2015 - Flops & Faves

Thanks to Goodreads, I discovered how many books I'd read in 2015. 
Guess how many...*drumroll*...
70. 
BOOM! 
If you want a full list of all the books I read, you can check this link out for the deets :)
 2015 | Books | Year In Review

I'd toyed with the idea of creating a book reviewing blog for...quite some time, but this Summer I finally made the decision to do it, and in the Fall- Books She Loves was born!

With reading 70 books, I've read nearly every fiction genre I can imagine (except horror or vampires- not my jam), a good dose of YA Fiction, some Dystopian, several Historical Fiction (my first- and forever love), Fantasy, Contemporary Thrillers, & Military Suspense.
I re-read some of my favourite authors, and also discovered some rad new ones. (Um...hello Ronie Kendig & Lisa T. Bergren) I read some gems, and some...not so fabulous ones. In honour of the closing of 2015, I'll share some of the highlights from each star category.

// 5 Stars \\                            // 4 Stars \\

Waterfall                                             Fatal Exchange

by Lisa T. Bergren                                                                  by Lisa Harris 

Torrent                                                Lethal Legacy 

by Lisa T. Bergren                                                                  by Irene Hannon

Talon                                                   The Messenger 

by Ronie Kendig                                                                     by Siri Mitchell 

Maire

by Linda Windsor

// 3 Stars \\                           // 2 Stars \\

Shattered                                               Dauntless 

by Dani Pettrey                                                                  by Dina L. Sleiman

Dangerous Passage                 The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest 

by Lisa Harris                                                            by Melanie Dickerson 

The Captain's Bride                              Taken

by Lisa T. Bergren                                                        by Dee Henderson

Beyond All Dreams                              Emissary 

by Elizabeth Camden                                                   by Thomas Locke

                                                     Along Came Jones 
                                                         by Linda Windsor 

// 1 Star \\

Esther: Royal Beauty

by Angela Hunt

Petticoat Detective 

by Margaret Brownley 

Pompeii: City On Fire

by T.L. Higley 

An Uncertain Choice 

by Jody Hedlund 

It was a good reading year- and I'm so glad I've finally started a blog, to chronicle all these books! Which ones have you read?
Any recommends for 2016?

Come say hello on Instagram- @bookssheloves for my reviewing account, and @ToAshleyNikole for my lifestyle one. Well, 2015, we bid you ado. Welcome 2016. 

Taken by Dee Henderson (Review by Ashley Nikole)

Taken is Dee Henderson's newest addition to Christian Romantic Suspense Fiction. It's been several years since I've really read any of her books, and when I saw this one on the shelf of my local Chapters, I was intrigued by the synopsis & dove right in.

PLOT & CHARACTERS:

I loved the premise of this one...a woman newly having escaped an 11 year-long captivity and integrating back into society and discovering what her life in freedom looks like. I loved and identified with Matthew as a character- I wanted so badly to get to know Shannon better!- but at the same time I felt as though there was so much that could have been unearthed for both of them, that I found as a reader, I was just waiting to happen.
The pace of the plot moved pretty steadily- at times it felt like it was repeating the same thing and got a tad redundant. As things moved along, I found myself impressed with the attention to detail Henderson put into the system the Jacoby family had put in place, how intricate and secret it was.
I personally thought, given the romantic suspense genre, that there was going to be suspense and some danger, cat & mouse type stuff with her abductors trying to get her back or silencing her before she could testify about her time in captivity- but no. That was somewhat of a letdown, given that I was expecting some suspense, but to each his own.

I thought the POV coming from only one character (Matthew- our main dude) was a bit strange, and in my opinion, made the story more two-dimensional, whereas I could see it just exploding in 3D, had the POV (point of view) alternated from Matthew, to Shannon and maybe even some of the other sub-characters. Especially given the fact that when reading the novel's back cover, we are given the impression that the book is largely about Shannon- and don't get me wrong, the plot does revolve around Shannon, but it just seemed odd that we, as readers, never got into her head via a shared POV. It made her feel oddly emotionally distanced- and that for me, just collapses so many wonderful reading possibilities.

Also, adding to the 2D vs. 3D situation, I was waiting for at least one rather monumental emotional crash for Shannon, and even Matthew. Especially given the storyline and all that had happened to Shannon in her captivity, it made her feel like an emotionally unshakable & un-relatible character.  I'm not asking for a perpetually weepy MC- that would grow annoying rather swiftly- but if a character has firewalled their emotions...as a reader, it's pretty hard to connect or identify with their struggle.

VIOLENCE: 
Murders, beatings, shootings & body dumps are all spoken of as memories of Shannon's time in captivity. The circumstances are starkly grim, as you can imagine resulting from any abduction. 

SEXUAL CONTENT: 
A brief kiss is about as detailed as things get.

CONCLUSION: 

This time round, I'm giving Taken a rating of 2, and recommend it for ages 17+.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read, but upon finishing, I felt there was much more that could have been added or altered, to make this an explosively awesome read. Not everyone has a criteria for meaningful and deep emotion to be present, but for me...if I can't see or feel a character's heart & struggle first hand- it goes downhill from there. Sure, there was mention of someone crying, or puffy eyes, but that isn't first hand enough for me, personally. There were too many glaringly obvious plot/character issues for me to really recommend this one to my fellow readers as something I really liked.

Taken is chalk-full of intricate, crime operation type details and facts that evenly flow throughout the plot, and some truly likeable characters- despite the personal dislikes on my part. If emotional connection is not high on your list for enjoying a book, this one may get a 4 or 5 from some readers. Don't be expecting a great deal of action suspense- but more suspense concerning the release of details concerning her time in captivity.

