Ashley as she realizes she is immune to the virus that has taken over friends and classmates and trains with her fellow immunes to fight back against the zombies.

What I liked: This was a really fun, fast-paced read with lots of action. Ashley was a fun narrator and I was cheering for her all along. She is a funny, sarcastic, kick-butt heroine that sasses first and asks questions later. This book is loaded with pop culture reference that make the reader smile and keeps the book fun and fresh.

What I didn't: This book isn't going to awarded for any literary merit awards any time soon. When you read it you're reminded of a good B grade movie. It can be nerve wracking, action packed, and funny- but it's still a B grade movie. I found a couple of the ideas presented in this book a little hard to swallow. Those who are immune to the infection have some kind of superpowers sparked by the infection? They are harder to hurt, have a greater stamina, and gain awesome zombie killing talents. It is also revealed that through history there have been various outbreaks of the zombie outbreak that the government has covered up- think Pompeii, the Black Death, and Atlantis. It's all a little hard to wrap your mind around.

Overview: Overall, I liked this book. It was fast, funny, and full of zombie fun. I thought it approached the situation with both humor and the appropriate gore and horror associate with the Undead. I was cheering for the group of immunes and the last fight of the book was an action scene that would give any movie in the theater a run for it's money. I would recommend this to a more mature audience because of language and a romantic scene but any mature 16 year old should be able to handle this read. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the sequel.

Challenge- This is my first read for the Zombie Reading Challenge!

Review: 45 Pounds (more or less)- I loved it!

I recently read 45 Pounds by K. A. Barson and I loved it! This is going to be a rave review because I truly loved this book!

Here are the numbers of Ann Galardi’s life:

She is 16.
And a size 17.
Her perfect mother is a size 6.
Her Aunt Jackie is getting married in 10 weeks, and wants Ann to be her bridesmaid.
So Ann makes up her mind: Time to lose 45 pounds (more or less) in 2 1/2 months.

Welcome to the world of infomercial diet plans, wedding dance lessons, embarrassing run-ins with the cutest guy Ann’s ever seen—-and some surprises about her NOT-so-perfect mother.

And there’s one more thing. It’s all about feeling comfortable in your own skin-—no matter how you add it up!

Plot:
This book follows Ann, an overweight teenager, as she signs up for yet ANOTHER diet plan in an effort to lose 45 pounds before her aunt's wedding. She spends her savings on the first two weeks of an infomercial diet plan. We follow Ann as she deals with losing weight, losing her best friend, and coming to understand her mother and what truly is healthy. We are also with Ann as she gains. Gains a best friend, gains her first crush, and realizes everyone deals with weight problems at one time or another.


Characters: 
I loved Ann's voice in this book! Her personality shined through and as a fellow fat-girl, I found myself really relating to her. She is a typical 16 year old girl- she can be a little whiny, a little self-absorbed, and self-hating. This only added to the authenticity of the book. I felt for Ann as she deals with losing touch with her best friend, as she struggles to fit into her blended family, and struggles to love herself when all the advertisements around her tell her not to.

The reader is left wondering about Ann's mother throughout the book. She obviously cares for Ann but we aren't sure if she can communicate that to Ann in a way that doesn't involve food. By the end of the book I was cheering her on and felt entirely sympathetic to her struggles.

My other favorite characters were Raynee and Liberty.

Raynee shows Ann that even people Ann would consider perfect still have issues with their bodies. Raynee also showed Ann what true friendship feels like. She was a great friend- the kind of friend we all love or wish we had.

Liberty is Ann's young half-sister and she is the catalyst for Ann's desire to promote a healthy attitude about food. Liberty has been watching her mother and Ann as they fight different battles with food and she has no idea what to truly think. I felt for little Liberty and I enjoyed the fact that it was out of love for Liberty that Ann decided to be healthy- not skinny. 

Ending:
This book has a happy ending that feels a little too put-together but the reader is satisfied that all lose-ends are tied up. The reader is left feeling upbeat about the direction of Ann's attitudes and her family life. I will admit, I teared up a little at the end because I felt so close to Ann and I could relate to her so well.

Overall thoughts: 
I loved this book more than I thought I would. It might end up being my favorite book of the year because it was so relatable to me. I have been a fat kid all my life- I could be politically correct but I'm not going to be. I'm fat. I am 21 years old and I have only recently LOST weight to be a size 18-20. I've been big all my life, and so has Ann. She went to her first WeightWatchers meeting at the age of 10, around that age I told the first boy I liked him and he told me "Ewww. You're fat." Ann lives with a mother who is so oblivious to the feelings of a fat girl that she suggests Ann buy a bikini for the summer. I live with a grandmother who suggests similar outfits. This is the life of a fat girl and this book is a snapshot of that.

That being said, IT IS NOT A BOOK JUST FOR FAT GIRLS! I had to put that all in caps because my rambling above might have convinced someone that you can only read this book and enjoy it if you are overweight. This is a book for anyone who is dissatisfied with our image- and who among us isn't dissatisfied with something about our bodies? In fact, this story shows the concerns of someone who is overweight, someone with the "wrong" body type for most clothes, and someone who struggles with anorexia. This is a book for everyone.

This is a young adult read that I would let my 12 year old little sister read and that I would suggest to anyone. Yes, I said anyone. It is a contemporary young adult with a compelling message. "Skinny" girls need to read this to see what it is like to live in a fat girl life. I would suggest it to "normal" girls to see how other people feel. And of course, I would suggest it to "fat" girls to see that EVERYONE worries about weight.

