Posts

To be a Fae Queen (Realm Chronicles Book 1) by Tricia Copeland – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

To be a Fae Queen (Realm Chronicles #1)To be a Fae Queen by Tricia Copeland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Titania is Princess of Aubren in the realm of Middle Earth, she is fifteen years old and for the last three years and since the death of her brothers, she has been in training to take over the throne from her father. She has a fulfilling life between her studies, learning about weaponry and fighting techniques, plus music and sewing as benefits a lady, although she has no friends and there is only one person she is close to, apart from her parents with whom she spends time every evening after dinner, talking with her father and trying to talk to her unresponsive mother. One evening, however, all this changes when Titania learns from her father that the crystals which power the faerie ring and link between theirs and the world above is weakening because an old enemy has returned and is stealing the crystals which power it. She struggles to fall asleep as questions whirl round her head as to what the enemy is planning, how they are getting into their kingdom, so she decides to go and get some books from the library to research and hopefully answer her questions. When she wakes up the next day and notices that it has dawned differently and she has a feeling of unease which she cannot place until she asks whether more crystals have been stolen, when the answer is an affirmative, she is even more determined to find out why.

As there is nothing she can do, Titania carries on with her normal routine of walking in the castle grounds with her mother until it is time for her midday meal, as she ate late, Titania carries on with her walk until she senses that she isn’t alone and confronts the person following her, it turns out to be a young soldier barely older than her who has been assigned to watch over her and although it feels smothering, she just carries on as usual. The next day, that feeling of unease and that something is wrong increases, especially when she discovers that some of her own crystals have disappeared as well, however, when she comes up with a plan to figure out where the enemies are and a way to defeat them, her father acknowledges the worth of it, but assigns the soldiers to carry it out rather than her, despite knowing her skills. As more crystals are stolen and her father still stonewalls Titania from carrying out a search and her plan to find the enemies alternative entrance point when it is clear that they are not using the most obvious one, she devises a plan and the young guard to help her, however, as they search, they do finally uncover where the enemy is hiding.

As she shoots arrows across the entryway, she begins to take down the enemies and knowing this, they summon the rest of the army to come and help to destroy them, in the end the King arrives and heads the forces going into the cave system they two have discovered, but he is injured by the enemy and at that point, Titania takes over and takes the lead in the charge. When they enter the cave system, Titania recovers the stolen crystals and enables the escape of the troops as the caves are hit by tremors and sending the guard ahead with the crystals, she remains to finish off the enemy troops and ensure the safety of as many of her fathers troops as possible. When they all return, the King abdicates his throne and elects Titania to become Queen in his stead, however, this isn’t to everyone’s taste and an uprising begins on the point that a female fae should not be on the throne as they are unsuitable, as her court is split between the two factions, a smear campaign against her begins, this leads to her being arrested for treason before a trial can be convened to decide the ruler.

Will Titania be able to prove her innocence in the matter of treason and be able to compete in the trials for the crown, or should she hand over to a distant male cousin so that he can rule in her place instead? There are more questions than answers for Titania as she tries to keep her head above water in this thrilling fantasy adventure which spans accross realms.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Twisted Throttle: Satan’s Devils MC Second Generation #3 by Manda Mellett – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Twisted Throttle (Satan's Devils MC Second Generation #3)Twisted Throttle by Manda Mellett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story is for those over 18 due to adult content and possible triggers.

Throttle is the Sergeant At Arms in the Satan’s Devils MC and he lives and breathes the club, the life and the women which he propositions and he wants nothing else, he is the happiest he has ever been and change is the last thing he wants, despite his parents best efforts at requesting it.

Today he is dealing with a slight to the club, someone has stolen a Prospects motorbike and that is something which is a sin, a mans bike is sacrosanct and nobody should touch it without their permission, but to let their bike be stolen is just as bad, even if they were only away from it for a few minutes, but as usual the clubs resident technical wizz has trawled through endless amounts of CCTV and actually found it, now they just have to pay a visit to the scrapyard when it has been traced to. Throttle is more than ready for this type of action, it has been to quiet for him as of late, so getting the opportunity to grab the guys who stole it, find out what they were planning to do with it and take them to task while telling them the mistake they have made and the consequences which go along with it, none of which is pleasant, for them at least. After the warning has been given and the people of interest have been returned to their workplace in a much worse state than when they left it, Throttle’s dad asks him for a word and they talk about what his parents wanted for him and how he only ever wanted to be in the MC when he didn’t sign up to the armed forces, much to his parents’ relief, they also discuss the fellow member who has had mental health issues and making sure that Throttle isn’t heading the same way and whether his is happy, as well as says that he is not altogether appreciative of his lifestyle of one night stands and carousel of women he knows his son consorts with.

After the heated discussion, he is needing some space as his emotions are running high, Throttle heads to the bar/ restaurant the Devil’s own where he can get something to eat and a drink, but he doesn’t expect to see a girl he knew as a kid and hasn’t seen for years working there. As they catch up, it is like those years disappear and she seems to have her life sorted out which makes Throttle happy to hear, but as she is working, the conversation peters out and he instead goes on the prowl and sees someone he thinks may be the next to ride his carousel, however, the chance disappears until the manager of the restaurant asks him to come back the next day to help manage a bachelorette party, to which he agrees. The next day he returns to help out, but ends up following the group to the next venue, which happens to be a strip club also owned by the Devils, much to his annoyance, but the same woman who caught his eye propositions him at the end of the night and he agrees to go back to her place, but when he sets out the rules, he assumes she will follow them, that is until the next day when she tries to get him to go out with her, he refuses and thinks no more of it.

When he returns to the clubhouse later that evening, he hears that one of the waitresses has been hurt and when he realises that it is his childhood friend, he rushes to her side at the hospital after stopping at the bar to see what happened. The next day he receives an expensive gift from a mystery person and as he tries to follow up on this, he is still checking in on his friend, but he is starting to think about her more and more and this has him worried, especially when he finds out that her house has also been ransacked. As time passes and his friend heals, he is tailed by a mystery car multiple times as he checks on her, followed by a further gift and silent phone calls, this mystery deepens and he gets involved with someone else,
but cannot see how they are all connected and neither can anyone else, is it a jilted lover, someone with it in for the MC, or something else entirely? This fast paced romp is a romance with a mysterious and dangerous twist as things out of Throttle’s control keep happening until he has no idea what is happening and you are pulled along on the journey with him you are just as mystified until the ending is revealed.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Hawk’s Cry : Satan’s Devils MC (Second Generation #2) by Manda Mellett – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Hawk's Cry (Satan's Devils MC Second Generation #2)Hawk’s Cry by Manda Mellett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a story for those over 18 as it deals with adult content and possible triggers.

Hawk is the VP of the Satan’s Devils MC mother chapter and he is in love with a beautiful woman who he has known all his life, he is married to her and has their first child on the way, he is the son of the old Prez and is following in his footsteps by living and breathing the MC life, but it is not the life he wants anymore and he wants out, but it is only when one of the other members comes to find him and find out what is wrong that he opens up and says what has been on his mind, they can’t understand it though and end up storming away in disbelief and leaving him to his thoughts and what he is going to tell his wife. As he approaches her, she knows something is off and has known for a while, but she is astonished when he tells her about his decision and then heads off to the weeks meeting with the other members before they have time to properly talk about it, but as he enters the room, he realises that his talk wasn’t as in confidence as he thought and that he has told the other member, so as he goes through the motions of the meeting, he is hoping it is over soon so that he can find out the ramifications of his decision.

As most of the members leave the room, they are told to stay close as they might end up being needed again and this is when the discussion about Hawk’s choice is brought up and nobody likes it one but it is unprecedented and nobody is really sure of how to proceed, but nevertheless, the conversation starts. As Hawk is trying to explain his decision, he is struggling to find the words he needs ro explain himself, so he just outright states he wants to leave the club, the compound and this life, but that he wants to take his wife with him, as expected, tempers fray and emotions are running high, but reality starts to hit as his options are laid on the table. This is when the other members are invited back in and the cards are laid on the table as they each take a vote, the decision ends up being a close call, but a beatdown and immediate expulsion are chosen, the next thing he knows, he is being escorted to the storeroom and after his dad takes the first hit, he sees him leave while the other members show him exactly what they think of the situation. As he regains consciousness, he is on the floor, in a world of pain and his house is being packed up around him as his wife cries, they are then taken to another place to live until they can find their own feet, he hadn’t realised how hard this would be on his wife, especially when their mums have to explain what decision was made and what the other option was.

As he has now left the club, he has to give up his road name as well and live life as Eli, but as he and Amy try and settle into a new life, he is unable to do anything while he heals and his moods deteriorate and he starts to spiral even more, Amy has no idea how to handle his distance and what to do about it as it is all new to her, but she ends up making a friend, albeit a male one, but one day things take a turn for the worse for both Eli and Amy when one feels unable to cope and the other has no idea how bad things have gotten. What will happen to the not so happy couple when the truth is revealed and things out of their control start to happen around them? This is a romance with a dark undercurrent which sweeps you along as you watch events unfurl and see the decisions which have to be made and the consequences of the actions which follow.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Amy’s Santa: Satan’s Devils MC (Second Generation #1) by Manda Mellet – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Amy's Santa: Satan's Devils MC (Second Generation) #1Amy’s Santa: Satan’s Devils MC (Second Generation) #1 by Manda Mellett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story is only for those over 18 with adult content and may contain triggers within.

