Celebrate Ink 2's release with us!

Celebrate

In honor of Ink 2 coming out this month, the author, Holly Hood will be giving away some Ink-related swag along with a free copy of Ink 2 to one lucky winner! If you haven't read the first and enjoy a good paranormal romance, check it out on Amazon.

Stay tuned for details on how to sign up for a chance to get your own copy of book 2 and some really cool swag!

Note from Author:

Thanks everyone for the support! I wanted to do something fun for the release of Ink 2, so I have some cool swag that reminds me of Ink, along with paperback copy of my favorite book. I can't wait to find out who gets to enjoy it!


I will be posting pictures of the swag along with a way to enter the giveaway! 


Holly Hood a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review of The Lure of Shapinsay by Krista Holle

**I received a copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review**

The people of Shapinsay have long told stories of the Selkies who crawl out of the sea and assume human form in order take advantage of unsuspecting villagers. Kait scoffs at these tales. That is, until the day her closest friend births a half selkie babe. When the babe is drowned in the sea for its mixed heritage, Katie is shocked and appalled, but it is the fierce anger at the death of an innocent life that really fuels this story. 

Eamon, a selkie man, witnesses Kait’s arrival and, assuming that she is the one to blame for the babe’s death, sets out to punish her for the deed. But neither Eamon nor Kait are ready for the fire that sparks between them. Entranced by The Lure, a tool used by the selkies to lure victims into their web of deceit, Kait cannot refuse her pressing need to be with Eamon, insisting that she loves him beyond all things. Eamon is no less affected by Katie’s allure, loathing his need for the “land loper” yet powerless to resist her. 

I have read a lot of things involving myths and legends, but I have never come across a Selkie story. This was new for me, so I had no idea what to expect when I sat down to read. I was pleasantly surprised at the magical tale that unfolded before my eyes. This was a sweet and enticing tale with incredible characters that came to life with Holle’s vivid details and honest, historically accurate depictions. Each time I picked the book up I was transported back in time to an island of legend. A simple place of beauty where time goes by at a slower pace, love is true and steadfast, and friendship can be found in the least likely of places. I found Kait and Eamon’s connection to be heartfelt and romantic, yet innocent and naïve. They were plagued with many sorrows stemming from youth and inexperience to mistrust due to their differences. Many times I felt myself smiling at their playfulness, saddened by their grief, and hopeful that they would find their way through the storm. This was really an incredible read that I think crosses all age barriers. I for one, am putting this author on my must read all list. 

This book is available for purchase on Amazon for a mere $2.99. Pick up your copy today! 

The Descendants

The Descendants

I watched this movie yesterday. And I learned it was also a book. The story was amazing, I love movies with so much feeling and emotion. I admit I even cried a few times. I have been a fan of Shailene Woodley since I started watching Secret life of an American Teenager, she is a great actor.

For those who don't know about the movie, its a wonderful story about a family trying to cope with the death of their Wife and mother. She was on a boat and hit her head, and is in a coma. Soon her husband is told there is no hope for her and she is going to die. He has to come to terms with it, but everything gets worse when he is told by his oldest daughter that she was cheating on him.

For me this was just crazy, your wife is dying, you feel bad for not spending enough time with her, you plan on making up for all of that when she wakes up and then you find out she is never going to wake up. And she cheated on you.

Clooney did a great job, I believed his anger, his sadness, his grief. It was a beautiful story and movie and I think everyone should see it.

The Descendants

Get the movie!

Review of Fifty Shades Darker

Fifty Shades Darker by El James

Alright, so I finished the second in El James' series. There were a lot of things I liked and some I didn't. The book in general was great because I got to see the change Christian made, and it was the way I would have wanted him to. In fifty shades darker you see that he isn't at all dark like you thought in the first story.

I love that chapter by chapter he let go of all his demons and really dove head first into life. It was a beautiful thing.

The ending was at first confusing, but then I was like holy sh%#!! This might have changed my mind about the next book (which I wasn't sure if I would read).

I will say the author did an amazing job at creating such a character as Christian Grey. I really would like to see someone try and outdo him; I don't think it’s possible. And I honestly hope nobody tries. There is just something about Grey that is unlike anyone I have ever read about and will ever read about. He might be my favorite fictional character because I love how dysfunctional he is.

As for Ana, well, she is annoying most times. I see that she loves him and is caring, but she also is overly stubborn and just has me shaking my head a lot. Some of the things she does or thinks are just over the top. She is either really smart or really stupid about life. I guess they level each other out though.

My only gripe about the writing is the overuse of the word salacious and a few others, and also the inner goddess. I am hoping she packed it up and isn't around in book three. There are only so many times I can handle a description of an imaginary part of a book. I could have learned everything I needed to learn about Ana through Ana, I don't think it was essential to use this "inner goddess" to get the point across all the time.

