Guest Post by Author Alexandria Weis

Head over to my new blog at http://myviewsonreview.blogspot.com to see what Ms. Weis has to say in her guest post.

Hello!!??!!

For those of you who missed me too, I've had problems signing on to this blog in order to do my reviews and ended up starting my own at http://myviewsonreview.blogger.com. I would love it if you would come on over and follow me on that blog also. I have signed up to follow Susie on her new blog. It was a blast doing reviews here with her; I am so glad she gave me to opportunity to get my feet wet with blogging on her wonderful blog. Hope to see her and the rest of you over on my blog soon. God bless you all.

It's True... And I'm Moving...

I admit it... It's all true! I haven't been readily available for much of anything lately. I started a new job on April 30th and it is taking up so much of my time, I don't have much time to do anything... I let my domain expire and now I don't know how to renew it... so I'm moving... to: Me, My Book & I and I hope to see you there! I'm still going to be reviewing books, but not as often, unfortunately...

I'm Moving.....

I have been having problems posting on this blog for awhile, so I am moving to my own blog called My Views on Review.  You are all cordially invited to visit any time.  I want to thank Susie for letting me test the waters and see how I might like doing something like this.  I have tried to contact her and get no response, so I'm not sure if my messages are getting to her or not.  Whenever I post on here, I can't see the post that I've written so I'm not sure the authors can see the reviews I've done or not.  Check out my new blog, if you like, at www.myviewsonreview@blogspot.com.

The Complexity of a Soldier By Michelle Bellon

No one knows the heart and mind of a soldier.  Every day they must face scenarios and life choices that most of us will never even imagine.  When Rory Nichols joins the Army, this hard lesson hits hard and fast.  After 9/11, he is deployed to Iraq.  He and his wife, Emily, face sacrifice and strife which they fear their young marriage may not survive.  Pushed to his limits, Rory begins to ask questions.  Then one day, he receives a fateful phone call relaying the most wicked of betrayals.  He rushes home to face an enemy he had not predicted.  In this penultimate moment he will right a wrong and stand for what he believes in at all costs; making a statement to his country, to his family, and to all victims of this seething crime.

It is a story of life, love, and rising above the acts of war and abuse.

~My thoughts~  I read this book in a little over one sitting.  It spoke volumes to me and I did not want to put it down.  Being in a relationship with a man in the military, the title of the book caught my attention.  However, the characters in the book and the story they had to tell kept me enthralled right from the beginning.

This book takes us into the life of one soldier and his family and friends.  It is at times heartwarming and then heartwrenching, as only life can be.  I give this book an A++ rating and look forward to reading more of Ms. Bellon's work.


  

Lover Reborn by J.R. Ward

In the darkest corners of the night in Caldwell, New York, a conflict like no other rages. The city is home to a band of brothers born to defend their race: the warrior vampires of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

Now back in the Brotherhood - and unrecognizable as the vampire leader he once was - Tohrment is physically emaciated and heartbroken beyond despair. When he begins to see his beloved in his dreams - trapped in a cold, isolating netherworld - Tohr turns to a self-serving fallen angel in hopes of saving the one he has lost. When he's told he must learn to love another to free his former mate, Tohr knows they are all doomed . . .

Except then a female with a shadowed history begins to get through to him. Against the backdrop of the raging war with the lessers, and with a new clan of vampires vying for the Blind King's throne, Tohr struggles between the buried past, and a very hot, passion-filled future . . . but can his heart let go and set all of them free?

My thoughts~ While Tohr is not one of my favorites, I really enjoyed his journey back to finding love. There was a couple of times I did, I admit, call him a couple of not so complimentary names (asshat, being my favorite) but in the end, it ended the right way. And J.R. Ward announced today on facebook that Blay & Qhuinn's book is next! Finally! I just hope it can live up to everyone's (MINE!) expectations!   

No Dice By Mar Preston

A real whodunit confronts Santa Monica police detective Dave Mason. A city councilwoman in murdered on the eve of a vote allowing a casino consortium to build on the shore of this upscale Los Angeles beachside city. The attractive leader of the coalition opposing the casino now lives with the threat of the killer who fears she could identify him. Mason must stop the killer before he strikes through the flimsy curtain of protection surrounding this scared activist and cop hater.

