Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Book Review: Sniper by Julie Morgan

Title:  Sniper (A Special Ops Series)
Author:  Julie Morgan
Genre:  Romance, Military (18+)
Publisher:  Self Published
Release Date:  August 2, 2016

From the Back Cover:

Sniper Tom Brody enjoys his life in the Special Ops. He also enjoys his best friend, Antonella, maybe a little too much. Brody and Antonella have an agreement: friends to never cross that line.

Toni has hidden her feelings from Brody for as long as she can remember. Both want to cross the line, so much so, they act on it just before his next deployment.

When life appears to pick back up upon his return home, tragedy strikes. When an idle threat becomes a reality, Brody will encounter a fight he never thought he would have to face; search and rescue for the woman he loves.

Buy Links: Amazon 

Note:  Sniper is currently available in a boxed set "Steamy & Dreamy" for 99 cents on Amazon or Free on Kindle Unlimited (posted 2/28/17).
  
My Review:


After reading Delta Force, the first book in Julie Morgan's Special Ops series, I just HAD to read this one. Although it is good to read Delta Force first to get a bit of background, Sniper can certainly be read as a stand-alone book too. 

Julie Morgan is awesome at character building. Unlike Logan in the first book who I loved to hate, Tom Brody in Sniper is absolutely lovable from start to finish. His relationship with Toni will melt your heart as they go from 'best friends' to so much more. And as for the amount of action, let me just say that once you start reading you won't be able to put this book down.  

This is another HOT romance from an author I plan to follow!

My Rating:



About the Author:


Originally from Burleson, Texas Julie always had a love of books, especially paranormal stories. Julie finally took the leap to begin writing with encouragement from her family. 

Having worked in IT her entire career, Julie now spends her free time writing. Living in Central Florida with her husband and daughter, her favorite pastime is reading children's stories to her daughter, especially those around animals.






Monday, February 27, 2017

Cover Reveal - Turn Tables by Stacey Rourke


Turn Tables
Stacey Rourke
Publication date: March 14th 2017
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance
Between private jets, designer labels, and lavish resorts, Tandy Owens should be having the time of her life. Her celebrity author best friend is getting married and all of Hollywood’s elite have turned out for the event. Unfortunately, Tandy’s mood is far from celebratory.
For over a year her heart has been torn between two men: Matthew Cruz, the brilliant, well-educated entrepreneur who makes her feel like a queen, and Mateo, his womanizing musician alter ego, who is known for collecting platinum records, and the panties of his sexual conquests. Matthew assures her that Mateo’s antics are all a show. Even so, with her being the only one to witness his softer side, Tandy begins to wonder which persona is truly the act.
In the sizzling heat of Miami, Tandy reaches the breaking point with their secretive romance, and finds herself asking if a hidden love is truly worth fighting for?


Author Bio:
RONE Award Winner for Best YA Paranormal Work of 2012 for Embrace, a Gryphon Series Novel
Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012
Turning Pages Magazine Winner for Best YA book of 2013 & Best Teen Book of 2013
Readers' Favorite Silver Medal Winner for Crane 2015
Stacey Rourke is the author of the award winning YA Gryphon Series, the chillingly suspenseful Legends Saga, and the romantic comedy Reel Romance Series. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant dogs. She loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction, and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head.

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Sunday, February 26, 2017

Book Review: Any Day Now by Robyn Carr

Title:  Any Day Now
Author:  Robyn Carr
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Publisher:  MIRA
Release Date:  April 18, 2017


About the Book:

The highly anticipated sequel to #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr's What We Find transports readers back to Sullivan's Crossing. The rustic campground at the crossroads of the Colorado and Continental Divide trails welcomes everyone—whether you're looking for a relaxing weekend getaway or a whole new lease on life. It's a wonderful place where good people face their challenges with humor, strength and love. 
For Sierra Jones, Sullivan's Crossing is meant to be a brief stopover. She's put her troubled past behind her but the path forward isn't yet clear. A visit with her big brother Cal and his new bride, Maggie, seems to be the best option to help her get back on her feet. 
Not wanting to burden or depend on anyone, Sierra is surprised to find the Crossing offers so much more than a place to rest her head. Cal and Maggie welcome her into their busy lives and she quickly finds herself bonding with Sully, the quirky campground owner who is the father figure she's always wanted. But when her past catches up with her, it's a special man and an adorable puppy who give her the strength to face the truth and fight for a brighter future. In Sullivan's Crossing Sierra learns to cherish the family you are given and the family you choose.

