Deep with Intrigue

Alexander Galant brings the reader page after page of suspense and intrigue Depth of Deception: A Titanic Based Mystery. It gives the reader more than they bargained for.

A woman is found floating in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean dressed from the early 1900s. She claims to have been on the Titanic. How can that be when it is 1982? She knows details that very few know. She is too much like a woman that….survived the wreck? What about a mysterious murder a few years before the sinking of the big ship? Why are people trying to keep it covered up and how could it connect to the 1912 tragedy? As questions are answered, more and more questions arise. Who is behind it all and why?

The story is very fast paced with relatively short chapters that keep the reader hopping. The plot is….indescribable. There are so many storylines that are running, crisscrossing, and slamming into each other that there is never a dull moment while reading.

Mr. Galant’s writing is entertaining and engaging. He doesn’t leave the reader hanging. He keeps everything interesting and active. The characters are believable. The story is something you have discover yourself.

The language is relatively mild. There was only one F-bomb I noted. There are no embarrassing scenes or gory scenes. This is a mystery thriller.

This is one of the books you have to read for 2012. I more than enjoyed it. I couldn’t stop reading it and completed it in one day. Needless to say, I didn’t get a lot done. You have to check this book out. It was wonderful, and if I say anything else I’ll ruin it. Though there were so many twists….

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of The Virtual Book Tour Cafe' and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by The Virtual Book Tour Cafe', no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely of my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides

Don’t expect this story to be man falls in love with woman at first site and pursues her. Robyn Carr gives you a more realistic kind of love story in Sunrise Point.

A young, single mother finds herself needing money in a bad way. Her two small children are depending on her after their father abandoned them. An opportunity arises when an orchard needs help with picking apples. It isn’t long before she finds herself drawn into the warm family running the orchard and discovering more of her own past in the process.

This story moved at a decent pace. It was not too fast paced or too slow though there was one storyline that slowed it down considerably. The author introduced another story halfway through the book that just didn’t fit too well within the rest of the story. It felt out of place and caused me to pause in my reading.

Ms. Carr writes in a realistic style. The characters make conversational mistakes they would have in real life. They react like someone in this world would have. There is no glorified speech that is perfect each time. This was a little awkward at first but as I read the story I could see people actually acting like that. I could see myself being like that. I guess I was too used to ‘perfect’ characters.

There is one intimate scene that could easily be skipped over if you desire. It is not exceedingly graphic but enough to make some people uncomfortable. Any other mention of such things is done through the thoughts of others.

The realistic writing style and the sweet story make this a good choice on your summer reading list or your fall one over a cup of hot apple cider. It’s a slower paced book so you can easily sat it down to do other things and pick it up to finish.

Note: This book was provided by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review.

Too often we forget who we really are. We lose ourselves on our spiritual journey as we allow society and others to dictate how we should feel and act. Dr. Donna Lee explores this in The Spirituality Trap.

In her book, Dr. Lee brings in life experiences she has faced herself and through those of her clients. Dealing with emotions, facing honesty, and the interactions with others reflect ourselves. Too often we lie to ourselves and to others in order to be what is expected. Dr. Lee goes beyond all this and digs deep into our heart and soul.

Dr. Lee writes in a manner that is easy to read and allows the reader to connect with what she writes about. As a reader, I was not able to connect directly with everything she wrote about, but the majority touched a part of me. This is not a religious book. This is a book about one’s spiritual journey. Dr. Lee addresses the fact that everyone is on such a journey. It is a book that anyone can garner treasures from.

There were some editing issues, but the overall book is something I would recommend. Approach it as though looking for a diamond in the ground. You might find stones that mean nothing to you, or you might find a diamond hidden under layers of dirt.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of The Virtual Book Tour Cafe' and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by The Virtual Book Tour Cafe', no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely of my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides

Yes, historically women have taken the back seat, but they were not always the passive and submissive ones we think of. There were many strong women who stepped up to take a man’s role. Lisa Shea gives you a strong woman in Badge of Honor.

