Title: The Rainbow Man
Author: P.B. Kane
Pages: 162
Publication Date: 2013
Version: Kindle
Genre: Young Adult Fiction Sci-Fi/Paranormal/Fantasy
Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"When Daniel Routh, together with friends Jill and Greg, and little brother Mikey, discover a body washed up on the beach after a storm, it’s one of the most exciting things ever to happen on the island of Shorepoint. And, as the man in question slowly recovers, he befriends the inhabitants of this small fishing community one by one. Only Daniel suspects something might be wrong with the newcomer, who cannot remember who he is, nor how he came to be there. To start with, this John Dee (as they label him, short for Doe) brings prosperity and happiness with him, but it isn’t long before the tide begins to turn. Then John begins to worm his way into Daniel’s own family, trying to take the place of his late father, and the teenager knows something must be done. Little does Daniel realise that he’s now involved in one of the most ancient conflicts of all time; one that might decide the fate not only of Shorepoint, but of the entire world.
This very special short novel from the imagination of award-winning and bestselling author P.B. Kane (the Arrowhead Trilogy, Lunar, The Butterfly Man – as Paul Kane), marks his first foray into the realms of YA fiction. With great characterization, emotional impact, action and shock twists, this is a genre release that’s sure to become an instant classic."
My Review:
Daniel, Jill, and Greg are the best of friends...peas in a pod....three musketeers....they are lucky to have one another living on such a small and secluded island like they do. An innocent stroll on the beach after a wicked storm changes things though, and not just about their friendship, but about everything on the whole island. Daniel, Jill, Greg, and Daniel's little brother Mikey go out to the beach to see what the storm may have washed up on shore. What they find is anything but usual, it is a man...what looks to be a dead man. When Daniel suddenly sees the man's eyes flash all the colors of the rainbow he tries to logically think it away as a reflection of the rainbow that seems to have led him to find the man. Soon Daniel knows something about this John Dee is not as it seems or should be. Quickly everyone loves him and seems to think only he knows what is right. Good things start to happen on the island, so they all think John is good luck. Daniel knows the truth and sees John for what he really is, but how can he get anyone to believe him when John seems to be so helpful? Soon Daniel is in the fight for the island peoples' lives and is desperately trying to get Jill and Greg back on his side. Will he get the help from his friends that he needs to find out what or who John Dee really is? Will it be in time to save the island and it's people? Will Daniel really want to accept the truth of John if and when he does find it?
This book was a very easy and quick read for me. It was really easy to get in to and was a book that once you started to read you were wanting to not stop until you could finish it. I just loved the way things unrolled, but there was still more than enough questions in your mind that you just had to read more. Every time I thought I may have the answer I was quickly proven wrong as I read on. The plot was one to suck you in from page one all the way to the ending page. It was quick moving, but had lots of details to make it a great book! The characters were also some of my all time favorites I think. They were easy to relate to, fun to read about, and just all around very likable characters. I found myself feeling for Daniel as he tried to get his Mom and friends to see John for what he was, which Daniel may not have known right away what that was, but was determined to find out. His determination is what made him a great friend. I also had to feel bad for him as he watched their group of three friends turn to different dynamics as Jill and Greg started looking at each other in a "more than friends" way. I also must say that I never saw in a million years the conclusion coming. I was going in a way different direction with my thinking and when the truth had light shed upon it I went, "Holy Cow! No Way!" It was wonderful to read a book that held my attention from start to end and that was able to completely surprise me when things came to light at the end. Amazing read!
5/5 Stars!!
Title: Yellowstone Heart Song
Author: Peggy L. Henderson
Pages: 262
Publication Date: 2012
Version: Kindle
Genre: Adult Fiction/Romance/Time Travel/Western
Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Nurse and avid backpacker Aimee Donovan is offered the opportunity of a lifetime. She encounters a patient who tells her he can send her two hundred years into the past to spend three months in the rugged Yellowstone wilderness at the dawn of the mountain man era. The only requirement: she cannot tell anyone that she’s from the future.
How did a white woman suddenly appear in the remote Rocky Mountain wilderness? Trapper Daniel Osborne’s first instinct is to protect this mysterious and unconventional woman from the harsh realities of his mountains. While he fights his growing attraction to her, he is left frustrated by her lies and secrecy.
