{Review} Silk Armor by Claire Sydenham

ISBN #: 978-0615774749

Page Count: 352

Copyright: April 30, 2013

Publisher: Old Harbour Press

Book Description:

(Taken from Amazon)

Her name is Didem, a young Turkish woman. She has managed to escape the hopeless future she faced in her village, and has entered university. There she meets Victor, an American instructor teaching English. When they become lovers, however, Didem is propelled into an entirely new and dangerous future. The obstacles and threats their relationship faces leads Didem and Victor into plans of escape, an escape Didem must keep secret.

Silk Armor follows her adventure through her battles with her community, her culture, her traditions and conscience, leading to her realization that though these battles may be lost her war can still be won.

Charlene's Review:

Silk Armor is a powerful story of cultural ties, veiled existence, and deep-seated beliefs. Focusing on Didem, a student, and her love affair with her American instructor, Ms. Sydenham takes us on a journey through another country where religion and familial ties are a burden holding a young girl back from her dreams. Adding into the plot is a disappearance of another student and an in-depth explanation of a foreign culture.

What struck me the most in Silk Armor was the haunted characters. All of Ms. Sydenham's characters have secrets, burdens, or a calling that they are in battle against. As they struggle between their circumstance and their pull towards "more," they learn what they may gain, or lose, in order to break away.


*A physical copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

{Meme} Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to the final August 2013 Book Blogger Hop, hosted by Billy from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. This meme helps you to know how your favorite (or not-so-favorite) book blogger thinks.

This week's question:

Have you ever ended up reading a book with its last or last few pages missing? What book was it? And how did you manage to get to the end?

Kathy's Response:

Never. I don't think I could. I would be devastated if it was a really good book and this happened to me. I'd probably run out and get another copy immediately so I could read the ending.

Mandy's Response:

No, THANK GOD! I think I am OCD enough that I'd have a conniption fit if the last few pages of my novel were missing. After I was done freaking out, I'd go to the store and find the book and read the last few pages right there ... forget buying it!


I hope this has never happened to you all, but if it has let us hear your story!

{Review} Common Descent by Natasha Larry

ISBN #: 978-1935563945

Publisher: Penumbra Publishing

Book Summary:

(As provided by the author)

Eighteen-year old Jaycie Lerner's telekinesis is finally in check - too bad levitating a picnic table is now a workout. Not to mention her previously dormant telepathy is back and raging out of control. As she struggles to relearn her frightening power, the Dey-Vah announce they will soon unleash the supernatural world on the human race. To make matters worse, people start dropping dead all over northern Alabama. Then, a mysterious new enemy emerges.

Jaycie must elicit the help of the world's only master vampire slayer and an assassin who gets her tips from the voices in her head. Strengthening the Core is the only way to protect mankind from the coming vampire army, and they aren't even the most dangerous threat.

Jaycie and her family face their darkest hour when an innocent young girl serves as a pawn to form a deadly Alliance. The perfect vampire, Lilith Bradshaw, becomes an eye-opening example of how far the Alliance will go to serve their own destructive ends. The world around Jaycie steeps into darkness, and betrayals from the past threaten to undo them all.

Mandy's Review:

Every now and then we all come across a book in a series that we don't like as much as the rest ... right? Unfortunately, this happened to me with Common Descent.

Jaycie now has access to all of her powers and she has to train to get them under control. She's afraid of using them at all because she doesn't want to experience another surge. That much power in a teenage body can be way too much to handle. Fortunately, she has people around her that can bring her down in case she overdoes it. Matt plans one event to force Jaycie to use her full powers yet have control over them ... an event for which he will have to deal with the repercussions.

Speaking of Matt ... he seems a little diva-esque in this book. Because of the aforementioned event, Jaycie gets pissed at him and "handles" him. When she calms down and is ready to apologize, Matt decides he doesn't want to answer her phone calls for awhile. He intentionally made Jaycie mad and then he's going to play the diva and not accept her calls. Reading his personality in this book made me feel as if he was manipulating Jaycie by ignoring her at times and making her come to him when he's good and ready for her to. I've loved Matt as a character in the first two books, but he just annoyed me in Common Descent.

I was happy to finally see two people "come together" (*nudge nudge, wink wink*) in this book. The sexual tension between the two has been palpable for the whole series. This couple has actually become my favorite couple of the series over Jaycie and Matt. No, I'm not going to tell you who they are because that will spoil some of the story for you.

Overall I feel as if the book mainly focused on the Core and their relationships with each other. The fight scenes were intermingled with the rest of the story, which were probably intended to grow a sense of anticipation within the reader for the showdown that was going to happen. Unfortunately, the showdown was not climatic for me. It could have been a result of my mood while reading or because I thought the showdown was depicted too briefly. Whatever the reason, I did like this book but I didn't love it. You have the opportunity to prove me wrong, however. What do you think about the book?


