Tuesday, July 21, 2015

{Review} CONTRACT: SNATCH (SEI ASSASSIN THRILLER, BOOK 1) by Ty Hutchinson

ISBN #: 978-1514787267
Page Count: 314
Copyright: July 3, 2015
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform


Description:
(Taken from back cover)

Living a secluded life in Belgium, Sei has no thoughts of returning to her former life as an assassin until a mysterious person confronts her with a contract she can’t possibly turn down. Payment isn’t monetary; instead, it’s information leading to the whereabouts of a little girl.

Hers.

In a matter of seconds, Sei is pulled back into a world she left behind. She accepts the contract to chase the truth about her daughter, but what appears to be a routine mission turns into a fight for survival. If Sei is to have any hope of reuniting with her child, she must first save herself.


Charlene's Review:

Sei is first introduced to readers in Mr. Hutchinson’s Chinatown Trilogy. In Contract:Snatch, Sei has been enjoying a self-imposed hiatus from her work, until a mysterious message comes in and Sei is confronted with the possibility that the daughter she lost at childbirth is actually alive and being held in exchange for a dangerous mission.

Every time I receive a Ty Hutchinson book for review, it’s like Christmas. I am never sure what is inside but I know, without a doubt, the surprise will be delightful. Contract may be the most adrenaline fueled book yet. The protagonist is once again, an unassuming, ballsy female raised for the fight. From the very first page, the tone is set on high action, and it continues until the very last page.

Sei lacks the sarcasm of some of Mr. Hutchinson’s characters, which I missed, but her drive and acrobatics make for an interesting character study. As always, there is food, mystery and unexpected twists that accompany the storyline, and the ending leaves you breathless in anticipation. No "contract" is necessary here because waiting on Book Two is murder!

5 out of 5 stars!


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

Sunday, July 19, 2015

{Review} THOSE SECRETS WE KEEP by Emily Liebert

ISBN #: 978-0451471871
Page Count: 336
Copyright: June 2, 2015
Publisher: NAL


Description:
(Taken from Amazon)

Three women. Three lives. Three secrets.

On the surface, Sloane has the perfect life—an adoring husband, a precocious daughter, and enough financial security to be a stay-at-home mom. Still, she can’t help but feel as though something—or someone—is missing....

Hillary has a successful career and a solid marriage. The only problem is her inability to conceive. And there’s a very specific reason why....

As the wild-child daughter of old family money, Georgina has never had to accept responsibility for anything. So when she realizes an unexpected life change could tie her down forever, she does exactly what she’s always done: escape.

When these three women unite for a three-week-long summer vacation in beautiful Lake George, New York, even with the idyllic location as their backdrop, the tensions begin to mount. And they quickly discover that no secret can be kept forever....


Mandy's Review:

There comes a point in a person's life when it's thought, "Have I taken the right path?" What if I would've chosen a different spouse? What if I would've gone off to college instead of staying home? What if I would've taken the hard road instead of taking it easy all the time? Would I still end up here? I don't know if these are mid-life crisis questions or not, but I've looked at my life at times and have wondered some of these. Sloane is in the same situation. Her husband treats her like a queen. He loves her and would do anything to make her happy. When you have a spouse that does that all the time, you become used to having it and start taking him/her for advantage. That's what's happened with Sloane.

Her time at her aunt's lake house is supposed to be fore Sloane trying to figure out if she wants to stay in her marriage. Instead, Georgina crashes the "party" and creates a situation for Sloane that wasn't expected ... reuniting Sloane with her ex-flame. Spending time with her formal lover has Sloane desiring a life of luxury and ease. Will she give in to temptation and go where the grass seems greener?

Hillary, Sloane's newest best friend, seems like she's got it all together. Her marriage is one of the best Sloane has ever seen. We all have a secret we don't like to share, though, and Hillary is no exception. She's hidden hers for three long years and she's starting to feel guilty enough to share it with her husband. Will he still love her after he finds out?

Georgina is the wild-child of the group and Sloane's long-time best friend. She's never been really reliable, always skipping out when the going gets tough. Which should've given Sloane some type of clue as to why Georgina would just invite herself to come to the lake house, but it didn't. Probably because Sloane is so wrapped up in her own problems.

At first, this book seemed like a light read and, if you don't contemplate it too much, it stays that way. Me, though? I like to contemplate. The three women really showcase what I believe is inside every woman.

Georgina represents the side of us that just wants to run away when we can't take any more. Some responsibilities scare the bejeezus (sp?) out of us and we just want to go somewhere and forget about things for a while ... maybe forever. What do most of us do, though? We stick it out - have a slight panic attack every now and then - and then pick right back up where we left off. Because, deep down, we're nurturers and our sense of responsibility weighs on us heavily.

Hillary represents the side of us that enjoys being Suzy Homemaker. We're good at it, we do what we're supposed to, and we're always prepared while doing it. We always look presentable and that we have it all together.

Sloane represents the biggest part of us whether we want to admit it or not. It's the part we keep pushing down and hiding because of our sense of responsibility. We're always wondering if we chose the right path, if we're with the right person, if we should've done something different. It feels too late to do anything about it now though, right? You can always change your life, you just have to decide if you can really live with the consequences of your decisions. That's the real dilemma.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and appreciated that it was a quick read. It kept my interest throughout. I also appreciated the way it ended. It felt real and not something written just to make people happy.


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

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

{Review} LOVE STORY FOR A NATION by Mark W. Sasse

ISBN #: 978-1514131978
Page Count: 232
Copyright: June 30, 2015
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform


Description:
(Taken from back cover)

A country at a crossroads. Angry fists in the air. Night raids burn the city.

The mundane existence of Gerald Sanpatri takes a welcome and dramatic shift when Rosia walks into his life bringing laughter, joy, and unexpected love. She inspires the former revolutionary figure and writer to once again take up his pen and imagination to dream the impossible - a love story for an entire nation.


Charlene's Review:

When we first meet Gerald Sanpatri, he is celebrating his first wedding anniversary with his wife, Rosia, who has just revealed they are expecting a child. Living under a dictator, Gerald hides deep secrets to a past he thinks he’s left behind, in order to protect his new family. Unfortunately, Geralds life takes a drastic turn, and all he has left are the journals his beloved Rosia left him, and the determination to stand firm. As secrets unfold and protests reach a breaking point, Gerald uses his pen to give life to his unborn child, and a future to a country he loves.

There are numerous layers to unpack within this novel. Obviously, a love story between Gerald and Rosia, but also a story of a country under dictatorship, of personal betrayal, loss, and fear, and a story of ultimate surrender. The ending is a poignant portrayal of sacrifice.

I have enjoyed several novels by Mr. Sasse, but this story deeply affected me. Gerald, as a character, is submissive and powerful all at the same time. The oppression with which the country is faced is remarkable and Mr. Sasse’s writing reflects the fear and hopelessness of the people caught under it. The poetic justice of the story comes in the simple act of a humble man, standing firm against tyranny, without weapon or malice. Beautiful and hauntingly written.


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

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

{Review} THE LOFT by Diane Paley

ISBN #: 978-1910530542
Page Count: 188
Copyright: April 24, 2015
Publisher: Mirador Publishing


Book Summary:
(Taken from Amazon)

THE LOFT is a gripping story about a young couple who rent a fifth floor residential loft and are soon witnesses to ghostly apparitions. Later, they discover that their neighbors in the loft below them are satanic devil worshipers who are members of a little known evil and deadly cult that makes human sacrifices to Satan. Although THE LOFT includes episodes of several hauntings, the story is about so much more than the paranormal events. However, as the story unfolds and the apparitions no longer appear, the spirits still affect the lives of the main characters throughout the novel. The previous residents of the fifth floor loft felt certain that the cult was responsible for the disappearance of their beloved dog, and the owners of the sixth floor were convinced that the cult was responsible for the murder of their four-year-old daughter. Those residents eventually fled their homes out of sheer fear. Unknowingly, the young couple rented the fifth floor loft and, regretfully, their lives would be confronted with eerie hauntings and later they would become victims of the brutal satanic cult. Diane Paley's previous novels, SLANTED and BACKING AWAY FORWARD, were written in completely different genres. THE LOFT is as unique and compelling as her other novels.


Shelley's Review:

The Loft by Diane Paley is a unique and interesting twist on your typical mystery/whodunit. The main character, Mara, and her husband Noah suffer through the trials and tribulations of any newly married couple.  After finding out Mara is pregnant, and with twins, the couple agree that their tiny apartment is not  big enough and they find a beautiful loft with plenty of space.   Soon, though they realize something is not right.  Strange neighbors and sightings of things not of this world start to concern Mara and Noah.  And then, Mara disappears, and all clues point to the strange neighbors.  Mara finds herself a victim of a kidnapping with horrible intentions.

Ms. Paley managed something that few have.  She has constructed a mystery without the unnecessary blood and gore overload.  There is enough to keep the reader interested without wading through a cesspool of a story.


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

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

{Review} OF FOREIGN BUILD by Jackie Parry

ASIN #: B00OQBWJJE
File Size: 1124 KB
Page Count: 402
Copyright: October 30, 2014


Book Summary:
(Taken from Goodreads)

After suffering an emotionally-brutal bereavement and against her counsellor’s advice, Jackie ran away. Suddenly within a new culture, with a new husband, and no friends, she was living in the obscure world of cruising with zero knowledge of boats.

Crashing within the first twenty-four hours, Jackie realised life would never be the same again; a floating home with no fridge or hot water, and with a dinghy instead of a car. Suffering self doubts, she became fearful of her new world.

The first off-shore voyage took Jackie into a ferocious storm, which battered her physically and mentally. Amid the raging seas, Jackie shed the fear she’d been harbouring.

Soon she was blissfully voyaging around the world, but she still carried the mixed emotions of losing one man, while falling head over heels in love with another.

Not only did Jackie deal successfully with the challenges of her new existence, she also battled with the testosterone fuelled nautical world to become both a professional captain and a qualified maritime teacher. Most importantly, Jackie found herself.


Kathy's Review:

This is a travel journal, really. It’s a history of her travels around the world, with a boat as her home. It is told in a very frank, unadorned manner; a stripped down, bare bones version of what happened. In that way, I think the writing style is a bit on the dry side. The book meanders on, kind of like the ocean itself – calm at times, then choppy, then calm again.

At each port, Jackie encounters a different culture, a different way the people either embrace or distrust them, different food, different attitudes toward women. I appreciated that part of it, because many, many places she visited I had either never heard of, or would probably never travel to myself.

And of course, Jackie’s personal journey is interwoven throughout. It’s great to see how she evolves as a person, in her marriage, and in her confidence with the seas she is sailing. Truly inspirational to anyone who’s ever considered giving up a desk job to do something unconventional. This is about as unconventional as you can get!

Thanks to Jackie, who participated in an author chat with Literary R&R several months ago. Her stories were very engaging and we all came away from that chat feeling very inspired.


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