Review: Gideon's Secondhand Bride (Kristen Holt)

Neither John nor Millie wants another marriage, but practicality overrules everything else. John Gideon has three small children who need a mother. Millie needs somewhere to hide and someone to protect her and her son. A marriage of convenience is their best option, but when Millie's past catches up to her and their "business" arrangement stirs emotions neither of them are prepared for, they'll find themselves struggling to know what to do.

While I'm somewhat new to historical fiction, I have come to really enjoy the genre. It's a difficult genre to write well, but Holt really hit the spot with this novella.

The basis of this story truly captured the difficulties of this time period. John Gideon desperately needs help with his children, but propriety won't allow him to hire a nursemaid that lives in the house. Marriage is his only option, though it's what he wants least. Millie is fighting to survive her abusive husband. She wants to run, but has no relations that will take her in, no money, few opportunities to work, and no hope of a divorce even if proof of the abusive is shown. I loved getting this glimpse into the Post-Civil War Era on such a personal level. I'm not an expert on the details of the time period, but I felt the author did a good job of portraying it accurately so the reader felt they were taken back in time.

The characters themselves were very well crafted. The emotion each one was struggling to contain and deal with not only had depth, but a very realistic portrayal. John's guilt over developing feelings for Millie so soon after his wife's death will tear at readers' heart. I felt so bad for him, and wanted him to be happy, but I still understood why it was so hard for him. Millie was well done, also. She is scared, fearful of telling John the truth of her situation, but a good and kind person who is trying to make the best of a very difficult situation. Really, my only regret with this story was that it wasn't longer. I would have been happy to continue reading their story. I think I'll have to find a few more of Ms. Holt's books!

You can get your copy of Gideon's Secondhand Bride from Amazon

Review: Incantation Paradox (Annamaria Bazzi)

Waking up with the body of a teenager might be a pleasant surprise for a forty-something year old woman. Except, it's not her body. More than a little freaked out, Dolores is desperate  to find out why everyone is calling her Mona and acting like nothing is wrong.

Right from the beginning chapter, I loved the premise for this book! The concept of a woman's  spirit, or essence, being pulled from her dying body into that of a complete stranger is captivating. The repercussions  are endless! Not only is Dolores utterly confused and frightened, she also has to deal with the conflicting and often irrational hormones of a teenage girl. Keeping hold of her real identity becomes more and more difficult as the days pass. She doesn't understand, and has a hard time escaping, the teenage lust felt toward Eric, even when he scares her and gives off a serious  creeper vibe.v At the same time, grown-adult-Dolores is finding herself inexplicably attracted to Mona's "uncle" Jason. It's a mess. One Dolores has no clue how to fix.

On top of the emotional conflict and confusion, Dolores misses the two teenage daughters she was pulled away from. She's desperate to get back to her old life, but reluctant to leave Jason behind. No matter what, she needs help to figure out how to set things right. Eric doesn't seem to be an option, despite her poured-on charisma. She fears Jason is hiding things from her, though, and doesn't know if she can trust him completely. Watching her figure out who to trust was very intriguing. I was pulled into the story and was very eager to see how Dolores would escape the danger she finds herself in. I loved the romantic elements in the story. It was a tricky situation to navigate, but the author handled it beautifully. The last chapter was agonizing as I couldn't wait to see how everything would work out. This is a great read for teens (very clean story) and for adults who want a bit of  magic and mystery!

Get your copy of Incantation Paradox today from Amazon!




Follow Annamaria Bazzi online:

Blog: http://annamariabazzi.com

Website: http://www.annamariasbooks.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author.annamariabazzi

Email: annamariascorner@yahoo.com

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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6890526.Annamaria_Bazzi

Review: The Ghost Files Volume 3

Mattie Hathaway has survived more than her fair share of scary, bizarre incidences. Safety seems like an illusion, even with Dan and Eli there to protect her. After returning from a trip to help Dr. Ollivet de-ghost a house in the south, Mattie is reeling from everything she learned about herself, Eli's family, and Dan's true past. Coming home to a horde of angry spirits who all blame Mattie for their deaths and are hell-bent on revenge really wasn't the homecoming she hoped for.

Having read volumes one and two of The Ghost Files series, I was eager to get my hands on this one. The turmoil Mattie was left in at the end of book two made it impossible to resist. I've come to expect deep characters and captivating storylines from Apryl, and I wasn't disappointed in this volume.

