Review: When Gargoyles Rise by Ashley C. Harris 4 of 5 stars

When Gargoyles Rise by Ashley C. Harris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rose is a Gargoyle and was born in 1544 and life was good until the Vampires arrived and a curse came with them. After a 500 year gap she awakes from her stone form in Washington DC and there are no more gargoyles as they are all in stone and distributed all over. The world is now ruled by the vampires. However there is some hope as Rose learns she has to convince the human Sean Noble to fall in love with her if they can survive high school together. She also discovers that Adamus the vampire prince who betrayed her in 1556 is around and so she needs to keep her identity secret from him. Can Rose do all those things at the same time without getting into hot water?

This is a story with lots of intrigue, twists and turns. You can't help but feel sorry for Rose and the situation she awakens in as well as be frustrated with Sean and some of his attitudes. The plot of the story was good and I really enjoyed it, but the ending of this book is very abrupt (so be prepared for it) so I really need to read the next one in the series to find out what happens next.

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Review: Losing Time by Nicola Claire 4 of 5 stars

Losing Time by Nicola Claire
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mimi Wylde (is a scientist with the nickname of Mouse) and her twin sister Carrie are on a holiday of a lifetime to get them out of their funk after their parents disappeared. However something bizarre happens when looking at a NASA installation and she suddenly has to find the kind of strength she never knew she had. Dr Jack Evans works as a Surgeon at the Royal Academy of Time Surgeons (RATS) where everything has a reason and consequence - even dreams. When sorting out an anomaly in the time waves he inadvertently picks up a woman from the past called Mimi Wylde and he knows that time must have been tampered with. Even worse he has been dreaming of her before he picked her up and she is everything he ever wanted. They both have to work together chasing down history and trying to fix the anomaly.

This is definitely a science fiction book so you will have to get your head around time travel and all the positives and negatives that it involves. Merged into this sci-fi story is a mystery, some danger and romance between Jack and Mimi. I found the doubt and the fighting of their attraction irritating at times and definitely had moments when I wanted to shake them. I really enjoyed the twist at the end of the story which set it up nicely for what will happen next in the story. Well written as always from Nicola

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Review: The Complete Circuit Trilogy by Rhett C. Bruno 5 of 5 stars

The Complete Circuit Trilogy by Rhett C. Bruno
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Circuit is a string of colonies across the solar system where humans live mining resources. They are overseen by something called the New Earth Tribunal who are a religious sect who believe in something called the Spirit which they believe will one day welcome home to Earth humanity. However some random attacks are believed to come from the Ceresian sect in an attempt to challenge the Tribunal. Can a band of unlikely heroes challenge and save them all? Can the Tribunal's best spy, a Ceresian mercenary, an android and disgraced general save them from a conspiracy to bring down the Tribunal and change the Circuit forever? The trilogy contains:
Executor Rising
Progeny of Vale
Earthfall

Buckle up for this dramatic saga where you might think you know who the good and bad guys are, but then a change happens and you will start to doubt yourself and your judgement of character as everything changes as you read. There are twists and turns aplenty. It's told in such a clever way that it feels like you are reading a film script (and I think it should be turned into one). I loved the way the characters were developed and the “journey” they went through in their own self knowledge and personality as well as any journey they went through as part of the story. I've tried to think about who I find as my favourite character and I can't – I might have one in book 1, but by book 2 it has changed to someone else, so I guess I love them all although I have to admit to a soft spot for android ADIM who could help me so much with the practicalities in my own life. The finale of this trilogy was an explosive ending that had me so hooked that I stayed reading it even though I really should have been asleep. This as a story that has parallels with real life – there are politics, religion, technology, progress, artificial intelligence to name just a few.

