Thursday, February 26, 2015

WELL IN TIME (SUZAN STILL)



WELL IN TIME is the sequel to Suzan's second novel 'Fiesta of Smoke' but most definitely can be read as a stand-alone.

Javier Cartena and Calypso Searcy return for another exciting, sit-at-the-edge-of-your-seat adventure! An ancient gold locket, which was a gift, has the ability to tell the future; sometimes through a whispered word, sometimes during a dream. Calypso also has the ability to wander through different worlds; the present and a world where she meets a group known as 'The Ghosts'. They are a very dark, scary, mysterious group who mean business.

While searching the locket's past, Calypso and Javier's ranch in Mexico is attacked by a certain drug cartel. Along with their good friend, Walter Hill, Calypso manages to escape unseen. Thus begins her journey through another world where everything she ever knew about herself is tested to the nth degree - her physical strength, her endurance, her emotional and spiritual strengths. WELL IN TIME has such a stong mystical aspect to it that Calypso carefully straddles the line that divides worlds and tests her ability to stand in either.

My favourite part of the book is when Calypso takes us through the caves and into the tunnels. You won't believe what she goes through and will want to keep reading and reading. Some of the tunnels are so constricting we don't know whether she is going to get through or have to turn back again and again to locate an alternate route. Ms. Still's writing is so descriptive and vivid that you'll feel like you literally can't breathe as you transverse the tunnels with Calypso. You almost have to the put the book down to catch your breath and psyche yourself up that you can do this, never mind Calypso! The writing is just phenomenal.

Through their struggles both Calypso and Javier learn that there is more to life than they both thought and that you don't always have to be together to accomplish your goals. You can change, you can be alone and be okay with that, and you can force yourself to be a more positive influence in this world and on the people around you.

Suzan Still has outdone herself with WELL IN TIME. She is a literary queen with the ability to pen the most beautiful prose, creating characters, and plotting her story to get the most bang for the buck.

I whole-heartedly believe WELL IN TIME is going to be a huge success and I wish Ms. Still great success. Thank you for providing me with the best two days of reading I've done in quite some time.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

HAATCHI AND LITTLE B (WENDY HOLDEN)



ISBN: 9780552170314


Haatchi and Little B tells the inspiring and moving true story of Owen Howkins (also known as Little B, short for 'Buddy') and Haatchi, an Anatolian shepherd dog who was abandoned on a railway line as a puppy and left for dead.

Thankfully, Haatchi was rescued, despite sustaining severe injuries. And so Haatchi, in turn, was able to rescue Owen, at the time an anxious and withdrawn boy born with a rare genetic disorder, who found it hard to make friends. But Owen fell in love with his new three-legged canine housemate at first sight and life would never be the same.

The touching story of this dynamic duo is a life-affirming tale of happiness and friendship.

You'll definitely need the tissues when reading this true story. The relationship between Haatchi and Owen is absolutely incredible. It's like Haatchi is really human and knows exactly what Owen is saying to him. They climb into his crate together and have chats with each other and I'm positive Haatchi knows every word Owen says. This was both an incredible story and an incredible journey these two foraged together. Just a beautiful story all round.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

THE HAREM MIDWIFE (ROBERTA RICH)



ISBN: 978-0-385-67668-7


The Imperial Harem, Constantinople, 1578, Hannah and Isaac Levi, Venetians in exile, begin anew in the Ottoman Empire. Isaac owns a silk workshop, and Hannah, the best midwife in the capital tends to the hundreds of women in Sultan Murat III's lively and infamous haren One night, Hannah is summoned to the palace to ascertain the virginity of Leah, a Jewish peasant girl. The sultan favors Leah as his next conquest and wants her to produe his heir, but if the spirited girl fails this test, she faces a terrible fate. Captivated by Leah's tenacity, Hannah must decide whether to risk everything to lie for her. Soon Leah reveals a dark secret that could comdemn them both. Meanwhile, as Hannah agonizes over her decision, a beautiful woman arrives from Venice with a plot to destory Hannah's marriage, and steal her beloved son, Matteo.

This novel is filled with adventure and vivid detail and peopled with memorable characters.

Sunday, February 8, 2015

THE WOMEN OF DUCK COMMANDER (KAY, KORIE, MISSY, JESSICA, AND LISA ROBERTSON) WITH BETH CLARK



ISBN: 978-1-4767-6330-9

You've seen these spunky and loving women on Duck Dynasty, and you know that they are the beautiful wives of the quirky Robertson men, but you don't know much about who they are as women or what goes on when the cameras are turned off and the production crew has gone home.

Are they really who they seem to be - down-to-earth, sincere, commonsense, loving wives and mothers? Do the women really get along and support one another? Do they truly love their families as much as they seem to on the show? Are their children actually as respectful as they come across? And do they really have the sense of humor that viewers have come to love?

