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Holiday Hope (Holiday Express Book 1) by Shanna Hatfield – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Holiday Hope (Holiday Express Book 1)Holiday Hope by Shanna Hatfield
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cora Lee Schuster is setting out on a cross country journey by train to meet her soon to be new husband. After both of her parents passed away, Cora Lee felt that she didn’t have much of a chance of a future or much in the way of prospects. When she stumbles onto a mail order bride advertisement, she figures that is her chance at a bright future. Cora Lee starts corresponding back and forth with her future husband, Jude Coleman, and then sets out by train to meet him and his family in the new town of Holiday, Oregon.

When Cora Lee arrives, her soon-to-be husband is nowhere to be found. The location of Jude is unknown, and nobody seems to want to approach the subject of where he is or what he is up to. Despite that, the Coleman’s welcome Cora Lee with open arms and she instantly feels like she’s part of the family. The more time Cora Lee spends on the ranch with the Coleman’s the more she feels like she is truly at home. This is a mutual feeling and the Coleman’s feel the same way about Cora Lee.

What Cora Lee is not anticipating happening is falling for Jude’s brother Jace. Now Cora Lee is conflicted as her feelings for Jace grows but she feels an obligation to follow through with her marriage to his brother Jude. Likewise, Jace did not expect to fall for his brother’s intended bride. Although he chooses not to say anything, he knows that Jude would not be good to Cora Lee and would not treat her right. Yet at the same time, Jace is not ready to be married. He finds himself equally conflicted as he is developing feelings for Cora Lee but does not want to admit them.

The author has done an amazing job with this period piece set in the late 1800s. She clearly did a lot of research as there is a great attention to detail throughout her writing. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and instantly loved the character of Cora Lee. She is the epitome of the down home, honest, sweet, girl next door. I felt like I was right there with her in the kitchen baking up the homemade bread and other sweet treats. I equally loved the character of Jace and loved the fact that he was a train engineer. He is the epitome of the hard-working, down to earth, genuine, and honest man that I think every woman dreams about. After reading about a typical day running a train, I have a whole new appreciation of just how much hard work it went into running a train back in the 1800s. I now realize just how dangerous the work was and how many people it required to run trains back then. I found myself swept up in Cora Lee and Jace’s love story wondering what was going to become of the two of them. Would they ever admit their feelings for each other? Would Cora Lee marry Jude? Or would she end up with Jace?

I have always been intrigued by the idea of living a simpler life and often wondered what it would be like living back in the time that this book was written in. While reading this book I felt like I got to experience that first hand with the characters of Cora Lee and the Coleman family. Every scene is described with so much detail and the scenes are so vivid that you feel as though you were in the room with the characters watching them interact with one another. I found myself feeling as though I was part of the Coleman family living on the Elk Creek Ranch. The family had such a sense of bonding and true love for one another. It made my heart all warm and fuzzy. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for book number two in the series, Holiday Heart.

As a wonderful bonus, the author has included a recipe as a special surprise at the end of the book. It is one of the baked goodies Cora Lee makes in the book. I am anxious to try it and will be doing so very soon. I love that the author included this as a special little surprise along with her write up about the story, and her inspiration for it. I thought that these were both amazing little personal touches that gave a bit of insight into the author.

Absolutely loved this book! Thank you Shanna Hatfield!

View all my reviews@TaraJohnsonBarnes

Red’s Peril Part 2: The Prez’s Old Lady (Satan’s Devils MC Vegas Chapter #2) by Manda Mellett – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Red's Peril Part 2: The Prez's Old Lady (Satan's Devils MC Vegas #2)Red’s Peril Part 2: The Prez’s Old Lady by Manda Mellett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In the prequel to this book, Red’s Peril: Part 1, we were introduced to the characters of Red and Cheryl. They had met completely by chance on one of Red’s stops along his journey to finding himself. Cheryl was a waitress in a diner that Red stopped at to have a bite to eat and the two of them felt an immediate attraction to each other. Acting on impulse, Cheryl left everything behind to ride off into the proverbial sunset with Red on his motorbike. When it wasn’t everything that she had hoped it to be, Cheryl became spooked and cut their journey short.

Neither saw the other again until by pure chance they ran into each other in Vegas. Even though 15 years had passed neither had stopped thinking about the other and wondering what could have been. Both Red and Cheryl have attempted to move on with their lives over the years but have regrets for leaving things the way that they did all those years ago. With no way of contacting each other through the years they had no idea of what could have been or if things could have worked between them.

Now that Red has popped back into Cheryl’s life, he’s not the man she was expecting. He’s now president of a Satan Devil’s MC and she knows that isn’t the life that she wants. She’s always been an upstanding citizen and never broken the rules and has no intention of starting now. The problem is that they have both lived with regrets for the past 15 years over what could have been. Cheryl deeply regrets the decision that she made about walking away and wonders if there’s any way that they can be together. Cheryl must decide If it’s worth it or if she should just give up all hope of him being the man that she wants him to be and just move on.

I fell in love with Red in the first book and loved everything that he stood for. Most would not find a redhead sexy but somehow Red was not only desirable but also a nice guy that would protect those that he loved at all costs. The first book left us on a cliffhanger as we wondered what was going to become of Red and Cheryl. Part 2 picked up right where the first book left off and immediately drew you back into the storyline.

I have loved everything that I have read by this author, and she never fails to disappoint. The characters are well-rounded, and you instantly fall in love with them. In book one we learned that neither Red, nor Cheryl, were perfect or flawless which makes them more believable as characters. In this book we are also introduced to Zeke who is a non-binary character. I fell in love with their character and admired their strength. The storyline is amazing and leaves you wanting to read right to the very end. This book is a must read!

View all my reviews@Tara Johnson Barnes

Practically Pagan – An Alternative Guide to Magical Living by Maria DeBlassie – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Practically Pagan - An Alternative Guide to Magical LivingPractically Pagan – An Alternative Guide to Magical Living by Maria DeBlassie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As someone that was looking for a little bit of more magic in my daily life, I thought that this book was a must read. I was not disappointed with the insight and advice the author gives throughout the book. The book is full of practical advice on how to incorporate magic into your everyday living by doing small things. She explains to us that there is magic in the everyday things that we might overlook and tells us to seek joy and experience magic in the things that we might otherwise take for granted and consider boring. She teaches us how to connect with ourselves, practice self-care and live a life of joy. As the author says after all, true magic is in the everyday. And yes, it truly is.

I loved reading this book and how the author laid things out in such a simplistic manner. It was very easy to read and very well laid out. It was a nice reminder to not take life for granted and to just find joy in the moment. We all need to slow down and experience joy in the little things that we do, savor the moment and live life. I found it was also helpful to learn about other methods of self-care that were a little bit different than the typical ones that you hear about all the time like lighting scented candles or having a relaxing hot bath. I will be taking this advice to heart and practicing magic in the moments that each day brings. This is a must read for anyone that’s just looking for a way to slow down and bring joy back into their lives.