Available for Pre-Order - Release Date is April 18, 2017

Buy Links: Amazon 
My Review:


Life can be a struggle, especially for Sierra Jones who has had to struggle from the time she was a little girl, living with a father with a mental illness, and seeing her brother, her protector, the one who cared for her, her best friend, leave home when she was only ten years old.  Things go from bad to worse as she deals with alcoholism and a man who stalks her and abuses her in the worse way imaginable.

But after going into rehab, joining AA and staying sober for 9 months, she joins her brother and his pregnant wife in Colorado.  In Sullivan's Crossing she finds the family she always wanted, including a substitute father in Sully and a hot fireman boyfriend, Connie.  She even rescues a puppy from its abusive owner.

Robyn Carr creates multi-dimensional characters who warm your heart and make you feel like you are part of the story.  Sierra was a strong-willed woman learning to be independent.  Conrad (called Connie) was a sweet and sensitive and strong man that I couldn't help falling in love with (Yes, another book boyfriend).  And Sully was a straight forward lovable old coot!  Even the supporting characters were well developed.  Tom and Lola (now THAT was a sweet romance), Cal and Maggie, and many more.

The story starts off slow.  Very slow.  I have to admit that I put the book down a few times because not much seemed to be happening except for a lot of dialogue being repeated over and over.  But midway through the book the romance between Sierra and Connie heated up and there were lots of tingles leading up to the heavy stuff.  And oh how I love tingles!

The real action didn't occur until the last 25 to 30 per cent of the book when everything fell together.

Generally, I prefer a book that hooks me and reels me in within the first few pages.  This book did not do that but I'm glad I stuck with it because it definitely got better as it progressed.

*Disclosure:  I received a complimentary advance copy from NetGalley and the author in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts, comments and opinions are my own.

My Rating:



About the Author:


Robyn Carr is an award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 novels, including the critically acclaimed Virgin River and Thunder Point series, as well as highly praised women’s fiction titles such as Four Friends, What We Find, and The Life She Wants.

Robyn has won a RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America, and in 2016 she was awarded RWA’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the genre. Her novels have been translated into 19 languages in 30 countries. Originally from Minnesota, Robyn now resides in Henderson, Nevada, with her aviator husband; they have two grown children. When she isn’t writing, Robyn puts her energy into community service: she has mentored a seniors’ memoir-writing group, attends book club chats in and out of state whenever possible, and is working with her local library on the Carr Chat Series, a program centered on fundraising and visiting author events that bring writers, their books, and the community together.

Saturday, February 25, 2017

Book Review: Piercing the Veil (The Crusaders series, Book 1) by Nicole L. Taylor


Title:  Piercing the Veil (The Crusaders series, Book 1)
Author:  Nicole L. Taylor
Genre:  Fantasy Romance, Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Alan and Lane Media
Release Date:  May 10, 2016

From the Back Cover:

FAMILY SECRETS. PARALLEL WORLDS. FORBIDDEN LOVE.

Eighteen-year-old Alexa Moore has had enough of her rigid, controlled existence. Shortly after her graduation, she decides it’s time for her to make the decisions in her life, and quit letting her grandmother have the last say. But when she sees a man watching her—at her graduation, at the market, outside of where she volunteers—her excitement is snuffed out by a sense of dread she can’t shake. And that’s only the beginning…

Soon, strange things begin happening: doors opening by themselves, books falling off shelves. At first, Alexa ignores the bizarre occurrences, chalking them up to coincidence. But when things take a violent turn, she discovers that these occurrences aren’t coincidence at all. In fact, they’re all tied to one thing: her. It isn’t long before she realizes that telepathy and empathy are not the only abilities she possesses. And these new abilities—ones she cannot begin to explain—are growing in strength…becoming more and more dangerous.

