Beautiful Redemption (The Maddox Brothers #2) by Jamie McGuire (Review)

   The second instalment of the Maddox Brothers Series, Beautiful Redemption introduces you to another Maddox boy. His name is Thomas Maddox, and he is one of the best and most powerful agents in the FBI. When agent Liis Lindy comes into his life it's changed forever. Liis is a business first women who will not put up with Thomas's crap and attitude.
   I found Beautiful Redemption to be a little disappointing. There was not enough tension in the romance, or in the plot itself. I found Liis to be overly obsessed with her job, and yet she still managed not to get much work done in the novel. She didn't solve one mystery, or do much at all besides translate two things and obsesses over her love life with her boss, Thomas. Now, I don't think that the whole thing was all bad. Thomas was an adorable character with many positive aspects. He was very protective and loving to his family. Liis is a very independent and strong female character, which I liked. Past that, ultimately, I didn't love Beautiful Redemption and I give it the rating of TWO OUT OF FIVE STARS!

Evolution: SAGE (The Evolution #2) by Starla Huchton (Review)

   As the second instalment of the Evolution series, Evolution: SAGE continues the story of a young hero named Candace Bristol in her adventures and love life.  Trying to cope with the loss of her old boyfriend Adrian, Candace mourns and tries to move on; but it's not all that easy when her annoying team mate, Jackson won't stop picking fights with her and messing with her hormones. To top it off, the heroes are being subjected to new rounds of treatments to enhance their superpowers.
  I found Evolution: SAGE to be better then Evolution: ANGEL. I found the story to have more direction and plot/character development. The romance in this novel had so much tension it was amazing. I loved it. Jackson's character is truly explored in this novel, and his powers reach a whole new level of fire bending awesomeness. Similar to the first book, the super powers where a major plus on the cool factor. I thought that the battles with the superpowers were all epic and note worthy. I definitely recommended Evolution: SAGE. I liked it and I give it FOUR OUT OF FIVE STARS!

Resistance by Kayla Howarth (Review)

    As the second instalment of The Institute, Resistance continues the story of Allira and her fight for the freedom of her brother, herself and all the other Defectives. I found Resistance to be a very good story. I was very interested in the flow of the plot and the depth of some of the characters.  A highlight of the story, for me, was the determination of the main character Allira. Even when she was confused she was a strong and determined character.
   A complaint I have about the novel was how it treated the topic of sex. I felt like it was a little too flippant about it. My biggest problem with Resistance is the ending, which I will not spoil. I felt that the ending was not satisfying and a wee bit over dramatic/unnecessary. Needless to say, I did not enjoy the ending of the novel.
   Back to the positives, I really liked the concepts of the Defectives powers. They were each individual and unique. To sum it up, I liked but did not love Resistance and give it the rating of  TWO AND A HALF  STARS OUT OF FIVE!

*Advanced Readers Copy Review* 

Evolution: ANGEL (The Evolution #1) by Starla Huchton (Review)

  Evolution: ANGEL follows the story of a young girl named Candace as she goes into a super hero program called ANGEL. In ANGEL she starts coming into her powers as tension rises socially. What is her power? Water. She has the super power of water bending. *Warning* Mature content in this novel.
   I found myself conflicted with this novel. I both loved it and hated it. I found it addicting yet on the weaker side when it came to plot. I was very annoyed by the lack of clear direction and purpose to the novel. I found that the story felt like it was being written with no real end goal in mind; yet at the same time I kept wanting to continue to read it. It was a very conflicting feeling.
  I felt the tension of attraction between the characters was very well done. I found it to be the highlight of the entire novel. I also love the entire concept of super heroes, and super powers. I found Candace's power over water to be cool and pretty epic. She reminded me of Katara from Avatar The Last Air Bender, with her ability to bend water, which is very cool.
    Ultimately, I'm on the wire with this book. I give Evolution: ANGEL THREE OUT OF FIVE STARS!

 

Violet Hour Book Blitz!

The Violet Hour by Andrea L Wells 
(The Violet series, #1) 
Publication date: May 2015
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis:
  Still shocked over her mother’s mysterious death, California socialite Logan Keller is handed a one-way ticket to her long lost roots in Wyoming where love, deceit and danger await. Though she could forget everything staring into Luke Callahan’s eyes, Logan is quickly thrust into a fight for survival.  Taking fate into her own hands, she begins unraveling the dangerous deceptions that abound at every turn. Her father is keeping secrets and Luke is keeping more. But Logan is keeping the biggest secret of them all.
The Violet Hour is a page-turning captivating twist of young romance and the supernatural.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25258104-the-violet-hour
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Violet-Hour-Andrea-L-Wells/dp/1495805859/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1431006524&sr=1-2&keywords=The+Violet+Hour
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-violet-hour-andrea-l-wells/1121865972?ean=9781495805851

AUTHOR BIO:

The Violet Hour Series has been begging to escape Andrea’s subconscious for more than five years.  Focusing on a wonderful career, handsome husband and two beautiful children by day, she began feverishly penning the series by night.  Now a full-time writer, Andrea debuts The Violet Hour.

You can visit her at her website: www.andrealwells.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.andrea.l.wells
Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrealwells
Instagram: @andrea.l.wells

SPECIAL EXCERPT:

   I sat up and pulled my knees in close to my chest.  Electricity flared in the air as Luke inhaled.
“You know, Logan, you’re not who I expected you to be,” he said, taking a long thought-filled pause.  “I thought the next twelve months were going to be hell living with a California socialite, but you’re pretty amazing.  I guess I owe you an apology.”
“So, it’s a good thing that I’m nothing like you expected?” I asked.
“It’s a really, really good thing.”
   As I started to smile back he craned his neck to look away from me.  His eyes focused.  Something black flashed across the road but I was more scared by Luke’s reaction.  The warmth had vanished from Luke in a heartbeat.  The object stopped moving toward us when it got to an opening between the trees.  Even though I could feel Luke’s concern, I leaned forward toward the window, curious.  It was a wolf – a really big wolf, staring directly at us with bright green eyes.  It was close enough I could see quick breaths escape into the crisp rain-drenched air.  I was startled when the engine roared to life.  Luke threw the car into reverse, and I nearly slammed into the dash as the sound of gravel scattered everywhere.  He quickly jockeyed around and pulled back onto the road heading home.  I kept my eyes on the wolf until he was no longer in sight.
“Was that a wolf?” I asked.  Everything happened so quickly, I had to be sure.
“Yes,” he spit.
“I’ve never seen a wolf before – that thing was huge.”
Luke immediately turned to look at me with an expression that I couldn’t begin to read.
“What’s going on?” I pressed, puzzled.
When he looked toward the road and didn’t answer, I knew my question needed to be more specific to get results.
“Why are you freaking out?  It was just a wolf.”  I was worried.  He had gone from warm and comforting to moody and distant over such a small thing and I second-guessed how quickly I had fallen for him.
“Because I need to get you home, it’s getting late,” he muttered, failing to control his tone.
“That doesn’t make any sense, Luke.  I have no curfew and you flaked as soon as you saw the wolf.”
“Wolves are dangerous.”
“We were in the car,” I countered.
“Doesn’t matter.”

GIVEAWAY!!!

   Huzzah! To celebrate The Violet Hour by Andrea L Wells we are doing an awesome and fabulous giveaway a Kindle Fire HD!! To enter complete the tasks bellow to get ballets (entries). This giveaway is international. GOOD LUCK!

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Book Spotlight: The Shell Seekers

   Book Synopsis:
    An instant bestseller when it was first published in 1987, The Shell Seekers is an enduring classic which has touched the hearts of millions of readers worldwide.  A novel of connection, it is the story of one family, and of the passions and heartbreak that have held them together for three generations. It is filled with real people--mothers and daughters, husband and lovers--and inspired with real values.  Now for the first time in trade paperback, this magical novel—the kind of reading experience that comes along only once in a long while—is the perfect summer read, whether you are returning to it again, or opening the cover for the first time.
   At the end of a long and useful life, Penelope Keeling's prized possession is The Shell Seekers, painted by her father, and symbolizing her unconventional life, from bohemian childhood to wartime romance. When her grown children learn their grandfather's work is now worth a fortune, each has an idea as to what Penelope should do. But as she recalls the passions, tragedies, and secrets of her life, she knows there is only one answer...and it lies in her heart.

    Author Info:
    ROSAMUNDE PILCHER has had a long and distinguished career as a novelist and short-story writer, but it was her phenomenally successful novel The Shell Seekers that captured the hearts of all who read it and won her international recognition as one of the most-loved storytellers of our time.  The Shell Seekers was followed by September and then by Coming Home and Winter Solstice, which also became worldwide bestsellers.  She lives in Perthshire, Scotland.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Shell-Seekers-Rosamunde-Pilcher/dp/1250063787/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1429027311

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shell-seekers-rosamunde-pilcher/1102933748?ean=9781250063786

Indiebound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250063786

Winter Wolf by Rachel M. Raithby (Review)

  Katalina Winter is a wolf, and not just any wolf, one of the last pure-bread wolves alive; and she doesn't even know it. After a tragic car crash that kills her adoptive parents, Katalina is thrust into the world of were-wolves, packs, murderer, mates and feuds.
  I found Winter Wolf quite generic. It seems to be a run of the mill were wolf mate story. It's a combination of Romeo and Juliet and were-wolves. I didn't dislike the story, but I did not find anything unique or that made Winter Wolf stand out in the crowd. I do have the complaint that the ending was a little quick and rushed. I  also found that the overall feel of the novel was not consistent. The beginning of the novel was intense and descriptive, but the rest of it seemed mediocre if not dull. This story was nothing to write home about for sure. On, the positive side I did find Katalina and her mate adorable. They are super cute together and were nice to read about. I give Winter Wolf TWO AND A HALF STARS OUT OF FIVE!