View all my reviews @Tara JohnsonBarnes

Dead Sound by Anise Eden – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Dead Sound (Things Unseen, #1)Dead Sound by Anise Eden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Neve Keane is anxious to return to her job as Psychotherapist at the hospital after being stabbed by a patient. After weeks off work for healing and recovery both mentally and physically, she feels that she’s ready to return to work. She is unprepared when instead of a quiet office, she gets mobbed by a group of people on her first day back. She stands helpless in the hallway as they surround her chanting her name and telling her that they need her to help them stop the Apocalypse. After her recent stabbing, Neve is rattled by this turn of events and not sure how to react. She is still suffering from the side effects of the stabbing and the reaction from this group of people has her reliving the memory of her attack. She’s visibly shaken but does not want to lead on that she is frightened because her coworkers might feel that she is not ready to return to work and may try to make her go home. She does not want to go back home and finds it better to be at work where she can hopefully keep her mind busy and not be so bored.

As it turns out, the leader of the crowd turns out to be one of Neve’s patients, so she is familiar with him. He is also a patient of her friend and co-worker Con. Neither Con nor Neve have seen a violent side to the patient, and both have a good rapport with him. Neve feels it necessary to hear her patient out to get a better understanding of the situation at hand and work towards a possible solution. After explaining his visions to her, Neve agrees to help him against her better judgment. After she hears what he has to say she can’t deny that there must be something more to it. If nothing else, she intends to just find out one way or the other. What Neve does not expect to happen is to find a secret plot that involves government officials that goes all the way up to the White House. Now Neve and Con are fighting for their lives as they attempt to stop the end of the world from happening.

This book was very well written and had a storyline that kept me reading to find out what happened next. It moved at a good pace and had a story that involved crime, corruption, evil and a bit of romance all in one. I was curious how far up the chain things went and who all was involved. Was there anyone Neve and Con could trust? Would anyone believe them when they told them what deadly secrets and sinister plots they had uncovered? Would Neve and Con would be successful or would evil win out in the end?

View all my reviews @Tara Johnson Barnes

Red’s Peril Part 2: The Prez’s Old Lady by Manda Mellett – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Red's Peril Part 2: The Prez's Old Lady (Satan's Devils MC Vegas #2)Red’s Peril Part 2: The Prez’s Old Lady by Manda Mellett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In the prequel to this book, Red’s Peril: Part 1, we were introduced to the characters of Red and Cheryl. They had met completely by chance on one of Red’s stops along his journey to finding himself. Cheryl was a waitress in a diner that Red stopped at to have a bite to eat and the two of them felt an immediate attraction to each other. Acting on impulse, Cheryl left everything behind to ride off into the proverbial sunset with Red on his motorbike. When it wasn’t everything that she had hoped it to be, Cheryl became spooked and cut their journey short.

Neither saw the other again until by pure chance they ran into each other in Vegas. Even though 15 years had passed neither had stopped thinking about the other and wondering what could have been. Both Red and Cheryl have attempted to move on with their lives over the years but have regrets for leaving things the way that they did all those years ago. With no way of contacting each other through the years they had no idea of what could have been or if things could have worked between them.

Now that Red has popped back into Cheryl’s life, he’s not the man she was expecting. He’s now president of a Satan Devil’s MC and she knows that isn’t the life that she wants. She’s always been an upstanding citizen and never broken the rules and has no intention of starting now. The problem is that they have both lived with regrets for the past 15 years over what could have been. Cheryl deeply regrets the decision that she made about walking away and wonders if there’s any way that they can be together. Cheryl must decide If it’s worth it or if she should just give up all hope of him being the man that she wants him to be and just move on.

I fell in love with Red in the first book and loved everything that he stood for. Most would not find a redhead sexy but somehow Red was not only desirable but also a nice guy that would protect those that he loved at all costs. The first book left us on a cliffhanger as we wondered what was going to become of Red and Cheryl. Part 2 picked up right where the first book left off and immediately drew you back into the storyline.

I have loved everything that I have read by this author, and she never fails to disappoint. The characters are well-rounded, and you instantly fall in love with them. In book one we learned that neither Red, nor Cheryl, were perfect or flawless which makes them more believable as characters. In this book we are also introduced to Zeke who is a non-binary character. I fell in love with their character and admired their strength. The storyline is amazing and leaves you wanting to read right to the very end. This book is a must read!

View all my reviews @Tara Johnson Barnes

Mom, Is There a Santa Claus? by Susan J Berger Illustrator: KC Snider – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Mom, Is There a Santa Claus?Mom, Is There a Santa Claus? by Susan J. Berger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is a timeless tale of the time in a child’s life when they are caught between whether they should believe in Santa Claus or not. When Lucas’ friends tell him there is no such thing as Santa Claus Lucas asks his mom if Santa Claus is real. His mom lets him in on a secret and gives him the opportunity to be a Dream Keeper. But is Lucas ready for such an important job?

This book was wonderfully written, beautifully illustrated and does a beautiful job of describing the true magic of Christmas. This is a book that pulls at your heart strings and conjures up fond childhood memories of Christmas as a child when Santa was very much real, and the magic of the Christmas season was all around us. I could smell the gingerbread baking in the kitchen, hear the Christmas songs and was right there stringing popcorn. This book is sure to become a Christmas classic!

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Cade by A.S. Roberts – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Cade (Default Distraction #3)Cade by A.S. Roberts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cade is the third book in the Default Distraction series. Cade is the drummer of a popular U.S. rock band called Default Distraction. He is a bad boy that’s used to getting what he wants and has never been scared to go after anything in his life. As the drummer of a popular rock band, he is used to women falling all over him and being able to pick and choose whoever he wants. Then suddenly everything changes when the lead guitarist’s little sister re-enters his life. Cade falls hard for her and wants her, but she wants nothing to do with him; or so she says.

Cade is so used to having women fawn all over him that he finds it hard to take no for an answer from Winter who is not easily impressed by his rock band popularity. Winter turns him down at every turn, but Cade won’t take no for an answer. He doesn’t know what it is about her, but he is drawn to her like a moth to a flame. As hard as he pushes her to fall for him, she continuously turns him down and pushes him away. What Cade doesn’t realize, and Winter won’t admit, is that she finds it harder and harder to resist him. The chemistry and sexual tension between Cade and Winter is intense. Cade will stop at nothing to make Winter his girl. He knows what they have is real but it’s going to take a lot of convincing. Winter is hardheaded and comes across as being cold-hearted. She refuses to let her guard down and is purely focused on running her business and making a success of herself. She can’t let any man gets in her way and stop her.

This book was intense and hard to put down! I became completely absorbed into the story and the lives of Cade and Winter. The relationship between them appeared hostile yet the sexual tension between them was undeniable and mind blowing. I had to keep reading to find out if either was ever going to let their guard down and let the other one in. Both have their own heartbreaking backstories and fear getting hurt. They both come across as tough but deep down it is because they’ve put a wall around their hearts so that they don’t get hurt. The story was one that I could not put down until I had finished reading the final page to see if there was going to be a happy ever after between Cade and Winter.