Lost and confused, Alexa turns to her grandmother, the one person she trusts above all others, for help. But Gran isn’t who she appears to be, and Alexa finds herself embroiled in a family history that’s shrouded in mystery and lies, where no one, not even the young Irishman she’s fallen for, is who they seem.

Part romance, part thriller, and part fantasy, Piercing the Veil is Nicole L. Taylor’s premiere novel that is not to be missed.


Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

My Review:

This review was very difficult for me to write. The most frustrating thing about this book was that it has SERIOUS potential. I could see this as easily being a hit -- one of those *ohmigoshIcan'twaitforthenextone* books. The author has an undeniable talent for writing.

I normally read the sample on Amazon before agreeing to read the entire book. I ignored my rule this time because after reading only the first few pages of the prologue, I was hooked. My excitement at possibly finding an awesome new series blurred the memory of the previous times I'd been burned. That was my mistake. Lesson learned.

The prologue is absolutely beautifully written with enticing descriptions, lots of action, mystery, and suspense. Coming from someone who typically hates prologues -- that's really high praise. However, the tone of the rest of the book is VERY different from the prologue. It almost felt like it was written by someone else and belonged to a different book.

While the content of the prologue was somewhat dark, the rest of the book was almost bubblegummy in comparison. That edgy darkness just wasn't there. That would have been fine, but it felt a little like a bait and switch. Prologue aside... the book was riddled with problems. By the time I finished it, I was downright pissed off -- and not in a good way (i.e. because the next book isn't out yet).

Within the first couple of chapters, I wanted to bitch-slap the main character, Alexa Moore. A guy in a store flirts with her a little bit and after she makes him run around collecting her hard-to-find items, he asks her out for coffee. Instead of a polite "no thanks" and moving on, she blows up at him and comes across as this moody bitch with a stick up her ass. The author makes pains throughout the book to point out how the main character is so beautiful, giving, and thoughtful -- even donating her time to the less fortunate -- but her actions and dialogue gave me the impression that she was an annoying, angsty, self-absorbed bitch.

I could have gotten past all of that, but there were some serious mechanical issues in the book that should have been addressed. A lot of these things should have been caught by the content editor. There were numerous problems with the author's timeline (to the point that I wanted to stop and email her a calendar). In addition, the prose in the beginning of the book was meandering, redundant, and repetitive. It evened out after a while, but the beginning was somewhat confusing with an influx of character names that were very similar (Mike/Mark).

The supporting characters weren't very well-developed or memorable... to the point that I stopped bothering to try and remember which one was the brother or the cousin. There just wasn't anything noteworthy about their personalities and they seemed to have no real bearing on the plot.

Then one of my biggest pet peeves made an appearance...

Please, for the sake of God's little green apples... stupid misunderstandings should NOT be used as a major relationship plot device. This happened not once, not twice... BUT THREE TIMES! It got to the point that I was hoping that the evil baddie would make a sudden appearance and put one or both of these characters out of their misery.

No such luck.

Putting that aside (because it's a personal preference), I finished reading...and then shook my head.

The story ended with the hint of a cliffhanger (no satisfying ending) -- no huge build up, no big climax... it just fizzled and was stamped with a big "To Be Continued...".

Not only that, but the ending also had major issues because the character's reactions didn't make any sense (given the secrecy through the entire freaking book). Their seeming acceptance of everything just made me shake my head and wonder if the characters had jumped trains mid-read. Without giving away any spoilers, I can't go into more detail.... but let me tell you, it was really frustrating and anticlimactic.

If the author reads this, I hope she doesn't take this review as overly harsh criticism. She does have a lot of talent and I think her writing will undeniably improve as she continues to hone her craft. I honestly think she should consider taking this book off-market, hire a good content editor to identify all these issues, fix them and tighten up the writing, and then resubmit it. The storyline is fairly typical for the genre (nothing groundbreaking), but the series has the potential to be a real hit if she expands on the world-building and fixes the problems.

