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2014 - 100+ Books

A Grave Inheritance by Kari Edgren

December 29, 2014 by Darlene

graveHaving read Goddess Born, the first book in Kari Edgren’s trilogy and enjoying it immensely, I knew I had to read A Grave Inheritance and I was not disappointed!  As with any sequel a review is a bit difficult without maybe giving away a spoiler from the first book so be forewarned before you go on if you do intend to read the series.  In A Grave Inheritance we continue Selah’s journey – this time to meet her love Henry in London.  A Grave Inheritance takes us back in time combining elements of magic and mythology giving the reader a truly captivating tale.

In A Grave Inheritance Selah comes to London to be with Henry but unfortunately it seems he is not hers alone.  She has to contend with his betrothed and even another goddess born.  Yet Henry assures her he only has eyes for her and of course Selah will do anything for Henry and their lives together.  Yet when Henry begins to question Selah’s use of her gifts she has to wonder if they do indeed have a future together.  He must accept her for who she is – a descendant of a goddess.  It doesn’t help that Henry’s father is not approving of their betrothal either especially since Henry is already promised to the king’s daughter.  And then there is Julian who is another descendant of Brigid’s.  He is showing a great deal of interest in Selah but can he be trusted.  As time goes on things really begin to heat up and Selah starts learning more and more about her family and her roots.  What she learns shakes the foundations of who she always thought she was and as a malevolent force takes control of the very things that mean the most to Selah she knows that she will have to fight it with everything she can.

Oh I know this review is a bit vague but I don’t want to talk about the story much except to say it was really good.  A Grave Inheritance is faster paced than the first one and really brings alive the sights and sounds of England.  I loved that we got to see more of the goddess born traits that Selah possesses really shine in this book.  It was also really interesting to see her family dynamics change drastically and I hope we learn more about that in the next book. I can’t help but mention the book cover as well.  I think it is absolutely gorgeous.  Last but not least this installment ended on a whoosie of a cliffhanger which I didn’t expect at all but it certainly makes me even more anxious to delve into the next book!

Recommended for those who enjoy historical fiction with elements of the paranormal.  I really enjoyed it and can’t wait for the final book!

 

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Buy: Amazon, Amazon UK, B&N

 

 

 

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Source: Digital review copy provided by the tour company and publisher for an honest review. No compensation was received.
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Filed Under: 2014 - 100+ Books, 2014 ARC's, 2014 Book Reviews, 2014 eBooks, Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tours

New Year Island by Paul Draker (Audiobook)

December 26, 2014 by Darlene

new year
 

New Year Island by Paul Draker was an awesome audiobook for me! It is narrated by Teri Schnaubelt who I’ve never listened to before but she does a fantastic job with this suspense filled story! This audiobook is 23 hours long and I’ll tell you it flew by so quickly and I could barely stop listening for any reason. I’m sure the print book is just as good but nothing is better than audio for relating the suspense, fear, and horror that goes along with a well told story.  For this type of genre this was a five star listening experience for me.

I love stories about people having to survive – like on the television show Survivor. I love that kind of stuff so this book fit the bill perfectly for me especially since Survivor just ended. Ten strangers are contacted by a new reality show. The reason they were chosen is that they are survivors in one way or another in their lives. They are taken to a small island and left there – alone. They learn quickly that the island is inhabited by some strange and not very friendly sea creatures. They also learn that their every move is being recorded from hundreds of hidden cameras. Soon enough they are introduced to their host Julian via a monitor and find out that they are to compete in teams and sometimes alone in highly competitive and sometimes dangerous challenges. Needless to say as the days wear on and the contestants find themselves injured and without enough water or food they begin to get angry and combative. Instead of pulling together the situation brings out the very worst in their character and they find themselves even turning on each other. When one of them dies though the stakes become much higher and they begin to wonder if they will be allowed to leave the island alive at all…

Despite there being so many characters the author does a phenomenal job of letting the reader know just who they are individually. We learn over time why each of them is there and ultimately we learn who the real mastermind is but the edge of your seat thrill ride to get there is one that is sure to keep a reader or listener glued to the story. So often I would find myself talking out loud and saying ‘oh no don’t do that or don’t go there, or just plain oh boy’ that my poor dog was even a bit anxious. I definitely had my favorites in the book that I rooted for and while some of the scenes might have been a tad unbelievable I feel people need to suspend belief sometimes to be taken on a true thrill ride that gets their heart beating at top speed. Loved it!

Highly recommended for those who like survivor type stories, mysteries, psychological stories and most definitely suspense filled ones! I look forward to reading or I hope listening to more from Paul Draker.

