What would you do?

Nine Lives                        

A New Atlantis Novel
Nhys Glover

Explore New Atlantis, a Future Utopian World...

When a handsome young man, claiming to be three hundred years old, offers Cara a chance at a new life in his future utopian world she considers she has two options: back away cautiously or try to help the obviously deluded stranger.

Because it comes naturally to a teacher of autistic kids to help, Cara decides to take the second option. By doing so she unwittingly opens herself up to a passionate new love in an unimaginable new world, where clones extend lifespans and time travel is used to repopulate a decimated human population.

To Jac, Cara appears to be the ideal target for Retrieval: a worthy, productive human being. But when her free-thinking individualism begins to clash with his peaceful, highly regulated world he has to rethink his priorities. How much is he willing to change to keep this loving, beautiful woman in his life? And, more importantly, is he prepared to break the rules that define their very existence to stay with her?

This is the first in the exciting new time travel romance series, New Atlantis, by Australian author Nhys Glover

I will be upfront and honest, as usual, with you. I was approached via email, by an author I've never heard of, and asked if I would read one of her books and review it. I, of course, jumped on the opportunity! I know you are sitting there thinking, "Well!?! Tell us already!"  Okay, okay, keep your knickers on.

I really enjoyed this book! Imagine if you are living your life like you always do when suddenly a stranger approaches you and offers you a choice of Door #1, your imminent D Day, or Door #2, a leap of faith and time into a new world, a New Atlantis, hundreds of years in the future. An opportunity to live hundreds of years longer in genetic clones of a younger, healthier, you. I would take Door #2.

I do not want to get too much into Cara and Jac as theirs is a love story that I want you to experience. Their story is introduced here in Nine Lives and I cannot wait to see the where and the how their story blooms. 

If you are looking for a good, sweet, quick (164 pages) read, I can absolutely recommend Nhys Glovers Nine Lives, A New Atlantian Series

available as e-book or paperback

Amazon

The Heart Knows

This is not my normal blog post. I'm not reviewing a book today, but rather speaking from my heart. This is not a perfectly written piece, and I am sure that I'll step on countless toes and may in fact sever  some relationships after this, and that is okay. If people cannot respect me for speaking my mind when I have listened to and supported you for speaking yours, then there is an obvious flaw in our relationship.

What is the definition of love? Is there a "right" and a "wrong" love? Who is qualified to define what love is? I'm not only talking about the physical, "Lets get it on" type love, but the love that scares the hell out of you because you feel it so deeply in your heart, your mind. I am wondering about the love that defines me and you. The love that makes us human, that unites us with others, that suddenly fills in all of the cracks and holes that we did not realize we had in ourselves. 

In 1Corenthians 13:4 -7, the Bible says, "4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."  New International Version 1984.  This definition of love is the one that I was brought up by, to believe in.  I look at this reading and I wonder, really wonder, where we have gotten so off course from what our basic definition of love is?

I do not believe that we can pick who we fall in love with. Mind you, lust and love are not the same. We become physically attracted to someone and, yes, lust is a very simple feeling. This feeling is generally based on the physical appearance, what we like verses what we do not like: Lust. Yes, I know that love can often grow from that lust, but I know several people who realized that was not THE love.

I believe, in my heart, that we were all put on Earth with preordained purpose. The God I believe in knows the paths that we will follow long before we know which one to walk. He knows the choices we will make, and where we will stumble along the way. If I am correct, and that path is laid out for us, then I am certain that those we love are also on their path to where we will meet. God puts them in the time and place that we need them most, for reasons that may or may not be apparent to us. 

If a man finds that utter and complete love in the heart of another man, or a woman finds hers with another woman, who are we to judge? Too many people are quick to don a judges robe and denounce these hearts, often in the name of God. Yes, there are scripture, from hundreds and thousand(s) years ago, when the life was less civilized, that proclaimed, in the name of God, that this was sin, punishable by death.  Later, in Matthew 7:1, Jesus states, "Do not judge so that you may not be judged," meaning, if you're willing to judge me based on how /who I love, then lets take a peek at your life and who /how you've loved, also. 