In the pages of this book, you'll find the answers to these questions and much more. The five leading ladies - Miss Kay, Korie, Missy, Jessica, and Lisa - share their hearts and thoughts on the spiritual foundation that guides their lives. In a section titled "Happily Ever After Can Take A While," they reveal some of the difficulties and challenges they have faced. And they share how each one became a Robertson and talk about the myths regarding their motives for marrying into the family. The wives of these beloved characters share precious stories about thier love for Phil and Kay - with chapters titled "Oh, Kay!" and "Getting Our Phil" - as well as what life in the limelight is really like. You'll learn about all their children, their own parents and grandparents, and what made these strong women of substance the spirited characters you've come to love.

Each of these women love God first above all else and raise their families up on His word. God first, family second, and everything else comes after that.

All of the women have a huge amount of love and respect for Miss Kay and Phil and can't say enough about their faith in God, their willingness to share with anyone whether you're rich or poor, fat or thin, black or white, or just need a listening ear and some helpful advice.

All the daughters-in-law lay their cards on the table, no holds barred and bare their souls for us to see the "real" family the way we've always wondered. The questions you've always wanted answered will be done in this book. I read it one sitting as I couldn't put it down it was that interesting.

The Robertson's are quite the clan and I wish them much continued success. They strive to live in a way that we've lost over the past many years. No foul language, no smut, or dirty talk...just good clean, faithful fun. Their families are very important to them and they strive to keep them together and running as a well oiled machine. You won't be disappointed in this book and I highly recommend it for everyone.

Saturday, February 7, 2015

THE WINTER SEA (DI MORRISSEY)



ISBN: 978-1-250-05119-6


Cassie Holloway is not content. She's stuck in an unhappy marriage and an unsatisfactory job. Longing for an escape, she moves to the little Australian coastal town of Whitby Point. There she meets the Aquino family, whose fishing business was founded by their ancestor, Giuseppe, an Italian immigrant, some ninety years before. Life for Cassie on the southwest coast turns sweet as she sets up a successful restaurant and finds an intriguing new love. But when the Aquino family patriarch dies, a devastating secret is revealed that threatens to destroy her dreams. Cassie's future happiness now rests with her quest for the truth.

I was glued to this book from the first page to the last. I had not ever read any of Di Morrissey's novels before but will be looking for more of her work in the future. An excellent story!

ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES (JENNIFER NIVEN)



ISBN: 978-0-385-75588-7

Theodore Finch is fascinated by death. Every day he thinks of ways he might die, but every day he also searches for - and manages to find - something to keep him here, and alive, and awake.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her small Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister's death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school - six stories above the ground - it's unclear who saves whom. And when the unlikely pair teams up on a class projec to discover the "natural wonders" of their state, they go, as Finch says, where the road takes them: the grand, the small, the bizarre, the beautiful, and the ugly, the surprising - just like life.

Soon it's only with Violet that Finch can be himself - a bold, funny, live-out-loud guy, who's not such a freak after all. And it's only with Finch that Violet forgets to count away the days and starts living them. But as Violet's world grows, Finch's begins to shrink.

This is a heart-wrenching, unflinching story of love shared, life lived, and two teens who find one another while standing on the edge.

I totally fell in love with Finch and Violet. Finch so wanted to be loved and cared for but just couldn't see his way through. He loved Violet, deep down and it shows throughout the reading of the novel. These two had a connection like no other.

I'd heard a lot of hype about this book and it didn't disappoint.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

BREAKING CREED (ALEX KAVA)



ISBN: 978-0-399-17076-8


My Review
 
Ryder Creed and FBI Agent Maggie O'Dell team up in this spine-tingling mystery to find the killer on the lose. Ryder Creed is a K9 specialist with a large entourage of trained dogs at the ready. He has explosive detector dogs, cadaver dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs, and just about every other type of detector dog you can think of and he's very good at what he does.

When a body washes up on the shores of the Potmac River in Washington thus begins not only the beginning of a new case for Maggie, but also for Ryder who meets Maggie. Soon sparks are flying and they each have feelings for each other but try to maintain a professional relationship. Will they be successful?

The "Iceman" who no one has ever seen is at the head of the killings in the story and anyone who has seen him, winds up dead. No one sees the Iceman without dying.

Can Maggie, Ryder and his well-trained K9 unit find the Iceman and stop these brutal and tortureous killings before the Iceman finds them first?

Alex Kava has done it again. I've read every single book she has ever penned and have never been disappointed yet. I was literally glued to the edge of my seat and read this in one sitting. I just had to keep turning page after page to find out what happened next. I'd try to book the book down but just couldn't do it. I'll be highly recommending this one.

A sequel titled "Silent Creed" will be coming out shortly. Don't miss it either.