View all my reviews @Tara Johnson Barnes

Luke by A.S. Roberts – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Luke (Default Distraction #4)Luke by A.S. Roberts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Luke is the fourth book in the Default Distraction series. From the first page this book hooked me, and I was eager to learn more about who Luke was. Luke is a man that knows little about his past or where he came from. His early life is quite tragic, and because of that he feels like there’s a piece of himself that’s missing. Luke’s rock band, Default Distraction, is highly successful but no amount of money, fame, fortune, or fans can replace the piece of Luke that is missing. Despite his early beginnings, he is determined to become a better person and to give his young daughter the life that he never had. Luke is determined to be there for his little girl and always protect her and wants his daughter to know the sense of having family and belonging.

Nikki has had a quite different upbringing than Luke and comes from a very close-knit family. Suddenly tragedy strikes and her world is turned upside down. Nikki is now broke, jobless, and no longer feels as though she knows who she is. To provide for herself and her family Nikki takes on the job as nanny for Luke and his young daughter.

What nobody expects is for the sparks to fly between Nikki and Luke. Nikki doesn’t want to risk losing her job or losing the little girl that she has come to love so she tries to deny her attraction to Luke. The chemistry is something that Luke also feels but tries to deny because he does not want to risk losing the woman that his daughter has come to love. The risks are too great for both Nikki and Luke and there is too much at stake for them both to lose. Yet, it is hard to deny the chemistry and attraction between the two of them. Will they risk losing everything to be together?

Luke had great characters in it, and I loved learning more about the backstory of the character of Luke. It is very well written and is a story unlike most others. Although it could be a standalone book and read on its own, I would recommend reading the other three books in the series first.

View all my reviews @TaraJohnson Barnes

Caught in Midnight Shadows by Sharleen Scott – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Caught in Midnight Shadows (Caught series, #4)Caught in Midnight Shadows by Sharleen Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brant Bellamy in the race for his life. It seems that someone has the intention of either scaring him or killing him. After several suspicious accidents on the Bellamy ranch, and when Brant’s mother passes away under suspicious circumstances, he is determined to find out what is going on. His mom’s last words to him were find him and make it right. Brant does not understand what those words mean or who his mother meant but he is determined to find out. To protect his children from coming into harm’s way he sends them to their mom in Chicago and heads to the Oregon Coast with the purpose and intention of finding a man who worked on the Bellamy ranch 40 years ago.

However, fate has other plans when Brant meets the beautiful and exciting Aubrey Chartrand, who is a bartender at a local bar In Angel Beach where Brant stops to have a bite to eat. The unplanned meeting between the two of them causes both to rethink their decisions and future. Brant has only come in search of the mysterious stranger that worked at the Bellamy ranch years ago and Aubrey is planning on riding her Harley off into the proverbial sunset. She has no intention of getting tied down not after spending years looking after her elderly aunt. Their plans are quickly sidelined when Aubrey becomes targeted by a stalker. Suddenly her and Brant are pulled together to find out who this person is. It is now starting to look as though this mysterious person could be a murderer that has targeted them and put them both in his line of fire.

This book was incredibly difficult to put down and I ended up reading it from cover to cover. I became completely immersed in the lives of the characters and needed to know who this mysterious stranger was and what he wanted. I love the fact that even though it was centered around a romance between the two characters, Brant, and Aubrey, it was also full of action and suspense. I was completely drawn into the mystery surrounding not only the mysterious stalker who is after both Brant and Aubrey but what Brant’s mom’s last words meant. Who was this drifter that showed up on their ranch 40 years ago? Where did he come from? Why was it so important for Brant to find him?

I loved the character of Brant (I mean who doesn’t like a sexy cowboy) but more importantly I love the fact that he wasn’t a bad boy but instead someone with a big heart who cared about those that he loved and would do anything to protect them. I loved that Brant was a single father and that his focus was on keeping his children safe and being the best father that he could be to them. I also really enjoyed the fact that both main characters were older. I love that Aubrey was down to earth, independent, and fiercely loyal to those that she loved. The chemistry between Brant and Aubrey was undeniable even though they both tried to ignore it as best as they could. It just goes to show that sometimes things happen, and people cross our paths for a reason.

View all my reviews@Tara Johnson Barnes

Red’s Peril Part 1: The making of an MC Prez (Satan’s Devils MC Vegas Chapter) by Manda Mellett – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Red's Peril Part 1: The Making of an MC Prez (Satan's Devils MC Vegas #1)Red’s Peril Part 1: The Making of an MC Prez by Manda Mellett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Red’s Peril Part 1: The Making of an MC Prez (Satan’s Devil’s MC Vegas Chapter) is about a young man named Red in search of himself and a future. He’s not sure what the future holds for him, but he knows that there must be more for him out there somewhere. After his father passes away, he has nothing holding him back so Red decides it’s time to move on and jumps onto his Harley in search of a warmer climate.

Along his journey Red meets Cheryl with whom he feels an instant attraction and knows is the woman of his dreams. Unfortunately, this is not to be, and he moves on but never forgets this special girl that will always hold a special place in his heart. Red continues his journey with an unknown destination and somehow ends up in Tucson where he meets the Satan’s Devils MC. Although reluctant at first to join a biker club, Red soon find his place within the Satan’s Devils and finally feels he has found his home forging long lasting friendships within the Satan’s Devils club.

Then suddenly Red’s life is uprooted, and he is torn away from his friends once again and relocated to the Satan’s Devils MC chapter located in Vegas. Red isn’t happy about leaving his Tucson family behind but thankfully it doesn’t take him long to fit in and form friendships and gain the respect and loyalty of the Vegas members. Suddenly he is thrust into the role as VP and almost immediately following that Red becomes Prez of the Vegas chapter of the Satan’s Devils.

Red is happy and life is going well for him in Vegas, but he just can’t get that one girl out of his head that he met so briefly. No matter how much time passes no other girl has been able to measure up or compare to Cheryl. Red is a man with a heart of gold that any girl would be lucky to have, and you can’t help but want him to have all his dreams come true. Throughout the book we just keep hoping that Red will either find happiness and be able to finally move on or that his elusive love of his life will return and Red will get the happily ever after he so clearly deserves.

Red’s Peril is another amazing story by Manda Mellett. I have read several of her other books about the Satan’s Devils MC and I can’t get enough of them. Manda has a way of drawing the reader into the story and have the reader become completely involved with the characters. I loved that the main character Red was a redhead because all too often the lead male character is tall, dark, and handsome. I can honestly say I’ve never read a book where the leading male is a redhead, so this was a welcome change. (I have a bit of a soft spot for redheads because my husband is a redhead.) I also loved the fact that the love of Red’s life, Cheryl, was not a perfect petite blond. She had a few curves to her which made her far more realistic and more relatable. I fell in love with Red and Cheryl and really wanted to see them get their happily ever after, whether it was with each other (preferably) or with someone who loved and appreciated them for who they are. Red’s Peril ended with a bit of a cliffhanger and I’m anxiously anticipating Part 2 which should be coming out shortly. I highly recommend this book and all the Satan’s Devils MC books written by Mandy Mellett.

