The Russian Tattoos: Prisoner by Kat Shehata; Blog Tour hosted by Xpresso Reads

Hi, yall!  I am here today to review the book Russian Tattoos: Prisoner by Kat Shehata, and I am also a part of the blog tour for this book.  Huge shout out to Xpresso Reads for putting this all together and allowing me to be a part of it.  Just click here if you would like to follow the tour stops.

Don't forget to check at the end of the review for an international giveaway and good luck!!!

                                                           

Russian Tattoos: Prisoner
by Kat Shehata
Published by Limitless Publishing
Date of Publication: Aug 2 2016
Genre: Dark romance, suspense, New Adult, 18+

American tennis player Carter Cook is being held prisoner by the Russian mafia…
Carter is the obsession of mob boss Vladimir Ivanov, a man she once loved. Now a mafia war has erupted on his home turf, and Vladimir’s enemies have put a bounty on her head to force him to surrender. If she is captured, his rivals will deliver a deadly ultimatum—his life in exchange for hers. The price for Carter’s freedom is Vladimir’s blood.
Vladimir holds ultimate power as godfather of the Ivanov Bratva…
He spent five years in a Siberian prison camp and has earned every tattoo inked into his skin. He is a powerful man who rules his crew with an iron fist.
But his enemies have discovered his only weakness—Carter. Vladimir knows if she stays in his world, he is handing her a death sentence, so he vows to get her home and never interfere in her life again. Giving up the woman he loves is the only way to protect her from the bad guys—including himself.
Vladimir’s rivals have a different plan for the ill-fated couple…
Some punishments are worse than death, and the head of the Ovechkin Bratva will go to any length to seek vengeance and inflict maximum suffering on Vladimir.
Carter may be Vladimir’s weakness, but she is also his only hope for survival. When the boss of the Ovechkin family threatens the man she loves, she must fight for Vladimir’s freedom before their rivals can deliver the fatal blow.
Love is blind—but it could also be deadly.

My Review:

I didn't really know what to expect when it came to Prisoner.  I thought maybe I could read book 2, even though I hadn't picked up book 1, Obsession.  That is a no no! You must read book 1 before you read book 2!!!  

Which is probably a big fat "duh" for most people but I am weird.  

So I did read book 1 and it pushed my emotions to the wall.  There are some things in it that just screamed at me "NOOOOO!" But there were other parts of it that I really liked.  

Of course, you have to understand that Russian Tattoos isn't your typical romance.  I think the author was intending it to be more of a dark romance/BDSM type deal.  Without the leather whips and playtoys.  

It is also not marketed towards Young Adult (hell no) and has some definite erotic scenes in the storyline.  

So when you look at those factors, then it is a little bit easier to get past the rough treatment of Carter.  But not completely. 

Honestly, I didn't know if I was going to love it or hate it until I realized that is what really great writing is.  The ability to push me to such extremes and wreck my emotions so harshly.  I was crying with both books.  I may not agree with everything that happens to Carter because of Vladimir and his goons but I don't think the author does either.  Or at least, everything isn't going to be sunshine and roses when you are dealing with the Russian Mafia. 

I believe that is what the author is trying to convey to us, as well as the fact that love is blind.  Love doesn't see the dangers, just what the heart wants.  And for Carter, she wants Vladimir even when she knows he may not be the knight in shining armor she expected.  

The plot was amazing and  I loved the details Shehata went to to make it feel like we were a part of the Russian mafia scene.  It is gritty and she doesn't romanticize it as much as you would expect in a romance book.  She shows us the dirty behind the scenes side of it, and through this,  we also get to see the lesser of the two evils.  

The characters are a mixed blessing to me.  I like Carter's spunk but couldn't stand her immaturity when it came to her life.  I kept having to go back and check to make sure she was in college, instead of high school the way she acted most of the time. 

Besides her immaturity, I did see some similarities of myself in her.  Especially, the low self-esteem.  That was a major point with me as I was hoping she would stand up for herself more while  I knew I have some of the same issues she deals with too.   

Vladimir is the "sexy Russian" we all dream about at night.  Actually, when I pictured Vladimir, Illya from the movie, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. would pop into my head.  Of course, that isn't a bad thing at all.  I love that character! 

 Vladimir has a very pronounced dark side to him being the pakhan of his family in the Russian mafia.  I liked the bad boy type he played but he became very scary when he drank.  And vodka is a major object in his Russia.  There is definitely issues there besides the fact he is the leader of his bratva in major crime.  

