Poetic Justice by H.B. Moore

Justice comes in all types, but justice always comes.

Claire Vetra is looking for two men. The first man she’ll kill. The second man she’ll also kill—after she makes him watch as she destroys everything he’s ever built.

This is only the start of her revenge against the World Alliance Order, which held her hostage for a year and subjected her to live human testing in the name of medical science.

But when Claire begins to unravel her past, she discovers that unlocking the memories of what happened to her might destroy the remaining shreds of her sanity.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

This book is part of the Murder and Mayhem boxed set which is what the Amazon above is linked to.  I believe it will be released as a stand alone at a later date.

I think my stomach was clenched for the majority of this book.  It had me on edge and cringing.  Intense!  Are there really humans out there that do these sort of things to other humans?!  I'm sure there are and it just makes me sick.  I did feel kind of sick at some points of this book but I'm a lightweight when it comes to thrillers like this.  This one had me walking the edge of what I can tolerate.  Yes.  Lightweight.

Claire is amazing.  So smart, so savvy.  After all she has been through it's so surprising that she has even a shred of humanity left.  That's strength.  The book jumps back and forth between the present and varying places in the past until the two collide.  It's a crazy ride and you will absolutely love to hate the bad guy.  He is pure evil.  Ooh, I get the shivers just thinking about him.

And, I have to say, after reading this book, I'm glad I am not a gifted intellectual brainiac because that's what Claire is and look what it got her!  I think I'm perfectly content to be average me- just smart enough.  ;)

Content:  sexual relations outside of marriage with no details, rape described with minimal details leading up to it, swearing (too much for me), violence, torture

- I received a copy of this book from the author.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Spotlight of Elissa Blue by T.K. Perry

Genre:  Fiction, Romance, Sci-Fi, New Adult

Publisher: Scarlet Note Publishing, LLC

Publication date: January 19, 2017

Though she worried it might never happen, Elissa Blue has finally gotten her wings. Now she has a short window of time to migrate to the Mating Mountain, find a husband, and get back down the impassable cliffs before she loses her ability to fly forever. If she doesn’t succeed, she’ll be stranded as a servant in the Old Castle for the rest of her life. And if she doesn’t choose her man wisely, she might be just as miserable.

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T.K. Perry lives with her husband and daughter in a lovely Oregon forest filled with wildlife (there is probably a house, too, but that’s less picturesque). When she isn’t writing or watching said wildlife, she enjoys making jewelry, pretending to be a photographer, and trying to save the world (a frustrating task since she lacks both superpowers and a costume).

T.K. has a B.A. in International Relations from Brigham Young University, an M.A. in International Politics from the University of Denver Graduate School of International Studies, and a J.D. from the University of Denver College of Law. Law is her profession, but writing is a favorite hobby. This is her first published book.

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The Engagement Plot by Krista Phillips

Six months ago, William stole Hanna’s heart and shattered it in front of millions of people on a reality TV dating show. And now the big-wig CEO is back on Hanna’s home turf in Minnesota and wants her to forgive him? Fat chance of that. But life is swirling around faster than snow in a blizzard, and despite her objections, teaming up with William seems like the only option to rescue her reputation.

William has never regretted anything more than the day he gave that ill-fated interview for the reality show, The Price of Love. But while he can’t change the past, he’s determined to fix the future. He just needs to convince Hanna to forgive him—and pretend to be engaged with him. Simple, right?

When the media erupts with even worse accusations, teaming up and pretending to be engaged seems to be the only way to salvage their reputations. Despite the media frenzy that swirls around them, an attraction neither of them can fight off begins to surface. Could this love run deeper than a scandal, or will old wounds tear them apart once and for all? When all seems lost, it’s only with help from above that Hanna and Will may find their happily-ever-after.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

If you read the blurb above for this book I probably know what you are thinking about this book.  A light, fluffy, brain candy sort of book picking up on the "Bachelor" reality TV show.  Right?  Because that's kind of what the blurb would have you think.  But.  I'm here to tell you that this book is more than that.  In fact, the story picks up months after the reality TV portion happened.  Yes, Hanna does do some remembering of certain moments and there are certainly some very "in the public eye" situations, but I loved the very personal sort of feeling I had while reading this book.

