The Marriage Merger by Jennifer Probst

                                                              
I have read at least one other in the series and I liked it. I saw this and thought it sounded like it could be read without having read the rest of the series. It can, but I am going to have to go back and read the rest now.

I like the fact that Julietta is a strong, independent business woman. She was a nice change to some of the helpless heroines in other stories. I loved how important family was to her, although I think entering into an arranged marriage is pushing it a bit far.

Sawyer is such a complex man, he carries such guilt and fear within, that it just hurts my heart. Through all the crap in his history he still manages to maintain his heart, even if he doesn't recognize it.

The way that they both fight the connection that is there between them on different levels; Julietta, on the physical and Sawyer on the emotional; adds so many layers to the story.

This was a fun read that was a nice way to spend a few hours on my weekend.

The Cure by Douglas E. Richards

The Cure by Douglas E. Richards

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book was good, but it confused the heck out of me. It started out feeling like a medical/psychological thriller, and ended up as a double cross/contingency plan/ aliens are  planning to take over the earth story. There was a lot of switching sides, or at least pretending to...  I think I would need all twelve tentacles to keep things straight. That being said, I did really like it, in fact due to the confusing nature of the story I found myself reading much longer than I planned, and staying up ridiculously late on several occasions.

I thought that the consequences and ethical dilemmas that Erin sorted through were realistic and well done. So much of life depends on the interpretation we impose on our experiences.

So all in all, it was good. I liked it, but I don't know that I am going to run right out and buy all of his other books right away.



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The Judas Virus by Don Donaldson

The Judas Virus by Don Donaldson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book had me on the edge of my seat I think the whole time I was reading it. From the family angst, and emotionally charged interactions between father and daughter in the beginning, I was not prepared for where Mr. Donaldson took me.  The descriptions of the medical aspects were very detailed and all seemed very plausible. It did seem like things moved awfully fast in the approvals process for the organ transplant though, but that was offset by reasonably explanations as to why it was done so quickly.

I really enjoy a book that leaves me guessing as to who the bad guy really is. I had no idea, and that was really fun for me. Again, kudos on the descriptive aspects! When you understand what drove Ash to do what he does, it almost makes you feel bad for him.. almost.

The drug bust seemed to stretch the boundaries of my belief a bit, but not so far as to burst my bubble completely.

It was a fantastic read, and since I couldn't put it down it didn't take long at all. 



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The Wishing Thread by Lisa Van Allen

The Wishing Thread by Lisa Van  Allen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I am a knitter, I taught myself about a year and a half ago. So the idea of a book that dealt with knitting as a major plot device was intriguing.

I really loved the story. The book was paced well and didn't really fall flat in any areas. It did make me really mad though to see Aubrey make such a huge sacrifice for the town. I am happy with the way it turned out, although I did have to reread the ending to make sure that she kept Vic in the end. I wasn't sure with the revival of the Stichery that she would feel it right to keep him. I laughed at the use of the phone tree, it brought back shades of "Practical Magic" to my mind.  :) I really liked Nessa's character as well. Even though she is young, she has plenty of spunk, I mean who wouldn't want to lock her mom and aunts in the attic until they can behave themselves? 

There were a few places where I wished there was more information, or perhaps the promise of another book to flesh out a few secondary story lines, mainly about the sisters. I know you can't have everything in one book but the relationships between Meggie and Tori, and Bitty and her family are important enough that I wanted more than just the taste that you get when they are not the main focus of the book.

I would definitely recommend this book. It was a good read that kept you coming back for more, but that did so in a very polite way instead of gripping your guts.



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True Love by Jude Devereaux

I started reading Ms. Devereaux's books years ago.  I was excited to hear that she had a new series out with one of my favorite families: the Montgomery's.  I have always found that I like reading books that involve the whole family.

I don't want to give anything away, but the ghost aspect of the story was intriguing as well as the reincarnation of different people, in different relationships.  I liked the emotional conflict that came with both characters. The fact that there were so many secrets in Alix's family was not something I expected. The connection between Alix and Jared was sparkling and vibrant. I was really rooting for them to finally give in to what they were feeling.

