From Mangia to Murder (Sophia Mancini Mysteries #1)

Little Italy, 1946 – Sophia Mancini would have enjoyed the grand opening celebration of her family’s private detective agency if the volatile chef at Vincenzo’s Ristorante had actually survived the meal. But before Sophia’s chilled spoon hit the spumoni, someone plunged a knife into Vincenzo’s back and the word on everyone’s lips went from mangia to murder.

Sophia soon finds herself trailing crime boss Frankie Vidoni, chatting with his mouthy mistress Maria, and dodging henchman Mooch DiMuccio. She’s suspicious of Vincenzo’s widow, Stella, and his assistant chef, Eugene, because they don’t appear the least bit dismayed by Vincenzo’s passing. There is no conversation Sophia won’t eavesdrop on, no question she won’t ask, and no danger she won’t face to find the killer.

Clockwork Princess

This is the 3rd book in the series and the one that will answer all your questions.
Will Jem live? Will Tessa find out what she is? Will the Clave find Mortmain and his Infernals before they can destroy the shadowhunters? Will Tessa and Will get together or will she stay with Jem?

There will be many changes, in the council, in allegiances.

The way that Cassandra describes the surroundings and emotions in this book make you feel like you are there with them. The heartbreak, the happiness, fighting the Infernals with them.

This is my favourite of the series. Great way to end it.

Follow the Shadowhunters in their search for Mortmain and his Infernal devices. To save the Clave and to stay at the institute. The ups and downs of budding romance and relationships. travelling across the country, and the dangers that it involves. Learning more about Tessa's history.

Clockwork Prince

Clockwork Prince was a fantastic novel, I enjoyed it more than the first in the series (Clockwork Angel) and I can only hope there will be a third.

With Mortmain still on the loose there is danger around every corner. To learn that one of their own has turned spy against them and is working with the enemy is a shock to all at the institute. With her running of the institute in question, Charlotte has no choice but to be hard on a person that she loves.
The mystery of why Will is always pushing people away is solved, but doesn't follow the story line that I would have preferred. Although I still enjoy the way that it went, the romantic in me was hoping for another result. If there is a book 3 maybe it will lead back to this line.

The elder Lightwood brothers returns from Spain and is not the same person that left the family, his realisation of the world is a little different than when he left.

I really enjoyed this novel the second in the Infernal Devices series. I really do hope there is more to come.

Sunset Rising

This book was gifted to me by the author in exchange for an honest and fair review.

World War 3 - Military vehicles are seen disappearing into "the Dome" Civilians push their way in on foot, But only the fastest make it before the doors are closed for good. With the radiation threat on the outside there is likely to be many generations in the dome.

Forced to sign a treaty that will see the Civilians treated as slaves in the pit and culled when they reach 35. The 'Bourge' live the high life and use the female Urchins for their entertainment. Step out of line and a beating is expected. When Sunny is dragged from the dark pit up to the dome for the bachelor party of the man who is to marry the president's daughter, she doesn't expect to be drawn into an evil plot by the Bride to be.

Her life will be changed forever and the man that she is tricked into marrying will have his eyes opened to just how evil the government actually is.

I struggled to put this down.(Loved it)  It has a little bit of a "Les Miserables" to it. A story where a brave girl is not scared to fight for her people. The story of Sunny O'Donnell & Jack Kenner is very inspiring. Where a 'rich' man is helping out the less fortunate to help them revolt against a government.

I am really looking forward to Book 2 in the series!!

I give this a rating of 5 stars.

When the Siren Calls

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Welcome to a world where buying up luxury holidays homes and having affairs are common nature. I enjoyed the story, it was an easy read and flowed well. 

Unhappy in her marriage Isobel falls into an affair with a suave Business man/ Property developer (Jay) who has a hint of a con man about him. Little does she know that she is not his only extra marital affair. This follows the story of Isobel her husband her lover and the Tuscan countryside. 

Once so sure that she would never cheat on Peter and that he would never cheat on her. But along comes Rachel his assistant and she is suddenly not so confident. Could it be guilt on her behalf that makes her unsure? 

This story was gifted to me by the author in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Being Mrs. Dracula

Countess Dracula, what a wonderful life, until her husband keeps leaving to help on the war front and she is left behind. The reunions are wonderful, But the day he comes home to her a changed man will be the beginning of a whole new life. Love/ Hate / Passion & Revulsion all play a big part. Being abandoned by her loving husband sees Valeria learning how to embrace this new life by herself, finding herself falling in love only to have it ripped from her.
Then comes the day that Wife 2 is brought home. It takes many years, but they become close and loving friends, companions and partners while their wayward husband is off and away often for decades at a time.
Travelling all over the world as to not arouse suspicion and endanger themselves. This sees the introduction of wife number 3. She believes she is much better than 1 & 2 and causes many arguments in Castle Dracula. This is also where slayers are introduced into the book.

