The WordSmithe

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Recommended for Mature Readers 18+ due to sexual content.

The Heir was another great installment in the Bed Wife Chronicles! The action increased and the plot thickened. Two things that are not usually expected in a historical romance novel.

Lynn, however, doesn’t write the atypical romance novel. The Heir read more like a magical fantasy couched in a historical romance story. She added intrigue with new characters–fairies, elves, and a set of questionable royals.

I loved the development of the main characters, Luana and Baylin. We met this young, innocent girl in The Bed Wife. Well, say goodbye to innocence. Luana has always had a backbone, but now she’s brave enough to show all her spunk. She’s even gained a little wisdom to go along with it. Baylin is even more admirable. He’s nothing like his father, the King. He has a heart and a great sense of what is the right thing to do.

Every story needs good villains and you’ll find them in The Heir. Lynn gives nothing away with this bunch. You’ll have to read the next installment to find out their true motivation.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For Mature Readers: 18+

Face Time is a wonderful twist on the typical boy meets girl/girl meets boy type of story. It’s an interesting tale of a couple who date primarily using modern communication devices namely Apple’s iPhone and iPad.

Pajonas’ story is all about the characters. She crafted a set of diverse, well-rounded characters with real flaws.

I loved Laura Merchant. At first she came across as a pure innocent woman who just had bad luck with dating. By the middle of the book, I fell in love with her. She wasn’t the perfect princess. Her goodness covered a history of deep, dark secrets. Her flaws had barbs, but she redeemed herself. In spite of her background, she became a decent human being deserving a second choice.

Who wouldn’t love Lee Park? He was so decent, so caring…too perfect. Peel back the layers and you find a character with his own issues. But, he rose above his trifling family to become the man he wanted (and Laura needed) to be.

Face Time is a love story with an encouraging message–everyone should have and cultivate a strong support system. Laura surrounded herself with a few choice friends who didn’t care about her past. They cared about her well-being. They knew when she was troubled, and they knew when she needed a good kick in the pants. They were available to her when her family wasn’t. Lee also had close-knit friends who advised him when he needed it.

Pajonas’ Face Time was a well-written story centered around strength of character. It was a delightful read and I loved how it ended.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

For Mature Readers: 18+

Beautifully Masked was a beautiful romantic suspense story about secrets and the damage they can cause.

The story line was intriguing and the characters well-developed. Jeremiah, my new book boyfriend, was the total package—good looks, great manners, and a smooth way with a special woman. He was unrelenting in his pursuit which I loved.

I admired Sophia. She had great strength and was intelligent. I loved the fact she wanted to protect those around her from her less than admirable history. Unfortunately, our past has a way of catching up with us when we least expect it.

This was the second story I’ve read where family members masqueraded as villains. I loved Guilliams quote about family:

“Blood didn’t make someone family. A life worth living is a life worth fighting for. Everyone was brought into your life for a reason.”

I enjoyed Sophia and Jeremiah’s story. Ms. Guilliams, if you’re reading, please write more. I need to know where their story goes!

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I needed a box of tissue to read the first half of Fight for Dawn. Hate to inform you. Keep the box handy for this final book in the Dawn trilogy.

With this book I now love Dawn! The girl is now strong and ready to fight for her loved ones and humanity. She has spirit and strength. She isn’t backing down from the challenge no matter how many demons get in the way. Dawn is now a super hero.

My heart broke a little more with Angelo. I’ve read about fallen angels, but never burnt angels with dark magic clutching their soul. Fortunately, he gets his redemption.

Gabe made me smile. The angel must have been made of stone (you have to read ALL THREE books to understand). He definitely deserved this book’s ending.

I wasn’t a hundred percent thrilled with this story’s end. But, villains got their reward and there’s an HEA (happily ever after). Can’t go wrong with that!

I met K.D. Wood during the UtopYACon back in June. After hearing her talk about her book, I knew I wanted to read it. I was rewarded greatly.

This beautiful written story was like a modern version of “Beauty and the Beast” meets “Alice in Wonderland”. The tale she spun was so creative and intriguing. I had to force myself to stop reading to go to sleep. Otherwise, I would have finished this book in one night.