Amy is a 27 year old woman who has grown up with the Satan’s Devils and branched out on her own to attend college and get a degree in nursing, albeit to the frustration and worry of her parents, but she is successful and knows what she wants out of life and one thing is to return home every Christmas and see her parents, sibling and the extended family of those living around her, but this year she is dreading it, she is worried that they will see right through her and want to deal with her problem’s the only way she knows how, but she might just manage it with Xander by her side.

As they drive towards the compound, Xander asks her how she is feeling as they get nearer to Tucson and her home, she replied honestly that she is worried and is tempted to go back, but she knows that if she isn’t there, then her family will definitely suspect something and that is the last thing she wants, but even though Xander is trying to convince her that she needs to open up to them about what happened, she is more worried about what their reaction is going to be. It is her fault the event happened and they will all just blame her and agree that she was at fault, but she is so glad that he is there with her so he can help her as he has done for the last three months. As they approach the compound, they stop at the gate so they can be let in and Xander admires the area as it is not what he expected at all, but everything is as she expects and hopes they have waited so that their traditions can be kept up where she puts the last decoration up on the tree. After this has been completed, Amy introduces her friend to everyone, but she awkwardly tries to avoid hugs from the men around her, although she doesn’t hesitate with her dad or the ladies and kids and she is more than thankful that Xander helps her to do that, using wanting to freshen up and unpack as their excuse.

As they unpack, she fills Xander in when he asks about the Club and the people in it, but understands that he can only know so much, but he also knows when to push and when not to, meanwhile her dad is talking to her mum and is worried about her and a little bit about the man she is with, albeit the usual checks have been done, then they reminisce about her childhood and how she had grown into exactly what she wanted to be. As they go back to the clubhouse, they meet up with another member and talk about her and get his view on the situation and he feels the same way that they do, that something isn’t right, but to wait and see what it is. Later on as preparations for the family meal are going on Xander goes straight in and helps where needed as Amy spends time catching up with the family, this is appreciated, but as she talks to her dad, he is watching for her reactions to his questions and the feeling that something isn’t right is solidified, especially as he notices more little things as the evening progresses and he is determined to find out what it is and so asks Xander to have a chat in the morning.

As Xander reassures Amy that nobody noticed anything was amiss, they go about their normal nightly routine, including helping her deal with her nightmares, which she appreciates more than she can tell him and to help calm her, he asks how Christmas works so he knows what to expect later on in the day. The next morning, they exchange gifts and head down to the clubhouse for breakfast and although she is worried, Amy goes along too, but when someone puts his arm around her she goes into a full blown panic attack and has to be taken outside, but just as Xander is talking to her, her dad comes out and overhears them talking, this is where Xander ends up telling him everything. Will Amy be able to handle the rest of Christmas day and be able to relax around her family, or will what they find out tarnish their view of her forever? This is another fantastic installment which deals with some heavy topics, but is engrossing as you ride along with the Devils.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Peaceful Slumber (Soul Connection Book 1) by Nikki Lynn – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Peaceful Slumber (Soul Connection, #1)Peaceful Slumber by Nikki Lynn Barrett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Scott is a teenager and a bit of a recluse, he is jaded and sarcastic and pushes people away and keeps his own council, he doesn’t get along with his parents, or at least he doesn’t now, not since he died and was brought back, but the only problem with that is that now he can see the dead when nobody else can and that is why he is how he is. She is a ghost, she is wearing a wedding dress covered in blood and has no memories of who she is or what has happened, apart from that she is dead and nobody can see her, that is until she locks eyes with someone at a funeral and that all changes.

I have woken up in a dark place with fog swirling around my feet, I can’t feel anything and I can’t see anybody else around me, but I’m shivering and can feel a cold wind swirling around me, but as I start to panic, I can hear voices, someone sobbing and others trying to comfort them, but when I try to make contact, they can’t hear me. Scott is at the funeral of his Uncle, they are gathered around the grave while the ceremony is conducted, he is there for his Aunt and nobody else, but the dead are all around him and trying to get his attention, so far he has managed to ignore them all, if not, then they will swarm him and ask for his help, that is until one female ghost catches his attention, she is wearing a bloody wedding dress and for some reason he can’t look away and she notices and looks relieved. After he has finished avoiding his parents, he goes over to talk to her, and albeit he is short with her, she doesn’t back off and he is surprised to find that he invites her back to his house so he can help her.

Why did I have to find the one sarcastic guy in the world who can see me, even worse, I’m slightly attracted to him, as I ask him question and he does in return, how little memories I have are worrying and I don’t know what to do, but as Scott seems to be my only ally and we seem to get on well, I’ll take a chance. I get annoyed with Scott when he keeps calling me Ghost Bride, so I ask him to give me a different name and one he likes, he comes up with Zelda, apparently a character from a video game, but I like it, so that is one thing, as he suggests getting the laptop out to start on the research, I realise that I am happy that he will help me when nobody else can. Scott meanwhile is realising that this ghost is attractive, funny and can give the sarcasm as much as he can, so he decides that helping her could be fun, until she leaves, but still he cannot stop himself from noticing how attractive she is and how even though he knows she is dead, he still can’t ignore the fact that she makes him feel alive again.

Will Scott and Zelda be able to figure out who she is and how she died and how will this affect them both of the mystery can be solved? This is a romance with a very paranormal twist, with a mystery you will want to solve as well.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Forged by Secrets (Deadly Isles Special Ops Book 3) by Amy McKinley – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Forged by Secrets (Deadly Isles Special Ops, #3)Forged by Secrets by Amy McKinley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Malina Johansson is an ordinary woman working as an analyst for a team of Navy SEALs, but she has secrets in her past which nobody can know about and Tyler Hale is one of three brothers and is on the Navy SEAL team which Malina is the analyst for, they have known each other since high school, but Malina has walls around her heart because of her past and Tyler wants to know the woman behind them because they have an attraction which is off the charts. That all changes when they go to Las Vegas for the birthday of a mutual friend and everyone knows that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, so the alcohol flows and inhibitions lower and Malina and Tyler end up in bed together for the second time, but when she wakes up, Malina slams her walls back up and flees the room with no memories of the night before, but she thinks no more about it and goes back to ignoring Tyler as best she can while Tyler is determined to get under her skin, again as usual.

Five weeks later and Tyler is still pushing her buttons while she tries to ignore it, but she knows he is about to go on a mission which means she’ll have some breathing room while he is away, but things don’t go as planned and Tyler ends up being detained overseas longer than planned when his mission goes awry and this makes him realise that he can’t keep playing games with Malina any longer and is determined to win her over as soon as he returns to Pearl Harbour and debriefed. A few days into Tyler’s mission, Malina heads to the office after a disturbed night and an early morning dealing with the aftermath of it, all the while, she is reminiscing about a time in her life she would rather forget and sees an old friend at the harbour and stops for a quick chat which helps. It is hot, humid and she isn’t feeling her best when she approaches the front door, but she is shocked when she is waylaid by a coworker before she even gets through and what she is told shakes her to the core, she is suspected of treason and if she is seen, she will be arrested. Malina knows what she has to do and returns home to pack a few things, followed by a bus ride to the harbour via a corner shop and ATM for supplies, she stays as hidden as possible and asks her friend for their help to get to her destination. As she is about to leave, she sees a familiar face in the crowd and hopes that they are not there for her, so although she has only been there once, she heads to Tyler’s place, it is the only place she can think of to hide and hope that he will help her when he returns.

Over the next couple of days, Malina settles in and waits for Tyler while hoping that the conversation they will have will not deter him from helping her, even though it will mean danger for him, but when they do have that conversation, it is sober and over cards, this leads to truths being laid out on the table as they each reveal something which will affect the rest of their lives. Will Malina and Tyler be able to find out who has framed her for treason and the reason why, or will all the secrets of their past destroy them before they can? This is a thrilling ride as revelations occur and danger lies around every corner, it hooks you in and pulls you along as you follow the path and untangle the web of intrigue which surrounds the main characters.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Evil Sushi by C.A. King – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Evil Sushi (Evil Sushi #1)Evil Sushi by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Two fishermen are down on their luck, as are most of the others with the same livelihood all over the world since people started to blame the meat industry for global warming and which led to a huge increase in demand for fish and the opening of the international fishing routes, since then, the seas have been overfished and not replenished, even the vegetation on the sea bed is dead and people are fighting over any meat they can get a hold of. Rod and Ned live in the town of Treacle, it is a typical small community which centres around the fishing industry and traditions passed down through the generations which has kept it alive, albeit now the boats are all in need of repair but are having to wait until finances allow.

One day, Rod and Ned decide to go out and see if there is anything left after the big corporation’s boats scoured the area and used charges to get as much out of the sea as physically possible, but when they go out and use one of Rod’s homemade gadgets to see the state of play under the water, they find something unexpected, something which could well change their fortunes, so they decide to take a sample back with them to take a closer look. What they discover when they get home is nothing short of breathtaking and when someone accidentally tries to remedy a mistake, the consequences are miraculous, while Rod cautiously decides to do some research, Ned tries something a bit more drastic and when he says that they have tried it and nothing bad has come of it, they decide to try and sell it.

Early the next morning, they go to market to sell their find, but anger the locals when they accidentally start an auction and when Ned hears the amount of money offered by a businessman who doesn’t belong, he takes it upon himself to accept before Rod can do anything about it. This business man then asks for a repeat order a few days later and thinking that this is the end of it and that their luck maybe turning round, they try and pack up while avoiding the rest of the shoppers, it is only when a few days later and the mysterious businessman hires someone to take the rest of the stock by force and pay them for the privilege of staying silent, that they begin to think that they made a mistake.