I enjoyed reading this story, it seemed a little choppy in the beginning, but this fits in with the 'Diary' content of the book and improved as the story developed. I did enjoy the fact that it is written in the hand of the 3 wives along with the necessary storyline in between. A great telling of the 'Brides' story. I would love to see a second book and where the story of Valeria and Emil will lead.

A Class Apart by Stephen Henning

An enjoyable YA novel. James and Samantha Blake are great characters and I look forward to hearing more about how their powers develop. Also the mysterious Lolly, who is her father and what does he want with the Blake's. Wanting answers to all the questions and more makes you want to keep reading and I look forward to more books in the series. 
Well written and easy to read I Rate this book 4 stars

Midnight Hunter by Bonnie Bernard

Blonde girls are going missing from the local club. What could be behind it? Mo is intent on finding out and using her best friend as bait to do it. Donna who is about to turn 21 and does not enjoy going to 'the Dark Side' agrees to help Mo with her plan. A stranger keeps warning her to stay away. But is he a stranger? A story of romance with danger around every corner. The underworld meets the mortal world in an explosive story about friendship, love and family who don't always get along. I rate this story 5 stars. I found it hard to put down. I loved it from chapter 1 all the way through

Fabled Enigma by G.L. Briggs

A good story written from 2 angles.i enjoyed this story about a nn believer of the spirit/supernatural learns the hard way that it is in fact all true and can be very dangerous. Gareth the hardiness nonbeliever finds himself entangled in a mess of the supernatural kind and finds himself having to change his ways and ask for help from the very person that he has blown off only days prior. I love the way the story has finished? This book was gifted to me by the author in exchange for an honest review

Lost (Amelia Jones Detective Series #1) by Pandora Richardson

Private Detective ... Werewolf .... Amelia is both. Life is looking grim for her agency, however things suddenly change when she almost crashes into a new client. Amelia goes on the adventure of a lifetime some good some not so. It's a well written novel that let's you get inside of the character and imagine the everyday struggle she has to control her animal instincts. I thoroughly enjoyed the touch of intimacy and lust mixed in with the mystery and twists that the story held. I truly would love to see a sequel. This ebook was gifted to me by the author in exchange for an honest review

A very enjoyable read with a great storyline. I like the twists and turns that the story held. Will and Tessa are an intriguing pair who I would love to hear more about. Jem and Sophie are another 2 people who I would like to follow. A great introduction to Shadowhunters and downworlders. I am off to start book 2 ;) totally hooked

Angel's Kiss by Lynne Stevie

I was gifted this story by the author in exchange for an honest review. 
Lexi is about to be thrown into a world of unknown. Life is going to be turned upside down. It all starts when she is working a case for a client who wants to prove her husband is cheating. That is where normality ends. He comes to her in her dreams but who is he?
I rated this novel 4 stars. It kept me intrigued from page 1, a good mix of mystery and intrigue with some fantasy and romance thrown in. The twists and turns are not completely predictable which is nice. I would love to see a sequel to this story

Showtime by Chloe Kayne

This book was gifted to me by the author in exchange for an honest and fair review

Run away with the circus takes on a whole new meaning when Laila finds herself running from trouble and an unfortunate life. Marvelle Circus was to become her new home and her friends her new family. The lies that she tells about her family will come back to bite her in her brightest moment, almost causing the end of a promising future of a life among the stars. You can't help who you fall in love with and she has fallen for 'the bad boy' her friends keep warning her away from him, however it is too late as her heart has decided for her. Loyalty plays a big part among the performers staying at Marvelle and not being lured to Benelli's the competing circus.

I loved this story, I found it a little slow in parts, however it didn't last long with around every corner there was something else that had me glued to my kindle to see what was going to happen next. The descriptions that Chloe uses in her writing really draw you into the atmosphere and at times I could imagine sitting in the audience watching Laila up on her web. 

I am really looking forward to the new book.

Sleep Stalkers

Page 20 and I am already struggling to put this book down. 
The new government views has seen the downfall of churches and the structured religion of the world. Allowing for the evil in the world to work it's way in.
Danger like none other is lurking in the subconscious of the "special" minions.
A tale of friendship and love. Two halves of a whole. 
"The realm of the Sleep Stalkers is a place that lies beyond the waking world; a place of pure evil"
Supernatural meets Lost Girl and Stephen King is what the style of writing comes across as to me. 
I believe Jacki O 'Dierno has combined a great mix of characters and emotions. With her fantastic descriptions and the way she painted the scene I could really immerse myself and feel part of the story and the visualize the surroundings. 
The only mild downside for me was the editing and misplaced words occasionally through the story. This is easy to overlook when enjoying the story though. 
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy fantasy and supernatural themes. I rate the book 4.5 stars. 

No Remorse

This book was provided to me, by the author, in paperback in exchange for an honest review.