Hayden was my favorite character. He stuck by Neely’s side through all that she went through. It’s definitely a trait you want in a best friend. But, when you get it in a boyfriend, it’s just freaking awesome. Aunt Gee Gee was another favorite of mine. If any of you are from the South or have friends living in the South, you’d recognize this woman. She was spunky, full of wisdom, and just oozed Southern charm. Gee Gee is that person who isn’t afraid to give you a good swat across the rear regardless of your age or relation to her.

I wasn’t sure whether to pity Andrew or hate him. There was a lot about this character that was revealed ever so slowly. At the end of the story, the verdict was still out about him. I had no love for Neely. I felt for her in the beginning, but when she did a complete 360 in attitude…well, let’s just say she needed a good swat on the rear.

Once again, I managed to read another story about villains who were too close to home for comfort. The bad guys in Unwilling are truly unlikable. They are so evil you just want to hurt them.

Wood has an awesome way with words. She can really turn a Southern phrase. ‘Holy Moses’, ‘yacked it back up’, and ‘What’re you, a disobedient puppy piddling on the rug?’ were some of my favorites. The way Wood handles words allows you to get a real sense of the emotion behind them and help carve an image of each character. Every time Hayden’s mother got on the backs of one of her sons, I could hear and see her standing in the kitchen.

The dream sequences contained great vivid details. Instead of them detracting from the story, they enhanced it and gave me a real understanding of what was going on.

This was a fantastic story which will grab your heart strings and test your patience. I loved K.D. Wood’s Unwilling. Look for my review of book two, Unloved, very soon.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Ever wonder what it would be like to love a celebrity and live in their world? Wonder no more! Read M.H. Soars Wonderwall and live a moment in the life of a pop star.

I loved this book! I laughed and even experienced some awesome emotions. This wasn’t your atypical contemporary romance. Yes, there’s a boy and a girl in love. And, yes, there is some turmoil in their lives. But, it was laugh out loud funny! When it wasn’t funny, I was left feeling for Olivia and thinking ‘yes, boys can be stupid’!

My favorite characters were Olivia, Sebastian, and Saylor. First off, Saylor is that book best friend we all need. She’ll honestly tell you what she thinks, how she feels, and what you need to do about your mess. As real as she is, she has her own hidden story (I hear she gets a book!). You know it’s there because she doesn’t go into details about her own life. Other than that, I just love her–mermaid hair and all! I loved Sebastian so much that I wanted to slap the crap out of him. Man, he was the epitome of stupid. Fortunately, he does get a grip on reality again. And, Olivia is the girl we’d all like as a friend. She’s compassionate and cares for her friends deeply. She braves the world on her terms. And, when she hurts it bothers you on a soul level. There’s nothing shallow about her.

As a writer I like symbolism in stories. I loved the Promise bracelet idea in the story. I actually went online and looked for one. What a wonderful idea of making a promise solid. And, it can only be broken with a key. Priceless! 

Soars gave a new twist on the ‘boy meets girl next door’ story by introducing a boy band. The band was like a cross between The Beatles (international popularity) and One Direction (teen girl appeal). Personally, I never thought much about the life of a boy band pop star. After reading Wonderwall, I realized it’s not an easy lifestyle and finding true love could be difficult.

I really loved the international flavor in this story. I’ve never been to London, but Soars provided the right details to allow the reader to know where they were located. But, London (and Camden) were merely settings. They didn’t distract from the story at all.

Above all, Soars delivered another well-written story with well-developed characters. At the end it made me wonder how many teenage relationships actually stand the test of time. Wonderwall isn’t your atypical romance novel. It’s a great story about an enduring love between best friends who happen to be of opposite sex.

An excellent read! I loved how it made me feel happy!

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

For Mature Readers due to sexual content.

Seeking Havok by Lila Felix was an emotional, heartfelt read.