I think the second book will not disappoint readers. It was even more exciting than the first. It had a lot of great things going on. The last gripe I will mention is the amount of sex; I understand this is what the book is, and what drives a lot of readers wild about it. But at one point, I just felt like it was the same song and dance time and time again. I get that they both are into each other, but it would have been nice to see more to the story then how many ways he can bang Ana.

If you’re looking for a steamy novel with a romantic side as well as one hell of a story and characters, then don't be a wuss and read these books. Its graphic and not for everyone, but I think if you give it a try you will understand its wonderful and less taboo then everyone makes it seem.

If I come off picky with book two, well that’s because I was, I have a hard time reading anything if it doesn't do what I want it to, but that doesn't take away from the fact El James has created a great set of books that I am proud to have read as well as so many others. Great job!

Grab a copy!! Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker, Fifty Shades Freed

Review of Fifty shades of Grey

Fifty shades of Grey by El James

Review by Holly Hood

Rated: 4 out of 5 stars

I finished the book.

I know I would have finished a lot sooner if I had the time. The book for me was really good. I won’t say great because I had some minor issues. But I couldn’t give it less than four stars because the overall story was a great one. I love dysfunction in books. And this story had that for sure!

Fifty shades of Grey is not a book that I would have ever thought of reading. I have seen the cover everywhere. It’s not even the content that scared me away. I just never was attracted to the cover or had it jump out at me. The reason I finally said what the heck, was by accident when a woman on Goodreads said she was reading it and how much she loved it. This made me look closer, and seeing all the listopia votes about Christian Grey, I had to take a chance. I like great characters.

The story was very raw. So much so you felt like a perverted fly on the walk taking in things you really shouldn’t. Sometimes I was shaking my head and confused why I was into this book. A lot like Anastasia I suppose.

The one thing this book does is create a character that you can’t help but love. Everything about Christian tells you to run away. You couldn’t fall for a person like this, but it’s his soft side that is buried deep that slowly comes to the surface as Ana and him get to know each other. I was dying to know why he was the way he was and what she could do to fix it. By the end of the read I wanted to hug him and make things okay, which he would hate.

The story was great, I loved every chapter. I think the pace was killer. Everything unfolded just the way I wanted it to. The one thing I was wishing for seemed to evolve as the story went along. And this kept me happy.

As for any complaints, my only ones was the sometimes cheesy wording when it came to the sexual acts. Maybe it’s just me, but normal people don’t talk in that way. I like the wording to be believable and there were time I didn’t feel what she said to him or vice versa.

I also think I could have done without a lot of Anastasia phrasings. They seemed to occur time and time again. I think those could have been switched up a little.

I thought the inner goddess was funny for the first fifty percent of the book. But after awhile she just got old. Soon I found myself wishing Ana would borrow some of Christian’s rope to bound and gag her so she would shut up. I get it was probably the authors way of letting us see inside the mind of Ana and her thoughts on this strange lifestyle she was partaking in, but it got old.

The ending was a punch in the face. It shattered my heart. It was so real and emotional, I loved it! Now I am dying to start the next.

The author has really created a story that is more than just sex. Some might be shocked, but if you really read this book you will see it’s more than that. This book has so much going for it. You won’t be disappointed. If you are looking for a character that you love to hate, I would say give this book a shot. Although I didn’t ever hate Christian I felt for him. But he did have a very very dark side.

Anyone sensitive to sex in books steer clear, because this more than just average sex. This is way beyond. But if you want a story that keeps you reading and sweeps you off your feet in a really bad way, then this is the book for you!

Great job!!

Buy the book

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie Mcguire

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie Mcguire



I purchased Beautiful Disaster based on two things. The story’s description and the amount of positive reviews on Amazon, that’s not to say I base my reading on what others think—because I don’t.

The cover was eye catching, and reading the synopsis really pulled me in.
Before I get into my opinion (everyone has their own) I want to say obviously this story has something that kept me reading. I don’t finish a book unless it forces me to. But that doesn’t mean I enjoyed it as much as I anticipated.
I am going to challenge myself today to explain the story in one very small paragraph—which I think can be done.

So here goes…

Beautiful Disaster is a story that is just that, a beautiful Disaster. It’s a story about a dysfunctional relationship between Abby aka “pigeon” and Travis Maddox. (I don’t even need a paragraph that wraps it up for me in a nutshell)

How did I feel while reading this book? I felt astonished, shocked, happy and then sickened. It was like watching a horrible scenario play out before your eyes (a man snatches an old ladies purse and beats her with it, but you merely sit there and take it in instead of doing something) that was sort of the way I felt about this book.

I sit here wondering about the author. Did she see this book as an actual relationship that made her swoon? Was she trying to shock and awe? Because the dynamics between the characters was so twisted I couldn’t enjoy their relationship about a quarter of the way through the book. It was grimy. The kind of relationship that to me would have me filing for a restraining order.

