Book Review: Tell Me I’m Dreaming (The Kali Lockton Trilogy, #2) by JL Durfey

January 15, 2014March 9, 2014Leave a comment

4 Stars

SYNOPSIS:

Seeing things before they happen has made twenty-four year old Kali Lockton quite the celebrity in the elemental world, only the attention is far from good. In fact, she lives each day with a target over her head. Her only defenses are her visions and Jared Miles, the man who holds her heart and has made it his duty to protect her from his own world.

When both of those things are jeopardized, Kali is forced to retreat from her safety net and put her trust in the dangerously sexy Alexander Payne, someone she’s always viewed as manipulative and self-serving.

Just when Kali believes her life couldn’t unravel further, everything she’s known about herself, including her value to the elemental world, disintegrates with a few shocking revelations. Kali learns she is not only the key to an elemental king’s power, but that she carries the responsibility of the continued existence of worlds she’s learned to fear, people she’s never met, and the ones she loves dearly. But such responsibility never comes without a price.

MY REVIEW:

I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LoP or Lovers of Paranormal).

Let me start by saying that this book exceeded my expectations. I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting to read but it wasn’t what was written. It was a pleasure reading this sequel! The author really left me speechless with the way in which the plot was intricately woven to create an awesome reading experience. I enjoyed the romance scenes and really would like to thank the author for the way in which it was presented it to the readers.

The suspense was well-kept and it really made me even more anxious as the plot continued to develop though out this novel, if it’s at all possible. The twists and turns that the author creates were very much appreciated and the revelations about which the blurb hints is really sort of life altering not only for Kali but also for the readers. It’s from this creativity that the author forms a bond between the readers and the characters which has us picking sides and rooting for one person more than the other. Are you team Jared or team Alex? Though I’m leaning more towards Alex, there were a few things one could like about Jared just as there are some things about Alex that some don’t like.

Now let’s talk about Alex! This sexy, hot character did catch my attention. He was totally the bad boy with a good heart, who looks out for something that he considers his. Yup, I get it and I fell for him too. I really enjoyed the banter between him and Kali when they lived together. It was really funny how they pushed each other buttons (as most couples do) and they lived to torture each other. I really enjoyed the increasing intensity and intimacy between Kali and Alex. To me it was a much-needed change, but fit very well into all the other things happening in the story. The power-packed action really spiced up this novel and made it a much more interesting read. The emotional turmoil that Kali faced is really heart wrenching and it made me hurt with and for her.

Having a lot of responsibilities dumped on you is not quite pleasant neither is seeing events before they happen but when you realize that your decisions and actions are powerful enough to effect and change your world then it becomes something mush bigger than yourself. I’m not sure how well I could handle some of the things Kali faced. In this sequel Kali’s character evolved as a strong, confident and totally dependent female. I enjoyed her journey and how the events developed her into an awesome female heroine.

Now the only thing that still has me pissed off is…….the cliffhanger. Yup this novel has it and it will irritate the hell out of you. However, I’m anticipating the next novel in this series to see where the story evolves from here. I do recommend this book, so add it to that TBR list.

Book Review: Wanted (Wanted #1) by Amanda Lance

November 6, 2013March 9, 20142 Comments

3 Stars

SYNOPSIS:

Considering she’s a girl who calculates everything, Addie Battes knew the statistical probability of being abducted in her lifetime—too bad she never analyzed the odds of falling in love with her captor.

While stopping at a crowded rest area one summer night, seventeen-year-old Addie accidentally catches a truck hijacking in progress. Desperate to rid the crime of its only witness, one of the thieves kidnaps Addie. Yet surprisingly, when a renegade thief attempts to silence her for good, Addie is saved by the very man who abducted her. Now, forced on board a cargo ship in the middle of the ocean, Addie finds herself surrounded by international smugglers who want nothing more than to throw her overboard.

