Review: Flight of the Dragon: a Dragon Fantasy Adventure by Jessica Drake 5 of 5 stars

Flight of the Dragon: a Dragon Fantasy Adventure by Jessica Drake
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Zara is a Dragon Rider and Lessie is her Dragon and when they met the certainly had no idea the sorts of trials and dangers they would have to face together. There have been several murder and kidnapping attempts so her enigmatic family head (Lord Tavarian) has transported them to a secret location to complete their training off the grid on a 1-2-1 basis. However war is on the horizon and Salcombe is determined to find Zara - before they know it they are being attacked on all fronts and are forced to fight for a cause they are obliged to take part in even if they don't really believe in it. Can they follow the rules even if they know they are not always right or will the rebel streak that is so much part of Zara's character contribute to victory or will it be death?

Wow - loving the way the story has continued for Zara and Lessie. The challenge between duty and going against it to do the right thing were well described in the story and I could definitely feel the frustration and dilemma in the choices that had to me made. There were several moments where crucial moments were reached and decisions had to be made - I could understand all of the information and viewpoints including why she decided the way she did. Looking forward to the next book now so I find out what happens next!

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Review: IRIS by Nick Whitesides 4 of 5 stars

IRIS by Nick Whitesides
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

300 years before nuclear bombs fell on Earth but some people were kept safe within an encapsulated city called Pura. They are adequately fed, housed and kept safe a secure - however to have that security they have to work each day and contribute towards the survival of the city. He should be happy, but Krys is not so sure. The laws they live under (called IRIS) have stripped away the inhabitants ability to think or even feel freely - the mantra in Pura is We Thrive Together or Die Together. So for security they have to forfeit their own humanity - question is it it acceptable to Krys or is it a step too far?

This was a carefully constructed and pictured world with all the customs and behaviours described in some detail so that you got the feeling and understanding of the limitations and challenges faced to Krys and the other residents of Pura. I enjoyed the way the conflict between the system, safety and humanity was handled and how Keys was behaving. I definitely enjoyed some of the twists and turns that happened towards the end of the book which were definitely a surprise. Well written and well described so I could picture it in my mind.

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Review: Hidden Hearts by Eva Chase 5 of 5 stars

Hidden Hearts by Eva Chase
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nick Keane is a bit or a rebel - he protects his family's secrets but he also using his special power to help others too. When he sees a pretty woman poking around his recent scene for helping someone his special power tells him that she is gifted in a similar way to him. So he decides to try and find out what he can find out while keeping a distance - but that might be too difficult for him to do. Carina Jones feels sick at the thought that others with skills like hers could cause the death and destruction of others and is determined to ensure that the Keane family are in custody and paying for their crimes even when the hot guy she is talking to might be one of them but is also making her doubt everything she has been told. No matter what they might have intended Nick and Carina are falling for each other and have to gamble on their hearts before her handlers catch them - is there any way they can both win in this situation?

Gosh - lots of twists, turns and drama in this tale which has embedded into the middle of it the story of two young people falling in love. The confusion of Carina and her coming to conclusions was sensitively handled and you felt that she was really going through all those complex emotions. Well written and easy to understand it was a very pleasant read that drew you into the story. Whilst it is part of a series, this book can definitely be read stand alone.

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Review: To Vegas With Love by J.A. Cipriano 5 of 5 stars

To Vegas With Love by J.A. Cipriano
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

With the magic pen ensuring that anything he writes becomes reality you would think that Roger has it all by when he decides to start using the pen for good and wants to build a new charity hospital in Las Vegas he discovers that a greedy billionaire has his fingers in to everything and has the government all under his thumb will do absolutely anything to stop Roger - assassins, scandal, health inspector, power cuts - the list seems endless. So Roger has to do everything within his power and using his cunning to help the people - even if he has to go to the extreme of bring down the US government.

Wow - Roger certainly outdid himself in this story. I loved that this time he was doing good for other people and not for himself. The story was well written and everything was really clear. There was a lot of detail and I could feel their thoughts and emotions as they went through the various frustrations as they tried hard to help people. I definitely cheered at what Roger did at the end - I just wish he could do that now too.

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Review: Shadow Magic by Nazri Noor 5 of 5 stars

Shadow Magic by Nazri Noor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

While the gods are dying, Dustin Graves was murdered as a ritual sacrifice but finds himself the recipient of some strange dark magic instead. The more bodies start turning up - some human and worryingly one old world god. Somehow the bloodshed has to stop and it appears that Dust is now the mage for the job. However on his journey he ends up having encounters with a succubus, a talking sword, a spider queen and a goddess of magic. This is the first book in the Darkling Mage series.