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The Girl and the Demon (The Girl and the Raven Book 3) by Pauline Gruber – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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The Girl and The Demon (The Girl and The Raven, #3)The Girl and The Demon by Pauline Gruber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Girl and the Demon is the third, and sadly final book, in The Girl and the Raven series by Pauline Gruber. In the first two books we were introduced to Lucy Walker who discovered that she was half witch and half demon. Her life was turned upside down as she was forced to battle demons and supernatural forces in a battle between good and evil.

In the Girl and the Demon, Lucy feels that her life might finally be returning to normal and that she can live the life of a normal teenager. That sense of calm and normal is short-lived when once again she is forced to battle for her life against her mortal enemy that has returned to finish her off. Lucy was left to deal with the demon that has returned for her without the help of her beloved Marcus, her protector. He is out of town dealing with things of his own and can’t be there to help Lucy when she needs him the most.

It’s bad enough that Lucy is forced to defend herself against her mortal enemy without the help of Marcus but now someone that she thought was a friend has done the unthinkable. She has held a séance and summoned an evil spirit in the process that puts Lucy and her friends in grave danger. To save those she loves Lucy is forced to reveal who she really is and her supernatural abilities. It is now up to Lucy to rescue her friends, her family and an entire city from the evil forces that have set out to destroy her and everything she knows.

After reading books one and two in The Girl and the Raven series I couldn’t wait to read the third and final installment. These books did not disappoint. I fell in love with the characters, especially the character of young Lucy. I admired her strength and her resolve in the face of danger. I truly admired that no matter what she had to endure she did what it took to protect those that she loved the most. The author, Pauline Gruber did an amazing job of writing this entire series! Although it is classified as being for young adults, I feel that it is a series that anyone of any age can enjoy. The characters and scenes are very well written with great world building that makes the reader feel as though they were right there. There is no lack of action or excitement throughout. This book contains it all in one with a nice blend of romance, mystery, suspense, the supernatural, and the battle between good and evil. This was an amazing series and I’m sad to see it come to an end.

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The Girl and the Gargoyle by Pauline Gruber – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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The Girl and the Gargoyle (The Girl and the Raven, #2)The Girl and the Gargoyle by Pauline Gruber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Girl and the Gargoyle is book two in The Girl and The Raven series by Pauline Gruber. In book one, we were introduced to Lucy Walker. Lucy had just lost her mom and had moved in with her uncles in her grandmother’s old house. We were also introduced to Lucy’s neighbor Marcus and Lucy’s high School friend Dylan. Lucy made the startling discovery that she was half-witch and half-demon. She also discovered her long lost father, who turned out to be a demon.

Book two quickly picks up where book one left off and does not disappoint throughout. This is another page turner as we learn more about Lucy. Lucy is now dating Marcus who happens to be a gargoyle. Lucy’s father, Jude, is a demon. As much as Lucy wants to get to know her father, she does not love him or trust him. However, Jude forces her to spend time with him so he can train her in how to use her supernatural skills and abilities.

The love triangle between Lucy, Marcus and Dylan intensifies. Dylan is no longer trying to hide his emotions for Lucy and Lucy is finding it hard to resist the feelings that she is having for Dylan. Something that becomes even more challenging because they spend a great deal of time together training at Jude’s house. This creates tension and conflict between Lucy and Marcus. Lucy is head over heels in love with Marcus and doesn’t want to lose what she has with him, so she tries to ignore her feelings for Dylan.

Marcus, who has grown up without a mother of his own, has his life suddenly thrown into a tailspin when his long-lost mother shows up. Marcus’s mother, Camille, begs Marcus for forgiveness and tells him she wants to be part of his life. Lucy finds it difficult to believe that Camille’s intentions are true and fears that she is there to hurt Marcus. Lucy also feels that Marcus might fall for his mother’s lies and leave her. It isn’t long before Marcus finds out his long-lost father is also back. When it comes to light that his father has come to Chicago with the intention of killing Lucy’s father Jude the battle between good and evil intensifies. Lucy is conflicted and unsure who to trust and Lucy and Marcus find themselves pitted on opposite sides of the battle between good and evil. As if things aren’t bad enough, Lucy soon discovers that if Jude dies, then she will also die. Marcus vows to keep Lucy and her father’s safe no matter what. Lucy wants to help so she tries to devise a plan to save not only Jude but herself and all her loved ones. In doing so, she calls in the most unlikely of allies.

The Girl and The Gargoyle did not disappoint from start to finish. It had everything a reader could be looking for. The book contained great characters and a supernatural world. I really enjoyed reading about Lucy and how her skills and strength developed and were honed throughout. We’re also introduced to more characters while getting to know the main characters a lot better. It contained gargoyles, witches, demons, and protectors. Friendships were forged and friendships were broken. It was steeped in romance as the love triangle intensified between the three main characters. Families were reunited and families were torn apart. Alliances were formed and alliances were broken. The battle between good and evil raged on. I highly recommend book two and can’t wait to start book 3, The Girl and The Demon!

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The Girl and the Raven by Pauline Gruber – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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The Girl and The RavenThe Girl and The Raven by Pauline Gruber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In the Girl and the Raven, we are introduced to young Lucy Walker who tragically loses her mom. Lucy finds herself uprooted from the only life she’s ever really known and moves from her small town to the big city of Chicago to live with her uncles. Lucy is hoping for a fresh start and a life free of drama and stress; something that young Lucy has never had before as she’s always had to look after her drug addicted mother.

What Lucy never expected was for her life to take a sudden turn with the discovery that she is half-witch and half-demon. Not only that but she meets the father that she never even knew existed. In Addition to discovering her long lost father, Lucy also finds herself battling for her life by a mysterious stranger. Clearly, this new life isn’t quite what Lucy expected but never one to back down from a challenge, Lucy faces each new challenge head-on.

Shortly after moving in with her uncles Lucy meets her upstairs neighbor, Marcus, and can’t help but become smitten with this good-looking lad. Lucy soon finds herself spending a lot of time with her new neighbor and finds herself falling in love with him. Marcus was friends with Lucy’s grandmother and promised her that he would look after Lucy and protect her, a vow that he takes very seriously. Young neighbor Marcus has a secret of his own that Lucy soon discovers. Lucy also finds herself quite attracted to Young Dylan, a boy she meets at her new high school. At first, Lucy thinks that Dylan is a jerk and wants nothing to do with him. As she gets to know him better, she sees another side of him that he keeps hidden from everyone. Suddenly she’s thrust into a love triangle as well as everything else that she is currently dealing with.

When Lucy discovers that her grandma’s beloved Raven is missing, she is determined to find it and save it at all costs. Lucy has always had a special connection with the beloved family pet. She finds herself teaming up with her neighbor, Marcus, and the two of them set off to save The Raven. Lucy’s life and everything she has ever known is forever changed as she is now thrust into a battle between good and evil.

The one thing that really drew me into this book was how strong the lead character Lucy is. Young Lucy has always had to be strong but now she really has to dig down and discover her true strengths. Lucy is one tough young lady who manages to persevere and overcome any challenge that comes her way. She will do anything to protect those that she loves. Lucy’s protective and loving nature combined with her strength is quite admirable.