Mason's investigation lands on the money people: real estate developers, PR flacks, the hotels, the politicians, and their dark shenanigans. The story unravels how casinos penetrate new markets by funding Indian tribes' quest for federal status, as well as peddling influence with local officials to sway public opinion. Billions of dollars in profit, and an explosive secret emerging from Santa Monica's seamy past, turn the nicest people ugly.

~My thoughts~
It took awhile for me to warm up to this book; I almost stopped reading it a time or two, but decided to give it a chance. It ended up catching my attention by the middle, and I was interested in finding out who the murderer was by the end of the book.

Broken Wings By Alexandrea Weis

As a wildlife rehabilitator in southeast Louisiana, Pamela Wells has dealt with her fair share of wild animals, but her reclusive live is forever changed when she meets an elusive former soldier named Daniel Phillips. Sent to Pamela's wildlife sanctuary as part of his parole requirements, Daniel and Pamela quickly clash until Daniel's troubles past unexpectedly comes to light. After serving in Iraq, Daniel suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Pamela tries to help ease his condition by introducing him to the healing power of animals. Daniel begins to find peace, and an unexpected kindred spirit in Pamela. Fearing one day she will be forced to give up her beloved sanctuary, Pamela confides in Daniel about her debilitating health. United by their misfortunes, the relationship turns romantic.

Just when Pamela has found someone to love and share her burdens, Daniel skips town, crushing her heart. Suddenly Pamela finds herself alone and in a desperate situation. She has no choice but to turn to a ruthless Louisiana attorney, Bob Patrick, for help. Bob promises Pamela financial security in exchange for a life as his obedient wife. When Daniel unexpectedly returns, Bob is not willing to give Pamela up. Like an ensnared bird, Pam struggles to free herself of her cruel capture. The fight may prove deadly, but Daniel is willing to do anything to save her. Can two broken souls eventually find happiness or, like the broken wings of a dove, will they be forever kept from reaching the heights of heaven.

~My thoughts on this book~

This is the third book of Ms. Weis' that I have read. I love this author's work. I am an animal lover myself, so the plot of this book touched me in more ways than one. I could empathize with the heroine in this book on so many levels. I rejoiced in her finding love with a good hearted man and hurt along with her when he left without a goodbye. I silently hoped she would give him a second chance when he came back into her life, and was elated when she did. There was a point at the end of the book when I started to cry because I was afraid it would end in a way that broke my heart, but I was pleasantly surprised how the author turned it around. Great job, Ms. Weis, I look forward to your next book!!!

Love Undercover By Larry Johnson

Nicholas Watson craves a little mystery and excitement in his life. After all, he is an undercover agent working for a US counterterrorism unit -- which is not exactly the kind of lifestyle that one should have when searching for someone to settle down with. He yearns for love and intimacy but feels that he will never find it, especially since he has already experienced one failed marriage. His life goes into a tizzy when Kalyna, a beautiful and mysterious European, walks into his life. Nick discovers she also works for her respective government's counterterrorism unit. When Nick and Kalyna are thrown together in a work-related encounter, they fall deeply in love -- which is not part of their assignment. Because of their line of work, they can never make their relationship known. They continue to be placed together in professional situations, only to be separated again when the work is done.

Miraculous happenings against unexpected complications that bring conflict to their newfound love simply fuel the fire of their journey. Dangerous circumstances and life itself rises against the possibility of such a relationship between them. Yet the drive for fulfillment of this personal desire in their lives continues to keep the pages of hope turning for the faint possibility of them finally being together freely.

Can love truly conquer all? Can Nick and Kalyna overcome their secret lives in order to be together openly, or will they have to forever keep their Love Undercover?