If you feel comfortable commenting it, what is your body image struggles? Would you want to read a book about realistic body image? What do you think about my blanket recommendation? Does this sound like a book you're interested in? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Kiya: Hope of the Phaoroh Review + Giveaway!

I was contacted by Curiosity Quills Press to join the Kiya: Hope of the Pharaoh Blog Tour. I received the book for review and I loved it!

When Naomi’s sisters are snatched up to be taken to be wives of the erratic Pharaoh, Akhenaten, she knows they won’t survive the palace, so she offers herself in their place. The fearsome Commander Horemheb sees her courage, and knows she is exactly what he is looking for…

The Great Queen Nefertiti despises Naomi instantly, and strips her of her Hebrew lineage, including her name, which is changed to Kiya. Kiya allies herself with Horemheb, who pushes her to greatness and encourages her to make the Pharaoh fall in love with her. When Akhenaten declares Kiya will be the mother of his heir, Nefertiti, furious with jealousy, schemes to destroy Kiya.

Kiya must play the deadly game carefully. She is in a silent battle of wills, and a struggle for who will one day inherit the crown. If she does bear an heir, she knows she will need to fight to protect him, as well as herself, from Nefertiti who is out for blood.

This has been such a difficult review for me to write. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I've even asked for permission to review the second book in the series. I just cannot think of how to write this review. Usually I do a run-down of the setting, characters, and plot and explain what happened and what I did and did not enjoy. I can't really do this with this book. There are so many characters that deserve to be recognized, so many events that I want to tell you about.

The synopsis does a good job of describing the basis of the book to the reader but it cannot tell you how brave and smart Kiya is, how despicable Nefertiti is, how mysterious Horemheb is. And I cannot adequately put this into words either.

I loved Kiya. She was brave and defiant as she made a place for herself in the palace. She was smart but was almost naive as she learned to play the dangerous game played by all throughout the palace. She is forced to consider who is trustworthy, how to make the pharaoh love her, and what it means to learn to live with this strange man she finds herself married to.

The pharaoh is such an odd character and I actually found myself feeling sorry for him. He is touched with madness and at times flies off the handle and hurts those he loves the most but he truly wants someone who he can be honest with and that will truly love him as a man.

Horemheb is truly the Pharaoh's right hand man and will do anything to protect the the pharaoh and his crown. But Horemheb is also a military man who is willing to kill his king but he also treats Kiya with true friendship at times. I spent parts of this book wondering what Horemheb's intentions were for doing something and trying to figure him out.

Nefertiti is such an amazingly-awful character! Jealous not because of love of the pharaoh, but because of rank and power she will do anything to keep her ranking as first wife. She has urged pharaoh to marry his own daughters so if they carry the Pharaoh's son they will be able to take control of the throne. Her ultimate goal is to take the throne from the pharaoh for her own purpose. I had guessed her ultimate evil long before it was finally revealed but I still found myself in outrage.

There are so many other characters worthy of description but for brevity I'll leave my description there.

I read this book in one sitting because I wanted to know what was going to happen next and I was cheering on my characters. This review doesn't do justice to the book but I truly do not know how to tell you how amazing this book is.

This book was definitely amazing and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys intrigue, suspense, drama, or historical fiction. I would suggest it to someone who enjoys strong heroines and to anyone who thinks religious fiction is interesting. This book has all these elements but is not strictly religious fiction or strictly suspense.


Born and raised in Australia, Katie’s early years of day dreaming in the “bush”, and having her father tell her wild bedtime stories, inspired her passion for writing.

After graduating High School, she became a foreign exchange student where she met a young man who several years later she married. Now she lives in Arizona with her husband, daughter and their dog.
She has a diploma in travel and tourism which helps inspire her writing. She is currently at school studying English and Creative Writing.

Katie loves to out sing her friends and family, play sports and be a good wife and mother. She now works as a Clerk with a lien company in Arizona to help support her family and her schooling. She loves to write, and takes the few spare moments in her day to work on her novels.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*All opinions expressed are my own. I received this book for free for review but this in no way has influenced my opinions.

Thin Space Review

I was given the chance to read Thin Space by Jody Casella by Beyond Words publishing on NetGalley and I really enjoyed it. It was a compelling read about grief and learning to forgive yourself. Read on for my honest review.

Ever since the car accident that killed his twin brother, Marshall Windsor has been consumed with guilt and crippled by secrets of that fateful night. He has only one chance to make amends, to right his wrongs and set things right. He must find a Thin Space—a mythical point where the barrier between this world and the next is thin enough for a person to step through to the other side.

But, when a new girl moves into the house next door, the same house Marsh is sure holds a thin space, she may be the key—or the unraveling of all his secrets.

As they get closer to finding a thin space—and closer to each other—Marsh must decide once and for all how far he’s willing to go to right the wrongs of the living…and the dead.

 
Plot:
Thin spaces are places where the barrier between worlds is thin. A place where the living and dead can talk. Thin spaces are rare because they only occur where a soul enters the world and leaves the world. The soul enters the world when the mother first feels her baby kick and a soul leaves the world in death. Marsh and Maddie are in search of such a rare place to speak to the dead. Marsh is looking for his twin brother Austin who died when a drunk driver hit them while Marsh was driving. Maddie is looking for her father who died of cancer when she was young.