A story of an ancient prophecy that has come to light to early and needs to be stopped, so the the end of the world doesn't arrive before it is meant to. Based on the book of Revelations and Revolving around a break away congregation of the Catholic Church. Angels and Demons. Forbidden Feelings and great descriptions of the history and buildings of the Vatican City. Elise suddenly finds her world totally turned upside down by an unexpected attack.

It took me quite awhile to warm up to this book. I was enjoying it, however it was for me really hard and not a relaxing read, but this is not a bad thing as it really gets your mind ticking over. Although feeling a little bogged down by all the history and background information that makes up almost the first half of the book, it becomes clear that it is necessary and I encourage you to push through as the book becomes very edgy and exciting with lots of unexpected twists. It was about the half way mark that the story got it's hooks into me and I struggled to put it down. (reading the last 200 pages in 1 day!)
The only down side for me was some of the editing left a bit to be desired, but something that is easy enough to ignore.
I would give this book 4.5/5 stars

The Sounding

This book was provided to me, by the author, in paperback in exchange for an honest review.

A story of an ancient prophecy that has come to light to early and needs to be stopped, so the the end of the world doesn't arrive before it is meant to. Based on the book of Revelations and Revolving around a break away congregation of the Catholic Church. Angels and Demons. Forbidden Feelings and great descriptions of the history and buildings of the Vatican City. Elise suddenly finds her world totally turned upside down by an unexpected attack.

It took me quite awhile to warm up to this book. I was enjoying it, however it was for me really hard and not a relaxing read, but this is not a bad thing as it really gets your mind ticking over. Although feeling a little bogged down by all the history and background information that makes up almost the first half of the book, it becomes clear that it is necessary and I encourage you to push through as the book becomes very edgy and exciting with lots of unexpected twists. It was about the half way mark that the story got it's hooks into me and I struggled to put it down. (reading the last 200 pages in 1 day!)
The only down side for me was some of the editing left a bit to be desired, but something that is easy enough to ignore.
I would give this book 4.5/5 stars

Turquoise

This book was provided to me, by the author, in paperback in exchange for an honest review.

A great story of a great love that can not be united between 2 lovers due to distance and circumstance.

Based around Yasmin and Renan, when they meet Renan is married with a child and Yasmin can only dream about what life would be like with Renan. As time goes on and Yasmin marries, they face new challenges in their parallel and crossed over lives.

Yasmin and her Armenian classmate Ani were oblivious to ethnic differences during their school years in Istanbul.
A few years on, Yasmin's diplomat father is appointed as the Turkish Consul General to Los Angeles where the family faces a devastating tragedy that will impact their lives in ways unfathomable.

Alot of the story is based around ethnic and cultural differences among the characters of the story. I find that this really makes you think more about how different we all are and question how we treat others.

I enjoyed the love story and the pressures and challenges that Yasmin and her family face.

I rate this story 3/5 stars

A Class Apart

  An enjoyable YA novel. James and Samantha Blake are great characters and I look forward to hearing more about how their powers develop. Also the mysterious Lolly, who is her father and what does he want with the Blake's. Wanting answers to all the questions and more makes you want to keep reading and  I look forward to more books in the series.  Well written and easy to read I Rate this book 4 stars

Bonds of Fenris

A great story with many great lessons to take note of. Very positive way of looking for the positives in life when we are all often thrown a curve ball to deal with. A story of friendship love and learning. I loved this book from start to finish. The ending though was perfect. I loved the challenges that they each faced and the way that they had to adapt the learning for each person as it is in reality. It is very rare for 2 people to learn the same lesson in identical ways and I feel like this story shows that well.

Talia is learning to live as a wolf and has met a pack who are teaching her the ways of Lycanthropy. But then they come across a lone wolf. Is he friend or foe. Talia is intrigued and after much bickering within the pack descends on the other wolf to find out. What she finds and learns becomes an extremely valuable lesson. Now can she convince the rest of the pack to learn as well?

I rate this book 5 stars. This e book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
     

The Citizens (A Jazz Nemesis Novel) Book Review

The Citizens (A Jazz Nemesis Novel) Book Review

The Citizens.....

Imagine waking up in a town where you have all you meals supplied, access to the shops at any time without needing money to pay, beautiful weather and 4 other people who make up the whole population of your new town. Except...... you can't leave.

Follow the emotions of these 5 citizens as they explore relationships, friendships, suspicion, fear and learning new physical/psychological abilities.

Mayor E certainly has a lot in store for his new population.

I found it really hard to put this book down and it often had me on the edge of my seat more than once hanging to see where the story was leading. I really enjoyed the individuals in the story and their different personalities. Jazz is someone that I can relate to.

A brilliant novel in the Jazz Nemesis series. I can't wait for the next one. Five stars :)

I was gifted this novel by the author in exchange for an honest review.