Read Taken? What were your thoughts? Share them below! 

Cold Shot by Dani Pettrey (Review by Ashley Nikole)

Cold Shot is released February 2016!
As I read an ARC (advanced reading copy) of this one, I didn't have a physical copy to take a photo of, so please forgive the image grab off of goodreads! 

PLOT: 

Well thought out & executed. Intricate details make this read the kind where your brains need to be in fully functioning mode- not before bed or when you're not entirely committed to being focused. Pace was good & the plot flowed well- nothing choppy or out of place. I certainly did not see the ending coming how it did! The plot totally threw me for a loop. 

VIOLENCE: 

Given this being a type of suspense/murder mystery type book, violence & creepy stuff is a given. Genocides are spoken of (in past tense) and described, with their share of gory details. Characters talk about people (some close to them) that have been murdered/raped/tortured. 

Again, given this type of genre and plot, one of our MC's being a forensic anthropologist, examining human remains, how they died/were murdered, body drops etc. is a common topic. 

If that kind of stuff creeps you out- maybe give this book a pass. 

SEXUAL CONTENT: 

Characters fall in love. There is mention of a character (in past tense) being raped (a reference, nothing in detail), another being touched inappropriately by her abductor. Someone runs a sex tourism business with underage girls (we never see it, but it is spoken of by others).

CONCLUSION: 

Brilliant plot, filled with diverse and relatable characters, suspense and sooo many questions!! Personally for me, I found the amount and kind of bad stuff in this book weighed a little heavy on, and left me feeling kinda blah & gross. Another day it might have been entirely fine- just not the day I read it, haha. My lower rating in no way reflects bad writing on the author's part- merely my own personal preference for reading content at the particular time. 

Dani has a gift with words, plots & characters (I loved the Parker, Griff, Declan & crew). 

For those of you who like a gripping murder mystery with some awesome MC's, this book hits stores February 2016! 

Rating: 2 Stars (for my own personal enjoyment) but that aside, 5 stars for the writing, plot & amazing characters. 

Ages: 18+

Honest review given after reading an ARC from NetGalley of Cold Shot

Emissary by Thomas Locke (Review by Ashley Nikole)

Can I start off with the fact that I think this cover is phenomenal? I can't even take how beautiful & well designed it is. It was what made me pick up this book in the first place- I was like, "whoa, dat cover is- whoa"
Bravo!

First read by Thomas Locke (which is a pen name for the bestselling author Davis Bunn), and one of my first adventures into fantasy land, since I read the Lord Of The Rings- I'll say about a decade ago. 

I confess, the reason for my lack of fantasy reading is largely due to the heavy presence of witchcraft that normally accompanies the genre. 

For me, I don't feel as though a fantasy book gives a person license to go all occultic, black magic wielding, necromancy creepster on me. Perhaps I will one day write a blog post on that subject, but for now, suffice to say there is a fine line, and I don't believe fantasy fiction should be a guide in black magic 101- that people in real life try to replicate- but I shall rest my case and get back to the review at hand. 

PLOT: 

From the first page, I was drawn in & carried along with the story pretty well. There was hardly a moment of in-depth explanation (which I often find authors doing for the first three or four chapters, arg) in chapter one, instead I was plunged into the MC's life, without a big backstory- which I personally enjoyed. 

The pace was not what I would consider fast, but neither was it slow. Rather, it resembled a string of explosions and their subsequent aftermaths. So, in a sense, with all the mini explosions, the book felt at times a tad bit anticlimactic- but then again, there really wasn't a way around that, given the type of conquest-type plot. 

Also, given the fact that Emissary is book one in a trilogy, I clearly don't have the full perspective on the plot, where it begins and ends- at this point I have the foundation of book one- without the buildup or conclusion of two or three. 

Locke has a way of writing fantasy much as Tolkien would- and in a way where you feel as though the book was either written a century ago, or the author has honed their skill in which their writing & voice feels so very authentically...distant land and not contemporary. 

MAGIC:

Given that this is a fantasy book, the use of magic is a given. There are mage's, wizards and a telepathic race known as the Ashanta. With the fantasy genre, the question is not if magic will be used, it is more who uses it, how and why. If the magic is used with good intent & for the uplifting/liberation of others, it is good. If used with evil intent, it is dark- so magic is usually representing a metaphorical melting pot of good vs. evil. 

There are glowing orbs that hold energy from the currents which surge below the earth's surface, that create shifts in nature, heal, destroy or repair, etc etc. 

In mage school, students are instructed on how to weave spells & learn how to craft magic- pretty basic look at it- not in depth. 

There were some witches who attack Hyam- pretty grotesque and creepy, kinda left my skin feeling funny afterwards, ya know that kinda stuff? Yeah. 

Overall, the magic in this book didn't lead the reader down a witchcraft type dark or twisted path. Magic was a thing. It was used. There's that. 

VIOLENCE: 

This being a book with battles and the attempted conquering of a deathly foe, you can imagine Lord Of The Rings type bloodshed and the like. Battles, killing, blood, a dead army of shrieking ghosts- you get the point. 

SEXUAL CONTENT: 

Not much. A miniscule amount of romance between Hyam & Joelle.
The witches were sexually perverse & in your face, but for only a scene.

CONCLUSION: 
I would give this book a 2 star rating. I most certainly didn't hate it, but neither did I love it.
For me, I have to feel as though the character's hearts are not hidden or non-existent to the reader- there must be an emotional connection for me to fully enjoy the book. In Emissary, I felt there was a heavy informational download, epic battles, unique characters & looming challenges- but no real emotion. Correction- there was a scene or two I empathised with, but not many. So, while the writing was beautiful and the plot well crafted- it didn't make the cut for me,
personally.

Also, I felt as though the villain was entirely underdeveloped. I'm not a fan of the author focusing entirely on the bad guy, but honestly, I didn't know what Hyam and all the good guys were fighting against for the whole story. Some crimson orb-wielding, mystical wizard with seemingly ultimate power...but who was he? Where'd he come from? I had so many questions regarding the crimson wizard and why he was the ultimate big bad guy, but I came out pretty slim in the answers department. Then again, this is a trilogy, so I cannot go full circle and count all the eggs before they're hatched, so to speak. I look forward to having a more well rounded and educated opinion on this series, but for now, with the information at hand, these are my thoughts.

I'd recommend this book for ages 16+ (granted, not all 16 year old's are ready for the content in this book, that is loosely based on where I was as a 16 year old. Some would dig it at 15, some not even at 20- so keep in mind this is an approximately based recommend :)

I hear Emissary is under review for becoming a film! How exciting would that be?
Have you read Emissary? What were your thoughts? Share them in the comments below! 

The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson (Review by Ashley Nikole)

This young adult, historical fiction book is amaze-beans. Melanie Dickerson (for me personally) is a bit of a hit & miss. Some books I like, others...not so much- but this one I loved for multiple reasons...

The PLOT... 

wasn't mind blowing in it's uniqueness, but it flowed well & was pleasant. The twist about Lord Hamlin's betrothed was pretty cool, and while I wouldn't say this book was fast paced- it didn't lag either. It flowed pretty smooth & consistently throughout. 

The Characters... 

were unique and I felt as though their personal struggles were relatable & not the usual surface level stuff one normally reads about in YA Fiction. 

The Spiritual Content... 

was not your average for YA Christian Fiction, with sprinkles of God's name here or there, or a bullet prayer. There was some pretty heavy demonic crap floating around with the bad dude (closer to the end of the book)- Moncore (who's a sorcerer). At one point he puts curse on someone, proclaiming that they will be tormented by demons forever & essentially end up insane from it. So, that aspect makes this book heavier overall from the bad stuff present...& for that reason I'd more recommend it for readers 16+ 

But I appreciated the angle about spiritual warfare against evil, and prayer etc. that the character's used to combat Moncore's curses & power. Spiritual warfare is not something I've read a lot of in Christian fiction, but I enjoyed seeing Dickerson displaying the power of prayer & warfare.

The Sexual Content...

There's character's falling in love...some creepy dudes who don't have good intentions toward Rose and the like. At one point someone asks Rose to become his mistress.

Conclusion...

Very much enjoyed this read. It was more mature than most YA books, just given how the characters dug deeper and had a stronger sense of sacrifice & duty than most characters I've read about in other YA fiction. 

The witchcraft in the last portion of the book definitely had me feeling heavy and a tad disturbed afterwards (just since I know how real the dynamics of spiritual warfare are in real life)- but at the same time I appreciated the light shed upon the spiritual warfare aspect of things. So it was heavy, but I appreciated, and thoroughly enjoyed this book. 

4 Stars & I would recommend this one for ages 16+ 

Wolfsbane by Ronie Kendig (Review by Ashley Nikole)

Wolfsbane falls in line as book #3 in the 'Discarded Heroes' series, following a Black Ops type of team called 'Nightshade'.

Each book follows a member of the team, with this one following former Green Beret medic, Canyon Metcalfe. The lady MC is Danielle (Dani) Roark, a demolitions expert that, at the start of the book, is escaping a brutal captivity in Venezuela.

Review for book 2 in the series, Digitalis.

PLOT:

Moved pretty fast & well paced throughout. The first...about half I'd say, is set in the United States and isn't focusing on suspense, but more on the relationship/romance side of things, with plenty of involvement with the Metcalfe family & sibling dynamics, which I enjoyed.

Just before the halfway mark, the story moves over to Venezuela, and that's when the action/danger & suspense really works itself up into its full potential.

The first time I read this book, the subplot in italics (of a native Venezualan mystery woman telling a story of a soldier named Bayani & her daughter, Chesa) confused me. I didn't really get where it was going or what the significance was to the story, until about 3/4 of the way through. But have no fear, it IS significant, & at the end, you have a big "Aha!" moment. Second time reading through this novel, I understood the significance of this plotline & really felt it added a good angle to the story. 

VIOLENCE:

With Nightshade being a black ops & covert operation team, they end up being in hostile territory where plenty of military/guerrilla violence/killing/shooting/fighting etc. takes place. People get shot, stabbed (blood gurgling, & pouring out of wounds, etc) fistfights etc.
Mention is made that Dani was tortured, but not much is mentioned of it in hindsight. A Nightshade member is tortured when captured by the enemy.

Cutting (explained down below)

SPOILERS:

Not too far into the book Dani attempts suicide via

cutting herself (we don't see her doing it). Someone

interrupts her while she's doing it, and she hides 

her arm behind herself, but the blood splattering 

onto the bathroom floor gives her away. 

At another point, when she has been captured,

she attempts slitting her wrists again, to 

escape the brutal treatment she knows she 

will receive. She is interrupted again. 

SEXUAL CONTENT:

Dani has several memories of being raped. While they are not prolonged or usually overtly explicit in  their remembrance, they aren't nondescript.

