Fleeting Visions by Rene Natan

A Brief Summary: On a cold snowy night a dangerous chain of events that bring three lives together for better or worse. There is Louis Saura a young man who was dragged into a prostitution ring due to debt, Jocelyn a pharmacist who was in the wrong time and Detective Stevenson the person who's trying to put all the pieces together. Add in illegal immigration, underage prostitution and one very dangerous kingpin and you've got a recipe for a story that keeps surprising you at every turn.

My Review:
This book is an incredible read. You switch POV's constantly so you get a true feel of what's going on. You get into the head of nearly every one from Louis our protagonist to Camlio our antagonist. This lets us understand the characters motivations and makes the book just that much more realistic.

There's also a lot of interweaving story-lines, that are masterfully done. Smaller plots woven throughout the main story that keep everything moving and help keep the reader interested.

This book deals with the kidnapping of minors and underage prostitution. There is nothing explicit but if that's a subject you're uncomfortable with I'd suggest not reading this book.

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

Say Something Series by Brandy Jellum

A Brief Summary:
Both have dark pasts that are coming back to haunt them. But secrets don't make friends, and they can make relationships impossible. Will Reid and Lisa be able to conquer their demons and work toward the future.

My Review:
Personally I liked If I Say Yes better. Characters that I'd grown fond of changed in If I Say No in a way I wasn't really fond of. That being said both books were really good. I just preferred Lisa in book one. Reid however was more humanized in the sequel. You get to see his dark side, instead of the Mr. Perfect he's portrayed as in the first book.

I enjoyed all of the different relationships in the series. They all have variances that make them believable, and easy to get invested in.

Thank you to Good Tales Book Tours for my chance to read this series. It's a great read. Don't forget to check out my last post for a chance at an awesome giveaway!!!!!

The Warhol Incident by G.K. Parks

A Brief Summary:
Alexis's trip to Paris is supposed to be a simple secure and deliver job. However things get complicated when her ex-Interpol acquaintance is killed in a car bomb, and she gets a very strong suggestion to stop investigating. Add in a budding romance with a man she was once hired to protect and you get a fast paced emotionally charged novel that you just can't put down.

My Review: 
I really loved Alexis, she is a strong no nonsense character. Yes she has a tendency towards profanity, but I feel it helps define her she has been through hell and back, more then once so if she feels the need to cuss go right ahead.

Her relationship with Martin was another highlight for me. True the progression of it is extremely slow, but he's still technically her boss and she has issues letting people in. Her issues are due to the reason she left the OIO, and the fact that she doesn't want anyone to get injured or killed from being in her life. That being said I really like them as a pair, and I can't wait to see it develop in later books.

For the story itself, I love the fact that it keeps you guessing. Even once the main villain was revealed you still have surprises coming. I truly enjoyed this series and I hope to read more of the series soon.

This is technically the second book in a series but it can easily be read as a stand alone. There are references to the previous book, but not enough  to hinder understanding.

Dark Hope by H.D. Smith

A Brief Summary:
Claire hates her job, but I really can't blame her considering she's the devil's assistant. Where devil means devil as in Lord of help, so you really can't blame her. Her life takes a turn for the worse when she's implicated in the murder of Junior, the oldest hellspawn. Now she has to contact four of the most deadly hellspawn to save Junior's life, and her own. If that wasn't enough to deal with she's been claimed by Queen Mab, and threatened by the Druid Kings mafia. Life is never boring when you work for the devil.

My Review:
I absolutely loved the premise of this book, and the execution exquisite. The heroine is strong, without being ridiculously stubborn something that is rarer then it should be. Along with Claire you have several other well developed characters. Such as Mab, The Druid King, and the Devil, aka the big three. And the quads, the four extremely powerful hellspawn, we're some of my favorite characters. Powerful, dynamic, and unique from each other.

The world building is incredible. You have three distinct kingdoms, hell, purgatory, and the Paradise. Each ruled by one of "the big three".  Claire is also desired by all three, because she is the center of several prophecies.

This was a great introduction to an incredible series that I highly recommend!

Night School: Genesis by C.J. Daughery

A Brief Summary:
When everything is spinning out your control you do whatever you can to regain control. Allie tries to regain control by rebelling, and when the ends in her third arrest her parents ship her of to Cimmeria Academy. A prestigious boarding school that isn't quite what it seems. The more Allie learns the more she questions.

My Review:
Extremely well paced, believable characters, the overarching villain being set up, and the beginning of a love triangle. All in all a great start to a series.

One character I liked in particular was Sylvain. One he's French, two he's a dynamic character and I love how he developed, and I can't wait to see what else is in store for him.

I'm also extremely curious about Allie's family and how she fits in at Cimmeria. Seeing as ever other student has a tie to the academy and she doesn't.

Ever Darkening by Janeal Falor

A Brief Summary: Most people if presented with a chance to wipe out all evil people in the world would do it in a heart beat. But what if defeating evil people, released something else, something darker. Seeing as people can always be killed, but nature now that's something else entirely. So Kaylyn having killed of the Malryx, has no idea what to do so when a neighboring village needs help she jumps at the chance to help. This new quest may be more perilous than all of her others combined.

My Review:

I couldn't believe this book (in a good way). The premise is something that I've thought of a lot. A world without evil, but the world is a precarious balance so how would that actually work? In this world it doesn't.

I loved Kaylyn the badass warrior that has had her life's purpose ripped from her. It's complete, she's not needed, and how she grows and realizes what happened to the world. It's pretty incredible.

Jorrin is one of her two best friends. He's her right hand, and the man she promised to help her other best friend Marsa marry. Slight complication Jorrin doesn't exactly see Marsa that way.

I also loved all of the detail about the environment It draws you and and creeps you out, a lot. I was pretty scared for the characters, after all if trees had barbs like knives I doubt I'd ever get near one again.

Also the playing on the emotions, the climax was... incredible. It's hard to describe without giving spoilers, but i'll say this it's heartbreaking, and gives you all of the feels.

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton

A Brief Summary: 
When you've worked for something your entire life the moment you attain it is worth all the hard work. But what if what you've worked for is nothing like you thought? That's what happens to Quin and her lifelong dream of becoming a seeker, she gets it but it isn't what she thought. Not at all.

My Review:
This book was extremely disjointed. Granted it's broken up into sections, but the sections have trouble meshing and creating a cohesive storyline. Also even after finishing the book I have no idea what a Seeker is, of a Dread for that matter.

I liked Quin she's sweet and fiercely loyal to those she cares about. She goes through a major change after her oath but you never learn what caused it. I'd appreciate more details fleshed out. Granted you get a couple in flash backs but not many.

I also liked Shinobu, you get to see him evolve, devolve, and evolve again in a very nice character arc. John I wasn't so fond of if he'd have just manned up and told Quin everything he knew a lot of trouble could have been spared.

Overall I did like the book, I just want more details. Hopefully the next book adds more and can truly bring this world to life.

I received this book from NetGalley and Random House Kids in exchange for my free and honest review.

Artificial Evil by Colin F. Barnes

A Brief Summary:
Life in the dome is simple. You do what you're told and hope your name doesn't pop up in the D-lottery. For Gerry he doesn't have to worry about the D-lottery, or at least he shouldn't have to. When his name comes up in the lottery his life changes dramatically. Now he has to keep off the grid recruited by two texorcists, people who help get rid of malicious AIs. Including the one that added his name to the D-lottery list in the first place. When an even worse AI tries to take down the dome will the texorcists and now Gerry be able to stop it?

My Review:
While I liked this book it was a little difficult to get into. I tried to start it two or three times before I got invested in it. That being said people who are more of a science fiction fan then I am will love this book.

I don't have any spots that I truly loved. The story was pretty good, the characters were okay, but nothing truly stood out to me. All in all it was an okay read. I don't think I'll continue the series. It just didn't stand out enough in my eyes to make it worth it.

The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Rilley

A Brief Summary: A zoo is a place where normal people can see exotic creatures. The Great Zoo of China that is now being unveiled will showcase creatures previously believed to be just stories. Dragons, zoos as the world knows it will never be the same.

My Review: This book was mind blowingly amazing. It keeps you hooked from the prologue to the last page. There's an incredible dynamic between the humans and dragons. With one species grossly underestimating the other.