~ My thoughts on this book~

It started out keeping me on the edge of my seat. I read the whole thing in one sitting, it only took three hours from start to finish. The author surprised me with the ending. I look forward to reading more from him.

http://youtu.be/WbYUsmTsD8I

Waiting On WednesdayFourth Grave Beneath My FeetDarynda Jones

Third Grave Dead Aheadby Darynda Jones

Grim reaper extraordinaire. Whatever. Charley Davidson is back! And she’s drinking copious amounts of caffeine to stay awake because, every time she closes her eyes, she sees him: Reyes Farrow, the part-human, part-supermodel son of Satan. Yes, she did imprison him for all eternity, but come on. How is she supposed to solve a missing persons case, deal with an ego-driven doctor, calm her curmudgeonly dad, and take on a motorcycle gang hellbent on murder when the devil’s son just won’t give up?


my thoughts~ OH MY! You know, when I read the second book in the series, Second Grave On The Left, I wondered just how was Ms. Jones going to pull off a third... Well, let me tell ya, she pulls it of just FINE! There is so much I want to say, but it would give away too many spoilers... I will say, that I can't wait to see more of Donovan, her Dad has become an Ass. And it did bring tears to my eyes toward the end.

Never To Sleep a novellaby Rachel Vincent

Don't Close Your Eyes.
Sophie Cavanaugh is not going to let her freak of a cousin's strange psychiatric condition ruin high school for them both. Not after all the work she's put into cultivating the right look, and friends, and reputation. But then, Sophie sees something so frightening she lets out a blood-curdling scream—and finds herself stuck in a bizarre parallel world where nothing is safe and deadly creatures lurk just out of sight, waiting for her to close her eyes and sleep...forever.
Could this world be real? Or does insanity run in the family...?

my thoughts~ Well, well, well... Little Miss Sophie's eyes are about to be opened! And it will hit the fan when she finds out about ALL of the things that her family has been keeping from her.
Never To Sleep introduces a new character, who just happens to be a necromancer... I am so glad that I read this, but darn it, now I wish Before I Wake would be published already!! I'm going to have to do some re-reading, I think!

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith a Quick Review

Quincie Morris has never felt more alone. Her hybrid-werewolf first love threatens to embark on a rite of passage that will separate them forever. And just as she and her uncle are about to debut Austin’s red hot vampire-themed restaurant, a brutal murder leaves them scrambling for a chef.
Can Quincie transform the new hire into a culinary dark lord before opening night? Will Henry Johnson be able to wow the crowd in fake fangs, a cheap cape, and red contact lenses? Or is there more to this earnest fresh face than meets the eye?
As human and preternatural forces clash, a deadly love triangle forms and the line between predator and prey begins to blur. Who’s playing whom? And how long can Quincie play along before she loses everything?

my thoughts~ It was an enjoyable read, if a little predictable. I have been in a reading slump lately and this was a quick & easy read to get me back into the swing of things!

Borrowed Heart By Linda Lamberson

Evie Sanders is pretty good at heeding that gnawing feeling she gets when trouble rears its head -- or at least she used to be. Things change when she meets Quinn Harrison one morning after class. Evie would never do anything intentionally to hurt her long-distance boyfriend or jeopardize their relationship, but she finds it increasingly difficult to resist Quinn. Just when things can't seem to get any more complicated, Evie is involved in a fatal car accident. Yet, her death marks a new beginning -- and her new existence as an immortal. It's not long before Evie and Quinn's paths cross again, and she finds herself trying to walk a fine line between bending the rules she must now obey and breaking them.

~My thoughts on this book~

I fell in love with all of the characters, and the story did not go in the direction that I thought that it would. I can't wait for the sequel called "Peace of Mind" that comes out this year.

http://youtu.be/JULSE8gKg0y

Psyched Out By M.A. MacAfee

Can a human pacemaker implanted in a dog cause the animal to take on human traits? Absolutely! Ollie Kline would answer, and he ought to know. An aspiring psychic detective with a cardiac pacemaker, Ollie is killed in a drive-by shooting outside the Pastime where he tends bar. He awakes inside Mugsy, a pug dog, who also has a heart problem and who receives Ollie's recycled pacemaker. Aware his cardiac device was stolen from his corpse, Ollie wonders what other body parts were taken. Ollie uses his telepathic powers to enlist the help of Nora Cole, the sister of Mugsy's owner. On receiving Ollie's thoughts from the dog, Nora fears she's lost her mind. To verify her sanity, she agrees to help Ollie find his killers. Ollie, Nora, and Mugsy, the pug dog, conduct an investigation which leads them on a merry romp into the illegal side of the human body-parts trade, as well as the dark underbelly of the funeral business. They encounter creepy mortuary workers, graveyard ghosts, and a few brushes with the law -- antics which underscore a common truism: adversity is the wellspring of humor.