--------SPOILERS----------

Dani & Canyon have sex once after an innocent

play-fight-tickle match turns into kissing,

passion & getting physically intimate.

The scene ends with, "Canyon kissed her again,

deeper, more passionately. He traced her leg and drew

the hem of the tunic upward." So it is cut off before anything

happens, but we get the idea what is about to take

place. Following, Canyon knows what he did was

wrong, & they have a talk at the end of the book about

having extramarital sex, & why they (if they could have

changed things) would have waited until marriage.

----still spoilers----

With Dani, I can understand her reason in giving herself to Canyon before marrying him...before being raped multiple times in captivity, she'd been a virgin. The first time she'd kissed Canyon (post captivity) it was her first kiss.

Not having a strong or active spiritual conviction to back up saving sex for marriage, she felt safe & loved with Canyon, & was probably more than ready to have a loving sexual encounter, after having her virginity stolen, & her sexuality only being used in the context of rape. Not that it makes what they did, right, but I can certainly empathize.
P.S. Canyon won no brownie points after that scene...I was like, "Dude! You had one job." #fail #justno what happened to all that self- imposed soldier self-control? Treat the girl right & put a ring on it, ahem, before sleeping with her. But he owns up to his mistakes, & that is what matters. People mess up at times, but how they handle their mistakes is key. 

Drug Content: 

Canyon is addicted to some high powered pain meds, he initially was taking for a back injury. He kept taking them even after the pain abated, to numb his emotionally pain regarding his past. He hid his addiction from his family & Nightshade team. Eventually he is found out, and gets off the meds (detoxes). 

CHARACTERS: 

I loved these guys, mainly because they were broken & imperfect. While I couldn't circumstantially relate with them, their emotional trauma & struggles made me emphasize, big time. I didn't feel distanced from Dani & Canyon, as though I were merely reading about two fake people. I felt as though I was Dani, or Canyon in a scene, heart being torn apart, bereft at loss, or elated at a triumph. That is what I am looking for in a book- to be transported into another world, another character. Their imperfect state, how they messed up at times- but just kept going, spoke to me so much. 

While I don't want to read about a person who goes doing bad things (on purpose) left, right & centre, I also cannot connect with a character who is total perfection. Dani & Canyon were imperfect, made mistakes, got super messy, but they owned their mistakes. They kept moving forward, & that is what made me love them! 

They were walking out of brokenness & into being whole & well. That process seldom looks cute, and that's what I loved so much about this book. These people being in the trenches of the 'process', and moving into their destiny...sometimes taking two steps back, then one forward. 

CONCLUSION: 

This book, content wise is a pretty heavy book. Dani was in captivity for six months, during which she was repeatedly violated through rape and torture. It deals with a character who attempts suicide multiple times to escape horrors no one should endure. Another has a drug addiction. It's a heavy book, but it is filled with redemption, hope & perseverance. Canyon's upbeat & humorous personality kept it from staying too heavy the whole way through.
Generally, I'm not a huge fan of the more content heavy books, but I loved this one. Second time through I fell in love even more.

The heart I have for abused & battered women, was spoken to deeply by this book. Novel's that are fiction, but speak to & nudge your convictions...those are the keepers.

5 Stars for this one, & I'd recommend it for readers 18-19+

Love Unexpected by Jody Hedlund

Beacons of Hope - Book 1

Setting: 1859 - Presque Isle, Michigan

This is the classic, marriage of convenience, quickly turns into the husband & wife falling in love type story, with a hint of mystery.

It is mostly a romance, with a few other subplots, but I'd say the main focus is our two MC's being married (only in name) and their process of falling in love & overcoming the hurdles of beginning their relationship out of necessity, and wanting to continue it as a married couple. If those kinds of stories aren't your jam, or you are under 18, I'd give this book a pass.

The plot flowed well and consistently. Since this book has hints of danger, but it isn't a thriller or suspense book, naturally it is going to be "slower", but in my opinion, it carried along nicely and didn't lag anywhere.

As for the romantic/sexual content involved...our two MC's are married, so their relationship has more allowance for them to be contemplating being physically intimate, since they are married. There are a few pretty steamy & passionate kissing scenes, and a good deal of contemplation as to whether their spouse finds them attractive...how to let their spouse know they desire them in a way a married couple would, vs. just a man & wife married in name only, etc etc.
In the end...
-----SPOILERS--------
Patrick & Emma leave the room 
to (it is eluded) be physically 
intimate, but the only thing we 
witness is the husband (Patrick) 
carrying his wife (Emma) out 
of the room. Their time together
is implied only. 

So as you've read, the theme is mature. The MC's process of falling in love isn't dirty & sinful- it is good & beautiful (& designed by God)...but depending on the reader's age, and the season of life they're in, it may or may not be what they need to read. That decision needs to be made by each person, based on where they're at.

I loved both Emma & Patrick as individual character's, and I loved watching them fall in love and their relationship as a couple. It was awkward and funny & real, and that's what I enjoyed about it.

Jody's writing style carried well and beautifully depicted the character's, but also the history of that time.

4 Stars & I'd recommend this book for ages 18-19 +

Falcon by Ronie Kendig (Review by Ashley Nikole)

Book 3 in the 'Quiet Professionals' series belongs to Falcon. This book is, by far my favourite of the series. See review's for book 1 (Raptor 6) & book 2 (Hawk) 

PLOT:

It begins immediately following where Hawk left off, and jumps right into an explosion/action sequence. As where book 1 & 2 in this series (Raptor 6 & Hawk) took a while to build & get going, simply due to the military strategies and lingo involved, Falcon started off in high gear, and the plot pretty much stayed that way throughout the entire book.
So plot wise, this book flowed swiftly. All that waiting you did in book 1 & 2, you don't do in book 3.  Everything you were waiting for, IT ALL HAPPENS.

Another thing I like about this book is how many subplots there are. SO MANY. Kiew & Cassie, Kiew & Daniel, Takkar Corp, Candyman & Takkar, Cassie & Sal, General Burnett...Eamon Straider- & a bunch of others. I loved every minute of how diverse this novel's storyline is.

The MC's in Falcon were my favourite. Salvatore (eerbody calls him Sal) "Falcon" Russo was passionate, real, and a total hardheaded idiot at times, but I loved him anyway. It was his flawed realness that made me identify with his struggle & journey.
Cassandra...I loved watching her character through this book...especially given that hardly anyone trusts her (her plight is real & terrible), and Sal is on a serious hate rampage to cover his feelings that yes...he still has for her.

VIOLENCE:

As with all war books, the violence is higher- comes with the territory. There is torture, bombs, shooting, attacks, & people die. Plenty of blood (not grotesquely explained, but we don't see it from a mile away, either) & gun wounds. A soldier does cutting on his arms in the shower a few times.
An Afghanistan mother kills one of her children and nearly does in the second with a knife (we don't see her doing it, but happen upon the aftermath of her young daughter's body & tunic being slashed and blood everywhere)

SEXUAL CONTENT / ROMANCE

There are mentions of a relationship filled with unbridled 'passion' that took place in Cassandra & Sal's past as lovers.

---------SPOILERS---------

After splitting, Cassandra finds out
she is pregnant with Sal's child
but she doesn't tell him until midway 
through the book. 

They share several passionate kisses.
Eamon falls in love with someone. Dean has a fairly off-screen relationship with Zahrah, but she appears here and there.

CONCLUSION:

This book has everything a good military suspense novel should have. Action, sacrifice, overcoming, some romance & a killer plot. Ronie's writing is nothing mediocre, or even good. It is phenomenal. It captivates you. It brings you right into the story like I've not witnessed many author's accomplish. This lady has a way with words that is incredible.

I give this book 5 stars and would recommend it for ages 17+

Hawk by Ronie Kendig (Review by Ashley Nikole)

Hawk is slotted as book 2 in the 'Quiet Professionals' series by Ronie Kendig, set in (current day) war-torn Afghanistan with a group of Special Forces soldiers dealing with a hacker accessing and wreaking-havoc on their military computer database. So in other words, missions get corrupted, they receive phoney orders from upstream and trust is not something easily come by.

Check out my review for book 1, Raptor 6 here & review for Falcon (book 3), here.

With this series, each book builds on the last, and they are not (in my opinion) books that should be read out of order, or with a hope that the evil forces will be defeated until the end of book 3. This series is something you have to be dedicated to over the long-haul, if you want to see things resolved- so stay committed!

Comparatively speaking, I feel Hawk is lighter than Raptor 6. Yes, there is war violence, people die and there is evil, but it is overall less intense than book 1. Yet even this book has it's moment's of total craziness & it get's pretty tense. I mean...let's be real...this is a military book, and the violence is naturally going to be higher than in other books. It comes with the territory.

The plot took a bit to get going (I know, the opening scene was all guns blazing & our MC got knocked out, but I'm talking overall plot)
As I mentioned in my review of Raptor 6, because there is a lot of military lingo & computer hacking tech-talk, it takes focused brain power to comprehend what's going on and get through this book. It isn't an 'easy' read, or mindless AT ALL. You have to be functioning on all your mental burners in order to keep up with this plot, otherwise you won't have a clue what's going on.
If I was tired and read sections of this book...I was LOST.
This novel requires absolute attention & concentration, because it is a plot powerhouse. I don't know how Ronie does it, but she keeps creating mind-blowing content where her plots are concerned. #authorrespect
The attention paid to detail makes you feel as though you're watching a movie, rather than reading a book. Ronie's writing has a definite cinematic vibe to it- and without fail you are thrown into the story as if you were witnessing it unfold in person. Not many writer's can do this well as she can.

The romance was not the main plot- it was an undercurrent that popped up here and there. A few passionate kisses that were interrupted...falling in love attraction and the like, but it wasn't a 'romance' novel.

As far as the character's went...I enjoyed Brian's frank and open personality. It was refreshing, until his going banana's all the time left me like...'whet?' although certainly believable. I have met many a dude with un-hinged anger issues. Closer to the end I enjoyed his character more.
Fekiria wasn't my favourite...it was simply a personality clash, but she was well written & came off the page. She just wasn't my personal fave, but that is no fault of the author's.

The setting of Hawk, being that it was in the middle of winter (with blizzards aplenty) kinda just set me off the wrong way.
Again, just a personal preference, but somehow I couldn't 'get into' the story, given the overload of snow- now I live in the Great White North, so snow is no stranger in my world, but for some reason, I've never been a fan of books or movies set in the dead of winter. They seem depressing & bleak, and aren't my cup of tea. Anyone else feel this way?

CONCLUSION:

Amazing book- not quite my cup of tea, and simply due to personal preference. If you enjoy books set in the winter, & brainy techy type plots where you have to concentrate hard & be in for the long haul, this may be right up your alley.

For how good, well written & thought out the book is, I'd give it 5 stars. For how much I personally enjoyed it, I'd say about 2-3 stars.

Book 3 (review coming soon) is my favourite in the series...so I can't wait to share it with you peeps.