I get dysfunction. I love it, I write it. But there was a point where the intrigue I felt for Travis flew out the window. He became everything you don’t want out of a man. He was clingy, possessive and “stalkerish”. Not to mention violent. Even knowing what he had been through in his life it didn’t resolve his ways for me. I simply read to see if one of them killed the other one, or if somehow they would see how toxic they were for each other and act like normal human beings and walk away.

A lot of the story was so much that I just couldn’t get into it. Abby goes from this mysterious college girl to a former gambler intertwined with the mob. Really? Or how about the scene where the macho Travis bust into an episode of Mobbed in the cafeteria (google it if you don’t know what show I’m talking about, it’s great.) Some parts were just too hard to believe to enjoy for me.

Aside from this it didn’t take away from the great characters. I loved America and Shepley. They were funny and helped the story along, although if America was such a good friend I wonder why she rooted her friend’s horrible choice in men along for as long as she did—actually she basically supported the horrible relationship from beginning to end. It took her to the end to finally say enough is enough. And every time, like an emotionally battered being she was pulled back in.

I would say there were three times in the story that I felt the book should have ended. And then it went on and on and on. I kept reading, sure, but really it was so long and to me I think it could have been half the amount that it was and still have the same moral—yeah I think there is a moral to this story. Don’t be so completely dependent on someone that you can’t function normally without them. And don’t get stupid tattoos. *shrugs*

I want to say I think the author is a great story teller; she made one hell of a chaotic relationship. If you’re looking for a chaotic tumultuous romance then this is for you.

I’ve even read over some reviews and giggled. It’s a story, the point of a book is to entertain and I was totally entertained. I would even read another book by the author.

Even though the relationship had me cringing a little part of me enjoyed the disaster. And if a story can keep you reading and in awe, well, to me that’s a good thing.

I give it three stars for the simple fact I like to fall head over heels for my characters and although there were aspects I liked about them all, I just felt that it was a little cheesy for me.

So with that I say enjoy Beautiful Disaster as what it is: a form of entertainment. I don’t think the author was trying to teach anyone a lesson in life. She just wanted readers to come along for the ride.

And lastly, there is a lot of foul language (which I love) and sex. *gasp* (which is fine by me) so if you’re young and living with the rents, I say stay away.

Not Your Ordinary Faerie Tale (The Others #12) by Christine Warren

I saw this book and figured, why not? It's the first I have read of this series and by this author, and I am glad i gave it a chance! The author's writing style is pretty good, not the best, but likeable all the same. I say this because there was some awkward phrasing here and there that had me rereading to get a better grasp of the situation. It definitely didn't stand in the way of my liking the story!

The MC, Corrinne, is a reporter for a small newspaper and she has been given an assignment that puts her smack dab in the middle of Other territory. Now, as I said, I have not read the previous books in the series, so I gathered pretty quick that she has watched her best friends marry into the Other world and is less than thrilled about it. In fact, she is pretty thoroughly creeped out by it and has sworn off any possibility of ever getting involved with the opposite species. It's so distressing in fact that she depends heavily on her bottle of aspirin to an almost unhealthy degree--which I found quite humorous.

Luc is from Faerie and is part of the Sidhe race. He is the head of Queen Mab's warrior elite and he has been sent through the magical doorway to Manhattan to retrieve her troublesome nephew who has been calling far too much attention to himself. He seems to both love and hate his job. And he definitely holds some pent up rage against the nephew of his Queen. When he seeks help from Rafe, the head of the Other council, he runs into Corrinne, who is also seeking Rafe's assistance.

Luc has never considered the human race as particularly attractive. Actually, he and his kind consider humans to be children in comparison to their longevity and life experience. So when he sees Corrinne and is instantly overwhelmed by his attraction to her, he is take aback. Likewise, Corrine can't believe she is fantasizing about the hot "fairy" in the room, considering her massive distaste for anything Other.

Their relationship took off like a bullet and the heat never went below a low simmer. The two of them pair up to hunt down this mischief making nephew while trying to unravel another layer to the mystery surrounding him that I won't give away. All this while trying, and failing, to keep their hands off each other! Along the way, Luc discovers the connection between him and Corrinne goes deeper than simple attraction that I found simply lovely.

This is definitely a series that I would like to check out. It's a refreshing departure from the traditional vampire saga, although hints at previous books in the series tell me they are no exception. I'm hoping to see more characters from the Other community, like Leprechauns and Brownies!

Flat out love Review: Incredible Story!!

Flat out love by Jessica Park

I finished Flat out love in two sittings. And that means it was incredible. I never do that unless a book is so good I can’t put it down.
So much to say about this book…

This is a story with so many sides, so many feelings and emotions. It seriously took my breath away around 82% into the story. I am not going to go into detail because this book deserves to be read without any spoilers.