~My thoughts on this book~

This book was "different", told from the viewpoint of a murdered mans soul who has found himself in the body of a pug dog. Believe it or not, I felt that the author could have gone into more details of what it was like to live inside the body of a dog. To me, the author was sketchy in this area. But, on the other hand, Ollie using his psychic powers to enlist the help of his owners sister was outstanding.

This book would be a good beach read or something to take on a weekend trip. I was a little disappointed with the ending, however.

Blood Lawby Jeannie Holmes

To stop a vampire killer, she’ll have to slay her own demons first.

A provocative and savvy vampire, Alexandra Sabian moves to the sleepy hamlet of Jefferson, Mississippi—population 6,000, half vampires—to escape the demons lurking in her past. As an enforcer for the Federal Bureau of Preternatural Investigations (FBPI), Alex must maintain the uneasy peace between her kind and humans, including Jefferson’s bigoted sheriff, who’d be happy to see all vampires banished from town. Then really dead vamps start turning up—beheaded, crucified, and defanged, the same gruesome manner in which Alex’s father was murdered decades ago. For Alex, the professional has become way too personal.

Things get even more complicated when the FBPI sends in some unnervingly sexy backup: Alex’s onetime mentor, lover, and fiancé, Varik Baudelaire. Still stinging from the betrayal that ended their short-lived engagement, Alex is determined not to give in to the temptation that soon threatens to short-circuit her investigation. But as the vamp body count grows and the public panic level rises, Varik may be Alex’s only hope to stop a relentless killer who’s got his own score to settle and his own bloody past to put right.

my thoughts~ Jeannie Holmes is a new to me author, and I can say that I am already reading the second book, Blood Secrets! I enjoyed Alex & Variak, the case they had to solve was complex, and even though I thought I knew who did it, I wasn't even close!

AyJay's Millions: An A.J. Carlin Mystery By Jack Wasserman

The most unique PI to ever come down the pike, Jack Wasserman's A.J. Carlin is a noir tour de force who throws all stereotypes out the window. Full of riveting twists and shocking turns combined with well-developed characters and crackling dialogue, AyJay's Millions: an A.J. Carlin Mystery is a first-rate mystery with an unforgettable finish.

~My thoughts

I really liked this book. I am a sucker for a good mystery novel, and this one was something different. I thought I knew how the book was going to end by the time I made it to the middle, but I was wrong and I love when that happens.

Cancer: It's a Good Thing I Got It! By David A. Koop

David Koop had it all -- a storied business career, beautiful son, and prospects as far as the eye could see. Then a surprise cancer diagnosis turned his life upside down. It was osteo sarcoma -- a form of bone cancer -- and it was growing on his spine. Doctors told him to get his affairs in order.

More than three years later, Koop continues to beat the odds. Cancer: It's a Good Thing I Got It! is his eye-opening account of a remarkable journey through hospitals, treatments, friendships and emotions as he struggles to maintain a positive attitude and will to live. In this frank and uncensored look at one man's battle with cancer, Koop reflects on his life before and after the diagnosis. The surprising conclusion will leave you awed at the strength of the human spirit: far from a death sentence, the medical woes unleash a powerful self-assessment that leads Koop to a whole new sense of purpose -- and the love he has sought all his life.

Full of humor and occasional grief, this memoir of a life still in progress will move you to make changes for the better. You'll come away inspired to live your life to the fullest and embrace the gift of personal relationships. And you'll find hope for meeting the unexpected challenges that can strike when you least expect.