While Marsh is looking for a place of death, he must also deal with the world of living and Maddie must adjust to a new town. Marsh slowly begins to leave his fog and learn to live again, with Maddie's help. There are school counselors, fights, and long-overdue relationship discussions.

The end of the book has a nice twist that I had guessed a while ago but a casual reader may be taken completely surprised by. I enjoyed the ending and I was left with a sense of hope for the characters and that Marsh was finally learning to forgive himself and believe the accident wasn't his fault. 

Characters:
Thin Space follows Marsh as he searches for a thin space so he can cross into the world of the dead to talk to his twin brother. Marsh is a compelling character. He is consumed with guilt after a passing thought that maybe he doesn't want to always be a twin. Marsh has been walking around in a fog for the past three months after a drunk driver hits their car and his twin brother Austin dies. Marsh has moments he tunes out and is consumed with the events of the night of the accident. The story is a mix of Marsh's flashback thoughts and the present where he is searching for thin spaces. Marsh is determined to find a thin place and fix what happened to his brother. He walks around barefoot in the hopes that he will step into a thin space. I felt for Marsh and found myself liking him. He is a messed up high school junior who has gone from being MarshandAustin to only Marsh who is missing his twin.

Maddie is the other main character of Thin Space. She is the new girl in town- fresh from Nashville. She has a sweet southern drawl and seems to have her own history she is trying to deal with. She seems a bit too accepting when Marsh explains thin spaces but she has her own reasons for wanting to find a thin space. Maddie quickly becomes consumed with the thoughts of thin spaces and researches where people have died so she and Marsh can explore there barefoot.Maddie is a sweet girl and I found myself liking her openness and honest acceptance of Marsh.

My favorite secondary character was Chuck for being such a good friend to Marsh even when Marsh wasn't giving him a very good reason to be so loyal. 

Overall, this was a solid young adult read. I thought the writing flowed well and the characters were developed. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys young adult reads, supernatural elements, and coming of age stories. You can read more about the book at thinspacebook.com and the author has a mix of bonus materials on her blog. You can find a playlist, a teacher's guide, and other reviews.

What do you think about supernatural stories? Do you find books about death interesting or depressing? Do you like flashbacks in books or not? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Spirit and Dust Review

I stayed up late last night reading Spirit and Dust by Rosemary Clement-Moore. This is the second book in the Goodnight Family series. The author informed me on twitter that each book is an independent novel based off one family- the Goodnights.

 

Daisy Goodnight can speak to the dead. It’s not the result of a head injury or some near-death experience. She was just born that way. And she’s really good at it. Good enough to help the police solve the occasional homicide.

But helping the local authorities clear cold cases is one thing. Being whisked out of chemistry class by the FBI and flown to the scene of a murder/kidnapping in Minnesota? That’s the real deal.
Before the promotion can go to Daisy’s head, she’s up to her neck in trouble. The spirits are talking, and they’re terrified. There’s a real living girl in danger. And when Daisy is kidnapped by a crime boss with no scruples about using magic—and Daisy—to get what he wants, it looks like hers is the next soul on the line.

Setting:

This book is set in modern day America with no obvious distinctions. The FBI is still here and people still go to school. A large portion of the story happens at  The Field Museum in Chicago- the one with Sue the T. Rex. 

The characters: 

I really liked Daisy- she was tough and spunky and didn't mind telling a guy he was being a jerk- the actual term she uses isn't as kid friendly. Daisy is matter of fact about her talent- she was raised in a family where everyone was a witch or psychic. She was just born this way and she can see remnants of people's souls and help them pass on beyond the Veil. I love how Daisy tries to convince herself and everyone around her she is a tough-as-nails psychic but her thoughts show her as the typical almost 18 year old girl. 

I thought Agent Tasty- I mean Taylor was a great part of the book. Agent Taylor is a young FBI agent who is Daisy's handler. He works to support Daisy as they work through their cases and doesn't question whether or not she can speak to the dead. Rather he questions how she can interact with the dead. They have a very clear non-relationship with the understanding that something might happen after Daisy turns 18. She won't call him by his first name until she's legal and until then he calls her Jailbait. 

Carson played a main role in the book and I found myself liking him more and more as the book goes on. He played the typical brooding male in a love triangle but he played it well. He had moments of humor and he wasn't overwhelmingly arrogant or prideful. In fact, Daisy does a good job of beating him up at one point and he handles it with humor and without an overabundance of wounded male pride. During the course of the book you realize Carson has his secrets but he would do whatever it takes to protect Daisy. I liked him and was cheering for him during the book.

Plot:

The book held my attention- it actually kept me up- the entire time I was reading it. I was rooting for the characters and following along with the mystery. There was a lot of action that propelled the book forward. I liked the concept of the Goodnight family and how close they are and their talents. 

The book follows Daisy and Carson as they look for Alexis Maquire- daughter of a crime lord- who has been kidnapped. Maquire coerces Daisy to do everything possible to find his daughter- he's not above using magic or blackmail to get what he wants. They quickly realize Alexis was kidnapped by a mysterious cult looking for the Oosterhouse Jackal- what that is they have no idea. So begins an epic quest to find the Jackal before the cult can; save Alexis; and perhaps, save the world.

A good amount of supernatural events unfold in the course of the story but Clement-Moore does a good job of explaining what is going on without overwhelming the reader. 

Series:

 I will definitely be looking for the other books about the Goodnight family. I hope Daisy will pop up again in later books.