I loved the characters in this story namely Havok, Fade, and Mrs. Blakely. Havok (great name) was a character unaware of her strength. She was a beautiful girl, inside and out, and very intelligent (the one thing she didn’t doubt). Many people are influenced by their environments. Havok, however, wasn’t tainted by her surroundings. Instead her circumstances enhanced her persona and turned her into a girl who could rise above her troubled existence. Fade was the perfect book boyfriend (I swear I keep collecting these). He was patient like a monk with a good soul and a kind heart. Finally, Mrs. Blakeley was the ultimate perfect mom. She took no mess, but she dealt out discipline with lots of love.

Even though Seeking Havok had its dark elements, it was tale full of hope and possibilities. There was always the possibility of a better future for Havok. She only had to embrace it. Fade was a lonely soul. His future contained the possibility of the promise of true love as long as he remained open to it.

Here lately, I’ve been reading books (not intentionally) with villains who were all too familiar to the main character. Felix gave us the best message…sometimes those who care for you the most may not be biological family. Never take those people for granted.

I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a romance that’s not your atypical mushy story. I look forward to reading more by Felix.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Mature readers due to sexual content.

I previously reviewed a short version of this story in the Beneath the Cape anthology. My opinion of D. Nichole King’s interesting novel has not changed. I loved the unique plot and the amazing characters.

The expanded story is simply beautiful! My favorite characters are still my favorites. Nautica, Riley, and Kray have such clearly defined roles along with great strengths. Their weaknesses help them grow as individuals.

I would have never guessed how involved Nautica’s story could be. There’s a bombshell near the end of this story. I actually went back and re-read parts to make sure I actually understood what I read. What a great twist to the story!

King crafted a set of well-developed characters whose talents were tied to their emotions. Without being in control of their anger or even their excitement, their talents became overwhelming. Nautica was crushed by the potential of her abilities. She couldn’t shine until she got out of her own way. And, here lies the message in this story. If you hide your talents or skills behind a wall, you can’t embrace your power. Lovely!

Magical elements and a government conspiracy makes for a great story line. Breaking Through is a wonderful story with a beautiful ending. I highly recommend it to everyone.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Sudden Hope hooked me as soon as I picked it up. Ever read a book where you can’t put it down because you’re worried about the main character? Yes? No? Well, if you open this book, I guarantee that will be your response. I read this story in three hours!

This was another successful story about bullying. I applaud Lanzarotta for taking on a worthwhile topic. She wrote well-developed characters and let us have a glimpse inside the world of high schoolers who had been bullied for most of their school years.

Lanzarotta crafted some awesome inspirational quotes in Sudden Hope. Here are just a few of my favorites:

• (page 18) “Words have power, and sometimes, they stay with you for life. It’s up to you to allow those words to define who you become. Do you allow those words to motivate you or do you let them destroy you?” [Skylar]
• (page 57) “To some of those girls, school will be the highlight of their lives. People like you…people who are beautiful inside and out…those are the ones who will shine in whatever they decide to do.” [Alec]
• (page 57)  “‘to the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world’. You’re one of the lucky ones. You’re the world to far more people than you think.” [Alec]

There were also some great tender moment quotes too:

• (page 216) “Because you make me want to live. You make me want to grow old with you. You give me hope, and that scares me more than anything else.” [Alec]
• (page 253) “I once heard that if you fall in love with someone because of their eyes, you’ll love them forever, because a person’s eyes are the one thing that will never change.” [Alec]

I loved the characters of Alec, Skylar, and Kyle. I suspected what was going on with Alec when I first started reading Sudden Hope. I felt bad for him since his response to a life-altering situation was to stop enjoying his life. No one should force that upon themselves. Thankfully there was Skylar. She was an amazing girl who had yet to discover her strength. And, thanks to great guys like Alec and Kyle she found that strength and embraced it fully. She gave as much to them as they gave to her. Kyle was the perfect best friend and the perfect potential boyfriend. He cared about his friends and doing the right things in life (even if he needed someone to steer in the right direction).

I felt so bad for the characters of Michael and Kristi. Their stories were tragic since they couldn’t see hope on the horizon. Any life devoid of hope is doomed without someone to help them. Unfortunately, there are kids everyday who live similar lives without anyone intervening on their behalf. Thank you Daniele Lanzarotta for pointing a spotlight on them. Maybe those who read Sudden Hope will be inspired to help another kid in need.