Flat out love is the story about Julie a girl just starting out in life. She has come from Ohio to Boston to begin college. She’s excited and ready for the new adventures in her life. But as soon as she arrives bad news abounds. The apartment her mother got her is bogus and she has nowhere to go. Thankfully her mother has an old college friend she can call. And Erin (the college friend) welcomes Julie into her home with open arms. It was really nice to see she wasn’t going to remain miserable so soon in the story.

Right away the characters sucked me right in. Matt picks Julie up and brings her to their house. Julie meets the odd Watkins family, but she isn’t the kind of person who judges people right off the bat so she gives them a chance.
The family alone made this story so enthralling. You have Matt, the nerdy college boy who sits on his computer nearly all day. His sense of humor for me was so funny. But he had a very serious side about him. He and Julie’s back and forth was great. Poor Matt had so much on his plate I think it took a toll on his social life and skills, but I still very much liked his role in the story.

Then you have Celeste. The way she was described made me envision this cherubesque girl frolicking around the home talking all proper and not acting like a normal teenager. Celeste really glued the story together. She had many quirks—including carrying a cardboard cutout of her brother Finn around. It was weird at first, but Flatt Finn soon becomes just as big a part of the story as it progressed. But that wasn’t all, Celeste has a lot of other issues that clearly tells you there is something wrong, you just don’t know what. Julie tries to ask the family, but nobody wants to give an exact answer. This kept me guessing and guessing—and I love that about a book.
The Watkins are indeed different, but they have their reasons and when you read this story you soon find out. There is a secret amongst them, something that almost takes a back seat and doesn’t seem to matter much to the reader until it slams into your face at full force. But I will get back to that later.

Julie stays with the family for some time. She grows very fond of each of them. Celeste becomes her friend and a person she really cares about and wants to help. And I really enjoyed Julie. She was a great person with a lot of spunk. She knew what she wanted, she said how she felt and she cared about people genuinely.
While at the home there is a lot of email and facebook status updates taking place between Julie, Matt and Finn. I looked forward to them.

A really great part of the story is when Julie starts messaging the brother Finn. He is away, and she is residing in his bedroom. What develops between them really was moving. It was hard not to fall for the mysterious brother off doing incredible things in the world. I too had a crush on Finn.

This story was full of dysfunction and sweet moments. Some parts I laughed out loud, other parts I nearly cried. The story touched me for sure. And I highly recommend this book to anyone. I have no complaints about anything because it was written incredibly well. No…it was perfect. The story for me couldn’t have improved any because I was completely satisfied with it from beginning to end.
What an amazing author! I look forward to reading more.

Flat out love on Amazon.

Immortal Rider (Lords of Deliverance) by Larissa Ione

Arik is a U.S. Army soldier and part of the R-XR, a paranormal unit. For most of his life he has avoided getting too intimate with women, partly because of his abusive childhood and partly due to the nature of his job. Because of his past, he hates liars, but unfortunately for Arik, he's about to fall for one of the biggest liars of all- Limos, Horsewoman of the Apocalypse.

As one of the four Horsemen, Limos, a.k.a. Famine, is a deadly combination of immortal warrior and classy female. Her beauty is undeniable, but getting too close is bad for your health. Betrothed to the Prince of Darkness, Satan himself, Limos cannot be touched by another man without breaking her seal and setting the Apocalypse into motion. And so far, for the last 5,000 years, she's managed to remain untouched. That is, until she meets Arik. Their attraction is undeniable. Arik is exactly what Limos would go for in a man, if she could have one. And for Arik, Limos is too sexy to be left untouched.

One fateful night, Arik and Limos share a scorching kiss...and it sends Arik straight to hell. For a solid month he is tortured in every way imaginable and then some, and all the while he entertains all the things he plans to do to Limos when he gets his hands on her... and not all of them are revenge. Arik simply can't get her out of his head.

Meanwhile, Limos can't get her mind off of Arik, and the idea of what must be happening to him because of her is too much to bear. Making a pact with her brother, Pestilence, who recently fell to the forces of evil, she must betray those she loves and risk revealing secrets that could destroy everything she holds dear.

This was a crazy ride with so much happening that I was left in awe, wondering how in the world Ione managed to fit it all into such a nice, neat little package. Limos is trying to save a man out of guilt and possibly love while trying to find a treasure and maintain her innocence--all of which could break her seal--before the demons do, while struggling to retain secrets and lies. Her brother, Thanatos, is struggling with his own battle of celibacy while facing a woman that temps him like no other, and Pestilence is as evil as they come, but hints of his humanity still manage to shine through from time to time letting you know that all is not lost...yet.