I found this book had many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. From the very first page that just kind of leaves you in shock I was hooked. I immediately fell in love with the characters. I admired Lucy’s strength. The love triangle sucked me in, but I immediately became conflicted as to who would be the better choice for lucy, the brooding neighbor Marcus, or the high school friend Dylan. I love the supernatural aspect and the demons, gargoyles, and witches.

I found this book impossible to put down. As soon as I was able to, I moved on to book two in The Girl and The Raven series, entitled The Girl and The Gargoyle. I highly recommend this book and the others in The Girl and The Raven series by Pauline Gruber.

View all my reviews @Tara Johnson Barnes

Goddess of Everything: A Blood-Curdling Tale of Truth, Freedom, and Love by Paul DeBlassie III – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Goddess of EverythingGoddess of Everything by Paul DeBlassie III
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Goddess of Everything by Paul DeBlassie III tells the horrific tale of the length’s a mother will go through to keep her son’s love. Mother Juana de la Cruz is a devoutly religious woman and Superior of the Orphanage of the Holy Innocents located in the community of Atzlan del Norte. The Nunnery and Orphanage is a place of closely guarded secrets, one where evil and darkness lurk behind every door. Mother Juana de la Cruz’s son Gabriel de LaTierra is a psychiatric healer who has devoted his life to helping the children at the orphanage. When Gabriel starts uncovering secrets of supernatural happenings and missing children, he becomes suspicious of the true motives of the nuns running the Orphanage of the Holy Innocents. The one person he trusts within the orphanage and nunnery is his beloved Mother Juana de la Cruz, a woman who is a true saint in Gabriel’s eyes and could harm no one, especially a child. A woman who is also considered a saint by the devoutly religious community of Atzlan del Norte.

Gabriel’s wife Consuela, however, suspects otherwise and attempts to get Gabriel to see the true person his beloved Mother Juana de la Cruz is. Consuela has powers of her own as a seer and knows that true evil is smart, often hiding in plain sight. She tries to warn Gabriel that his beloved Mother Juana is pure evil. Gabriel finds such thoughts unimaginable because his Mother Juana is devoutly religious and he refuses to see how Mother Juana keeps him, her beloved son, brainwashed and under her spell. To shed light on what Mother Juana de la Cruz’s true intentions are, Gabriel is shown through visions from Consuela the blood sacrifices of children that take place in the desert late at night. A ritual that has been taking place for centuries and one that gives Mother Juana de la Cruz and her nuns immortality. Gabriel is horrified to think that his beloved Mother could be capable of such horrendous acts of pure evil and finds himself conflicted between the love he has for his wife and the love and devotion he has towards his mother. When his beloved wife Consuela is viciously attacked, and his young son is kidnapped, Gabriel is forced to act. Will Gabriel be able to find the strength and courage to save his wife and son? Will good triumph over evil?

The Goddess of Everything is a new twist on the age-old tale of good versus evil, and the darker side of religion. From the first page Paul deBlassie III pulled me into the story and held my interest with tales of the supernatural, magical powers, religious rituals and sacrifices, and the dark realms of true evil. This book was action packed throughout and delivered from start to finish. Great read that will give you goosebumps and will surely haunt your dreams!

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Ye Gods! The Law Is An Ass! by Seelie Kay – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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-gods-the-law-is-an-ass” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”>Ye Gods! The Law is an Ass!Ye Gods! The Law is an Ass! by Seelie Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ye Gods! The Law is an Ass! Is book 2 in the Donovan Trait Series. In Book 1, we were introduced to Donovan Trait, a vampire and lawyer. Donovan is sexy, mysterious, smart and everything women want in a man. No woman has ever been enough for Donovan until he meets the vivacious, smart, and sexy Judge Shirley Magnusen. Donovan and Shirley fall head over heels in love and know that they are destined to spend eternity together. To do so, Shirley undergoes treatment by vampire scientists to turn into a vampire. Donovan and Shirley must agree to terms placed on them by the Vampire Coalition as part of their union of pure-blood vampire and turned human. They agree to allow vampire scientists to monitor the conception and birth of any children, not expecting to learn on her wedding day that she has become accidentally pregnant.

This startling discovery unleashes the fury of the Vampire Coalition who now believe that Donovan and Shirley have breeched the terms of their agreement. Their wedding, something which should be a joyous occasion, has taken a dark and sinister turn. Donovan and Shirley are suddenly forced to flee to save their lives and the life of their unborn child.

This book did not disappoint and was action packed throughout. I found myself rooting for Donovan and Shirley; hoping that the Vampire Coalition would realize the error of their old school ways and that Shirley and Donovan would finally get their happy ending. This book kept me on the edge of my seat as I waited with bated breath to see what would become of this power couple. I could not put down this book and had to continue reading to see how it would end. Would Donovan and Shirley survive the wrath of the Vampire Coalition? Will they get their happily ever after? I highly recommend both this book, and book 1 in the Donovan Trait series.

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Unsettled Scores by Kel O’Connor – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Unsettled Scores (DAG Team #2)Unsettled Scores by Kel O’Connor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Unsettled Scores by Kel O’ Connor is book 2 in the DAG Team Series. Amy Stuart has been estranged from her family for three years since the death of her sister Audrey, something that she blames herself for. After her sister’s abduction and death, Amy sets her sights on the drug lord responsible and swears to get revenge on him. When she is hired by lawyer Hugh Bainbridge IV to investigate who is smuggling drugs into his mother’s charity Amy is brought face-to-face with her arch nemesis. Amy now has the chance to fulfill the revenge she has been carefully planning for the past three years.

What Amy never expected was to fall for Hugh, a good-looking lawyer who dresses in sweatpants and is like nobody that she has ever met before. Hugh also finds himself falling for the feisty, strong-willed, and intelligent Amy. As Amy closes in on the drug lord who killed her sister, she finds herself forced to choose between love for Hugh, and revenge for her sister Audrey’s death. Which will she choose?

Unsettled Scores is a real page turner. It is very well written, and the characters are ones you find yourself drawn to. I found myself intrigued by Amy and I admired her strength, resilience, and courage in the face of danger. Although Amy was strong, she also had moments of weakness which made her more likable because the reader could see that Amy was human and that not everyone can be strong all the time. This book is a must read.

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Murder Among Friends by Linda Burson – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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murder-among-friends” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”>Murder Among FriendsMurder Among Friends by Linda Burson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Camille Thurston decides she needs to recharge from her highly stressful life as a PI in Boston. She takes a leave from her job and goes to stay with her brother Zach and his family in Connecticut. What she does not expect is to get wrapped up in an investigation involving a missing woman. Rather than sit idly by Camille feels compelled to help her brother Zach, and his partner Russ. Camille aids in the investigation by keeping tabs on the missing woman’s husband, neighbors, and friends. What starts out as a way to keep track of the missing woman’s husband turns into so much more and Camille never expects to fall in love with the missing woman’s husband.

Murder Among Friends was a real page turner. It took twists and turns that I never saw coming with one big twist at the end that seemed to come out of nowhere. This book will keep you hooked as you delve in to see what will happen next.