Then there is Boris.  Ah, Boris.  I have this love/hate relationship with Boris.  As I read through with Boris, I kept reminding myself that he was raised in a completely different environment than what anyone in America was used to.  Am I condoning him for some of his treatment of Carter? No way.  But I am trying to understand from his viewpoint.  

He is loyal to a T. Family is everything to him. His family, though.  I think he admires Carter but thinks she is too naive and immature for her own good.  No argument there.  And Boris believes in the using the belt.  Very much.  But again, we need to remember that Russia is a completely different environment than where Carter grew up.  

Later, we understand how this "iron fist" attitude comes to help everyone in the family and how Boris isn't the only one who relies on it.  

In Prisoner, we get meet other characters that are important to the story, but I feel these three characters are the ones you will interact with the most.  Although, I do love me some Dimitri, the sisters, and Pasha.  

There really isn't a good vs bad guy here.  There are just different degrees of bad guys.  And the really  really bad guy is the "douche bag" who we all want to sucker punch.  

I also really appreciate the research that was done into the Russian mafia, the Russian culture, and the language to give us a well-rounded book that seemed to be very in the know of its characters and backgrounds.  In fact, I would love to read more about Russia from a historical standpoint because it does have a beautiful side to it too.  And I loved the language so much!  Da!

All in all, I was torn between loving this book and despising the treatment of Carter.  I loved the plot, some of the characters, and the descriptions of the Russian dealings.  I enjoyed the banter Carter put out but at the same time, I still think she needs to learn when to let it go.  

There is also a lot of dark moments in the both books.  It makes for some major suspense but at the same time, some may have gone a little too far.  It's all in the reader's point of view.  

I give Russian Tattoos : Prisoner four hearts.  I loved it more than the first book and I feel like we really get a more in-depth look into Vladimir and Boris.  And Carter finally gets some growing up out of the way.  

Oh and there is a huge cliffhanger at the end of both books.  I am talking "holding on by one finger" type cliffhanger.  So if you're not a cliffhanger type person you may want to think hard about reading it.

Get your own copy at :

Amazon

Connect with the Author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Author Bio:

Kat Shehata’s first career involved caring for exotic, dangerous, and adorable animals as a zookeeper. As an author, Kat weaves her love of animals into her work. She is the co-author of the New York Times bestselling children’s book Animals on the Other Side wrote with Sylvia Browne.
She is an avid tennis player and spends her free time playing matches in a recreational league in Cincinnati, Ohio. She holds a bachelor’s degree in theatre from Wilmington College, a professional writing certificate from the University of Cincinnati, and a master’s degree in creative writing from Spalding University.

Giveaway Time!!!

Click here to be taken to the Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway.  My html is just not wanting to cooperate.  

Book Review: The Tethered Trilogy by Jennifer Snyder

Hey guys!  I want to thank Mrs. Snyder for the chance to review these three books and a huge thanks to AToMR Tours for the chance as well.  

I want to apologize for not getting this post up earlier; my Internet has been down all weekend and I have been stressed to say the least!  

Thanks again and enjoy!

Title: The Tethered Trilogy

Author: Jennifer Snyder

Catalyst Summary:

Sometimes who we really are lies buried just beneath the surface…
After learning she’s inherited a house in the beachside town of Soul Harbor, Georgia, Addison Harmon and her best friend decided to take a much needed vacation before the pressures of life after high school suffocate them too heavily.


But what Addison finds isn’t a chance to recoup from a bad break up and hang out with her best friend while she decides what she wants to do with her future. What she finds is Kace Sullivan—a sexy guy she can’t seem to get enough of—someone who with one touch reveals a seductive world full of magick and secrets Addison isn’t sure she’s ready to be a part of.

My Thoughts:

So, I seriously believe that Addison is a shadow of me???  I just moved from North Carolina to GA and I was actually from GA before I moved to NC to start with.  This is like my life here; except for the magick and all the fine young specimens on the beach.  But I digress...
I enjoyed the magical element to the story.  I found Addison an interesting character and I loved how she accepted the fact that she was different pretty easily.  I also enjoyed how there is this bad girl side to her but she is pretty level headed for the most part.
I love the town of Soul Harbor!!!  I have always thought GA has this insane magical element to it and I just love that  the author included that in the story.  I really felt the mysterious aura surrounding the small town that Addison moves to!
We have some interesting characters and I love Theo!  Yes, he seems like a bad boy but I would fall for him hands down every time, instead of Kace.

All in all, I  believe Catalyst is the perfect sexy love story to get you in the mood for summer or that one more summer fling before life comes back!

Very awesome!

