"Romance Thursday": Suddenly A Spy by Heather Huffman

Genre: Mystery, Romantic Suspense, Woman's Fiction, Thriller, 216 pages.

Price: $ 2.99 ebook (at time of post)

Publisher & Date: Booktrope Editions. September 9, 2011

Book Link: Click Here

Listed Rating:   . 1

Price I Paid: $0 (got it FREE on May 23, 2012)

My Rating: 

My Thoughts: Suddenly This Book Became Extremely Worth My Time 

      Looking for a clean suspenseful very fast paced spy romance with lots of action plus a call to attention in human trafficking? The grab this book. It's focused around a female heroine who goes from working a desk job to an active spy out of necessity to stay alive and to see if the man she married is worth the risk.

     The day that should have been Veronica Sinclair's happiest became one of her worst. On her wedding day, an alluring mystery woman crashes her reception, suggesting Veronica’s new husband, Richard, isn’t who he claims to be. After confronting Richard about the accusation, Veronica finds that she must go on the run with the man she thought she knew, or his secret past may be the death of them. Now her life is full of questions number one being who is her husband really? Then there's other big questions like who is after them? Can she become strong enough to take apart an evil organization and the man behind it? And then other huge question of who can Veronica and Richard trust, including questioning their trust in each other?

     As a side note I must mention and give HUGE props to this author for writing about the issue of human trafficking. Not many authors do and it's a shame. I can recall less than 5 authors who have done a service in bringing attention to the growing issue, and commend this author for involving her characters in this terrible social justice issue.
     Overall, I grew to really like this book. At first I was a bit put off by how Veronica so easily seemed to flow into the whole spy world, but as I read on I got absorbed into her character and loved how strong she grew. Veronica is a tenacious female heroine who when faced with a crappy situations decides she won't have it and plunges into the mayhem head first. There were only a few issues I had with the story that caused a 4 star mark instead of 5. Richard as a character didn't connect well enough for me and the author continued to slip in every once and a while that he had an accent, it threw off the moments for me and just wasn't needed. Also the secondary characters could have been flushed out a bit more, but I don't believe the author plans to make this a series, so that may be why they lack more character depth. In the end Veronica and Richard are a couple that have a lot against them and it's an fast paced read to see how they'll get free and take down the bad guys. All the while Veronica learns how to become a super spy, readers see her biggest challenge will be to keep her head and heart on the same page by not allowing personal feelings to interfere when she's operating in the world of crime bosses, seduction, human trafficking, and espionage or it just all might lead to the end of all she loves. 

Hey, CHECK IT OUT!!- Valiant (Blood Trail Chronicles) by A.E. Watson

 !! COVER REVEAL !! 

by A.E. Watson (Tara Brown)

Penned Series: "Devil's Roses", "Born Trilogy", "End of Light", "Single Lady Spy Series", "Blood and Bone",  . . . etc. (She writes a lot)

Tara Brown Author links: Facebook, Blog, Twitter, Amazon.

Release date around...

TBA 2018

**dependent on editing schedules**

As of March 2018, author has stated she is wrapping up a few novels before editing this series finale but hopes to have it out sometime this year.

The conclusion to The Blood Trail Chronicles

"VALIANT"

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy.

A wise man once told me that I was more than I appeared.

He said I was like a calm lake on a crisp morning—flat and still on the surface but writhing with life below.

That man was my father and his words still echo in my mind, always reminding me to be more, even if I don't see the potential inside of myself.

Precocious Princess.

Selfish girl.

Witless assassin.

Hopeless romantic.

All words Amillia Morgentstein might have used to sum herself up—once upon a time.

Words she has grown up with.

Words she is comfortable with.

Queen.

The one word she cannot seem to wrap her head around.

And yet, her path of bloodlust, revenge, and blind faith in the people leading her has brought her to the throne she never wanted.

But however blind her faith has been, Amillia has grown since leaving the castle that she had always seen as more of a prison.

In her father’s seat she finds the girl she left behind has vanished, and in her stead is a woman—maybe not the one she might have been but circumstances have shaped her into the woman sitting there.

The woman gripping to the armrests so hard blood drips along the sides of it. The woman who just now doesn't agree with the plans being formed for her. What happens when you create a monster and it learns to think on its own? Everyone who has told her what to do and how to think and who to be is about to find out.

 Don't miss the exciting conclusion to the Blood Trail Chronicles.

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Now Available ....

Vengeance (Book #1)- Click Here

Vanquished (Book #2)- Click Here

Hey, NEW BOOK OUT!!- Frost Burn (Fire & Ice Series, Book 1) by Erica Stevens

!! NEW RELEASE !!

by Erica A. Stevens

Author Links: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Amazon Page, Blog.

Penned Series: Captive Series, The Survivor Chronicles, The Ravening Series, The Kindred Series,

AND as her Adult pen name alter ego,

 Brenda K. Davies: Vampire Awakenings Series and A Stolen Heart.

 Price: $2.99

Book Links: Amazon, Smashwords and Goodreads.
Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Romance, Paranormal, Vampire. 233 pages. 

**Description**

After years of running, Quinn has finally found a town to settle down in while she searches for the man who tore her life apart. Despite her every intention not to, she’s started to put down some roots and make friends. 

However, the small bit of solace she’s found is quickly shattered when a group of vampires walk into the bar where she works and turn her life upside down. Looking only to stop for a few nights and have a good time, Julian never expected to stumble across someone like Quinn. 

Determined to keep her free from the vampires looking to use her as a weapon, Julian is stunned to discover himself starting to care for the mysterious woman with a dark past she’s unwilling to reveal. It doesn’t take him long to realize that the vampires after her are only a part of the problem. This quiet little town is hiding a violent secret of its own; a secret that not only threatens the town, but Quinn in particular. 

 ***This Series is a New Adult spinoff based on characters from The Kindred Series. You do not have to read previous series in order to enjoy this book or it's successors. This book is recommended for readers 17+***

Interested in reading the prologue? Click Here  

Just scroll to the bottom of the post

Hey, NEW BOOK OUT!!- Summer Love by RaShelle Workman

 !! NEW RELEASE !!

by RaShelle Workman

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance. 115 pages.

Price: $0.99 ebook (at time of post)

Book Link: CLICK HERE

Book Trailer: YouTube

Book Synopsis:

Simone needed a miracle...

Twenty-year-old Simone St. James was a librarian from the tourist town of Bandon, Oregon. She was also diagnosed with cancer.

Two summers ago - before all hell broke loose - she met Sam. He was everything she ever wanted in a man: smart, funny, and gorgeous. But after eight perfect weeks he left, and she hadn't heard from him since. Until she received an email from him asking her to meet so he could explain.

It might be another empty promise, but Simone had to see him one last time, even if it was just to say good-bye.

-------------------------------_____________________-------------------------------
RaShelle Workman

Author Links: Amazon Page, Facebook, Website, Twitter.

RaShelle Workman is a bestselling author, wannabe chef, and dog lover. She's publishing a brand new series entitled Undercover Empath with her amazing publisher, Curiosity Quills. She's also been self-publishing since 2011 and has no interest in stopping. 

Her motto is: Love Hurts. Love Heals. so Love Hard! And it shows in the different genres she writes. 

Her most popular series to date is BLOOD AND SNOW (0.1 ~ 3.8), a reimagining of Snow White with a vampire twist. There are several series within the Blood and Snow world, all inspired by different fairy tales, including THE CINDY CHRONICLES (4.1 ~ 4.6), VAMPIRE WISHES (5 ~ 7 ~ 9), THE BEASTLY SERIES (6), and THE EVER AFTER SERIES (8.1 ~ 8.4). In Fall 2015 she's releasing a new adult series from the world entitled THE DARK MOTH SOCIETY (10). The series has sold more than a million copies worldwide since release of the first book in 2012. 

RaShelle is also the author of The Immortal Essence series (ya sci-fi romance), Sleeping Roses (contemporary romantic suspense), and Across the Ages (ya time travel romance). Her books: Sleeping Roses, Exiled, Beguiled, and Dovetailed have foreign rights contracts with a Turkish publisher. 

Currently, RaShelle lives in Utah with her husband, three children, and their three dogs.

"Y.A. Tuesday": Alive Souls: Inception by Elena Yulkina

Genre: Y.A, SciFi, Fantasy, Short Read, Paranormal. 66 pages.

Price: $ 0.99 ebook (at time of post)

Publisher & Date: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Book Link: Click Here

Listed Rating:  . 7

Price I Paid: Zip,**I received a free copy in return for an honest review**

My Rating:  

My Thoughts: Conceptually An Interesting Plot, But Ultimately Came Out As An Underdeveloped Book.

       This story has a lot going for it mystery, intrigue, suspense, love, superpowers, and family all culminating in the fight between good and evil. However, the story itself is too underdeveloped, almost as if the book were still in a stage of planning towards a more advanced novel. As my high school English teacher would say the book needed more meat on it, the scenes were choppy and when they were starting to make sense or building towards something it would cut to another moment.

       The story begins with Maya and her friend Anna at a sleepover. Maya is shown to have the power to read minds and does so to see what Anna's boyfriends thinks. Maya finds some unpleasant thoughts and accidentally causes a mini fire that ends up singing off his eyebrows. This is not the first time Maya has her abilities backfire when her intentions are good. Maya has the power over fire as well as reading emotions and draining them. Knowing she is different and living among even her family who all fear her unique powers is hard for Maya. So when she awakens one night in a new world called Zabir. Maya finds out she is the princess of that world and was switched at birth with a human girl to hide and protect her on earth while her powers grew. Maya's life is still in danger as the Darkness which is after her and is slowly destroying Zabir. Maya's father sends her away on a journey with a family friend, Mayvert, who is also her guard, to other worlds where she learns more about herself, powers, past, future and family. 

       Overall, the book didn't lack potential, but the story needs a lot more work for it to be a complete novel leading to a promising series. The writing at times is profound while at other points confusing. Most likely due to the authors inexperience with the English language, so you can give her a little slack there. However, she should have had her translator help with the grammar and English sentence structure more than just changing her work from one language to another. So if you want to take a chance on this book and are willing to look past the grammar errors and choppy plot then you can, but sadly I will not be reading on in the series, unless the author can partner with an editor and better translator.  

Hey, COMING SOON!!- The End Of Tomorrow (The Single Lady Spy Series- Book 3) by Tara Brown

!! NEW BOOK SOON !!

by Tara Brown

Penned Series: "Devil's Roses", "Born Trilogy", "End of Light", "Single Lady Spy Series", "Blood and Bone",  . . . etc. (She writes a lot)

Tara Brown Author links: Facebook, Blog, Twitter, Amazon.

Releasing date around...

 June 26th 

 Book 3 in the Single Lady Spy Series 

The End of Tomorrow 

Just as things start to settle into a bit of a routine, a single phone call from a certain arms dealer halts everything.

 Evie's spy instincts kick into gear, putting being a parent on the back burner. 

But it's not the only thing taking a backseat to the mission. 

Evie's love life also takes a hit when Coop decides not to trust Servario's latest tip from the underworld, and accuses her of feelings Evie isn't sure she can deny. 

When Servario's information is confirmed by an attack on a major city, the team is once again swept up in the chaos that comes with protecting the Burrow. 

Only this time the mission isn't saving the Burrow from the usual suspects. This time it's saving the world from a young woman on the verge of creating something so deadly Evie isn't sure the Burrow should have it either. 

But could you end an innocent's life to stop them from ending everything, including tomorrow? 

Don't miss book three in the bestselling Single Lady Spy series!

**Note: This series is seriously 

for VERY mature readers only! Very dirty at parts, but Evie is a BA woman spy on a mission you can't help but want to read more about.**

"As per the usual this is a weird book. 

I am trying people, but that normal romance is just not in here. So I hate to warn you ALLLLL over again, but we have disturbing scenes, weird sex, a tiny bit of Stockholm and twists and turns that will have you cursing my name and staying up way past bedtime.  

I am sorry. I cannot write a cheesy chick book. I am flawed. 

If you read the Lonely, this book doesn't have any of the same elements and is a completely different storyline, but it's weird just the same - just not in the same way. It different in the way the Lonely was, not at all like my other novels. It is a contemporary and adult spy thriller meets erotica. 

This is not a normal romance. It is a nine book series, so there will be unanswered questions. There are themes that are erotic and filthy. Is it the dirtiest book out there, hell no. It's far more story than erotica. It's funny and I think you will relate to the characters. 

This is adult, not New Adult and not Young Adult. It is my first so be gentle... 

Enjoy the Ride!! 19+"

-Tara Brown

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Now Available ....

The End Of Me (Book #1)- Click Here

The End Of Games (Book #2)- Click Here

Hey, CHECK IT OUT!!- Intransigent (After Light Saga Book #3) by Cameo Renae

!! COVER REVEAL !! 

Intransigent (After Light Saga Book #3) 

by Cameo Renae

Author's Links: Amazon Page, Facebook, Blog, Twitter, Website.

Goodreads Book Link: Click Here

Release Date: June 19, 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopian, and Romance . . . with a twist.

Book Blurb:  

Arriving at the new government bunker, things quickly go from bad to worse. I am separated from Finn and my family because of my ability to connect with Arvies through telepathy. Housed with three other Readers—and kept away from the general population—we are given serum injections in effort to enhance our thought transference. The end goal? Thought manipulation.

We are considered humanity’s only hope in the war against the Arvy race.

With the ever growing threat of an invasion, the government demands results from the Reader program by doling out ultimatums, and using our loved ones against us. 

But they will not break me.

My name is Abigail Park. I am intransigent. heart emoticon.

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Now Available ....

ARV- 3 (Book #1)- Click Here

Sanctum (Book #2)- Click Here

"Friday Favs": As Red as Blood (The Snow White Trilogy Book 1) by Salla Simukka

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Woman Sleuths. 274 pages.

Price: $4.99 ebook (at time of post)

Publisher & Date: Skyscape; Reprint edition. August 1, 2014.

Book Link: Click Here

Listed Rating:  . 6

Price I Paid: Zip, Due to Amazon First Prime Subscription.

My Rating: 

My Thoughts: Not Your Typical YA Book, Still Strangely Compelling.

     This book was definitely one of a kind. In short if you are looking for a book set in a foreign country with unique names this book has it. If you want multiple points of views and with the all knowing author viewpoint (aka omniscient point of view in literature) than this is your book. Now one of the top pieces that makes this book special is the main character is a self reliant super sleuth action heroine that is too cool for school. Sound good than give this book a try. But you may want to read my long winded reasons for this book being a unique choice to read. 
     One major fact a reader needs to know when first choosing this book is it's set in Finland and the names are Finnish, Russian, and the like. So when you read Boris Sokolov, Tuukka, Kask, Vaisanen, or the main character's name Lumikki, meaning Snow White in Finnish, one shouldn't be left wondering, like I was, why and where the heck is this author getting these names and locations?! I literally google searched the town of Tampere finding it's an actual town in Finland and that's when it all clicked that this book is foreign and was translated to English for our enjoyment. (Smart I know should have read the editors note before reading or choosing the book, but I didn't) 
     Nevertheless, now that the reader knows this HUGE detail about the origin of the book it should maybe be a bit easier to read the book and understand the flow and structure of the book. And boy is the structure interesting. The story is placed in a time frame that has sequential chapters interspersed within telling what occurred on that day from the characters and the author. Basically it says July 3rd then has 5 chapters saying what happened on that day from everyone and so on, then July 4th and so forth.Then there is the little extra fact that the story of Snow White is sprinkled through the book, but its not essential to the story, almost as if it's like a side poem laced within but not meant to be linked. However the Snow White story was used at one point by the main character as a cover but that's it thus far. However seeing as this book is but the first of a series the author may have just done that to lead on into more for the next books. Also the author does flash back moments for Lumikki but you won't realize it until she awakens from her sleep. The smart choice from the publisher would have been to make that section different by italicizing it, date stamping/framing it, or spacing it so it's distinct from the story. Makes it easier on the reader when reading in a progressive time frame to know when the stories timeline has changed momentarily. 
      Now one thing I did find disconcerting when reading this book was I felt as if I didn't know why the main character Lumikki was the way she was. Here Lumikki is introduced to readers as this high school girl living on her own attending a special school for gifted students, and yet she purposefully has no friends and makes sure to be invisible. I mean ultimately I came to like Lumikki and think she is quite a BA girl who knows how to take care of business and think under pressure when many would fall apart. However is Lumikki the best roll model for young girls? No. Are there traits to be admire? Yes and things to be learned from, most definitely. Ultimately, after reading this book you still don't fully understand why Lumikki became the hard self reliant spy like girl who likes body combat class, but you do find out a bit more towards the end of the book about her past, especially concerning relationships. I guess I'm just used to a lot of writers giving that kind of pivotal character background information more towards the beginning and then dropping hints all the way through the book. Even most hint at the characters beginnings in a fuller context compared to how this author did, since readers were left to their own conclusion for most of the book. 
      Nonetheless, I think the most unique point for this book is the way the author chose to do the point of views. I believe it's called omniscient POV, because there is no single character narrator but there is a narrator outside of the characters who tells the story and can go into the character's personal POV's at anytime. This allowed the author a lot of room in having multiple scenes playing on the same day to allow her plot to play out in her time sequence with multiple characters doing multiple actions. I also commend the author for making the characters there own voices and not all seeming to be the same people. When having different POVs sometimes the author can't make the character's dialogues different to fit there POVs and their voices all sound the same. Having multiple angles for this story wasn't too bad and I rather enjoyed it, though I do kinda wish we got a bit more of Lumikki's perspective.
      Overall, I truly found this book intriguing and I'm actually looking forward to reading the next book in the series, so I can truly get to understand who Lumikki is. Especially due to the little epilogue where Lumikki asks a few personal questions that will definitely need to be answered in the next book. And of course I'm still wanting to see what the author is planning to do with the whole Snow White theme. (Fingers crossed all will be answered) The beginning was hard to get into at first, but once you get used to the writing style and the unique names, Lumikki's world of mystery, suspense and thrill rather pulls you in for a time and before you realize it the book is done and you'll be wanting to download the next book too.