Rod and Ned try to forget about the whole thing and get on with their lives until strange things start happening in Treacle and that feeling of unease is reinforced by hearing news reports of other strange events. Will Rod and Ned come clean about what they found and try to defend the reasoning behind it, or will the whole thing backfire and end up affecting the world in the opposite way they hoped? This is a horror story which makes you think about whether something similar could actually come to pass while keeping you hooked until the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Daisy’s Darkness (Wheels & Hogs Book 6) by D.M. Earl – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Daisy's Darkness (Wheels & Hogs #6)Daisy’s Darkness by D.M. Earl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book contains graphic descriptions of experiences which could be emotional triggers, read with caution.

Daisy in a teenager with a loving family and a circle of friends she is close to, but she is also being bullied by a group of girls and it is made even worse when her older brother starts to date on of them over the summer holidays, when school starts again, she is struggling with everything and because of all this stress, lack of feeling safe, feeling like she has no control of her life and the mountain of school work she has to do for her advanced classes, she is spiralling and she can’t seem to reach out, no matter how hard she tries, she believes that only she can deal with her demons, alone.

When she returns from her winter school break, she is trying to regain some control, she is restricting her food intake to keep the weight loss going which she started over summer, she is also trying different things to release the thoughts, stresses and demons in her head, but as she prepares for the first day back, she knows that it is going to be hell and that the bullies are just going to get worse. The one thing she is looking forward to is seeing her friends, her queens, although she still feels alone despite all of the people she has around her, however, her worst fears come to pass when she is intentionally hurt by the bullies who blame her for her brother breaking up with one of them, as she is held down, she is in pain, but there is nothing she can do about it and she knows that if she tells someone about what really happened, it will only get worse for her. Eventually she has to go to the hospital, the injuries she sustained are so bad she passes out and wakes up there with no idea how ill she has been, but she still cannot open up to her parents.

As Daisy continues to spiral, she begins to hurt herself more and more, her parents and brother are worried about her as they don’t know what’s going on, she keeps everything to herself and just clams up when they ask her about it all, she knows she is doing things which are especially risky and that hiding them isn’t helping, but she can’t stop herself. She feels so alone and disconnected from everyone and everything that she can’t see what is happening around her, but it is when someone finds what she is doing when she is caught in the act that things finally come to a head.

Will Daisy be able to reach out to those around her to help her to battle her inner demons, or will she continue in this downward spiral and become even more of a danger to herself than she already is? This book is dark, yet enlightening and makes you think as you look through the eyes of a troubled girl and those around her, it is not for the faint of heart and it is not an easy read, but it is well worth the time you take to go along Daisy’s journey with her.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Red’s Tangled Tale: Captain Hook and Red Riding Hood discover the Big Bad Wolf, and Rapunzel too! (The Untold Stories Book 2) by Suzanna Lynn – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Red's Tangled Tale (The Untold Stories, #2)Red’s Tangled Tale by Suzanna Lynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Little Red Riding Hood is the little girl who skips through the woods to visit her grandmother and bring her treats, but who is also scared of the Big Bad Wolf, but this is not necessarily true, she actually lives with her grandmother and Red is the name the villagers who who shun her have given her because of her red cloak she wears and she isn’t scared of the Big Bad Wolf, she hunts him.

Red lives in Ravenmore in an area known as Timbergard by the Blakx forest where huge wolves prowl on a night, it is said to have been cursed by a sorceress and cut off from the rest of the kingdom by another who used a fire to burn a border, which it is said to be still burning, but out of all who live there, only Red’s father was brave enough to go hunting in those woods, now it is up to Red to do since he was killed by the wolves a year before. When Red kills a wolf the merchants are always trying to short change her from everything from the meat to the pelt, despite the fact that they would be cold and starving if she didn’t hunt, but when she brings the latest prepared kill, an old friend, Captain Hook helps her out with the pelt, but he has changed and Red is determined to find out why. After Hook tells Red his tale, she agrees to help him to through the forest and collect some of the ash he needs from the border, so they prepare what they need, albeit the pirates think that Red is just a girl, the Captain soon puts them right and they agree that they will meet at Red’s grandmother’s house and set off at first light the next day

As Red and the pirates set off, much to the dismay of her grandmother, Red explains that she will lead the way and that they must listen to her, but the pirates aren’t used to long treks in the forest and after a few hours, they stop to eat, drink and rest, this is were one of the pirates sees his first wolf print and the size of it scares him. Later on, as it starts to get dark, Red insists that they find somewhere to camp for the night, the best place she finds is a cave at the source of the river, it means they have to wade through the cold water to it, but it will be safe and somewhere they can light a fire to dry off. The next day the pirates start to complain about being tired and hungry, so they rest before they get the ash, however, because of this, they are still a ways away from the cave when night starts to fall and the wolves start to hunt them, so Red has to make a drastic decision and she decides to run and lead the wolves away from the pirates. As she does it, she falls down a hill and when she gets to the bottom, she sees a white wolf chasing her, it reminds her of the one who chased her out of the woods the night of her father’s death, but soon she sees a place ahead of her which is far from ordinary, but it is something which could save her life.

Will Red be able to lead the wolves away from the pirates and will this mysterious place be the saving grace she hopes it is, or will there be something inside which could spell the end of her existence? This is a story of secrets, revelations, bravery and magic, it is another untold story which will change your view of Red and fairy tales in general while leaving you wanting more.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

City of Whispers: Imperial Assassin Book 1 by Katt Powers – Reiew by Roxsanne Lesieur.

City of Whispers (Imperial Assassin, #1)City of Whispers by Katt Powers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dhani Karim is a trained assassin, her weapons of choice are throwing knives, a metal baton, hair accessories which double as lethal spikes, a bracelet which can be used as a garotte and a set of lock picking tools in her brassiere, but in a land of magic, she is one of the few people who cannot wield it. However, due to an accusation of a murder she didn’t commit, she has now been demoted from Imperial Assassins to a lowly covert operative for a year until a judgement can be made as to whether she can rejoin the ranks and as such has been sent to the smallest town which is at the furthest point possible from the capital city.

Dhani has just arrived in the Imperial Colony of Tizrak Yirda to report to her superior, it is a hot, dry place with insects galore, but the thing she is least happy about is the touchy feely guard who took it upon himself to frisk her at the entrance of the Regional Command building with the excuse that it was to find her weapons, although he did get a cracked rib courtesy of her elbow for the inconvenience. Repeating the Imperial Assassin’s mantra she enters the office and faces the music, amid the veiled and outright insults she is told that she is not wanted and that it is only because it has been ordered that she is allowed to be there, she will also have to work with a partner, who isn’t wanted either and that their assignment is to find an individual of interest. The two of them are handed a file and told they have three days to find this person, but that they don’t need to know why they are looking for them and after they are dismissed, they go to find their office which is tiny and full of dust where her partner asks her why she hasn’t kept to protocol and isn’t impressed with her answers, or her attitude, however, she isn’t impressed with his attitude either, but they come to an understanding and an agreement eventually and come up with a plan of action, but albeit reluctantly.

When they go to the archives to pull the files they need, they find that one of the people who should have a file doesn’t and others who don’t need a file do, but they put it to the back of their minds and decide who they are going to talk to first, but it isn’t as easy and straightforward when the people on the list are less than enthusiastic to talk to them, one of them is even dead, but they are sure that at least one of them is lying about what they know. As they make their way through the other names of the list, they find that they are being tailed and are eventually attacked, but when three others join in, they realise that they are outnumbered, but they prevail and Dhani is dropped off outside her lodgings as her partner goes to find some much needed medical help, she finds that one of the people is wearing a bracelet with a religious symbol on it, which looks familiar. The evening is not over for Dhani though as she finds that her apartment has been ransacked while they were out, she gathers what is left of her belongings and goes to find one of her stashes to replenish them, the next thing she does is to go to another place where she knows she will receive a warm welcome and have a place to stay.

Over breakfast the next morning, she talks to the people she is staying with and finds out some interesting information , but when she goes on the search for her partner, she realises that he is not going to be of any help to her, so she decides to draft a message to send the the General to tell him of the developments in the case. As the days progress and this simple search for a missing person becomes a lot more complicated and every time Dhani thinks she has a handle on things, something else happens, but will she be able to solve the mystery of this person of interest and why it ties into the religious imagery she has seen popping up everywhere before it is too late to do anything about it? This is an adventure with more twists and turns than a maze and is just as entertaining, it is a book which pulls you in and keeps you hooked until the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Ocean’s Light (Blood of the Pirate Book 1) by Mina Chara – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

The Ocean's LightThe Ocean’s Light by Mina Chara
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Ocean’s Light is a gift from the sea to mankind, it can grant any wish to the one chosen to wield it, but it comes with a price, as all magic does, but it is a temptation to those who haven’t been chosen as well. When first gifted the light, the girl chosen wants to use the wish for good, but she also knows that it is a great responsibility on her shoulders, however, the more she argues with herself over what to wish for, the more she realises that she doesn;t want any part of this gift after all, so she decides to return it to the sea and into the arms of guardian who takes into the depths.

Many years later and The Ocean’s Light has become a myth, but there are still a few who believe in its existence and one who holds the key to it, although they don’t know they do, only that it is the only thing linking them to a family lost so they decide to take destiny into their own hands when they have to choose between staying where they have grown up or finding a crew to take them to where this key leads. Things do not go quite to plan and instead of finding and leading a crew, they are kidnapped by one, however, there is another crew who want to help them escape from their captivity, meanwhile in the background there is a third crew who want this key for themselves and will do anything to get it.