 

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Source: Review copy provided by Audible for an honest review.  No compensation was received.
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Filed Under: 2014 - 100+ Books, 2014 ARC's, 2014 Book Reviews, Audiobooks

The Back Building by Julie Dewey

December 24, 2014 by Darlene

backThe Back Building is Julie Dewey’s newest book and yet another reason that I enjoy her books so much. They always bring to light some important time in history and also to the people that lived during this long ago time. In The Back Building Julie tackles mental illness and the unfortunate way it is looked upon both in the past and even now in the present and takes us through one family’s battle with mental illness both in the past and in the present.

Iona Mueller comes from a wealthy family and to the outside eye certainly seems to have it all. Yet her mother keeps a fairly tight leash on her wanting her to only be a proper young lady and that included restricting what she could eat, not talking to her, or punishing her for not doing chores properly. Iona dealt with this by ceaselessly counting the steps she took, cleaning, and talking to her friend Hetty who helped her through her days. Needless to say this behavior was not considered proper or normal and Iona’s parents decide to send her to the Willard Asylum to hopefully reform and get better.

Iona is only fifteen when she enters the Willard Asylum and it’s such a foreign environment for her. She doesn’t feel like she belongs there. She isn’t crazy like these people. Sure she counts but who does that hurt? When her new roommate Cat arrives things change drastically for Iona and she tries running away. This only makes matters worse and she’s transferred to a much more secure ward. There she is subjected to hydrotherapy, tranquilizers, and even worse, beatings. Yet there were even worse places she could be and one of those was the back building. She had to make sure never to be put there. With the help of James, a young man she meets, they put together a plan to ensure that this never happens to Iona.

Fast forward to the future and we meet Jenna, a young girl, who is a descendant of Iona’s. Jenna too is suffering from mental illness and finds her life spiraling more and more out of control. Jenna’s family decides to trace their roots back to Iona to try and understand if Jenna’s battle with mental illness is in any way connected to Iona’s so many years ago.

The Back Building is a fascinating story. There is such a stigma attached to mental illness and I don’t understand why. So many suffer with it whether in a functioning or destructive form. There is nothing wrong with those who suffer and they need only our understanding and care.  This novel brings to light that while our methods of treating mental illness have improved the stigma attached to it hasn’t all that much.   Highly recommended for those who enjoy historical fiction and a really good story!

 

Other tour stops with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
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Julie’s Links: Website, Facebook
Buy: Amazon, Amazon Canada

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Source: Digital review copy provided by the tour company.  No compensation was received.
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Filed Under: 2014 - 100+ Books, 2014 ARC's, 2014 Book Reviews, 2014 eBooks, Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tours

The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain (Audiobook)

December 22, 2014 by Darlene

silent
 

Diane Chamberlain is becoming a favorite author of mine. Her books are always so good! Her newest The Silent Sister was one that held me rapt from the first page to the last. It is a powerful and emotional story about love, forgiveness, and long held family secrets. The Silent Sister was one of the She Reads Books of Fall and while I’m late in getting my review posted I still have to say it’s another fantastic pick for the She Reads readers!

Riley has come after the death of her father to get all of his things sorted out. What she didn’t realize when she began cleaning out his house was that she would find anything after being away twenty years that would have the power to shake her world and change it forever but she was wrong. She does find something. Riley finds evidence that her older sister Lisa, who she has believed for her entire life committed suicide when she was a teenager, may actually be alive. Alive and living as someone else with a whole new identity and life.

Riley is full of questions. Where is Lisa? Why did she run away all those years ago? Was she running away from something or someone? The one thing Riley does know is that she has to find out. As she uncovers clues as to where Lisa may be she also begins to learn shocking truths about her family – the family she thought she knew and now realizes that she never really did.

The Silent Sister is one intricately woven fantastic mystery! I really enjoyed Riley’s journey to uncover her family’s life changing secrets. I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Susan Bennett and she does such a great job. It is the first time I listened to her but it won’t be the last. She was the perfect choice for telling this tale!

Recommended for those who love women’s fiction and mysteries. Highly recommended!

 

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Source: Digital review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.  Audiobook personal copy.  No compensation was received.
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Filed Under: 2014 - 100+ Books, 2014 ARC's, 2014 Book Reviews, Audiobooks, She Reads

The Language of Hoofbeats by Catherine Ryan Hyde & Giveaway (US/Can)

December 18, 2014 by Darlene

hoofbeatsI’ll start right off by saying that The Language of Hoofbeats by Catherine Ryan Hyde will be one of my favorite books of 2014 – I loved it, especially the audio version! It is narrated by two of my favorite narrators – Kate Rudd and Laural Merlington who I adore and they do such an amazing job of bringing these characters and this story to life. The Language of Hoofbeats is a beautiful story of love and hope and how both of those things can mend a broken spirit.