While the series as a whole has an overarching story, each volume focuses on a plot specific to that book as well. The mystery of who the drowned girls are and why they want to see Mattie pay for their deaths was well crafted. Readers are kept guessing throughout the book as to who or what is responsible for the girls' deaths, and I was surprised when the truth was revealed, which I loved.

In addition to the main storyline, readers also get more information on Mattie's past. They don't get the whole story, of course. Baker had to hold something back for the rest of the series! Readers do learn quite a bit, though, including who Mattie's father is. That brings up a whole host of problems, as the truth is hardly a warm and fuzzy reunion. Figuring out who to trust has never been easy, but when major players make promises and reveal true intentions, Mattie is left to struggle on her own.

One of the best aspects of this book was the emotion packed into every chapter. It's not often that a book gets to me so much that it makes me cry, but watching Mattie and Dan as they are faced with a heart wrenching decision truly hit me hard. It's going to be difficult for readers not to get completely sucked into their story, and when you have the added bonus of the ever-sexy Eli, putting this down will prove completely impossible. I can't recommend this series enough.

Get your copy of The Ghost Files Vol. 3 today!

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Review: High Maga (Karin Rita Gastreich)

Eolyn barely survived her quest to restore women's magic to the land of Moisehén, and nearly watched the man she loved die in the process in "Eolyn." Her journey is far from over, however, and now in "High Maga" she is once again faced with incredible danger and the possibility of losing everything she loves.

Fantasy is one of my great loves in reading. I grew up reading many of the fantasy greats, and because of that I'm extremely picky about fantasy and it takes quite a bit to get me to try out a new fantasy author. "Eolyn" was one of those rare books that completely blew me away. I was lucky enough to have a chance to read a copy of High Maga before it was released, and I was once again pulled into a story that was so completely captivating I couldn't put it down.

The world of Moisehén was expertly crafted in the first book in the book, and it lives up to it's legend in High Maga. Gastreich has a knack for description and world building. Every detail makes the world richer and I never once found myself skimming to get back to the main story when she described the scenes. The world itself is almost a character in it's own right because of it's richness. It affects the characters, their plans, and the outcomes of their journeys. It's a world I have come to love. 

The beautifully crafted characters also live up to their appearances in the first book. Eolyn is a very complex character. She has worked so hard and fought for everything she has. She doesn't want to give any of that up, yet her heart yearns for the one man she truly loves, and having him may mean losing a part of herself. Her struggle to balance her desires with her goals creates such depth in her character that readers will easily come to care about her. Akmael is also a strong character. He is determined and wants Eolyn, but he also has a kingdom to run and responsibilities to his people. Balancing all the different aspects of his life are not easy. At times he comes off as cold as he deals with his duties to his kingdom, but then he turns around and shows amazing tenderness to Eolyn. I loved experiencing the lives of both characters and watching them change throughout the story. The story of their love and all the difficulties they face is absolutely breathtaking. Its depth and emotion make it difficult to pull yourself away from.

The side characters, which it's really hard to call them that, are a strong addition to the story as well. Mage Corey was one of my favorites from the first book, but he becomes so much more in this one. It's difficult to know what is really going on inside his head at times, and it's as difficult for the reader to know whether or not to trust him as it is for Eolyn at times. Another set of characters that took on a whole new life were the villains of this book. Rishona and Tahmir were friends in the first book who betray Eolyn, and here they pick up their plotting and spur a war between their two countries. Watching them now turn against her was heartbreaking, not only because I cared about these two in the first book, but because of how much it hurt Eolyn. The connections Gastreich builds between reader and character truly bring this story to life.

It's hard to say too much more about this book without giving away details of the plot, but suffice it to say that it was an all-around beautifully written story. It's one I will read again, and one I recommend to all my friends whether they're fantasy readers or not.

It's not just me who loved High Maga, check out what Publisher's Weekly had to say about it!

“War propels the book forward, and the characters are at their best when the events engulfing them are at their worst. . . . Fans of Gastreich’s previous work will want to catch this continuation of her story.” –Publishers Weekly

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Meet the Author

KARIN RITA GASTREICH lives in Kansas City and Costa Rica. An ecologist by vocation, her past times include camping, hiking, music, and flamenco dance.  Karin's first novel, EOLYN, was nominated for the 2012 Thorpe Menn Literary Excellence Award.  Her third novel, DAUGHTER OF AITHNE, is scheduled for release in 2015. Karin’s short stories have appeared in World Jumping, also from Hadley Rille Books, as well as in Zahir, Adventures for the Average Woman, and 69 Flavors of Paranoia.  She is a recipient of the Spring 2011 Andrews Forest Writer’s Residency.