Will the person who holds the key find out the secret it opens and what will they do with the information? Which of the three crews will help and which ones will hinder the exploration and will the prize be worth the price in the end? This is a fantasy adventure across unknown seas to far away lands, with a fair amount of thievery and swashbuckling along the way, it is a book anyone and everyone can enjoy from start to finish as secrets are revealed and truths are uncovered.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Love Between the Lines by A.D. Brazeau – Review by Bailey Stiles

Love Between the LinesLove Between the Lines by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Marlowe Bennet is an author who has become used to her hermit existence. She wants to stay home in her sweats with her cats and eat junk food while she writes. Heath is a model who is ready to stop traveling and settle down. After steamy kiss a year ago, Marlowe’s best friend Iris arranges a date for the two of them.

I really enjoyed this book. A.D. Brazeau did a nice job of going into how anxiety can take over your life. I thought the chemistry between Heath and Marlowe was wonderful. Heath was truly a perfect book boyfriend. He was so patient and understanding. I loved how the book focused on their relationship, but I was sad there was no steamy sex scenes.

The friendship between Iris, Marlowe and Marlowe’s sister Lucy was really fun to read about. I liked how they were all so supportive of each other. This was a heartwarming story that was funny and light. A great book to read on a rainy weekend in.

View all my reviews

Jordan’s Shadow by T.R. Cupak – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Jordan's ShadowJordan’s Shadow by T.R. Cupak
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is not advised for anyone one under the age of 18 due to the graphic content.

Jordan is a woman with a whole heap of problems, she is an addict, she uses drugs and alcohol to numb the pain of her past and the demons which haunt her, especially when the nightmares hit of the night her life changed forever, she also writes in her journal to help her process her dreams and let out all the pain and the hurt inside. The Shadow is a man obsessed with a woman and that woman is Jordan, all he wants is to keep her by his side, but she isn’t aware of this, their shared past or his commitment to avenge her.
.
She has tried to get a normal job and keep her head down, but that didn’t work out, so when the opportunity to become an escort came up, she decided to give it a go and here she is several years later and still doing it, she has her regular clients, but only a couple who she actually sleeps with. One of her main clients is a man she has named The Shadow, she sees him once a month and is always blindfolded while she is with him, he gives her gifts and his bodyguard is always professional and polite when he comes to collect her. She knows that he is just a client, but she can’t help but hope that he could be something more, he knows how to play her body like an instrument and she can’t help but give in to his every demand, but this time, something happens and she goes into a full blown panic attack.

The next morning she wakes up in an unfamiliar place with a pounding head and no idea why until flashbacks of the night before make her want to throw up, but instead she explores the room and it’s contents, she finds notes dotted around to make her comfortable and after The Shadow’s bodyguard gives her something to change into, she gets ready to leave, however, when she is dropped off at home, she is surprised when she is told he will be visiting her tonight and she is told to wear nothing but her blindfold when he gets there.

The Shadow is informed that Jordan is safely back at home, he is thinking about his current business path, as well as the past events that have led him to her, but that is nothing compared to his plan for the night to come and the first step in his plan for revenge, but he is worrying about how she will react to what he will tell her.

When the time comes for Jordan and The Shadow to meet, she is spiralling, the cocktail of booze and drudge she has taken are sending her mind into a tailspin and she can’t stop thinking about escaping, even though his bodyguard has put a stop to that straight away already. Meanwhile The Shadow is just as flighty as she is, but he takes a few swigs of liquid courage and goes to her flat, things do not go quite to plan and the things he wants to say are forgotten once he allows her to look at him. That night, there is passion, an argument, a betrayal of trust and exhaustion, but Jordan goes to see him the next day anyway and when he reveals one more part of himself to her, will she be able to accept his words like he wants her to, or will she run when she realises that his demons and darkness are almost as deep as hers? Will these two broken people come together, or are past events going to be too large a barrier to overcome? This is not a romance for the faint of heart, it is a tidal wave of emotion, betrayal and revelations which will pull you under into their world of darkness and wanting to know how the story ends.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Secure Her (Chase Security Series Book 4) by R.L. Dunn – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Secure Her (Chase Security #4)Secure Her by R.L. Dunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book contains scenes of a graphic and sexual nature, only those over 18’s only should read this.

Zachary “Ice” Wentworth is the head of the Domestic Law Enforcement Unit within Chase Security, he has worked his way there from being an ex Navy SEAL, all the way up, but he is still recovering from the loss of a female operative who was also his submissive partner. Saoirse Kennedy is an US Attorney and is extremely good at her job, she is brave, determined and beautiful, but she is also naive in matters of the heart.

Zachary is travelling back home after visiting San Diego for an operation, as he approaches the airport departures ready to check in his luggage and his firearm, he notices a woman ahead of him in the line who is also checking in a weapon, but she is having a lot more problems than he is doing it, so he steps in and then asks to speak to the supervisor about it. This leads to them introducing themselves and parting ways, that is until she ends up sitting next to him on his flight, she is easy to talk to and conversation flows easily between them, but she is guarded, but nevertheless, Zachary can’t deny his attraction to her. He offers her a ride to her destination in the city, but unbeknownst to either of them, she is attending a course in undercover work which Zachary just happens to be running. As the course proceeds, there is one person who Zaxhary realises is underqualified and although she is allowed to finish the course, his dissatisfaction is reported back to her supervisor.

Thinking no more of the situation and a few months pass until Saoirse turns up at the Unit headquarters asking for a meeting with Zachary with a conference call with Martin Bailey at the same time, but what he hears is not what he expected, it turns out that an undercover female officer has been murdered while on assignment to infiltrate a trafficking ring and the woman in question was the same one who was on the same course as Saoirse. As the conversation deepens it turns out that they want Zachary as a dominant to train Saoirse as a submissive to enable her to try and infiltrate the same ring, but he is uncomfortable and unsure as to how to proceed given his past and when it turns out that Saoirse wasn’t given the full details of what would be happening, he isn’t so sure that either of them will be able to do it.

As Zachary digs deeper into the files associated with the case, he can see that there is more than meets the eye and that the target for the investigation is a rich businessman with a lot of connections, plus that there have been ten other undercover female operatives who have died as well. As Saoirse is trying to decide whether to take this case on, Zachary throws her in at the deep end and takes her to observe exactly what being dominant and submissive entails, she is shocked and as things get more serious, she opens up to him and agrees to try. Will Zachary and Saoirse be able to get her trained up and ready in time to carry out the infiltration, or will they become too drawn into their roles to distinguish between their reality and their personas? Will their feelings come between them and the mission, or will they be able to trust each other enough to get over the barriers in their way? This is a suspenseful thriller which draws you into another world as you follow the investigation and infiltration until the end to see how the story concludes.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Secure Boxset (Chase Security Series Books 1-3) by R.L Dunn – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Secure Boxed Set (Chase Security #1-3)Secure Boxed Set by R.L. Dunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Secure Desire.

Cassie Modine is an FBI agent working in the Art and Cultural Property Crime Division where she helps to recover and return stolen artwork to its rightful owners, she is successful in her career and has friends she is close to as well as an adopted family who mean the world for her, however Cassie holds secrets which even she can’t remember fully of a time in her past where she experienced something she would never wish on anyone, not even her worst enemy. Ian Chase is out of the military and now is the successful CEO of Chase Security and his teams work like a well oiled machine working in the background on cases where government forces have too much red tape to get through, as well as personal security for those who need it.

Six years ago Cassie and Ian met at an art gallery where she showed him round and introduced him to one of her favourite pieces, now six years later, they have bumped into each other again st Cassie’s uncle’s house where she has just arrived after experiencing something disconcerting while grabbing coffee with a friend, all the feelings she felt about Ian the first time round are coming back to her and it seems it is the same for him as well, but Cassie is not interested in a relationship, not after what happened. As she talks to her Uncle about what happened in the coffee shop, but she is determined that she isn’t going to give up her current assignment because of it, even if her boss is making her feel uncomfortable, so at the briefing the next day, she makes it clear to all in the meeting that she will not accept any behaviour towards her which is not strictly professional and if it does happen that it will be reported. Meanwhile Ian is running a security check on her as she has intrigued him, as well as organising the teams current operations, after he has done this, Cassie returns his call and he asks her to dinner to help him out with something and to get to know each other a bit better, she agrees and when he picks her up later on, they have a lovely time, but this upsets Cassie as she doesn’t feel that she is deserving of him, but this only makes him more determined to find out why.

As the night of her mission approaches, Cassie is ready to protect the target and dresses for the part, however, when she arrives at the table she will be dining at she is blindsided when she is confronted with people both from her past and her present, she manages to hold her own throughout despite the challenges she faces, but when things start to turn sour, will Cassie be able to protect her charge and herself, or will someone from her past harm her while she is in the line of duty? How will Ian react when the cards are down and things happen which are beyond his control? This is a fast paced thriller with a romantic twist which will keep you guessing what will happen until the conclusion presents itself.

Secure Again.
Martin Bailey is the new CEO of Chase Security, he is an ex Navy SEAL and excellent at his job and Elizabeth Reed is a trauma surgeon at the local hospital in Silverton Iowa and she does everything she possible can to save the patients who cross her surgical table, no matter how bad the damage is, she does her very best with more successes than losses.

As Elizabeth is doing her rounds she notices that there has been a pattern emerging in admissions, when she checks it out in the hospitals records department, her hunch is confirmed that the inmates from the local prison are showing identical signs of bruising and injuries. It is after she has finished that an emergency call to a young girl being brought in with serious injuries comes in and after four hours and an amputation later, the girl is out of surgery, but she is still in a critical condition due the the extent of her injuries, but she hasn’t got time to deal with her emotions before another emergency call comes in. The next day is one of tragedy when she loses a patient and has to break the news to their family, but when another surgeon makes comments which are unprofessional and derogatory towards her and in front of her students, she struggles to keep her cool. As she checks in on the other patients on her ward, she sees another patient in the same pattern as before, she immediately knows what to do and orders further tests and surgery for the patient, contrary to the primary surgeons report and the primary report by the jail.