All except the artistic and intriguing Charlie Hays, whose strange protectiveness convinces Addie to trust him, even when common sense tells her otherwise. Yet, despite her doubt, and his unrelenting temper, their relationship develops into something much more. But, Charlie’s scorned colleague has stowed away, and as he seeks revenge against his coworker, Addie and Charlie are forced to put their new love—and lives—at risk.

MY REVIEW:

Addie Bates is a 17 year old girl who finds herself at a fuel station to grab coffee for her Dad and herself after dropping her brother off at the military base. While standing in line she has a chance meeting with a mysterious guy (Charlie) after he whispered something over her shoulder about the book she was currently immersed in. Addie a little taken aback, quickly felt flattered by the unexpected attention and thought that this mysterious guy was, in fact, pretty nice to look at though she couldn’t see his eyes hidden behind the dark shades. With their interaction cut short, Addie gets the coffee she came in for and heads to the exist only to realize that the main exists are a little congested thus forcing the impatient Addie to look for an alternative way out. Finding herself in the back of the fueling station where the trucks are, Addie hears a strange noise and decides to investigate, but what she came across would change her life drastically. In an attempt to flee unnoticed, Addie backs right into the hands of her kidnapper and despite her best efforts at self defense she is thrown into the back of a van.

I originally picked this book to read because the blurb did catch my attention with the indication of romance and kidnapping, so I was excited when I began reading this book. The first few pages were a breeze and then I found myself struggling for a little while to keep reading. I’m not sure if some of the content such as the age difference of both of the main characters or the notion that some of the things that transpired were a little difficult for me to believe were contributing factors but for a few chapters I really just wanted to put this one to the side and move on to my next book. Despite this lull in reading I continued and I’m glad that I did.

To me the action didn’t pick up until later in the book and I found it much easier to read and very enjoyable. Yes, the romance between Addie and Charlie begins to build as she has come to terms with the fact that she has feelings for the guy who kidnapped her. Charlie as well begins to let her in on his feelings for her as well. But the action that took place on the ship was very enjoyable and downright page turning. This is where I felt the author could have spent more time developing the content and expanding on some of the things and situations that just seemed cut short. I just personally could believe more of a romance building from Charlie’s constant protection of Addie with more interaction with danger from…………. (I will not give a spoiler) Charlie’s scorned colleague. :-) It’s hard for me to believe that a young inexperienced girl can fall in love with her kidnapper in a few short days. I can understand and believe there is a physical attraction but love………I’m not convinced.

Although I had a few content issues with the book and believe there are areas that need more development and/or explanation, in general it was a good read. The cover did lead me to believe that there would be a fair amount of naked play time between the two, but I was happy that there was no sexual encounters between Addie and Charlie mostly because of the age thing but also because I felt like something was missing in this growing romance. I am a bit curious to read the sequel to see if more content has been added to better develop the plot as well as the romance, and lets not forget the action scenes that should push and pull Addie and Charlie together.

Mz V

https://truleevsspot.wordpress.com

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Blog Tour: “The Guardians Series” By Wendy Owens

September 27, 2013September 24, 2013Leave a comment

Today is the day. Book #5 of “The Guardian Series” is being released. So get your copy now!!!!!!!! Here is a little teaser from the book……….

The Guardians Crown (Book 5)

by Wendy Owens

Goodreads

Release Date: September 27^th

Purchase Links: Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Kobo, Goodreads

Blurb:

Gabe is finally forced to answer the ultimate question, will he give his life to save the world? What about just to save the one he loves the most? The Guardians struggle to find another way–ideas that don’t involve Gabe’s death–to defeat Baal. Time is running out. What will Gabe choose? What price will he pay for that choice?

Excerpt #1

As Michael watched her speak, he swallowed hard, remembering in that moment it was more than her beauty he had fallen in love with. “I don’t know what to do,” he replied, his words barely audible.

“People need hope Michael, as much as they need a leader. You and Gabe are the answer to both of those things. You’ll lead the people of earth to victory and Gabe will give them the hope they need to keep going,” Mirada said, her voice sensitive, yet unwavering.