Granted I've had an obsession with dragons for as long as I can remember. Nurtured by books such as Dragon Rider and Eragon I've always wanted a pet dragon but now this story makes me rethink that idea. Oh well that just makes the story better.

I love how the author took so much care in making the idea plausible. Adding in history in the form of myths, giving the dragons abilities that real animals have, and finding the perfect place to set the story.

If any of Matthew Rilley's other works are even half as captivating I'm going to have to look into them. This book is truly a masterpiece.

There is a large amount of gore in this novel but that's to be expected. For as a favorite quote of mine goes " meddle not in the affairs of dragons for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup."

This book is set to be released on January 27th of 2015 it is definitely a book to watch for a pick up when it hits the shelves.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island by Michael Phillip Cash

A Brief Summary: After the loss of his beloved wife Allison Paul struggles to find some sort of normal. The night terrors he's started to have, shared by his son Jesse. One of the first houses he takes on after his wife's passing is Stillwell manor, his friend Craig's childhood home. This home is going to be a tough sell due to the fact the most recent owners committed a murder suicide. Along with the fact that Stillwell has long assumed to be haunted. A haunting that may be connected to Paul's dreams of Allison/

My Review: This is my third book I've read by Michael Cash, and he still blows me away with his talent. The prologues draw you in, the main story keeps you captivated, and the epilogue ties up all of those pesky loose ends.

A favorite part of mine of all of Michael's books is that fact that he weaves past and present together. Allison and her distant relative tied together to create a powerful story. I really enjoyed all of the characters, they're diverse and well developed.

Michael Phillip Cash is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

I received this book from Brittney Bass (Michael's publicist) in exchange for my free and honest review.

Tainted Blood by Karen Greco

A Brief Summary: Nina is a witch/vampire hybrid, and a member of an elite branch of the Department of Defense, the Blood Ops. While on what should have been a routine mission Nina and her partner Frankie encounter a vampire with Opium poisoning, something that can actually kill vampires. Now in a race against time they need to find patient zero before the infected vamps can cause any more chaos. While trying to find patient zero the mayor; Bertrand, a closet demon, comes to Nina and Frankie with a job that will end up being more tied up with their current mission then they ever thought possible.

My Review:
This is book two of the Hell's Belle series. As I have a tendency to I dropped into the series in the second book... Oops? Anyway as someone who jumps into the middle of the series I can tell you that you'll be able to figure out what's going on pretty quickly. Personally I grew to care about Nina, Casper, and Frankie extremely quickly. Max well he's just not my type I guess.

To me Tainted Blood has it all; humor, fantasy, mystery and a little bit of romance. It's an extremely well written story, that makes you care about the characters and want to know what happens next in the series.

After a major cliffhanger of an ending I'm going to have to read the next book just so I can figure out what happens.

I recieved this book courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

The Flip by Micheal Phillip Cash

Take a dilapidated house fix it up a bit and sell it. That's house flipping, Brad and Julie's hope for the future. To get her out of a dead end job with a sketchy boss, and to get him out of driving limos and doing landscaping. So they've taken a pretty big risk, an old Victorian home, it's a steal of a price but what's wrong with it? Well there's a lot of work that needs to be done, oh and it's haunted. There is that minor detail, and one of the ghosts has a tiny bit of a thing for Brad, but nothing could possibly go wrong could it?

This is a book that once you pick it up you don't want to put it down. After reading The After House, I was really excited to read more by Micheal Cash, and this doesn't disappoint. It seems he has truly found his niche. Tying the past into the present, having two distinct story lines mesh beautifully, all masterfully done.

I enjoyed how Julie and Brad's personalities are altered when in the house. Seeing as they are being influenced by the resident ghosts. Of the characters Gerald is my favorite, he's one of the ghosts. He's the most level-headed and in my opinion has the best back story. Tessa, the female ghost, however I'm not a major fan of.

Personally I'm really curious about the Sentinels, the guardians of the lost souls. They've made an appearance in both of the books I've read so far and they seem to have abilities that have yet to be explained. I hope future books touch on them more.

I can't wait to read more by Micheal he clearly knows what he's doing.

I received this book courtesy of Micheal's publicist in exchange for my free and honest review.