Out on patrol Sergeant Austin Bailey has come across another child who needs medical attention in the middle of nowhere, as well as another unidentified male, however, as he is calling for aid, the call is cut off, the next thing that happens is he is rushed into the OR where Elizabeth is the on call surgeon and she rushes him into surgery. Meanwhile, Martin is checking on the operation his teams are working on and finds that one involving illicit pornography and the stealing of identification to sell it, as well as the danger for his teams is showing that there is something deeper going on which they need to investigate, next on his list is a teleconference, however when he finds out that his brother Austin has been injured while on duty, he immediately flies out there to be with his family. As Elizabeth is working on Austin in the theater, Martin sends his own people out to go to the scene and start to liaise with the local officers there and start an investigation of their own when they are roadblocked as soon as they start asking questions. When an update on his brother’s condition comes in and he finds out that Elizabeth is the surgeon, memories of when they were younger come flooding back to him and he is hoping that it isn’t her, however, when it is, he struggles to maintain his anger towards her when she is so professional with him.

As the days pass and Elizabeth carries out more of her duties, she reports her thoughts about the pattern to the inmates injuries while also fending off the comments her coworker keeps throwing at her, especially when she has to attend his patients when he is unreachable and when one unfortunately passed away due to complications, her coworker is on the warpath. However, when Martin reads the background report on Elizabeth he knows he needs to see her, but when he does, she is immediately taken into custody and marched to the police station under mysterious circumstances, so Martin calls in his team to help her, but when he comes across information about what happened after he left, he knows that he needs to talk to her about what happened and see if they can they rekindle their romance, or will the investigation into her being carried out by the police put her in harm’s way? This is another thrilling mystery with telling consequences and an undercurrent of romance which will keep you enthralled until its conclusion.

Secure Heart.
Julian “Smooth” Dupart an ex Navy SEAL widower who is still coming to terms with the loss of his wife five years before and has been given a promotion to become the new head of the Chase Group’s San Diego branch where he can use his skills and stay close to the family he loves. Holly Dupree Morrison is a singer with the world at her feet, she is beautiful, talented and has a young daughter Sadie whom she adores and is her silver lining after a past fraught with abuse and hardship.

As Julian heads to San Diego to meet his new coworkers and try to figure out what is happening in the office which has his bosses worried, but first he pays a well overdue visit to his family after getting settled in at his brothers house, but when he finds out that the situation isn’t as all happy as he thought, he starts to make plans and tell them what he has already started to do for them in the last five years. Meanwhile Holly is going through the soundchecks for her next performance when a light falls down from the rigging, however, her manager is also making her feel uncomfortable as he is far too familiar for comfort, despite her protestations. When she returns home after the show, she has no idea that her manager had other plans while she was performing and when he drives her home, he invites himself in and proceeds to drug her and have his way with her while her daughter is sleeping next door.

Julian starts his next day in San Diego picking up his company car and meeting the realtor and look around the properties they have arranged for him to see, at the third property, he finds what he is looking for and puts an offer in before heading into the office. Across the city, Holly wakes up feeling groggy, naked and with a pounding headache, she finds that it is late and is concerned when she finds her daughter in the bathroom and in the middle of an asthma attack, as she screams for her manager to call for an ambulance, she starts the treatment she can until they get her to the hospital. At the same time, Julian gets a call that his nephew is in the same hospital after being hit by a car, he heads over there while his brother is called out to investigate a horrific crime scene and this is where he sees Holly and Sadie for the first time while he is helping to keep his nephew calm, but she makes an immediate impression on him.

As Julian starts to dig deeper into the branch and is finding problems, from staff committing fraud to counterfeit or diluted medications, it is also spreading to other external places as well and as he visits them, he comes into contact with Holly more and more often and one of these times, a case is discussed which reminds him of his past. As all of this is unfolding Holly receives some threatening letters from a stalker who will not leave her alone. Will he be able to sort out the Sand Diego branch’s issues in time, or will the amount of issues cause him to fail and will he be able to make something of the connection he feels with Holly, or will her stalker get to her first? This is a whirlwind of a thriller which keeps you unbalanced and guessing the whole way through to the conclusion.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Granted: Curse of the Emerald Jinn by Rachel Huffmire – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Granted: Curse of the Emerald JinnGranted: Curse of the Emerald Jinn by Rachel Huffmire
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Liam Covington is a typical teenager, he goes to high school and has a close friend group, but as hard as he tries to keep a low profile while he is there, the other kids are always messing with him, bullying him and generally making his life awkward, but what they don’t know is that he can see colours all around him, not just normal colours, they are attached to people and they get brighter when he is going to be messed around with, but even if he did tell someone, they wouldn’t believe him anyway.

As usual his day starts with someone pushing him over on the way to school, but today, he is going on the school field trip to the desert and he is hoping that it won’t get much worse, however, when he gets on the bus, he can see the colours everywhere and tries to mind his own business. When they get there and the ranger starts talking about the desert, it’s geological features and the life which teams within it, all the kids are just waiting until they can go and play on the dunes, but Liam is enjoying the tour and talk just as much, he is also reminiscing about the family holiday he used to have as well. He crests one of the sand dunes and breathes in the air, thoroughly enjoying himself until he is drawn to a midnight blue colour smoke which is making patterns in the sand below him, this is when danger strikes and he steps into a sinkhole just as a dust devil appears and mixes in with the smoke and swirls towards him but he cannot move or- avoid the sand swirling around him, he tries to dig into the sand and find some kind of purchase to get away from it all. The next thing he knows is Kenna, a girl he has been trying to avoid comes to his rescue, pulls him out of the sand and offers him some water, his head hurts and he feels exhausted and gritty, but still he picks up the unusual shell and walks back to the bus with his friend supporting him.

Things start to go from bad to worse when his brother and mother find out what happened and are mad at him for not telling them as soon as he saw them, but it gets worse when the colours start getting brighter and start to appear in people’s eyes, not to mention the school gossip which is making his life worse, especially when it comes to Kenna, someone who he swore not to talk to again after their families had a disagreement years ago. Meanwhile, he begins to see what he thinks are hallucinations and the shell he picked up in the desert is either burning hot or covered in the blue designs he can see in his hallucinations, but what happens next shocks him into realising that maybe his hallucinations are real and that they may be able to give him some answers as to why he sees the colours and nobody else does. This is a fantasy adventure which will have you speeding along with Liam while he tries to work out the mystery of why he experiences what he does, while trying to live a life as normally as he can.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Can Dreams Come True? (The Cecily Taylor Series Book 1) by Krysten Lindsay Hager – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Can Dreams Come True? (The Cecily Taylor Series Book 1)Can Dreams Come True? by Krysten Lindsay Hager
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cecily Taylor is your typical seventeen year old girl, she has a close group of friends and a cute boyfriend who she loves, she also has a crush on the popstar Andrew Holiday and has for years, but it isn’t all sunshine and she has had people close to her leave and then not talk to her again, so she has some insecurities around it and a bit of a lack of self esteem, but which teenagers don’t have something like that?

Her boyfriend is in love with her, but he isn’t very romantic, but her best friend helps him out when needed and although it is sweet, Cecily would rather he thinks of these things himself on occasion, but he likes to spend time with her, be that on a coffee date at the library, or watching sports with her at home, even if she does fall asleep and misses the whole thing. However, when one of her friends gets an audition to be in the music video which is being filmed in their home town and Andrew Holiday is the one whose video it will be, Cecily is shocked when she asks her to go as moral support and her parents let her, as long as there is an adult chaperone there as well, but if not, then she would have asked to go to the open auditions with her friends anyway, it would be good practice if she wanted to pursue her career as an actress after all.

The next day, Cecily gets ready for school after she finds out that the private audition with her friend has been moved up, the video said they were looking for the “Girl next door” and that is how she looked normally, then she shows up at school and sees what her friend is wearing and she is not so sure what exactly that means anymore, but hopefully her anxiety wouldn’t get the better of her. As the day goes on all the school is talking about is the auditions, all too soon the day was over and they were heading to the playhouse where the audition was going to be held, her friends mum filled out the paperwork and then her name is called, but as she is going through the door, Andrew himself walks out asking about getting some coffee, walks straight past her and makes a beeline for Cecily, much to her amazement and asks he if she is auditioning too, when she replies in the negative, he asks her to reconsider and come in onto the set anyway. All of a sudden Cecily is being asked to be an extra by the director, saying that she has the “ethereal” look he is going for, he then hands her some forms to fill in and asks her and her friend to come back at 4am on Saturday for the shoot.

As she fills in her family, best friend and boyfriend about the turn of events, they are all surprised but really happy for her, however, her boyfriend starts to act weirdly, but blames it on his mum’s health and says nothing is wrong. The next day Cecily asks his what is going on when she eventually sees him, but he is talking to his ex and seems distracted, this continues the next couple of days, it turns out that he has been seeing more of his ex than normal, although the reason is because she has just broken up with her boyfriend and was upset, but Cecily can’t understand it and feels a little upset and betrayed herself, this feeling continues when the same thing happens and they end up arguing. As Saturday turns up and the filming day arrives, Cecily hasn’t slept well and has no idea what to expect, but Andrew puts her at ease and seems to be as nice as he projects, there is something there and their connection seems more than just superficial, but will Cecily follow her dreams of being with Andrew, or will she stick to her loving boyfriend and the small town familiarity he exudes? This is a sweet romance which will pull you along with Cecily as she figures out what her heart desires and makes the choices she needs to.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Executive’s Decision (The Keller Family Series Book 1) by Bernadette Marie – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

The Executive's Decision (Keller Family, #1)The Executive’s Decision by Bernadette Marie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Regan Keller is a woman who has been hurt and survived it all and when she gets a new job as a personal secretary, she is determined not to make the same mistakes again. Zachary Benson is a man who heads up a successful empire and is known for his attention to details and ability to get things done, but he hasn’t got anyone but his parents to share his success with.