"Wed's Wonderings & Wanderings": Been Thinking About Rome

From my last book I read I've had nothing but my trip to Rome on my mind. So what would any normal person do, but go through their photos of Rome of course?! I absolutely loved Rome from before I can remember I've been fascinated with it and all its ancient splendor. So the moment I found out I was going to study abroad in London, I knew I needed to get to Rome some way some how. Especially since I decided to enroll in a course on the Late Roman Empire: Society, Politics and Religion. Truly there was just something so magical and fulfilling for me as a ancient history student to walk out of the metro stop and look upon the Colosseum with my own two eyes.

I'm not joking when I say I must have stood there in a stupor for like 10 minutes just gawking at it. My friend who I dragged with me to Rome was a dance and chem major. So while I stood there trying to adjust to the fact I was standing in front of THE Colosseum, she happily grabbed some gelato and a slice of pizza. Seriously though, for me the experience of walking into the Colosseum was probably a lot different than most. I couldn't help imagine myself being back in height of the Roman empire, envisioning myself among the crowd vying for a seat during a show. Oh how grand it all would have been to see it filled with people shouting and laughing, yelling and booing. I touched the walls and stared in wonder, sitting on a stone at one point wondering who in the past may have tread that very spot or sat where I had sat. I asked my friend if she saw what I saw, but sadly all she said she saw was ruins. I will admit for most it would look like only ruins, but it's the story behind those ruins that make it worth its beauty.  

Now shown above is the Arch of Constantine, this was a picture I was dying to take. While I was in England studying in class, my Professor showed us this very same arch. She of course used a google pic, showing us this piece of architecture for the lesson that day. I knew then that when I got to Rome I HAD to take a picture of my very own. So finding the very same arch by the Colosseum was amazing, a full academic circle moment for myself. Here I had been studying Roman history less than a week prior to my arrival in Rome, and then BAM! I'm able to stand in front of said structure I had just seen on a screen in class taking my own pictures of it. Going from the classroom to the actual place I was studying is a nerdtastic experience. So if you ever get a chance to roam around Rome do it! And don't forget to stop by the Colosseum and Constantine's Arch.

"Misc. Monday": Tales of Ancient Rome by S.J.A. Turney

Genre: Historical Fiction, Short Stories/Reads. 99 pages.

Price: $0 FREE (at time of post) 

Publisher & Date: Victrix Books [2nd Edition]. November 2, 2011.

Book Link: Click Here

Listed Rating: 

Price I Paid: $0 (got it FREE on May 23, 2012)

My Rating: 

My Thoughts: Unconnected Short Stories Set In Ancient Rome

     This a compilations of various short stories from individuals in different countries, cities, and diverse social standings. Beginning from the far reaches of wars and forts in Britannia to the Persian empire and deserts where politics involve the Palmyrene Empire from ancient Syria. Each story reveals pieces of ancient life during the Roman Empire.

     Stories I found lacking were "Lucilla" and "Aftermath in the Ludus" both ended on strange notes that left me wanting further explanation. Especially Lucilla, that story was leading somewhere but then I missed where. And the Ludas one ended funny but perhaps that was the point. While stories such as "Trackside Seats" and "Exploratores" were my favorites. They were more detailed and could have been written further into a novel. Trackside is about a chariot race and I've always loved that kind of a scene since I watched the movie Ben Hur as kid. Exploratores is adrenaline and fighting, basically just a taste of what a soldier in the legions would do in a scouting party.

     Overall, I really enjoyed each of the fictional stories. The author wrote some stories shorter than others and for some stories it was fine for a taste but some left me wanting. Historical fiction such as this is a good example of this genre. The stories weren't  overly fictitious but highlights of historical moments, building the fictional story from there. Example is the tale from the "Reading", which entailed a character crossing paths with the Pontius Pilatus, the Roman ruler who would put Jesus Christ to death. Though the author didn't keep to any time line or purposely placed all his stories in connection to any main historic event, a reader can get a good sense of life in the Roman world from these short tales. So if you are into Rome and love to learn or read about the people from that time period, these short tales are a good way to pass the time and perhaps spur you to learn more about Rome.