Heartless by Kelly Martin (5 stars)

About Heartless

Some things can't be saved.

What would you do if your guardian angel wasn't sent to protect you from the world but to protect the world from you? 

For thirteen years, Gracen Sullivan dreamed about a red-eyed demon named Hart Blackwell who tortured her every night. Her mother freaked when she found out about her daughter's "hallucinations" and forced Gracen to go to the doctor, who prescribed some very powerful medication which kept Hart out of her head for five years.

A week ago, Hart came back and brought a friend.

But something has changed, and Gracen is seeing Hart when she's awake too. And the other "friends" in her dreams? They have been found dead.

The police want to talk to her.

Her boyfriend has become distant.

Her dreams are becoming more and more intense.

Hell wants her. Heaven has to stop her. 

When push comes shoving, can Gracen fight the evil eating away inside her or will she be forced to embrace it and destroy the world?

#theevilinside

Publication Date: 1/17/16

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* It's on sale for $0.99 through 1/19/16.

Review

Gracen Sullivan has been fighting to have a semblance of a normal life for as long as she can remember. With intense medication, she kept her nightmares at bay... but Hart (her dream tormentor) is back, and things will never be the same.

Now, she's not the only one in her dreams, and the visitors keep turning up dead. As Gracen's dreams grow in intensity, she realizes her nightmares have spilled over into her reality. Police are involved and angels and demons are pursuing her.

Her biggest question... is she the evil she's come to fear?

First, I have to give huge props to author Kelly Martin for writing such a unique story and having the guts to do so. In real life, good and evil are not always clearly defined. In Heartless, Gracen struggles to figure out where she stands. And we, as readers, get to be in her head and feel her torment.

The story will hook you from the first page and hold you in its grips until the very last word. It's a roller coaster of emotions and intrigue. Just as soon as you think you know what's going to happen, things will turn upside down. 

All the main characters in this story have a compelling background. I love how their struggles stretched my thinking, leaving me questioning my own rules about right and wrong... about what makes us do what we do. 

I only wish I could tell you more... but I don't want to spoil anything by giving too much away.

If you are looking for a unique and captivating read, one that will test your idea of good and evil, then pick up a copy of Heartless today.

Rating: 5 stars

About the Author

Kelly Martin is the bestselling author of contemporary, historical, and YA romance. She has been married for over ten years and has three rowdy, angelic daughters. When Kelly isn't writing, she loves watching horror gamers on YouTube, even though she is a huge wimp, and drinking white chocolate mochas.

You can find her at...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KellyMartinA...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/martieKay
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/KMbooks/
Tumblr: http://martiekay.tumblr.com/

Note: I was the Editor on this book through Indie Books Gone Wild. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

The Christmas Bridge by Elyse Douglas (4.5 stars)

About The Christmas Bridge

Print Length: 183 pages
Publication Date: September 15, 2015

A First Love. A Second Chance.

A young widow travels to New York on business a few days before Christmas. She has reluctantly made a date with a lover she hasn’t seen in 20 years, and she is nervous and apprehensive. Twenty years before, she made a difficult decision that has both troubled and haunted her ever since. She knows she’s about to come face-to-face with her past and she’s hoping for some redemption and resolution. She also wonders if she can somehow pick up where she left off 20 years ago and start again.

An exciting chance encounter changes everything. Now, not only will she face the past with hope to rekindle an old romance, but there is the possibility that this chance meeting will bring her love and happiness she never thought possible.

Once again, she will have to choose. She will have to make the right decision. She will have to believe that Christmas miracles can still happen.
 

Purchase Link 

Amazon 

Review

A young widow faces the anniversary of her husband's death right around Christmastime. She's questioning her life decisions and decides to head back to New York and a former love, to see what might have been.

As she visits the place they first met, another chance encounter throws her life into a tailspin, leaving her more confused than ever. Should she listen to her heart this time and throw caution to the wind?

Olivia is practical and has listened to her brain over her heart for most of her life. Still young, just shy of 40, she doesn't want to simply embrace a lonely life as a widow. Yet, she seeks out a former love. Still the safe option. Fate throws her a curveball--a couple of times--which was my favorite part of this book.

Sure, it's sweet and a bit of a stretch when it comes to the quick romance, but there were still some unexpected twists and turns. Along the way, I bonded with Olivia's character, and I really wanted her to go for it. Plus, I'm a sucker for epilogues in romance novels. I want to know something about the future.