It is Regan’s first day in her new job and things are not going to plan, her car didn’t start and if she got a ride then she would be late, so she decides to take the bus, but of course it is raining and she forgot her umbrella. When she gets on the bus, she realises that it is going to be one crowded journey and if the old woman taking up two seats between her and her large bag, it is going to be standing room only all the way, that is until the bus jerks and she ends up sat in a strange mans lap, she is terrified, but just about keeps her cool when he engages her in conversation and wraps his arms around her to keep her right where she is. She does enjoy the conversation and despite her misgivings, she agrees to meet the man for lunch, even though she has no idea who he is, but she doesn’t have any time to think on it when she heads into the office where she is due to take over from the current secretary to the CEO who is heavily pregnant.

As she finds her way round the office and learns her new duties, she realises that it is already lunch time and heads to the hot dog stand and surprisingly has a fantastic time until her mystery companion takes a call and leaves her, again without her asking his name, however, that is all about to change when she goes into his office to bob something on her bosses desk only to find that it is actually the man from the bus. She is startled and immediately panics and starts to leave, but just as she is convinced by him to return to the office, his current assistant goes into labour and they have to rush her to the hospital. When a mystery man comes in and envelops Regan in a hug, Zachary has no idea how to react, apart from a twinge of jealousy, the same thing happens when he drives her home to see another man waiting for her at the house, he has no idea why he feels so strongly about her, even though he has only known her part of a day. As time goes on and Regan settles into her role at the firm, she cannot deny that there is an attraction to Zachary and as much as she tries to ignore it and remain professional, she can feel her walls starting to crumble, but she denies his advances as best she can and tries to remain professional, she is a natural at the job though and as she builds rapports with his team and helps him to run the contracts he has been building, he is off to L.A. to try and win a new contract for a company and man he has worked with before, albeit the secrecy he employs until the deal is completed is not something that he enjoys doing, but all he can think about is getting back to Regan and helping her overcome her worries and fears.

Will Regan be able to open her heart to the man who is trying so hard to win her over, or will the past come back to haunt her and make any decisions she makes into a life or death situation again? This is a whirlwind romance with an undercurrent of malice which pulls you along until its conclusion.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

World Beyond The Walls (Natural Forces Book 3) by Jean Gill – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

The World Beyond the WallsThe World Beyond the Walls by Jean Gill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mielitta Queen Of The Warrior Bees and Mage-Smith Kermon are back living in the Forest and the Citadel respectively, Kermon is trying to teach the children magecraft while also keeping his dual role as a spy between the two parties, as he is carrying out his plans for the transition test where the children go into the world beyond the walls, the children he is testing are also trying to push the boundaries set by their genders, but they don’t fully know why those boundaries are there, in fact, only two people know that at all and Mage-Smith Kermon is one of them.

When Mage Smith Kermon is disturbed in his forge with news that one of his students has gone into the world beyond the walls and not returned, he is frustrated and annoyed, but he is also worried because of the evil which lies within them, he sends the young student away and has to attend a Council meeting to request permission to do this, however as they took the time to listen to all the opposing viewpoints and make a decision which appeals to all, he finds out afterwards that the other student has gone ahead alone, so now he has to go after both of the students with another mage at his side to be his anchor.

Mage-Smith Kermon gathers the children who have spoken to the two missing students to find out any information about what they had gone into the wall to decide, based on the little he is able to gather, he has a starting point for when he takes his turn to enter the mysterious world, he takes the time to gather provisions and goes to the water gate to connect with Mielitta to inform her of the situation and what he is about to do, including that the student was possibly following the story of Mielitta, however, he speaks to someone unknown instead and they say that they will pass on the message to her, when the connection is cut off, Mage-Smith Kermon is surprised to find where he had thrown some boots containing seeds into the mud at the base of the gate, now there are plants forcing their way through to the Forest, with this new knowledge, he sets off to find his students. Meanwhile, Mielitta and her two friends are being woken up after a long winter hibernation, but the news they receive on awakening is not what they had hoped and it means they need to return to aid another of their friends and the bees who rely on them, in this Mielitta shifts from bee to human and back to help the bees and the humans to communicate while the others help her, while the one with the nature of a bear replenishes his reserves in the way he needs to, but while he is resting in the cave, he has a vision which leads to a way to get back into the Citadel to help Mage-Smith Kermon.

When they follow the vision, two of them can enter the walls, however, Mielitta is not able to, so she decides to find another way in which she can help, but is distracted by her heart and the hurt the walls just caused her, she is prompted by her bees to think of and return to the homestead, however, her steps lead her to the water gate instead and she goes in to help the others in bee form, but she has no idea of the danger leaving the Citadel and heading in the opposite direction to her.

Will the four friends be able to solve the mystery of Mielitta’s history, find and protect the missing students from the evil within the walls and come out of the other end unscathed, or will the duplicity within the Citadel lead to their demise? This is a thrilling final installment to the series and you will not be able to put the book down until it is finished and you know how it ends.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Arrows Tipped With Honey (Natural Forces Book 2) by Jean Gill – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Arrows Tipped with Honey (Natural Forces #2)Arrows Tipped with Honey by Jean Gill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mielitta is now the Queen of the Warrior bees after the battle for the Forest and she and her bees are settling to their new life with two of her friends as the other settles back into life in the Citadel, meanwhile the Council are reporting what happened to the rest of those living within it, while also spinning it in the light of their victory and the fact that those they paint as traitors are still alive, as well as the noble sacrifice of their Chief Mage, what they don’t say is how he died Mage-Smith Kermon is adjusting to life back within the Citadel and he is missing it and his friends greatly, but he spends his first few days back creating the system he needs to connect with them again and while he is completing this task, he learns about the old transition test from childhood to adulthood as he does this.

When Mage-Smith Kermon successfully contacts Mielitta, he is feeling a barrage of emotions and finds it hard to concentrate on the words being said, even though there isn’t much to report this first time, so when a messenger announces that his presence has been requested at a meeting, they cut off the call and he agrees to contact them again when he has more news. Life in the forest continues as they learn the ways of the Forest and its inhabitants, they decide what tasks they need to complete first with guidance from the bees and go out to forage and hunt before finding somewhere they will feel safe as a home base, that is until Mielitta is summoned by her bees to help the hive, but when she arrives, she realises that it is her that needs the helps and so she experiences life as a worker bee to help her to recover from the battle. As the Council meet to replenish their numbers and choose those to replace the ones they lost, they have to adhere to the blood made in the Forest with Mielitta, even though they don’t necessarily agree with it, so they elect people who they feel will fit with the demands, yet still bend to their will, as well as how to commemorate the Chief Mage’s father with an award for going into the walls and helping Perfection to continue with what they find. After that has all been decided, the Chief Mage announces that Mage-Smith Kermon will devise the new transition test and that to do this, he will be going into the walls and at the same time, be the first recipient of the newly created award.

As their lives continue and they all adjust to their new roles, Mage-Smith Kermon enters the wall, but as well as finding the information needed for the new test, he also discovers the more malevolent side to them and when he returns to complete his reports, both for the Council and for Mielitta, something has changed, even though he cannot put his finger on what it is. Will Mage-Smith Kermon be able to continue his double life and still keep his sanity and loyalty intact, or will the web of lies, subterfuge and this mysterious malevolence destroy everything that he, Mielitta and the rest of their group have worked for? This is another journey of secrets, discovery and balance, which propels you along as the revelations come in thick and fast.

Reviewed by @roxsannel
a
View all my reviews

Queen Of The Warrior Bees (Natural Forces Book 1) by Jean Gill – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Queen of the Warrior Bees (Natural Forces #1)Queen of the Warrior Bees by Jean Gill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mielitta is an eighteen year old girl, she is a servant in the Citadel of Perfection and she is despised by everyone around her and as hard as she tries to be invisible, there are ones who torment her relentlessly, but there are also those who ignore her as if she was never friends with them in the first place, this has led her to a life of loneliness and the only solace she finds is in the archery classes she runs with the children and the skill she has built up in it over the years. She also enjoys reading in the library when she has done her servants work, she is able to absorb the information like a sponge and this has led to a fascination with the Forest outside the Citadel, but whenever she tries to ask about it, she is tongue tied, she also suspects that the Maturity Test which she is not ready to take stops the adults from talking about it as well. Life in the Citadel is bland for Mielitta, just like the food and water they consume, the greylight which changes depending on the time of day and the building materials used to build her home.

When she wakes up on her eighteenth birthday, she receives a mysterious gift with a small phial of liquid and a riddle contained inside, the riddle makes no sense to her, but the liquid is full of scents and she is enthralled by them, but she is shocked to find that when she wears it, nobody around her can smell it. When she is given the task of taking refreshments to the Council Chamber, she discovers that something has happened in the outer defences and that the Forest beyond is gaining strength and preparing to attack Perfection, but when the conversation turns to the Forest and it’s dangers, Mielitta is wondering if the loss she has felt all her life is Nature, then something happens which shocks her to the core and she gains knowledge of how to access it, but as they declare that her mind has to be wiped of this knowledge, she quickly has to store it away somewhere they cannot get to it, but she can.