~My thoughts on this book~
Being a cancer survivor myself, I was really looking forward to reading this book and I was not disappointed in it. The author shares all of his emotions, trials, good and bad days with the reader. The book is written in such a way that you feel like you are sitting and chatting with the author, one on one. This is a book that I will keep and definitely suggest to friends and family to read.


http://youtu.be/rk7BENa0ed4

A Life of My Own By Denise Skelton

I'm going to do this review a little different because the trailer that I found tells you about the book in the same words that the back of the book itself does and I don't want to be repetitive.

About the Author: Contemporary author Denise Skelton is an avid reader who's often found reading four or five books simultaneously. Born and raised in Baltimore, MD, Denise is a part of a close knit family and is lovingly supported by her husband, sons, daughters and wonderful friends. A former soldier and private investigator; she uses the experiences of her life to craft passion, realism, and suspense into her novels.

~ My thoughts on this book~

I loved it!! I empathized with Liz. I was so proud of her when she walked away from the relationship she was in and made a wonderful life for herself. I found myself wishing I could do the same thing, just pick up and start over...and, who knows, I may just do that someday.

http://youtu.be//77CdPF39FuU

Horizonby Sophie Littlefield

Of living things there were few

But they carried on

Cass Dollar is a survivor. She's overcome the meltdown of civilization, humans turned mindless cannibals, and the many evils of man.
But from beneath the devastated California landscape emerges a tendril of hope. A mysterious traveler arrives at New Eden with knowledge of a passageway North - a final escape from the increasingly cunning Beaters. Clutching this dream, Cass and many others decamp and follow him into the unknown.
Journeying down valleys and over barren hills, Cass remains torn between two men. One - her beloved Smoke - is not so innocent as he once was. The other keeps a primal hold on her that feels like Fate itself. And beneath it all, Cass must confront the worst of what's inside her - dark memories from when she was a Beater herself. But she, and all of the other survivors, will fight to the death for the promise of a new horizon…

my thoughts~ After reading the first 2 books and the novella, I couldn't wait to start Horizon. Horizon picks up about 3 months after Rebirth. Cass, Dor, Smoke and the others made it New Eden (sounds great, right?) Cass has started drinking again, but only after Ruthie goes to sleep and she is shirking her duties. Who of us hasn't slacked when things seem to be just too much? I know I have. Everywhere I've read, it refers to these books as 'series'. I certainly hope so! I would like to visit Ruthie when she is older and maybe see Feo again...

Sacrifice By Alexandrea Weiss

Nicci Beauvoir fell in love with the artist, David Alexander, in To My Senses, and then uncovered his killer in Recovery. Nicci is back to finally confront David's dark past in Sacrifice.

Stunned after seeing a man she believes to be her beloved David Alexander in a crowd outside of the St. Louis Cathedral, Nicci goes on a desperate hunt for the truth about David's demise. But to get the information she desires, Nicci must team up with David's former boss, the ruthless Simon La Roy. Nicci decides not to tell her fiance, Dallas August, about her involvement with Simon. As Nicci becomes hopelessly entangled in Simon's sinister plans, Dallas discovers her secret, and tries to protect her. But one night on a deserted French Quarter street, Nicci unexpectedly learns what really happened to David Alexander. Now she must engage in a deadly game of intrigue to keep what she has unearthed from Simon La Roy.

In a final confrontation, a revengeful Simon forces Nicci to choose between her life and revealing all that she has discovered. But what mystery is Nicci protecting and is it worth her future happiness? For Nicci there can be no happy ending unless she keeps what she knows about David Alexander hidden from the world. It's a decision that will cost her everything. Is Nicci willing to pay the price? In the end, there can never be a happily ever after without a little.....sacrifice.

~My thoughts on this book~
I was lucky enough to be able to review the book Recovery, and also review this book that follows up where that book left off. Just like the previous book, this book kept me on the edge of my seat. I don't know alot about New Orleans, but there were places mentioned through out this book that I have visited on vacations there in the past. Ms. Weis brings the reader up to date on how Nicci and the new man in her life, Dallas, have been doing since the end of the last book. Then Nicci is faced with a decision that will change her and Dallas' relationship forever. This book has found a new home next to it's prequel on my home library shelf.

Rebirthby Sophie Littlefield

The end of the world was just the beginning.

Civilization has fallen, leaving California an unforgiving, decimated place. But Cass Dollar beat terrible odds to get her missing daughter back—she and Ruthie will be happy. Yet with the first winter, Cass is reminded that happiness is fleeting in Aftertime.
Ruthie retreats into silence. Flesh—eating Beaters still dominate the landscape. And Smoke, Cass’s lover and strength, departs on a quest for vengeance, one that may end him even if he returns.
The survivalist community Cass has planted roots in is breaking apart, too. Its leader, Dor, implores Cass to help him recover his own lost daughter, taken by the totalitarian Rebuilders. And soon Cass finds herself thrust into the dark heart of an organization promising humanity’s rebirth—at all costs. Bound to two men blazing divergent paths across a savage land, Cass must overcome the darkness in her wounded heart, or lose those she loves forever.

my thoughts~   While I was reading Rebirth, I caught myself holding my breathe, waiting to see what would happen next. I like how Ms. Littlefield has made Cass 'real'. Cass' alcholism is always in the forefront of her mind, right behind her daughter, Ruthie. Cass isn't perfect, she's made a lot of mistakes, and probably will continue to make them. But reading Rebirth left me wanting more. You know, as in the next book! Horizon comes out later this month, and hopefully another not to long after it!

Survivors (an Aftertime novella)by Sophie Littlefield

Cass Dollar outlasted the fall of civilization. But surviving Aftertime requires the kind of toughness that can conquer the violent landscape of California and still retain its humanity.

When a young boy and his dying grandmother are brought to the Box, the survivalist community where Cass takes shelter, she realizes that without her help he won't be long for this unforgiving new world. But while the Box is a haven from the roaming marauders—and the flesh-hungry Beaters—it forbids children within its confines. The boy will be turned out to fend for himself. All that stands between him and the brutal wilderness is Cass's protective instincts, and the stubborn resolve that's gotten her this far Aftertime.

my thoughts~ A quick and easy read that really hasn't added anything to the continuing story, yet. It does introduce Feo, an 8 or 9 year old who Cass tries to take under her wing. But sometimes things don't work out the way you think they will. Next up is Rebirth, the second book in the Aftertime series!

Aftertimeby Sophie Littlefield

The world’s gone.

Worse, so is her daughter.

Awakening in a bleak landscape as scarred as her body, Cass Dollar vaguely recalls surviving something terrible. Having no idea how many days—or weeks—have passed, she slowly realizes the horrifying truth: Ruthie has vanished.
And with her, nearly all of civilization. Where once-lush hills carried cars and commerce, the roads today see only cannibalistic Beaters—people turned hungry for human flesh by a government experiment gone wrong.
In a broken, barren California, Cass will undergo a harrowing quest to get her Ruthie back. Few people trust an outsider, let alone a woman who became a zombie and somehow turned back, but she finds help from an enigmatic outlaw, Smoke. Smoke is her savior, and her safety. For the Beaters are out there. And the humans grip at survival with their trigger fingers. Especially when they learn that she and Ruthie have become the most feared, and desired, of weapons in a brave new world...

My thoughts~
I requested to review the 3rd book in this series, without knowing there were to 2 more books and a novella that came before! So of course, when I found out it was part of a series, I just had to read them first. I enjoyed reading Aftertime, all though it did take me a minute to get used to there being zombies, or Beaters as they are called in the book, instead of werewolves, vampires, etc.
I hope if the world goes to Hell in a hand basket, that I have a "Smoke" by my side. Here is a man who leaves his "home" with others like him, to help Cass get her daughter back. They encounter the "rebuilders", Beaters, a town that was created and serves as a "stop over" & home to people who have something to trade for drugs, alchol, sex, water, food and a Cult of women who believe the Beaters can be healed with prayer. I think this is my first adult Dystopian read, and I have to say that I enjoyed it!