If you are looking for a light, sweet romance (with a character you'll want to root for) this holiday season, take a chance on The Christmas Bridge. You'll be sucked in right away and a sweet glow of satisfaction will stay with you long after.

Rating: 4.5 stars

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About Elyse Douglas

Elyse Douglas is the pen name for the married writing team Elyse Parmentier and Douglas Pennington. Elyse grew up near the sea, roaming the beaches, reading and writing stories and poetry, receiving a Master’s Degree in English Literature from Columbia University.  She has enjoyed careers as an English teacher, an actress and a  speech-language pathologist.  She and her husband, Douglas Pennington, have completed five novels: The Astrologer’s Daughter, Christmas for Juliet, Wanting Rita, Christmas Ever After, The Christmas Town and The Christmas Diary.

Douglas grew up in a family where music and astrology were second and third languages.  He attended the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and played the piano professionally for many years. His two detective books include Death is Lookin’ for Elvis and Death is a TapDancer. His great great grandfather lived to be 132 years old, and was the oldest man in the world when he died in 1928. Elyse Douglas live in New York City. 

Connect with Elyse Douglas 
Website | Facebook | Twitter

Thanks to TLC for my review copy.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own. 

Please visit other stops on The Christmas Bridge blog tour page.

Bright Side by Kim Holden (4.5 stars)

About Bright Side

Secrets. 
Everyone has one. 
Some are bigger than others. 
And when secrets are revealed, 
Some will heal you ... 
And some will end you. 

Kate Sedgwick’s life has been anything but typical. She’s endured hardship and tragedy, but throughout it all she remains happy and optimistic (there’s a reason her best friend Gus calls her Bright Side). Kate is strong-willed, funny, smart, and musically gifted. She’s also never believed in love. So when Kate leaves San Diego to attend college in the small town of Grant, Minnesota, the last thing she expects is to fall in love with Keller Banks. 

They both feel it. 
But they each have a reason to fight it. 
They each have a secret. 

And when secrets are revealed, 
Some will heal you … 
And some will end you. 

More information on Goodreads

Buy it on Amazon

Review

For a young woman, Kate has faced more than her fair share of heartache. But through it all, she's had her best friend, Gus, by her side. He calls her Bright Side, because she doesn't just believe in happiness; she lives there. When Kate heads to college, she and Gus talk almost every day. He's on tour and she's pursing her goals.

But she has a secret. 

She meets Keller, who has his own secret, and they fight a mutual attraction until they no longer can. Love is the last thing either of them expected.

I'm not sure where to begin. Should I tell you that by the end I was reading a few lines and looking away to breathe, to calm the flowing tears, so I could read the next few lines and repeat the process? Would that deter you from an incredible story? I hope not. Because there's a bigger theme that rises from the ashes of the extreme sadness at the end.

Kate is a beacon of hope to anyone who knows her. She's not perfect; everyone has their moments. But, she's determined to enjoy the life she's been given. She loves two men, but in very different ways. They both need her and love her.

No spoilers here. I wouldn't ruin the experience of this book for anyone. I don't like books that play with your emotions. This didn't feel that way. It left me feeling empowered... brave (and that word will mean so much more after you read the book). More than that, I was inspired by one of Kate's much-repeated mantras... Do Epic!

You can't have happiness without sadness. In this story, you get plenty of both. After the last page, you'll wipe away your tears and vow to live your life to its fullest. To enjoy every single second. I know I did.

One more note: it did take me a few chapters to get into the story. Don't give up. Once you get to know Kate, you'll be the better for it.

Rating: 4.5 stars

About the Author

Some of my favorite things:

Reading (YA or New Adult), writing (especially on a productive day), the two coolest guys on the planet (my husband and son), my bicycle (hand built by my husband), Facebook (it’s an addiction at this point), iced coffee (hazelnut from McDonalds), and music (LOVE Sunset Sons, the 1975, Dredg, the xx, Balance and Composure, Teenage Bottlerocket, Manchester Orchestra, and 30 Seconds to Mars).

I also love dreaming. Big. Writing a few years ago was an elusive dream until I grabbed a hold of it with both hands and refused to let go. Keep chasing YOUR dreams.

Want more? Find me on Facebook or Goodreads.

Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot (3.5 stars)

About Royal Wedding

• Print Length: 448 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (June 2, 2015)

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Princess Diaries series, comes the very first adult installment, which follows Princess Mia and her Prince Charming as they plan their fairy tale wedding—but a few poisoned apples could turn this happily-ever-after into a royal nightmare.

For Princess Mia, the past five years since college graduation have been a whirlwind of activity, what with living in New York City, running her new teen community center, being madly in love, and attending royal engagements. And speaking of engagements. Mia’s gorgeous longtime boyfriend Michael managed to clear both their schedules just long enough for an exotic (and very private) Caribbean island interlude where he popped the question! Of course Mia didn’t need to consult her diary to know that her answer was a royal oui.

But now Mia has a scandal of majestic proportions to contend with: Her grandmother’s leaked “fake” wedding plans to the press that could cause even normally calm Michael to become a runaway groom. Worse, a scheming politico is trying to force Mia’s father from the throne, all because of a royal secret that could leave Genovia without a monarch.  Can Mia prove to everyone—especially herself—that she’s not only ready to wed, but ready to rule as well?

 

Purchase Links 

Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

Review

Please see the summary for a general overview of the book. I had so many feelings and thoughts while reading this one that I wanted to get right into my commentary.

First, I'll be honest. I hadn't read any of the previous books in this series, although I did see the movie. So glad I had a least that background, because it would have been hard to read this book with no backstory. I'm sure fans of the series will jump right in, but I had little to go on and was frustrated at first.

As I read on, I did start to get into the story. However, I found Princess Mia whiny and a bit of a brat. I wanted her to come across more mature (according to the summary there was a five-year gap since her last escapades) and regal. Yet, her voice still came across as very teen to me and definitely not someone ready to rule anything. A secret later comes out that changed the character. From that point on, Princess Mia grew on me.

I did love the character who came into Mia's life as a result of this secret (you'll find no spoilers here), and I found Mia's fiance, Michael, charming. He actually saved Mia for me when I was annoyed with her. After all, if someone like Michael was crazy about her, there had to be something I was missing.

A character who gets under my skin initially is not always a bad thing, especially because I came around to like her by the end. I truly believe it's better to feel passionate about a book (good or bad) than blasé about it. 

Toward the end, there's a twist that guarantees there will be another book in this series. I'm hoping this development will further mature Princess Mia.

If you are a fan of the series, you'll no doubt want this next chapter in Princess Mia's life. However, if you are new to the series, you might want to try a few of the earlier books first so you don't start this one cold like I did.

It's definitely a fun read for summer!

Rating: 3.5 stars

About Meg Cabot 

Meg Cabot was born in Bloomington, Indiana. In addition to her adult contemporary fiction, she is the author of the bestselling young adult fiction series, The Princess Diaries. More than 25 million copies of her novels for children and adults have sold worldwide. Meg lives in Key West, Florida, with her husband. 

Find out more about Meg at her website, follow her blog, and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks to TLC for my review copy.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own. 

Please visit other stops on the Royal Wedding blog tour page.

Cries of Innocence by Angela Beach Silverthorne (5 stars)

About Cries of Innocence

In the small coastal community of Silverton, an evil presence resides. Over time most residents have grown numb to its insidious and subtle presence. A few have resisted.

Seventeen-year-old Bren has lived a life of abuse, discrimination, and exclusion. She blames her father, the town drunk, for every misery she has ever endured. Instead of surviving within her situation like others do, Bren is fiery mad and begins to push against a system she can’t begin to understand. When her efforts fail, she decides to escape with her mom. They never make it.

Bren is whisked away to The Haven, home of her paternal grandmother, GG. Under her tutelage, Bren is awakened to a destiny she could have never envisioned. She learns about truth and witnesses another side of life. In the process of self-discovery, she has to deal with her own weaknesses, fears, and unforgiveness.

As evil approaches Bren asks, “Who are we up against?” The answer strikes deep within her breast.

Can she stand firm? Can she look into the eyes of hate and forgive? If she can’t, her greatest fear will be realized.

Buy it on Amazon

Review

Bren hasn't had it easy. She's the daughter of the town drunk, her mom looks the other way, and Bren's boyfriend wants what she's not ready to give. Unable to stand it any longer, and feeling very alone, she can't wait to get a one-way ticket out of town.

With all her struggles, she can't imagine things getting worse. Yet they do. There's an evil brewing, and Bren will need some powerful teaching to stand up to it. Thanks to help from unlucky sources, Bren becomes stronger. But will it be enough?

Every once in a while, I read a book I know will really impact readers. Beyond the well-executed storyline, the characters, the good writing, this book will resonate with people and stay with them long after the last page. 

Abuse, both physical and mention, is sadly what too many young women have to face. Evil is real. But there's hope. This story showcases that. But, note, there are mature situations. Most of the book, my heart broke for Bren and her mother. I wanted to tell them to run and get away from the pain. But staying to fight, especially with a power all of us can access, was inspiring. I love these characters.

If you believe in the power of the human spirit, in the power of faith and belief, I highly recommend Cries of Innocence. It's a journey, and one you won't soon forget.

Rating: 5 stars

About the Author

Angela Beach Silverthorne is the co-author of the award-winning novel, Depression Cookies, and author of a poetry book, Promises Seeded Inside. Her short stories and poetry have been featured in numerous magazines and websites. She is currently writing the sequel to Cries of Innocence.

Angela and her husband of 45 years, Dallas, live in eastern North Carolina with their Boston terrier, Miss Lillie. They are the parents of three daughters and have nine grandchildren who often beg her to tell them “one more story.” She has a special place in her heart for women who are victims of abuse, brokenness, insecurity, and self-doubt.

Find out more on her blog and Facebook.

Note: I edited this book through Indie Books Gone Wild. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

The Accidental Pilgrim by Stephen Kitsakos (3.5 stars)

About The Accidental Pilgrim

Publisher: ASD Publishing

In the summer of 1974, Dr. Rose Strongin, a marine biologist, inexplicably disappears for three hours on the last day of an archaeological dig at the Sea of Galilee. She has no memory of the disappearance, but it causes her to miss her flight home from Israel. That plane, TWA 841, explodes over the Mediterranean killing all aboard. Twelve years later she learns that a 2,000 year-old perfectly preserved vessel, dubbed the “Jesus Boat,” is uncovered at the site of her disappearance and she begins to understand what happened and why.

The novel crosses several decades exploring the intersection of science, religion and the unexplainable as a family gathers to say goodbye to the matriarch who held a family secret.

Purchase Links

Amazon

Review

Dr. Rose Strongin has a brilliant scientific mind. After a strange occurrence, she suffers a memory lapse and her family struggles with her changing personality. Then, she's gone. Her husband, two daughters, and son come together to carry out her last wishes. 

This story is such a journey. Early on, it's clear this family has struggled with things beyond their control and understanding. Through flashbacks and multiple points of view, the reader begins to find out what happened to Rose. With each chapter, the mystery grows and my connection to Rose as a character deepened.

Although I found the story interesting, it took me a while to get into it. There's a lot of transition and it was hard to follow at times, particularly in the beginning when I was still getting used to the characters' voices. 

However, when the story picks up momentum, it's an emotional and climactic ride to the surprising finish. With a mix of science, spirituality, and religion, it's sure to make you think.  What started as a 3-star read was a solid 4-star by the end. 

Rating: 3.5 stars

About Stephen Kitsakos 

Stephen Kitsakos is a theatre writer and journalist as well as the author of three opera librettos. His current project is the opera adaptation of Khaled Hosseini’s international bestseller, A Thousand Splendid Suns with music by Sheila Silver. Other works include the Sackler-Prize award winning “The Wooden Sword” and “The White Rooster: A Tale of Compassion” for the Smithsonian Institution. His work often explores the connection between religion and art. He divides his time between Key West and New York. 

Find out more about Stephen at his website, and follow him on Twitter.

Thanks to TLC for my review copy.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own. 

Please visit other stops on The Accidental Pilgrim blog tour page.

Read Bottom Up by Neel Shah and Skye Chatham (5 stars)

About Read Bottom Up

Print Length: 256 pages

Publisher: Dey Street Books (April 7, 2015)

A charming novel about falling in love (or like) in the digital age—the never-before-seen full story.

Madeline and Elliot meet at a New York City restaurant opening. Flirtation—online—ensues. A romance, potentially eternal, possibly doomed, begins.

And, like most things in life today, their early exchanges are available to be scrutinized and interpreted by well-intentioned friends who are a mere click away.

Madeline and Elliot’s relationship unfolds through a series of thrilling, confounding, and funny exchanges with each other, and, of course, with their best friends and dubious confidants (Emily and David). The result is a brand-new kind of modern romantic comedy, in format, in content, and even in creation—the authors exchanged e-mails in real time, blind to each other’s side conversations. You will nod in appreciation and roll your eyes in recognition; you’ll learn a thing or two about how the other half approaches a new relationship . . . and you will cheer for an unexpected ending that just might restore your faith in falling in love, twenty-first-century style.

Purchase Links 

Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble 

Review

Madeline and Elliot start up a relationship that unfolds through a series of emails and texts. To judge how it's going, they elicit the help of their friends, Emily and David. In a refreshing twist, the reader only sees the electronic communications and is not privy to any other interactions or prose.

I loved this book! It was like nothing I'd ever read before. Not only that, but it broke some of my rules for loving a book (and I can't explain which ones without having spoilers), yet I still enjoyed it. It was refreshing and very much what dating would be like today. In some ways, this made me very glad that I met my husband way before texts and emails.

Furthermore, I was amazed how well I started to relate to these characters through very limited information (said electronic exchanges). Until the ending--not what I expected, or what I though I wanted, yet it was perfect--I didn't realize how much I was enjoying the best friends, Emily and David.

I highly recommend Read Bottom Up. It's unique, captivating, interesting, engaging, and totally unexpected. Kudos to the authors! I can't help but hope there's a second book in the works and coming soon.


Rating: 5 stars

About Neel Shah and Skye Chatham

Neel Shah is a screenwriter in Los Angeles. He used to be a reporter at the New York Post and his work has appeared in Glamour, GQ, and New Yorkmagazine.

Skye Chatham is a writer living in New York. Her work has appeared in various publications, including GQ and Maxim.

Thanks to TLC for my review copy.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own. 

Please visit other stops on the Read Bottom Up blog tour page.

The Tell-Tale Heart by Jill Dawson (4.5 stars)

About The Tell-Tale Heart

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Harper Perennial (February 10, 2015)

After years of excessive drink and sex, Patrick has suffered a massive heart attack. Although he’s only fifty, he’s got just months to live. But a tragic accident involving a teenager and a motorcycle gives the university professor a second chance. He receives the boy’s heart in a transplant, and by this miracle of science, two strangers are forever linked.

Though Patrick’s body accepts his new heart, his old life seems to reject him. Bored by the things that once enticed him, he begins to look for meaning in his experience. Discovering that his donor was a local boy named Drew Beamish, he becomes intensely curious about Drew’s life and the influences that shaped him—from the eighteenth-century ancestor involved in a labor riot to the bleak beauty of the Cambridgeshire countryside in which he was raised. Patrick longs to know the story of this heart that is now his own.

In this intriguing and deeply absorbing story, Jill Dawson weaves together the lives and loves of three vibrant characters connected by fate to explore questions of life after death, the nature of the soul, the unseen forces that connect us, and the symbolic power of the heart.

 

Purchase Links

Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

Review

Two souls are connected by Fate and ultimately by one beating heart. Patrick is an older man who has lived his life with little regard for the feelings of others. Drew is a young man who followed his heart, even when it led him into precarious situations. When Patrick is near death, Drew's untimely passing provides the man with another chance.

Although this story would've been compelling just from Patrick's point of view, it reaches a whole new level by including Drew's. I'm focusing on these two because the third, to me, wasn't as powerful (although it was short). Thanks to beautiful writing, emotional depth, and expressed flaws, I became swept up in the story.

It's been a while since I felt so connected to a story, especially one where the main characters are quite flawed and often unapologetic about it. It's easier to accept Drew's mistakes because of youth, but Patrick knows darn well, or should, that his choices are suspect at best.  Yet, I found myself liking him as a character, especially as he began to see how his actions affected others.

This is a real human story, without bright lights or fancy images. It stirs up emotions and judgments while also promising hope and beauty. In particular, I cried when Drew explained the reason he decided to sign a donor card in the first place.

An amazing read, one full of heart and emotion. There's a simple beauty about it, and I was thinking about it long after I finished it. My favorite book this year!

Rating: 4.5 stars

About the Author

Jill Dawson is the author of Trick of the Light, Magpie,Fred and Edie, which was short-listed for the Whitbread Novel Award and the Orange Prize, Wild Boy, Watch Me Disappear, which was long-listed for the Orange Prize,The Great Lover, and Lucky Bunny. She has edited six anthologies of short stories and poetry, and has written for numerous UK publications, including The Guardian,The Times, Vogue, and Harper’s Bazaar. She lives in Norfolk with her husband and two sons.

Find out more about Jill at her website and follow her on Twitter.

Thanks to TLC for my review copy.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

Please visit other stops on the The Tell-Tale Heart blog tour page.