I highly recommend this story to all high school students and even their parents!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For Mature Readers: 18+

Truth & Temptation is book three in Riley Edgewood’s Summer Love series, but it can be read as a stand alone. This book was smoking hot!

Teagan is my new favorite protagonist. I love the fact she’s flawed and very aware of all of her imperfections. You have to love a character who is self-aware AND acts to fix the things she can. Plus, this girl has serious backbone. No matter what the obstacle, she managed to lift her chin and press on. Teagan is like Cinderella with attitude. Love her!

I loved Alec too–he can be my book boyfriend any time! His heart makes him the perfect man. Sure, he has his issues as well, but he cares so deeply. His ‘station’ in life doesn’t define him. If anything, he works hard to be better than his financial status.

The villains in this story are truly despicable. A person expects their family to love them and watch their backs not sharpen the blade and plunge deep. Edgewood did a great job depicting people who were hateful and just plain selfish.

The best thing I loved about Edgewood’s story is how she twisted the standard tale of someone from the wrong side of the tracks. It’s not a story of a gold digger. And, it’s not a story about someone delighted they’ve hit the jackpot. The girl from the south side of the tracks doesn’t want fame nor fortune. She does want to keep her own bootstraps attached and see how far she can go on her own. That is so admirable.

Be prepared when you read this book. The scenes in Truth & Temptation are vivid (they almost burnt a hole in my tablet). I loved how Edgewood wrote them. They were well-written without an ounce of cheese (smile). The graphic details did what they should do in any well-developed story–move the story along.

Truth & Temptation is a page-turner. I read it in a little under two days. Now, I need to read the rest of the series!

I highly recommend this book to anyone (over the age of 18, please) who wants a good read and doesn’t mind a little ‘edge’ to the story.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

For Mature Readers: 18+

I previously reviewed a shorter version of this book as part of the "Behind the Cape" anthology.

I thoroughly enjoyed Sunniva Dee’s Cat Love. This paranormal thriller is really a great love story. It is well-written with great characters.

In my previous review I assumed Aidan Keir had a secret that went beyond his special abilities. Boy I was off! His only secret was his inner character. Throughout the story Aidan is self-sacrificing in order for a very unique woman to reach her full potential. New book boyfriend!

Aidan’s obsession with self-control threw me. I figured he had to have something dangerous lurking beneath waiting to come to the surface. Well, if his type of love is dangerous, then, every woman should have a man with that kind of peril. Aidan was a man who was willing to put his needs on a back burner and concentrate on the needs of the woman he loved. Priceless!

Ulani, the special lady who landed in his life, had a major issue with self-control. She knew she could manipulate others through her sexuality. The love and concern of a good man, however, helped her learn restraint. Ulani’s stability enabled her to embrace her strength as an intelligent woman with hopes and dreams.

Aidan and Ulani had the perfect symbiotic relationship. His unrelenting faith in her allowed him to grow as a person. He’d spent his adult years never settling down with any one person for long. Aidan had female friends, but he had yet to discover love. Supporting Ulani through her struggle cultivated a special friendship which morphed into something stronger, greater. Ulani never placed any conditions on Aidan. She had always wanted to be in control of her other half, but she didn’t work to develop it until Aidan. Her desire to conquer her weakness was driven by her love for him.

Furthermore, the two of them had a selfless love for others which was truly beautiful. In this intriguing story, they were willing to risk themselves to help others. Aidan and Ulani never questioned whether they should assist people. They only wondered how and when.

The story had me racing through the pages. I was holding my breath waiting for something terrible to happen. But, in this tale, the villains stay villains and justice is served.

Cat Love offers readers a wonderful message. When you take yourself out of the equation and focus on someone else, you’ll find true love. Thanks again Sunniva Dee for an awesome story!

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

You might need a box of tissue to get through the second installment in Komali da Silva’s Dawn trilogy. This book was so freaking sad and emotional. I was pretty close to crying my eyes out. Be prepared. Loss is the theme in this one.