Overall, I just can't recommend this book or series in its current condition. With revisions though...I think this book could easily be a 4 or 5 stars.

*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy provided via NetGalley with the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.

My Rating:


About the Author:

NICOLE TAYLOR grew up loving and devouring books, until one day she discovered she loved something even more than reading: writing stories of her own. After years of dreaming about becoming an author, she finally decided to sit down and make that dream a reality. When she’s not working away on one of her novels, she can be found tucked away in a corner with one of her favorite books, chasing after her two precocious children alongside her amazing husband, or pondering ideas for novels of her own to come.

Author Links:
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Friday, February 24, 2017

Book Review: Savage Urges (The Phoenix Pack series, Book 5) by Suzanne Wright @suz_wright

Title:  Savage Urges (The Phoenix Pack series, Book 5)
Author:  Suzanne Wright
Genre:  Adult Paranormal Romance (18+)
Publisher:  Montlake Romance
Release Date:  May 3, 2016

From the Back Cover:

She’s a lone wolf with a cause.

As a volunteer at a shelter for lone shifters—the same one that rescued her—Makenna Wray has dedicated her life to finding homes for its residents. And when she discovers that a teen in her care is related to Ryan Conner, the broody, handsome-as-sin enforcer of the Phoenix Pack, she’s eager to help connect the two. She just wasn’t prepared to feel a connection of her own.

Lone wolves are loners for a reason—and most of them bad. Or so Ryan assumes until he meets the mysterious Makenna. Quirky and sensual, she seems to enjoy riling him, especially when she refuses to discuss her past. Although there is no mating bond, he’s sure she’s the one. All he has to do is be patient and wait. But when another pack’s sinister Alpha comes sniffing around, threatening Makenna and her shelter, this enforcer is ready to let his wolf off the leash…

Buy Links: Amazon 
My Review:

If you're a fan of shifters, adult paranormal romance, snarky heroines, and hot alpha men... you need to check out this series! Savage Urges is another awesome addition to The Phoenix Pack series. I was already a fan of Suzanne Wright's books, but this one made me fall even more in love with her writing. In this book, we're introduced to Makenna -- a quirky, hilarious, sexy, and fun heroine who knows just how to fire up Ryan's repressed emotions -- with some VERY steamy results.

For fans new to the series, you can easily read these books out of order. They're each a standalone book following one of the Phoenix Pack members and their ups and downs as they attempt to "tame" their mate. What I love about these books is that we get to visit with some of our favorite protagonists from previous books -- while getting a sneak peek about what they're up to in the shifter world.

Suzanne Wright writes strong characters, witty dialogue (leading to some laugh-out-loud moments), lots of actions -- and the romance is SIZZLING HOT *fans self*. She jumps right into the action with the first page and it doesn't stop until the very end! Be warned though -- you might not want to start this book late at night because if you're like me, you'll have trouble putting it down and will have a hell of a book hangover the next day. (But it's totally worth it!)

My Rating:



About the Author:


Suzanne Wright lives in England with her husband, two children, and her Bengal cats. When she's not spending time with her family, she's writing, reading, or doing her version of housework - sweeping the house with a look.


Author Links:
    



Thursday, February 23, 2017

Book Review: Got Your Number by Stephanie Bond


Title:  Got Your Number 
Author:  Stephanie Bond
Genre:  Mystery & Suspense, Romantic Comedy
Publisher: NeedtoRead Books
Release Date:  October 28, 2011


From the Back Cover:

GOT YOUR NUMBER is a fast-paced romantic mystery!

You can run, but eventually your past will catch up with you...

Wrong-side-of-the-tracks Roxann and her silver-spoon cousin Angora have never had anything in common--until now. Now adults and estranged for years, both women are on the run, one a reluctant witness to a crime, one just jilted at the altar. With each harboring her own secrets, the cousins decide to hit the road to tackle items on the Life Lists they created in college. Along the way, they let their hair down and are forced to face their pasts, unleashing fun, sex--and murder! Just when the two women start to become friends, their futures are suddenly looking very, very dim...