I found the story to be very well done. I could clearly see the threads of both previous and forthcoming stories that will be intertwined with this one. But, I am happy to say that although there were hints, there wasn't any prolonged setup for the next book. I am excited for the rest of the series to be released!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Love Letters Vol. 3: Wicked Whispers

This was a bit of a guilty pleasure for me.  It was a fast read, and the plots were different enough so that I wasn't bored by reading the entire book like happens sometime with the compilations.  I did really like the premise of  the third story.  The last story was not really my style but it was alright. The first story was my favorite though.

The stories were really short and ended rather abruptly. For me, I would have had the stories a bit longer and more fleshed out. But for a fun, fast read it was pretty good. I would possibly be interested in reading the rest of the installments.


Rating 2 out of 5

Coming Soon

My to be read list has always been insanely long, but now that I have the opportunity to review books through NetGalley, it is expanding almost daily.

Here is a preview of some of the titles I am either in process of reading or who are up to bat next.
Stay tuned and happy reading!

A Thousand Perfect Things by Kay Kenyon

A Thousand Perfect Things by Kay Kenyon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A young woman wanting to fight convention and follow her heart is lead by magic from the safety of her scientific world of Anglica to Bharata the magically infused country where nothing is as it seems. Betrayal, mystery, love, sacrifice, science and magic all collide in this refreshing read.

This was a truly interesting read. I felt some shades of "Heart of Darkness" when I first read the synopsis which threw me back to my high school English classes. But this was so much easier a read.  This book was fabulous on several levels. I really enjoyed the mental thought processes that were so well defined. Watching the development of the main character Tori, you experience a significant paradigm shift, from a curious, but unaware young woman, to a woman who looks past the things that are expected of her, to what she can become when she allows herself to be free. The identities of the two nations seem to be an over exaggeration of the basic flaws in different cultures. This allows the reader to consider things from a different perspective.

I would highly recommend this read to anyone.



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Waking up Married by Mira Lyn Kelly

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Waking Up Married by Mira Lyn Kelly

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This was a fun read. It is not a complicated story line although there is enough emotional angst to really twist your heart. The two main characters have plenty of emotional baggage, and they use that to justify their cold hearted approach to marriage. I did like that it wasn't the traditional usage of the "married in Vegas... now what" trope. It wasn't about winning big, or being motivated by money.
I think that Ms. Kelly did a fine job creating believable characters with relate-able flaws. There was a tangible connection between them that they both tried to fight.

All in all it was an pleasant, light read.



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Shadow of Time by Jen Minkman

Shadow of Time by Jen Minkman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


 This was a fun, fast read. I had trouble putting it down!  I quite enjoyed the unpredictability of the plot. There were several story elements that I haven't seen done, or at least done well, that I really enjoyed. I think that Ms. Minkman did an excellent job of unfolding the intricacies of the story at a good pace. There were a few lulls, where I really wished the characters would simply TALK to each other about what was going on, but in the end their reticence was justified. I am a fan of paranormal themes, and found that while different, I could accept without prejudice the reasoning behind what happened.

This was my first encounter with Ms. Minkman's work, but it will not be my last.



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Traces of Mercy by Michael Landon Jr and Cindy Kelley

                                        Traces of Mercy: A Novel by Michael Landon Jr.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really enjoyed this book. It was an interesting and refreshing change of pace. The idea of a female sniper during the civil war is very unique. One thing that I really love in a good book is when I feel emotionally connected to the outcome for the main characters. It is clear that this is just the beginning of this story as it does leave you on the edge. I look forward to the next installment of the story.



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Reading

I have been reading for as long as I can remember. I remember being best friends with my elementary school librarian and she used to recommend all sorts of new books for me. I read Edgar Allen Poe in the 4th grade and loved it.

Recently I was introduced to a new site called Netgalley and I will be reading and reviewing books I am able to access there. I will also be posting my thoughts on other books I am reading or have read in the past.

Feel free to disagree with me, but it is simply my thoughts and opinions.