This was a well thought out and clearly told story that kept my attention from the start to the end of the book. The story unfolded in such a way that I was hooked on the story and actually found myself reading it faster as it progressed. It was well written and very easy to read and comprehend. As a YA book it was nicely pitched to not push the boundaries of that genre while at the same time giving more than enough story to keep your attention and need to know what happened next. Well written it was clear and easy to understand. I think you will enjoy this story and find it easy to become addicted and need to know what happens to Dustin next.

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Review: Touched by Magic: An Epic Fantasy Adventure by K.N. Lee by Nicole Zoltack 4 of 5 stars

Touched by Magic: An Epic Fantasy Adventure by K.N. Lee by

Nicole Zoltack

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There has been a war between Humans and elves for many years but it all comes to a head when an unknown sorceress begins to attack and take over elven territory. The elves try to find a way to even the odds between them and find her hidden daughter in the general common populace. Nala is the daughter of a farmer and his wife until their village is attacked by elves and she is captured. She then starts on a journey of survival, magic and love - the last one with the most unlikely of places as it is with the enemy. Can she be safe anywhere and find a place where she can be happy?

Lots of drama from the start in this story of one girl's journey through life and the various complications and opportunities that it throws at her. There are plenty of surprises on the way as well as a number of complications. A good start to the series and it gives a promise of some great story-lines in the future. Well written and easy to understand and feel. You will definitely feel a lot of sympathy for Nala and the sheer quality and quantity of changes and complications presented to her.

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Review: Liam's Lily by Dale Mayer 5 of 5 stars

Liam's Lily by Dale Mayer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Former Navy SEAL and single guy Liam O'Brian has just joined Legendary Securities and has been looking forward to his first mission to somewhere exotic - however he ends up going to an elephant sanctuary - however it is in Texas just 2 hours drive away. However his troubles have only just started when he starts to fall for a woman who is right in the middle of her family's livelihood and problems. Lilianna Howell is a biologist with a firm belief that every problem just needs to be broken down into smaller ones to solve them. Her Dad has lost his way after the death of his son and so Lily has to step in and perform a much larger role for the elephant sanctuary while her twin sister and husband (who is Lily's own ex-fiance) were to take over the office and financial side of things. However large issues escalate and and Lily and Liam have to work together to get to the bottom of them and fix it before the elephants lose their home.

This was a lovely story of how two people united to save the elephant sanctuary and get to the bottom of a mystery that had many twists and turns on he way. As they became closer it was charming the way they slowly realised that there was more between them and that when they had the time they could concentrate on their own happiness. The story was well written and very enjoyable. I definitely found myself reading faster and faster as I got further into the book. Definitely a nice light read that I found very enjoyable.

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Review: Black To Dust: A Quentin Black Paranormal Mystery by JC Andrijeski 5 of 5 stars

Black To Dust: A Quentin Black Paranormal Mystery by JC Andrijeski
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Black is in the New Mexico desert to meet an old war friend who needs help solving the spate of murders and kidnappings affecting the reservation. But what at first seemed to be cut and dried soon turns into something much bigger which is being orchestrated by a banished shaman. So Black's plan to distract himself from his marriage problems is now some of his worst fears from his past. In order to crack what is going on he needs to persuade Miri to come out and join him, but then when she arrives it all starts going out of control faster and faster. Can they stop what is happening or will they be torn apart forever?

The story starts slow with Black being particularly miserable because of his brave attempt to give Miri the space to think about things, but it soon became more and more dramatic as events developed. I loved the way it involved people from all generations and that it tied it his old friends as well as some new players that I expect to see more of later in the series. I loved the linkage with the Bridge and Sword books and how it was all fitting nicely together like a jigsaw puzzle. It was well written and I could definitely feel and empathise with the thoughts and emotions of the characters. Looking forward to the next book in the series now.

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Review: One of Life's Great Mysteries by Ian Antony 5 of 5 stars

One of Life's Great Mysteries by Ian Antony
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Major Ivor Hooke survived a battle in the skies above Newearth and has now returned to London for his court martial with the Duke of Wellington. However after a chance meeting he ends up travelling from the slums of Victorian London to plains on colonial Mercury. As part of his travels he will start to unravel a great conspiracy across the Solar System where he will find it hard to distinguish between friends and enemies as the roles change in a fluid manner between the two roles.

I really enjoyed this book which continued the story of Ivor and the conspiracy that he is getting much closer to the understanding of and resolution for. It was great to have more and more sections of the conspiracy becoming clear as well as Ivor getting more of a backbone as he experiences all sorts of trauma and hardship. The story was well written and it was easy to understand the thoughts and emotions being experienced by the characters. Very enjoyable - I just need the third part of the trilogy to be written now so I can know how the story ends and who the elusive Mr Big of the conspiracy.