Praise for GOT YOUR NUMBER:

"Stephanie Bond proves to be a masterful storyteller and GOT YOUR NUMBER is her latest winner. A definite keeper!" --The Best Reviews

"Stephanie Bond provides readers with that rare humorous yet suspense laden novel that leaves the audience wanting more from a delightful author." --BookBrowser

"Bond fills her story with enough witty repartee, red herrings and romance to keep readers guessing." --Publishers Weekly

"Author Stephanie Bond has hit the perfect combination of humor, intrigue, emotional baggage and romance. This book is a hoot." --Romantic Times Book Reviews

For a rollicking good read, get GOT YOUR NUMBER!



Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

My Review:

I love a mystery!  And this one had so many twists and turns that it kept my attention all the way to end.  Just when you think you have it all figured out, something happens to turn your thoughts upside down.  Got Your Number is a combination of humor, romance, mystery and intrigue.

I listened to the Audible version of this novel and I'm not sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.  The voice the narrator used gave me the impression that Detective Joe Capistrano was a bit sleazy... but his actions didn't convey that at all!  And the voice of Roxann made her seem kind of flat and at times totally uncaring.  I don't believe that was the intention of the author.  It made me wish I had "read" the book instead of listened to it.  

This was an action packed story starting out with Roxann getting fired from her job as a waitress.  The waitress job was just a cover job.  Her REAL job was helping women who were victims of domestic abuse escape to establish themselves in a new environment.  That got her into a bit of trouble as one of those husbands came after Roxann for information on where his wife had run off to.  Detective Capistrano wants to find the wife also because she was a witness to her husband shooting Detective Capistrano's partner.  

Getting away for awhile, Roxann decides to go back home where her cousin, Angora, is getting married.  But then poor Angora gets left at the alter when hubby-to-be decides he wants to rekindle the flame with his old girlfriend.  Wanting to get away, Angora talks Roxann into taking her on a road trip (with ex-fiance's American Express gold card) to their college homecoming.  That's when things really start getting crazy!  Old crushes on a college professor, old murders, new murders, old loves and new loves!  A crazy, domineering mother/aunt, and a soybean farmer attorney add more craziness to this mix.

Stephanie Bond brings together romance, mystery, intrigue, and family chaos... all rolled together with a heavy dose of humor.

My Rating:


About the Author:


Stephanie Bond was several years into a corporate computer programming career when an instructor in her night school MBA program remarked she had a flair for writing and encouraged her to submit one of her projects to academic journals. "But," Stephanie says, "all I could think was 'I wonder if I could write a romance novel?' " 


She spent every spare moment the next couple of years writing and submitting manuscripts before selling her romantic comedy IRRESISTIBLE? to Harlequin books. After selling ten projects in two years, Stephanie walked away from her corporate career to write commercial fiction full time. To date, she's published over 70 romance and mystery projects with Random House, St. Martin's Press, HarperCollins, Mira Books, and more recently, under her own imprint. 



Stephanie's independently published romantic comedy STOP THE WEDDING!, a Kindle bestseller in three languages, is now a Hallmark Channel movie! Check local TV/DVR guides for repeat airings.



Stephanie lives in midtown Atlanta and is probably working on a story at this very moment



Wednesday, February 22, 2017

#CoverReveal - Allerleirauh by Chantal Gadoury @cgadoury16



Title:  Allerleirauh
Author:  Chantal Gadoury
Genre:  Historical Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling
Release Date:  August 22, 2017

From the Back Cover:

Long ago in the kingdom of Tranen, a king makes a promise to his dying wife to remarry only a woman who possesses her same golden hair. With time, the wicked king finds his attentions are captured by his maturing daughter. With her father’s dastardly intentions at her door post, Princess Aurelia wards off his advances by requesting impossible gifts…. Dresses created by the sun, moon and stars and a coat made of a thousand furs. 