The After House by Michael Phillip Cash

 A fresh start, a new home, that's just what Remy and Olivia need. A year after a messy divorce things are finally starting to look up. What they don't realize is someone already lives in the new house.

This was a sweet ghost story. Switching from the past perspective of Captain Eli (the resident ghost), to the present perspective of Remy. Eli was a whaler, a hunter in order to provide for his wife and family. He has lost his memories of when he died. Now he's stuck.

I really enjoyed this book. It was so very sweet, a little bit of romance, a little bit of mystery, and a little bit of a ghost story. The way all of the elements are blended together are done masterfully. This author clearly knows what he's doing.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my fee and honest review.

The Job by Janet Evanovich and Goldberg Lee

Nick Fox is a criminal mastermind. Able to pull of anything from a heist to an incredibly detailed con, he's the best of the best. However he's established a relationship with the FBI so he helps them get the marks legally. Alongside Fox is Agent Kate O'Hare, keeping him on a short leash to the strait and narrow. This time the mark is a drug lord, one with a fondness for chocolate, and for killing everyone he's ever done business with. Will this be the con that not even Fox can pull off?

If you want a book that will capture your interest from the second you pick it up, this is definitely one to consider. From Nick the ex-con man, to Alex's ex-military father, you get a wide array of characters with distinct personalities. Personally I liked Nick and Jack the best. Nick because he's sarcastic and clever and is a person who I'd love to meet, but would hate to be on his bad side. Jack because I love when you have a father who clearly dotes on his daughter but teaches her practical skills, such as how to kill a person with what you have in your sack lunch.

Another part of the book I enjoy is how the authors go into detail about the skills required from each member of the team. From building the set for the con, to the computer design, or even the actor that made it all believable.

This is my first foray in the the series, and it doesn't disappoint. With only allusions to the prior books you can read this with no previous knowledge. It explains the relationships extremely well so there's no guessing at who's who.


I received this book courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

The Murder of Adam and Eve by William Dietrich

What would you do if you were thrown back in time to prehistoric Africa? That's what happens to Nick and Ellie but if that wasn't bad enough they've been told to save or condemn Adam and Eve, and with them all of humanity. No pressure right?

I really enjoyed this book, it was fast paced and gives you an idea of how people survived so long ago. It gives you an idea of how they hunted and how they lived. How they courted, and what we've evolved from so long ago.

 A part that I found very interesting was how they used articles from someone who is only referenced a few times, to give you sort of an idea that time flows linear-ish after you go through the warp hole. It doesn't give you a true timeline but you get an idea.

I really liked Nick as the protagonist. He grew accustomed to his new surroundings, not fearing change he might inadvertently bring, but also only causing change in order to achieve his goal of protecting Adam and Eve. Ellie makes a great counter point causing him to think over every decision that he makes.

The ending was extremely well done. It will lend itself well to a sequel if one's in the works, or it is a good stand alone ending. No cliffhanger, everything tied up, but the potential to continue on.

I recived this book courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my review which I freely and honestly give.

Embryo by J.A. Schneider

When two extremely rare chromosomal abnormalities cause two infants and one mother to die, both with in hours, Jill Raney begins to get suspicions. However she's only a first year resident and no one believes the two could possibly be related. So she starts an investigation, shaking up the hospital and what she finds is worse then she'd feared.

This book was an intense read, probably more so because my cousin just had a baby girl, and this book tells in pretty explicit detail some of the worst case scenarios for a pregnancy. So if your pregnant or know someone that's pregnant and are prone to panic and worry DON'T READ THIS BOOK. Wait until the baby is born you'll stress less.

Along with an intense thriller the book also has a semi believable romance. Personally I think it's too quick and doesn't have a lot of time to develop. But that's just my opinion.

Even though this book is rich in medical jargon it is pretty well explained so everyone can understand it.

I really enjoyed this book overall, and might have to look into the rest of the series.

The Dark Prayer by Natasha Mostert

What are we if not a collection of memories and emotions? Well except for Eloise Blake, she is living in a Fugue state, where her memories of her past and who she is are just...gone. Enter Jack, the son of Jenilee's(Eloise) godfathers old friend. He is asked to get her to help remember who she is with one minor complication, she doesn't want to.