I loved the story itself, but I think my favorite part was Than's storyline. It was an obvious setup for the next in the series, but to me was the most incredible part. The writing was wonderful, the story wildly imaginative, and the characters warm, cold, charismatic and humorous respectively. There isn't a person I didn't like throughout, even the evil ones. They all have a quality that draws you in and makes you care, leaves you asking yourself, what if?

I can't wait until the next one!

Five hearts!!

Available on Amazon

Review of The Way of the Black Beast by Stuart Jaffe

Absolutely Hooked! 

Raised by two evil, heartless magicians who think themselves gods, then cast out to fend for herself or succumb to the elements, Malja is a girl just trying to survive in a dangerous world that has been decimated by magic, and where violence is a necessary evil. Throughout her journey she keeps two things close to her: Viper, a straight edge, deadly extension of herself used to destroy anything that might bring harm, and Tommy, the adolescent youth/ magician who attached himself to her side after she saved him from his abusers. 

Following the death of the man who saved her, took her in, and acted as a caring and devoted father, Malja is driven by the Black Beast within, seeking revenge. While facing off with a guitar case toting Bluesman, a trained and hired assassin who has managed to stay one step ahead of her, taking out her contacts before she can gain any information from them, Malja finds out that the very men she has been searching for, her “fathers” Jerik and Callib, may just be looking for her too. Following a lead gleaned from the assassin, she finds herself at the home of Nolan, a simple woman with a lot of knowledge. This is where her true journey begins. From there Malja is taken across the desolate and ravaged lands encountering people, creatures, and beings of all shapes, sizes, and colors (yes, I said colors). She is forced to take on others along the way, each contributing in their own way. 

Being the warrior that she is, Malja spends a lot of her time denying her need for others, even her enjoyment of their company. She’d much rather go it alone, lessen the complications that come with watching out for the safety of others. Her denial even extends to Tommy who shows his desire to be loved by her, but also recognizes her limitations. Of course, Malja’s limits on emotional connections cause their own problems, putting a rift between her and Tommy, especially when a member of the troupe seems to be quite taken with him, and vice versa. Through a series of events, Malja is forced to look inside herself and be truthful both—she loves Tommy as a mother, not just a protector. 

I don’t want to give too much away because this story is very involved and well thought out. What I will say is this was such an amazing read! I was hooked from the opening line, blown away by the detail and mesmerized by the characters. They were so deep and well-developed that I felt an instant connection with them all. 

The world Jaffe thought up is incredible and impressive, and the imagery…stunning. Even right now, while trying to think of what to say next, my mind is spinning. There is so much to cover, from the charred remains of the Freelands to the less than desirable appearance of…well, a lot of characters, actually, to the to the fascinating fight sequences and glimpses into another world. Jaffe truly succeeds in transporting the reader into another world of fantasy brought to startling life. He covered every little detail and wrapped up the ending to perfection. No complaints here! 

I think I found myself a new favorite author! 

…Five Hearts all the way…

The Way of the Black Beast

Available on:

Amazon

Smashwords

Barnes & Noble
and Goodreads

Find out more about the author at the following:

The Stuart Jaffe Website 
The Writing World of Stuart Jaffe--blog 
Co-Host of The Eclectic Review Podcast 

Review of Cross my heart by Katie Klein

Cross my heart—Katie Klein

Jaden McIntyre the main character in Cross my heart is an all around good person. She throws fundraisers for everything, from feeding the children in third world countries to raising money to battle glaucoma. She is all work and no play.

Everyone sees her as Ms. Perfect, the girl striving for excellence at everything she does. She has the boyfriend on the basketball team. A really great best friend. And an ideal family life. What more could she want?

While doing a fundraiser Jaden is late for class. She thinks this is no biggie because she also works in the office and practically writes hall passes herself. But this time it doesn’t work as well as she plans and she ends up paired with the boy in her class that everyone calls the “loner”. There are many rumors flying around school about Parker Whalen and they have bad written all over them. But Jaden isn’t about to let this get in the way of her good grades. She is determined to find a way to partner with Parker and make the best of it.

Parker isn’t so happy about their union and simply ignores Jaden altogether. It’s not until she corners him and literally forces him to speak to her that she gets anywhere with the antisocial guy. Parker sees Jaden as the most boring person at the school. And he lets her know this right off the bat. Soon Jaden realizes it’s not going to be as easy as she thought to be partners with the kid from the wrong side of the track.

Soon Jaden seems to be moving past the hard exterior and learning more and more about Parker. He isn’t the social misfit everyone thinks he is. He is smart, and has a lot to say. He is actually witty and has a funny personality. Parker doesn’t care what others think of him and this at times is frustrating for Jaden. She can’t always handle his quick wit and matter of fact personality, probably because he tells her the ugly truth—something she doesn’t like to hear.

The story centers on their school project. A report on a book about a dysfunctional love triangle. Jaden sees the story as tragic and finds it upsetting. While Parker sees sides to the story that she would have never thought of. The story brings up the discussion of love. And it’s obvious that Jaden is slowly finding herself wanting to know more about Parker. She devours the book in one night determined to prove to Parker that she isn’t just this boring girl. But I think it backfires because they exchange even more banter infused with a lot of subtle flirtation. You can see the bond grow stronger each time they meet. Each time they come together a little more is offered up from Parker. To the point Jaden is finding it hard to not look in his direction at school, and not think about him when he is not around. She even starts bringing him food because he never eats at school.

Soon her friends see the changes. They know there is something more than just a school project, but, Jaden is the only one who doesn’t want to admit it. Parker tells Jaden that she is bored, and wants to open her up to a whole new way of thinking. He wants to show her there is fun out there if she just will walk on the wild side. And after some prodding she does just that and gets even closer to him by way of motorcycles rides and late night meetings in her attic. All the while she feels horrible to be lying and hiding what she is doing from her boyfriend, friends and family.

Nobody but Jaden understands Parker. Everyone judges him and this is a bit upsetting to Jaden. She has to sneak to see him and ends up in some tricky situations because of it. In the end, she realizes that she is boring and safe. And she does have feelings for Parker. And the story turns into something I never expected.
As a reader I will say the writing was excellent. Katie Klein is an author capable of great conversation in this book. I loved the exchange between all the characters. It really felt real, like I was there witnessing it all. The story kept a good pace and never slowed or made me bored to tears.

Parker was a really swoon worthy guy in this story. I loved everything about him. He was so quick and blunt. He had a very callous attitude and it worked. I liked his over confidence when it came to Jaden. He didn’t have to go overboard to get her to want to be around him. He didn’t overstep his bounds with her at all. You couldn’t help but fall for Parker every time he opened his mouth and said something.
This book is Young adult; there wasn’t a whole lot of kissing or romance to the story. But I felt the connection even without. There was a tension between the characters that had you wanting and hoping for it to happen—and that’s always a good thing. If you’re looking for steamy this is not the story for you. But if you’re looking for a young adult romance that is sweet, moving and a good read, then this is the story for you.

As for negatives, the only issues I had through the entire book was the big part at the end. It wasn’t that I didn’t like what was going on with Parker. It was just a little unbelievable for me. And I actually had to read the part twice to make sure I understood what was happening. It kind of was a slap in the face. The kind you didn’t see coming. But I think maybe if I went back and read through, there were probably clues that I didn’t even take in.

I give the book five hearts!

Good read from a great author. I am a fan!

Favorite quotes from Cross my heart:

“He smirks, eyebrows lifting. “You’re surprised I’m capable of a thought-provoking conversation.”

“Aren’t we a little mature to be hiding in here? You’re not trying to get seven minutes out of me are you?”

“People believe what they want to believe. That’s not something you can change, whether you want to or not.”

“Why are you here? Does anyone really know why they’re here?” he counters.”

“Maybe I can stalk you again sometime.”


Buy your copy of Cross my heart by Katie Klein on Amazon.

Review of Waiting on Hope by T.M. Souders

Waiting on Hope by T.M. Souders

Waiting on Hope is a story about Lexie. A young woman who was raped. The story starts with Lexie about to commit suicide. Lexie is having a hard time dealing with the rape and this is logical. Things go from bad to worse when she discovers she is also pregnant by her attacker. If that doesn’t make matters even worse, the attacker is someone she knows. And for reasons I won’t give away, she has to hide the secret from her best friend.

The characters in Waiting on hope were very realistic. Lexie was like any normal girl in her thirties. One that had a life that most would love to have. But she grew tired with that life and so she moved away from home. Not knowing that where she is happiest would soon turn into her worst nightmare when she is viciously attacked by someone she knows.

Lexie tries her best to maintain the life that she has but finds it’s not so easy because everything about her life reminds her of the rape.

So Lexie decides to go back home to her family. A place that she hopes will give her a relief and maybe some security again. And we meet her family. The one character that stood out for me was her mother, a very strong willed woman. And in the story her strength is described as not only physical but on the inside as well. And I think these words rang true about her mother. She was Lexie’s rock all the way through the book. Even if I felt like Lexie was too stubborn to admit it most of the time.

I can’t imagine having to come back home to a family you haven’t seen in a long time under the circumstances Lexie arrived under. But she does her best to put on a happy face and not trouble them with her predicament right off the bat. The moment she hugs her mother tore at my heart. You could feel the pain. You could feel all that Lexie wanted to spill, but she was trying to be strong for her family.

