TOTALLY ADDICTED TO READING

 

I discovered The Liar’s Girl through Barnes and Noble serial reads. I started out using that medium, however as the story progressed, my curiosity could not survive the wait for the daily installments so I purchased the book. Well worth the money spent.

The story started out slow, but it gradually progressed and pulled me in page-by-page until I found myself deeply invested. I had to know the identity of the Canal Killer.

Will is considered Ireland’s most prolific serial killer. Found guilty for the stalking and drowning of five young college females at nineteen. Currently serving time in a Psychiatric hospital in Dublin. However, ten years later when a young woman’s body is found in the canal and the evidence shows similarities to the murders they sentenced Will for, it gave rise to questions. Was Will innocent or did he have an accomplice?

Allison has spent the last ten years of her life trying to escape her past. Knowledge that she dated a serial killer and the fact her best friend was one of his victims weighed heavily on her. Just when she believed she had it under control, the Gardai showed upon her doorstep requesting she returned to Ireland has Will had information they needed and would only share it with her. 

What followed was a tale rife with secrets, uncertainties and questions. I kept wondering is Will guilty or innocent. After all, he confessed but then you discover they coerced his confession, and it raises more questions. 

The story moved between the past and present. In doing so we get a contrast Allison’s, emotional struggles then and now. It would have been nice if Will’s perspective then and now was provided, throughout the story. It was not until near the end that things were revealed through his eyes and what a revelation. 

Allison struggled not only with the memories from the past but also with the bombardment from the media. After all she is the ex-girlfriend of a serial killer. In addition, she struggled with believing Will’s Innocence I understood why she would feel that way and it could not have been easy for her.

The contrast between Allison of the past and present showed how much she had grown. Allison of the past was young, immature and gullible. Allison of the present was smarter and not easily led.

Conclusion/Recommendation
Overall an exciting read. I am glad I got the chance to read this one. I would definitely read more from this author.

Mist Warrior is the first book in the Legacy of the Mist Clans series. This is not my first time entering a world created by the author so I had high expectations. The story did not disappoint.
Mist Warrior is a story of loss, love and revenge.

Witnessing his mother’s death at the hands of the man whom he believed was his father could not have been easy for Brenan. Then to make the situation worse he learnt that the same man murdered his biological father. Filled with rage Brenan is on the run as his enemy was determined to end his life and steal his legacy. His journey took him to his father’s land in Scotland. After 10 years of being on the rum, the time came for him to return to England and reclaim his birthright. However, tragedy and mayhem greeted him on his return and he found himself thrust into what would become greatest battle of his life.

I loved this story. Well written and engaging, which came as no surprise. I had difficulty putting it down. The descriptive details as it relates to the medieval times, the characters, the language, customs, and the battles had me turning the pages.

I enjoyed the romance, but I was disappointed with how it worked out in the end. The heroine (Catriona) was betrothed to someone else while in love with the hero (Brenan). The journey to their HEA was rife with jealousy, angst and danger. 

The characters helped to drive the story. I admired Catriona for her strength, devotion and her archery skills. She is strong willed, a trait her betrothed despised. He underestimated her ability to take care of herself and tried everything to make her feel inferior, but he failed in his attempts. She carries the guilt of her parent’s death as she felt she did not do enough to save them. She saw Branan has her means of getting justice and she willingly accepts her betrothed treatment to see this happen. There were times, however where she acted like a whiny child and It was those moments I wanted to shake her. Thank goodness, these occurrences were rare.

Branan has a temper, which was fueled by his need for revenge, which he needs to keep under control or he risks becoming like his stepfather. He despises men who abuse women and occurrences like these fuel his anger. It was a stark reminder of what his mother endured prior to her death. 

The secondary characters added provided great support to hero and heroine, whether as a friend, a loyal servant, bodyguard or enemy. 

Narration
Brian J Gill narrated the story, and I thought he did an excellent job. He voiced both genders and the Scottish accents well. I would definitely listen to more of his work.

Conclusion/Recommendation
A good listen and I look forward to listening/reading the next book in the series. 

Basking in the glow of clearing her name of a murder charge, with a book deal under her belt, Reggie Swan has become the most sought after private investigator. 
Despite this. Reggie still struggles with her reintegration into a life outside of prison. Social Media, smart phones and all the latest technology proved a challenge, but the one thing that has not changed is her ability to solve a crime. 

In this installment, Reggie has quite a few cases on her plate, but none has challenging has the case of the Trans Canada killer. All that would change when the lead singer of one of Canada’s famous rock bands, Aurora, was found drowned in a vat of wine in his winery. The coroner ruled his death an accident, but his wife refused to accept this and requested the help of Reggie to solve her husband’s murder.

Based on my experience with Dead Ringers, I was looking forward to a good mystery. The mystery was not bad, in fact I took a while to figure out the identity of the murder. The victim had many enemies, making the suspect pool large. My issue is with the fact that a small portion of the story was dedicated to this case. Despite this, the story kept my attention and had me turning the pages.

Parts of the story focused on an identity theft case. We also see a Reggie finding love. I enjoyed this aspect of the story as much as the mystery element. After all she had been through, she deserves happiness. Both elements combined provided an entertaining read.

Conclusion/Recommendation
Overall, A Pinot Noir To Die For is a great addition to the series. Although I preferred the first book, this was still an enjoyable read. I am excited to get my hands on the next book in the series. I would recommend this series to fans of the mystery genre.


I received an advance review copy free via Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

War of Hearts by Karen Lynn is the first novel in the Hearts in Torment series, dubbed a dark romantic suspense. I read/listen to this novel as I was in the mood for something different. I jumped into this one expecting a dark, twisted and suspenseful read.

Dark and suspenseful it was not, but it sure claim the title of being twisted. Here we have two men, (Logan and Jake) in love with the same woman, (Kristen), but was it really love or was it an obsession? 

It took some time for me to get into the story. I put down the book for a while before I finally got the courage to trudge through the end. I have mixed feelings about this story. It was not until the 90% mark that things became interesting. Prior to this there was so much back and forth that, my head spun, but for some strange reason I had to know how it would unfold. I saw the disaster a mile away, but could not look away.

To be honest, the characters got on my nerves. Several times, I wished I could knock some sense into them. I found it difficult to drum up any form of sympathy for Kristen. She knows Logan is not good for her. After twelve years of marriage, she has finally had enough or so she believes. She keeps going back to Logan despite being in a relationship Jake. It is clear she has no clue what she wants. Indecisive, clueless and habitual liar are the words to describe her.

Logan is the ultimate manipulator. He knows which of Kristen’s strings to pull to get what he wants. A narcissistic sociopath by nature

Jake is opposite of Kristen and Logan. Yes, he had issues from his past, but he never allowed to ruin his dreams. He desperately loved Kristen, to where he overlooked her deceitfulness, which was not healthy has it led to him have jealous rages. He struggled with insecurities, which contributed to his acceptance of Kristen’s treatment towards him.

Their behaviour lacked the maturity one would expect from an adult. 

Despite my issues with the characters, I enjoyed the author’s writing style. Her attention to details and her descriptions made each scene come alive. 

The story did not end in the manner I expected. I suspected that tragedy would strike, and it did, but not how I expected. The ending left me with lots of questions, which my curious mind need to know the answers to. The biggest question I have concerns the growth of the characters. Will they act like the adults they are?
I found the story to be quite long. I believe there were many unnecessary details, which contributed the slow pacing of the story.

Narration
Claire Riley did an okay job with the narration; however, she did mispronounce a few words... I borrowed the ebook through KU and I recognized that that a few paragraphs were left out of the narration. She did an ok job with the character s’ voices. There were moments where I believed; she went a bit overboard with the display of emotions.

Conclusion/Recommendation
In the end not a bad listen, but had the potential to be much better.

After, finishing Moira Ashe: The Enemy Within I was eager to discover what was in store for Moira now that her secret was out. Will she continue her work as a hunter or will she stay below the radar? Moira Ashe: Kindred Spirits gave me the answers I needed to know.

The story continued from where the first book ended. The exposure of her secret forced her to abandon the life she built in Quinn. She arrives in Trident Bay intending to secure passage to Quesius. However, her efforts proved futile, as no one will transport her.  She received a reprieve, when Caspian the man in charge of the Bay offered to transport her in exchange for killing a sea monster dubbed The Terror of Trident Bay. Desperate to get away she accepted the offer. Besides her hunting The Terror, she would find herself caught up in an uprising, which placed her plans of escape and keeping her secret in jeopardy.

I found Moira to be an intriguing character, and the author did a good job fleshing out her role. Her struggles stood out in this installment. Because of her secret, she couldn’t live a normal life. Forging friendships and maintaining relationships was not something she could entertain.

She has great fighting and hunting skills, which had made her the most sought after hunter.  Her desire to protect others regardless of the danger to herself was a testament to her selfless nature.

I loved the characters introduced in this installment. The one that fascinated me most was Caspian. Throughout the story, I kept wondering if Moira could trust him. Did he want to help Moira or was it a ploy to gain more power?

I enjoyed this installment. Intense and action packed, the story engaged my interest from start to finish.  The blurb hinted at a romance, however in my humblest opinion I didn't consider it as such.   It was more of  a satisfying of physical needs.  Honestly, I did not see the need for that thread. The story involving the sea monster was tied up nicely. The ending, however, shows that there is more in store for Moira and I am keen to know what is coming next.

Conclusion/Recommendation
If you enjoy fantasy and kick ass heroines will enjoy this latest offering from Bertram.

Layla’s Chance by Mika Jolie is a steamy romance with heart. It tells the story of Layla a forty-year-old lawyer and Chance a 27-year-old rock star who found their happily ever after in each other’s arms. Their journey to this point, however, was not without its challenges. 

More than a romance as this story demonstrated what it means to let go of one’s fears and follow one’s dreams. It delved into the older woman and younger man relationships and how society perceives it. Love does not see age, race or physical structure.

Layla lived her life in order to escape pain and heartache. She avoided relationships as much as she possibly can because of her fear of abandonment. Everyone she ever loved ended up leaving her. She threw herself into her work, but that too proved a disappointment when the promotion she had her sights on was given to a younger counterpart. On receiving this devastating news she took a trip to Martha‘s Vineyard to celebrate her fortieth birthday and reevaluate her life. What she never expected was her chance meeting with a hot, young and sexy rock star who would set her body and heart on fire.

Layla’s struggles leapt off the pages. She craved Chance, but he was the embodiment of everything she has avoided for the past 21 years. Her heart and body wanted all Chance offered, but her head kept pulling her in a different direction. 

Although the story was told primarily from Layla’s POV, I gained insight into Chance’s feelings. Without a doubt, he cared for Layla, but he was not the type to push. He had his share of uncertainties, but he is not afraid to go after what he wants.

I thought they made a great couple. Chance was exactly what Layla needed even if she did not recognize it.

This story is about taking a leap of faith, stepping out of your comfort zone and finding love when one least expects it and with the unlikeliest of persons. 

Layla’s Chance is a strong novella. Story and character development was good. Although the relationship started out fast, I enjoyed the romance. It was sweet, hot and refreshing.

Conclusion/Recommendation
This was another great story from this author and I am eager to know what next she has in store for her fans. If you enjoy spicy May/December romance, then take a chance on Layla’s Chance. 

There are some stories, from the moment you start reading, you know you will be taken on a heart-wrenching journey. You Can‘t Force Love by Marie Drake was that book for me.

It tells the story of two teens, Jordan and Kimberly, who were broken, battered and abandoned by those responsible for their wellbeing. Their mothers failed to protect them from the men in their lives. I cannot understand how a mother chooses a man over her child; well this was Jordan’s experience. Kimberley’s mom preferred drugs, alcohol and sex to her daughter’s wellbeing. Eventually, she was subjected to physical and sexual abuse at the hands of the many men in her mother’s life.

Tragic circumstances led to their paths crossing when they both ended up in the same foster home.

Their actions showed the effect the abuse had on them. Kimberly turned to sex, as she believed it would keep the demons at bay. She did not believe in love, seduction was her game. She never believed that anyone could love her and that she was not capable of loving anyone. She saw herself as damaged goods.

Jordan tried to be a better person as he believed on doing so his mom would take him home. Unlike Kimberly, he refused to travel the road that led to self-destruction. However, Jordan would learn no matter how hard he tries to walk the straight and narrow, something or someone would set off a trigger and he would go down a path he tried so hard to avoid.

I did not like the path Jordan and Kimberly took, but judging them was not an option. After such a tragic past, their actions were understandable. My heart grieved for them, and I hoped they would be free of their demons.

An engaging story with believable characters, You Can’t Force Love drew me in from the first page. I had a hard time putting it down. I enjoyed the author’s writing style and the way she made me feel, I was a part of the story.

My, only issue with the story was the cliffhanger ending, it took me by surprise and left me feeling disappointed.

Conclusion/Recommendation
You Can’t Force Love is a story that addresses real-life issues. It demonstrates how the actions of selfish parents can cause irreparable damage on their children’s’ emotional stability. Overall, an interesting and thought provoking read. I am eager to learn what is in store for Kimberly and Jordan

Fear by John W. Mefford is the second book in the Ball and Chain series. Although it features a different case, it is recommended that the books be read in order of release, as this will allow readers to follow the lives of Willow and Cooper. I enjoyed book one and looked forward to spending more time with the characters. 

I liked this installment, but it did not have the wow factor I expect from the author. The excitement was missing. It took some time for me to get into the story. The first 40% focused on the events in the character’s life since the first installment. There were hints of nefarious things happening but that aspect of the story did not develop until the 40% mark. Just when I thought things would take an exciting turn, the story tapered off, and the focus was on Cooper and Willow’s personal issues, than on their investigation into the missing athlete. There was a moment during these events where I found myself on the edge of my seat. This was because of the loan shark/mobster who wanted to keep Cooper under his thumb. Meanwhile, someone is kidnapping persons whom they perceive to be racists and torturing them, but it was not until 80% into the story that this thread took life. 

Cooper is juggling several things in his life. A nosy neighbor, a loan shark, his feelings for Willow and a cop who wants more than friendship and the investigation. Meanwhile he is trying to revive his career as a sports writer. Willow and Cooper have yet to come to terms with their feelings for each other. 

I loved the interaction between Willow and Cooper. From their cheesy banter to the dangerous situations they find would themselves in. Their chemistry was undeniable, but past and current events proved a hindrance.

The story had several plot threads with an interesting cast of characters. 

Conclusion/Recommendation
Despite this not being my favourite by the author I still liked the story and I am curious to discover what is in store for Willow and Cooper.

From the first moment I read her work, I became a fan of Melissa Foster’s novels. Her stories of family, love and friendship always leave a lasting impression. Once again, she delivers a gripping and emotional tale about love, family and friendship.

I first met Violet in Bayside Desires and since then I wanted to learn more about her. Secretive and complex in nature, I could not wait to peel away her layers and learnt what made her tick.

Violet has no filter. She says what she feels and makes no apologies. However, behind the feisty exterior lay a heart which had the capacity to love beyond measure. The thing is, few people has seen this side of her. Prickly in nature she allows no one to get close to her, until her sister, whom she never had much of a relationship with, and her crazy friends wormed their way into her heart without her even realising it. Only one other person had accomplished this, but her fears got in the way and she made a decision that would change both their lives. Fate however has a way of stepping in and shaking everything up as Violet would discover when her past collided with her present.

Andre spent three years trying to get over the woman who turned his life inside out, then up, and left him with no warning. All attempts failed, not even his new venture as it reminded him of her. Therefore, an offer from a free spirited woman to spend time in the Cape seems like the perfect solution. Then he came face to face with Violet and all the emotions he thought were buried came bubbling to the surface.

I loved both Violet and Andre. Andre is such a sweet person. Despite being hurt before he is still willing fight for Violet and their love. He saw beyond her tough facade. He knew all her issues, but loved her in spite of them.

My heart went out to Violet. I could not imagine having the life she had has a child. The lack of stability, afraid to get close to anyone, knowing she will not be staying in one place too long.

I loved how Violet found her own and opened herself to family, love and friendship. There is a side to her she did not share with her sister and newfound friends. They saw her as a trash talking biker chick, but there was more to her. She was selfless, artistic and sweet, traits only Andre were privy to.

I could not help but root for them and I hoped they would both get it right the second time around.

Conclusion/Recommendation
Bayside Escape is an emotional story about second chances and coming to terms with the pain of your past. It is about forgiveness, letting go of the pain and hurt and opening up yourself to love. I recommend this latest offering from Ms. Foster to fans of contemporary romance. 

Verity:  Something that is true, as a principle, belief, idea or statement.

At what point does one separate fact from fiction? Which, version of the truth is the correct one? These questions came to mind after I finished this latest offering from Colleen Hoover. This is my second time reading her work and I must this woman is brilliant. She knows how to engage her fans and keep them coming back for more.

To say I am in a state of shock is an understatement. Up to this point, I am still not sure what the hell I just read. All I can say is that this is one story I am not sure I will forget anytime soon.  Unpredictable, chilling and suspenseful are the most fitting words to describe this tale.

I have to admit this story elicited varying emotions. There were moments when I had to know what next was coming and there were those instances where I feared knowing what would unfold.
However, my curiosity stomped all over my fears and I found myself devouring every word. 

The complexity of the characters was what made this story so shocking. Their thoughts, decisions and actions were compelling, which made it difficult for me to figure out who was the villain in the story.

Then that ending, OMG!  Who would have thought? I do not consider it a cliff hanger. This an ending where the reader can draw their own conclusion.

Verity depicts an author’s power to make their readers believe their written words, be it fact or fiction. I for one believed what I read until that twist at the end, which had me doubting everything I had originally believed. Now I am left wondering what was the real truth.

Conclusion/Recommendation

Verity is the most disturbing yet entertaining book I have read in a long time. If you enjoy stories that messes with your mind and have you questioning what is real and what is not then you are likely to enjoy Verity.

One week before Jake Rutledge is scheduled to graduate from law school, he receives the devastating news of the death of his fraternal twin, Blake. What makes this death even more terrible for Jake is that his brother died of a drug overdose. Until hearing of his death, Jake had no idea his brother was even using drugs. When Jake returns home to Oakley, West Virginia, he takes a hard look at the circumstances of his brother's death. In the five years Jake has been away for his schooling, his hometown has drastically changed. Because of the opioid epidemic, and the blight it has brought, many now call Oakley Zombieland. Jake can see how his town's demise parallels his brother's. Undeterred, the newly minted lawyer takes on the entrenched powers by filing two lawsuits. Jake quickly learns what happens when you upset a hornet's nest. The young attorney might be wet behind the ears, but is sure there is no lawyer that could help him more than Nick Deke Deketomis and his law firm of Bergman/Deketomis. Deke is a legendary lawyer. When he was Jake's age he was making his name fighting Big Tobacco. Against all odds, Jake gets Nick and his firm to sign on to his case before it's too late

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