Daniel shows Aimee a side of Yellowstone she’s never experienced. She is torn between her feelings for him, and exposing a secret that will destroy everything he holds as truth. As her three months come to an end, she is faced with a dilemma: return to her own time, or stay with the man who opened her eyes to a whole new world. When the decision is made for her, both their lives will be changed forever."
My Review:
Aimee is a modern day nurse and avid backpacker. She has had some rough patches in her life, but her love of backpacking never dies and is something she loves to do and feels she is really good at. When a man she is treating tells her he can send her back 200 years so she can do the ultimate backpacking wilderness adventure in Yellowstone she thinks he is crazy and simply humors him by saying she would love to do that. When it really happens, however, Aimee learns just how unprepared she was for this trip. She should have believed him and been more prepared with her gear when she had him time travel her back. How can she survive when she is so unprepared and can't tell a soul how she came to be there and where she really belongs? Daniel is willing to help her, but a rocky and painful past prevents him from wanting to help her very much. He is not fond of white women and is very suspicious of where this one really came from and wonders what she is failing to tell him. How can he help her if she is not being honest with him? Aimee is soon seeing things that she loves and it's not all just scenery, but also the man that is helping her. Is it possible to kindle a romance with someone knowing you are lying to them? How will Daniel react when it is time for her to go back to her time? How will she explain it all? Will she have a chance to explain or will things just play out as they are supposed to?
This was a pretty typical romance if you ask me. Woman is saved by a man who is mysterious and handsome...man doesn't want to fall for woman...they fall for each other anyway. I am not a huge historical fiction person, but this one had intrigued me because of the time travel aspect. It was an interesting book in it's own way, but it was not a book for me. It seemed a bit too much like the typical romance read. I did enjoy the in depth details of the time though. The descriptions were there and made me feel as though I was watching the book play out in my head. The characters were also pretty interesting. They all had such interesting back stories that were slowly learned throughout the book. They then developed into amazing characters that you couldn't wait to see grow. I enjoyed the concept of the plot, the new twist on time travel, and the characters. It was well written and easy to read. I read this book quite quickly, so it was not that I didn't want to finish it either, it just wasn't my kind of book. I am used to more mystery based and those are my favorites, so this book was a bit out of my comfort zone. I did shock myself though, and was eager to pick it back up to read on in it to see how things really played out for Aimee and Daniel. I'm glad I read it, it was a good book, just not a series I feel I will continue reading. I stress though, this is not because it was a "bad book", but just simply that it wasn't a book that is "typical" for me.
4/5 Stars!
Title: Green Lake
Author: S.K. Epperson
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 2011
Version: Kindle
Genre: Adult Fiction/Mystery
Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"A suddenly widowed and penniless woman is forced to move into her sister's vacation cabin on Green Lake. But instead of quiet and solitude, she finds herself immersed in a world of depravity, blackmail and--ultimately--murder. And what should she think of the tall and taciturn Native American who lives next door."
My Review:
Madeleine is no stranger to hard times or disappointment, it seems as though her life has been filled with it. When her husband loses his job and then decides the best way to cope with that loss is to commit suicide, Madeleine sees this as just another way he screwed her over in life. On top of that she is left penniless and with no where to go, as his family blames her for him killing himself. Her sister has always been different than her, in a word...nicer. Madeleine always comes off hard and uncaring, whereas her sister comes off helpful and kind. Madeleine is offered her sister's vacation cabin to stay at while she can get her head back in the game and she takes it. It is on Green Lake and is a quiet little group of cabin people on a tiny little lake in a big woods. Or so Madeleine thinks. Soon she is finding that sometimes the smallest place has the most action in it. There is murder and mayhem awaiting in this small community and loads of secrets. Madeleine is finding herself starting to soften toward the locals, a certain neighbor especially, and soon she is finding that sometimes you have to let people in, in order to be truly happy. Just as she is learning this all hell breaks loose. A young girl is missing...or is she? Soon there is murder in this small community too. Who here would have such rage in him or her? What secrets are these secluded cabin people really hiding up here in the woods that they inhabit? Who can Madeleine really trust around here? When she starts getting targeted herself she seriously questions if she will survive this "getaway" to the cabin. Will she leave Green Lake stronger than she ever was, or will she leave in a body bag?
