Soul In Present Condition

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EN0ZOC2/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

Rating:  3 stars

This is the first book I have read from this author, and I got a copy in exchange for an unbiased review.  Upon receiving the book, there were a few things that immediately caught my attention.  At the very beginning, the author starts by writing out descriptions of people, then giving them first names, then whole names.  That, to me, was a little thrown off.  It made it difficult for me to follow if she was talking about the same people, or someone new entirely. 

The storyline itself is a unique one, that much I can say.  The idea of a real estate agent who can talk to ghosts was one that made me raise my eyebrow, but the story itself did not disappoint.  From the very beginning, when she encounters her first spectre, the story grabbed me and sucked me in.  The characters are vivid and pleasant to read about, even if I did want to punch a few vampires in the face.  That was another thing--I liked the blending of paranormal entities in this novel.  It was a smooth transition, and the fact that vampires were involved in the human world, with the ghosts, didn't deter from the story at all. 

As far as critiques go, I felt that this novel needed quite a bit of polishing, which is why I couldn't bring myself to give it 5 stars.  I cringed at the amount of fragmented sentences and inappropriate punctuation thrown in.  At first, I was about to give up on the novel because of the grammatical errors, but I stuck with it, and I wasn't disappointed.  When I got a copy of this novel, it was called a "stand-alone" or part of a series.  I don't think this novel could stand by itself.  There were certainly some points where I was confused about what the connections were between characters, or why relationships were the way they were.  However, if you are looking for a decent read, and are not a grammar Nazi, this will be the book for you!

The River Between

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003AUTEI6/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

Rating:  3 stars

This story would have been extremely enjoyable for me had it not been the extremely Christian overtones running through it.  Yes, I understand that it is a period novel, and religion was more of a prominent discussion then, but there is a point where religion becomes preaching.  I don't like my books to preach to me.  The characters were interesting, although I found the main character somewhat of a user, leading on the men she was involved with and then crying when something went wrong.  It is only remotely historical, with snippets here and there mentioning the Civil War.  It was an all right read, but it was very slow to get into, and I almost gave up, but kept reading.  Read this novel carefully.

The Reluctant Heir

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005H2SLOI/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

Rating:  5 stars

This story was a quick, enjoyable read with just enough sexy fun thrown in to add to the story.  The characters really made the story, Adelinde over the loss of her brother, Clarke over his guilt from her brother's death.  The story between these two is electric, and their connection is instantaneous and inviting.  It's a quick read, which I enjoyed, and I felt myself wanting to read more of this story, but the author managed to wrap it up nicely and still make the reader feel like they were fulfilled.  Enjoyable.

The Reiver

 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JN0GAI/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

 Rating:  2 stars

I received this book for free, like everyone else, and because it was free I wasn't expecting much, truth be told...but I was shocked at the pace that everything went, I was surprised at the quickness of the story, and not pleasantly so.  The story seemed to go well enough, a captive in a Scottish castle, but then it begins to just go in a very weird direction where the woman falls in love with her captor out of nothing in particular he did, then he lets her go...and then finds her again.  The entire story was just a blink and then done, and not very well explained.  It's a quick read, and an adequate way to pass a half hour, but for me the story was just too unbelievable.

The Road To Nowhere

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1105749460/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

Rating:  4 stars

I enjoyed this book from the getgo.  The description of the book, from the description of zombies to survival, all sounded intriguing.  But, as the book was being read, it began to read more like the Walking Dead than anything.  Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it read a little too similar for my tastes.  I liked that Kurus were the explanation, instead of zombies, and I liked that it wasn't zombies specifically.  The characters were connectable, I just wish we would have found out more about our main character before the end of the book.  I liked the development, but the story was too similar to something already done for me. 

The Puzzle Master

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009AVD1BA/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

Rating:  3 stars

This book held so much potential for me. I enjoyed the premise, and I enjoyed the story the author told, but something about the dates revealed kept pulling at me.  And then I realized:  all the dates said 2011.  The book is supposed to be set after Bin Laden was killed, well after the 9/11 attacks.  I tried to ignore the date issue, trying to get into the story more, but the dates just kept pulling me.  It was difficult to follow, and difficult to keep everything straight, especially with all the jumping around the author does.  It would have been fantastic, but I really think the author needed to do a little more streamlining with his timeline.

A Bookish Escape: Book Review : Traveler by Ashley Bourgeois & Kathr...

A Bookish Escape: Book Review : Traveler by Ashley Bourgeois & Kathr...: Traveler Authors:   Ashley Bourgeois & Kathryn McGowan Source:   Author 551 pages ( ebook ) Goodreads S...