Lethal Legacy by Irene Hannon (Review by Ashley Nikole)

Normally crime fiction and me aren't the best of friends. Simply because, more often than not the villains are major psychotic creep's who do things that make your insides churn...
Some people like that, but I'm not the type of person who gets an adrenaline rush from being sickly disturbed by the evil dudes-that-be. However, I do like myself a good suspense, cat & mouse type novel with law enforcement, so long as nothing gets super creepy and grotesque. This is not to say that this book is not without it's creepy moments. I mean, it is a crime fiction suspense book. There's nasty, grisly stuff that comes along with the criminal world & those who seek to enforce the law & keep others safe. It isn't as gruesome as some crime fiction I've read, but it isn't a tip-toe through the tulips. You've been forewarned ;)

I loved Lethal Legacy. The plot felt fresh and unexplored (unlike the ones that have seemingly been done over & over), and a good pace was kept throughout. 

I was drawn to the character's- they were unique & compelling.

The romance was steady throughout the storyline & real without tripping over into anything steamy. 

I loved the elements including the Taylor family's sibling dynamic- it made everything feel that much more real.  

I was on the edge of my seat until the end of the story. This is the sort of book that would make for a great crime/suspense movie. 

4 Stars, and would recommend this book for anyone 17+. 

Along Came Jones by Linda Windsor (Review by Ashley Nikole)

First time I read this book was during my mid-teen years, and I loved it. So, for the love of going back & reminiscing about a good book (which seems rare to find- I am decidedly a media snob and I'm not even sorry about it), several years later, I picked it up & started reading again. 

The first few chapters were great- I felt the plot & character's had a good deal of potential. There were some laughs along the way with a few moments of suspense that could have lead to something amazing, but...it didn't make the cut for me this time round. 

Why? 
I couldn't identify with the character's- maybe Shep (the dude) a small handful of times, but not often. I was not compelled by Diana, her situation, or virtually anything about her. 
The plot lagged & seemed to build up, go *poof* & then kinda smack you in the face when you weren't expecting it, but not in a good way. The plot didn't feel grounded. It just...floated. 

The romance was this awkward 'I don't know you but there's all this sizzling heat when I'm around you' type of thing, but there was no real friendship to back up their unexplained feelings for each other. 
If there is going to be a romantic, or even sexual pull for two character's, I need for there to be something more than the physical side of things backing it up. So, for the MC's (main character's) to have a pull between them, but they fight a bunch, don't trust each other & won't become friends, but they are falling in love...that seems like a recipe for disaster, and it just didn't make me want to root for their relationship. It was more annoying than anything else. 

I wanted to like this book, especially when the first time I read it, I was doing a happy dance cause I thought it was so adorable and sweet. Clearly my taste's in fiction have changed and the bar has been set higher. I'm okay with that. 
If this book floats your boat, great. For me, it didn't. This is not to say that I don't like Linda Windsor's writing. On the contrary, I've read several of her books and I love them- just not this one. 

The one thing I did enjoy about this book was Shep's old-fashioned gentlemanly cowboy behaviour. When the rest of the plot wasn't irking me, I must admit, it was sweet. Apart from that, this book was just a no-go all round. 

1.5 Stars. 

Have you read this book? What was your take on it? 

Raptor 6 by Ronie Kendig (Review by Ashley Nikole)

Before we get into things, I just have to point out how awesome the cover is...not only because it looks L-E-G-I-T, but because the model on the cover is actually a military veteran. Say what? I think that is so rad. (the men on the two other cover's of the 'Quiet Professional's' series are also veterans) 

Well written book filled with action, intrigue and sacrifice. The first half was a little slow, just getting into the groove, I think just because there was a lot of heady information (due to the fact that the villain(s) are combined military & computer hacker brains) and a back story had to be built, in order to get to where it could essentially "explode".

The last quarter of the book was quite intense (comparatively speaking with most of Kendig's work, I'd say the last quarter of this book was the most intense I've seen her writing get...just with the brutality stuff), with a good deal of torture and the also rape...so it was, like I said- quite intense. 

Since this is a three part series, the villain didn't end up getting defeated, so it was a bit of a momentary let down...simply because the characters went through so much, and the pay off seemed fairly non-existent (apart from getting out alive, which is a big plus, of course). 
However, with this series, it is definitely the kind where you need to read all three books (Hawk & Falcon- reviews coming for these soon!) to get the overarching problems solved. Whereas in some series, there is an individual problem for each book and it gets resolved at the ending of said book, this series has a collective villain that all three books work towards defeating, and yes, it takes all three books to uncover the crazy force they are up against. 
So definitely, stick to the end and read all three books- don't give up on the first simply because it looks like there isn't a lot of resolution that takes place in book 1. 

PLOT: 
Like I said above, it was a bit slower unless you could plow through a lot of technical military & hacker wordage and complex plot buildup. It wasn't that it lacked something going on- there was a LOT going on, it was just quite large and took a bit more brain power to comprehend. Kendig is a literal plot genius- and it takes a fully engaged mind to understand and track what is going on, in all the different plot/subplot strains.
The last quarter was quite intense- when everything went crazy, it went full throttle.

VIOLENCE: 
With a book set in Afghanistan about the military, you just know there's gonna be some nasty violence. Innocent people (including a child- though we don't see them when it happens) die from Taliban (I think it was Taliban, I'll have to check back on that) attacks and the ravages of a country torn apart by war. A soldier has flashbacks about getting tortured in the past, and also is captured & tortured again. Also including a scene of physiological warfare, where (when in captivity) captors turn out the lights and blast screamo-heavy metal music, to essentially wear down the mind & create terror.

SEXUAL CONTENT: (SPOILERS) 
Apart from the regular and pretty low profile romance between the main characters, Zahrah (lady main character) is raped. As reader's we aren't in the same room when it happens, but we can hear her screaming in the other room.

CONCLUSION:

Since this is a three part series, the villain didn't end up getting defeated, so it was a bit of a momentary let down...simply because the characters went through so much, and the pay off seemed fairly non-existent (apart from getting out alive). 
However, with this series, it is definitely the kind where you need to read all three books (Hawk & Falcon- click the titles for a link to their respective reviews) to get the overarching problems solved. 
So, stick to the end and read all three books- don't give up on the first simply because it looks like there isn't a lot of resolution that takes place in book 1. 

This is definitely a heavier read. With the reality of war and the atrocities that come along with it, it shook me up since I was so invested in the character's and storyline, and they were hurt deeply physically, emotionally and mentally. Despite the heaviness that the reality brings, it remains an amazing book- but, depending on what you're looking for in a read, it may or may not be up your alley. 

3.5 stars. (the dock in stars is resulting from the fact that it was more intense than I prefer (regarding torture & rape) but that is merely a personal preference, and in no way should reflect anything but amazing writing, character & plot creation by Ronie Kendig) I would recommend this book for ages 19+ 

Have you read Raptor 6? What were your thoughts? 

Season Of Fire by Lisa T. Bergren (Review by Ashley Nikole)

Book 2 in the Remnants series

Genre: Dystopian (Young Adult)

After finishing this book, I tried getting my thoughts together on all that I thought about it...and I couldn't. I'd keep thinking about the book, get confused or divided within myself about this or that, and not really come up with a solid opinion. So here I am...a few months later with a fresher perspective on it, writing a review.

I have to put out there that firstly, I'm not a big fan of dystopian anything. It's just not my jam, but anywho...that aside.

To me, these books almost feel like historical fiction, because in them, society has progressed so far that it kinda digressed and went back in time :S so...it almost feels like more historical fiction than dystopian (just my personal opinion), which suits me just fine.

PLOT:

I really enjoyed it and the complexities involved, including all the different characters. I loved that there was a merry band of Remnants and their Knight's, instead of just a couple striking out on an adventure.

It flowed well, and the suspense always kept things fresh and moving at a good pace. This was one of those plots were it JUST WORKED. It kept going. It sang. It was beautiful & intricately woven.

ROMANCE:

A brief kiss here, and a more passionate one there. With one character in particular there is always an underlying sensual pull, but he isn't flat-out perv. (more on that in the next part)

Character chit-chat & confusion (SPOILER WARNING)

I love Ronan & Dri's (Andriana's) chemistry, both as friends and romantic interests. It was kinda sad how they were separate for a good portion of the book, so nothing could occur between the two, but such is the advancement of the book's plot.

Keallach...okay, this guy could pretty much be labeled as 'Mr. Confusion in the ranks'. I both love and hate him (well done Lisa, you've created a villain your readers don't just hate, they love) so it's a grrr and yay moment all at the same time.

Keallach is bad, yes? He locked his brother up in prison and usurped the thrown and ordered the death of his parents. Then he buddied up with a Sheolite creepy guy named Sethos, who is just plain bad, no conflict there.

But as a reader, I jumped between, 'Keallach is bad, plain bad trying to look good' & 'Keallach seems like he is definitely under Sethos' spell and he's merely misguided & blind'. So I never quite came to a serious conclusion about Keallach's true motives, because he flops between seeming good & evil. The multiple personalities he switches between make me think he's probably bad (emotionally unstable people who flop from kind to exasperated in seconds, for no valid reasons...just no)

And...can we talk about body control for a minute? Mind control be one thing, but Keallach controlled Dri's body more than once- both times to make her kiss him (quite passionately the second time...#whoa)  So...what's to say he would make her do other things against her will with his ability to control her body? That was a little strange. Especially after the body control stuff, I was more prone to think he was just straight-up, bad guy.

However, I can't pre-judge his character as a whole, until everything comes to a head in book 3, 'Season of Glory' coming out this winter.

What did you think of Keallach?

--------------------------------------------

CONCLUSION

This is one of those books where I'm hesitant to come to any big conclusions, until I've read the third book in the series. Generally I can come up with an opinion simply based off one book, but then there are times when I have to read the entire series first, before I can say exactly what I thought about the books collectively. So...until Season of Glory comes out, I'll still be in a bit of a limbo, regarding Season of Fire. Not in limbo over the plot, cause the plot & the characters were a-okay, but Keallach was just plain weird at times and I wanted to know if he was good or bad- not waffling in between, ya know?

Still, even given the strangeness of certain aspects of the story and its characters, I enjoyed this book & it kept me reading and wondering what would happen next. I would suggest it for readers 16+

So I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Have you read Season of Fire? If so, what were your thoughts? Join the conversation below :)

The Messenger by Siri Mitchell (Review by Ashley Nikole)

An engaging read about the revolutionary war, spies (one of them being a Quaker) & a jail break, all set in 1778 Philadelphia during the British occupation.

Loved this book- the ending however, left a lot to be desired (in my opinion). 

I enjoyed the plot, the romance (despite it being almost non-existent, and more of a friendship because Hannah was quite conservative, and a Quaker. Jeremiah wasn't, so a romance between them was...unheard of and nearly impossible) the American History, and the character development. It was intriguing and paced pretty well. It wasn't fast paced, but it definitely didn't lag. 

I found the Quaker-speak (Old English) with the overuse of 'thee' and 'thou' and etc. was a bit stifling and made the Quakers hard to relate with, because they felt quite...robotic almost, in their use of the old language. But, eventually I found it wasn't that bad, and almost saw it as quant that Hannah spoke with a superfluous amount of 'thee' and 'thou'. 

The ending, (******SPOILERS*****)
(imagine with me) felt akin to breathing in, and finding the room void of oxygen. It was just coming up into a glorious territory of a seriously good ending, and then- nothing. Just ended in a kinda strange fashion. So, while I truly enjoyed every page of this book, the ending was a big let down for me. I'm a serious advocate for strong endings, and this ending, it just felt- incomplete and off. 

The writing was beautiful, the plot well thought out and compelling, & you really felt like you were there, not just reading about a story. Other than the ending, it was a great book and I would definitely recommend it.

4 stars overall. 

Against The Tide by Elizabeth Camden (Review by Ashley Nikole)

Ahh...I was not expecting this book to go where it did, but it was fabulous. I was thinking, 'nice historical fiction with some military (navy) involvement, & a tad bit of suspense' but I was positively blown away by what I found within the pages of this book (in a good kind of way).

Against the Tide is beautifully set in 1876 Boston. I love all the historical detail in this book...it doesn't feel like someone is writing historical fiction, it feels like you are IN history.

PLOT:

It took a bit of time to build, with a slower beginning, but once you reach the halfway point- look out people! I couldn't stop reading until I finished. A literal page-turner.

ROMANCE: 

It was sweet, nothing overtly passionate but it was purely genuine. I appreciated Bane & Lydia's relationship, as friends as well as romantic interests. I fell in love with their individual character's, but even moreso with them as a couple. Their relationship didn't feel like the vast majority of relationships I've read on paper. It was fresh, raw & truly beautiful.


#plottwist
I was not expecting this novel to have an entire subplot about substance abuse. I found it intriguing, given the time period and how certain people found themselves addicted to drugs (some unknowingly) & how they dealt with their dependency on the drug. So if you're a younger reader, (below 16) I'd suggest you shelve this book for a few years.

CONCLUSION:

The suspense of this book took me entirely by surprise. I don't think I've read a historical fiction book so heavy laden with it, and I loved every minute. It was so intense- and the plot just WORKED, people. An absolute stunner of a book. Granted, it is a heavier read with the content involved, but SO GOOD.

Definitely in my top 10 favourite books OF ALL TIME. 
5 out of 5 stars for sure!

Hearts Made Whole by Jody Headlong (Review by Ashley Nikole)

I've read a handful of Jody Hedlund's books in the past, not been a huge fan (I'll get into the why) but saw this was a book immediately following the Civil War (I have a fascination with books from that time period currently), so I picked it up and gave it a read.

I loved the plot and how the main character's Caroline and Ryan came together in a tough predicament. Their romance was sweet and touching- it didn't venture into anything too steamy, but it was passionate and real.

Seeing Ryan struggle through remembering his past crimes from his days in the war, and learning how to cope without (and with) drinking himself into oblivion, was real and raw, making you feel as though you weren't just reading a story, you were there.

The one thing I didn't like about this book, which subsequently ruined the whole book (nasty when that happens) was the villain.


--------SPOILERS BELOW ------ WARNING!!!

Arnie Simmons (the bad dude that no one knows is the bad dude until it's too late) just personally, REALLY got on my nerves. I totally get that the bad guy is supposed to do that, but he did in a way that made me irked to even read about him as a villain.
He was gross, a seriously sorry excuse for a man, a coward, and weird weird weird. This high dislike for villains like him, is simply a personal preference of mine...so don't go discounting her writing for YOU, because sometimes the villains rub ME the wrong way.

Jody is a gifted author, I truly believe that, but you know, 'different folks, different strokes' it simply doesn't work for me- generally.
Reason being?
Several of the bad guys in previous books were religious people, who were straight up perverts. Like major creepo's. Again, I know that there are religious people out there who claim to be good, but are actually quite evil, but just for me, it really can work me into a dither when I read about a pious individual who is a total hypocrite and is a MAJOR VILLAIN. It just makes me feel slimed with crapola. Just me. Not everyone will feel that way.

But on the flip-side, two of her books were some of my favourites. So, sometimes it works for me to read & love her books, other times they can rub me the wrong way.

So for this book, I'd give it a 2 Stars outta 5. And that's all personal preference...not because I felt her writing wasn't good. Because she writes very well. Romance was on point. Good plot. Relatable characters.

Read this book? What were your thoughts?

Traces of Mercy by Michael Landon Jr. & Cindey Kelley (Review by Ashley Nikole)

Intrigue, suspense & the element of unknown (with the main character suffering from amnesia) set this book into motion quickly. I stayed up until 3 AM reading it, as I simply couldn't put it down without knowing the conclusion! Incredible post Civil War novel with amazing character's and a great plot!

The last third of the book is where things get pretty intense, and then you pretty much just hope you have a few hours to dedicate to sitting still and reading this emotional rollercoaster of a finish- yikes- and like I said, I stayed up till 3 AM when I accidentally found myself reading that last third before bed...yup, it happened. 

Romance in this book is present but pretty subdued. It exists, but it isn't really the focus of the story, and there isn't a whole lot of attention paid to it. So not at all steamy or intense on the romance side of things. 

Overall, the pace was pretty good. Occasionally it lagged at times with the nuns, but apart from that...I don't have any complaints about the plot or flow of this book. 

4.7 stars