These characters, Hanna and William, have depth.  As you get to know them better, you can easily see their strengths and weaknesses.  They both do a lot of growing and learning throughout this book.  It's a process and one I enjoyed very much.  There was an obvious attraction given the history between William and Hannah and though they both try to squelch it, it just won't go away.  That leads to some sparky situations full of tension.  Yup, that was good stuff too.

This book has very obvious Christian elements.  There is nothing overly preachy but it is there.  I thought the whole book was well done and had a good balance of both the lighthearted, fun moments and the more serious, soul searching moments.  I enjoyed it from beginning to end!  I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

Content:  kissing, Christian elements

- I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.  All opinions expressed are my own.

$50 Book Blast for Stone Silence (Sound of Silence #1) by Taylor Dean

NEW RELEASE!!!

STONE SILENCE

by

TAYLOR DEAN

 

Stone Silence by Taylor Dean Great big beautiful love. Does it really exist? Everyone tells me it does. They say, “Spencer Elliott, don’t worry, you’ll find it one day. You just have to find the right man and when you do, it will surprise the heck out of you.” I’m still waiting for that heck of a surprise to hit. It has proven to be elusive thus far. I’m pretty sure the entire world is lying about love and the joke is on me. I know I want a man in my heart and in my life. Unfortunately, most men immediately push my OFF button and I lose interest quickly. Feeling pressure to prove I’m trying to find my soulmate, I finally give in and agree to a date. Huge mistake. Afterward I find myself abandoned in the middle of nowhere, in desperate need of help. That’s when I meet Stony by chance. He’s a silent and unsmiling man who intrigues me with his ability to keep going after life has knocked him down. Suddenly the abstract notion of love becomes tangible and within my reach. Once I experience it, I wonder how I ever lived without it. That’s when I stay with Stony by choice. But when Stony’s hidden past and present-day reality collide, his silence is broken. And the truth about his life nearly brings me to my knees. I can’t compete with ghosts from the past. I refuse to fight for a man’s love. He either loves me or he doesn’t. It’s as simple and as complicated as that. My only hope is . . . he does.

The Sound of Silence Series is a three book series.

Book One: Stone Silence, Spencer’s Story 

Book Two: Jailbird, Mia’s Story 

Book Three: Hothouse Flower, Shay’s Story

Each book has a happy ending and there are no cliffhangers. They are not standalones and should be read in order.

Hate waiting for the next book in a series?

You won't have to wait long!

Yay!

Jailbird, Book Two will be released on December 1st, 2017

Hothouse Flower, Book Three will be released on January 1st, 2018

What readers are saying about STONE SILENCE:

This story just wrapped me in its arms and held me tight. I adored the characters and never wanted the book to end. Dean weaves a heart-tugging romance like nobody else's business. Her books are always a feast to my literary mind and always go on my To-Read-Again pile once I finish.

-Charissa Stastny, Author

Once again Dean takes the raw pain and hurt many of us can relate to, and creates a perfectly romantic tale for readers to escape into, giving us hope, love, second chances and ultimately that believable happily ever after we all seek for as true romance lovers.

-Mylissa's Reviews and Book Thoughts

READ AN EXCERPT FROM STONE SILENCE:
 

“You like home improvement?” he asks.

“I love it. But let’s pick something we both like.”

“Let’s rock, paper, scissors it.”

“Excuse me?” I say, surprised at his suggestion. Again, the levity feels a little odd without an accompanying smile.

He holds out his hand. “Ready? If I win, it’s the baseball game, if you win, it’s home improvement.”

I’m still a little stunned and stare at him open-mouthed.

“You do know how to play rock, paper, scissors, right?”

Flustered, I say, “Yes, of course.”

“Okay then, let’s do this.”

I hold out my hand and he counts, “1, 2, 3 . . .”