By the hands of horrible magic, the king is successful and the dresses are delivered and Aurelia decides to sacrifice her privileged life. She escapes her kingdom, the only home she’s ever known, disguised with a cloak and a new name, “Allerleirauh.” 
Aurelia enters the safe haven of the kingdom of Saarland der Licht, where she is taken under the care of the handsome and gentle Prince Klaus. Hoping to not be discovered by her father’s courtiers, Aurelia tries to remain hidden under her new false identity. Unexpected love is challenged between Aurelia and Prince Klaus with an approaching arranged marriage between the heir of Saarland der Licht and the neighboring ruler’s daughter. With danger and heartache hanging in the air, Aurelia must face the troubles of her past and her fears for the future in her journey of self-discovery. 

Based on the Grimm Brothers’ Fairy Tale “Allerleirauh.”


About the Author:

Chantal is a 2011 graduate from Susquehanna University with a degree in Creative Writing. Since graduation, she has published three novels: “Seven Seeds of Summer” in March of 2014 with Waldorf Publishing, “The Songs in Our Hearts,” to be released in the Summer of 2017 with 48Fourteen Publishing, and “Allerleirauh,” which is to be re-released in a new edition by Parliament House Publishing, August 2017.



Writing novels for Chantal has become a life-long dream come true! When she’s not writing a book, she enjoys painting, drinking lots of DD Carmel Mocha Iced Coffee, and watching Disney classics. Chantal lives in Muncy, Pennsylvania with her Mom, Sister and furry-‘brother’ (aka, puppy) Taran.
Author Links:
    

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Book Review: Brain - The Man Who Wrote the Book That Changed the World by Dermot Davis


Title:  Brain - The Man Who Wrote the Book That Changed the World
Author:  Dermot Davis
Genre:  Humor & Satire
Publisher:  Expression Unleashed Publishing
Release Date:  July 4, 2013


From the Back Cover:

It's the classic dilemma of the writer: Do you write what's in your heart or do you write what sells? In this modern age of publishing there is a huge chasm between the best selling authors that are rich beyond their dreams and... well, everybody else. All Daniel Waterstone ever wanted to do was write the great American novel and change the landscape of modern literature forever. He has two literary books in print but no one's buying. His agent won't even accept his latest masterpiece which he poured his soul into: apparently, it's not commercial enough. In a final act of desperation, Daniel decides to write - not what's in his heart but - what he thinks will sell. Boy, did he get that one wrong...
"Brain is that rare species of complete entertainment that can be both deeply philosophical and buoyantly accessible." - Chanticleer Book Reviews
"...an entertaining farce about modern society, a deft, fast-paced tale that will leave self-aware readers giggling." - Publishers Weekly
"...ironic, iconoclastic, and pure entertainment from first page to last."The Midwest Book Review
"...full of odd metaphors, literary allusions, and hilarious coincidences... pure fun for the reader." - San Francisco Book Review
GOLD MEDAL WINNER IN THE 2015 READERS FAVORITE BOOK AWARDS
FIRST PLACE WINNER IN THE 2013 USA BEST BOOK AWARDS
READER VIEWS READERS CHOICE 2014 AWARD-WINNER
SOMERSET AWARDS FIRST PLACE WINNER 2013


Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

My Review:

This book was laugh out loud funny!  Ironic and chaotic... but in a humorous way!  I absolutely loved it!  If any of my author friends are reading this review... stop what you are doing and download this book today.  You will  love it too!

When you get to know various authors and begin to understand how the current publishing world works, you come to the realization that it doesn't really matter how good a novel is, it just matters if it is what the general population is buying at that point in time and how it is marketed.  Sad, but true.  Daniel Waterstone came to that realization when the novels he had poured his heart and soul into were rejected by his publishing agent.  She told him he needed to write what the public is buying.

Feeling dejected, having his world (and his bank account) collapse beneath him, and seeing the massive popularity of a nonsensical book by a self-proclaimed psychic, Daniel went back to his apartment and using the pen name Charles Spectrum, proceeded to write a satire making fun of the absurdity in books like Take Control of Your Life by Randy Guswhite.  The last thing Daniel expected to happen was for people to take this "satire" literally and turn it into a self-help book, following his suggestions of walking backward for six weeks and sleeping standing up or jumping up and down on their beds yelling "I can fly, I can fly".