But everyone is not so welcoming. Lexie’s younger brother is still angry with her for leaving without as much as a goodbye. He wants an explanation. So it makes sense that he holds a lot of pent up anger for his sister. The two were close at one time and now Phillip, her brother, feels she just abandoned them because she was selfish. And now that she is back he wants to let her have it. I understood the anger, but, I also felt he was a little too unforgiving. This made for quite a few good points in the book. Lexie could have spilled her secret with her brother, but instead, she endures his anger for some time. She doesn’t lash out, she understands, and that shows a lot about her character.

Coming back to Ohio also brought Lexie back to the life she left behind. Elliot. Elliot is her old boyfriend who she was going to marry. The man she ran away from because she felt she was in his shadow. Elliot is perfect to many—more like everybody. And he loved Lexie with everything he had in him and then some. But for some reason this was too much for Lexie. She felt like her whole life was figured out. She felt like she was being suffocated by her life, and relationship. She feels Elliot was so perfect. But to Elliot he wasn’t, he never saw himself the way others saw him. In the story we see Elliot’s own regrets. He was so busy building this life with Lexie that he never asked her what she wanted. And he fears he is the reason their relationship didn’t turn into the happy life he envisioned with Lexie. But one thing is a constant throughout this book, its Elliot’s love for Lexie. This man loves her more than anything. And is willing to stick by her through it all, no matter how awful or ugly her life has become. He would do anything for her. And it’s so wonderfully obvious through the book.

Lexie comes clean with her family about the rape and they help her through. Even the moments when she falls apart, when she is sleeping by their bedroom door because she is so petrified. The girl has been through a lot.

When Lexie and Elliot finally come together again, you know the magic is still there between them. They both still love each other. But they are both still troubled about the past. Elliot because she left, and Lexie because she is just so confused and worried she has destroyed everything they once had. Plus, she is dealing with an unwanted pregnancy and rape that she doesn’t know how to get past. One that she doesn’t feel she will ever recover from.

Elliot missed Lexie. He missed everything about her. And you know this the moment he lays eyes on her again. The feelings are real and they are still there. And as the story carries on you see the connection grow stronger and the feelings flourish like a delicate flower. I loved how gentle Elliot was with Lexie. He was truly there for her. He never pushed to far or too much. He waited patiently and only wanted to hear her tell him that she loved him and that she would never leave again. It was a remarkable thing to see this man want the baby growing inside of her even when she saw it as nothing more than a “monster”. He promised her he would be there for her and treat her baby as her own if she chose to keep her. And this is another part of the story that we see her struggle with, giving away the baby she never wanted.

It takes Lexie a lot of time to come to terms with what happened to her. I think finding her place back home was the push she needed to survive such a horrific event. There were moments in the story that were gut wrenching. Like the moment she recalls the rape. The fear and the sadness this girl goes through is something you can’t fathom. But it’s there and moves you. We even see into her mother’s dealing with her daughter’s rape. And her feelings about never being able to be a part of her granddaughters life.

Parts of me wanted to scream at Lexie, to tell her not to be so cold to this baby she was carrying. But then other parts told me there is no way you could say that to someone going through something so horrendous. No one knows how they would handle such a thing.

By the end of the story Lexie only wants to be herself again. She wants the normal things back that we all take for granted. She wants to laugh again. To imagine forgetting what it felt like to do something so uncomplicated is sad. The idea someone can take that away in one night is horrifying. And then add losing your life and your best friends support for reasons that are out of your control but have been thrust upon you, it’s so sad.

The end of the book we see Lexie realize that maybe this baby isn’t so bad. And that the love for Elliot has never left. She is still scarred, but she is also a new person who is learning how to breathe again.

I do not want to spoil the book for readers. So I will say that I was happy with the ending. I think Lexie came full circle and found a way to carry on. She grew on me throughout the book. I liked her as a person. She didn’t pity herself, she wasn’t out of control or unreasonable. I think she actually was a tough person and deserved everything she got in the end of the book.

I thought the narrative was crisp and fast paced. I never grew fed up or tired with the writing. There was just enough detail to paint a vivid picture and not so much that it made my eyes glaze over.

I felt an emotional connection with the characters very easily with this book. I think the author did a great job with the story.

As a reader I think this story was well told. I would for sure recommend it to anyone who enjoys a story about courageous characters that make it out alive. It was romantic too, the love was cute and charming and very well put together.

If you’re looking for a steamier, gritty or explicit story this is not the book. I think the author did what was needed without shoving parts down our throat that might have been really harsh to some people’s taste on such a subject matter.

As for any negatives. My only issue was how quickly the reveal with the cell phone happened. And the how the rapist was confronted and taken care of. I feel like I might have expected a little more during the confrontation, but it still served its purpose. And I felt the birth might have been a little rushed and a few times I was blown away by the doctors. I wasn’t sure if I felt that was real enough for me during the birth. But I felt the connection and the moment.

Favorite quotes from Waiting on Hope:

“She knew all-too-well you couldn’t lock the devil out. He seldom arrived undisguised.”