Jackie and Paula have just moved to a small town with their adopted son Quinn and two teen foster kids Mondo and Star who has several issues. It isn’t long before they get a rude introduction to their neighbor Clementine who very much disapproves of the lifestyle they are living. Things are made worse by Star who notices that the horse that Clementine owns isn’t being properly cared for or taken out to run. Needless to say Clementine resents Star and the bond she shares with the horse with a passion and forbids Star from even going on her property. Star, being the troubled teen that she is, takes it upon herself to run off with the horse believing it’s the best thing for Comet. In turn Jackie, Paula, and Clementine are thrown together and as time goes on they all have to confront the past and present in order to move on meanwhile learning that you never really know what lies behind a person’s harsh personality and that sometimes love and understanding go a long way to healing that person.

I couldn’t say enough good things about this book to fit in my review. I loved the characters. Jackie and Paula are a wonderful couple who work so well together to give their kids a good home. The kids were awesome especially Quinn who seemed so sweet and vulnerable. I even liked Clementine no matter how nasty she got. I actually found her amusing at times and what I liked most about her was her willingness to finally look inside herself and open up to the world beyond her own little house. The novel itself is an emotional and beautifully told story that captured my heart. I could feel the turmoil of these characters and most of all I could see myself having them in my life – that’s how real they seemed to me. It’s simply a brilliant story that I enjoyed so very much!

There are some novels that stay with you, in your heart and mind – The Language of Hoofbeats is one of those novels for me. Highly recommended!

 

Other tour stops with TLC Book Tours
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Buy: Amazon, Amazon Canada, B&N
Author Links: Website, Facebook, Twitter

 

GIVEAWAY – OPEN TO US & CANADIAN RESIDENTS

1 paperback copy up for giveaway!

*CLICK HERE* and fill out the form to enter

Draw Date January 3/15

 

 

 

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Source: Digital review copy was received by the publisher for an honest review.  Audiobook personal copy.  No compensation was received.
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Filed Under: 2014 - 100+ Books, 2014 ARC's, 2014 Book Reviews, Audiobooks, TLC Tours

Noah’s Wife by T.K. Thorne & Tour Wide Rafflecopter Giveaway (US only)

December 17, 2014 by Darlene

noahNoah’s Wife by T.K. Thorne is an epic journey through one woman’s life that captivates the reader from the very first page. One thing I’d like to say is that this is not a Bible based story. It is a biblical novel in that Noah is one of our characters but it is more about the fictional tale of the life his wife might have had, keeping in mind that absolutely nothing is known of Noah’s wife in the bible. T.K. Thorne has built an amazing world with memorable characters and a story not soon forgotten.

Na’amah’s only wish in life is to be a shepherdess in the hills of Turkey. It is where she feels most comfortable and free. Na’amah doesn’t fit in with her people as she has Aspergers although that wasn’t known at that time in history. As with most women of that time Na’amah’s life wasn’t her own as she battled with understanding why her brother hated her while also being blessed with the love of two men. However Na’amah’s path to a peaceful life is a rocky one. She endures a disturbing incident that causes her to run away from all she’s ever known and in doing that she gets kidnapped. This really is the beginning of Na’amah’s journey to learning about herself and awakening to her world. The journey brings to light the separation of people in worshiping either Father God or Mother Goddess and I found it all very fascinating.

Na’amah is a wonderful character. Despite the challenges she has with her illness she still possesses a great strength within her and many gifts she struggles to understand. The relationship with her best friend Yanner who loved her was a beautiful one as was her life with Noah. One of my favorite characters was Na’amah’s grandmother Savta. Though she was a woman she still had a voice and she protected Na’amah with her life. I finished this book days ago and the characters are still alive in mind – that’s when I know I’ve read something memorable.

Noah’s Wife is a beautifully written novel and so well researched. The author did a wonderful job of bringing this time and place alive for her readers. I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Melissa Carey and I thought she did a really good job. At first I wasn’t so sure about her for the telling of this story but it wasn’t long until I realized she was just perfect for it. Noah’s Wife is a novel that I enjoyed a great deal and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend!

 

 

Other tour stops with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
Read an excerpt, listen to an audiobook sample
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Author Links: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads
Sign up for T.K. Thorne’s Newsletter
Buy: Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Audible

 

GIVEAWAY RULES

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on December 19th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to residents of the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion
– Winner have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

 

*CLICK HERE* TO ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

 

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Source: Review copy provided by the author for an honest review. No compensation was received.
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Filed Under: 2014 - 100+ Books, 2014 ARC's, 2014 Book Reviews, Audiobooks, Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tours

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