He does paper and I do scissors. I win.

“Home improvement it is,” he says.

He flips to HGTV where an episode of House Hunters is playing. He settles into the recliner and seems content.

“You like this?” I ask. “I mean, really, we can watch whatever you’d like.”

“Used to be in the business. Now I just own several rentals.”

“What was your business?”

“Flipping houses. Selling them.”

Okay, that explains why he’s fine with watching HGTV. “You don’t mind watching this?”

“Don’t make me admit it.”

I laugh aloud at this funny man. His deadpan expression makes everything seem funnier than it really is. I can’t hide my smile as I stare at the TV. He’s an enigma and I want to solve the mystery. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Might not answer.”

“Can I ask anyway?” I say.

“Ask away.”

“How much time do you save in your life by never speaking in full sentences?”

He looks over at me with narrowed eyes, but I don’t back down.

“Eons,” he retorts. Then he mumbles, “Smart aleck.”

I laugh, but he remains . . . well, Stony.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense—you’ll find all sub-genres of clean romance in her line-up.

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$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway Ends 11/26/17 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stone Silence (Sound of Silence #1) by Taylor Dean

Great big beautiful love.

Does it really exist?

Everyone tells me it does. They say, “Spencer Elliott, don’t worry, you’ll find it one day. You just have to find the right man and when you do, it will surprise the heck out of you.”

I’m still waiting for that heck of a surprise to hit. It has proven to be elusive thus far. I’m pretty sure the entire world is lying about love and the joke is on me.

I know I want a man in my heart and in my life. Unfortunately, most men immediately push my OFF button and I lose interest quickly.

Feeling pressure to prove I’m trying to find my soulmate, I finally give in and agree to a date. Huge mistake. Afterward I find myself abandoned in the middle of nowhere, in desperate need of help.

That’s when I meet Stony by chance.

He’s a silent and unsmiling man who intrigues me with his ability to keep going after life has knocked him down. Suddenly the abstract notion of love becomes tangible and within my reach. Once I experience it, I wonder how I ever lived without it.

That’s when I stay with Stony by choice.

But when Stony’s hidden past and present-day reality collide, his silence is broken. And the truth about his life nearly brings me to my knees. I can’t compete with ghosts from the past.

I refuse to fight for a man’s love. He either loves me or he doesn’t. It’s as simple and as complicated as that.

My only hope is . . . he does.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

Oh man.  I will always read everything Taylor Dean writes with no hesitation.  Right now I'm feeling like one lucky girl that I get to read and review for her.  I LOVE Taylor Dean books.  If you have never read anything by her, you really must.

This book was full of those emotionally charged moments that I crave as a reader.  It's more than just chemistry and physical attraction, although that is there in abundance as well.  There is a building intensity throughout the book and I was so caught up in it.  I honestly could not put it down.  [This is where I freely admit how annoyed I was at EVERYTHING that pulled me away from this book the day I was reading it.  I only wanted to sit and read and I wanted everyone and everything else to go away.  That sounds horrible but hey, I'm a reader and that's what happens when you find a book that consumes you.  The struggle is real.]

A well told story in the first person is especially attractive to me.  I feel like I'm right there experiencing the thoughts and feelings myself.  Watching Stony through Spencer's eyes was especially yummy because, well, Stony is hot.  Spencer thinks so, so therefore, I think so too.  He's got so many layers of mystery surrounding him which he doesn't really give up easily but when he does?  Hold on to your heart.

I want to go back and read this book again.  Right now.

This book is part of a three book series, each about a different character that connects with part of a story line.  You need to read the books in order but there are no cliffhangers.  Thankfully the books will be released just one month apart so the waiting time will be minimal.  I've been waiting for this book for what feels like forever.  I'm so glad I don't have to wait too long before the next book!  Watch for my review of Jailbird, Sound of Silence #2 on December 1st!