“Loving Elliot was easy and always had been. Not loving him, even after all these years, was the hard part.”

“I’ll believe enough for the both of us, until you’re ready and can believe in yourself.”

Waiting on Hope by T.M. Souders

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LOVE this series!!

I'm going to make this short and simple.

Once upon a time in a realm far far away....
The king and queen of Elden were vanquished by the Blood Sorcerer, but before they met their demise, they scattered their four children far and wide only to return again when the time was right, kill the sorcerer, and reclaim their royal heritage in a war to end all war.

Reda is a woman with a lot of baggage that causes her to question everything, including her own heart. But one thi...moreI'm going to make this short and simple.

Once upon a time in a realm far far away....
The king and queen of Elden were vanquished by the Blood Sorcerer, but before they met their demise, they scattered their four children far and wide only to return again when the time was right, kill the sorcerer, and reclaim their royal heritage in a war to end all war.

Reda is a woman with a lot of baggage that causes her to question everything, including her own heart. But one thing she believes in (at least she's pretty sure she does) is the story her mother raised her on. The story of Little Red Riding Hood...the Elden version. Always holding out for her prince charming, Reda finds just what she is looking for when a magical book tears her away from the world she knows and plops her in a very unfamiliar place where the terrible--and breathtaking-- sights from her mother's story come to startling life.

Dayn is cursed to the wolfyn realm where he awaits his guide that is destined to help him end the curse and regain his kingdom. And when Reda arrives he gets far more than he bargained for.

This is the first book I have read by this author, and I loved her writing. I initially started this series because I love Gena Showalter, and I have been following it ever since. I can't say I am disappointed. I loved Dayn. He was charming and sweet, caring and tender, and fierce and protective. Everything a woman wants, right? I liked that he had his vulnerabilities as much as Reda and, in the end, needed her as much as she needed him, if not more so. Theirs was a heartwarming love that left me breathless. I was so invested in the characters that it drew out my emotions and when the end came and I found that I had to get the next in the series to find out the TRUE ending, I wanted to scream. So, obviously I lied when I said this would be short, but darn it, it was good! I'm glad it's part of my straining collection of books.*pets cover lovingly* 

Rating: 5 hearts!


Lord of the Wolfyn @ Amazon.com

In Shadows by Rebecca S. Foote

                        An Enchanting Read!

The story opens in a town where strange disappearances are rumored but dismissed as “old wives tales.” It becomes apparent very early on that the stories are very true. Dimitri travels and hunts with his brother, Trevaun, sometimes even making a game of it. During a challenge of who can kill the most, Dimitri abducts Ariana Dallenhauf upon her leaving a social event, and determines to make her his protégé. 

When Ariana awakes to her new life, she finds it difficult to adjust. Although her abilities come oddly easy to her, some of which even Dimitri is astonished by; she has a hard time parting with her mortal life much to Dimitri’s annoyance. She soon discovers a whole new world before her, however, one that existed right beneath her nose that is as complex as it is frightening. But with Dimitri by her side to guide her, it’s bound to be an exciting, eye opening experience.                 

When Dimitri and Trevaun are summoned back to the d’Avange castle by their uncle, the Grand Ruler of the Vampire Realm, to investigate a possible conspiracy, Ariana soon learns there is more to her than meets the eye, and the source of uncovering the mystery lies at D’Avange castle. 

I liked following along with Ariana as she tried to make sense of this new world she found herself in and of her instructor, Dimitri. It is obvious that he is a man hardened by his past. But as he and Ariana interact, a certain softness is revealed. 

I also found myself a little on edge when it came to Trevaun and his wife, Katrine. They are a ruthless couple that takes utmost pleasure in scouting and killing their victims. I often times felt the panic of the couples they targeted when they found out they were staring down the mouths of predators and they were the prey. Since I love a little darkness in my reading, it was very entertaining!

Overall, the story had a bit of a jerky beginning, but was quickly found its footing. I felt it was a little slow paced, and at times a little too descriptive as far as detailing every step and movement each character made. But I enjoyed it nonetheless. Foote is very good at describing even the smallest detail, which transported me back in time and made it easy for me stay firmly rooted in the story. The story took some interesting and unexpected turns as well, including dark magic and demonic influences that melded nicely with the vampire lore. I highly enjoyed trying to unravel who was behind the conspiracy, feeling like a bit of a detective and suspecting everyone in play at one time or another. The action sequences were lovely and delightfully gruesome. But if you are expecting an epic love story, you won’t find it here. Instead, I found the connection between Dimitri and Ariana to be very fitting of the times and generally very sweet and endearing. In short, Dimitri is a complete gentleman, which I loved. 

I recommend In Shadows to anyone looking for a story that combines mystery, revenge, love, friendship, and, of course, vampires. It’s truly an enjoyable read. 

Find Rebecca at any of the following links:

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads