LUMINESCENCE BY BRADEN BELL

ABOUT THE BOOK:
"“He’s alive!” she yelled. “He’s alive!”
As Lexa spoke the words, she knew they were true. She knew with total certainty.
“Dr. Timberi’s alive!”
When Lady Nightwing kidnapped Dr. Timberi, everyone assumed their teacher had been killed. So when Lexa discovers that he isn’t dead, Conner can’t believe his ears!
Desperate to rescue Dr. Timberi, Conner, Lexa, and Melanie turn to the last person they want to talk to, the person who started all of this chaos—the Stalker. As the Trio confront their worst fears, they realize their Magi powers may not be enough to keep everyone alive.
Your favorite characters return in this satisfying conclusion of the Middle School Magic series! Filled with plenty of twists, humor, and adventure, Luminescence will keep you guessing until the thrilling end."

 Luminescence by Braden Bell is the exciting conclusion to the Middle School Magic trilogy. After the cliffhanger at the end of Penumbras , I was exited to read it.
Luminescence does an excellent  job of tying up the loose ends and answering the big questions, like who is the stalker, is Dr Timberi really dead, why does Melanie's Dad hate the Magi, why can Pilaf hear head talk, and many more. 
The story starts with the kids Connor, Lexa and Melanie at odds because of their guilt and anger over Dr Timberi's kidnapping and possible death. I liked that they learned that by working together they were more powerful, and that Pilaf was an important part of their group.
I loved this book and the whole Middle School Magic Trilogy. I would recommend it for mid grade readers (9-13), but adult and older teens will love it too. You should read the 1st 2 books 1st, to get the whole story.
You can buy LUMINESCENCE by Braden Bell at www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com.
You can learn more about Braden Bell at 
this website.

I received a free review copy of this book for a fair and honest review.

FALLEN ANGEL BY LISA SWINTON

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Antonio Tonon does not believe in love at first sight until he sees her fall into a street in Milan and get hit by a motorcycle. Compelled to know who she is and if she can return his affection, he becomes her hospital volunteer only to learn that the accident erased her memory. But the road to love is obstructed by her tyrannical mother, Renatta’s fiancé (Marcello), and Antonio’s own lower social status. Forced to redefine his ideas of honor, love, and family, Antonio must find a way to marry Renatta before she bends to the will of her mother and resumes her place on the opera stage. If he fails, Renatta will wed Marcello and sentence Antonio to a lifetime of loneliness, for love at first sight never happens twice.


Fallen Angel by Lisa Swinton is a story of discovery, mixed with just enough romance and mystery.
I loved the characters, they seamed like real people.
I loved Antonio, he devoted his life for weeks to helping Renatta rediscover her past, even though he knew he could lose her when she remembered.
I loved the younger sister Chiara, she had guts and compassion and she was honest with Antonio about their family secrets.
The only character I didn't like was the mother. I had a hard time believing any mother could be so cold and hard hearted to her own children. I cheered for Renata and Chiara as they tried to break away from her control.
Overall I liked Fallen Angel, I liked that it was set in Italy, but I found it a little distracting to have Italian phrases thrown in kind of randomly.
I would recommend Fallen Angel by Lisa Swinton to women of all ages who like clean romance.
You can purchase the book at www.amazon.com.
To learn more about the author CLICK HERE .


I received a copy of this book from the author for my honest review.

DESTINY by CINDY RAY HALE

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Destiny Clark, a young Mormon girl living in Tennessee, is wildly infatuated with Isaac Robinson, the headmaster's son at her Baptist high school. When they're cast together in the school's production of Les Misérables, Destiny is horrified to find that she has to be publicly humiliated by acting out her true feelings of rejection onstage.
As their rehearsals begin, Destiny realizes the unimaginable: Isaac has developed deep feelings for her despite their religious differences and the fact that he has a girlfriend. 
But will they be able to find their place amongst the backbiters of their ultra-conservative world?
Weaving around Destiny and Isaac's alternating viewpoints, Destiny is the first book in a series inspired by the characters of Les Misérables and explores heartbreak, self-discovery, intolerance, and love.
DESTINY by Cindy Ray Hale is a young adult romance. Its a story of forbidden love and religious intolerance. It is told from the points of view of Destiny a young Mormon girl attending a Baptist High School in Tennessee, who has a crush Isaac, the headmaster's son & Isaac, the headmaster's son, who hates Mormons, and wants to protect his cousin Hannah from Destiny's evil influence.
Destiny was a quick read. The story is fast moving. I liked seeing the growth and changes in both Isaac and Destiny. I loved Hannah, Isaac's cousin, she was such a free spirit was willing to push Destiny to achieve the things she really wanted. She also didn't think Destiny was doomed because she was a Mormon.
 I'm not familiar with Les Mis so I was happy that the characters were briefly explained. It helped understand the relationships between the stories characters even better.
I would recommend this, especially to teenage girls but Adults will enjoy it too.
You can buy Destiny at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/374030 smashwords, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GEM312C  for Kindle, http://www.amazon.com/dp/0991037405  paperback, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/destiny-cindy-ray-hale/1117333798?ean=2940045368315 Nook. As always you can also check your local library for inter library loan.
I received a free copy for my honest review.

MILE 21 BY SARAH DUNSTER

ABOUT THE BOOK:

“You have to be here. I can’t be on the premises without an owner or tenant present. Wouldn’t want to be accused of walking off with anything.” He looks around the kitchen. “Not that there’s anything here to tempt me.”

“You’re a jerk.”

Bob glances down at the photo again. “Will your husband be back soon?”

“He died a year ago. So, no.”

I gain immense satisfaction in seeing his cheeks darken a bit.

 

Abish Miller is a mess. But you might be too if you were a twenty-one-year-old widow with a dysfunctional family, an overpowering boss, and a torturous return to the singles’ scene. Training for the marathon she and her husband never got to run is about the only time she can forget about her problems.

But life won’t leave her alone. It throws Bob Hartley, a recently divorced young father, into her living room and then her ward. And when her irritation turns into attraction, she’s sure that it must be some sort of cosmic joke, especially when it seems he loathes her! Feeling like she just keeps hitting the wall, Abish must learn to push past her fears or she’ll never achieve her personal best.

Defined by sharp wit and an authentic voice, Mile 21 shows the despair of giving up on hope—and the joy of choosing it again.

In the beginning of Mile 21 Abish comes off as hard, sarcastic and irresponsible. As the story unfolded and I started learning what made Abish who she was. She is a 21 year old widow, everyone thinks she should be able to get past that and go on with life. Her mother seams like a harsh woman, her younger sister has practically perfect life, and she knows her father was against her getting married. Her boss seems like he would be difficult to work with.
When she is evicted from her apartment, her parents send her to live with her eccentric aunt. She runs away and ends up depending on her Boss to help her find school approved housing, and getting back in the single scene.
Abish is a runner and is training for a marathon, she can't seem to run more than 21 miles.
I enjoyed going on Abish's journey with her, and watching her grow and change and learn that there can be life after her husband died, and that her family loves her and her boss/ Bishop is not such a bad guy.
I recommend this to anyone, it decidedly LDS, but the story is one that everyone can relate to on some level.
You can buy Mile 21 by Sarah Dunster at www.amazon.com, www.deseretbook.com or www.barnesandnoble.com. Or check with your local library for inter library loan.
To learn more about Sarah Dunster CLICK HERE

MIDDLE SCHOOL MAGIC PENUMBRAS by BRADEN BELL

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Conner, Lexa, and Melanie are back! Just when they think life is normal again, a dangerous shadow creature begins to hunt them. The trio must develop their powers in order to conquer this new peril and protect their school. Filled with action and even more magic, this book continues the exciting adventure in the Middle School Magic series.

I loved The Kindling ,so when I learned that Penumbras was soon to be released I was excited to read it, in hopes that it would be just as good as the 1st one was. I was not disappointed.
Penumbras is full of danger, suspense, drama, discovery, teenage angst and even a little romance, from page 1 to the cliffhanger at the end.
The kids are normal 13 year olds, with the exception of their Magi powers and the forces of dark are after them. They all discover talents they don't know they have, and can't control. They discover another mystery when they learn their friend Pilaf can hear head talk, even private conversations, and can see the shadow creatures.
Besides a battle between good and evil, there is a battle on the side between a jealous Lexa and Connor and Melanie, who have discovered like each other as more than friends. Lexa's flair for the dramatic makes things hard for everyone.
As in The Kindling the teachers are portrayed as intelligent and caring, and the parents are kept informed of what is happening in their children's lives and training.
Even though Penumbras is written for mid readers (9-13), I loved it, and I think most adults will love it too.

You can find Penumbras by Braden Bell at www.amazon.com in paperback and kindle and www.barnesandnoble,com both paperback and nook, or check with your local library for inter library loan.
To learn more about Braden Bell  CLICK HERE..

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

ASHES ASHES by JULIE COULTER BELLON

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Sophia Naziri is wanted for questioning in the murder of a U.S. senator. She’s worried the police will show up on her doorstep any moment, but when Detective Colby Black appears, it’s to help her put out a kitchen fire, not take her in. Yet. His easy smile and persistence in getting to know her pushes all her troubles to the back of her mind, until a hit man tracks her down. Getting arrested becomes the least of her worries and the handsome detective could be her only way out---if she tells him the truth.
Colby Black’s sniper skills have been a blessing and a curse to him. As a member of a Hostage Negotiation Team, he can use them to save people, but sometimes he can’t protect the innocent despite his best efforts. When a hostage situation goes bad, he tries to put it behind him by helping out his mysterious next-door neighbor, Sophia Naziri. But she pulls Colby into a web of lies and conspiracy that will force him to use every skill he has in order to survive. Faced with the moment of truth, can he trust anyone around him---including the woman at the center of it all?

ASHES ASHES by Julie Coulter Bellon,  is a fast moving story full of action, intrigue and just enough romance. The action starts on page 1 with Colby in a hostage negation that goes terribly wrong and a fire in his new neighbors kitchen. I was never happier that my Kindle has a text to speech option, so I could listen during my commute when I couldn't read.
Colby was the ideal man, an ex-marine that cares about people, and who likes to clean and bake to relax. Sophia is a woman with a big problem, and no one she feels like she can trust. When Colby comes over to help put out the kitchen fire she accidentally starts, she doesn't want to trust him, but really, what woman can resist a man that comes over early in the morning with fresh baked goodies and cleaning products.
Sophia has a big problem, the body of a murdered senator was found in her trunk. She feels she has to solve the mystery and find her father on her own. Will she trust Colby? Is there anyone she can trust?
I recommend Ashes Ashes  by Julie Coulter Bellon to anyone that likes Mystery, intrigue and clean romance. It is the 2nd book in the Hostage Negotiation Series, but can be read as a stand alone book, but I would recommend reading All Fall Down at some point, just because its another good read.
You can find Ashes Ashes on www.amazon.com, www.smashwords,com and www.barnesandnoble.com, or ask at your local library about inter library loan.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

THE BLOG by CAROLYN ADAMS HANCHETT

About the book:
Investigative journalism student, Abigail Houston, knew taking a stand meant taking risks. What she didn’t know, was the liberal agenda imposed by her university was part of something sinister...something that threatened the very soul of America, as well as her very existence. Elijah Morningstar knew he was in love with Abigail Houston; he also knows standing with her could jeopardize his political career. What he didn't know was that she would disintegrate his entire belief system.
The Blog by Carolyn Adams Hanchett is a very timely Novel.
We are seeing a lot of what Abby blogs about actually happening. I have seen interviews with college students that clearly illustrate the effect liberal universities are having on them. God's role in our history has been removed from our history books and the Constitution is in danger from liberal politicians.
In The Blog , Carolyn Hanchett covers these issues, Abby sees the problems in the country and boldly blogs about it and talks about it in class at the risk of her life and her relationship with liberal politician Elijah Morningstar. She shows no fear in expressing her beliefs, and the things she learns about about people and organizations that are quietly destroying America.
I appreciated Elijah's loyalty to Abby, despite his liberal leanings and his doubts about the existence of God.
The Blog is a perfect blend of romance, danger and politics. The ending is totally unexpected. I had a hard time putting it down to do other necessary things, like sleeping.
I recommend this book for adults and older teens.
The Blog by Carolyn Adams Hanchett is available from www.Amazon.com and at www.latterdaycottage.com.
To learn more about Carolyn Adams Hanchett
CLICK HERE .