“I don’t know if I can,” For the first time in Michael’s life he was completely unsure of what he should do. He had lost all sense of purpose.

“You can, and I’ll be at your side every step of the way,” she said with a smile.

“Are you serious?” Michael asked, his heart now racing.

Falling to her knees she embraced him, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss. She pulled away, looking into his eyes. “I’m never going to leave your side again.”

Michael felt as if his heart might burst. With the death of the council he had felt as though he had lost everything that mattered to him, but here in his arms, he found the last piece of hope he had left in the world. “We have to go back and help Gabe.”

“Why, what’s wrong with Gabe?” Mirada asked.

“They found a book that says the guardians crown is real,” Michael explained.

“Well it is real, or it was,” Mirada stated, staring back at Michael.

Michael watched as she rose, taking a seat next to him on the bed and wrapping her fingers around his. “What do you mean it was?” he asked.

What does Mirada know that nobody else seems to? Read The Guardians Crown to find out if The Guardians have a chance to change their fate or simply must face their destiny.

Excerpt #2

“Do you think there’s any chance Mirada got the coordinates wrong?” Rachel asked. It was clear to the group that they had followed the directions precisely, and after thoroughly searching the area there was no sign of a cave.

At first nobody answered her question. Sophie and Haim collapsed on the ground, both relieving themselves of the rope around their waist. The rest of the group soon followed suite.

“I don’t know, maybe she had bad information,” Sophie suggested.

Gabe took a big gulp of the water then made his own suggestion, “Perhaps she’s not all that different from her sisters after all.”

Uri nodded in response, but Rachel quickly chimed in to defend the woman whom she barely knew. “That’s not fair. Mirada told us from the beginning that she was working off secondhand knowledge and that this could be a wild goose chase. I think you’re being too hard on her.”

“She has a point,” Haim added, moving to stand next to Rachel, causing her stature to look even smaller. “I don’t think Michael would marry someone who’s that dishonest.”

“You’re sure giving him a lot of credit when it comes to judging a pretty face,” Gabe remarked.

“Really?” Rachel snarled, leaning back against the surface of the rocks behind her.

Suddenly her face shifted from one of contempt towards her husband’s comment to one of pure terror. Before Gabe could react, he watched helplessly as Rachel slipped backwards and out of sight into the mountainside, a crumbling wall now the only thing he could see.

“Rachel!” Gabe shouted, rushing forward. Before Gabe could reach her Haim, being closer to where she had fallen through, leapt into the gaping hole after her.

The group now only heard Haim’s cries echoing in the darkness as they drifted further away.

“What the hell?” Uri shouted as he and Sophie hopped to their feet, peering down the hole with Gabe, only darkness staring back at them.

“Where did they go?” Gabe cried.

Peering into the darkness, Uri commented, “it looks like some sort of old shaft.

“Get out of my way, I’m going after them!” Gabe exclaimed.

He didn’t hesitate. Grabbing what remained of the sides of the cavern, he propelled himself through the hole, and down the ice-covered tube. As he rocketed through the shaft, he could see where pieces above his head had melted away, exposing solid rock, or in some place even an empty darkness.

Excerpt #3

Releasing one last big breath, pushing all the air from his lungs, Michael emerged into the room. He opened his eyes, wide, and prepared to greet his brethren. The room shrank inward, all around him, as his eyes took in a sight he had not expected. He had accepted the idea this was a trick, that perhaps he had offended the council one too many times with his unorthodox methods. He had accepted they might, in fact, be luring him there to imprison him for his insubordination. What he saw now though, was not what he had expected.

A half circle of handmade bamboo tables was sprawled out before him. At each table, a small stool perched behind it with an elder seated in it. None of them looked up at him, their heads lying on the table tops, the blood from their slit throats draining, and spilling onto the dirt floor. All of them, they were all dead.