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Jake the Growling Dog Shares His Trail (Jake the Growling Dog Book 3) by Samantha Shannon – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Jake the Growling Dog Shares His TrailJake the Growling Dog Shares His Trail by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jake the Growling Dog Shares his Trail is the third book in the Jake The Growling Dog Series. Jake loves taking walks down his favorite trail but one day while out for a walk with his friend Neet, they stumble onto something different that scares them. Jake and his friend Neet are worried about the discovery and find it hard to sleep. Jake’s friends Bodhi and Luna come over to play and decide to help their friend, so he does not have to worry alone. The friends set out for an adventure together to figure out what this strange discovery was that Jake discovered on his favorite trail.

Jake The Growling Dog shares his trail is a beautifully written story and the author does an amazing job teaching her readers valuable life lessons. Samantha Shannon describes through her characters the power of friendship and how we are never truly alone if we have friends by our side. Through Jake and his friends, she says that being different is okay and that everyone gets scared sometimes but that is okay too. Samantha Shannon gives some great tips and resources at the end of the book for both parents and children. I highly recommend this book for young and old alike.

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Raven Woman’s Tavern by Laura Koerber – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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raven-woman-s-tavern” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”>Raven Woman's TavernRaven Woman’s Tavern by Laura Koerber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Raven Woman’s Tavern is set in the near future in an abandoned mining town that is occupied by a small group of survivalists eking out a meagre existence. Many, but not all, of the community’s citizens are law abiding folks so when a small group of militia members converge upon the town it sets some of the community members on edge.

The story is centered on Raven Woman, a shapeshifter, and her tavern. When the militia members enter Raven’s tavern it sets off a chain of events that forever changes the life of one of its members, Baylor. After a night of heavy drinking and obnoxious behaviour the militia leave the tavern and head for home. The four members end up lost which baffles them because they have travelled that very same stretch of road on numerous occasions in the past. Somehow though, the road looks different, and time seems to be standing still. The four young militia are left to battle with each other as well as the harsh elements. Baylor is banished from the group, and he must venture through the woods and try to survive on his own. As he wanders through the forest, Baylor spots a raven in nearby treetop and swears that it is talking to him and leading the way for him. He quickly brushes this off as from fatigue and malnourishment and plods on, hoping that he can find shelter before he is too weak to continue.

Raven Woman’s Tavern is the first book that I have read by Laura Koerber, but it will not be the last. The author did a marvelous job of describing the characters, their lives, and the world they were struggling to survive in. The book gave a glimpse into how lives would be if we were suddenly stripped of all the modern conveniences, we have grown accustomed to having and often take for granted. This is something that I have though of often and found myself wanting a simpler life. Learning to fend for myself and be more self sustainable started with growing and canning my own food. These are skills that seem to have become lost through the years and I am hoping to pass these skills onto the next generation. Kudos to Laura Koerber, I look forward to reading more of your books!

View all my reviews @ Tara Johnson Barnes 

Journeys through TimeSpace (Journeys Through Book 2) by James Talisman – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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journeys-through-timespace” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”>Journeys Through TimeSpaceJourneys Through TimeSpace by James Talisman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Journeys Through TimeSpace is the second book in the series by James Talisman and starts where Book 1, Journeys Through SpaceTime, leaves off. Our three young heroes return in Book 2, and it is up to this trio to save Earth from a powerful enemy. They have travelled to a secret and hidden place deep in the Himalayas to train and prepare for their quest. A quest that has them travelling between the past and the future to find treasures that are required to save Earth.

I loved reading this book and highly recommend it because it is truly intriguing and really had me thinking about the concepts of time travel, parallel universes, and the fascinating concept of a MultiVerse. I especially loved reading about the MultiVerse and was anxious to see how the story would unfold between the various characters and each of their planets. As I delved deeper into the book, I was introduced to the concept of the seven important principles which embody all of creation. This quickly had me thinking and wanting to explore these seven important principles farther.

Journeys Through TimeSpace is very well written and there is a great amount of detail in the story throughout its entirety. Each world is described vividly, really drawing you into the scene and the lives of the characters. My three favorite characters were our brave young heroes who have an amazing and unique friendship. Regardless of the numerous obstacles they are faced with in both the past and the present the bond between the trio remains strong and unwavering. Not only do I highly recommend this book but I think that both books would make great movies!

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Caught by Him by Tammy Mannersly – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Caught by HimCaught by Him by Tammy Mannersly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Willabelle Stone agrees to help her grandfather out by watching his home for him while he is out of town. She arrives in a houseboat, under the cover of darkness which instantly puts the next-door neighbor on edge because he thinks there is an intruder lurking about.

Brody Nash, a famous movie actor, is caught off guard by the intruder he spots trying to break into the house next door and he decides to deal with it as best as he can. To his surprise, he is greeted by the beautiful Willabelle as she perches precariously atop the neighbor’s gate. Brody and Willabelle find themselves instantly attracted to one another which neither expected to happen.

As Brody and Willabelle start spending time together and getting to know one another each realizes that they are in love with the other. Unhappy with the blooming romance between Brody and Willabelle, Brody’s Assistant and Willabelle’s ex boyfriend plot to come between them and destroy their relationship. Brody’s Assistant Carmody is obsessed with Brody, and she feels that she is better suited for him. Willabelle’s ex boyfriend is still trying to get her back even after their break-up two years later. When Carmody and Willabelle’s ex boyfriend plot together to break up Brody and Willabelle it threatens to destroy the blossoming romance between them. Will Brody and Willabelle’s love survive?

Caught By Him is a beautiful story of how opposites can attract and fall in love. Tammy Mannersly tells this story beautifully and draws the reader into the lives of Brody and Willabelle. She shows us that true love can survive and that, as Brody often says, “Life is only worth living if you’ve got something to lose.”

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Forbidden Mate (The Shadow Chronicles Book 2) by CR Robertson – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Forbidden MateForbidden Mate by C.R. Robertson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Forbidden Mate by CR Robertson picks up where Forbidden Wolf (The Shadow Chronicles Book 1) left off. In Book 1, Forbidden Wolf, CR Robertson introduces the characters of Levi, a Lycan, and Tasha, a Vampire. Levi and Tasha have fallen deeply in love although they were never meant to be mates. The Lycans and the Vampires have been sworn enemies for centuries and were ordered to kill one another on sight but are now fighting side by side to end the Lycan-vampire war. The vampires and Lycans have formed a tentative alliance to fight a much bigger enemy, the Hellspawn.

As the war against the Hellspawn rages on Levi And Tasha are thrown into a dark world of secrets and lies that threatens to destroy everything they have ever known. It is a race against time as Levi and Tasha try to solve the mystery behind the genetics of both the Lycans and Vampires. As strong as their love is for one another it might not be enough to survive the bigger enemy and overcome the dark secrets behind their genetic makeup.

I instantly fell in love with the characters of both Levi and Tasha when I first met them in Book 1, Forbidden Wolf, and was completely drawn into their world. Book 2, Forbidden Mate, continues their journey and builds more on the characters and their lives. There was never a dull moment throughout the entire book, and it is action-packed throughout. Forbidden Mate kept me turning the pages and I found myself rooting for Levi and Tasha and hoping that their love would persevere through all the trials and tribulations they were continuously put through. My heart skipped a beat when the evil Castus popped back into their lives and tried to come between Tasha and Levi. I cringed when the Master Hellspawn is almost able to lure Tasha to him. I waited with bated breath in the hopes that Levi could save his one true love. CR Robertson does a great job building suspense and keeping the reader intrigued. I highly recommend this book!