In our technological age I have had the pleasure of "meeting" some fascinating people who are, thank God, breaking up many of my predjuices and answering my questions so that I can see and appreciate everyone's hearts. I am learning that while my love and their love may look different from the other, when you get down to the heart of the matter, the heart knows what it wants, regardless of the packaging it comes in. We all love, and if we are lucky, we find the love that makes our heart full. 

I know I am not an eloquent writer, and I hope you can overlook that. One of life's greatest challenges is looking past errors, or differences, to see the beauty, the truth, the uniqueness that is underneath.

Wallbanger

                                        

Wallbanger             

By Alice Clayton                    

I love to read. That is no big secret to anyone who knows me. I can like most any type of book, but the ones that I tend to love are those unique stories that draw you into the world the author has created. A story that makes you feel something: love, sorrow, fear, anger, and joy.. This story, Wallbanger, is one of those stories that makes you laugh out loud at the dialogue between its characters.

OVERVIEW

Caroline Reynolds has a fantastic new apartment in San Francisco, a KitchenAid mixer, and no O (and we’re not talking Oprah here, folks). She has a flourishing design career, an office overlooking the bay, a killer zucchini bread recipe, and no O. She has Clive (the best cat ever), great friends, a great rack, and no O.

Adding insult to O-less, since her move, she has an oversexed neighbor with the loudest late-night wallbanging she’s ever heard. Each moan, spank, and--was that a meow?--punctuates the fact that not only is she losing sleep, she still has, yep, you guessed it, no O.

Enter Simon Parker. (No, really, Simon, please enter.) When the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. Their late-night hallway encounter has, well, mixed results. Ahem. With walls this thin, the tension’s gonna be thick...

MY THOUGHTS

This was no ordinary story. Yes, yes, it is a girl meets boy, shenanigans begin, they fall in love and live happily ever after story. So now you’re wondering if I am suffering in the head again, because, so far? This is an ordinary romance.  Don’t give up on me so easily! What makes this one different is how it is written! I really enjoyed the fact that Mrs. Clayton wrote this from Caroline’s point of view. Most books are told in third person, you know, the one who sees into all the characters minds? I really liked reading this from Caroline’s perspective.

We have our main cast of three characters, which the story revolves around: Caroline, Simon (her wall banging neighbor), and Clive, her feline companion who also discovers love, but loses it… (sniff)

Caroline is young, single, and settling into her new apartment with Clive when awoken in the midnight hours by “enthusiastic” sounds and wall banging coming from her new, unidentified neighbor, who shares her bedroom wall. Three nights in a row. She finally decides to confront her wall-banging neighbor during a particularly sleepless night.

Simon Parker. Neighbor. Wallbanger. Photographer who travels the world, but when he is home, he entertains the three women in his life, unknowingly disrupting his neighbors sleep. Meeting his neighbor in the middle of the night changes his way of thinking.

When you combine these two characters, add in hilarious banter, four friends, and one lovesick cat you have a fun, funny, romance that keeps you smiling throughout.

WALLBANGER is available in both print and e-book through Amazon and Barnes and Noble

File Size: 1112 KB

  Print Length: 302 pages

  Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1623420024

Publisher: Omnific Publishing; 1st edition (November 25, 2012)

Fall Into You

Fall Into You (A Loving on the Edge Novel)

By Roni Loren        

********* An Overview*********

He'll do anything for you. But you'd better say please.

When tomboy sports reporter Charli Beaumonde loses a dream TV job because she's not girly enough for primetime, she's determined to land a big scoop and prove her boss made a mistake. But when she gets too close to a football scandal and finds her life threatened, Charli accepts an offer from family friend Grant Waters to hide out at his place--even if Grant predicts nothing but trouble from his buddy's hard-headed, uncompromising, irrepressible, younger sister. There's one more problem...

Grant's "place" is The Ranch, a BDSM resort in Texas, and he's used to being in charge --even if that means trying to keep Charli in line. But much to Grant's surprise, she's intrigued--even envious--of his trainees. They're the epitome of what she's never been: sexy, beguiling, and totally irresistible to a man. Still, Grant doesn't believe for a minute that the sharp-tongued Charli has it in her to be anyone's submissive. But Charli's already on her knees vying for the chance to prove that even the Master can be wrong sometimes.