Follow Karin’s adventures into fantastic worlds, both real and imagined, at http://eolynchronicles.blogspot.com and at http://heroinesoffantasy.blogspot.com. For the latest updates on events and publications related to HIGH MAGA, join Eolyn on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Eolyn/110814625640244 and on Twitter @EolynChronicles. 

Author web links:

Blog for Eolyn:  http://eolynchronicles.blogspot.com

Blog Heroines of Fantasy:  http://heroinesoffantasy.blogspot.com

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Eolyn/110814625640244

Twitter:  @EolynChronicles

Review: The Rabbit and The Raven (Melissa Eskue Ousley)

Abigail Brown used to think her life was ordinary. That was before hidden abilities began to surface and she found herself smack dab in the middle of a war. Not only is this war threatening to take away everything she holds dear, it's pulled her out of her own world and into a world filled with evil creatures and men alike, one in particular whose brash honesty makes him strangely difficult to resist. Abby must find a way to protect those she loves and escape the pull toward the one man who could either give her everything or take it all away.

The Rabbit and The Raven is the second book in The Solas Beir Trilogy, and if you have read book one, Sign of the Throne, you should go get it right away. I loved the first book, and I was thrilled when I got the chance to read an advance copy of book two.

There is always some fear when picking up a second book that it won't live up to the first book. Readers have nothing to fear when it comes to this series. Not only are the original characters as fascinating and deep as the were in the first book, we get to meet a few new characters that do their best to steal readers' attention.

Abigail journey goes from her own world to to David's in order to help him hold onto his kingdom and face down those who are trying to take it away from him. Abby really takes center stage in this book, more so even than in the first book. Her inner struggle to not only figure out her role and talents, but to understand the story behind the war will draw readers into the book to the point that they can't put it down.

Tynan Tierney is the other half of the compulsion for readers to finish this book in one sitting. He's a bad guy. There's no denying that he has done terrible things and willingly admits to them. He has a goal and nothing will stop him from reaching it. That is part of the reason it's so hard not to like him at least a little. That was true for me and Abby. Even though I know I probably shouldn't like him at all, I love the sections where Teirney made an appearance. He's one of those villains you love to hate. Between Abby and Teirney, this book will pull you from one page to the next relentlessly. And then you'll be begging for book three.

The overall storyline was just as much of a draw as the characters were. Abby and David's travel over the kingdom to enlist the help of the oracles will not only introduce you to a beautifully crafted world filled with danger and amazing creatures, you get to know the depth of how damaged this world is thanks to the wars it has suffered through. I was so engaged in the story through every chapter that I had a hard time taking a break. The pacing was very well managed and there was a great balance of action and exposition. You'll truly come to be a part of this world and care about what happens to it and its people.

I really don't have any criticisms for this book. Ousley did a wonderful job of following up an already fabulous first book with The Rabbit and The Raven. I will be waiting eagerly for the next installment.

I know you can't wait to go get your copy now! Here's where you can find more of Abigail and Tierney: 

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Meet the Author

Melissa Eskue Ousley lives in the Pacific Northwest of the United States with her family and their Kelpie, Gryphon. When she’s not writing, Melissa can be found hiking, swimming, scuba diving, kayaking, or walking along the beach, poking dead things with a stick.

Before she became a writer, she had a number of educational jobs, ranging from a summer spent scraping road kill off a molten desert highway, to years spent conducting research with an amazing team of educators at the University of Arizona. Her interests in psychology, culture, and mythology have influenced her writing of The Solas Beir Trilogy.

Find Melissa Online here:

Website/blog : Facebook : Twitter : Goodreads : Red Room

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Review: The Other F Word (Susan Stec)

Dekram can't help feeling like an outcast. She's the only mixed breed fairy running around her secluded home realm of Wandermere. She loves her parents, but part of her wishes she could just be like everyone else. That sentiment only intensifies when she begins overhearing strange conversations the adults seem to be having about her and her future. Something isn't quite right in Wandermere and Dekram seems to be at the center of it.

Wandermere is anything but your typical fairy forest kingdom. You won't find any dainty, innocent, classical fairies sitting on toadstools petting baby bunnies. Instead, you'll stumble upon mouthy teen fairies wearing designer knockoffs and texting on their smart phones. It wasn't always like this, and the adults claim the reasons behind the change is to help them better deal with trips to the human world, but Dekram begins having doubts about what is real and who has been lying.

I enjoyed the integration of the modern human world into the world of fae. Stec is very clever in the lingo the teens use and the phrases they exclaim when excited or agitated. Her references to fairytales and Disney movies had me chuckling. The fun atmosphere of this book will draw in younger readers and make it easy to connect with the characters.

Dekram and her friends are a fun lot to follow. Dek is relatable because she has plenty of insecurities and doubts about her future. She struggles to find her place not only in her family and community, but in her own skin as well. She wants to trust her friends and the adults in her life, but she's too smart to follow blindly. Dek battles between doing what she's expected to do and what she feels in her heart. That struggle is all too real when it comes to falling in love.

Everyone in her life seems to be pushing her toward Detaf, but Dek's heart is drawn to Nesohc. The struggle surrounding Dek's relationship problems is an engaging tangle. It becomes clear that the adults in Wandermere are hiding something and what Dek decides may have a huge impact on more than just herself. I enjoyed the hunt Dek goes on to figure out just what is going on and who is telling the truth. It's a fun, fast paced storyline that will pull readers along with the characters.

What I had trouble with was at the end of the book when the truth is revealed, I did feel like I, as a reader, had been tricked a bit. When certain characters reveal that they knew the truth from the beginning, it didn't seem realistic that they could have put on such a good act during the rest of the book. It seemed as if those characters had been written as if they knew nothing, then reinvented at the end of the book. Having said that, I did enjoy the twist at the end and thought it was an original and entertaining story.

The Other F Word is on Sale in Kindle for 0.99 right now!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: One's real life is so often the life that one does not lead~~Oscar Wilde

I've always been weird, even as a child—might've been influenced by all those fairies and trolls living in and around the streams behind Grandma's house. Today I live with my husband and three King Charles Spaniels on 50 acres of woods, fields, and streams in upper Michigan.

More about me and my books: http://thegratefulundead.blogspot.com/

Where you can purchase my books: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=susan+stec&x=14&y=15

Connect with me on: https://twitter.com/Suesan0814 

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www.goodreads.com/author/show/4556170.Susan_Stec

https://plus.google.com/100832701976536983931/posts?hl=en

http://www.wattpad.com/user/SusanStec

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Review: Sign of the Throne

Every teen hits a time in their life where they struggle to define who they are and what their place is in the world. Abby's struggle is a little more challenging than most. Not only is she perched between the worlds of every normal life and the elite society of Newcastle Beach, she is haunted by strange dreams that threaten danger if she doesn't understand their meaning in time.

The story of Sign of the throne envelopes two worlds, that of the world we all live in and the land of Cai Terenmare, a place of magic, destiny, and impending danger. The book opens in the land of Cai Terenmare and immediately drops readers into a well developed fantasy world. Ousley took great care creating a detailed system of magic, a deep history that effects every character, and an intriguing plot that takes the story into the human world.

I was almost sad to leave Cai Teremare when the story continued into the human world, but that only lasted until I met Abby, Jon, and David. From the first introduction, I felt connected to the characters. Abby is someone who's easy to relate to because of her likable personality and struggle to find her place and purpose. Jon was a fun addition to the cast. Not only did he provide comic relief at just the right time, he had a deeper side to his character that will endear him to readers. Even though he harbors romantic feelings for Abby, being her best friend comes first...well, most of the time. He's not perfect, so you can't expect him not to get a little jealous when the gorgeous David makes his entrance.

David isn't someone Abby knows, at least not in real life, but part of the haunting dreams she begins experiencing features David center stage. The dream seem to indicate that David plays a role in her life she doesn't yet understand. When they finally meet in real life, it isn't love at first sight. Not even close. Not only is Abby a little freaked out by the dreams, David has a girlfriend, kind of, and dreams of David are hardly the only unusual events that crop up. Abby is forced to face a whole host of terrifying magical creatures and situations that would put anyone on edge.

The storyline surrounding David's past and true identity, and how Abby fits into the twists and turns that have led them to this moment of decision is captivating. I kept turning pages, eager to know whether Abby would understand what she need to do in time and do it without losing those she cares about. The romance that develops between Abby and David is a draw as well. The romance was clean, but still had enough intensity to keep me eager for their next encounter.

The only area I had any trouble with were some sections where the explanations and backstories ran a little long and pulled me out of the main story too much. This happened mainly when the queen tells Abby about how the Sign of the Throne was recovered. Overall, though, the pacing and story arch were very well done. The characters was wonderfully written as well. I am excited to read the next installment of the Solas Beir Trilogy and continue Abby and David's story.

Connect with Melissa online at

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