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Review: The Undertaker's Revenge- A Love Story by A. Davis 4 of 5 stars

The Undertaker's Revenge- A Love Story by A. Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Strange tale of an undertaker in the hamlet of Krakenshire through his attempt to avenge his wife's death. He noticed that the rest of the village were blind to the loss of his beloved wife and the the spell cast across them all by the factory up on the hill. Bizarrely the other village occupants were also very preoccupied with their own idiosyncrasies.

This is a very bizarre story that at first I though it was too weird to make sense of but after persevering I began to enjoy it. Te writing was clear and easy to understand and if you accepted that the underlying premise was rather weird it did make perfect sense.

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Review: Consort of Pain by Eva Chase 5 of 5 stars

Consort of Pain by Eva Chase
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rose Hallowell has claimed her magic and has the 5 unsparked consorts she is not supposed to have and just hopes for a peaceful life. However everything is threatened by the Assembly – can Rose and her men escape them and find the kind of allies they need to have a safe, secure and peaceful future or will they forever be fighting? Can Rose find a balance of power where she doesn’t extract so much from her consorts that they become ill?

I loved this story - lots of twists, turns, excitement and drama. I liked the addition of more on the impact on her consorts and how they were coping with it. It was well written and everything was very clear and easy to read/understand. I could definitely feel their frustrations, despair and joy at different parts of the book. Definitely recommended.

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Review: Ghosts Of Pinkerton: Vampire And The Frenchman by Andy DeJong 4 of 5 stars

Ghosts Of Pinkerton: Vampire And The Frenchman by Andy DeJong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Whilst most agents in the Pinkerton organisation solved crimes and tracked bandits, agents Jasper Longley and Cole Owens worked on the supernatural side of things stopping chaos hitting the western frontier in the 1880's. However after a routine vampire hunt they found a relic that starts them on a gruelling chase to stop something called The Chaos Demon. Normally everyone who meets it dies but Jasper is already the exception to the rule and so they set out meeting new friends and enemies as they learn the value of friendship and the meaning of humanity.

This is a great mixture of genre that I feel fit well together. I was definitely invested in the story and was gunning for the agents as they made their way through every stage in the story. Nicely set up at the end so that this can be the first book in a series. Well written and and enjoyable easy read.

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Review: Ivan by Marissa Farrar 4 of 5 stars

Ivan by Marissa Farrar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Russian vampire Ivan Sokolov is feeling guilty and so wants to apologise to an ex who is also the daughter of werewolf Deacon Thorn. He tracks her down to Dartmoor when The Thirst strikes him and he wakes to find himself covered in blood and with no memory of how he got that way. So he decides to make a run for it when he is hit but an amazing scent in the car park. However it belongs to a police officer who is looking for the person responsible for a body that was found on the moor. The scent belongs to his bloodmate who just happens to be the police officer and between them they wonder if he is responsible for the body or was it the mythical Beast?

This was a great story seamlessly merging vampires, the Thirst and a mythical beast that lives on the moor. It was very enjoyable as a light read. I enjoyed the way their relationship built up even when they were in a difficult situation. Well written and very enjoyable.

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Review: Maroonhair: A Cyber-City Story by Sebastian Winter 3 of 5 stars

Maroonhair: A Cyber-City Story by Sebastian Winter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Evans has it made in Cyber City - money, social standing, a great job - but he has something missing in his life - love and someone to share his life with. Maroonhair is the story of how Evans met the woman of his dreams and how he fights to win her heart and keep her close.

This is a very dark short story that certainly made me stop and think even if it also bemused me slightly. In many ways it was enchanting the way Evan looked at his life, how he handled the changes in his life when he met Maroonhair and how he coped when he had to find her and win her love. The writing was fairly good and I was able to understand the story and the thoughts and emotions that he was experiencing. Look out for the twist at the end of the story which made me smile.

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Review: Saving Paludis by Clayton Graham 4 of 5 stars

Saving Paludis by Clayton Graham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Scientists from Paludis share a technological breakthrough with the Earth authorities the planet becomes a battlefield which is quickly escalating. Plus there is local aliens with their own agenda and a secret human cult is also planning to exploit the technology. Suddenly the planet becomes a battlefield. Stefan Lattanzis is a police agent and he needs to team up with a botanist and a seer in order through trust to stop the parties ripping space and time apart.

There was some serious world building in this story which painted a detailed picture of the places, characters, situations and emotions involved in this complex tale of worlds, technology and human nature. It was a salutary tale of what greed can do to people and the extent their behaviour will either sink low or become something of legend. I think so many of the themes in this story have equivalents in today's world and is like the modern science fiction version of a morality tale. It was very well written and enjoyable.