Content:  kissing

- I received a copy of this book from the author.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Forever Yours in Christmas Falls (Return to Christmas Falls #5) by Susan Hatler

Morgan Reed is excited to return to her hometown of Christmas Falls and open her beauty salon, but when she arrives to her rented business space she’s shocked to find it already occupied by Dallas Parker—her brother’s best friend, the guy she had a childhood crush on, and the one her mom blames for their family’s greatest tragedy.

With their landlord out of the country and unreachable, Morgan and Dallas must open their businesses together. But, no worries, all small towns need a combo furniture store/beauty salon, right? Ugh. As they work together, Morgan tries to keep her emotional distance but time and off-the-charts chemistry soon turn a childhood friendship into a blossoming romance.

Unfortunately, just when their relationship develops into something deeper, an unexpected crisis re-opens her family’s old wounds and the blame is on Dallas once again. Will Morgan’s sadness and fear pull them apart, or make her realize Dallas has always been her heart’s true safe harbor?

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

Susan Hatler proves yet again with this book just why I love her!  Her books always give me butterflies and swoony feelings with flirty banter and fun characters.  And Dallas?  Um, hello.  Morgan and I may have a crush on him together.  He's just full of strong manly traits that are so attractive!

It's always satisfying to see a character find the strength to follow their dreams and Morgan definitely does that in this book.  She has tried to fit the mold her mother has for her but it's never been what she wants.  When Morgan finally finds the courage to step into her own path and find her own happiness, my heart did a little song of joy.  She owned her decisions and I felt that strength.

I love the added depth of emotion and connection a shared tragedy brings to Morgan and Dallas's relationship.  Their history has many good moments and couple not so good.  It gives the story a good balance with all the reconnecting chemistry that is flying around.

This book is part of a series but can stand all on it's own.  I've been reading the series and I am absolutely loving it.  Each book is by a different author but the books intertwine with location and a common character of Miss Anna Cate.  This is the perfect series to get into with the holiday season fast approaching!

Content:  kissing

- I received a copy of this book from the author.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Blue Ridge Sunrise (Blue Ridge Romance #1) by Denise Hunter

Former free spirit Zoe Collins swore she’d never again set foot in Copper Creek or speak to the man who broke her heart. But return she must when her beloved Granny dies, leaving the family legacy to Zoe--a peach orchard nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

When Zoe returns home with her daughter and boyfriend Kyle, she finds that she’s the only person in town who doesn’t expect her to give up the life she’s established far away from Copper Creek. Everyone believes she was born to run the orchard, but how can she make it her home after so many years?

Cruz Huntley never quite got over his first love Zoe Collins, the little sister of his best friend Brady. Not when she cheated on him during their “break,” not when she took off to parts unknown with good-for-nothing Kyle Jenkins, and not even now—five years later.

As life-changing decisions and a history with Cruz hang over Zoe’s head, tensions rise between her and Kyle. Even as she comes to terms with the shifting relationships in her life, Zoe still isn’t sure if she can remain in Copper Creek with her new responsibilities . . . and her first love.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

One thing I love about Denise Hunter is she knows how to write books that get into the gritty parts of life that aren't so pretty.  Her books bring out the not so pretty and the sometimes hopeless parts but she also shows how those not so pretty things can turn into beautiful things through love and faith.  Hunter's books always feel like a journey that end in the best sort of satisfaction for me.

Cruz and Zoe have quite the history.  It unfolds slowly throughout that book as the two try to navigate a new reality of working together after years spent apart.  They parted after some big misunderstandings which provide for some major bumps in the road as they try to come to terms with what happened.  Cruz and Zoe are imperfect people.  Their flaws are obvious but so are their strengths.  It makes them feel human and easy to relate to.

I loved the light suspense and the added tension it brought as I just waited for that "something" to happen that I knew was coming.  

I enjoyed this book a lot!  I read through it quickly and found myself caring about the characters.  The pacing is great.  I really hope Zoe's brother gets his story next!  :)

Content:  mild violence, mentions of sex outside of marriage with no details, kissing.  Light Christian fiction elements.

- I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.  All opinions expressed are my own.