I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed at first with this book. Why? Because I knew the who of the who done it, almost right away. After I knew that, I then decided to read on to see who, in the book, would figure it all out first. That is what kept me reading and then I just couldn't stop. I can't really explain it, but it was a wonderful page turner for me, even though the who of the who done it was solved early on for me. The characters were really what sucked me in I think, they were amazing. Very detailed and developed throughout the book and also very easy to relate to and identify with. The relationships that Madeleine tries to make are wonderful to watch happen. Here she is, this hard as nails woman who is always thought of as someone who can take care of herself, falling apart and learning how to communicate with others in a much softer way. Eris, the Native American neighbor, is a wonderful character! He has had his own rifts in life and is not the most friendly man, but soon he too learns to soften a bit when interacting with Madeleine. As for the plot, well yes I did know who did it fairly early on, but there were also enough surprise twists in it after that, that were interesting and a joy to try and figure out as I read on in the book. There were many subplots, but all just fit and made sense to the story as a whole. I like books with spiderwebs woven in like that. Tons of little things make up a beautiful masterpiece of a bigger picture. All in all, this was a good read for me and I did enjoy it. There was murder, adventure, relationships, family, love, friendships, and tons of juicy secrets!!!
4/5 Stars!
Title: A Red, Red, Rose
Author: Susan Coryell
Pages: 268
Publication Date: 2013
Version: Kindle
Genre: Adult Fiction Cozy/Gothic/Mystery
Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"A whole summer to absorb two hundred years of Overton ancestry. Their lives, loves and secrets. Especially their secrets. 20-year-old Ashby Overton is invited by her aunt and uncle to spend the summer at historic Overhome Estate as a companion to her young cousin. Ashby has ulterior motives: She hopes to unearth her ancestral roots and the cause of a mysterious family rift surrounding the horseback riding death of her Grandmother Lenore many years ago. Situated high above Moore Mountain Lake, Virginia, the imposing mansion is an idyllic setting for Ashby, the aspiring romance writer. From the moment she enters her room in the oldest wing, Ashby feels an invisible, enfolding presence. This was Rosabelle's room, the housekeeper tells Ashby. But no one is willing to talk about Rosabelle. As summer unfolds, so does the shroud of silence surrounding Overhome. Ever present is a force Ashby never sees, only feels. Candles light themselves, notes from an old lullaby fall from the ceiling, the radio tunes itself each day. And roses, always meant for Ashby, appear in the unlikeliest places. Are the roses a symbol of love, or do they represent something dark, something deep and evil? Full of heartbreak and adventure, fear and passion, the summer leads Ashby on a suspenseful, sometimes terrifying journey as she navigates centuries of family strife alongside the puzzling parameters of the spirit world. Ultimately she discovers that some secrets, even the most fiercely guarded, are destined to be revealed."
My Review:
Ashby heads to Overhome Estate to try and get acquainted with her Overton ancestry and past. She also is there for a purpose of being a caregiver to her young cousin over the summer. Ashby soon finds out that there is much more to this dark, dreary, yet huge and beautiful home that has been in her family for many a century. There is another presence there, one that wants Ashby to help her and to help the truth come out. This presence is Rosabelle. Ashby learns that finding out more information about Rosabelle is harder than she thinks. No one wants to talk about her or will tell Ashby how she is connected to the house or the property. Soon Ashby is learning things about her ancesters that are not very flattering and that make her wonder how safe she is at this wonderful Overton home. With the subtle help of a housekeeper and old family friend Ashby soon discovers things she wishes were still unknown to her. Now that she knows things will she be safe there? Is there such a thing as knowing too much? Can the people she has come to love and care for in this new place be trusted as much as she thinks? What dark secrets lay on the Overhome Estate? At what costs are people willing to keep those secrets hidden?