*An ecopy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

{Review} Reasons Not to Diet by Jenny Holmlund

ASIN #: B00CXP7472

File Size: 2804 KB

Copyright: May 21, 2013

Publisher: Turtle Bite Books

Book Summary:

(Taken from Amazon)

Tired of all the hype, obsession and strict rules around our weight? Do you begin to suspect that dieting is just as effective for reaching your dream weight, as it is to get rich quickly by wishing upon a star? Do you think that beauty is an attitude, and not what the scale says? In this handy book, you get the fifty best reasons not to diet. And it's filled with beautiful illustrations that pay homage to people with curves and sass!

Reasons Not to Diet is a quick read antidote to hostile messages about how we should look. In the tone of a no-nonsense, straight talking and caring friend it will remind you that you are beautiful just as you are and argue why you shouldn't suffer another diet.

Mandy's Review:

As a (currently) plus-size girl, I do agree that society places too much emphasis on dieting and trying to get fat people skinny instead of healthy. There is beauty in curves and having a little extra fluffiness for guys/girls to hold on to. If this book is used to support those curvaceous women (and stocky guys) that are healthy and not obese, then I think this book is wonderful! My concern is that those who are obese and are not trying to be healthy will take this book as an okay to keep pursuing their unhealthy lifestyle.

I am currently in the process of losing my plus-size figure. Not because my husband doesn't love it (because he does), but because I want to be healthier. I'll always be thick and will never be stick-thin and I am absolutely okay with that, but there is something about being healthy. On my journey to being healthy, I am not dieting. I think dieting is for the birds. If that's what you like to do and it helps you, more power to you, honey, I'm proud of you. Dieting is not something I enjoy doing. Instead, I'm focusing on smaller portions and healthier foods. I'm focusing on changing my lifestyle by becoming more active.

If you're fed up with diets, Reasons Not to Diet will encourage you in your continuance to forego dieting. I only wish that it also encouraged healthy eating and an active lifestyle because curvaceous/stocky people are able to live such a life and not lose their lushness.


*An ecopy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

{Review} Hope's Reign by Selina Fenech

ASIN #: B00CMXP8NM

File Size: 2088 KB

Page Count: 360

Copyright: May 1, 2013

Publisher: Fairies and Fantasy Pty Ltd

Book Summary:

(Taken from Amazon)

Everything is slipping away from Memory. The bond of friendship between her, Eloryn, Roen, and Will, that was formed while running for their lives is tearing. In a world that doesn't feel like home, with a mind filled with nothing but questions, Memory struggles to be true to herself ... whoever that is. When her past self starts haunting her, she knows her sanity could be the next thing she will lose.

Mandy's Review:

With Hope's Reign being the second book in the Memory's Wake Trilogy, let me give you a brief background on the first book, Memory's Wake. Memory is a teenage-girl who entered a new world through a Veil Door. Upon arriving in Avall, Memory (who has ironically lost all of her memories) meets Eloryn, who turns out to be her twin sister, Roen, who is currently a thief because of his royal family's current living situation, and Will, who is a boy from her world whom she hasn't seen in a long time. They join together and defeat Thayl, the man who loved Memory and Eloryn's mother but was also the person responsible for getting her killed. Once Thayl is captured, the rule of Avall is given back to Eloryn and Memory, the last blood heirs to the royal family.

In Hope's Reign, Eloryn and Memory are being taught the proper royal etiquette so they know how to behave after Eloryn becomes Queen and Memory a princess. Legally, Memory should be Queen since she is the first born of the twins but Eloryn's personality is better suited for ruling ... or so they think.

Eloryn really annoyed me in this book. It was blatantly obvious to everyone that Eloryn was being manipulated by Hayes. Eloryn remained clueless and naive. She wound up giving Hayes way too much power all because she didn't have the backbone to make a few difficult decisions.

Memory's magical abilities are starting to become out of control. Any time she feels a strong emotion, things happen without her meaning them to. The one teacher she finally finds that can help her control her magic conveniently winds up dead. Is it an assassination attempt on the twins or was it intentionally done to prevent Memory from getting knowledge about her abilities?

Roen has been re-established as royalty but still feels some guilt and shame about his thieving ways. He formally asks for permission to court one of the twins, but is refused by the Council because he is the seventh son of a seventh son and, therefore, has no magical abilities. He agrees to move on, not because he doesn't love her (I'm not going to tell you who) but, because he loves her so much he wants the best for her.

Thayl winds up being even more mysterious in this book. He connects emotionally with Memory and makes mention that he is glad she never had a father like him. Then, later on in the book, it's mentioned that Memory and Eloryn's mother never had "relations" with her husband, insinuating that Thayl may be the twins' father after all. This never gets fully confirmed or denied, in my opinion, and I'm still wondering which is true. I'm hoping this will be fully explained in the third book.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and appreciate how the author ended it. Hope's Reign is the perfect continuation of this trilogy. The writing remains superb and engaging. This is a unique storyline that I've not seen before and think many of you would enjoy reading.


*An ecopy of this novel was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.