I loved this book. The entire concept of what was done to Jenilee when she was a young girl is fascinating and disturbing that something like that could potentially be done to a young child.

The concept of a Fugue state is incredible to me, how a simple stressor can cause you to forget everything and become someone completely different. It's very uncommon and generally doesn't last very long, but it's very intriguing and just a tiny bit terrifying.

I like that you got to learn about who Jenilee was and who Eloise made her self into. The dichotomy of who they are, the uncertainty of what would happen with her relationship with Jungles and Jack if she were to slip out of her fugue state, and what would happen if she remembered what sent her into the fugue state in the first place.

Mnemosyne, each of their individual approaches to memory, and what they were willing to do in order to advance their discoveries was intense to say they least. They were so dedicated, but succumbed to greed and the cost.... well you'll just have to read and find out for yourself now won't you?

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review, which I freely and honestly give.

The Genome by Sergei Lukyanenko

Alex Romanov is a master-pilot recently released from the hospital. Upon his release he stumbled into helping a young girl through her metamorphosis, a painful and dangerous process, where her altered genes come to the forefront making her the special she was always meant to be. A special being a person who was altered as an embryo to be part of a specific profession. Alex determined to help the young special and to do so he accepts the role of captain of the Mirror, he gets to choose his own crew, the pay is really good, the only catch is he has no idea of what type of missions he'll be running. Sounds too good to be true, and you know what? It is.

This book was pretty incredible. It raises some questions as to what is a human and at what point should the line be drawn when it comes to modifications. From the lead in the bodies of engineers, to pilots inability to feel romantic love, each special is different and customized based on their parents wishes.

The characters that we get the chance to meet are diverse and amazing. The specialties that they have are varied so each person has quirks based on the specialty or specialties that they possess.

Not only are the human specials fascinating there are also different humanoid species. Between the different humanoid species there are complex inter-species relationships. This universe was masterfully created. There are a few things that are slightly odd to me, as in why a parent would consent to make their child a geisha-spesh (seduction specialist), or a couple of the other specialist types mentioned.

This book contains some graphic content so if that isn't your thing this book might not be for you.

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my review which I freely and honestly give.

Eyewitness to Murder

Joe Bernardi has worked in Hollywood for a long time so when a movie remake of the TV show "Marty" he's skeptical. However when Bunny, his one that got away, is in New York desperate for help where "Marty" is being filmed he jumps at the chance to be near her. What he doesn't count on is her witnessing a murder and getting entangled in the investigation. Will he be able to find the murderer before the murderer finds Bunny? 

I really liked this book. It doesn't seem like part of a series, I'm sure there are references that I missed, but it stands alone extremely well. The characters develop well over the book and there doesn't seem to  

The mystery twists and turns from start to beginning. It also intertwines some pretty heavy issues, namely alcoholism, both Bunny and Joe's first wife are alcoholics. From AA meetings to the pressure of not having even one drink for fear of spiraling.

One thing that I really loved was that every loose end was tied up, with the murder, with Bunny and even with Marty. You get a conclusion to everything, you even get  a little bit of history about "Marty", seeing as it was a real movie in the 50's.

I received this book in exchange from NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

Death of a Spy by Dan Mayland

Mark Sava is an ex CIA operative who's finally got a semi normal life. A beautiful wife, precious newborn daughter, and a thriving new spy-for-hire operation. However when one of his agents, Larry Bowman, dies of a heart attack while on an assignment, Mark chooses to go claim his body from a hotel in Tbilisi. While at the hotel he finds a self portrait from a woman in his past, spurring him into investigating further. Now everything has pretty much gone to hell. Will he be able to figure out what happened to his friend and be able to deal with the demons from his past?

This book shows you the full life of a spy. It's not the glamorous James Bond of a spy, but the real slower paced sneaking around. Not to say this book didn't get exciting, but that wasn't until most of the way through the book.

The main thing that got me about this book is that I didn't really understand a lot of the politics mentioned in the story. Granted that it could be that I live smack dab in the middle of the US and that's not something I hear about on a regular basis. However Dan did a really good job of describing the relations between the countries so that by the end I had a decent idea of what was going on.

All in all this was a pretty good book. I had a bit of a hard time getting into it but after I did I enjoyed it very much.

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my review which I freely and honestly give.