My Thoughts

When I start a book, I always go in with very high expectations, as I am sure you do, too. I expect the author to create characters that I cannot only believe in, but hopefully relate to, one way or another. I expect them to create a setting that I can close my eyes and imagine myself in. I expect stories that wrap me up and take me inside them. I also expect to develop a bond with the characters, for however long the story is. Having said that, the question now is, did Mrs. Loren successfully meet my expectations with Fall Into You the third in her Loving On the Edge series? ABSOLUTELY!

Charli was a lot like looking into a mirror for me. I wont go into all of the “what does she mean?” here, but in all of my reading of books, no heroine seemed to smack me between the eyes like Charli. She is a seemingly tough as nails woman who has to come face to face with some inner doubts, and there is no one who is better suited to accept the challenge that is Charli than Grant Waters.

Grant is the –in my opinion- greatest type of hero. He is former military. Former CIA. Successful businessman. Unflinchingly dominant with his sexual desires. And, underneath his rough and ready cowboy exterior, a softie when it comes to love. Grant is more than willing and able to take Charli on.

The story revolves around Grants vineyard slash secret BDSM club that is outside of Dallas, Texas city limits. Yes, we have vineyards out here. Yes, as Charli’s character is investigating, we love our football here in Texas. No, I have yet to find anything like Grant –um, his club, here in the Dallas area (but I am still searching). Ms. Loren creates such a beautiful image of these grounds on her pages that you can almost feel the Texas breeze in the air.

This story is, ultimately, a revelation about both characters. It is steamy, sexually charged, exciting, and real. What a great story to introduce 2013 with!

Although this is the third in a series, it can be read alone, but why would you want to? Do I adore this series? YES! Would I recommend it to you? YES! What are you waiting for? You know you want to… Don't just live on the edge, love on the edge!

Fall Into You is available in both paperback and ebook formats.

Other books in the Loving on the Edge Series

If I Were You

If I Were You
Book One of the Inside Out Trilogy
by Lisa Renee Jones

I have never before read Ms. Jones, but she was referred by a friend who wanted my take on this particular story.  I am hesitant to compare this work with any other stories, but I do not see how I can write this without mentioning that it does, in fact have some 50 similarities. But I think that Ms. Jones took that theme and enhanced it, made it better, more... interesting.

The story circles around a very wealthy, and moody, artist, Chris. Sara, a high school English teacher who has her Masters degree in Art, but no career in that field, yet. And Mark, another too wealthy for his own good, moody, art gallery owner. Both men are strong, sexually demanding Doms in the BDSM lifestyle, and they are now competing for Sara.

I did enjoy this story, I enjoyed the curiosity inspired by Ms. Jones about which man will be the "right"one for Sara, who will be her protector and who will be the poison? I must admit that at the end of book one, I have not figured that one out.  Ms./ Jones does not stop with that little game, no, she's very clever in this story, adding in danger, and leaving you staring at the page stupidly because she ended it there, in the middle of the exciting mystery that envelopes the main characters.

I am not going to go any further into this story, I am hopeful that you will get caught up on your own in her book! Do I recommend this book? Yes! If you are hesitant about the BDSM thing, this book is very light in it. But I will tell you that it is hot!

This book is set for release in both paperback and ebook on August 24, 2012, through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Smash, All Romance and iTunes iBook.

• Paperback: 330 pages
• Publisher: Lisa R Jones (August 9, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0985817003
• ISBN-13: 978-0985817008
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces

The Last Boyfriend

The Last Boyfriend                  

Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy #2

By Nora Roberts

Owen is the organizer of the Montgomery clan, running the family’s construction business with an iron fist—and an even less flexible spreadsheet. And though his brothers bust on his compulsive list-making, the Inn BoonsBoro is about to open right on schedule. The only thing Owen didn’t plan for was Avery McTavish...

Avery’s popular pizza place is right across the street from the inn, giving her a first-hand look at its amazing renovation—and a newfound appreciation for Owen. Since he was her first boyfriend when they were kids, Owen has never been far from Avery’s thoughts. But the attraction she’s feeling for him now is far from innocent.

