Bonded by Michelle Davidson Argyle

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Feb 202013
 

Bonded

Author: Michelle Davidson Argyle

Publisher: Rhemalda Publishing

Published: November 2012

Hardcover: 365 pages

ISBN13: 9781936850648

FTC FYI: I received an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary

What happened after Cinderella married her prince? How did the evil sorceress in Sleeping Beauty turn evil in the first place? Discover these stories and a world filled with magic, forbidden love, elves, sprites, dragons, and the most powerful creatures of all— the fairies —in Bonded, a collection of three fairy tale inspired novellas.

CINDERS: A Cinderella sequel. Money can’t buy love, but magic isn’t a sure bet either. Cinderella, now officially a princess, finds royal life is not what she once dreamed. When a mysterious elf from her past stirs up long-suppressed passion, Cinderella begins to wonder if there really is love beneath the spell that captured her husband’s heart. But undoing magic can be harder than casting the initial spell, and the results are even less predictable.

THIRDS: A retelling of the Grimm’s fairy tale, One-Eye, Two-Eyes, Three-Eyes. Issina is surrounded by magic, yet none of it belongs to her. Despised and abused by her mother and sisters, she finds comfort when she meets the beautiful elves living in the nearby woods. The elves want to help her discover her own magic, but it’s not the kind of power she hoped for, and she learns there is more to magic than getting what you want.

SCALES: A Sleeping Beauty prequel. The sun never sets in the realm of the fairies. When the young fairy Serina looks into her sister’s eyes, she sees darkness for the first time. After her mother is murdered, Serina defies fairy law to follow her sister to the human realm. There she discovers the strength of a bond, the weight of a promise, and the darkness in her own heart.

My Review

I really enjoyed these three novellas by Michelle Davidson Argyle.  Each were very well-written and I was taken into the different story immediately.  Ever since I was a little girl, I have been fascinated with fairytales.  I would spend hours in my room reading.  Aurora from Sleeping Beauty is my all-time favorite, and so I was excited to read Scales.  But, if I had to pick a favorite (and it was really hard) it would be Cinders.  Cinderella’s (Christina’s) story was fascinating to me.  What if happily ever after isn’t enough?  The guilt of using magic to win her prince really weighed on Cinderella’s heart.  Did her prince really love her?  How Cinderella finds the truth, and the events that take place are actually heart breaking, but I really liked where Michelle took the story, and teaches that not all stories have a happy ending.

4 out of 5 stars.  I want to thank Michelle for the chance to read and review these amazing stories.  The settings and characters immediately draw you in.  Once you start Bonded, you won’t stop until you’re done.  Michelle is also the author of The Breakaway, which is on my review list.  The sequel Pieces just came out! Check out all of Michelle’s titles, including Monarch.

Author Links

Website / Facebook / Goodreads

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Rhemalda

 

The Adventures of Hashbrown Winters by Frank L. Cole — Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Feb 132013
 

The Adventures of Hashbrown Winters

Author: Frank L. Cole

Published: June 2009

Publisher: Bonneville Books (Cedar Fort)

ISBN: 978-1-59955-303-0

Paperback: 99 pages

FTC FYI: Checked out from the library

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary

Meet Hashbrown Winters. Like any typical Pordunce Elementary fifth grader, he’s got a story. Actually he has several. There’s the story of how he got his nickname, the story of how his treehouse club became one of the most popular groups at school, and, of course, the story of his untimely demise after a mishap with the beloved pet cockroach of Pordunce’s walking death dealer, Hambone Oxcart. Will Hashbrown be able to convince Pordunce’s own mob boss, Cordovo Figanewty, to offer him protection? Or are his days at Pordunce about to come to a swift and painful end? In this hilarious debut novel from Frank L. Cole, every kid who’s any kid has a nickname, and half the fun of the story is figuring out how they got it. The Adventures of Hashbrown Winters will keep kids and parents alike laughing out loud, groaning in sympathy, and turning pages until well past bedtime.

Back Cover

There I stood, hiding next to the vending machines, disguised as a potted plant.  I brushed the plastic leaves from my face and stared down the hallway toward the front double doors.  Snow Cone always said this ridiculous costume would come in handy one day.

Fifteen minutes had passed since the last student left for the buses, but I wasn’t about to take any chances.  Not with my life hanging in the balance.  Leaning forward, I peered around the corner just as the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway.  Was this it?  Could this be him?  Was I about to be pulverized by Hambone while wearing an emergency disguise I had just pulled from my locker?

My Review

The Adventures of Hashbrown Winters is the first book in the Hashbrown series.  Book 4 is coming out soon, so Frank is touring all of these books before it’s release.  Watch for my reviews for all 4 books!

Hashbrown is quite the character.  Pordunce Elementary is school full of kids with nicknames.  You have to earn your nickname in this school.  I thought Hashbrown’s friend “Whiz” had the best name (for obvious reasons).  As the story progresses, Hashbrown finds himself in trouble with the school bully and his hissing cockroach.  The things that Hashbrown has to do to fix his problems are hilarious, even consulting with the school’s mafia.  Yes, mafia.

This book is darling.  I had a smile on my face the whole time I was reading.  It is perfect for your middle grade reader, even you.  Frank Cole is a pal, and I know that he is a funny guy.  You can tell that in his writing.  There are many phrases where I was laughing out loud.  I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

4 out of 5 stars.  Frank is also the author of Guardians of the Hidden Scepter and Guardians of Elijah’s Fire series.  They are also very good as well.

Author Links

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter

Purchase Links

Cedar Fort / Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Deseret Book

 

 

 

The Daisy Chain (An Aliso Creek Novella) by Heather B. Moore

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Feb 062013
 

The Daisy Chain (An Aliso Creek Novella)

Author: Heather B. Moore

Publisher: Mirror Press

Published: January 31st, 2013

ebook: 65 pages

ASIN: B00B9HHPQU

FTC FYI: I received a free ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary 

Welcome to the Aliso Creek Novella Series
Liz, Gemma, Arie, Jess, and Drew have been best friends since creating “the Five” at Aliso Creek High School. But that was over ten years ago, and each is still trying to find that perfect someone… if perfect is even possible.

Actually, Jess Giles does find her perfect match, but since Charlie’s several years older than she, they never have a moment of harmony from his adult kids who protest the marriage. When Charlie dies in a tragic accident, his kids add insult to injury and sue Jess for her share of the inheritance. The only person Jess trusts for financial advice is Charlie’s financial planner, Preston Michaels. Just talking to Preston on the phone makes Jess feel flustered, yet strangely comfortable at the same time, so she puts off meeting him for as long as possible. When Jess has to attend the formal hearing, she’s about to find out if the man she’s been talking to over the phone for several months lives up to the voice that she’s grown attached to.

My Review

Right away I was taken into Jess’s story.  We meet her on the first anniversary of her husband’s death.  She is sad and having a hard time coping.  Some members of “the Five” come to visit her to cheer her up, but Arie knows there is more to her sadness then what Jess is saying.  Even though Jess’s husband Charlie was older then her, she truly loved him and misses him.  To make matters worse, Charlie’s son and daughter are suing Jess for the money that he left her.  Her only salvation has been Preston Michaels, Jess’s financial planner.  They have never met in person, and Preston is asking Jess to come to a scheduled court date.  Jess needs to gather all the courage she can to try to be strong to move on with her life.

5 out of 5 stars.  I am loving this series from Heather B. Moore.  Her writing is so strong and I am immediately taken into the story.  Her characters are always likable and I care about what happens to them.  I can’t wait for the next installment.

A Timeless Romance Anthology (Spring Vacation Collection) is out now.  Arie’s story is told in this book.  Like the Winter Romance Anthology, there are also five other authors that are part of the collection.  Josi S. Kilpack, Annette Lyon, Heather Justesen, Sarah M. Eden, and Aubrey Mace.  I know I will enjoy this!

Author Links

Website / Fans of H.B. Moore on Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Smashwords

Adversarius (Shadow of the Rose) by M.L. Chesley — Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Jan 282013
 

Adversarius (Shadow of the Rose)

Author: M.L. Chesley

Publisher: Hellfire Publishing

Published: December, 2012

ASIN: B00AJA967O

ebook

FTC FYI: We received an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by Mindy and Sheila

Goodreads Summary

Two kingdoms, two goals.

The king of Relavia is determined to wipe out his warring neighbors in Paridzule, a worthy adversary for over five hundred years. News of an arranged marriage between his son and the daughter of his lifelong enemy has fueled the temper of Relavia’s tyrannical king. What he doesn’t realize is the true measure of his son’s honor and how far he is willing to go to gain peace.

Mindy’s Review

Shadow of the Rose, is a very enjoyable story.  However, at times in the beginning, I struggled with names I couldn’t pronounce, phrases repeating, and too much introduced all at once, but I liked the characters and the story is engaging once I read further and got into it more.  There are many characters to keep track of, but the two I enjoyed the most were Black Rose, and Nightshadow.  They were both very intriguing and Nightshadow especially, was awesome.  She was raised as an assassin, and the events of the book have her changing her mind about her upbringing.  I also thought  Farrehn was a great character, for a half-ogre.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars.  The different story lines did keep my interest, and the book reads at a quick pace.  There is a cliff-hanger ending, and I’m excited to see what happens next.

Sheila’s Review

Adversarius: Shadow of the Rose(Book One) is a High Fantasy novel with a lot of action and a lot of characters. At first, I had a hard time keeping track of all of the many different characters and their names. After that was figured out, it was more of a smooth read for me. There are many characters that would vie for status as “main” characters because you have several story-lines going on in this novel. Some of my favorites would have to be Nightshadow, the woman assassin, and the priest named Rose( there is nothing feminine about him!) They had some of the best lines and plots in the book.  Of course the evil villain, the King of Relavia, Li’endrin,is about as bad as bad gets. I didn’t see any goodness in him at all. Anyone that did what he did, to his own children, is an awful creature. Speaking of creatures, there were many different kinds in the story, including dragons and ogres.I really did like the half-ogre, Farrehn. He made me laugh a lot, and really did have a good heart. 
There is a lot to like about this first novel, by Author M.L. Chesley. If you don’t get distracted by the strange names and the many characters, you will find a good fantasy that will keep you involved. Be ready for a cliff-hanger at the end,which will leave you itching for book #2 in the series.

The Guy Next Door by Kate Palmer

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Jan 232013
 

The Guy Next Door

Author: Kate Palmer

Publisher: Covenant

Published: September 2012

Paperback: 235 pages

ISBN: 9781608612

FTC FYI: I received a paperback copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary

On the surface, Eva Black’s life seems practically perfect. The small-town kindergarten teacher is set to wed ambitious lawyer Sean Langley, and their plans for a dream wedding are well underway. Eva accepts that she will soon live life in the spotlight as a member of the prestigious Langley family, but can she overlook her fiancé’s tendency to dominate the details of her life and push the limits of her standards?

Mere weeks before the wedding, Eva is thrown into a traumatic, life-changing event that changes her view of family commitment and creates a sharp contrast between her ideals and Sean’s. With her engagement to Sean in jeopardy, Eva finds herself relying on the support and encouragement of Peter, her kind and attentive next-door neighbor. Faced with a choice between her penitent fiancé and the increasingly mysterious Peter, Eva is unprepared for the consequences—and peril—that come with her decision.

My Review — Possible Spoiler

I really enjoyed this book.  I would say my one complaint was Sean.  He was such a jerk.  Some very tragic events occur in Eva’s life, and what she has to cope with is big and life changing.  Sean treats her poorly, and she doesn’t see it as first.  Only when Peter comes into her life, is when things start to change with their relationship.  However, Peter has some secrets of his own.  Although I didn’t like that one character, I really liked Eva, Peter, and the other supporting characters.  Through the time when Peter and Eva were getting to know each other, while he was away for work, Peter would send Eva notes.  I really liked how he saw her and the way their relationship developed.  Eva goes through a lot in the book, and I really enjoyed what she learned about herself, too.

3 1/2 stars.  I was on the edge of my seat at times, wondering what would happen to these characters.  The Guy Next Door is well written and an enjoyable, fast read.

Author Links

Website / Facebook / Goodreads

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Seagull / Deseret Book

Heart of the Ocean by Heather B. Moore — Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Combined Reviews, Mindy's Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Jan 102013
 

Heart of the Ocean

Author: Heather B. Moore

Published: Jan. 2013

Publisher: Mirror Press

AISN: B00AVMIK8Q

ebook: 337 pages

FTC FYI: Received review copy

Goodreads Summary

A dark secret . . . a grieving ghost . . . a handsome stranger . . . What more could Eliza Robinson want?

Except for maybe her life.

In Heather B. Moore’s enthralling 1840’s historical romance, Heart of the Ocean, Eliza Robinson has turned down the very pretentious Mr. Thomas Beesley’s marriage proposal. As a business partner of Eliza’s father, Thomas quickly discredits the family and brings disgrace to the Robinson name.

While her father scrambles to restore his good name in New York City, Eliza flees to the remote Puritan town of Maybrook to stay with her Aunt Maeve. Although relieved to be away from all- things-male and unforgiving gossip columns, odd things start to happen to Eliza, and she is plagued by a ghostly voice. Her aunt’s explanation? That Eliza is being haunted by a woman who died of a broken heart twenty years ago.

After Aunt Maeve is tragically killed, Eliza’s life is put in danger as she tries to uncover the mystery of her aunt’s death. She encounters Jonathan Porter in Maybrook, whose presence in the town seems suspicious, yet she finds herself drawn to him. When she discovers that Jonathan’s dark secrets may be the link between the dead woman who haunts her and her aunt’s murderer, Eliza realizes that Jonathan is the one man she should never trust.

My Review

Eliza is going through a hard time. She has turned down the proposal of her father’s business partner, and flees to Maybrook, a Puritan town, to stay with her aunt. While she is there, Eliza keeps hearing voices in the wind. Her aunt Maeve tells the story of a Puritan woman who’s heart is broken by the love of her life, and how she died of a broken heart. Eliza can’t escape what the voice is trying to tell her. When Maeve dies, her life is put in danger and she is rescued by Jonathan Porter, who has secrets of his own.

Heather is such a talented writer and has a magical way of drawing you right into her books with her well-written characters and page turning plots.  There is a lot to this story, and I really enjoyed the journey of these great characters.

4 out of 5 stars. Heather is the author of many fabulous books.  Read them, and you will see what I am talking about. Her latest book Athena is part of the Newport Ladies Book Club and is out now!

Sheila’s Review

This is the first book I’ve read by Heather Moore that had a paranormal theme to it. I have to say, I really liked it! This historical novel is much more than a ghost story, it is a story of two people, trapped in a mystery that envelops both of their lives. Eliza, shunned by high society, escapes to live with her Aunt Mauve in a Puritan town. Jonathan, having once escaped the same Puritan town, is drawn back in search of papers that will help him claim his rightly inheritance. One rainy night, they are drawn together, because of a ghastly murder and the whispers of a ghost. From this point on in the story, Jonathan and Eliza are forced together to solve the mystery surrounding the death of Jonathan’s mother. As they fight evil and menacing people, they also must fight the feelings that are growing for one another. The Heart of the Ocean will keep you reading until the mystery is solved, murderers jailed, and love winning out in the end.I hope to read more like this from Author Heather B. Moore.
Author Links

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Newport Ladies Book Club

Purchase Links

AMAZON / BARNES AND NOBLE

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