Poor Dawn is losing everyone she loves. It doesn’t destroy her. It toughens her and brings out some bitterness. In other words, she evolves! She’s not all goodness and light anymore. Girl developed a backbone.

Fight for Dawn introduces ANOTHER book boyfriend (like I need more)–Gabriel! He’s gorgeous, devoted to Dawn, and will hurt anyone (including a certain nameless one from the first book) who hurts her. He’s simply wonderful and will have you cheering. On the other hand, Angelo broke my heart. I was disappointed in his character, but I also felt sorrow for him. (Read the book people!).

The ending of this book both upset me and delighted me. It’s one of those ‘can’t wait for the next book because you want to see where it goes’ yet ‘why’d you do this to me’ moments.

I must say this book by da Silva had more of a foreign feel. Don’t get me wrong. It’s still a good book and I highly recommend it. By the middle of the book, though, most of the characters were dropping ‘love’ in all their dialogue. But, that’s no worse than reading a book by a Southern author who writes characters who embrace the word ‘honey child’ or other vernacular in their dialogues.

I’m eagerly awaiting book 3! (Hint hint, if you’re reading this Komali, love).

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I love tales about angels especially ones battling demons. And, Komali da Silva’s Angels Dawn doesn’t disappoint. This book is an interesting story about guardian angels and a mysterious cast of characters who have it in for the human he’s in charge of.

Angelo Santamaria qualifies as every girl’s book boyfriend. He’s gorgeous, caring, and very suave. He’s so devoted to Dawn that when things take a turn for the worst you feel the pain just as much as the characters.

Dawn is perfection. She’s that book character who can do no wrong in everyone’s eyes, but the darkness is just beneath the surface. It’s waiting to come out, but she never fully acts on it. She’s such a good cookie that when she gets caught between two different guys she’s more concerned about their feelings.

Nate was probably my favorite out of all the characters. He was patience personified. So loyal, so caring, and so giving of himself. Not sure if he should qualify as a book boyfriend or a book doormat. Dawn never truly appreciated what she had in him.

Angels Dawn is not your average ‘girl meets guy’ story. There’s a serious twist at the end (which pissed me off) that takes this story up a notch.

I was pleasantly surprised that this book read like it was written by an American. Outside of the reference of a VW Polo, a supermini vehicle found outside of the United States,  it didn’t have me Googling every single little thing. I’ve read books by a few foreign authors and had to look up everything (cars, houses, food, drink).

I found da Silva’s book delightful and recommend it to everyone!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For Mature Readers: 18+

Read this author's bio. Did you get chills? That's just the tip of the iceberg with this author and his debut book.

Forsaken was the creepiest, freakiest story I’ve read in a LONG time. Seriously, the book gave me chills. That sensation didn’t leave when I clicked off my e-reader. The image on the last page gave me one of those shocking scares that lingers for a while.

Barker’s story was actually the second book I’ve read this year by a male author with similar qualities: 1) the main character is a man who is also an author, 2) the character had a wife with two children of the same sex (in this book, the second child had yet to be born), and 3) the setting is a small town. This book, however, was off the scale creepy.

Forsaken was a page turner focused on a witch trial in 1692. The author wrote her story and now strange, inexplicable things are happening to him and his family. Sorry, I can’t give you more than that without spoiling the story. And, this book deserves to be read without spoilage.

Personally, this is one of those stories that would make a good scary movie. There are witches, rituals, minions (not the nice ones), and a lot of freaky crap happening. Barker writes with such vivid details making the characters and scenery leap off the page.

The story, itself, was very unique and well-crafted. I’ve read my share of witch stories and I’ve even read about a few witch trials (I was actually fascinated by them in junior high). Never had I read anything where nightmares of the main characters came true. It was a story within a story.

And, the characters were so well-developed. Barker’s writing delivered thoroughly fleshed out personas. I felt I understood their motivations, their fears, and even their hopes.

I’m a big fan of Rod Serling’s “Twilight Zone”, and this story was a modern version on steroids! I highly suggest not reading this book before bedtime. I did and always had to pick up something else to clear my mind before turning off the lights.

I loved the creep out factor in Barker’s book and can’t wait to read more by him.