As Avery and Owen cautiously take their relationship to another level, the opening of the inn gives the whole town of Boonsboro a reason to celebrate. But Owen’s hard work has only begun. Getting Avery to let down her guard is going to take longer than he expected—and so will getting her to realize that her first boyfriend is going to be her last…

My Thoughts

You can never, ever go wrong with a Nora Roberts story, and her trilogies and quartets are, somehow, even better. Nora has taken us into the town of BoonsBoro, into the lives of the Montgomery brothers, their business, and the unique women that these brothers are destined to fall in love with, whether it be by luck, chance, or fate.

The Last Boyfriend takes us further into the stories of Owen and Avery. Although main characters from book one, they were not featured. This time around we get to jump into their minds. Owen, more than a bit anal about his organization skills, rarely spontaneous, always even –tempered and dependable. He has been a fixture in Avery’s life forever, and is suddenly altering the dynamic of their friendship.

Avery McTavish is the local girl who grew up loving where she was knowing that there was more for her yet in her home town. She proved herself when she created and opened the local pizza parlor right on the town square. A community hot spot, it has also offered her the prime viewing spot for the renovations that the Montgomery Brothers Construction had been making on the aged Inn. Avery is quirky. Free spirited. Spontaneous. Charmingly disorganized at home, but never in her kitchens. She is everything that our straight-laced Owen is not.

We are able to enjoy the changes that Owen and Avery make together. We see their relationship, a life –long relationship, bloom, struggle, and succeed.  Of course there are obstacles that come at them; it would not be a great story without them. <grin>

Mrs. Roberts continues to out do herself! This is another one of her cant –put –down books that I know you’ll enjoy. Remember, this the second in a trilogy, and it is read best after The Next Always.  The worst part? Having to wait until November to watch Ryder fall in love, too.

Product Details

• ISBN-13: 9780425246030
• Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
• Publication date: 5/1/2012
• Edition description: Original
• Pages: 352
• Sales rank: 9
• Series: Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy, #2
• Available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, iBooks
• Available formats: Paperback, Audio book, eBook

Other books in this series:

 

The Witness by Nora Roberts

The Witness                           

By Nora Roberts

Overview

Daughter of a controlling mother, Elizabeth finally let loose one night, drinking at a nightclub and allowing a strange man’s seductive Russian accent lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive. The events that followed changed her life forever.

Twelve years later, the woman known as Abigail Lowery lives on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. A freelance programmer, she designs sophisticated security systems—and supplements her own security with a fierce dog and an assortment of firearms. She keeps to herself, saying little, revealing nothing. But Abigail’s reserve only intrigues police chief Brooks Gleason. Her logical mind, her secretive nature, and her unromantic viewpoints leave him fascinated but frustrated. He suspects that Abigail needs protection from something—and that her elaborate defenses hide a story that must be revealed.

My thoughts

Mrs. Roberts is an expert in drawing her readers into the lives that she creates with rich characters that you immediately believe in. A master craftswoman of the written word who not only introduces characters that you know, but she builds the stories with such finesse that they are tangible, living things. The Witness is no exception.

Elizabeth is a character I recognized from both my days as an awkward teen, as well as today as I see this same unhappy dynamic played out every day in my classroom and on my campus. As Elizabeth struggles to find her own identity in her house with her “perfect” mother, rebellion is guaranteed. She veers so far away from the conformity that her mother has imposed, that the consequences are prolonged and far reaching. She soon finds herself in the unimaginable position of knowing that even law enforcement is untrustworthy. Faced with an uncertain future, she begins to run for – and from- her life.

Brooks is a likeable hero. A hometown police chief who finds himself intrigued  by the reclusive and young Abigail Lowery. Certain that things are not as they seem, he finds himself time and again interrupting her seclusion, immersing himself in her life as his feelings develop from mere fascination into love; if only she would trust him with her secrets. As their “relationship” blossoms, Abigail finds herself trusting Brooks more and more, eventually revealing the truth of herself and what she is running from.

I’m not going to tell you any more because I really do not want to spoil this for you, but I can tell you that this is one story you will not be able to put down.

If you have never read a Nora Roberts story before, this one will make you an addict! Set aside a day to do nothing but enter her latest world, and loose yourself in this story of crime, families, passion, and truth.


Product Details

• ISBN-13: 9780399159121
• Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
• Publication date: 4/17/2012
• Pages: 496
• Sales rank: 22
• Available in harback, and ebook formats from Barnes and Noble, Amazon, iBooks