MANGROVES AND MONSTERS by Sharon Cupp Pennington

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MANGROVES AND MONSTERS
Author: Sharon Cupp Pennington
Source: Author submission
* I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Paperback: 302 pages
  • Publisher: Draumr Publishing (November 6, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1933157313
  • ISBN-13: 978-1933157313
SYNOPSIS:
Charlie Cooper, reluctant teacher by day and broken-hearted wanderer by night, is a man desperately in love with a dead woman.
But is Angeline St. Cyr really dead?
 
The supermodel fell victim to an auto-pedestrian accident in New Orleans. Police reports and medical records substantiate the severity of her injuries. Cosmetics mogul Mathieu Fournier, her former boss, orchestrated a cremation and memorial service. The paparazzi swarmed celebrity attendees. Fans mourned.
Call it gut instinct, but Cooper is convinced Angeline’s death was an elaborate scheme that Fournier sold to the world. But Cooper isn’t buying it, nor is his heart.
A tenuous lead draws him to the Caribbean island of Jacqueme Dominique. Only Cooper isn’t alone in his quest. By chasing his dream of rekindled love, he becomes embroiled in murder, treachery, and abduction at the hands of his old nemesis Willem Voorhees…a merciless killer.
For five long years Cooper’s love survived while he searched for Angeline. Will finding her cost him his life? 
MY THOUGHTS:
This is the second book I have read by this author.  Her first book was titled Hoodoo Money.  
Charlie finally finds his wife after believing she has been dead for 5 years.  The author takes you to a getaway to a tropical paradise and involves mystery, suspense and action.  The book does move a little slow for my taste in the beginning, but picks up about halfway through.  It has a wonderful mystery in the plot that keeps you guessing until the end.  It also has rekindled love that you will find touching.  If you like mysteries, then this is an excellent book to read.  The author made it flow nicely and knows how to write. 
MY RATING:



Very Good! Worth Spending Your Money on!
 

ORIGINAL SIN by Allison Brennan

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ORIGINAL SIN
Author: Allison Brennan
Source: Meryl L. Moss Media
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Mass Market Paperback: 464 pages
  • Publisher: Ballantine Books; Original edition (January 26, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0345511670
  • ISBN-13: 978-0345511676
SYNOPSIS:
Haunted by chilling memories of demonic possession and murder, Moira O’Donnell has spent seven years hunting down her mother, Fiona, whose command of black magic has granted her unprecedented control of the underworld. Now Moira’s global search has led her to a small California town that’s about to become hell on earth.

Tormented by his own terrifying past and driven by powers he can’t explain, ex-seminarian Rafe Cooper joins Moira’s dangerous quest. But Fiona is one devilish step ahead. Hungry for greater power, eternal youth, and stunning beauty, the sorceress is unleashing upon the mortal world the living incarnations of the Seven Deadly Sins.

Together with a demonologist, a tough female sheriff, and a pair of star-crossed teenagers, Moira and Rafe are humanity’s last chance to snatch salvation from the howling jaws of damnation.

MY THOUGHTS:
First of all, look at that cover!  I love the apple, the sideway look of suspense and the overall effect of it.  Just one look and you know it is going to be suspenseful and intense!
This is my first read from this author and it is the first in a series focusing on the seven deadly sins.  This book will leave you on the edge of your seat with all the suspense you can handle.  I was flipping pages so quick, I was finished with it within a couple of hours.  The heroine is strong and full of courage throughout the book.  The bad guys are bad.  The ending is awesome! I very intense read with climatic results!  It does have some dull spots in it, but the rest makes up for it!

MY RATING:



Very Good! Worth Spending Your Money on!

THE LAST GOODNIGHTS by John West

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THE LAST GOODNIGHTS
Author: John West
Source: Counterpoint Press
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Counterpoint; Reprint edition (January 5, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 158243557X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1582435572
SYNOPSIS:
A husband and wife are gravely ill. Rather than living in pain, they choose to end their lives, and they turn to their son for help. Despite the legal risks and emotional turmoil it is sure to cause him, he agrees—and ultimately performs an act of love more difficult than any other. The Last Goodnights provides a unique and unflinching look deep inside the reality of one of the most galvanizing issues of our time: assisted suicide. Told with bare honesty, John West’s account of the deaths of two brave people is both gritty and loving, frightening and illuminating. It also offers a powerful testament to the act of death by choice, and reveals all the reasons why end-of-life issues are far too personal for government intrusion. Intimately told, The Last Goodnights points out the unnecessary pain and suffering that is often forced upon dying people and their families, and honors the choice to live or die with purpose and dignity. In the end, this story is not just about death—it is also about love, courage, and autonomy.
MY THOUGHTS:
I just knew that when I read the blurb for this book I would need the kleenex box at easy reach.  This book will tug at your heart and pose the questions in your mind of what would you do?  When the author sucks you into this book with just the foreward section at the beginning, you know you are in for a bumpy ride of a book.  You will feel all sorts of emotions come out as you read.  I went through anger, sadness, hopelessness, and relief throughout the story.  This was a book that I just did not want to put down.  I wanted to finish it so my emotions could get back in check and quit the roller coaster ride of it.  It is a serious subject that was put into writing and a book that will open your mind to the situation portrayed.
MY RATING:



Very Good! Worth Spending Your Money on!

SHADES OF MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian

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SHADES OF MIDNIGHT
Author: Lara Adrian 
Source: Library
  • Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Dell; Original edition (December 29, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0440245265
  • ISBN-13: 978-0440245261
SYNOPSIS:
IN A FROZEN WILDERNESS STEEPED IN DARKNESS, THE LINES BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL, LOVER AND ENEMY, ARE NEVER BLACK OR WHITE BUT DRAWN IN SHADES OF MIDNIGHT . . .
Something inhuman is stalking the frigid Alaskan wilds, leaving unspeakable carnage in its wake. For bush pilot Alexandra Maguire, the killings stir memories of a horrific event she witnessed as a child and evoke in her the inexplicable sense of otherness she has long felt but never fully understood . . . until a darkly seductive stranger with secrets of his own enters her world.
Sent from Boston on a mission to investigate the savage attacks and stop the slaughter, vampire warrior Kade has his own reasons for returning to the frigid, forbidding place of his birth. Haunted by a secret shame, Kade soon realizes the stunning truth of the threat he faces–a threat that will jeopardize the fragile bond he has formed with the courageous, determined young woman who arouses his deepest passions and most primal hungers. But in bringing Alex into his world of blood and darkness, Kade must confront both his own personal demons and the even greater evil that could destroy all he holds dear. . . .
MY THOUGHTS:
I am a big fan of Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed Series.  She always has the edgy writing and fantastic characters in her books.  They are easy to follow and a joy to read!  Shades of Midnight is the story of Kade and Alexandra.  I, for one, have been looking forward to Kade’s story.  His humor with Brock and the other warriors always had me laughing.  The story moved nicely, but I just couldn’t bring myself to enjoy the romance in this book. To me it fell flat.  It was too rushed with not much conflict between the two.  I also didn’t like that there wasn’t much of the other Order members in this book.  They came toward the end of the story, but frankly,  after seven books in a series, you still want to read about the others as well.  Otherwise, you forget about the previous characters and find yourself wondering who everyone is again.  We didn’t get any contact with Dante, Rio or any of the females.  Hardly any dialogue with Lucan, who is the leader.  Not much action in this book as well.  It just had a lot of filler in it that didn’t hold up to her other books in the series.  I am still pleased with the book and I will continue to read the next ones, especially since Brock is the next warrior that will be featured. 
MY RATING:


Very Good! Worth Spending Your Money on!

ECSTASY UNVEILED by Larissa Ione (BLOG TOUR and REVIEW)

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ECSTASY UNVEILED
Author: Larissa Ione
Source: Publisher
* I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Forever; Original edition (February 1, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0446556823
  • ISBN-13: 978-0446556828
SYNOPSIS:
A DEMON ENSLAVED
Lore is a Seminus half-breed demon who has been forced to act as his dark master’s assassin. Now to earn his freedom and save his sister’s life, he must complete one last kill. Powerful and ruthless, he’ll stop at nothing to carry out this deadly mission.

AN ANGEL TEMPTED
Idess is an earthbound angel with a wild side, sworn to protect the human Lore is targeting. She’s determined to thwart her wickedly handsome adversary by any means necessary-even if that means risking her vow of eternal chastity. But what begins as a simple seduction soon turns into a passion that leaves both angel and demon craving complete surrender.
Torn between duty and desire, Lore and Idess must join forces as they battle their attraction for each other. Because an enemy from the past is rising again-one hellbent on vengeance and unthinkable destruction.
MY THOUGHTS:
In this book, the author does an amazing job at detailing the scenery with wonderful writing that doesn’t go overboard.  You instantly have the picture in your head, and as the story moves along, it plays like a movie in your mind.  That is how wonderful this author brings her writing to life. 
She offers exciting plot twists and expands on the Demonica world without forgetting all the details in the process.  You will also get the romance, the suspense and the mystery that are all expected in this genre.  The author did a wonderful job with this book. 
The only drawback of it, in my opinion, is not to read it as a stand alone book.  I think if you haven’t read the first books in this series, you might be a little confused.  
MY RATING:



Very Good! Worth Spending Your Money on!