The next day she accidentally spills the last of the liquid on herself and the scent is overpowering, bus she soon gets lost in her daily activities and it becomes part of the background and while she is doing this, she uses the time to make a decision about her future and when she goes to visit her father and talk to him about it, her hopes of making it happen are dashed when someone takes the place she wanted, she rushes out to escape the sadness this causes her and instead heads to where she stored the memories, not believing that she would really find them, but when she does and it all comes rushing back to her, she is disturbed by her tormentors. They taunt Mielitta and when she dares to fight back, they proceed to chase her, she heads towards the gate where the memories guide her, she says the words and escapes into the Forest. When she gets out there, she feels, sees and experiences things for the first time and is drawn in deeper as she examines everything she sees, when she comes across a beehive and opens it, she is attacked by the bees within it.

When she wakes up after the ordeal, she sees all the dead bees around her, but when they disappear into an ultraviolet light, she discovers that she can also feel them within herself, however, she just ignores the buzzing and changes to her sight and other senses and returns to the citadel so that she isn’t missed. The next day when she discovers that there is an outline of a bee on her thigh, she also realises that she can hear the bees, she decides that this was her Maturity Test and she devises a plan to take the opportunity to become a woman on the outside to match the woman within her, it is after she has done this that she discovers a plot within the Citadel and the dangers associated with it while she is in the library, she also discovers the ability she has to be called to aid the bees in the hive she now belongs to.

Will Mielitta be able to use her new status and the bees help to foil the plot against the Forest, or will those who want to hurt her and the Forest succeed and wipe out everything outside of the Citadel and keep it in the Perfect state they want? This is a brilliant journey of personal discovery, danger and the wonders of nature which keeps you enthralled as plots are discovered and decisions are made which affect more than just Mielitta.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Tears of Boabdil by Neil MacDonald – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

The Tears of BoabdilThe Tears of Boabdil by Neil MacDonald
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Vince is an undercover agent for the Special Branch and when he creates his character and backstory, he throws himself into it completely and immerses himself into the other world he is trying to infiltrate and this time, he has to become an islamic convert and infiltrate a British Jihadi group. Vince starts his journey in a local, nondescript, corner shop where he goes to buy some essentials, bottled water and cigarettes, but when he sees the woman serving on the counter, she is beautiful, he cannot deny that, but he also senses that she is different to most women and also that this would not be their only meeting. He approaches the mosque for the first time as well, it is also a beautiful place, as he enters and follow the other worshippers, he completes the rituals and spots his targets doing the same, he observes them from a distance, he knows he needs to first be noticed, then to earn their respect and after that their trust, but Vince also knows he needs to do it slowly and carefully.

As the days pass and Vince is growing closer to his first check in with his handler, he develops a routine of breakfast, visiting the corner shop to interact with the woman there, to the mosque for prayers and visiting the stalls selling literature and in the market precinct on Fridays and Saturdays, being seen to be devout and seeking of knowledge, eventually the targets come over and talk to him, this is where Vince’s work really starts. Two of them talk about the information in the leaflet he is holding all the while listening to the third man talking to passers by and hears something of interest to file for later on about a study group. Vince is about to leave when he is given another leaflet about a protest happening the day after and he agrees to go and take part, this should help to gain their trust and it is what happens, he also has the opportunity to talk to the woman at the shop who introduces herself as Ayesha, it turns out she is the sister of the targets and is very intelligent and Vince decides that to befriend her could also help him to get in with the targets.

As he is walking home a few days later, he comes across a blast from his past who it turns out is his handler for this mission, although they don’t get along, they agree on a way for them to communicate and Vince goes on his way. As time passes and he slowly starts to gain the trust of the targets and their sister, things become more complicated when he starts to develop feelings for Ayesha, he uses her intelligence and discovered love of Moorish Spain to spin yet more tales and seduce her, however, is he becoming too close and losing himself in all the tales he is spinning, or will he be able to see past them to the reality and complete his mission? This is a thrilling deep dive into the life of an undercover agent as he struggles to discern reality from the tales he spins and you are spinning through it all with him until the conclusion is reached.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Hook’s Little Mermaid: Captain Hook crosses paths with an enchanting mermaid, as he seeks revenge against Peter Pan. (The Untold Stories Book 1) by Suzanna Lynn – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Hook's Little Mermaid (The Untold Stories #1)Hook’s Little Mermaid by Suzanna Lynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Captain James Hook wasn’t always a pirate and he didn’t always have a hook, he started off as a humble fisherman, but when it didn’t bring in any wealth, he decided to rename his ship the Jolly Roger and hoist the black and white flag of a pirate, but he was an honest pirate at least and did give back to the poor on occasion, however, that all changed when he went on a quest to kill Peter Pan to avenge the death of a loved one.

This journey was not as easy as he first thought, but he had made a start by knowing he had to go to Neverland to find him, so he pulled into one of his well frequented ports and went to visit an old friend to get some information on how to trap a fairy and once he had acquired that fairy called Tinkerbell and hashes out a deal, he stopped in an another port of call for supplies. While acquiring the means to cross the seas to Neverland, the Captain befriends a young woman named Red by the locals when he comes to her aid in a marketplace, in return he receives some valuable gifts and information, as well as a new acquaintance, or maybe even a friend.

As he nears Neverland and his nemesis, Captain Hook comes across a deadly sea creature and hopes his acquisitions will allow him to sail swiftly from it’s clutches and when he arrives, he sees Peter Pan and puts his plan into action, however, he is foiled by the wily fairy and doesn’t attain his goal. Meanwhile, he just can’t resist helping a damsel in distress, or becoming in distress himself and between storms, mermaids, magic and Lost Boys, this adventure is turning out to be one of many twists and turns, but can he resist the pull of vengeance, or will his one of his rescued damsels convince him to turn from that path? This is a story for all ages as this retelling steers you through dangerous waters and leads you to a destination you can only reach by reading through to the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Loyalty & Lies (Spicetopia Book 6) by Phoebe Alexander- Review by Stephanie Dulac

Loyalty & LiesLoyalty & Lies by Phoebe Alexander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Loyalty & Lies (Spicetopia Book 6) by Phoebe Alexander was a great addition to this series. This is a really good series and I really love reading about spicetopia. In book 6 we learn about Calvin and Paisley. I really liked Paisley I thought she was spunky and fun and enjoyed reading about her. I must admit I liked having a little mystery involved it kept me wanting more. I hope I can read more about Calvin and Paisley I would like to see where they go in life. They went through so much in spicetopia and survived it together. Thank you Phoebe Alexander for another amazing read and I look forward to reading more of your books.

@stephaniedulac25
View all my reviews

Guardians of the Garden by Theresa Pocock – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Guardians of the Garden (Guardians of the Garden, #1)Guardians of the Garden by Theresa Pocock
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Seth Johnson is a boy who has just been ripped away from everything he knows to travel with his family to the USA so that his sister can receive treatment for her cancer, but when they stop at a diner in the middle of nowhere, he meets someone who says they are a relative, when he has been told that they were all dead and gone and this meeting is about to change his life. Miriam Miller is a girl with violet eyes who is shunned by all of those around her for it, they see her as a freak despite that she is a Guardian, just like they are, but all she wants to do is to go on a sabbatical and explore the world outside of Edenia, however, her family have other ideas and just want to use her ability to keep the village safe and so she can’t leave even if she wanted to and when a new family come into the village, everything is about to change.

When the new family arrive and Miriam observes them through her front window with her family, her first instincts are unease and she has no idea why, however, it could have something to do with the warring reactions of her family members, especially when she realises that one of the newbies has left Edenia before and that it must have been a strong summoning to bring them back. As Seth and his family enter Edenia, he realises that this is where his father grew up, where he was born, but it is so strange to his eyes, there is no technology other than basic appliances and as they go to a meeting with the head of the village, he realises that it will probably be the most boring place, although there is mention of a mysterious garden, but he knows he must learn about it so that he can save his sister and he will do anything to help her. The residents and the new people are all introduced to each other and they all seem as strange as each other, with some being stranger than others but Seth and Miriam feel out of place and awkward, unlike everyone else, Miriam because she is worried about them finding out about their Natures before it is time and Seth because he is worried about his parents intentions for going there, this is compounded as the Johnsons have a family meeting where his parents ask the three kids to try and fit in, seem like they want to become one of them and to just give it a week and then make up their minds, the kids are not happy about this, but agree to go along with it to keep the peace.

As the Johnsons settle in, Seth opens up to his sisters about what he has to do and they agree to try and help him, meanwhile Miriam is trying to come to terms with her Nature and keeping the discoveries she is making about it to herself, but she is also starting to get closer to Seth and feels drawn to him and as time goes on, Seth begins to realise that he is drawn to Miriam as well, however, with all the secrets surrounding them, will they be able to become as close as they want to be, or will their secrets be their undoing? This is a fantasy with hidden depths which will keep you wanting more and needing to know whether they will succeed with their goals in the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Sun at Twilight (Empire at Twilight Book 4) by N.L. Holmes – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

The Sun at Twilight (Empire at Twilight #4)The Sun at Twilight by N.L. Holmes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the next installment of the Empire At Twilight series and it focuses on Tashmi-sharrumma, his father has died and he has now been chosen to be the next Great King Tudhaliya IV and as he grieves, he is also wondering how he will be able to take on the mantle of king and worrying that he might not be enough of anything to do it, especially with the family’s questionable allegiances and loyalties he is surrounded with. He does find comfort in his cousin Kurunta, he has since they were boys, but now he has been crowned, he doesn’t quite know how to deal with it, he has never been someone eloquent, however, he also has trouble expressing his feelings as well, as well as his wife, to a point at least. As the funeral rights and commemorative feasting comes to an end, it is time for the oath making part of the ceremony and even though he is exhausted, he agrees and as the vassals approach him to give him their solemn oaths, he is silently hoping that they are genuine with their vows and when he goes to his chambers, he is greeted with the news that his wife is expecting and is due in midsummer, he now hopes that this is a good omen for his reign.

