Mandy Reviews: The Gentle Wind's Caress by Anne Brear

ISBN #: 978-1908483324

Page Count: 354

Copyright: June 7, 2012

Publisher: Knox Robinson Publishing

Book Summary:

(Taken from Amazon)

Halifax, 1876.

On the death of her mother and sister, Isabelle Gibson is left to fend for herself and her brother in a privately-run workhouse. After the matron's son attempts to rape her, Isabelle decides to escape him and a life of drudgery by agreeing to marry a moorland farmer she has never met. But this man, Farrell, is a drunkard and a bully in constant feud with his landlord, Ethan Harrington.

When Farrell bungles a robbery and deserts her, Isabelle and Ethan are thrown together as she struggles to save the farm. Both are married and must hide their growing love. But despite the secrecy, Isabelle draws strength from Ethan as faces from the past return to haunt her and a tragedy is set to strike that will change all of their lives forever.

Mandy's Review:

First of all, I must say this ...

THE COVER IS GORGEOUS!!!

I love the colors, the picture, the sentiment it portrays ... I just adore it.

Now that I got that out of my system, let's get down to the nitty gritty: The book opens with Isabelle and Hughie standing at their sister's open grave as she has just died. Their father left them a few years before and their mother died soon after that. Now that it's just the two of them, Isabelle is determined to get them out of the workhouse they've been in since their father left. The matron's dislike for Isabelle and the matron's son's continuous (unwanted) attempted advances are more than enough to spurn Isabelle into deciding that a marriage is the best way out of their situation.

Thanks to the matron's deceitfulness, Isabelle is married to a drunkard and an abuser. She determines to make the best of her situation and stays with him. It takes a year or so for Isabelle to realize the mistake she's made as she looks at her brother and realizes he has become sullen and pessimistic thanks to living with Farrell, Isabelle's husband.

Enter the brave knight on a white horse: Ethan Harrington. He actually owns the land Farrell lives on. As these stories go, Ethan and Isabelle fall in love. There's just one ... okay, maybe two ... problem(s). They're both married ... to separate people. Both of their marriages, though, seem to be a marriage of convenience. Ethan and Isabelle decide that divorces are needed as soon as possible so they can be together.

Will their separate divorces be granted? Do Ethan and Isabelle get their rose-colored future they dream about?

There is a lot of action in this story. I read this whole book through in one day. I didn't want to put it down. The plot twists kept my interest as I continued reading to find out what happened next.

My only issue with the book (other than some slight editing issues here and there) is that, like most romantic fictions, every male wanted the main female character. I can understand one, two, maybe even three at the most, but there were four male characters that wanted Isabelle. All for slightly different reasons, but still ... it becomes a little redundant after awhile. I mean, come on, is she really that intriguing and sexy? Is she really so different from all the other females of Halifax?

Despite my one issue, I am curious to know if there is a sequel in the works. Isabelle's story doesn't feel finished to me and I'd like to see how she ends up. I would highly recommend this novel to all fiction lovers out there, especially those who enjoy romantic, historical, English novels.



*An ecopy of this novel was provided by Knox Robinson Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Charlene Reviews: Shades of Murder by Lauren Carr

ISBN #: 978-1470082444

Page Count: 230

Copyright: May 8, 2012

Publisher: CreateSpace

Description:

(Taken from back cover)

Question: What do you get the man with everything?

Answer: When that man is the heir of the late mystery writer Robin Spencer, retired homicide detective Mac Faraday, you get him cold case to solve.

In Shades of Murder, Mac Faraday is once again the heir to an unbelievable fortune. This time the benefactor is a stolen art collector. But this isn't just any stolen work-of-art - it's a masterpiece with a murder attached to it.

Ilysa Ramsay was in the midst of taking the art world by storm with her artistic genius. Hours after unveiling her latest masterpiece - she is found dead in her Deep Creek Lake studio - and her painting is nowhere to be found.