A woman has been raised to use the sword in a time it was not common. Catherine was declared dead a few years before in an attempt to discover buried secrets. Now she is back with the order to get married. The only problem is that she is love with someone else and her husband wants her as the docile woman of the manor who obeys her husband. Secrets and mysterious deaths bring everyone to the point of decisions that will change their lives and reveal long buried alliances and acts. Even secret identities are assumed only to be revealed shockingly.

This story takes you back in time and gives you an exciting world of horses, swords, capes, bandits, lords, and fighting. Then there is the love, loyalty, romance, and sacrifice. All of this makes such a good story you want to finish reading once you start.

Keep in mind that this is a story of a strong woman that would not have been quite so real during the time but not impossible. History has shown the exceptional woman who rose up to do a man’s job and do it exceedingly well. Ms. Shea puts such women in her stories as inspiration for others.

There are numerous fight scenes and even death described though Ms. Shea does it all with grace and decorum without trying to gross out the reader. Even her intimate scenes are done well where the reader knows exactly what has happened but no one would be embarrassed reading it.

I appreciate the glossary at the end of the book in regard to period words and phrases. There is also a brief history of the life in medieval times to read and expand one’s knowledge.

Ms. Shea has written several other medieval romances about strong woman. All proceeds benefit women’s shelters. This is not something you find very often from authors.

This is another book to add to your summer reading list. It is adventurous, romantic, and inspiring. Plus it helps other women find those same attributes in life.

Note: This book was provided by the author with no expectation of a positive review.

Never judge a book by its cover.  This is especially true with Cindy McDonald's book Hot Coco.  What you might think of as a hot, sexy romance turns out to be so much more.

A training facility for thoroughbreds.  Families with different backgrounds.  One hot bombshell.  Horses smarter than the average equine.  Mix all together and what do you get?  A story of romance, comedy, and humble pie. 

The story appeared slow moving at first.  Once Hot Coco is introduced the story picks up and doesn't slow down.  It moves from one character to another, as you see the scenarios through their eyes.  One person perceives the scene in one light which causes them to act, leading to a whole new scene that doesn't quite make sense to the characters.  The reader sees how the plot is laid out, while the characters find themselves in the dark.  It turns out to be a comedy of errors that pushes people close to each other, and reveals the souls of people very deeply.

Ms. McDonald is very talented in drawing the reader in and giving them such a world to view.  I couldn't put the book down as I moved from chapter to chapter, wanting to know what is going to happen next.

There are some references to intimate scenes through the thoughts and actions of the characters.  There are no raw sex scenes.  "F-bombs" are dropped periodically, as well as some lighter words.  There are quite a few editing mistakes that may make you pause in your reading, but will in no way hurt the story.

The author does an exceptional job with various story lines pulled together that work like a well-oiled machine.  The scenes are moved through quickly without hurting the overall story.  The characters are enjoyable and easy to like or dislike depending on which one.

If you want romance with some laughs, you should read Hot Coco.  It would make a great vacation or beach read. 

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of The Virtual Book Tour Cafe' and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by The Virtual Book Tour Cafe', no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely of my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides

For many, romances are perfect summer reads whether it is on the beach or on the porch. Historical romances can be extremely enjoyable. If those type of books interest you, you might want to check into Gayle Callen’s Return of the Viscount.

A young woman finds herself needing her inheritance but knows she’ll never get it. Her guardian controls it unless she gets married. The men courting her want to marry her for her fortune and to be the brother-in-law of an earl. She decides to marry a man who served under her deceased father’s command. What she doesn’t anticipate is her proxy married husband appearing on her doorstep or how gorgeous he turns out to be. Suddenly, accidents begin to happen to threaten her life. Can her new husband safe from harm as she battles the feelings she has for him?

This was a delightful story of romance, mystery, and secrets. The story moves along steadily between the various characters giving insight into both main characters’ thoughts and feelings. Nothing is as it appears with anyone which keeps the reader on her toes.

Ms. Callen writes in a manner that is entertaining and keeps the reader captivated. The characters are interesting and not one dimensional which makes you want to read to the very end. I loved how the story was not easily figured out though I did pinpoint the who half way through. The why slowly revealed itself as the author explained it all. Other than that I can’t say anything without spoiling it for you all.

There are several intimate scenes that are described in detail between the two main characters. There are no language issues.