The laughs and absurdity continue as Randy believes Daniel stole his brain and goes to extreme lengths to get it back.  Then there is blackmail, a bombing, and so much more.

If you like satire or if you are an author with a good sense of humor, you will enjoy this book.  Dermot Davis' wit and mastery of the written word brings to light a hint of the craziness this world has to offer.

My Rating:

About the Author:


Dermot is an Irish writer who splits his time between Ireland and the US. His creative work encompasses varied genres and styles with a special focus on human themes and characters transformed by life experience. He is a Gold Medalist Winner in the 2015 READER’S FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARD, a SOMERSET AWARDS FIRST PLACE WINNER 2013, a First Place Winner in the 2013 USA BEST BOOK AWARDS and a Finalist in the 2013 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS. As a playwright, Dermot is a recipient of the O.Z. Whitehead Award which was co-sponsored by Irish Pen and the Society of Irish Playwrights.

Monday, February 20, 2017

Book Review: Mary Poser by Angel A


Title:  Mary Poser
Author:  Angel A
Genre:  Contemporary, Multicultural, Romance, Comedy
Publisher: Angel's Leap
Release Date:  August 21, 2017

About the Book:

The recipe for a warm and humorous story…

In a modest bowl of Nashville, gently place a girl who is Country music, Bible belt, and a Steakhouse foodie.

Then add a surprise portion of exotic and handsome Anglo Indian, who is a passionate Bollywood director, vegetarian and Hindu.

Stir vigorously on a bed of intense attraction.

At first, the ingredients will seem to clash and separate.

Keep stirring…

Include a dollop of jealous boyfriend and a meddling mother.

Splash in a serving of fun and mischievous friends. Keep stirring…

Add a dash of crazy aunt and a minister father to keep the flavors working together.

Sprinkle in even more complicated family members to taste.

Cook on high emotions.

The secret ingredient that cuts through the sweetness is a final layer of shocking revelation that adds a surprising depth of flavor.

Finish with a twist of 'Oh My God! Is she really going to do that?'.

Serve as tasty bite-size chapters in a novel dish of mayhem and madness with a side of Country music and Bollywood dancing.

Mary Poser Teaser Trailer from Angel's Leap on Vimeo.

Buy Link: Amazon
My Review:

This was the first book I have read by this author and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.  This was more than just another romance book with a love triangle.  It delved deep into friendships, family, bigotry, religion, and multi-cultural beliefs.

Living in Nashville, Tennessee her entire life, Mary Poser is the daughter of a Baptist minister and lives her life the way she is expected to behave, jumping through hoops for her family, friends and her boss.... until she catches a glimpse of the most gorgeous man she had ever seen in her life and her life is turned upside down.  When their eyes meet, chemistry explodes!  But this man is from India, and is Hindu and is only in Nashville for the Film Festival.  How can this  relationship possibly have a chance?

After driving off a bridge and having a near death experience, life continues to get complicated for Mary.  But her Aunt Sara has more insight than you can imagine as she explains why a butterfly shouldn't be helped out of a cocoon (chrysalis).  She explains that "a butterfly needs to struggle within it to develop its wings, and then it needs to break out of the chrysalis by itself to get even stronger.  If you open the chrysalis too early, the butterfly won't be ready.  It won't be able to fly."  This also seems to be true in Mary's life.

And struggle she does!  Continuing to follow what her family expects of her, she is totally miserable.  When she finally finds the strength within her to live her life as she chooses, many secrets are revealed.

Angel A. did a remarkable job explaining customs and beliefs in the Indian culture.  I was fascinated reading every time Simha explained his culture to Mary.  Very descriptive and the characters were very well developed.

The middle of the book dragged just a bit, but all in all, it was an awesome book!

My Rating:



About the Author:

Angel A is a world traveler who shares her insights and experiences of global culture through narratives that are compelling, inspiring and insightful. Mary Poser is Angel’s first novel. Her passion is to explore our inner world as revealed through the challenges, triumphs and revelations experienced in our outer world.
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The Novel Lady Published @ 2014 by Ipietoon