Almost a decade later, the long lost Ilysa Ramsay masterpiece has found its way into Mac Faraday's hands and he can't resist the urge to delve into the case. A world away, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; former JAG lawyer Joshua Thornton agrees to do a favor for the last person he would ever expect to do a favor - a convicted serial killer.

The Favor: Solve the one murder wrongly attributed to him. Joshua finds an unexpected ally in Cameron Gates, a spunky detective who has reason to believe the young woman known to the media only as Jane Doe, Victim Number Four, was the victim of a copycat.

Together, Joshua and Cameron set out to light a flame under the cold case only to find that someone behind the scenes wants the case to remain cold, and is willing to kill to keep it that way. Little do these detectives know that the paths of their respective cases are on a collision course when they follow the clues to bring them together in a showdown with a killer who's got a talent for murder!

Charlene's Review:

Shades of Murder begins in Maryland with the murder of an up and coming artist. Meanwhile in Pennsylvania, JAG lawyer, Joshua Thornton, makes a promise to a convicted serial killer that he will find who really murdered the one lady he was wrongly accused of killing. As the plot develops, many twists and turns occur, and soon, the detectives are working together to solve what may or may not be all the same crime.

Lauren Carr could give Agatha Christie a run for her money! This hypnotic page-turner is a whirlwind of romance, murder, and espionage. Lots of creativity went into the unforeseen twists, and culminated in a climactic ending that tied the multi-faceted story into a nice little package. I also appreciated the special attention paid to the animal characters, which were every bit as developed as their human counterparts. This was an absolutely delightful read that is sure to be a hit with mystery readers. I look forward to reading her other books, as I am now a fan!


*A physical copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Charlene Reviews: Crashing Eden by Michael Sussman

ISBN #: 978-1477444894

Page Count: 220

Copyright: May 11, 2012

Publisher: CreateSpace

Description:

(Taken from back cover)

For one boy and his friends, the path to Paradise comes at a cost - one they may not be prepared to pay.

When a biking accident leaves 17-year-old Joss Kazdan with the ability to hear things others can't, reality as he knows it begins to unravel.

A world of legends exists beyond the ordinary life he's always known, and he is transported to the same Paradise he's studying in World Mythology. But the strange gets even stranger when his new friends build a device that delivers people through the gates of the Garden of Eden.

Now Samael, the Creator God, is furious. As Samael rains down his apocalyptic devastation on the ecstasy-seeking teens, Joss and his companions must find a way to appease Samael - or the world will be destroyed forever.

Charlene's Review:

Joss, 17 years old, and fresh from juvenile detention, hates his life. He can't seem to stay out of trouble, his younger brother committed suicide, and his mother blames him. After hitting his head in a bike accident, Joss suddenly hears music that changes his life. It takes away the pain and depression that have plagued him, and makes him want to be a better person. Coinciding with his accident, Joss is learning about mythology in school, and the fall of man. He also meets a woman that promises him the soothing freedom he has found can last. As things unfold, Joss realizes that they have found the way back to the Garden of Eden. The only thing standing in the way of human happiness is Samael, who Joss and his friends must confront if they want to continue feeling bliss.

Crashing Eden is marketed as a YA fantasy novel. I, personally, found it intoxicating. Who has never wished for an escape from the pain and suffering on earth? Mr. Sussman delights his reader with vivid imagery, realistic human interaction, and a sense of hope. There are some very profound topics covered, and I must say, a certain level of controversy. Using mythology as a base, Mr. Sussman gives us an angry god who needs intervention from his own creation. A little unnerving to someone who has strong religious convictions, but seeing it as fiction, I was able to put it aside and enjoy the story. There's plenty of action as apocalyptic plagues and signs fall on the world as more and more people succumb to the "primordial vibrations."

Crashing Eden is written with much intelligence and sprinkled with great humor. It is ultimately a feel good story of the possibility of a nearly perfect existence in a badly scarred world. Beautiful, lyrical, and endearing, it will stay with you long after you're finished reading.


*A physical copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Tour/Book Spotlight/Excerpt: Knee Deep by Jolene Perry

Welcome to our third, and final, post for Jolene Perry's Knee Deep virtual book blog tour. For this post, we are sharing an excerpt from Knee Deep to spark your interest.

If you missed our first two posts, just scroll down. They are posted below this one.

Enjoy!

Knee Deep Excerpt:

My front door opens. "Hello?" Shawn calls.

"In here!" I say back. Suddenly this feels weird. Why would this feel weird? This is just what happens when one of us is stuck at home. Why would today be any different? But my heart's beating against the inside of my ribs, trying to tell me this is different.

Luke scoots away from the couch. Does he feel it too? That maybe him and me hanging out alone for the day might not have been the best idea?

Shawn steps through the hallway and scowls when his eyes meet mine and then pass to Luke. This shouldn't be a big deal. Except ... I'm so stupid. I was just thinking how I needed to make Shawn's life outside of his house less stressful, and part of me knew it was weird that Luke was here without Shawn. I thought it, and did nothing. But again, it is just Luke.

"What're you doing here?" Shawn asks. His dark eyes fix on Luke.

"I figured you'd be here, man." Luke stands up. "It's like we always ditch together, right?"

Romeo and Juliet kissing in the pool on the TV screen probably isn't helping anything. Maybe Shawn won't notice, or maybe it's just sending my heart into crazy flutters because this tension between Shawn and Luke and, I guess, me, is happening during the most romantic scene of the movie.

"Uh, I don't know." Shawn's still scowling, his brows pulled low and his jaw tight.

"You would've hated it," I say. My eyes catch his, but his are as black as his mood seems to be. I'm so stupid. Why did I have to let Luke stay?

"Yeah, maybe." Shawn's narrowed eyes go from Luke to me, back and forth, as if judging the situation. Really? What did he think could possibly happen between Luke and I? Even if this is suddenly on my top three 'most awkward moments' ever. I can't even think about what the other two might be. Maybe I've just found number one.

"Romeo and Juliet all day." Luke laughs, but I know him well enough to see he's trying really hard to be relaxed. His shoulders are too stiff, and his normal stance is too rigid. I wonder if Shawn sees it too. "Guess I'll leave you two alone." Luke's trying hard to keep his voice light.

"Yeah." Shawn has yet to return Luke's smile. "I almost never see my girl anymore."

It's like I'm on the edge of my seat, tension pinpricking every part of me. I've never seen Shawn like this.

"Well, I should get my ass to rehearsal anyway." Luke gives Shawn a friendly pat on the shoulder before heading outside.

I don't watch him go. My eyes are on Shawn, trying to figure out what to expect next.

"What the hell was that?" His sharp gaze is now pointed directly at me.

I stand up and lean to the side, trying to be relaxed. "It didn't seem like a big deal this morning." Maybe if I play it off as nothing Shawn won't be so mad. He knows Luke and I are friends. No big deal, I tell myself again. But I don't know if I'm trying to convince myself or Shawn.

"Was he here when we were texting?" he asks. His voice may be low, but not in a good way. It's low in a way that makes him sound like he's past the edge of reasonable anger.

My body's screaming for me to take a step back, which makes no sense. This is Shawn. My Shawn. "No." But I'm weakening by the second, almost shaking inside. His jaw tightens again.

My eyes close as I remember, and dread fills my chest. "He got here as I sent my last one." Is that bad? Good?

"And you didn't think to tell me? What the hell is that?"

I jump at the sharpness of his voice. Shawn doesn't need this stress. I know this. I reach forward to put my arms around him. We just need to hold one another for a minute, then it'll all be fine.

He stops me, grabbing my arm - hard - just above my wrist.

"This is not okay." His jaw is set.

"Hey." My voice shakes. My body shakes. I'm actually scared of Shawn for the first time ever. I jerk my hand once, but he tightens his grip ... impossibly tight. My lungs can't pull in a breath; there's just not enough air in the room anymore. "Shawn, you're hurting me." He can't mean to hurt me. He can't.

His face is stuck in a sharp scowl.

"He's your friend." My voice is crying. I want to try and pull my shaky arm out of his grasp again, but I'm afraid to; he's squeezing so hard. Tears are hot against the back of my eyes, threatening to spill over.

"How would you feel if I spent all day with some chick?" The words come out as angry spit from between his teeth.

I open my mouth to answer but can't, the lump in my throat has taken over. All I can think about is that I need to find something to say so he'll let me go. Some way to get the air through my throat to form words. "It's just Luke," I plead, sucking in a breath.

"Whatever." He throws my arm back at me, turns, and walks out the door, slamming it hard behind him. My body jumps at the sound.

I stumble backward onto the couch. I'm like a leaf battered about in the wind. Nothing's working right. I need to sit. Normally I'd run after him, but I have no idea what to expect. And I'm afraid. Of Shawn.

He's never been that way before. Ever. He's moody and particular, but this seems ... extreme. I'm cradling my wrist with my other hand, afraid to look at any possible damage. It hurts to move it. What just happened here? How did it happen?

It's like there suddenly must be something fundamentally wrong with the universe. But the TV's still on. My house looks normal and quiet. I'm still breathing, but Shawn, my Shawn, just hurt me. Lying down seems so anti-climactic, but I can't bring myself to do anything else.

When Juliet realizes Romeo's dying the sobs take over, and I pull my knees to my chest as if making myself smaller will somehow dull the pain.

It doesn't.

Blog Tour/Book Spotlight, Part Two: Guest Post by Jolene Perry

Welcome back to Literary R&R for the second of three installments of our book spotlight. We are doing this as participation in Jolene Perry's Knee Deep virtual book blog tour. If you missed our first posting for this tour, you can scroll down to the post below this one.

Now, we'll turn it over to Jolene ...

Sometimes a story is more personal than you expect it to be.

I read an article in an online newspaper that talked about the YA books coming out that year which dealt with abusive relationships.

I'd part mapped one out a while back, and thought maybe I'd work on it - all evidence that the market had just gotten an influx of them didn't sway me the way it should have ...

The more I wrote in the story, the more personal it became.

I was not ever hit by my boyfriend in high school. He never screamed and yelled at me - though I heard him thrashing his room a few times when I left after an argument, and he didn't hesitate to show me when he was pissed about something.

He'd pick fights with me over the phone and hang up, knowing it meant I'd sneak out to "straighten things out."

There was one really horrible night with him that I'd blocked from my mind for a long time, that I remembered when I was writing, so I used it.

I see these cases my husband talks about with women who are beaten and bruised and making up excuses and going back over and over. One ended in murder a couple of weeks ago. A case my husband will be prosecuting when it goes to trial.

The abuse story I told is nowhere near that dramatic, but so much of Ronnie's story was mine. WAY more than I realized while I was writing it. When I got to the end, and started writing down the parts of her story that were real (I always do this for my author site), I realized more and more how much of me was in that girl.

I stared at my computer screen in shock.

I had one of my best friends, who was a guy, who I shared more with than I probably did to most of my girlfriends - (like Luke from Knee Deep) and a boyfriend I'd known since I was a kid (like Shawn from Knee Deep) and I felt this draw to my boyfriend, only because I'd known him for so long, not because we really had anything left in common.

I felt more like I was stuck in this relationship, and didn't even realize I didn't want to be there until I visited a friend in college and saw how much more LIFE was out there. It was just that the idea of this one person had been in my head for way too long.

And where did I end up? Married to the best friend.

People talk about writing what you know, and then talk about keeping yourself out of your books. But you know what? I KNEW that situation - and I know I'll get some bad reviews (like you always do - ESPECIALLY when you tackle a tough topic) that are going to say that Ronnie's actions weren't believable.

But here's the thing - I told her story, the best way I knew how. Ronnie's reactions with pieces of my truth. And there are some drastic differences, but there are also some startling similarities. So, to me, Ronnie's actions were completely and totally understandable.

And that's the story of how Knee Deep came to be.