TO CONQUER A HIGHLANDER by Mary Wine

by ⋅ 3 Comments

TO CONQUER A HIGHLANDER
Author: Mary Wine
Source: Sourcebooks
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

  • Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (July 6, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1402237375
  • ISBN-13: 978-1402237379

SYNOPSIS:


A fierce Highland laird ready to kill for king and country…

When Torin McLeren discovers his neighbor’s plot against his king, he takes their daughter as his prisoner, thereby stopping her father’s plot from going forward. But that leaves him with a woman under his roof whom he can’t ignore, and not just because she’s his enemy’s daughter…

A woman who’s as much trouble as she is temptation…

Shannon McBoyd decides to use her captor to experience passion for the first time, and then to destroy him. But her plan goes awry because once she has lured Torin into her bed, she no longer wants to hurt the one man who seems to value and understand her…

Even if her father will kill him-and her-when he discovers what they’ve done…

MY THOUGHTS:

I was a little hesitant starting this book.  I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it going into the first chapter. I am so glad I kept reading.

I like the heroine Shannon. She is a strong personality that fits perfectly with the strong willed Torin.  The witty dialogue was feisty and fun that was executed in the perfect parts of the book.  The sexiness of the book was perfect without going overboard and left me wanting even more.  The author does go into detail a lot, but something I was willing to overlook since I loved the characters so much. This was my first read by this author and I definitely will be keeping my eye out for more Scots and Damsels from a wonderful writer!

MY RATING:


Very Good! I would recommend this book! 4 STARS

GLIMPSE by Carol Lynch Williams

by ⋅ 1 Comment
GLIMPSE
Author: Carol Lynch Williams
  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Hardcover: 496 pages
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books (June 22, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 141699730X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1416997306
SYNOPSIS:

In one moment

it is over.
In one moment
it is gone.
The morning grows
thin, grey
and our lives-
how they were-
have vanished.
Our lives have
changed
when I walk in
on Lizzie
my sister
holding a shotgun. 
Twelve year old girl Hope’s life is turned upside down when her older sister Lizzie becomes an elective mute and is institutionalized after trying to kill herself. Ever since their dad died Hope and Lizzie have relied on each other from a young age. Their mother is a reluctant and unreliable parent at best, who turns tricks to support the family. Throughout the course of this lyrical and heartbreaking narrative readers and Hope discover that the mother is prostituting Lizzie and it’s up to Hope to bring the truth to light to save her sister.
MY THOUGHTS:
When I first started reading this book, I didn’t think I was going to like it.  I am not fond of the verse writing and I also knew it was going to be an emotionally draining read.
While I am still not a fan of the verse writing, I am a fan of the book.  It started out slow for me and the flip flopping of dates was getting annoying.  Yet, as I kept reading, the story started to pull me and wouldn’t let go. I read this book in about an hour and it was almost non-stop reading.  I felt so much sadness for Hope and Liz.  The life they grow up with is heartbreaking for a mother to read.  What their mother puts them through is just horrible.  The pieces of the story fall into place and you can’t help but get angry at the story. I wanted the girls to have a childhood, yet the author reminded me while I was reading that not all children have the perfect life of family. 
This book was one that I am glad I read and enjoyed it even though it does pull at your emotions.  It has such a gripping story of secrets and sisterhood that will bring tears to your eyes as you go through the journey with Hope and Liz. 
MY RATING:



Very Good! I would recommend this book! 4 STARS

(ARC Review) Radiance by Alyson Noel

by ⋅ 1 Comment

RADIANCE
Author: Alyson Noel
Source Around the World Tours

  • Reading level: Ages 9-12
  • Paperback: 192 pages
  • Publisher: Square Fish (August 31, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0312629176
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312629175

SYNOPSIS:

Riley has crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. She has picked up life where she left off when she was alive, living with her parents and dog in a nice house in a nice neighborhood. When she’s summoned before The Council, she learns that the afterlife isn’t just an eternity of leisure. She’s been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a possibly cute, seemingly nerdy boy who’s definitely hiding something. They return to earth together for Riley’s first assignment, a Radiant Boy who’s been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But all of that was before he met Riley . . .

MY THOUGHTS:

If you are a fan of the Immortal Series by Alyson Noel, then you are familiar with character of Riley already.  If you haven’t read the series, you can still read this spin-off book without any problems. 

The Immortal Series is geared toward the older young adult crows, but with Radiance, the story is geared more towards middle grade.  Riley passed on to the Here & Now at age 12, and must now find her way around the world of the afterlife.  She is hired as a Soul Catcher by The Council. She has to travel back to the Earthly world to show ghosts or spirits how to move on to the next level of the afterlife.  Buttercup, her lab dog, is with her on her journey as her companion.  With her guide Bodhi, she sets off on her first assignment to get the Radiant Boy to move on.

This was such a cute book.  I had to keep reminding myself that this book is geared towards middle grade readers because I kept wanting to roll my eyes at some of the tantrums and such.  Once you put yourself in that frame of mind, the story is great! It flows effortlessly and smoothly.  The author has a way of making the world she has created come off the pages and into your mind!  A book that will keep you captivated from page one until Riley’s flight of Radiance at the end!

MY RATING:


Very Good! I would recommend this book! 4 STARS

Salvaged by Stefne Miller

by ⋅ 1 Comment

SALVAGED
Author: Stefne Miller
Source: Author Submission
* I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

  • Perfect Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Tate Publishing (May 18, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1616630280
  • ISBN-13: 978-1616630287

SYNOPSIS:


‘My body was being torn apart, and my stomach felt as if it exploded. The pain was excruciating, and I was aware that I was dying… ‘Mom?’ My vision was murky, but I could see her face. It was bloody, and her eyes were large and full of fear. Her voice calmed. ‘Get out of the car, Attie.’ Her words sounded crisp and clear. I looked into the backseat in search of Melody and found her lying covered in blood in a twisted heap on the floor. I turned my attention back to my mother and out of the corner of my eye saw fire. ‘Get out, Attie!’ ‘Mom?’ Everything went dark.’

Attie Reed should have died in the wreck that stole the lives of her mother and best friend. But her life was spared. Why? When Attie moves to Oklahoma to stay with the Bennetts for the summer, she hopes she has left her nightmares behind. But her battle is far from over, and Riley Bennett steps forward to help her fight the nighttime monsters. As the battle wears on, Riley begins fighting monsters of his own: his feelings for Attie. And Attie realizes she must begin to face the monsters of the night herself if she wants to conquer them for good. Can Attie’s life be Salvaged? 

MY THOUGHTS:

I will be the first to say that I am one of those people that is a Christian, but I am not a preachy Christian. I don’t like to read a lot of scripture in my books.  Books are my escape. Yet, when I was approached to read and review a young adult romance that is Christian based, I was hooked with the summary and had to say yes.

This book did not disappoint.  I loved the character of Riley and Attie. When you have bad days, do you sometimes ask yourself why? Why would God do this to you?  Did you know that he doesn’t do it to you to punish you.  He may throw things at you, but he is with you at all times.  When Attie gets in a horrible accident that kills her mother and best friend, she feels horrible. She feels like she should have died as well.  Yet a miracle happened and Jesus rescued her.  He asked her if she was ready to start a journey with him.  She accepted and so the story begins.  She moves in with the family of her best friend who died.  Her father basically abandons her because he can’t stand to look at her since it reminds him of his lost wife.  I loved Riley’s parents.  They accepted her and loved her like Attie was their daughter that they lost.  We find out later in the book just how much they are involved in Attie’s life.  The scene with Attie and Mr. Bennett near the end was sweet and touching.

Without going into more detail of the book, due to spoilers, I will say that even though this book does have a lot of spiritual based decision’s, it was a perfect book featuring death, struggle, sadness and rediscovery.  Salvaged is a wonderful title for this book and fitting for the character of Attie. I wonderful, clean and sweet young adult romance that adults will enjoy as well.

MY RATING:


Very Good! I would recommend this book! 4 STARS

LIVING DEAD GIRL by Elizabeth Scott

by ⋅ 4 Comments

LIVING DEAD GIRL
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Source: Library Loan

  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Hardcover: 176 pages
  • Publisher: Simon Pulse; First Edition. (September 2, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1416960597
  • ISBN-13: 978-1416960591

 SYNOPSIS:

Once upon a time, I was a little girl who disappeared.Once upon a time, my name was not Alice.
Once upon a time, I didn’t know how lucky I was.
When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends — her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over.
Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her.
This is Alice’s story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget. 

MY THOUGHTS:

My, oh my.  This book was just gripping.  It is the story of a girl who is kidnapped at age 10. What this poor child goes through for 5 years is horrible.  It hurts just to think about it.  Her kidnapper, Ray, is horrible.  I wanted to beat the crap out of this man.  I had to put this book down several times because I couldn’t stand to read anything else that Ray would do to her.  Ray has named her Alice and she is his.  She is only allowed a small portion of food a day so she will stay a little girl for him.  She has to be weighed everyday to make sure that she isn’t over 100 pounds.  That is just the tip of the iceberg of what this child has to endure.

This is a book that you will have to put down out of disgust and hurt, but you will have to pick it up just as fast to find out what happens to Alice.  I didn’t like the ending though. I wanted more to the ending and the author leaves it open for you to make your own ending. 

A gripping read that will leave you with hurt, anger and sadness.  It grabs a hold of you and keeps you reading.  If you are a parent, you will also find yourself holding your children after you finish. I know I did.

MY RATING:


Very Good! I would recommend this book! 4 STARS