Overall, the story held my attention all night and I couldn't put it down once I started. I liked the main characters and while the love triangle wasn't the main point of the story, I could understand why Daisy was torn between the two men. Usually when there is a love triangle I lean toward one man over the other almost immediately but I felt drawn to both Carson and Taylor. The writing was solid and drew the reader on. The book was action-packed but not in such a way that the characters weren't developed. This was a solid read that I really enjoyed. I'd definitely recommend this to people who like a strong heroine and supernatural reads. As long as you're willing to give bad boys a try and stay open minded about psychic talents.

This book was pretty amazing. Have you read Spirit and Dust or another Goodnight Family book? What did you think? Are you interested in supernatural books? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Review of Tiger's Curse

I've been wanting to read Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck for a while now. I had heard some awesome things about it and I couldn't wait to try it so I was so happy when I was able to spend left over Christmas money on a copy from Books A Million.


Goodreads Sumary:

Passion. Fate. Loyalty.

Would you risk it all to change your destiny?

The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.

Tiger’s Curse is the exciting first volume in an epic fantasy-romance that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.

My thoughts:
I had heard some awesome things about this book and I couldn't wait to read it. I was slightly disappointed though.

The book held my attention well- I read it in three days between classes and I could hardly put it down. It was fast paced and I loved reading the tidbits about India. It addressed different points of Indian mythology and books focused around a prophesy always hold my attention.

But....

I found the book too.... convenient. Kelsey must complete certain tasks to unlock the prophecy and they seemed to instantly know how, where, and what to do. There was no real challenge to anything in the story. There was also quite a bit of instant love. The main characters had some kind of kismet connection and were instantly in love.

I would give the book 2.5/5 stars because I did like the characters. Kelsey did have some backbone and wasn't afraid to speak her mind. She especially was capable of standing up for herself and keeping with her decision at the end of the book. I actually do want to read the next book because even if the first book was convenient  I want to see how they complete the prophecy for the rest of the series.

You can find Tiger's Curse at Amazon here. I would also suggest checking out Colleen Houck's website for a selection of extras including: previews of the books, book trailers, book playlists, and Tiger's Curse ecards.

Have you read Tiger's Curse? What'd you think? Have you read any books lately that were too convenient? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Review

Hey guys! Just when I had reserved time to blog, my internet went away. Hopefully it can be reinstated soon but for now, I'm at the library writing up some posts to be released every couple of days. The good news is, without internet to distract me I've had time to read up a storm! Today is the review for the great book Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith.

Indiana, 1818. Moonlight falls through the dense woods that surround a one-room cabin, where a nine-year-old Abraham Lincoln kneels at his suffering mother's bedside. She's been stricken with something the old-timers call "Milk Sickness."

"My baby boy..." she whispers before dying.

Only later will the grieving Abe learn that his mother's fatal affliction was actually the work of a vampire.

When the truth becomes known to young Lincoln, he writes in his journal, "henceforth my life shall be one of rigorous study and devotion. I shall become a master of mind and body. And this mastery shall have but one purpose..." Gifted with his legendary height, strength, and skill with an ax, Abe sets out on a path of vengeance that will lead him all the way to the White House.

While Abraham Lincoln is widely lauded for saving a Union and freeing millions of slaves, his valiant fight against the forces of the undead has remained in the shadows for hundreds of years. That is, until Seth Grahame-Smith stumbled upon The Secret Journal of Abraham Lincoln, and became the first living person to lay eyes on it in more than 140 years.

Using the journal as his guide and writing in the grand biographical style of Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough, Seth has reconstructed the true life story of our greatest president for the first time-all while revealing the hidden history behind the Civil War and uncovering the role vampires played in the birth, growth, and near-death of our nation.

I was really quite excited to dig into this book! I had requested it at the library and asked to borrow it from some friends so my best friend bought it for me for my birthday! I loved this book. I love history but I actually haven't read a lot about Abraham Lincoln. I knew some of the basics that everyone else knows about the 16th president but nothing really about his life or where he was from. This book made me want to get a biography of Abe to cross check what I read in the book! Maybe the biography won't tell me if he chased vampires to avenged his loved ones, but it will tell me if Abe was engaged before Mary Todd and how many children he had and what happened to each one.

This book was written by someone who had been handed Abraham Lincoln's personal journals and who had been instructed to write what really happened. The author uses stories and facts about Lincoln and mixes them with "passages" from Lincoln's journals. I expected this to read just like a journal but I was happy to have the author's voiced mixed in to explain a circumstance or term.

This book shows Abraham throughout his life, from the time he shot his first turkey to his death. Just like in life, there is a flow throughout the book, its not constant violence or dazzling speeches. It shows him as a happy child with his mother, to an adolescent burning with rage, to a young politician losing his first race. We see Abe in love, as a doting father, and a stressed president trying to lead this nation through a civil war, a war that is more than what the history books tell you.

I personally really liked this book. I liked the author's voice. The way characters showed up again and again throughout the book and the twist at the end that I won't say anymore about! I would recommend this book to anyone interested in history or who is trying to get someone else interested in history, I know I'm curious about Honest Abe's life now. There is violence but it isn't gory and it isn't constant. You feel for Abraham and you care about what happens to him. I can't wait to see the movie in just a couple weeks. This is a book you want to pass around your friends so you can discuss it!