The author does a great job putting the reader into a world of earls and countesses mixed with mystery and love. I couldn’t put it down and enjoyed it completely. Gayle Callen’s Return of the Viscount is a delightful read perfect for this summer’s reading bag.

Note: This book was provided by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review.

I have never really been a fan of books or movies about a post-catastrophic world.  I am finding material that is changing my mind.  Silver: Acheron (A River of Pain) by Keira Michelle Telford is one of those convincing books.

The world is not as it is now.  Most of it is gone.  It is slowly being reclaimed by humans.  The animals on the outside are hunted to make way for civilization.  Yet civilization has its own dark side.  Silver finds out when she is suddenly taken from the elite status of Hunter, to that of convict trying to survive with an unknown woman at her side and connections at the top of the police division.  She finds her humanity threatened as she fights for her life and her sanity.

I really enjoyed the pace of this book that was fast most of the time, but not so fast that I could not follow.  It kept me glued to the pages wanting to know what was going to happen next.  The plot was very intricate, and the story line never flat lined.

Ms. Telford's writing is multi-dimensional, giving the reader a glimpse into a complicated and realistic apocalyptic world that I could easily see on the big screen.  The characters had depth and the scenes created a world that had me mesmerized and slightly apprehensive.

There is language in this book, with several "f-bombs".  There are suggestive scenes and words without going into too much detail of the depraved world Silver finds herself in.  There were a rather large number of editing issues that did interfere with my reading, but did not detract from the story.

This is a story I am glad I had the chance to read.  In fact, I am looking forward to reading the sequel.   The author pulled one of my favorite things, leaving me hanging.  As a reader I hate that, as a writer, I love that response.  In that regard, I applaud Ms. Telford. 

Give this book a chance.  If the language, which is not excessive, doesn't turn you off, Ms. Telford will give you a pleasurable read, while leaving you wanting more.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of The Virtual Book Tour Cafe' and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by The Virtual Book Tour Cafe', no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely of my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides

Wonderfully Delightful

Trying to classify Laura Clark’s Dancing Naked in Dixie has proved rather difficult. It is a romance while being a general fiction book with mystery and history all thrown in. I was drawn to this book because it was set in the South where I was born and raised. Ms. Clark did not disappoint me as she explored lower Alabama were I spent fifteen years of my life.

Julia Sullivan is a travel writer. She enjoys life and her job until she gets a new boss and a reprimand on the decline of quality of work she has been submitting. She has one chance and one chance only to save her job. She has to go to Eufaula, Alabama and write an article on a special event highlighting the town’s history. Getting there, she encounters many … unique characteristics of the South such as “darling” and “sugar” as well as fire ants, sweet tea, and ante-bellum homes. She discovers more than she bargained for as she gets sucked into a fight to save the town’s historical homes and learns more about herself than she thought possible.

The story moves along at just the right speed. It is not too fast or too slow. Ms. Clark does a fabulous job in creating a story that takes the reader from fast-paced New York City to the Deep South where things move at a slower pace. The storyline is believable while using scenes that one would not expect to find in real life but would enjoy doing so.

Ms. Clark’s writing style is casual and personal as she tells the story from Julia’s point of view and draws the reader into the feelings and thoughts of the woman. I found myself laughing at various scenes because I could see it happening and have with my own Northern in-laws. The introduction of Northerners to the South can be quite the experience. Julia’s first reaction to sweet tea does happen in real life. Seen it myself.

There are a few editing issues but nothing that would distract you from the story. I was disappointed that there was no mention of the statue dedicated to the boll weevil or about boiled peanuts both which confuse those from the North.

Ms. Clark writes in a very descriptive manner allowing the reader to see herself actually there and experiencing what Julia does. There is a lot of history about the Eufaula area described in the book making this more than just a story about a woman from New York. The book comes with a book club section with many questions to get the reader thinking about what they read as well as a recipe that I can’t wait to try.

Laura Clark is a former news anchor on television and has written another book on the Deep South called Stay Tuned. In February 2013, she will be releasing another novel titled, The Pie Lab.