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Review: Tyson's Treasure by Dale Mayer 5 of 5 stars

Tyson's Treasure: A SEALs of Honor World Novel by Dale Mayer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tyson tragically lost his wife and child a couple of years ago and he has now recognised it's time to reenter the world and move on. Then Kai, his wife's best friend, comes back into his new life and is in trouble - she has a stalker (even though she seems to not be taking it seriously in his opinion). Tyson decides in memory of his late wife he will protect her, but then realises he wants to be with her anyway. Kai on the other hand has always wanted him, but stayed away as he married her best friend. So when she sees her again at a product demo she understands that her feelings for him have not changed. Can they sort this out, can they face the other problems that they find out, and will they give a relationship between themselves a chance.

A great story about a man's struggle to move on with his life, a woman's struggle against a stalker mixed with male prejudice in the business world, and how friends will always have your back and happiness can come even after you think all is lost. I liked the drama in the story, the twists, turns and surprises. It was well written and addictive - I definitely found myself reading faster and faster as I got further through the story. At the very end it nicely set up the next story in the series so I'm looking forward to reading that one now.

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Review: Airwoman by Zara Quentin 4 of 5 stars

Airwoman by Zara Quentin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jade Gariq dreams of becoming a member of the Traveller Force visiting far flung worlds and defending the people and interests of the Dragonverse. However her life is turned upside down when her faster suddenly dies and she inherits his cross-portal trading company. It is complicated further when there are rumours of foul play and all the clues point to a far flung world only reached via the portal. Can she find the man who is alleged to kill her father or will he find her first?

This was a charming story with a solid foundation in a whole new world. Jade is a teenager about to become an adult and the story is written to show her confusion and difficulty in working out who to trust and what she should believe. Whilst the aim was a good one which fit well with the story I felt the execution of this concept was a little flawed as it because very annoying and in the end distracted me from the story and what was happening. I do however still think it is a good start to the series and I would love to find out what happens next. I really hope she gets more romantically involved with

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Review: Marked By Fate by Kristin D. Van Risseghem by Erin Hayes by Angela Friscoe 5 of 5 stars

Marked By Fate by Kristin D. Van Risseghem by Erin Hayes by Angela Friscoe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review based on:

Fate’s Legacy by Angela Fristoe
This is a story of Willow an alien living on earth who has no idea what she is, what she is able to do, and about the actual danger she is in as her parents never told her. Plus Liam her protector who was originally supposed to kill her, who does know all about the races.

This is an enchanting story that I found quite addictive and that I was reading it faster and faster as the story progressed. There were times when I have to admit to feeling frustration at the attitudes of both characters (and even the need to give them a damn good slap while telling them to get their act together), but even accounting for that it was a great story that has the promise for a great series in any following books. Well written and very enjoyable.

How to talk to ghosts by Erin Hayes

Lita has always been able to see and talk to ghosts to the point she is more comfortable with them than her father who only cares about power and building a business empire. So when her Uncle Neptune dies her Dad's sole focus is to take over his aquarium no matter who he actually left it to. So Lita has a choice - help her father to get it and take over the world, or help her Uncle's friends who all have their own secrets to get it as per his wishes, and in the process save the world! Can Lita take the pressure and make the right decision?

Wow we had evil, varieties of paranormal and lots of ghosts! And at the centre one sightly overwhelmed woman who literally has the weight of the world on her shoulders. I loved the dynamic between Lita and Ryan. It was well written as I would expect from Erin and addictive from start to finish.

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Review: A Ritual of Fire by J.L. Hendricks by J. A. Cipriano 5 of 5 stars

A Ritual of Fire by J. A. Cipriano by J.L. Hendricks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alyson is a dragon shifter (the last one and hiding it from others) and Vlad a 200 year old Vampire - they work together as partners for the FBI in a secret department that looks into crime involving paranormal people and artefacts. They are starting to investigate some strange murders of shifters, witches and similar and see a disturbing pattern that suggests that something very dangerous and dark is going on. Can they find out what is going on, what they are trying to achieve and who is doing all of these murders?

Great story. I loved the relationship between Alyson and Vlad and the suggestion of possible romance between them in the future. The story was well told and very clear and easy to understand. As this is the first story in the series I'm definitely addicted and just NEED to know what happens next. A great writing partnership that has definitely delivered something special - they need to keep this going!!

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