Conjure Summary:

Sometimes to understand the present you have to conjure up the past…
The last thing Addison Harmon needed was to become tethered to the broody, often seemingly cold, Theo Van Rooyen, but that’s exactly what happened.


Forced to partner up with Theo to figure out a way to break the tether, Addison soon realizes she may have bitten off more than she can chew.

My Thoughts:
Conjure really picks it up a notch in the fire (no pun intended) department!  Addison is so lucky (yes I said it!) to have been tethered to Theo but now she wants to figure out a way to break it.  We get to see a complex side of Theo.  He isn't just this bad boy we thought he was in the first book; but instead he is a very unusual Hoodoo artist as well.  
I can understand the emotions Addison is going through while interacting with Theo and Kace at the same time.  I had already figured some of the mysteries that are revealed in Conjure out already but I still enjoyed the deliverance of them too.  

I just really don't like Kace!  Sorry, he just seems so off.  And it is funny because his friend Adam is supposed to be the dick; but I just think Kace has this holier than thou attitude that I just can't get with.  
We learn a little more about Addison's power and more about the Hoodoo powers as well.  I found this very interesting and I would love to read some more books based off of these type of magical beings.  You can really tell the research the author does into the magick rules and explanations.  It is a very interesting genre and I love to read anything and everything about witches, Voodoo, Hoodoo, etc.  

I loved Conjure so much!  

Confined Summary:

Sometimes the things in life that seem to confine us most are often the ones that save us…
To Addison Harmon becoming initiated appeared to hold the answers to her every problem—all except what she would do after, when the tether was finally broken. But when the after Addison imagined isn’t the one unfolding before her, she finds herself tangled even further in a web of secrets, lies, and betrayal.
It’s not until Addison is captured by the last person she ever suspected would betray her that she’s forced to rely on herself for survival.
Questions will be answered. Trust will be misplaced. And hearts will be broken.

My Thoughts: 
Holy Crap!!  There has been a lot that has happened and I wasn't expecting the ending I got!  In a way,  I was hoping there was a little more action but then I think maybe it was better it ended this way.  Addison, I think, could have stood up a little more for herself in this one, but we do get to see Theo come to the rescue and that is always enjoyable.   
Who loved Theo's cousin?  I adored her and I would love to see a spinoff with her; maybe a prequel?  I think everything ends up the way it should, thank goodness!  I was actually a little sad to say goodbye to Soul Harbor and the gang!  Maybe we will get another novella just to see what is happening with everyone.  I would really like that!  We learn about betrayals, and we learn the sad truth with Addison's mom.  I would have also liked a way for Addison to meet her birth mother (maybe in a magical way with her ghost??) and that could have played an interesting role too!

But all in all, I enjoyed this series!  It gives us the sex appeal, as well as the magick and paranormal aspects that we need and love!  It has definitely put me in research mode because I want to learn everything about these interesting magick descriptions.    
If you are looking for a fun, sexy and witchy good time then The Tethered Trilogy is definitely up your alley!

Connect with the author:
Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook |

About the Author:

Jennifer Snyder lives in North Carolina were she spends most of her time writing New Adult and Young Adult Fiction, reading, and struggling to stay on top of housework. She is a tea lover with an obsession for Post-it notes and smooth writing pens. Jennifer lives with her husband and two children, who endure listening to songs that spur inspiration on repeat and tolerate her love for all paranormal, teenage-targeted TV shows.

Get Your Own Copy:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

ARC Review: Broken by Robert J. Crane {The Girl in the Box Series # 6}

Title: Broken
Author: Robert J. Crane
Series: The Girl in the Box # 6
Publisher/Date of Publication: self/ June 2013
Source: received from the author for my honest exchange of this book.  I was in no way compensated for this review and all of these opinions are mine, no matter how "out there" they are.
Links to Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble 
Genres: 17+, Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction

From Amazon:

Sienna Nealon is a broken human being. Her lover is dead, her closest friends have deserted her, and her employers have betrayed her. From the ashes of her desperation, she must master the metahuman powers at her command and finally tame the souls that share her body for one ultimate purpose - revenge against the ones who destroyed her life.
Note: This is book six of the series and may not make sense to new readers. Book one is titled Alone, and is presently available for free in ebook formats.

My Thoughts:
As I sit here, sipping my tea, I find myself looking back on all that Sienna has accomplished...as well as all she has lost.  I try to determine if one is higher than the other; or if it is a balance between the two.  Which probably doesn't matter but I feel like to understand this book, we need to really understand why and where all this anger comes from.
And if you haven't read any of the books before this one I compel you to STOP!  HAMMER TIME ....
(No sorry couldn't help myself)
But you really need to pick up the first book in the series so you can see where Sienna is coming from.

So we see that all hell breaks loose in Broken and Sienna is a death dealer in every sense of the word.  Everyone has deserted Sienna, except for a select few, and she has lost those that are the most important in her lives.  But besides this, she has been betrayed by those that she trusted the most.
So we are seeing a completely broken shell of Sienna (hence the name) that is hell bent on revenge no matter the cost to herself or her future.
Even before the event that took Zach away from her, Sienna had been through some tough to deal with crap but she always had that glimmer of hope that things would be better.
Now, I just can't seem to find that glimmer anymore. All I see is pain.  There is hope, but it is my hope that Sienna can rise up like a phoenix after all is said and done and still find something good inside her and this world.
Besides the strong emotional characters that inhabit the pages of Broken; the plot is dark, dark, and just a little more dark.
I mean, you know, it is good writing when every time I pick up my Kindle to jump into Broken, I get this weary dread come over me.  I just know that we are going to be forced into a situation that we can't help but cry or scream about and yet we still seem to can't get enough of it.  I love this feeling even if it is a harrowing heartbreaking time as I read the darkness that has enveloped Sienna as she goes on her rampage.  Sienna does lose herself in this book but I also think she finds another part of her Meta human personality that she can embrace finally.
Yes, this is a really short book compared to the others in the series, but it is a heavy book in terms of emotion, plot, and how it weighs upon the entire story in general.  I wished it were longer but I really do see how we needed this book in order to move on to the books left.  Broken was a way for us the reader, as well as Sienna to get some kind of closure and get her mind right.  Or as much as she can, anyways.
Broken was a very personal book and it feels like we are one of the voices in her head, listening to her as she grieves and tries to come to terms with her life now.  I loved how personal the book is; even if it is a very  dark and twisted sort.
If you are a fan of X Men like fantasy with strong female heroines with some serious demented antagonists and a story that has romance in it but isn't drenched in it then I really think you should grab this series.  It is a breath of fresh air, albeit a tantalizing dark breath of fresh air, in the world of urban fantasy and science fiction.

Connect with the Robert J. Crane:

Robert J. Crane was born and raised on Florida's Space Coast before moving to the upper midwest in search of cooler climates and more palatable beer. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in English Creative Writing. He worked for a year as a substitute teacher and worked in the financial services field for seven years while writing in his spare time.

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Book Review: The Immortal Circus by A.R. Kahler

Title: The Immortal Circus
Author: A.R. Kahler
Publisher: 47North
Date of Publication: Dec. 4, 2012
Source: bought, Kindle, 236 pages
Genre: Fantasy, New Adult, Romance, Paranormal
Fall In Love with Your Own:  Amazon | 



Goodreads Summary:

Murdered contortionists aren’t exactly what Vivienne signed up for when she ran away to join the circus. But like most things under the big top, nothing is what it seems. With a past she can't quite remember, Vivienne finds that running away forever might not be as appealing as it once sounded—especially not when she realizes the devilishly attractive ringleader Mab is the Faerie Queen of legend…and that she and the rest of the troupe are locked in an age-old rivalry between the otherworldly Courts.Aided by her friends Kingston—a feisty stage magician whose magic is quickly stealing her heart—and his smart-ass assistant Melody, Vivienne finds herself racing against the clock to discover the culprit behind a series of deaths that should be impossible. However, the answer she seeks might reveal more about her own bloody past—and future—than she bargains for.
The show's just beginning.

Step right up…

My Thoughts:
This is a fast paced, sexy as hell, romantic supernatural mystery that combines so many magical elements it creates this thrill ride that you hope will never end!

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the circuses we grew up on had this type of allure to them?  Magicians that capture our minds with spells, while the fey like performers capture our eyes with their graceful moves.  Oh what a wonderful world indeed that would be!

Lucky for us, Mr. Kahler created a world with these very powerful beings who can transform everything around us with just a blink of the eyelid.   From the very first page, we are thrust right into the dark world of the Cirques de Immortales where a performer has been murdered.  Right away, we get a glimpse of the dangerous side to this profound group of circus performers.  
It is told from Vivienne's standpoint, so we are kept in the dark, only learning things as she learns them.  There are a few times we are privy to certain conversations between other characters that help us see a little bit more into everyone's parts that they are destined to play.
I liked Vivienne for the most part.  There were times she seemed a little naive concerning the background info on the other members of the circus, but in her defense she had a lot on her plate so I guess that could be understandable.  
Besides our main character, the others are an interesting lot too.  Kingston is a heartthrob indeed!  Every time I hear his name, I imagine this tall gorgeous man wearing a top hat (magicians have to have  their top hats) and an overcoat with no shirt open.  Oh goodness me!
I, personally, love our leader of the Immortal Circus, Mab of the Winter Court.  She is sexy incarnate.  She is dark, deceptive, and yet I feel drawn to her like a magnet.  Mab has this pull which is probably why everyone found their way to her; she knew their weakness and this is how she is able to get the "contracts" from them.  

The plot threads in the story are addictive.  Everyone knows that The Winter Court despises the Summer Court and yet things are not as they seem.  I wouldn't label Mab as good in the book; but I could not give the Summer Court Fey this title either.  Both courts are devious and only interested in their own means.    After reading the book, though, I found it hard to root for the Summer court.  The winter court had some very amazing creatures helping them, even though they could have been terrifying, it still was enjoyable to see them working together helping the circus.  

There is so much more to come in these books I am going to be biting my nails waiting on the next book to come out.  Mab has many dark secrets up her sleeves and I am terrified for what Vivienne  has to play in the future of the Immortal Circus.  

I highly suggest you come to the circus, where your inhibitions can be released as you experience a magically induced sensual journey into one of the most secretive and dark fantasies to come to the pages of a book.  

I wholeheartedly give The Immortal Circus five hearts!  

Connect with A.R. Kahler:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | 

ARC Review: Omega by Robert J. Crane {The Girl In The Box Book 5}

Title: Omega
Series: The Girl in the Box book 5
Author: Robert J. Crane
Publisher: Reikonos Press
Date of Publication: Feb. 8, 2012
Source: received from author for honest review of it
Get Your Own At: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Goodreads Description:

Omega - a shadowy organization that is synonomous with power in the metahuman world. They have hunted Sienna Nealon since the day she first left her house, killed countless Directorate agents and operatives, and now they unveil their greatest plot - Operation Stanchion, a phrase whispered to Sienna by an Omega operative almost too scared to speak the words aloud. Now Sienna must track the pieces Omega has in motion, journeying across the upper midwest to confront the forces that have plagued her since she first stepped into the metahuman world before they can land their final stroke - and bring an end to the Directorate forever.

My Thoughts:

I have read this author's works for a while now and it seems to be that he keeps getting better and better, surprising us with what he is capable of next and how far he is willing to go to write that masterpiece.  

Well, I believe Omega came pretty damn close to it.  It is full of emotion (to the point where my heart literally broke and tears flew out of my eyes in all directions ), action, and this deeper darker mankind that scares the hell out of me but still pulls me in because it is that captivating.  

Mr. Crane has a true talent of putting simple words to paper that have the tendency to pull the reader so far into Sienna Nealon's world, it is hard to come back to reality.  And for some of us, it is sad to leave the crazy world of metahumans, the gods of old, and a really kick ass heroine who is one of the bravest and honest people we could ever get to know.  And yes, she is a literary character.  

My warning to all of those who have not gotten into this series yet is to STOP reading here (this is book 5 so it will definitely have some kind of spoiler in it without it meaning to) and go pick up book one so you can join all of us fans that know The Girl In the Box Series is soon to be a classic along with many others, including Mr. Tolkien and Mr. Lewis.

We are thrown right into the action; which I really do love about Crane's writing style.  He can write a fight scene worthy of the big screen or video game time.  It is epic indeed!  One of the first things I came to notice about our protagonist this time is how mature she is.  Sienna has came a long way since book four and she shows it with her leading the junior M Squad, her calm demeanor with the team, and the more interaction with Old Man Winters.  I actually came very close to liking his character, because he seemed to having a fatherly interest in Sienna; but he still has this aloofness about him that makes me question his loyalty to her.  But time will tell and it does indeed.

Reed is still around and I absolutely love Reed!  I have to say he is my favorite male character in this book, besides Kurt.  Yes, I know Kurt can be a douche but I don't know why-but I feel like Kurt is ......Kurt.  Sorry I can't explain anymore than that; it is just this warm feeling I have toward Kurt.  

And of course, Zack has forgiven Sienna for her failings and they are still working on the relationship between the two of them.  I think the no touching rule bothers Sienna much more than it does Zack and it seems to always be a stresser on their fragile relationship.  But the two seem good together so it works out and we get a little more this time for them.  

I really love the way Crane used the old gods, for example Thor and Odin, to describe the different powers that some people had.  And there was a lot of references to Chris Hemsworth, which totally works for me because I seriously loved him as Thor, and it is good to see Sienna's humor still in tact.  So if I were to label this would it be possible to say mythology too for it?  I would like to think so because of what Omega holds in their hands.  But that is the beauty of this series: it crosses many different genres and has something for everyone in it, whether it be urban fantasy, science fiction, a little bit of mythology, and romance.  Of course there is also action, suspense, and it is most definitely a thriller; so yeah, something for everyone.  

Now, I was warned from the author that this could possibly be a tear jerker, and so I will pass along the same warning for you.  There is so many twists, turns, and complete surprises that it will be very difficult to not have one little tear escape.  Then again, you could be like me and whisper to yourself," I will not cry, I will not cry, I will not cry!"  Only to find yourself at the end bawling like a baby because the author, Mr. Crane, decided to put something so heartbreaking in our midst that it was impossible not to let our emotions take over.  

And you know what?  I love the author even that much more for it.  He has a plan for our favorite hero and though the road there will be sad, happy, terrible, and joyous, I have a good feeling he will help us see the series to its end.  Now, we may not get there unscathed; whether it be sleepless nights, eyes red from crying long and hard, or our thoughts always drifting to Sienna and her plights, causing us to spill milk we are pouring into the kids' cups (okay, I guess I can't blame that one on the book), but we will make it there.  And I know that I will be loving every minute of the journey.  

I gave Omega five hearts!  

Connect with Robert J. Crane:

Goodreads  | Website | Facebook | Twitter |

Book Review: Kindred by J.A. Redmerski (Darkwoods Trilogy)

Title: Kindred
Series: The Darkwoods Trilogy #2
Author: J.A. Redmerski
Publisher: CreateSpace
Date of Publication: July 20, 2012
Source: bought, ebook, 358 pages

Get your own: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | 

Isaac Mayfair is hiding a dark secret. And just when Adria Dawson thinks the worst of her life among the werewolf world is over, she learns the secret that can rip her and Isaac’s love apart. Adria must come to terms with what the truth means for her. What it means for her life and how much time she has left to live it. She must choose between two different fates, neither of which can offer life as a certainty.
As if Isaac’s betrayal isn’t enough, Adria learns that there are things out there older and more powerful than werewolves could ever be. An archaic entity known only to few as the Praverian, unlike anything Adria has ever known or heard of.
As Adria struggles with her own fateful dilemmas, she must also try to find out why the Praverian is so interested in her and do everything in her power to stay out of its way.
Due to MATURE YA content, this book is recommended for 17+. 

-from Goodreads description 

My Thoughts:

Did you ever think you could pick up a book, read its words, these words that are so powerful, you can actually feel your heart breaking alongside the protagonists' and find it physically hard to breathe?  

Well...I experienced this emotion firsthand with this book.  

J.A. Redmerski is a powerful author with this amazing talent to see the flaws in human nature (or even the supernatural) and still find the beauty within.  

First, with the characters.  Adria, our female protagonist, is someone I can relate to on many levels.  I know what it is like to hold on to that betrayal, the loss, and pain that you receive from a family member that you trusted with all your heart.  Adria is very strong, considering what she has been through, and I find myself wondering if I could have been as strong as she was in some of her situations she had to face....

Ah, and then I find myself thinking about Issac Mayfair.  What to say about him?  Is he handsome, well of course, he is a werewolf, is he not?  But with him it is more than just the beauty.  He is a force to be reckoned with, indeed.  He is so hard and yet where Adria is concerned, there is this fragility to him that makes you weep.  

You put these two together and we find ourselves looking at something that is more than what it seems but also one of the most beloved couples I have read about too.  

All of the characters in Kindred contribute to the story in different ways; some good and some definitely bad, but the Praverian are the most unique and intriguing in all.  I don't want to give anything away (and trust me you will be shaking your head and gasping at a lot of it) but these certain beings are truly mind-blowing.  

Even though this is an urban fantasy with creatures that don't exist, the  underlying hope is so strong; even as I sit writing this review days after finishing Kindred, I still feel my tears trying to take over.  

I think J. A. Redmerski wanted us to remember that even when everything seems lost, when everything seems worthless, always have hope.  Just that small tiny breath of hope will show you the light at the end of the very dark and scary journey.  

I absolutely loved Kindred with all my heart and soul!  I proudly give it five hearts!

Connect with J.A. Redmerski:

Goodreads | Twitter | Website |

Blog Tour: Book Review: Stealing Breath by Joanne Brothwell

Title: Stealing Breath
Pages: 258 
Author: Joanne Brothwell
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Source: YA Novel Reader Blog Tours &  author


Book Description: 

Deep in the backwoods of North Dakota, twenty-one year old Sarah Ross is searching for a missing child when she is attacked by a glowing-eyed, transparent... creature. Sarah survives, destroying the monster by using mysterious abilities she didn't even know she had. Bloody and bruised, Sarah flees the scene and runs directly into Evan Valente, a handsome, charismatic stranger who helps her back to safety. But what is Evan doing out in the forest at five in the morning? Turning to a healer, Sarah is shocked to learn her eyes bear the mark of the Indigo Child-an evolved human with the ability to feel the emotions of others. But her indigo aura also makes her an easy target for those who wish to consume her powerful essence. Soon, Sarah is falling deeply in love with Evan and wants nothing more than to follow her heart and trust that he is the man he says he is. But she can't ignore the lingering feeling that Evan is hiding a terrible secret. The deeper she digs, the more danger she faces, leading her on a course that will force her to face the darkest, innermost parts of her soul.

 My Thoughts:
I absolutely love the cover, first and foremost! What a beautiful color to have as your aura!  I think that caught my attention before anything thing else could have; but then I read the blurb and my interest was definitely peaked.
This has a very original idea and one that has a lot of potential for the creativity that can come from it.  The idea of a very special and magical human that can "feel" people's emotions as well as having a very powerful aura to go with it, of course, can bring about a lot of different supernatural beings.
The characters are well developed but I have to say I am slightly partial to the Native Americans in the story, having 1/4 of Cherokee in my blood, and enjoying listening to the many different folktales from that particular heritage.
Sarah is pretty strong female lead, even though she does tend to question her actions a lot, I feel like she is pretty accepting of everything for the most part.  Especially since she already has that "otherworld" feel to herself.
I love that this book is an 'New Adult' one because I feel like Ms. Brothwell can push the romance factor in this story just a little bit and give us that edge that makes Stealing Breath even more breathtaking.
The relationship between Sarah and Evan does advance a little quickly but I also enjoyed the fact that there was still some distrust there; along with some angst among them that showed us it was more of down to earth relationship instead of the "too good to be true" ones.
I really enjoyed Stealing Breath so much for a variety of reasons.  I love the way the author found a way to work two different heritages together where they can find a common ground and come up with such an amazing backdrop to a very interesting story line.
I have heard many different versions of "skinwalkers" but this one by far the most interesting.  I also like the Italian lore that contributed to Evan's mysterious background.  Oh and how unique is "Indigo Child"? I love that concept too, especially with having to do with their eyes.  Eye color is a very unique trait for people and to revolve a tale around that -great idea!
All in all, I really believe everyone should give Stealing Breath a try.  It is has so many emotions playing throughout including terror, respect, betrayal, love, and loss.  It uses such an unique concept that it would be hard not to get carried away in Sarah's feelings.
I give it four hearts.

About the Author:

Joanne Brothwell lives in the country on the Canadian prairie where her stories are inspired by the dead things that appear at her doorstep on a daily basis.

Connect with Joanne Brothwell:

Website | Goodreads | Purchase |

Book Review: Soulless by Robert J. Crane {Book 3: The Girl in the Box Series}

Title: Soulless
Series: The Girl in the Box
Author: Robert J. Crane
Publisher: Self
Date of Publication: August 23, 2012
My Format: ebook for Kindle
Source: received from author for honest review
Get your copy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Goodreads Summary:
After six months of intense training with the Directorate, Sienna Nealon finds herself on her first assignment - tracking a dangerous meta across the upper midwest. With Scott Byerly and Kat Forrest at her side, she'll face new enemies and receive help from unlikely allies as she stumbles across the truth behind the shadowy organization known only as Omega.


My Thoughts:

Let me just tell you how hard it is to do a review on the third book in a series without spoilers...it is darn near impossible!!  I am going to try my best to but just in case.....

WARNING: COULD CONTAIN SPOILERS

Now I feel much better that I put that there.

In Soulless we see a very different side of Sienna.  A more immature side, in my opinion.  I wasn't happy with the way she acted, especially concerning the bar scene.  I just felt like this was something not on par with what I expected of Sienna.  And it of course made me dislike Scott...again.  

The plot in this third book seems to be more focused on love: the emotional as well as the physical aspects.  I thought Sienna was a little too obsessed with the physical components of a relationship, but then again being a succubus, I guess the hormones get even more out of the way for her.  

In this area, it didn't feel like Sienna for me.  I guess I am used to her being in life or death situations so much, it was a little hard to get used to her being a teenager/young adult just trying to cope with family problems, sexual urges, and responsibilities.  

Some parts of the mystery were easily figured out while others I was shaking my head that Crane was able to draw  me in so completely never knowing what was going to happen.  

I love love love the fact that Reed is in this book more than just a couple of pages!!  Do you know how much I adore Reed?  We get to actually learn a little more about Reed and I am secretly rooting for Sienna to open her eyes to his charm. 

And of course in true Crane fashion, we meet some very dark characters that make you shudder in fear, but this time, he disguises the villains so well you will definitely be guessing till the very end.  I know I was.  

The ending was phenomenal; probably Crane's best one yet!  The middle tended to get on my nerves though with the mistakes Sienna made and her experiments with alcohol.  

I have to admit this was the hardest review I have ever had to write.  I loved the characters, love the plot, and jumped up and down in excitement at the ending, but there were parts that just made me really mad about Sienna.  But in a way, that is the qualities of a good writer to show us things about the characters we may not want to believe or see.  It makes the characters seem even more realistic(even if they do have super powers) and easier to relate with, making us look deeper inside ourselves to look at our qualities both good and bad.  

At first, I was afraid I wasn't going to be happy with Soulless, but after all the plot lines come together, I realize this was the best book I read so far, with  a very important message for any young person out there (superhero or not): accept yourself.  

I gave it five hearts!

Review: The Mayfair Moon(Darkwoods Trilogy) by J.A. Redmerski

Title: The Mayfair Moon


Series: Darkwoods Trilogy


Author: J.A. Redmerski


Publisher:  Create A Space


Date of Publication: Jan. 6, 2012


Format: paperback, ebook


Source: bought on Amazon for Kindle




Goodreads Summary:
After a nightmarish encounter with a werewolf, seventeen-year-old Adria Dawson loses her sister, but gains the love of a mysterious young man and his legendary family.

Strange and tragic things begin to happen in the small town of Hallowell, Maine: residents come down with an unexplainable ‘illness’ and some disappear. In the midst of everything, Isaac Mayfair is adamant about keeping Adria safe, even from her sister whom he has warned her to stay away from.

As unspeakable secrets unfold all around Adria, impossible choices become hers to bear. Ultimately, no matter what path she takes, her life and the lives of those she loves will be in peril. As she learns about the werewolf world she also learns why her place in it will change the destinies of many.




My Feelings:

I really like the ebook cover art more so than the print cover.  This one, up above, is dark, eerie and just a little scary.  All great ingredients for a werewolf story.  Now with that being said, I don't hate the other cover, it is just more of a romantic view of the werewolf story.  


Okay guys this story starts out in Athens, Ga!!!  That was very cool to me, especially since I live like forty-five minutes from there.  This helped me connect better with Adria and even Alex more because they are just GA girls who enjoy the same night sky that I do.  
Then when the terrible event happens to them you can't help but have these goosebumps crawl all over you thinking, "hmm..that isn't too far away..."  Yes. I do realize this is fiction but still.  
I loved how Redmerski showed us how very close Adria and Alex were as sisters.  It makes the heartbreak and betrayal even more saddening. Where Alex is tough and strong, Adria was more tender and sensitive to others.  After everything that happens, we are able to see Adria grow to be the strong one everyone else needs her to be.  


After they move, it is interesting how quick Adria finds friends and settles down into this new life she has.  I would have thought she would have had a more hard time in the friends department.
There are a lot of similarities in this book to the Twilight series, but this could be said for a lot of other YA paranormal romance series too.  Werewolves are kinda my addiction and these werewolves are VERY different than the Twilight wolves.  
And that is a good thing.  Everyone has gotten so used to werewolves being a gigantic wolf (which I do love those ones too) but these beasts are just that...beasts.  
It made me think of the werewolf in the movie, WolfMan or The Howling, but not corny like those ones.  
But Redmerski took it a step further.  She did give these "monsters" somewhat of a conscience and they can understand a little bit of what is going on around them.  
I loved The Mayfair House or den as it seemed to be called many many times.  It was creepy, and yet sexy too.  Especially with all the female wolves flocking to the Alphas.  
Speaking of Alphas, Issac is...pretty hot!  He is brooding, strong, sexy as hell, and yet gentle.  I liked him immensely and loved the fact he was more forward with his feelings.  


The plot in The Mayfair Moon is a complex one.  What just seems like a freak accident turns out to be much more and Adria is the divining rod for the war between the two werewolf families.  
Some of the plot can be confusing especially when it comes to the histories of the werewolf factions but this story is still very amazing to me!  I am so glad I snatched up a copy of this book and I can't wait to get started with the second book, Kindred.


I gave The Mayfair Moon five hearts~




Get your copy of The Mayfair Moon here: