Book Review by Melissa of The Jinx by D.F. Lamont

   Have you ever just had one of those really bad, terrible kind of days? What if that day turned you into a jinx? Stephen can thank the universe for the the really bad luck that effects him and all surrounding him in this Young Adult SciFi/Fantasy book. With a well thought out plot and good storyline this book will have you hoping the universe doesn't make you The Jinx.

   Stephen is your usual teenage boy but while riding his brothers bike to school one day he becomes the unlucky receipent of a curse. Things start to go wrong all around him effecting not only him but his school mates and family. After a car accident, that could have really hurt his mother and older brother, Stephen decides he would be safer off running away to save those he loves. While on the way to the family's cabin Stephen comes across Chaons, scary misshapen creatures that have been created by Dr. Zixhu. The good doctors people sweep Stephen up and bring him to their lair, where Stephen finally finds out what is going on with him and his strange bad luck. Of course he also finds out that Dr. Zixhu is slightly crazy and also the bad guy. Luckily for him Daedalus, a previous Ut crew member comes to the rescue. He explains to Stephen how he came to have the bad luck, what Dr. Zixhu wants with Stephen (death of course!) and how to solve the situation. If you want to know how to rid yourself of this Jinx, well you'll just have to read the book :))

   A cute, quick read for an adult (I finished it in two hours, but I'm a freak) or an inventive story for your young fantasy reader, this book is sure to fulfill. You'll find yourself hoping you're not in the universes path of bad luck! Give your teen the love of good reading today and give them this book! Thanks for reading! -Melissa

A room without books is like a body without a soul. -Cicero

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Call Me When You Land by Michael Schiavone

On the brink of her fortieth birthday, Katie Olmstead is in no mood to celebrate. Still tending bar to support a stalled art career, she continues to struggle with her temperamental teenage son, C.J., who wants less to do with her every day. When Katie gets word that C.J.'s estranged father has died and willed C.J. his Harley-Davidson, the gift quickly becomes a wedge driving C.J. and Katie even further apart.

With the past parked in the driveway of their New England home, C.J.'s increasing outbursts and Katie's self-sabotage resurrect memories of Katie's own troubled childhood, one plagued by a mentally ill mother and a neglectful father. As Katie's notion of motherhood is tested, her artistic ambitions dwindle and she begins to feel like an imposter amongst her seemingly refined neighbors.

Suddenly faced with a bullying, overachieving sister she hasn't spoken to in years, an on-again, off-again boyfriend she just can't love, and a drinking habit that's spiraling out of control, Katie finds support in an unlikely place-- her eccentric and ailing great uncle, Walter. From his room on the third floor, Walter watches over them, encouraging both Katie and C.J. to do the work they fear in order to redeem their family.

A beautifully written family drama, Call Me When You Land offers an astutely observed portrait of a broken family striving toward repair. Out of his protagonist's despair, debut novelist Schiavone extracts humor, compassion, courage, and offers insight into the deeply human determination to survive.
My Thoughts:
Call Me When You Land is a story of a dysfunctional family. The mother, Katie Olmstead, is a deeply troubled woman, an accomplished artist and a woman with a drinking problem that she denies. Her son, Cal, a 15 year old full of angst. Then there is Uncle Walter, who is dying of cancer and a sister who she rarely sees. This group of misfits just try to get through day by day. Then Katie's husband, who left her when Cal was a baby, dies and leaves something for Cal as an inheritance. This novel is so well written that I could really feel for the characters. It is a story that sounds depressing but really isn't and the story just gets to the readers own emotions. There were times when I wanted to shake Cal and teach him some respect, I felt at times that Katie needed to grow up and smell the coffee, literally and quit the drinking, I of course know that this is a difficult thing to do. I read this book in a few nights and enjoyed it very much.


I received this book from Marissa DeCuir at JKSCommunications and was not monetarily compensated for my review.

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Stumbling Silly Blog Hop 10/24

Welcome to Stumbling Silly Blog Hop!  This Stumble Upon hop is hosted by Beauty Brite and Bee’s Knees Reviews.  The purpose of this hop is to bring traffic, comments, friendship, and finding new blogs through Stumble Upon.

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Immortalis Carpe Noctem (Immortalis #1) by Katie Salidas

About the Book:

Explore the emotional upheaval that is the transformation from human to vampire.Bleeding to death after brutal mugging on the campus of UNLV, Twenty-five year old Alyssa, is rescued by the cold and aloof, vampire, Lysander. Taking pity on her, he shares the gift-and curse-of immortality. She awakens as a vampire and is soon devastated by harsh realities of her new way of life: An unyielding thirst for blood as well as the loss of her friends, her independence, and her humanity.
As if having her humanity stripped away was not enough to make life interesting, Alyssa finds out her "turning", did not go unnoticed by the rest of undead society. Old enemies; an ancient sect of vampire hunters, known as the Acta Sanctorum, as well as a powerful Vampire mistress, each set plans in motion to destroy both Alyssa and Lysander.
Only by accepting her new-found immortality, seizing the night, will Alyssa hope to survive. She and Lysander must fight together against two sets of enemies bent on destroying them both.

My Thoughts:

Overall this was not a bad read but it wasn't at the top of my list of favorite reads either. Alyssa was a character that I could understand and relate to on a certain level. I wish I had more of a back round story of her though. The story jumped right into her being turned into a vampire. I was hoping that as the story went along I would learn a little more about her before she was a vampire but didn't. I almost needed this information to understand her a little bit better. I got a back round for Lysander which was very helpful in understanding him.

Regardless of the character flaws the plot was enjoyable. I'm a sucker for a vampire story. There was plenty of action and some romance too. This is more of an adult novel though or older YA due to language and sexual content. I plan to read the other books in this series and look forward to learning more about the characters along the way.

Purchase this book through Amazon or Barnes and Noble

I received a copy of this book from the author for free in return for my honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

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A Sucker Born Every Minute by Lia Kane, Review by Melissa

   They say a sucker is born every minute, or in this case, a VAM infected person is born, creating a VAMP. In A Sucker Born Every Minute by Lia Kane you get the blood sucking storyline that is so popular these days but with an interesting, and incredibly well written, twist. The first book in a series, with the next book to be released in 2012, uses medical theory behind being a blood sucking fiend, a suspenseful storyline, and a little bit of romance.

   Lia Kane introduces us to Whitney and Jerrika, two college students who have been friends for as long as they can remember. They go to a frat party filled with only a philanthropic brotherhood, not your usual frat boys. Well, that's true in more ways then one. Jerrika is drugged and attacked by a boy who has VAM. It is a virus, almost very similar to AIDS, that once infected causes the host to only be able to consume blood. The host becomes anemiac, very thin, and is constantly tired. Flash forward to seven years later. Whitney and Jerrika have graduated college and are now returning to Big Sky, the town where they grew up, to find jobs. They also find an almost ghost town petrified of VAMP's. Jerrika, no stranger to VAM ignorant and scared people, is ready to take her job as the head of Blue Sky Hope House, an orphanage that is home to VAM infected children.

   Through the orphanage Jerrika is introduced to Victor, the towns mayor, and unfortunately Bill Jeffries, a lay minister with an anti-VAM agenda. She is also introduced to other VAMP's, giving her the first little bit of "family" she has longed for, especially after a horrid fight with her only ally, Whitney. Jerrika is a complex, lonely character trying to make her way in a world, infected with a scary virus, while still being the good, down to earth character she was created as.

   With a story line well thought out, fraught with danger and bigotry, A Sucker Born Every Minute scores a 5 star in my book! I can't wait for the next book in the series. I love the way the author continues to say the characters are not vampires, they have none of the classic vampire qualities, they have a virus that causes them to feed off of blood. The storyline of VAM is very intricate and uses plenty of medical terminology to make the virus feel believable. The treatment given to the characters who are infected makes the reader think of the way AIDS patients have been treated. The book is a good read. It can be a fast read, but if you are a person who likes to think a little deeper you'll get more out of the book.

   Thank you for reading!-Melissa
 A room without books is like a body without a soul. -Cicero

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Tantric Zoo: A Bud Warhol Mystery Review

Tantric Zoo: A Bud Warhol Mystery
By Rob Loughran

About the book:

Tantric Zoo begins at a tantric sex couples retreat in 1987. Amid the cavorting and indulging and groping and exploring one of the campers ends up dead. The surviving campers bury the body and return to their lives.

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A Soul to Steal by Rob Blackwell (A Book Review by Melissa)

 Book reviewed by Melissa

   Looking for a little spookiness to spice up your night, just in time for Halloween? Well I've found it. This is a book that had me afraid to walk my dogs one night. I've read numerous murder mysteries in my 20+ years of reading, but for some reason this one spooked me. It could be the time of year, the fact that it's getting darker early, the wind in the trees or just the book. I was, and still kind of am, spooked!

   A Soul to Steal starts off a little slow, and even slightly confusing. The author not only introduces three characters in rapid succession, but also adds in police files, letters from the murder and newspaper articles. Do not get confused or lose hope. I promise you that right around 20%, according to my Kindle, the book starts to make sense and picks up speed. There is less "article" interaction and more character action. You start to understand the back story to the characters and look forward to what is coming.

   The book is about two main characters, Quinn and Katrina, or Kate for short, and how their lives are twisted into Loudoun County. The murderer is aptly named Lord Halloween, since the book takes place during the month of October. Lord Halloween was a serial killer who's actions shook up the town twelve years ago, a series of events from which the town and it's occupants has never recovered. Flash forward to the present and Lord Halloween has once again returned to wreck havoc once again. 

   Loudoun County no longer celebrates Halloween due to the murders twelve years before, but that doesn't stop the Headless Horseman from galloping into town. Nope, no kidding, just a twist of magic to the story line. I told you, there's enough spice to keep you on your toes! Add in the love story of Quinn and Kate, their sad history and a quirky group of friends and you've got the story to a Soul to Steal. There is, of course, much more to the story line but if I told you it all why would you buy it?

   In closing, if you start the book and feel the need to put it down, trust me when I tell you to push through and it will all become clear. The plot will grab you like a hand from the grave and pull you down into the storyline. If you happen to be home alone and afraid to walk your dogs around midnight, I don't blame you! Enjoy your evening {insert scary cackle}!

A room without books is like a body without a soul. -Cicero

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Stumbling Silly Blog Hop 10/17

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Welcome to Stumbling Silly Blog Hop!  This Stumble Upon centered hop is hosted by Beauty Brite and Bee’s Knees Reviews.  The purpose of this hop is to bring traffic, comments, friendship, and new blogs to discover.

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Dark Side of the Mirror by R.L. Austin

Reviewed by Melissa

   There is a huge calling, since books like Twilight, or the House of Night series, for young adult books with a twist. Dark Side of the Mirror fits this category, but with a new type of story line. R.L. Austin introduces us to Emily, a fifteen year old who has to move from Manhattan to San Francisco. As if the move isn't traumatic enough she has to move in with her crazy uncle Mansel and abide by his two rules:

woman only wear dresses & no electronics, i.e. cell phone and laptop. A killer for any teen.

   Shortly after arriving Emily starts to hear voices in the mirrors. Here is where she meets Tyler, a teen boy from a town outside San Francisco and another major character in the book. At first Emily avoids all of the mirrors in the mansion. This is so that she may ignore the voices and avoid being locked up in a loony bin thanks to the worry of her parents and her new therapist. After Emily's inability to make friends, though, she actively seeks out the mirror of Tyler and they make a connection. Due to the twists and turns of the plot, here is where I have to leave a cliffhanger so as to not give away any pertinent information. Guess you'll have to get the book to know more :)

   Dark Side of the Mirror has the magic begged for by young, and even older, audiences with a story line not seen before. Enough magic, drama and even romance to please most anyone, this book is a good night time read. Don't be surprised, though, if you temporarily avoid mirrors after reading this story.

   As always, thanks for reading my review! And remember:
A room without books is like a body without a soul. -Cicero

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An American in Vienna by Chip Wagar

About The Book:

Andy Bishop's quest begins promisingly when he leaves Columbus, Ohio, in 1914 after graduating from the University of Notre Dame. In Austria-Hungary, his goals are threefold: make contact with distant Austrian relatives, practice his nascent journalistic skills, and discover why his aristocratic ancestor, Matthias zu Windischgrätz, immigrated to America so long ago.

The scenery changes drastically as Andy witnesses the last stand of imperial Austrian society. He arrives just three weeks before the assassination of the Kaiser's nephew, the Habsburg Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and his wife, Sophie. This event sparks the fateful slide toward world war and chaos for both family and friends. Andy's fateful decision to remain in the doomed Habsburg Empire after the war begins-and his irresistible attraction to a young Austrian countess-lead him to Budapest, Rome, and finally Paris, as Europe is convulsed by the greatest war since the defeat of Napoleon.

Told from the perspective of Andy Bishop, An American in Vienna presents historical insight into the Austrian court, royal society, and the demise of a once-powerful empire as it becomes embroiled in the Great War.

• Paperback: 420 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse.com (January 25, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1450267661
• ISBN-13: 978-1450267663

My Thoughts:

An American in Vienna is a wonderful read. You are transported to 1914 Europe at the beginning of WWI. I have never been to Europe but this book has painted a beautiful picture of the history and landscape of a country I would love to see some day. I enjoyed being along side our main character Andy as he grew and developed a sense of who he was. My heart was overjoyed and ached with his and I could get a true idea of what he must be feeling. Andy seemed so real to me and I found myself rooting for him throughout the story. I truly fell in love with each and every character and was able to relate with each of them on some level or another.

You don't have to be a fan of war stories either to read this book. There is plenty of romance and history to keep you wanting more. This is a beautifully written story that brought out a flood of emotions within myself. I will admit I even shed a tear or two. Please take the time to read this book. I loved it and I hope you will too.


About the Author:

Chip Wagar is a practicing attorney in New Orleans where he has lived since 1976. He grew up in the Adirondacks region of upstate New York in Glens Falls as the oldest of four children. He attended the Austro-American Institute in Vienna during his college years at the George Washington University where he was graduated in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs. At George Washington University and the Austro-American Institute, Chip studied Central and Eastern European politics and history including the Soviet Union.
After graduation from college, Chip came to New Orleans to attend Tulane University School of Law from which he was graduated cum laude in 1979. By then, he had developed what proved to be a life-long attachment to the City of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Region where he has lived ever since. Chip Wagar has been a civil litigation trial lawyer for over 30 years and now concentrates his practice in medical malpractice and products liability. He has two adult children, Will and Sarah, who also live in the New Orleans area.

Be sure to check out the website to learn more about the book and Chip Wagar:
http://anamericaninvienna.com/

or on Facebook 

I was provided a copy of the book for free from the author in return for my honest review. I was not compensated in any other way

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Anne frank And me Book Review

Anne Frank And Me by Cheri Bennet and Jeff Gottesfeld


 I have read this book a couple years ago and it still plays in my mind a lot. ever since the very first time I read The Diary Of Anne Frank, I wanted to know more about the  Holocaust. I don't think I have anyone in my family that was in the Holocaust,  but I have admiration and respect for those that survived it.
So, on to the book.
Nicole Burns was your average high school student. So, one day her teacher assigned the class to read The Diary Of Anne Frank, and to also go the local museum to look and learn from a new exibit on display of The Diary Of Anne Frank. All of her classmates was handed an index card to pretend they were living then and act the card out as a play. Well, something went wrong and there was a gun shot heard that a guy that was again the Holocaust had shot it off in the building and Nicole gets hit and passes out. When she wakes up, she is in a new town, new parents, new home, etc and she somehow realizes she isnt in the right era she was in before.
She had to learn how to adapt to the new time era she was in and somehow jews weren't allowed to go outside without a patch on their jacket's showing they were Jewish.
 The book kept you wanting to know the next step. Nicole had been taken away from her family by mistake because she didn't wear her Jewish patch. She was later sent on a train where she met Anne Frank and they talked for awhile. Anne Frank had went another direction and they both met up in a consentration camp. The Jew's had to choose to go to the right or the left.
Anne Frank yelled to Nicole " Go to The Right, Always Go To The Right."
That meant the ones to the right lived and the ones to the left died. Sad enough Anne Frank had gone to the left.
A few hours later Nicole wakes up and she is lying on the ground and her teacher is hovering over her. She askes if she was ok and the teacher said she had only been out for 12 minutes, but to Nicole she was in another time era for a year or more.
This book was very suspenceful and I loved every minute of it. I wanted to know more when the book ended, and books like that are amazing and worthwhile. I really felt as I was Nicole in the other time era, the way the author had described everything really made you feel you was there. This is a book I would love my kids to read one day. I hope you go to your local library and check this book out. You won't regret it.
By: Samantha  Stroy

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Winner of The Space Between

And The Winner Is......

 

ANN C.!!!

Congrats to Ann and thank you to everyone who entered.  

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{Book Tour} The Dark Age Giveaway - Open WW

The Dark Age (Survivor of the Pulse) by Jeff W.  Horton

About the book:

Suppose you learned that an ancient prophecy about an artifact, said to be powerful enough to dramatically change the world, was true. Would you risk everything to find it?

It has been five-hundred years since the Pulse caused the Great Collapse, ending the Golden Age, and civilization on planet Earth. Humanity has waited ever since for a long-anticipated sign from God, which has finally appeared in the night sky. The time has come for Ferrell Young, the Warrior Clan, and the Church to risk everything in an effort to restore civilization, and bring hope to a world full of despair.

Alex Montgomery is an archaeologist who has spent many years looking for a mysterious book on behalf of the Holy Christian Church. The book is said to contain the location of the Great Oracle which, according to legend, can endow the one who finds it with great power and wealth. Of much greater importance to the Clan and the Church however, is the fact that it may also enable the world to emerge from five centuries of darkness and suffering.

When a powerful, intelligent, but sadistic barbarian leader named Kraken learns of the Oracle, he plans to destroy the Warrior Clan and the Church, take the Oracle for himself, and enslave the rest of humanity.

Join Ferrell and his companions as they set out on a desperate journey to find the Great Oracle, and rescue humanity from The Dark Age.

Three lucky Bee's Knees Reviews readers will win an e-book copy of The Dark Age!  Be sure to complete the mandatory entry, in order for your other entries to count! 





Disclosure: I did not receive financial compensation for this post. 

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Book Review of Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita by Barbara Conelli

By Melissa

   Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita is a book unlike any other I have ever read. I am a well rounded book lover and this book is, hands down, the most unique book I have ever read. It is a book that will satisfy your sense of travel, but leave you hungry for the food, fashion and character that Milan, Italy has to offer. Barbara Conelli invites you to travel with her, through all her senses, to a place she very obviously knows well and loves.

   'To live a dolce vita means living with an open heart and soul, indulging in life with all your senses. It means finding happiness in ordinary yet unique things.' So starts the author's incredible description of Milan, Italy. The book is not a work of fiction but yet it is still a story. I'd like to think of it as the most descriptive, fun and inspiring travel book I've ever read. It made me long to travel to Bellagio, a magical sunlit little town where there is not time for trouble or fears. Or even to taste the Risotto Milanese at Il Salotto so that I too can have my blood warmed and heat rush into my cheeks. According to legend it is a strong aphrodisiac. 

   Throughout the book the author introduces you to not just a town, or a restaurant, but a treasured pearl in each area. Be it a food dish, dessert or a person residing in that area creating their own type of magic. Then there are intricately hand drawn pictures at the end of each chapter which bring the characters or scenes to life, not that it's needed since the written descriptions are so vivid you can almost see it, smell it and taste it. Barbara makes you wish you were Maria Elena, one of Milan's "characters" so that you may loving run the silk through your fingers. There is even an interesting chapter on Leonardo da Vinci who, even with a nomadic lifestyle, couldn't walk away and spent years in Milan. Included are many little tidbits on da Vinci I didn't even know! Of course I can't share them here, then what do you have to look forward to!

   Woman can often times be fickle, catty creatures. It's not that they mean to be, it is almost like it is bred into us with the stick thin models, loads of makeup and perfume and the, at times, unreachable couture clothing. Instead of creating the common discord amongst women the author creates a warm feeling towards the women of Milan. She goes on to explain how much the women of Milan enjoy their food and supple size. She causes the reader to wish she could be a woman inside Il Salotto delle Corse the night they close their doors to male guests and the place becomes completely dominated by the female element, energy and waves of laughter. Barbara also lets you know that if you really wanted to be more like the carefree, sexual, fun-loving women of Milan you can attend the Milanese School of Seduction. Soon you too could be one of the women who can throw on a t-shirt, jeans and the indispensable stilettos and look luxurious in every situation.

   If you're bored of every day life and looking to take a journey to a new place, via a book, this is most definately the book for you! Grab a glass of wine, sit back and bring Milan alive and to your home with this book. A feast for the senses that will have you packing a bag, purchasing a ticket and heading to Italy to catch one iota of the magic that Barbara Conelli very obviously feels for Milan.

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A Soul to Steal Review

A Soul to Steal
By Rob Blackwell

About the book:

You Are What You Fear

Something is stalking the citizens of Loudoun County , Va.

Is it the return of the notorious serial killer known as Lord Halloween? Or is it something worse—a figure that can cloak itself as your worst nightmare?

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By the Time You Read This I'll Be Dead By Julie Anne Peters Review

About the book: Daelyn Rice is broken beyond repair, and after a string of botched suicide attempts, she’s determined to get her death right. She starts visiting a website for “completers”— www.through-the-light.com.
While she’s on the site, Daelyn blogs about her life, uncovering a history of bullying that goes back to kindergarten. When she’s not on the Web, Daelyn’s at her private school, where she’s known as the freak who doesn’t talk.
Then, a boy named Santana begins to sit with her after school while she’s waiting to for her parents to pick her up. Even though she’s made it clear that she wants to be left alone, Santana won’t give up. And it’s too late for Daelyn to be letting people into her life…isn’t it?
National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters shines a light on how bullying can push young people to the very edge.

My Review:
This book is a little different from what I usually read, but it was still a very good book. Usually I don't read things with such dark subject matter. I felt an emotional attachment to the character from the very beginning. Teen suicide and bullying are both very serious issues that need more attention than what we give them. Daelyn is kind of a loner, and emotionally detaches herself from everyone around her, which i can definitely identify with. The only thing I didn't like about the book was the ending. It was an exciting page turner, and good for a quick read since it's so short. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. I rented this book from the library and was not compensated in any way for writing this review.

Here are some websites if you want to learn more about the author:
Official website: http://www.julieannepeters.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/julieannepeters?ref=profile
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/julieannepeters

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Targets of Opportunity by Jeffrey S. Stephens Review

Targets of Opportunity by Jeffrey S. Stephens Review

Book Description

Gallery, August 2011

Hardcover, 432 pages

ISBN-10: 1451624328

ISBN-13: 9781451624328

THE ENEMY HAS A THOUSAND WAYS TO STRIKE. WE HAVE JUST ONE WAY TO RETALIATE. HIS NAME IS JORDAN SANDOR.

In Targets of Deception, which suspense master Robert K. Tanenbaum called "a fast-paced thriller," Jeffrey Stephens introduced CIA agent Jordan Sandor, whom bestselling author Steve Alten praised as "terrific." Now Sandor is back, playing for bigger stakes and facing deadlier challenges.

Whisked from his Manhattan town house to a gabled CIA safe house in Virginia, Sandor faces off with a top terrorist agent from Iran's Revolutionary Guard. In exchange for protection from his own side, Ahmad Jaber is offering the CIA explosive information: word of a secret, unholy alliance forged among operatives in the Middle East, a ruthless South American, and Kim Jong-Il's North Korea. Jaber claims not to know specific details, only that the strike will target the heart of America.

The fanatics stage a stunning diversion in the Caribbean, mercilessly downing a passenger jet and unleashing an assault on a French intelligence installation. Sandor, however, has already moved in a different direction. Leveraging Jaber's infor-mation, he assembles a small strike force to penetrate North Korea. The team knows they will not all return, but the intel they gather will be vital to American security. What they ultimately discover plunges Sandor into a frantic race against time, struggling to defeat a shadowy figure—a master terrorist with a plan of destruction so perfectly disguised that even with the new knowledge he has gathered, Sandor cannot guess where or how he will strike.

As a storm rages in the Gulf of Mexico, word comes that two submarines have penetrated U.S. waters. With the U.S. military hampered by the hurricane, Sandor turns to a few daring U.S. Navy SEALs to duel with the enemy they cannot see . . . for now they know only that there are two nuclear weapons aimed at a target of opportunity whose destruction would change the world order forever.

Brilliantly conceived, electrifyingly paced, Targets of Opportunity captures a terrifying twenty-first century reality: terrorists can—and will—try as many times as they need to attack the United States. For the brave men and women who defend our country, failure is not an option.


Go Here To Read Chapter One
My Thoughts:
Targets of Opportunity to me was certainly an eye opening experience. It is pretty scary to think that terrorists hate us so much that they will go out of their way to figure out ways to annihilate the U.S. This is a story that takes the main character, Jordan Sandor all over the world and in extremely dangerous situations to stop terrorists in their attempt to destroy our world. Jordan is a man who will protect what he believes in whatever the cost to him. Once you read this story you will realize what the men and women do to protect the United States. An exciting, edge of your seat read with believable characters, good and evil, that you will not want to put down. This is typically not the type of story I care to read but I am glad I did because I enjoyed it very much. I give it 5 stars...
I received a hardcopy edition of this book from Gallery books and was not monetarily compensated for my review.

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Book Review of Beatrice Munson by Lorena Bathey

By: Melissa

   I try to my hardest to be sure that my reviews don't lean more towards men or women, so I'll apologize in advance because this review will be more female based. That being said, if you're a guy that does not mean you can't read this book and learn more about the female, and even male, psyche.

   Lorena Bathey has successfully woven a magical, heartwarming story of the changes and joy that one person can bring to one beige neighborhood and a few unsuspecting woman. She starts off by introducing the character of Marissa, stuck in a hum-drum midlife crisis after a recent divorce. Then we're lucky enough to be introduced to Beatrice, Marissa's high school rival. Soon, though, Marissa learns that Beatrice is nothing that she believed. Beatrice is quick to take over the neighborhood at a friendly Bunko game and inject just a little bit of her character into all the woman stuck in the world of beige and cookie-cutter houses.

   Beatrice quickly changes the lives of many woman, all for the better. Marissa is introduced to her love-extraordinaire. Andrea, Marissa's best friend, Deidre and Lily are all given a burst of Beatrice's power and change their lives for the better. There is, as with any good book, two large twists to the story. Come on now, it can't all be sunshine and rainbows. I'll leave those two cliffhangers out of this, so you'll have a surprise or two to read about.

   As a woman with a few very close friends, and as a woman who sometimes lives in a beige neighborhood, who suffers from low self esteem, this book was magical to me. I found myself laughing, crying, praying for a Beatrice to enter my life, and even a little empowered to make a few changes. This is one of those books that is well written, wraps you up in the story and has you missing the characters and contemplating your life, when the story ends.

   In closing, if you're in need of a boost, a laugh, a cry or just a good read, I highly suggest visiting this little beige neighborhood and seeing the changes one person can bring. Enjoy the story, call your friend, have a glass of wine, but just imagine yourself with some color in your world. Thanks for reading!

"Don't worry, be happy!"

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Vampires Rule By K.C. Blake

They don't call him Jackpot for nothing. 


Jack has always beat the odds... at least until now. When he was attacked by a werewolf, vampires saved him. When he got tired of living the vampire life, another werewolf attack freed him, making him human again. Now Jack just wants to live a normal life, but what's normal about a hunter girlfriend, a brother who wants to stake him to be on the safe side, and a head werewolf building an army to rule the world? 


I received this book through Bee's Knees Reviews. This is definitely a read for any/all Vampire book lovers. I had never really been into the whole "sci-fi" type books but after reading the Twilight series a few years ago I started becoming interested in other vampire stories as well. This series (Vampires Rule/Werewolves rule) is far from the typical "vampire/werewolve/other" love triangle that most books are based on. With only a few chapters read, Vampires Rule became a definite page-turner for me. I literally read it in about 6 hours!  Jack (Vampire turned human) and Silver (Hunter) dominated their little town and after several run ins with the Werewolves, had figured out who they needed to kill. I can't wait to follow Jack and Silver in their "adventures" in Werewolves Rule!


You can buy the book at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004YZB8XU 
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/54214


Additional information on the Author:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4809417.K_C_Blake
http://kasi-kcblake.blogspot.com/

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Unsavory Delicacies by Russell Brooks

A three-course story collection with a side-order of revenge.

For fans of Barry Eisler, Robert Ludlum, and Clive Cussler. Three short stories of suspense with unsavory results.

Crème Brûlée—Rogue operative, Monique Beauvais, cons a software genius into selling her a coveted technology that would allow its user to control CIA drones while they’re in flight. And she will go as far as killing him in public in order to have it.

To the Last Bite—A renowned food critic—whose scathing reviews have closed down restaurants—gets a savoury surprise.

Shashlyk and Morezhenoe—CIA operative, Ridley Fox, leads a team against one of Russia’s most powerful crime families. He discovers secrets, but not one that he was expecting to find.

Three stories with three consequences. All containing three Unsavory Delicacies.


I got this ebook for Kindle from the author. It is a series of 3 short stories, Creme Brulee, To the Last Bite, and Shashlyk and Morozhenoe.
Creme Brulee is about an undercover agent on a mission. Monique is required to get info from Curtis, which she does. But the end doesn't come as she had planned...
To the Last Bite is about a Food Critic. Dennis has the best meal of life and LOVES the recipe. After finding what it is, he wishes he didn't know...
Shashlyk and Morozhenoe is about a Mafia type transaction involving undercover CIA agents. Ridley Fox confronts Maksim Antanov and gets what he needs, in a very unconventional way...
I personally liked Creme Brulee the best. Monique is a character that I could see myself in "cahoots" with. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, as it is definitely a page turner! As per author suggestion, I would definitely recommend NOT reading this book while eating! But don't let this detour you from reading it, as the parts I'm referring to aren't too descriptive.


You can buy the book at the following locations:
http://russellparkway.com/store/unsavorydelicacies.html
http://www.amazon.com/Unsavory-Delicacies-Stories-Suspense-ebook/dp/B004XD66VW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322971748&sr=8-1
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unsavory-delicacies-russell-brooks/1100551612?ean=2940012649287&itm=1&usri=unsavory+delicacies
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/54675

More info on the Author:
http://www.russellparkway.com/
http://www.goodreads.com/russellbrooks
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Russell-Brooks-Thriller-Author/233153116719719
http://russellparkway.blogspot.com/

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