View all my reviews @Tara Johnson Barnes

Avenging Devil Part 2 (Satan’s Devils MC San Diego #4) by Manda Mellett – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Avenging Devil Part 2: Satan's Devils MC San DiegoAvenging Devil Part 2: Satan’s Devils MC San Diego by Manda Mellett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Avenging Devil Part 2: Satan’s Devils MC San Diego by Manda Mellet starts off where Avenging Devil Part 1: Satan’s Devils MC San Diego left off. Part one left us on a cliff-hanger wondering what was going to become of Saffie and Niran.

Saffie’s past has caught up with her and Niran is embroiled in it. To save Saffie from her husband, Duke, Niran says that he was the one responsible for aiding in Saffie’s capture by her abusive ex, Duke. Saffie is devastated by this news and believes that the one person she felt that she could trust, Niran, has betrayed her trust and lied to her all along. She loathes Niran for betraying her and feels that no biker can be trusted. Niran vows to keep Saffie safe at all costs and avenge her, but to do so Saffie must believe his lies.

Avenging Devil Part 2 was an intense, emotional ride and not one for the faint hearted or for anyone easily triggered. It left me riveted as I wondered what would become of both Saffie and Niran. My heart ached for Saffie, and I felt anguish over the abuse she suffered by her husband, Duke, and his club members. Manda Mellet does a fantastic job of describing the characters and drawing the reader into each scene, making the reader feel as though they are there. I anxiously kept turning the pages to see what would become of both Saffie and Niran. I highly recommend this book!

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Journeys through SpaceTime (Journey Through Book 1) by James Talisman – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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journeys-through-spacetime” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”>Journeys Through SpaceTimeJourneys Through SpaceTime by James Talisman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Journeys Through Space Time intrigued me from the very beginning, and I found it difficult to put this book down. That came as a huge surprise to me because I am not a fan of anything Sci Fi and try to avoid it as best as I can. However, I quickly became wrapped up in the lives of the characters and was fascinated by the concept of multiple worlds. The multiple characters, storylines and points of view were beautifully written, and the story was immensely entertaining.

Even more intriguing to me was that the voice of a mysterious being could be heard in the minds of inhabitants across both time and space. This powerful and wise voice spoke to each inhabitant and gave each one of them advice or words of warning. The only thing linking the inhabitants of all these different worlds was the mysterious voice that each one of them heard. Those that heard the mysterious voice must now combine forces and use their knowledge and newly acquired skills to fight the forces of evil. The fate of the Multiverse is up to them.

I found it truly fascinating to explore the concept of multiple worlds and the vast Multiverse of space and time. The concept of multiple planets each with their own inhabitants had me really thinking about the possibility of life on other planets. The thought of a wise and powerful being that could get into our minds and control our thoughts intrigued me. This book gave me plenty to think about with the concept of multiple realities taking place simultaneously on multiple planets. This book is one that I will read again.

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The Monster That Ate My Mommy by Jessica Aiken-Hall – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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the-monster-that-ate-my-mommy” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”>The Monster That Ate My MommyThe Monster That Ate My Mommy by Jessica Aiken-Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Monster That Ate My Mommy is a superbly written memoir by Jessica Aiken-Hall describing years of horrific abuse at the hands of those that were supposed to love her. In her memoir Jessica speaks very openly and honestly about the abuse she suffered at the hands of many throughout her life. Her abuse started at an early age by a mother who was incapable of loving Jessica. The abuse she suffered at home left her feeling unwanted and as though there was something wrong with her that she was unworthy of being loved. If her own mother could not love her, then nobody else could either.

The Monster that Ate My mommy resonated deeply with me as I, too, am a survivor of domestic abuse. I understand all too well the feelings of being unloved, unwanted, and undeserving of love. I also appreciate how difficult it is to tell one’s story for fear of rejection or worse, not being believed. I know that it must have taken a great deal of courage and strength for Jessica to share such a heart-wrenching story. As common as domestic abuse is, many women are not brave enough to share their story, while others tragically do not survive. I know that many people may not understand why someone would stay and continue to be abused by their spouse or partner and they feel that it is as simple as just walking away. Unfortunately, it is not as simple as just choosing to leave.

Domestic abuse is complex in that it is not as easy as just walking away from your abuser. You choose to stay for a multitude of reasons. You love them. You believe their promises. You hope that they change. You feel unworthy of love. You feel scared, isolated, and alone. You feel vulnerable. Years of mental abuse leaves you feeling as though the abuse is your fault and that you deserve it. I could go on and on with the numerous reasons one might stay with their abuser. Sadly, the reasons for staying are complex and not easily understood unless you have experienced something similar.

Jessica is a true survivor in every sense of the word. Even at her darkest moment she kept going and persevered. Thank you, Jessica Aiken-Hall, for your courage, your strength and for sharing your story. You are a true inspiration! I highly recommend this book! Please be advised that some scenes may be hard to read and may bring you to tears, so I recommend you have Kleenex on hand.

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Grumbler’s Ride (Satan’s Devils MC San Diego #2) by Manda Mellett – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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grumbler-s-ride” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”>Grumbler's Ride (Satan's Devils MC San Diego #2)Grumbler’s Ride by Manda Mellett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Grumbler’s Ride is the second book in the Satan’s Devils MC series by Manda Mellett. Grumbler is a rough and tough biker who feels as though he has no time in his life for anything other than his bike, his work, and his MC life. He has never been married and never had kids, nor has he had any desire to have either. His family is the Satan’s Devils and that is how he intends to keep it. His girlfriend, as his biker buddies refer to it, is his beloved motorcycle. Besides, even if he wanted an old lady in his life, he is too darn old at this point as he is nearing sixty.

Mary, a single mom, has been raising Alicia alone since Alicia was about 10 years old. Now at 17, Alicia and her mom butt heads constantly because, as teenagers often do, she knows everything. Mary has no desire to date or bring a man into her life because raising her head strong daughter not only keeps her busy but tends to be a turn off to men. Mary and Alicia bicker constantly as Mary tries to teach her daughter the dangers of the world. Alicia, feeling that her mom is being too overbearing and too protective, chooses to often ignore her mom’s advice. When Alicia is approached by a photographer who asks her to do some modelling for him Mary is nervous and reluctant to let Alicia do the photo shoot. However, against her better judgement, Mary allows her daughter to do the photo shoot, but only on the condition that she goes along to supervise.

As luck would have it, Grumbler has been approached by the same photographer and has been asked if his beloved bike can be used in a photo shoot. At the photo shoot Grumbler briefly meets Mary and gets a glimpse into the dynamics of the mother-daughter relationship between Mary and her daughter Alicia. This chance encounter between Mary and Grumbler during the photo shoot changes all their lives forever in a way that non of them could have ever predicted.