This was an edge of my seat read. I found it to give just enough information that I just had to read on, but not too much that the rest of the book was all played out in my head after chapter two. The descriptions used in this book to describe things was amazing. I could see the old estate and the wonderful old house perfectly. I also felt like I was experiencing the entire mystery with Ashby. It was a different kind of mystery for me to read. It was more of a dark mystery than a "who done it" mystery. Different as it was to me, I quite enjoyed it. The characters really came to life for me too. They were so well developed, but grew so much through the book. The last few chapters especially are something to write home about, as they say! This was a fast paced book with a little of everything in it for readers. There was adventure, mystery, paranormal, drama, family secrets, spookiness, great relationships, and a little love too. It really fulfills any want I had as a reader. To give more description would be to bring in super spoilers, so to keep it spoil free, I will simply say that so much happens in this book you just have to pick it up and read it. There is no if's, and's, or but's about it! Great writing style, amazing characters, wonderful plot that has a bit of a twist like no other book I have read.
5/5 Stars!!
Title: Friends With Partial Benefits
Author: Luke Young
Pages: 233
Publication Date: 2011
Version: Kindle
Genre: Adult Fiction Contemporary/Romance/Erotic
Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Jillian Grayson is a disillusioned divorcée and best-selling romance novelist who suddenly can't write a chapter without her hunky male heartthrob suffering ED, an STD, or even worse. Brian Nash is a tennis-obsessed college senior who's unlucky in love and the roommate and best friend of Jillian's son, Rob. When Rob brings Brian home for Spring Break, and Brian meets the surprisingly young and tennis passionate Jillian, their shared interest quickly develops into an intense mutual attraction. After nearly giving in to their feelings, they hatch a plan, while under the influence (of something more than just the perfect Miami night), to be Friends With Partial Benefits, complete with rules to define the boundaries. Will the lonely pair continue with this distinctive relationship, actually explore their desires, or discover all of it is a really bad idea?
**This book contains explicit language, sexual content, slightly inappropriate humor and is recommended for mature audiences who like that sorta thing!"
My Review:
Jillian is a famous romance writer, the problem is that ever since finding her husband in their pool with another woman doing things she only has ever written about, she can't seem to write any good romance. Her divorce has put her in a mood of making all the male characters have performance issues or ending up with a disease of some kind. What kind of a romance book is that to read? She hopes to get out of her slump after her son visits her on Spring Break from college. When Rob, her son, brings home his best friend Brian with him he just is trying to help him out of a relationship rut. Jillian and Brian really hit it off because they have very similar interests and hobbies. Soon Jillian is having thoughts about her son's best friend that only should be happening in her book, not her real life. She can't possibly fall for someone who could be her son! Or can she? What would her son think? What would Brian think if she told him how she really felt? Would he say he felt the same or would he slap a sexual assault charge on her? Can two lonely people really just be friends when their hormones are so all over the board when they are together and all they can think about is each other naked? They will soon find all that out.
Oh my GOSH!!!! I picked up this book because it was free on my Kindle and because I was doing a search for contemporary books and this one popped up on the first page. Well, the cover intrigued me to click on it to see what it was about, as did the title. I am so glad I decided to read it! I started reading it one night and finished it the next morning.....very early morning. ;-) I was sucked in to the whole plot of the down on her romantic luck woman and the young, not to be touched by her, college boy/best friend of her son. The characters were just hilarious and very easy to fall in love with and want to read more about. So much of this book I could see happening in real life. Especially the romance writers block due to a nasty affair and divorce. I wouldn't be able to write all sunshine and rainbows romance either if I just found my "wonderful" husband having an affair and went through a divorce. Also, the character of Victoria was by far the most funny of them all. She is the character that we all know someone like, even if we won't admit it. The descriptiveness of the writing in this book was something to swoon over that's for sure. I had no problem watching this book play in my head the entire time I was reading it. There was indeed some sexual content in this book, but it was not what I would call over the top or tasteless. It was well written and really did add to the plot and made the book that much better. I found myself actually yelling at my Kindle at one point because I wanted Jillian and Brian to kiss and/or more. It was one of those times of being able to feel the sexual tension while reading and you just had to want them to act on something, even if it was just a kiss. I really enjoyed this book and author. I am so glad I found this book through a stroke of luck during a search. I couldn't have been happier with how it was to read. I loved this authors taste and talent of writing such a spot on romance between two people who maybe shouldn't be having a romance at all. You definately need to check out this book if you have not. Be aware of the sexual content though, in case you are really against reading books containing that. It really was a great read though for me!
5/5 Stars!!!