If you've read Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter leave me a comment and let me know what you thought about it! I thought it was quite amazing, do you agree? Or are you planning on reading it now, after reading my review?

Whipping Club Review

I just finished The Whipping Club and I have mixed feelings about it. I was really looking forward to reading this book- its a family drama set in Ireland that talks about the cruelty found in mid century Irish orphanages. I expected to cry over this book and get a shot in the face- which I kinda did. I think this is going to be a long review as I talk through my feelings.

Marian McKeever and Ben Ellis are not typical young lovers in 1957 Dublin, Ireland; she’s Catholic and teaches at Zion School, and he’s Jewish and a budding journalist. The two plan to wed, but their families object to an interfaith marriage. And when Marian becomes pregnant, she doesn’t tell Ben. Coerced by Father Brennan (a Catholic priest who is also her uncle), Marian goes to Castleboro Mother Baby Home, an institution ruled by Sister Paulinas and Sister Agnes where “sins are purged” via abuse; i.e., pregnant girls are forced to mow the lawn by pulling grass on their hands and knees. Marian is told that her son, Adrian, will be adopted by an American family. The riveting storyline provides many surprises as it fast-forwards to 1967 where Marian and Ben are married and have a 10-year-old daughter. Marian’s painful secret emerges when she learns that her son was dumped in an abusive orphanage not far from her middle-class home and Sister Agnes is his legal guardian. Thus begins a labyrinthine journey through red tape as the couple fight to regain their firstborn child. Ultimately, 12-year-old Adrian is placed in the Surtane Industrial School for Boys, which is rife with brutality and sexual abuse at the hands of “Christian Brother Ryder.” Though unchecked church power abounds, this is not a religious stereotype or an indictment of faith. Hateful characters like Brother Ryder are balanced with compassionate ones, such as a timid nurse from the Mother Baby Home. Father Brennan deepens into a three-dimensional character who struggles to do what is right. Henry weaves multilayered themes of prejudice, corruption and redemption with an authentic voice and swift, seamless dialogue. Her prose is engaging, and light poetic touches add immediacy. For example, when Marian returned to Mother Baby Home after 11 years, she “opened the car door and stepped onto the gravel, wanting to quiet its crunch, like skeletons underneath her shoes.” Echoing the painful lessons of the Jewish Holocaust, Henry’s tale reveals what happens when good people remain silent.  


How I felt about this book: 
The cover and title- I love this cover- I think its really pretty and intriguing. I like the single lit window shows the chance of hope. 


The characters- This is where I got a little iffy in this book. I didn't really fall in love with any of the characters in this book. I thought the mom, Marian, was a little pathetic to be honest. When she was young she gave her son up for adoption- without letting the father, her husband know about it. Then she spends the rest of her life kind of listless and depressed. I can empathize with all of this and I feel bad for her. I just thought her mood swings and listlessness were too abrupt and I couldn't like her as much as I was hoping too. I thought I could fall in love with the husband then- he had a son out there he didn't know about so I felt sad for him- but I couldn't love him either.  He had a tendency to give up on his loved ones way too easily. They were fighting to get their son back but he wasn't falling in love with his son like I wanted him too. When the authorities were set on taking his son away he was just too complacent for me.  Marian and Ben had a daughter after she gave Adrian up for adoption that I also liked but she was a little too jealous and had a tendency to think of her actions after she's done them.


My favorite character from this book was Adrian. I liked him because he was very brave and showed steel in the toughest possible times but I think I felt too sorry for him and his situation to fall in love with him. I couldn't get behind him like I hoped to as he fought for his situation. 


There was a host of other characters but I really want a hero to fall in love with in a book and there was no one that really became that hero for me. All in all, I found the characters in this book just a little too flawed to fall in love with. This being said, there were tons of characters to hate that did help drive the story. 


The story- I thought this story sounded so interesting when I requested it on netgalley and it really was an interesting and gripping story. I liked how the author showed not only how Adrian's life was in his orphanage but also how his family was dealing without him. This was a gritty story that showed great emotion and there weren't many parts in this story that dragged. I think the one thing I didn't like about the story was there were very few just happy moments for the family where they could enjoy being together which I think would have invested me emotionally. 


Overall- If I had a rating system I would give this book a 3.5/5. I liked the story line but the characters are the ones that brought this book down for me. I couldn't fall in love with any of the characters and while I really liked Adrian but he couldn't carry this book alone. I was fine with the rawness of the book and the topics in it and I would say this book is definitely worth a read despite some of the characters  being a little too flawed.  I would recommend this book to adult fiction readers who are ok with some language, violence, religious topics, and other very adult topics. 


Buy it at Amazon here, Barnes and Noble here, or Book Depository here!

* I received and e-galley of this book from netgalley for free but all opinions are mine alone.

Losing Clementine Review!

As promised, here is my review of the wonderful Losing Clementine by Ashley Ream! I loved this book and I hope y'all will too! 

In thirty days Clementine Pritchard will be finished with her last painting and her life.World-renowned artist and sharp-tongued wit Clementine Pritchard has decided that she's done. After flushing away a medicine cabinet full of prescriptions, she gives herself thirty days to tie up loose ends—finish one last painting, make nice with her ex-husband, and find a home for her cat. Clementine plans to spend the month she has left in a swirl of art-world parties, manic work sessions, and outrageous acts—but what she doesn't expect is to uncover secrets surrounding the tragedy that befell her mother and sister. In an ending no one sees coming, will we lose Clementine or will we find her?

A bold debut from an exciting new voice, Losing Clementine is a wonderfully entertaining and poignant novel about unanticipated self-discovery that features one of the most irresistible, if deeply flawed, characters to grace contemporary fiction in years.

When I first got this book in the mail it actually looked a little depressing- a bit appropriate for the grandaughter of someone who has decided it's his time. But I didn't find this book depressing at all! I laughed far more during this book than I cried- actually I only cried when she had to say goodbye to Mr. Chuckles. 

I thought this was a great book. It is about a smart, funny, artist who has given herself 30 days to live. I thought at first she would have an incurable disease- and she does but not something like cancer. I was surprised that she decided to end it after hearing what disease she does have- is it a secret? I'm just going to tell you, she's manic depressive and I thought it was something that was liveable with but then I heard her back story- loved this! and I realized why she has decided to flush her pills down the toilet and end it all in 30 days. This isn't a kids book by any means- but if you were going to die in 30 days would you want to keep your life PG? I wouldn't- I'd be cursing, loving, and doing whatever I wanted to whenever I wanted to because what consequences will I have to deal with when in 30 days I'm dead? 


I loved all the characters in this book and there were so many twists and turns! She decides to find her father who abandoned her family when she was in elementary school and when she tracks him down you learn something that made me go *gasp!*


And the ending! Let me just tell you, the ending was SO cool. When I first read it I was a little.... disappointed? Not disappointed but I didn't expect it at all! I let the ending settle in my mind for a day or two and now I love what happened! :D 


Y'all really need to read this book- I think this is the longest review I've written so far because there was so much I wanted to say about this book. I highly recommend Losing Clementine for this adult readers that want a great fiction book. This book can be explicit sex but it's not a romance, it has some sleuthing but it's not a mystery, it's got great friends but its not chick lit! I really cannot recommend it enough!


Buy this book at Amazon here, Books A Million here, and and Barnes and Noble here!


Have you read this book, are you planning on reading it? Leave me a comment and let me know! :D 

Pride's Run

If there is anyone looking now, I just found out Pride's Run by Cat Kalen is free on Amazon right now! I'm so excited about this because I've heard so much about the book and I wanted to read it so bad! 

Seventeen year old Pride is a tracker—a werewolf with a hunger for blood. Taught to trick and to lure, she is the perfect killing machine.

Kept leashed in the cellar by a master who is as ruthless as he is powerful, Pride dreams of freedom, of living a normal life, but escape from the compound is near impossible and disobedience comes with a price.

When she learns her master intends to breed her she knows she has to run.

Pride soon learns if she is to survive in the wild, she must trust in the boy who promises her freedom, the same boy she was sent to hunt.

With life and death hanging in the balance the two find themselves on the run from the Paranormal Task Force—officers who shoot first and ask questions later—as well as her master’s handlers.
Can Pride flee the man who has held her captive since birth and find sanctuary in the arms of a boy who has captured her heart? Or will her master find her first? 

If you're looking forward to reading this book, check out Amazon here what's left of today the 21st! 

Wolf Camp Children's Book Review!

I got this book from Netgalley and I completely loved it! I've been so busy with school work lately that I haven't had a lot of time to read for fun but this is a young children's book that is 32 pages long that was completely delightful! 

Amazon's Description: 

In a delightful mix of intrigue and humor, a young girl named Maddie goes to a Wolf Camp and comes back with disturbing new habits—wolf-like habits. Kids will be fascinated with the idea of transformation into an animal, and parents will recognize the sense of change their children undergo at summer camp.

What I thought about it: 

This was a delightful picture book! It was written for children ages 4-8 years old and has some amazing pictures in it. I don't know how to describe the pictures because some are very descriptive but as you can see by the cover, the artist doesn't concern herself with making us people the characters are lifelike. I picked this out because of the great idea of a girl going off to summer camp and then returning different- wolf like different! I thought it was a really cute idea and the book does a good job of delivering on it. The Amazon page recommends reading this book to a child about to go off to summer camp but I believe a child would love reading this book no matter when because the drawings truly are beautiful and it is well-written. 

Wait until a child reaches the pages when Maddie is distracted by a grasshopper and chases after a squirrel! Those are my favorite pages in this book but I also love the last couple pages and I hope to see another book of Maddie back from Bear Camp! :D 

Sew Kawaii Review!

So I found out about NetGalley from another blogger and I am in love with this site! I click request to view titles and the publisher then decides if they want me to read their books and post up a review of it! So if I have the time to breathe this semester, look for those. Actually, just look at this because this is about a book I got from there! 

Amazon says: 

Kawaii is the Japanese work for cute, adorable, or lovable. Cuteness is a large part of the Japanese culture from Hello Kitty, which emerged in the 1970s, to the cute mascots of today's banks and airlines. Kawaii arises from the need to have a little bit of child-like innocence and naivete in your life, regardless of age or gender. You'll see kawaii mascots for companies like Sanrio, San-x, Tokidoki, and even the Tokyo police force. Kawaii has grown all over the world to inspire cute, iconic characters that are eye-catching in their simplicity.
This book is packed with super-cute sewing projects that you'll actually want to make! Though the instructions are simple enough for a beginning seamstress to get dynamite results, more advanced sewers will be impressed by the variety of projects and the quality of construction. Easy-to-use step-by-step instructions, photos, and patterns guide you through the creation of 22 fun and simple sewing projects. Sidebars throughout the text wil fill you in on techniques to add to your sewing arsenal. Organized from easiest to easy, you'll find clear instructions to sew accessories, simple clothing items, stuffed animal plushes, and great items to decorate your room. You'll be surprised by how easy it is to sew these awesome projects - all that's needed is this book, a sewing machine, some inexpensive fabric, and a few other basic sewing tools. The hardest part will be deciding which project to start on first!

I say:

I requested to read Sew Kawaii because of its fun description and cute cover! This book is super cute and has 22 projects with the patterns in the back to sew! I'm a crochet-er not a sewer but I couldn't pass up on the cuteness of this book and I like how the first chapters has a list of materials needed and tutorials with pictures and clear text talking out how to do certain techniques like attaching appliques and such. Each project has a description, a materials list, and the difficulty level along with pictures and a description of how to make it. I found a ton of projects I'm looking forward to trying to make! There are the cutest pillows and bags that I'm in love with! There is a pattern/description of how to make 3 different animal purses and I'd love to make them all! The patterns are for a bird, seal, and platypus purse. A PLATYPUS! There are patterns for purses, keychains, plushies, and even pages showing how to add the cutest extras ever on a hoodie!

I really liked reading this book. I know you don't read books like this cover to cover most of the time but the writing was clear and there were some gorgeous pictures! I can't vouch for the quality of the patterns but I will definitely be trying some of them as soon as I have the time! This isn't the kind of book that you pick through and find 1 or 2 patterns and ideas that you'd like to try. There were actually only 1 or 2 projects I didn't particularly care for! I liked the pictures that went with the descriptions of making the projects or a particular skill. The pictures of the projects were to die for and I can't wait to try my hand at a fox hat, platypus purse, seal purse, jellyfish purse, bird purse (the purses were just so cute!), and make my own super cute animal type hoodie (I'm thinking a fox or maybe a raccoon.) 


I keep trying to show you a picture of the cute projects you can find in this great book but I am foiled at every turn! So the best I can do is show y'all a project I like but that I don't feel shows off the books ultimate cuteness! Below is the zombie kitty hat that there is a pattern for in the book. I took the image from the author's etsy page where you can buy it from her if you don't want to try the totally approachable projects in the book! 

If you want to see more of the projects then I would suggest going to the product's Amazon page and looking inside it- just wait until you get to the purses! and while you're over there, go ahead and pick yourself up a copy! I can almost guarantee you'll love it and find some great projects to squee! about and want to make! (see how I slipped in that "almost guarantee" bit? ha! clever me. no legal standing now mwahah!) But seriously, this was a super cute book and I'm so happy I was able to look through it and see so many great projects I can't wait to try! 

I would say this book is pretty amazing based on the projects extreme cuteness and clear writing that make a sewing noob like me feel like I could tackle the projects in this book! I was able to read and review this great sewing book for free but all the thoughts here are my own and I didn't receive anything to give them a positive review. These are my own thoughts! Hopefully I'll be able to put up posts of my versions of the projects to show y'all how I did! :) 

 

Gather Sticks Along the Way Review!

So I just finished up Gather Sticks Along the Way and I have to say if nothing else, it was a really interesting read. I'll post more after I have a little time for my thoughts about this book to digest a bit but I thought I would take this time to tell y'all I finished it, the review will come soon, and it was a pretty good read!


Amazon Description: When God commanded Abraham to carry Isaac up the mountain, the boy was told by his father to gather sticks to build an altar. With each piece he gathered he unknowingly contributed to his own sacrifice. But before the blade would fall an angel of God would appear. The entire parable hinged on Abraham's faith in God's plan and his determination to carry it out with his own hands.

Charles is an average man. He has a loving family and is solid in his own beliefs. But his faith is soon tested with the loss of his son and Charles becomes a man driven by the need for answers. He needs to know what happened to his child and is prepared to do anything to find out. As simple actions by multiple individuals begin to unfold, a tragedy is formed and Charles is caught in the middle. Throughout it all he knows he is not alone. He knows God is with him. As Charles begins to see signs of what he believes to be the truth behind his son's disappearance, he's unsure if these come from God or if they are just coincidences. Is it his vengeance that propels him or is he just doing God's plan? His faith will either see him through this catastrophe or cause him to lose all he has left.


What I thought about it: I was really surprised by this book! When I read the biblical reference (btw, always had trouble with that story but that's just me) and the description I expected more of a Christian book with a man struck by tragedy who's working through his own tests of faith and trying to build his life up again based upon his trust of God. That's not what this was at all! This does  


The book was short but REALLY well written with amazing descriptions! The only thing I may not have bought was Charles's reaction to his son being kidnapped even though he's certain that Chuck has been killed. He tries to keep it together and go about his regular life as if nothing happened after a week or so. But you do see Charles and his wife break down in one touching scene which I actually liked. 

I think it shows the authors talent when he makes me feel sympathetic to a sex offender! You see the life of Leonard, a sex offender who has been rehabilitated and released; you also see him go down to the basement to fondle the "trophies" (buttons, hair berets, etc.) that he took from each of his victims so it was quite easy to hate him. But Mills had me believing that Leonard was actually helpless and changed! There is a moment  where Charles confronts Leonard and we actually switch sides! At least, I kind of did. I couldn't condemn Charles too much for his actions, maybe his reaction after but not his action too much  but I think it shows amazing talent to make me feel even a little sympathetic to Leonard. 