I do recommend this book. It was a joy to read and brought back vivid memories of my youth. If you’re looking for a great summer read or a book to read while traveling, you have to check out Laura Clark’s Dancing Naked in Dixie.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of The Virtual Book Tour Cafe' and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by The Virtual Book Tour Cafe', no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely of my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides

The title of the book caught me. I have dear friends from Iran. I just had to read this book. I’m very glad I did dive into Sofia Koutlaki’s Among the Iranians.

This book gives an overview of the culture of the Persians. Ms. Koutlaki explores everyday living within a Persian household as well as how they interact out on the street while shopping. From how to tip to how to act at a wedding, the author gives the Westerner so much more to go on than what is seen on television or read in the papers.

This is not a fiction book or an academic analysis of a country. This is much more. This is the observation of a Westerner being immersed into a new culture and sharing with the worlds her mistakes and successes.

Ms. Koutlaki balances a style of writing that is both intimate with the reader while being intimate with the culture and relating statistics and information with a slightly academic flair. It seems that the author is talking directly to the reader giving them advice and helping them through the strange and seemingly treacherous waters of a new culture. As the author has been in those very shoes, she shows an intense empathy to anyone who finds themselves stepping into a new world and attempting to learn the ins and the outs.

This is a book I took to heart as I have some dear from Iran. I learned so much from them. As I was reading Ms. Koutlaki’s book, I found many of the things I had experienced with my new sisters. I had to laugh at the section about the sugar cube because I messed that up in the first Persian household I visited. I gave them all a good laugh. To this day, tea is important to me as we spent meaning an evening over cup after cup of tea going over the English language and American customs. I learned so much over a cup of tea.

It is usually here that I write any warnings about books. All I can say at this point is that if you are looking for something entirely academic, you will not be satisfied. You will also find that some chapters might be interesting but not applicable to you and any interactions you have with Persians. This book is best used by someone visiting Iran, but can be extremely helpful if you meet and interact with Persians in another part of the world.

Ms. Koutlaki does an excellent job with communicating to those that have had little to no experience with Persians. It shows a world beyond the pictures and scenes on the television and in periodicals. An exotic and complicated culture is revealed giving the reader a sense of awe of respect for the history and closeness Persians possess. The author adds personal examples, recipes, and religious cheat sheets for those unfamiliar with the culture. The appendices are a valuable resource to anyone who finds themselves visiting Iran or having familiar dealings with Persians.

Think you know all you need to know about Persians from the news? Think again. You really know nothing at all. This is an excellent book to get a glimpse into a whole new world. It might seem like a lot upon reading, but it only scratches the surface of a society that can trace its history to some of the oldest civilizations the world has ever known.

Note: This book was provided by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review.

Mystery, romance, apocalyptic books are a strange combination. I like the mysteries. I like the romances. I’m not too keen on apocalyptic books especially with zombies. Okay, Joss Ware slightly changed my mind with his book, Night Forbidden.

A tidal wave wipes out a huge chunk of the western United States. The population is a fraction of what it once was. Skyscrapers fill up the ocean. Fence and his friends are the few who remember the time before The Change. The wild has taken over the world. Zombies are created by the Elite who yearn to obtain immortality and connect with the people of Atlantis, but there is more at stake here. There are conspiracies. Family members can trust each other. Mutations help man survive. It becomes a fight for survival with the help of a girl whose mother was from Atlantis. She might hold the key to it all, but at what cost?

Don’t expect to have story that makes complete sense. After all, this is about a world very unlike our own. All the rules cannot be applied in this storyline. It’s a fiction book with a fantastic story. The author did a great job in creative methods for the life and interactions with the people of Atlantis. This was not just a plain old zombie book. It was much deeper than that with various plots intertwined giving the reader so much to follow and keeping the reader on my toes.

Warnings? This book does have some language in it. Okay, quite a bit of F-bombs. There are also many references to sex and several detailed scenes. None of these are easily avoidable, so skipping is not an option in this story.

One of the greatest things about this book was the various storylines so well put together that once one story ended, another picked up and carried it on. I got caught up in the Fence and Ana story while keeping an eye on Zoe and her man while keeping another eye on Wyatt and the mysterious woman wanted by zombies and man alike. I’ve never multi-tasked so much while reading. I actually enjoyed it.

I did wish there was less language and less sexual references, but the story was surprising great. I now want to read the next book in the series.

Note: This book was provided by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review.