The next day, Tudhaliya tries to escape for a few minutes onto the roof of his palace and away from everyone, but his solitude is broken when Kurunta joins him and the reminisce about their childhood and he can forget for a small time the weight which is hanging on his shoulders now and then his reign really begins when Tudhaliya meets with his generals and his mother the Tawananna to speak about the affairs of the kingdom, that there is more news coming, but this time it is all bad, the Assyrians are hounding his borders and there is a chance that the lands between them and his are vassals who may decide to turn on him if the leverage is right, there is a debate as to what to do, where the choices are hard, wither to direct them one way and give them something else to focus on but break a treaty, or to ask them to cease and desist and if they refuse, to send troops in to send them back to their own country, the king makes a decision which disagrees with the Tawananna and most of the other councillors. Next he finds out that some individuals who were exiled, have been seen and that they may be trying to shore up allegiances to usurp the throne, the decision is made to wait and see what happens, but to keep their ears open. The final thing is that the crops are having another poor year and that they may have to buy in grains if the poor weather conditions continue, after the meeting is finished and other matters of state are resolved, Tudhaliya is notified of a request for help from a vassal king and he agrees to help, but when he gets there, the battle is lost and the person he came to aid runs away instead of fighting back as expected.

As the months pass and the affairs of the kingdom are becoming steadily worse, Tudhaliya does everything he can think of to appease the gods and find out why everything is happening, but he is finding it hard to trust those surrounding him and this is putting a strain on his relationships, including the ones which he thought were the strongest. Will Tudhaliya be able to face his challenges and win the battles and hardships to come, or will the cost be too high and leave his son with a broken kingdom to rule when he has gone? This is a long and arduous journey for the king and you will be swept along with him as you hope from one scenario to the next.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Professor Valentine: A Student-Teacher Contemporary Romance Novella (Kirk University Book 1) by Diana Vale – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Professor Valentine: A Student-Teacher Contemporary Romance Novella (Kirk University, #1)Professor Valentine: A Student-Teacher Contemporary Romance Novella by Diana Vale
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Diego Valentine is a Professor at Kirk University, he teaches Psychology and his students really enjoy his classes, plus he is easy on the eye which is a bonus. Cassie Rodriguez is a first year under-graduate studying Psychology at Kirk University, but she is all about studying hard, but she does enjoy playing hard too and being a fresher, that is an easy thing to do, but between the two, she has no time for romance or relationships.

So she can really get to grips with the seminar materials for child psychology Cassie signs up for some extra tutorials with Professor Valentine, but when she rolls in late for her first one still a bit worse for wear and looking it too and the complete opposite of the gorgeous man sitting opposite her, who insists she calls him Diego and not sir, she ends up embarrassing herself by throwing up in his office,]. Cassie is utterly mortified, but he is understanding and also trying to suppress laughter at the same time, but he promises not to tell anyone about what happened, but she decides that when she next sees him, she is going to look better and prove that she isn’t just what her first impression showed. The next day she intends to go and see him before lectures, but instead runs into friends from her class and ends up spending most of the day with them, however, as luck might have it, when they go for coffee later on, Diego is there as well, so they end up chatting for a little but and agree that she should book another session on the University portal and he gives her a hint when his next free one is with a wink.

As time goes on and Cassie continues in her studies and tutorial meetings with Diego, she keeps making an effort and finds that they spend as much time talking as they do going over notes, but when their attraction raises its head, she realises that it is mutual, but because they are a student and teacher, Diego tries to stay professional, but finds that it is becoming harder to do.

Will they be able to keep their relationship professional, or will their secret be revealed to the rest of the world? This is a short tale of romance which deals with secrets, revelations and forbidden love which sweeps you along for the ride.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Professor Valentine: A Student-Teacher Contemporary Romance Novella (Kirk University Series Book 1) by Diana Vale – Review by Bailey Stiles Sieler

Professor Valentine: A Student-Teacher Contemporary Romance Novella (Kirk University, #1)Professor Valentine: A Student-Teacher Contemporary Romance Novella by Diana Vale
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a story about a young girl away at university. It explores how an 18 year old feels at a new place, trying to find herself and meeting new people. She is focused on school until she meets Diego, her professor. Their relationship unfolds.

Some parts of this book weren’t believable to me. I don’t know how they’re mutual feelings developed so intensely. She was very immature, which was believable, she’s 18. But he was twice her age (mentioned several times) and didn’t seem to have any control of the situation. It was also weird how she kept pursuing him after he tried to set such clear boundaries. I think the author must have done this to make him not seem like a predator, but it seemed odd to me.

This was a novella, a quick 40 minute read. I wish we would have seen more of her relationships with friends. Overall, I felt neutral about this book.

View all my reviews

Witness: An Ash Park Novel (Volume 9) by Meghan O’Flynn – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Witness: An Ash Park Novel (Volume 9)Witness: An Ash Park Novel by Meghan O’Flynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book starts with a boy watching a woman giving birth in the presence of “Father” under his watchful gaze, just like all of the other times this had happened, but he couldn’t say or do anything because it would make him angry and that is the last thing he wanted to do.Detective Petrosky and his partner go to investigate a burglary, it is something lighter than the usual predators and their victims, but when he sees an expensive looking watch on the table and nothing else being disturbed, apart from some broken picture frames and a whole lot of blood, it’s looking highly likely that the break in was just secondary, especially with who had their house broken into. This new case brings back memories of a old one where domestic abuse was involved until the victim had had time to decompress and quickly retracted their statement and decided not to press charges, but as they question the owner of the house, his answers don’t tally with the evidence inside and it is the same thing when they talk to the neighbour who called it in, her description of the person she saw running away from the house is the same as a case from the past, but the person who is being described is dead adding yet more questions than answers to the case, especially when the blood results come back as a match for the dead person as well, which makes them a lot more alive.

As they try to find more leads to follow, the case becomes more and more bizarre and more questions than answers keep popping up, especially when the dead woman was kidnapped and involved in a car accident not too long before she died in a warehouse fire with her husband a brother in law, even more frustrating is that the case file has disappeared, so they decide to go and talk to someone who was involved. While talking to them, similarities between the dead woman and the domestic abuse victims cases appear, but it still doesn’t give any more clarification, just more questions again. As Petrosky finds out more about the family of the burglary victim, he gets an increasingly bad feeling that there is more to the case than meets the eye, but when he finds out that an old partner was involved in the original case, it leads to more suspicion, but these questions are not ones to be answered as the individual died, but his widow might be able to shed some light on it. When Petrosky suddenly comes across Shannon in the course of the investigation, even though she lives nowhere nearby, she tells him some information which shocks him.

Will Petrosky be able to solve the crime and the mystery surrounding a woman who is supposed to be dead and why she came back, all while battling to keep himself from getting too involved, especially when the case is so close to home? This is a thriller which will keep you guessing until the end and is as action packed as it can be as the detectives try to untangle the web of lies and deceit they find themselves in the middle of.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Liminal Space (Antipodes Book 2) by T.S. Simons – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

The Liminal Space (Antipodes #2)The Liminal Space by T.S. Simons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cam Mackintosh is back in the second installment of the Antipodes series and he is happily living on Lewis with his family and adapting to the changes within it, he still hasn’t fully recovered from the experiences of going through the tunnels and how his body felt while he did, but he tries not to think about it if he can, but he is more scared by the upcoming change in his life, but as he is listening to his friends advice about the situation, he definitely still feels unprepared. He finds that he reminisces about his family before the virus more as he thinks about them all and what examples he can take from it, as well as thinking about how different his wife’s upbringing was and how that will be useful in the future as well. He is also remembering his last lot of travels to Ireland and the people he spoke to there, especially what he learned from one person in particular about the portals and how they work, as well as who may have created them, it was an in depth conversation, but he now he knows more information, he was able to share it with his community on Lewis when he returned. When he returned last time he also realised that this is where he was meant to be and where his home was, including the woman who was waiting for him there.

As life continued on in the community, Cam is the happiest he has been in a long time and although he has had a lot of work to catch up on in the greenhouses and the orchards, he has been the most settled he had been in a long time too, that is until he bumps into someone and a whole flux of memories come flooding back, he escapes to his spot in the hills to think about what he has just found out and ends up confronting old feelings and learning things that he has wanted to know for over a year, this will hopefully bring some closure to the past, but instead it opens up a whole new can of worms. As a community meeting is called, some more surprising information is announced by a group from another community who have returned from their travels and he learns that there were other communities established in Australia which has less strict requirements and as such that there is a possibility that other people may have survived in other domes, but when a list of people is produced and a certain name jumps out at him, he knows that he has to take another trip through the portal and take a chance to see if this person is still alive, but this means leaving his family and he is not sure if he can do that, however, he is encouraged to go.

As a small group prepares to set off on this new adventure, will they find what they are looking for and discover whether the rumours of other domed communities are true, or will the time Cam spends away from his family be its undoing? In this dystopian adventure, you go on an emotional journey across the world to uncover secrets which could change the groups world view and experience everything with them, prepare for a journey through a bleak world to see whether there are any lights at the end of the tunnel.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews