Review: Trapped by Revenge by: Colleen Helme

Title: Trapped by Revenge
Author: Colleen Helme
Publisher: Createspace
Pages: 192
Series: A Shelby Nichols Adventure #5
Format: ebook
Source: Book Tours

Description:

With summer over Shelby is looking forward to having some time to herself while the kids are back in school. A phone call from Uncle Joey ruins her plans, but she manages to take it in stride. After lunch with her friend, she promises to meet with the private investigator who was spying on Uncle Joey, but this simple task turns into a disaster. Not only does she find the P.I. dead, but a slip of paper with her name on it under his lifeless hand implicates her for his murder. Desperate to prove her innocence and find the person who killed him, Shelby begins a frantic search. She enlists the aid of the local mob boss, Uncle Joey, his hit-man, Ramos, and her police detective friend, Dimples, but soon finds that nothing can save her from becoming entangled in a sinister plot. With her life on the line and no way out, she finds herself trapped by revenge, and realizes it will take all her skills to escape. Now she must choose where her loyalties lie, and hope she doesn’t trade something bad, for something even worse.

My Thoughts: 

When Shelby Nichols is sent by Uncle Joey to meet Sam a P.I. Shelby finds the worst thing possible a dead P.I. and now Shelby is on the chopping block to being charged with his murder.  Now it's up to Shelby her husband Chris, Uncle Joey who isn't really her Uncle and Ramos to find out who has it out for Shelby.  Will she solve the crime before she's forced to do someone else's crime?

This book had some crazy adventures in it.  Shelby does everything she can to clear herself even so far as to play Uncle Joey's niece Shelly from Florida just to find a Judge who has it out for Uncle Joey,  Shelby even meets someone else in a similar situation slated to die soon for a crime he didn't commit.  I really enjoyed meeting the various characters and seeing Shelby's adventure and how it played out.  Definitely a great series I would read future books by this author!

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Book Trailer Thursday #5: The Christmas Owl by: Angela Muse

The Christmas Owl by: Angela Muse

Angela Muse's Website

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Createspace

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Review: Blackberry Pie Murder by: Joanne Fluke

Title: Blackberry Pie Murder
Author: Joanne Fluke
Publisher: Kensington
Pages: 368
Series: Hannah Swensen #17
Format: ebook ARC
Source: NetGalley

Description:

It's been a sleepy summer for the folks of Lake Eden, Minnesota. In fact, it's been a whole four months since anyone in the Swensen family has come across a dead body—a detail that just made the front page of the local paper. And that means Hannah Swensen can finally focus on her bakery…or can she?

Life is never really quiet for Hannah. After all, her mother's wedding is a little over a month away and guess who Delores put in charge of the wedding plans? But just when Hannah believes her biggest question will be whether to use buttercream or fondant for the wedding cake, she accidentally hits a man with her cookie truck while driving down a winding country road. And not just any man, but Keith Branson, quarterback for the local high school some twenty years past. Hannah is wracked with guilt, until Doc Knight's autopsy reveals the victim was dead before Hannah even hit him, his shirt covered in stains that could come from one thing: Blackberry Pie. Now Hannah's on the trail of a pie baker with a penchant for murder. And it's going to take more than sugar and spice to catch this killer…

My Thoughts: 

I got this book via NetGalley for a honest and fair review.  This book is a bit different then the other ones in the series this time Hannah is in a whole lot of trouble, and her friends are there to try to help her.  When Hannah hits a man during a raining thunderstorm, Hannah finds out how bad it really is.

This book also deals with people who aren't what they appear when a girl that runaway years ago returns home and Carly doesn't buy it's her sister too much inconsistencies.  Carly asks Hannah to get to the bottom of the situation.

Also mother is driving all the girls nuts with changing her wedding plans too frequently.  Every time they think they can get her decide one way she changes it again and again.  Also we have our love triangle that seems to be getting really stale.  Hannah needs a shake up in the romance department as this Mike/Hannah/Norman scenario is getting ridiculously old.

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Review: Crazy in Paradise by: Deborah Brown

Title: Crazy in Paradise
Author: Deborah Brown
Publisher: Paradise Books
Series: Paradise #1
Format: Paperback
Source: Author Request

Description:

When Madison Westin, the main character, inherits her aunt's beachfront motel in the Florida Keys, or so she thinks. Tarpon Cove is not your typical sleepy beach town: Seduction, drunks, ex-cons and fugitives are not the usual fare for someone looking to start a new chapter in their life. Wrestling control of the property from both the lawyer and the conniving motel manager will be no easy feat. But Madison likes living on the edge so she feels right at home. Bullets fly, a dead body turns up, a kidnapping and blackmail. Madison really has to learn not to leave home without her Glock or it could get her killed.

My Thoughts: 

This book was sent to me via Deborah Brown for a honest and fair review.

In this book we meet Madison Westin who's attending her aunts funeral which is a total screwy event from the get go.  Something doesn't add up right to Madison who has been informed by her aunt's attorney that everything in place is how her Aunt Elizabeth wanted it.

Madison inherits a motel property but first she has to get past a jerk of a manager and her aunt's just as much of a jerk attorney.  Add to this the mix of colorful people Madison keeps meeting due to her aunt.  They are just about every type of person thinkable.

In some ways this book reminds me of Stephanie Plum except that Madison Westin is a hell of a lot more fun to read about.  Madison's group of friends far out does Stephanie's.  Which I found refreshing to have all these great characters that are in Madison's life and have her back.  I really enjoyed the twists and turns this book took, along with Madison's family her brother Brad and her mother were refreshing to see family that does get along.

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Review - Awakening by: Raymond Bolton

Title: Awakening
Author: Raymond Bolton
Publisher: Raymond Bolton Author
Series: The Ydron Saga #1
Pages: 368
Format: Kindle
Source: Received from author for review

Description:

How does a world equipped with bows, arrows and catapults, where steam power is just beginning to replace horses and sailing ships, avert a conquest from beyond the stars?

Prince Regilius has been engineered to combat the Dalthin, a predatory alien species that enslaves worlds telepathically, and to do so he must unite his people. But when his mother murders his father, the land descends into chaos and his task may prove impossible. Faced with slaying the one who gave him life in order to protect his world, he seeks a better way. Set in a vast and varied land where telepaths and those with unusual mental abilities tip the course of events, Awakening goes to the heart of family, friendship and betrayal.

My thoughts: 

First things first: the world Bolton creates in Awakening, the first book in the Ydron Saga is unique, original and somewhat bizarre. There is a planet under fuedal rule in the steam engine era, and although the humans seem to have the power, there is a different race out to take them down. These "creatures" who mostly walk around in human form, but they have different abilities i.e. being able to talk right into people's brains. 

Prince Regillus, who goes by Reg, is warned by his mentor Ai'Lorc that he and those close to him are in danger and that the only way they can stay away from it is to hide. We follow the story of him, his elders, and his friends Danth, Leorar and Ered as they try to figure out how to keep themselves and their kingdom safe. In Awakening, there are creatures who visit other worlds, an army of people that have become rapists and robbers under the current circumstances, the evil Dalthin that want to harness humans for labor and breed them for food.

As Reg tries to build a wall between himself and the evil, we, as the reader, are in for a story full of adventure and action. I especially recommend this to those who want to escape into a completely different world for a while.

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Book Trailer's Thursday #4: Valerie's Retreat by: Joseph Rinaldo

Valerie's Retreat by: Joseph Rinaldo Joseph Rinaldo Website Facebook Page Amazon Purchase Link

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Review - Supernatually by: Kiersten White

Title: Supernaturally
Author: Kiersten White
Publisher: Harper Teen
Series: Supernaturally #2
Pages: 336
Format: Paperback
Source: Turkish version received from publisher for review

Description:

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be...kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

My thoughts:

I was so excited for the first book, Paranormalcy, that I started reading Supernaturally right away. But there was something I forgot: usually, especially with trilogies, the second book is kind a of a passage. And we witness an in-between kind of time in Evie's life as well. While looking for who she is, why she's where she is, she too can get into the whole "why me, god, why?" mindset. I'm sure it's not easy to think what you're doing is good, and then when you find out it's not, you fall apart. So, I also had to keep in mind that she's still a teenager so that the whining wouldn't annoy me. As soon as I started the first book, she'd reminded me of Buffy Summers from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and this kept getting stronger and stronger in this book.

In Supernaturally, Evie seems like she's finally living the life she'd dreamed of. She's finally going to a real high school, has a hot boyfriend, has a job and a roommate... However, this is a picture that's pretty only for those looking in from the outside. Her boyfriend Lend if off in college, so they can't get all lovey-dovey all the time (which was good for me, actually, but obviously not for them). And then, when IPCA tells her they need her, she wants so badly to go back to her old job. However, Lend and his father are very much against it. What happens when you forbid something? Yes, the person goes on and does it in secret, just like Evie.

I was rather annoyed with her continuous lying. Other than that, I think some parts were left very blurry. What makes me curious enough to read the last book in the series is the fact that most of the characters have to make some important decisions, and I really want to see where they end up. 

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Book Trailer Thursday #3: Marry Missy by: Sarah Elle Emm

Marry Missy by: Sarah Elle Emm Purchase Link

Sarah Elle Emm Website

Sarah Elle Emm Blog

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Review: Playing With Fire by: J.J. Cook

Title: Playing With Fire
Author: J.J. Cook
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
Series: Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery #2
Pages: 295
Format: Paperback
Source: Book Tour

Description:

Fire Chief Stella Griffin is working to solve the mysterious death of her predecessor, Eric Gamlyn—who also haunts her cabin. Yet the more she learns, the more burning questions she must answer. Just as Stella thinks she has a lead from Deputy Chum, someone snuffs her hopes—and the lawman.

Adding fuel to the fire, Stella’s parents soon arrive—with her ex-boyfriend—hoping to persuade her to return to Chicago. Now Stella is torn between the life she left behind and uncovering what happened to her ghostly friend. But she’d better think fast or more than her investigation could go up in flames….

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this series so far this one is about Stella Griffin trying to solve a 40 year old mystery of what happened to Eric Gamlyn the previous fire chief who wound up dead under unusually circumstances. Add to that the fact Stella's parents have come back to town to drag her back to Chicago, Stella is torn about what to do.  Especially considering her parents brought Doug Stella's no good cheating ex-boyfriend.

The big problem is there is so little information to go on about the murder.  Most people are dead or just not talking, and everyone seems to be pointing a finger at Stella's grandfather Ben.  It's up to Stella to find out what is really going on.

I love reading this series probably because of the ghost aspect is really interesting.  To have Stella talk to Eric and have Eric being how Eric was in life is great to read about.  I also love reading about the other characters in the books.  Like Eric's good friend Walt and how Walt helps Stella sort through the crime to find the guilty party.

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Cover Reveal: Phantom, Razer 8 by: P.T. Macias

Phantom, Razer 8 By P.T. Macias Phantom, Angelo De Amato a Razer 8 operative is oblivious of his true nature or his destiny. He lives life staying in the dark, silently observing the world turn. He feels that he’s never truly fit or felt at home anywhere. He feels his life is a phantom of what life is. The half century old, notorious prophesy hasn’t been fulfilled. Storm, Sophia Davis is working on Tequila 10 special operative team for the government. The team has special abilities. Storm is waiting for the Chosen to show up to bond her soul and heart. Storm and Phantom are on a mission to gather intel. They’re destined to cross paths and immediately thrown into a tornado of love, truths, and passions. Are they destined to merge as one?

Are you excited for this book to come out? I know I am I can't wait!

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Free Ebook Deal: Hot & Adorable by: P.T. Marcias

Hot & Adorable, De La Cruz Saga is Free on Smashwords,

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333970

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Review: Forget Me Knot by: Mary Marks & Giveaway

Title: Forget Me Knot
Author: Mary Marks
Publisher: Kensington Mystery
Pages: 376
Format: Paperback ARC
Source: Book Tour

Description:

Welcome to San Fernando Valley, California, where Martha Rose and her coterie of quilters are enjoying life on the good side of retirement—until murder pulls a stitch out of their plans…

Martha and her besties Lucy and Birdie are set to expand their Quilty Tuesdays by inviting newcomer Claire Terry into their group. Though at forty Claire’s a tad younger than their average age, her crafty reputation could perk up their patchwork proceedings, especially as they prepare for the fancy quilt show coming to town. But when they arrive at Claire’s home and find her dead inside the front door, and her exquisite, prize-winning quilts soon missing, Martha is not one to leave a mystery unraveled. Especially if she wants to stop a killer from establishing a deadly pattern…

My Thoughts:

I love starting a new series that doesn't have too many books behind the authors belt, it's like meeting a new friend that you can form a great relationship with.  This book was no different. Martha Rose, and her two friends form a quilting circle of their own and have decided to include Claire Terry to their mix if they can all get along.

Not long into this book Clair Terry is found dead and Claire's mother makes contact with Martha Rose for helping finding the stories Claire quilted.  Of course many people seem to have motives to want to silence Claire, and Martha Rose has to sort through them all to find out the guilty party.

I loved Mary Marks ability to write this story and reminds me of Elizabeth Lynn Casey's Southern Sewing Circle.  Women are both around the same age give or take.  I definitely love the characters of Ray and Lucy they are so great together and all the quilting girls come together to help Martha Rose in anyway they can.

GIVEAWAY: I have one copy of this book to giveaway respond in the comments I will choose 1 winner at random. USA only

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Book Trailer Thursday #2: Wyndano's Cloak by A. R. Silverberry

Wyndano's Cloak by: A.R. Silverberry iTunes | Amazon | Barnes & Noble A.R. Silverberry's Website A.R. Silverberry's Twitter Facebook Fan Page

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Review: Silence by: Becca Fitzpatrick

Title: Silence
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 439
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchase

Description:

WHEN SILENCE IS ALL THAT'S LEFT, CAN THE TRUTH FINALLY BE HEARD?

Nora Grey can't remember the past five months of her life. After the initial shock of waking up in a cemetery and being told that she has been missing for weeks - with no one knowing where she was or who she was with - she tried to get her life back on track. Go to school, hang out with her best friend, Vee, and dodge mom's creepy new boyfriend.

But there is this voice in the back of her head, an idea that she can almost reach out and touch. Visions of angel wings and unearthly creatures that have nothing to do with the life she knows.

And this unshakable feeling that a part of her is missing.

Then Nora crosses paths with a sexy stranger, whom she feels a mesmerizing connection to. He seems to hold all the answers...and her heart. Every minute she spends with him grows more and more intense until she realizes she could be falling in love. Again.

My Thoughts: 

I haven't picked up a Becca Fitzpatrick book in almost a year and decided I would finish this series.  This is book 3 in the series.  Nora Grey has been missing all summer and Patch makes the ultimate sacrifice for Nora but is it what Nora really wants?

In this book we have Nephilim running around grouping to forma an army, we also have fallen angels trying to keep up with the Black Hand, and in the middle of it all is Nora Grey and her boyfriend Patch.  In this book both Nora's mother and her best friend Vee are trying to convince Nora that Patch was just a fling nothing more.

Something in Nora knows otherwise.  This book was full of action, adventure, bad guys and really weird things going on.  I love this series more than Twilight.  It has so much more than sparkly vampires.  I love how Nora is always able to find Patch even when she isn't really looking for him.  It's a great series to check out. 

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Happy Birthday Simay!!

Happy Birthday Simay, 

I hope you have a wonderful birthday!  You deserve it.

I feel blessed having you part of my life and part of my blog!

I hope you have a wonderful glorious birthday!!

* Feel free to share birthday wishes in the comments.

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How to decide what to read next

Image credit

As I type this, I’m assuming you are a reader who already has a pile of books, thinking about what you should be reading next even though you still have a few hundred more pages to go in the book you’re reading now. I’m assuming you’re a member of a platform like GoodReads, you have a long list of books you want to check out, and yet you still keep finding new ones you want to read…

As Frank Zappa said, “So many books, so little time!” So, how do we choose what to read next?

I’m not one of those people who makes a weekly/monthly/annual list—I know new books I want to read will come up or a friend will suggest we read something together or some publisher/author will send me a review copy, etc. and I’ll never be able to stick to it. I do have a to-read list though, I have books that I want to go through within a year. But when it comes down to picking one up and getting lost in it, I usually have a hard time choosing. So here’s how I go by picking one:

1. Availability: Depending on your location in the world, the book you want may not be available to you as quickly as you want it to. This is something I struggle a lot with living in Turkey, so I make sure to pick a book that I already have—I order the books from my to-read list when I can and only add them to my “choose from this” pile when I can physically hold them in my hand.
2. The state of your brain: I’m not one of those readers who mostly stick to a single genre—except maybe for romance and erotica, I’ll pretty much read anything. This is a good thing because it gives me a lot to choose from. If my brain is tired, I’ll pick something that I think will be easy to read, i.e. a YA novel or a fantasy novel with lots of action. If my brain is functioning well and has energy, I’ll pick something that will challenge me—it can be a classic I’ve been meaning to read for a long time, a non-fiction book with lots of information to process or a Pulitzer, Man Booker, etc. winner.
3. The time you want to spend on it: I usually go through one book a week, based on a book having approximately 350-500 pages. When I have to read something, I can read pretty darn quickly thanks to a fast-reading technique mom had taught me a while ago. But when I read for pleasure, I like to take my time, reread passages I enjoy and all that. So, if you know your pace, pick accordingly. If you don’t have much time to spend on reading, pick a smaller book. That being said, check the book beforehand, read the excerpt and some reviews because just because a book is short doesn’t mean it’s easy to read.
4. How long you’ve wanted to read it: If you’ve completed the first 3 steps and still have quite a few books to choose from, this fourth step might help. I usually go with the book I’ve wanted to read for the longest time or with one that’s been sitting on my shelf longer than the others. If you like, you can just do the opposite and go with the newest.
5. Choose the one that makes you want to read more: Still haven’t picked one? That’s quite alright too. I’m crossing my fingers and hoping you don’t have too many choices left by this point. If I find myself in this place, here’s what I do: I line up the books I have to choose from. Pick one up, read the first few sentences. Turn to a random page, read/glance through a few sentences. Whatever I get sucked into, I’ll keep reading.

       If none of these work for you, you can check out this article about websites that can help you pick what to read next. I never really had any luck with them, but I'm putting it out there for those who might be interested.

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2014 goals

When I saw Paula's post, I thought I should make one as well. I try not to set way-too-specific goals because reading is one part of my life that lets me go with whatever I want, whenever I want, so why limit my freedom too much? Anyways, enough chatter. Here we go.

READ MORE:
This was Paula's first too, and I stole it from her because "read more" is a life goal. My "read more" consists of books I've been curious about for a long time but never got around to. I've set my GoodReads goal to 60 books again this year. I really believe in quality over quantitiy when it comes to books because I want to read the good stuff, the stuff that lost none of their charm for years, the books that people pretend they read but didn't really have the courage to. I have a project with a friend where we will read a total of 52 books from the same publisher. I'm also starting the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge, which, I must stress, isn't something I'm crazy enough to think I can finish in a year.

TALK ABOUT BOOKS MORE:
Most people I come across cut the conversation off when I mention a book they haven't read. Instead of going "oh, well" and switchig the subject, I'm going to tell them why I read it and liked/hated it, and what they can gain from checking it out. I'm gonna use more book references in daily life too.

INTERVIEWS:
This year I'd like to continue author interviews, and hopefully have them be more frequent than last year. I'm also planning to interview new authors who are looking to promote their books.

This is all I can think of right now. Like I've said, many things change quickly so we shall see how I do.

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Title: Hero's Journey by: J.J. Cook

Title: Hero's Journey
Author: J.J. Cook
Publisher: Berkley
Series: Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery #1.5
Format: Kindle ebook
Source: Purchase

Description:

A hot dog and a hot head are on the loose in Sweet Pepper, Tennessee, and it’s up to Fire Chief Stella Griffin to collar them both...

The Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade’s newly adopted Dalmatian puppy, Hero, is missing. Stella believes he just wandered away from her cabin and got lost. But despite posters and searches by the fire brigade and spotty sightings by locals, there are no leads, and the furry fire fighter has yet to return.

Stella is already worried with a series of progressively dangerous arson fires plaguing Sweet Pepper. And oddly enough, Hero’s appearances are coinciding with the fires. Now with the help of the ghost of Sweet Pepper’s former fire chief, Stella will have to dig up some clues if she hopes to find the pup before he’s lost for good—and find the arsonist before someone loses a life.

My Thoughts: 

This was cute novella where Stella and her fire brigade are trying to find out what is going on with the thief in Sweet Pepper, when Hero the fire brigade dog winds up missing it's up to Stella and Eric to figure out what is going on.

This was a great inbetween book.  I enjoyed going back to Sweet Pepper and seeing the characters. Can't wait to read the next book I am really so excited to read the next book in the series!

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Review: That Old Flame of Mine by: J.J. Cook

Title: That Old Flame of Mine
Author: J.J. Cook
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
Series: Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery #1
Format: Kindle ebook
Source: Purchase

Description:

Set in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, J. J. Cook’s thrilling new mystery series features Fire Chief Stella Griffin, who solves crime with the help of her predecessor, who just happens to be a ghost…

NO MATCH FOR MURDER

After knocking the lights out of her boyfriend when she catches him cheating on her, Chicago fire fighter Stella Griffin hops on her Harley and heads for Sweet Pepper, Tennessee, where she ends up becoming the small town’s fire chief. When her dear friend Tory Lambert dies after her gingerbread-style house is set ablaze, Stella suspects arson and foul play.

As Stella investigates, she gets help from a most unlikely source—the ghost of Eric Gamlyn, Sweet Pepper’s old fire chief. And if that isn’t enough to rattle her, attractive police officer John Trump seems to have taken an interest in her. But Stella’s got to stay focused if she hopes to smoke out a killer before her own life is extinguished.

My Thoughts:

This book had so much going on with it.  We meet Stella Griffin who's the new Chief of the fire brigade which is a volunteer fire department in the town of Sweet Pepper, Tennessee.  Lately Stella has been training the volunteers so that when she goes home to Chicago the volunteer department can continue on.  What she doesn't count on is murder happening in her fires.

First is the death of her new friend Tory Lambert who died and her house was set on fire, not long before her death she asked Stella to look into the death of her husband Adam.  Tory believed something killed him and not what was in the reports.

Then Stella meets her new roommate the old Fire Chief Eric Gamlyn who's quite dead.  Of course Stella doesn't believe in ghosts and is adamant there is some other reason behind the issues in the cabin she is residing in.

Then there is the rich family in town and their connection to Stella and how she will deal with it.  I loved this series meeting the new characters and story lines that were set up.  Definitely a great series to sink your spicy teeth into.

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My Goals for 2014

It's that time of year again when I try to make some goals for myself and hopefully stick to them.  So let's start this list going:

READ MORE:

While I read alot last year I want to go through all my books to date and hopefully not buy anymore and read the ones I have, especially all the great Indie books I got in December.  I have so many books it's crazy.  Does that mean I won't accept books?  No of course not I always try to accept when offered a book but I'm also slowing down book tours to ones I really feel are in my genre of books. 

COMPLETED MY GOODREADS GOAL:

I always set up a Goodreads reading challenge it's the only one I can seem to finish so I gave up doing the challenges others have as life gets in the way and I don't want to commit to something like that without knowing it's possible.  I've tried various challenges before and it's never worked out sometimes I tend to forget to back to the site I found the challenge and update my list so it's just easier to work at my own pace.

MORE BOOK REVIEWS, SPOTLIGHTS, TRAILERS:

I hope to do more reviews, and spotlight different books, along with my new thing Book Trailer Thursday to show some great books people have out there.

What are some of your goals for 2014 feel free to share them here in the comments I would love to hear other thoughts on their own goals.

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Review - Paper Aeroplanes by: Dawn O'Porter

Title: Paper Aeroplanes
Author: Dawn O'Porter
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Pages: 304
Format: Paperback
Source: Personal purchase

Description:
It's the mid-1990s, and fifteen year-old Guernsey schoolgirls, Renée and Flo, are not really meant to be friends. Thoughtful, introspective and studious Flo couldn't be more different to ambitious, extroverted and sexually curious Renée. But Renée and Flo are united by loneliness and their dysfunctional families, and an intense bond is formed. Although there are obstacles to their friendship (namely Flo's jealous ex-best friend and Renée's growing infatuation with Flo's brother), fifteen is an age where anything can happen, where life stretches out before you, and when every betrayal feels like the end of the world. For Renée and Flo it is the time of their lives.

With graphic content and some scenes of a sexual nature, PAPER AEROPLANES is a gritty, poignant, often laugh-out-loud funny and powerful novel. It is an unforgettable snapshot of small-town adolescence and the heart-stopping power of female friendship.

My thoughts: 

I must first admit that I ordered this book as soon as I saw that it takes place in the 90s. I didn’t care what it was about or that I’d never heard of the author before or that the cover was too pink. I must also add this from the beginning: if you want to reminiscence about the 90s, this is not the book you’re looking for. Other than the fact that there are no SMS, iPhones, Twitter or Facebook in the book, there is nothing that really reminded me of being a young girl in the 90s. In the 2000s, cellphone were forbidden in my high school, so we still passed around handwritten notes around in class, so that was the one thing that got me really excited.

Now, let’s touch upon why those who say “enough with the 90s, Simay; I don’t care” should read this book. Paper Aeroplanes is the story of 15-year-old girls, Flo and Renee. Even though they go to the same school and take the same classes, in the beginning they have nothing to do with each other. Flo is BFFs with a girl called Sally, who doesn’t really care about her and uses her for her own advantage. Renee, on the other hand, hangs out with two girls who don’t care about her; she’s the girl who ditches classes often, gets in trouble a lot and hangs out with the boys.

Their common ground is family. Renee’s mother has died of cancer; she lives with her sister and her grandparents. While the grandparents are still merged in the grief of losing their daughter, Renee is confused and frustrated about what to deal with and how. At the same time, Flo is going through the loss of her father and has to deal with her irresponsible mother, bad boy brother and babysit her little sister. Renee and Flo become inseparable when they find each other, going through similar things and understanding what the other is feeling.

I realize this story in general sounds depressing, but Paper Aeroplanes is actually a very sweet book. It reminds you of how you came to meet with your best friends, how you can share both happiness and sadness with them with the same ease. It was one of the most realistic YA book I’ve read. Especially those of you who are tired of vampires, werewolves, stories where the main characters fall in love at first sight, this will be a fresh breath.

A Note on the Author:

Apparently, Dawn O’Porter is pretty damn famous in the UK as a TV personality. Also, she’s married to Chris O’Dowd.

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Book Trailer Thursday #1: My Snow Day by: Ally Nathaniel

My Snow Day by: Ally Nathaniel Ally Nathaniel Website

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Happy 2014! Wishing Everyone a Joyous Year!

We at Community Bookstop want to take this time to wish everyone a successful and prosperous 2014!  We look forward to working with more great authors, along with our previous wonderful authors.

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