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Review: Beginner's Luck: An Urban Fantasy Adventure by J.A. Cipriano 5 of 5 stars

Beginner's Luck: An Urban Fantasy Adventure by J.A. Cipriano
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Seth Wyatt lives in the secret magical city underneath Las Vegas. He has the skills to be very successful there - a great poker face, fast hands a magic tiger and a way with the ladies. He's finally able to enter the Four Skulls poker tournament for the magical prize. However he has a few problems - a dark elf who is sore that Seth won a powerful magical artefact from him and the winner of the tournament last year. So can Seth make it to the tournament as he's looking forward to a decent challenge.

I loved this story which was a great start to the series. Seth was a really interesting character who had a lot of skills not only in poker but in staying alive too. I loved the detailed descriptions of the people and their thoughts and emotions as so many dramatic things happened. There were some really interesting characters and I can't wait until I can read later books in the series so we find out what has happened to them. A great story that was very enjoyable.

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Review: Cheat Codes by Emily Goodwin 4 of 5 stars

Cheat Codes by Emily Goodwin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Archer has wanted his best friend's sister Quinn Dawson ever since he saw her at college. He's tried hard to deny his feelings because she was too young for him and the fact that it would create a mess. Then he takes action on it and it was supposed to be just the one night, but that was all it took. Now they have just 9 months to sort everything out.

This was a book that was very true to the type. There was a lot of drama and passion mixed into a story that has the basis of a love story that is happening between two people that have the weight of their family against them from the start. Think of it as a modern day Romeo and Juliette. It was very enjoyable and a good read that would be perfect for a beach or some kind of similar situation.

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Review: Cade by Dale Mayer 5 of 5 stars

Cade by Dale Mayer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cade Terence is a former SEAL and has been recovering for 2 years after his unit was deliberately put in the path of an antitank landmine. As the survivors of his former unit try to investigate it they seem to get into more danger. Faith Halladay is a commercial airline pilot who finds she has to rush to Norway to be at the bedside of her best friend Elizabeth who has been in a serious accident. She meets Cade there and they develop a friendship in their shared frustration over their own situations. However she is now in the sights of the man behind Cade's troubles and that suddenly puts her in his world. Will they survive the situation and still be friends (or maybe even something better)?

Lots of drama in this third book in the series where the circumstances and likely person(s) who were involved are drilled down a bit more. I feel they made good progress in the case and that it was still making sense even though there were some twists, turns and additional aspects to the case (that are quite disturbing). Well written and lots of detail on the thoughts and emotions of the various characters in the story. A great development of the story such that I can't wait to find out what they find out next.

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Review: Killer Stakes by Michelle Fox 5 of 5 stars

Killer Stakes by Michelle Fox
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amelia Larson works for the FBI in a special department for metaphysicals and is currently on medical leave following the end of her last case. When serial killers hit her area she feels she has to come off leave to use her psychic abilities to track them down. Add to that her life is more than a little complicated - she is bonded to a vampire who is annoying the hell out of her, she has boyfriend problems so when her DNA also becomes an intense focus life becomes completely chaotic.

The book contains a lot of action with twists and turns all the way through. You might think you understand the plot but then it changes direction and you get a whole new set of surprises. I loved some of the detail in the story that helped to build a great book that kept me addicted from the start to the finish. It was well written and I liked the way you felt involved in the emotions she was feeling as she discovered a lot of new things around both the different races, her own history and who was her friend and who was not. You will not regret getting into this great series.

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Review: The Memory Tree by John A. Heldt 5 of 5 stars

The Memory Tree by John A. Heldt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Carson family may have barely escaped 1889 but they are now in 1918 and searching for their parents again. WW 1 is in full force and the family have dispersed in order to cover as many areas as they can so Adam and his pregnant wife Bridget are in Minnesota, Greg is in Mexico where he meets someone special and gets into danger again, the twins Cody and Caitlin are visiting an old friend from Pennsylvania and Natalie is being herself and working as a reporter in France talking to American servicemen to tell their stories. The Carson family find a lot of answers and peace in this continuation of the River Rising The question remains - will they find their parents?

Wow - this is another detailed and historically accurate adventure involving the Carson family as they travel through time searching for their parents. Poor Greg always seems to be the one getting himself into trouble even though it is always not his fault and it was nice for him to finally have some happiness which I hope will point to a turn in his fortunes. Everything was well written and described in such a way that I could feel as if I was there experiencing everything with them. As for if they find their parents I couldn't possibly say.

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