Michael’s head began to spin. He fell to his knees, purging himself of all of his stomach contents. A tear ran down his cheek, as he wiped away a string of vomit with the back of his hand, from the corner of his mouth. “No,” he gasped, shaking his head, as if trying to make the reality before him disappear.

“I knew you’d come!” a voice called out behind him.

Michael staggered to his feet and turned to face his worst nightmare. Baal stood before him, a smirk on his face. He wore his signature grey, pinstripe, three-piece suit, and casually twisted his pinky ring on his long and slender well-manicured finger. As it rotated Michael caught a glimpse of the rubies in the skull’s eye sockets. His black hair was slicked back, the sight of his false appearance made Michael sick to his stomach.

A slight panic rushed over him as he thought, you need to get the hell out of here. But he knew transporting would be pointless. If he fled back to Iron Gate, Baal would most certainly pick up the tracer and follow him. He would bring the same fate of the council down on everyone he cared about. There was only one option. He would stand and fight, even if it meant perishing like the council.

Author Bio:

Wendy Owens was raised in the small college town of Oxford, Ohio. After attending Miami University, Wendy went on to a career in the visual arts. After several years of creating and selling her own artwork, she gave her first love, writing, a try.

Since 2011, she has published a young adult paranormal series, The Guardians, which will contain five books total, as well as a novella.

Wendy now happily spends her days writing—her loving dachshund, Piper, curled up at her feet. When she’s not writing, she can be found spending time with her tech geek husband and their three amazing kids, exploring the city she loves to call home: Cincinnati, OH.

Author Links:

Website: http://wendy-owens.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WendyLOwens

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wendy-L-Owens/191731754221996?fref=ts

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5038955.Wendy_Owens

Blog Tour: “The Guardians Series” By Wendy Owens (truleevsspot.wordpress.com)

A busy, busy week……now it’s time to unwind

September 14, 2013Leave a comment

Wow is all I can say. It’s been a very busy week for me. I’ve been running from one side of town to the next, in the car, out of the car and so forth. So right now I just want to unwind.

So to update you on my week challenge (exercise for 4 days out of the week)……lol it was an epic “FAIL”. There are no excuses, I just didn’t get it done. So now the question is how do you find the time when you are busy as heck???? Any suggestions????? Now I did eat healthier this past week, so does that count?

Any-who…….so today really is all about relaxing so when you’ve had a stressful and busy week what is your best unwind methods?

I’ll start with mine. Today I’m going to have a glass of wine, or two, and get back to reading “The Grave Winner” by Lindsey R. Loucks. So far this has been a very interesting book and I am enjoying it. Want a Synopsis? Heck why not!!!!

Synopsis- Leigh Baxton is terrified her mom will come back from the dead — just like the prom queen did.

While the town goes beehive over the news, Leigh bikes to the local cemetery and buries some of her mom’s things in her grave to keep her there. When the hot and mysterious caretaker warns her not to give gifts to the dead, Leigh cranks up her punk music and keeps digging.

She should have listened.

Two dead sorceresses evicted the prom queen from her grave to bury someone who offered certain gifts. Bury them alive, that is, then resurrect them to create a trio of undead powerful enough to free the darkest sorceress ever from her prison inside the earth.

With help from the caretaker and the dead prom queen, Leigh must find out what’s so special about the gifts she gave, and why the sorceresses are stalking her and her little sister. If she doesn’t, she’ll either lose another loved one or have to give the ultimate gift to the dead – herself.

Now this is a YA Paranormal/Fantasy Romance book and I thought I might read it first before I recommend it to my niece who loves paranormal books as well. She told me that she wanted a better variety of these books so I guess it’s my duty to check it out to see if it might be something she likes. With my love for books I am presently dripping in her to read more but as I know with the children of this generation, it is difficult to get them off the computers, ipods and television to read a book. I digress….

Back to the mission at hand, time to get my read on and unwind. You’ll see the review for this book posted soon.