This book was a great read and I fell in love with the characters of both Grumbler and Mary. I absolutely loved the fact that the main characters were both older and more mature. I also found it quite refreshing that Grumbler and Mary first became friends before deciding if it could be taken any farther. Grumbler is a man who oozes sex appeal and goes to show that even mature, older men that are considered rough around the edges can be sexy. Mary is someone who shows that older, more mature women, can also be attractive and desirable. This was a great read, but I must warn that there is some sensitive material in the book.

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Avenging Devil Part 1 (Satan’s Devils MC San Diego #3) by Manda Mellett – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Avenging Devil Part 1: Satan's Devils MC San DiegoAvenging Devil Part 1: Satan’s Devils MC San Diego by Manda Mellett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Avenging Devil: Part 1 Satan’s Devils MC by Manda Mellet was a hard to put down book as I delved into the lives of Niran and Saffie. Niran, a biker, is nothing like what one would expect from a biker. He is kind, caring, nurturing and wants to help. When Niran finds Saffie she is an emotional train wreck and a shell of her former self. Despite this, Niran finds himself attracted to her quiet beauty and he finds himself wanting to help her. Saffie has been savagely assaulted by members of another biker’s club, so she is justifiably terrified of all bikers. Saffie trusts no one and prefers to be alone because she is terrified of getting close to anyone for fear of getting hurt again. Or worse, her ex, Duke, finding her and killing her because she left him.

Saffie refuses Niran’s help and continuously pushes him away, thwarting any efforts Niran makes to help her or try to keep her safe from her abusive ex, Duke. Regardless of how many times Saffie pushes Niran away he feels compelled to help her and does everything he can to show her that he only wants to see her safe and happy. You can feel Niran’s despair and helplessness as he reaches out to help Saffie and keeps getting pushed away. Saffie wants to accept help but is overcome with a paralyzing fear of being abused again. My heart ached for Saffie, and I found myself wanting to help her because after all that she had been through she should not be alone. Despite all the horrendous abuse and tragedy that has befallen poor Saffie she continued to persevere.

Avenging Devil: Part 1 Satan’s Devils MC San Diego was an intense emotional rollercoaster ride of emotions as you are drawn into the lives of both Saffie and Niran. You find yourself overcome with intense grief and anguish for Saffie while holding your breath waiting anxiously to see what, if anything, will become of her and Niran. This book will leave you wanting more! It is a must read!

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Being Lost: Satan’s Devils MC San Diego #1 by Manda Mellett – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Being Lost (Satan's Devils MC San Diego #1)Being Lost by Manda Mellett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Being Lost: Satan’s Devils MC San Diego #1 by Manda Mellet was a book that I never thought that I would find myself reading. A book about bikers was never at the top of my reading list, however, I became so engrossed in the lives of the characters that I could not put this book down. I quickly became intrigued with Lost and the rest of the characters in the Satan’s Devils MC San Diego chapter of bikers.

Lost is a man, who really is lost. He lacks confidence in himself and always feels as though he is letting everyone down. Lost feels as though he is a complete failure and that he ruins everything he touches. When he is voted in as Prez for the Satan’s Devils MC San Diego he fears that the members of the chapter will see him for the loser that he is and that he will let everyone down.

Then Lost meets Patsy, a woman who needs protection from a powerful drug lord named Archer, a man who has vowed to kill Patsy at the first chance he gets. Lost is put in charge of protecting Patsy and this one task turns into something that neither Lost nor Patsy were ever expecting. Lost and Patsy are immediately not only attracted to each other physically but are drawn to each other on an emotional level. Neither of them expected to find love this late in life. Suddenly, both of their lives are forever changed as Lost vows to keep Patsy safe at all costs.

Being Lost: Satan’s Devils MC San Diego #1 was a powerful read that gave me a whole new insight into the lives of both male and female bikers. The characters were ones that you feel that you could get to know more personally, and you are drawn into their world. This book was full of action, suspense, violence, love, lust, anger, betrayal, and most of all the journey of self-discovery. This book is a must read!

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Forbidden Wolf (The Shadow Chronicles Book 1) by CR Robertson – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Forbidden WolfForbidden Wolf by C.R. Robertson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Forbidden Wolf is Part 1 in The Shadow Chronicles by CR Robertson. In all honesty I never thought that I would enjoy a book about vampires, but I found that I was unable to book this book down. I was so enthralled by this book that I had it read from cover to cover within a 24-hour period. Not much else got accomplished until I was through reading this book.

Tasha, a Vampire, and Levi, a Lycan, are from two different worlds. The Lycans and the Vampires had been mortal enemies for hundreds of years and were ordered to kill one another upon sight. A chance encounter between Tasha and Levi leads to a tumultuous love affair that they must closely guard, or risk being put to death. Their love is one that can never be, but they vow to somehow make it work. When they are old enough to be sent to war, they are separated but vow that they will again be together. The bond that they forge is unbreakable and they go to great lengths to be together regardless of how many miles have separated them and how many years they have been apart. When they discover a common enemy that is killing both Vampires and Lycans their clans form an allegiance for each to save their clans. Tasha, and Levi are finally able to be together, however, their relationship is one that the Coven leader, is disgusted by and he wants both Levi and Tasha killed. The coven leader is a man that is so cruel you instantly loathe him and want to jump into the pages of the book to protect Tasha from his evil wrath.

Forbidden Wolf was very professionally written, and I found myself completely drawn into the lives of both Tasha and Levi. I found myself rooting for the characters to be together and kept reading to see if Tasha and Levi would get their happily ever after. Forbidden Wolf kept me hooked from the first page and I was not disappointed throughout. This book is a must read! I cannot wait to read the remaining books in this series!

@Tara Johnson Barnes

First, We Kill All the Lawyers (Donovan Trait Series) by Seelie Kay – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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First, We Kill All the LawyersFirst, We Kill All the Lawyers by Seelie Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First We Kill All The Lawyers is Book One in The Donovan Trait Series by author Seelie Kay. Donovan Trait is a charismatic and drop-dead gorgeous lawyer that ladies fawn over and that everyone wants to be like. His charm and good looks, combined with his knowledge of the law has kept him winning cases in the court room for over three hundred years. A little seduction of judges and juries along the way has not hurt his court cases either and his appetite is insatiable both in and out of the courtroom.

Donovan Trait is unstoppable and untouchable, or so he thinks, until someone sets their sights on him and marks him for murder. Luckily for him, Vampires do not die. The problem is, after several hundred years he has finally met the love of his life who is a human. Shirley is a Judge that Donovan met during one of his cases who turns out to be a match for Donovan both in and out of the courtroom. She is beautiful, vivacious, and smart. However, she is merely mortal and marked for death. They now must battle for their lives as they are hunted like prey by an unknown killer whose motives are unbeknown to them. Donovan and his lady love must combine their skills and their knowledge to save their lives and catch the killer that has set their sights on them and marked them both for death.

First We Kill All The Lawyers had me on edge throughout as I became immersed in Donovan’s life. I felt his pain as he clung to life after several attempts on his life. I waited with bated breath to see if his lady love would survive the attempt on her life. I anxiously turned the pages to see if this man would find his happily ever after or if fate would intervene. I recommend this book and cannot wait to read more books in this series.

@TaraJohnsonBarnes

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