I liked how parts of this book were just the person did this or that or the car drove down and the door opened. There was some mystery to the book, you didn't find out who was actually behind his son's disappearance until the last couple chapters! I also TOTALLY wasn't expecting the end of it! Even with any lingering sympathies that might have been aroused with the thought of having no one and nothing, I was pretty much ok with Charles getting off scott free! 

As a whole I'd say this book is pretty awesome. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read with some mystery and twists and that's ok with things being not always rainbows and ponies. I want to thank Tyler Mills for sending me his book to review because I really did enjoy it and I think y'all should hit up Amazon and buy it here! 

Marty Boggs & The Curse of the Mummy's Curse Review!

Hey y'all! I've been reading and packing the past couple days to go back to school but I just finished up Marty Boggs & The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb! I'll tell y'all how much I loved it and give you the full description in just a sec!

Description from Amazon: Marty Boggs seems to be having nothing but bad luck lately. He has just moved to a new school. That not only makes him the new kid, but the target of the school's biggest bully. Add to that the fact that his grandfather is lying in a coma and his mother has disappeared. What more could go wrong? Oh, yes, some of his best friends are missing and he thinks the new housekeeper may be out to kill him. Marty's grandfather is a famous archeologist and has recently opened the tomb of Kutkara. He sends an amulet from the tomb to Marty's mother, and she soon disappears. Within no time, the grandfather has fallen into a coma and the rumor is that the curse that protected the tomb has caused it all. Delve into the book as Marty decides to play Sherlock Holmes, and perhaps Indiana Jones, both at once. Not only does he encounter mummies, ghouls and ghosts, but there are the additional magicians, monsters and an occasional ancient evil. Marty battles, all with the help of devoted friends, in an attempt to save his mother and grandfather, and even the small town he has just moved into. That is a lot... but a boy's got to do what a boy's got to do. I think the action, mystery and adventure, along with the ghouls and monsters, would hold any young reader's attention. It held mine, and I am far from young.

What I thought about it: I'm not ashamed of my love of young adult books so I'm happy to say I really enjoyed Marty Boggs & The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb!  Marty Boggs is 14 years old and has been going through some rotten luck- and I felt for him. Not only did his mother disappear without a trace but his grandfather was found in a coma and they don't know if he'll make it AND he's the new kid, the new freshman at the local high school. This book was full of mystery and twists and suspense entwined with the normal thoughts and feelings a normal- but maybe physic- young boy would experiencing in these situations. There was a TON of mystery in this book that I really enjoyed. It kept me jumping trying to figure out who was behind the kidnappings in the sleepy little town and in the end I wasn't right at all! I didn't even SUSPECT the true person behind it but the authors did a great job of having the guy explain how and why he's behind it. I really liked this book and I think anyone over the age of 10 will too! It keeps you jumping, there are hints of romance, and it has a good amount of creepiness that I think will appeal to those adventurous boys who are more interested in getting in trouble than reading! I also love how the main character is a 14 year old boy who loves to read! :) You need to read this one. It's on Amazon for just $.99 and if you have a Prime Membership you can read it for free! Find this great book on Amazon here!  And then come back and comment and tell me what you thought of it! :) I would say this one is pretty amazing though it did end with some loose ends and a cliff hanger that makes you burn for the next book in the series! :) 

The Counterfeit Review

I just finished The Counterfeit by Tammie Gibbs and I really liked it! :)

What Is It About? 

Sometimes the Road to Justice is filled with Compromise… 
Jeremy Loud is good at what he does. 
As a Secret Service Operative he’s quick on his feet and a master of his emotions. 
Then, he wakes up naked, disoriented and in physical pain to find a mysterious woman busy at his stove. His first mistake is assuming she’s a barmaid. His biggest mistake is underestimating her ability to get into trouble. Soon he realizes his assignment to infiltrate and bring to justice the infamous Quincy Davenport and his band of counterfeiters might be easier than keeping one strong-willed and beautiful redhead out of trouble. 
Magen MacGuire is determined to find the man responsible for her father’s death and make him pay. 
Then, her plans go awry and a case of mistaken identity leads her to the last thing she expects; a mysterious stranger she could easily fall in love with. She makes a choice to right a wrong, but in her case doing the right thing isn’t viewed as proper and gets them both into even more trouble. 
The odds are against them, but can they find the love of a lifetime before their secrets are exposed and if they do can they overcome the lies? 

What Did I Think About It?
 I fell in love with Magen and Jeremy! This was a sweet historical romance with some mystery in it. I was hooked from the first page where our leading lady decided to run the hero down with her wagon! Magen wasn't a meek, mild woman who sat back and watched the world go by. Jeremy was strong and powerful and yummy! But he appreciated Magen's spunk and didn't try to break her spirit by any means. I laughed at parts of this book and it had some twists that I wasn't expecting! There was the classic they both love the other but are too afraid to say so ploy in the book and a wedding they both want to make work but the circumstances of the wedding was a surprise and very sweet! I think my favorite character of this book was Magen who went to punch an old busybody that was insulting her! I loved Jeremy though and I empathized with him over the lost of his wife.The writing was clear and tight. I  I was cheering for the couple and there was some definite passion between them. That being said, it was also a clean read. I wouldn't be afraid to let a tweenager read this book. I would recommend this book to everyone who is looking for a sweet romance with some mystery! I really liked this book! You need to check out this book guys! here!