Elements: The Beginning, Kate Fuentes (4 stars)

From Amazon: Destiny brought them into this world to save mankind and malevolent forces will stop at nothing in order to annihilate them.

Born with extraordinary powers, fraternal twins Gage and Talon Thorn learn how to control their mystical abilities. Tragedy strikes the family and their ordinary father Gable is forced to raise them on his own. Pain and loss encompass the Thorns as they persevere to live a normal life in a place determined to destroy their happiness.

Soon their incredible gifts need proper nurturing and Gable recruits a special group of people to help in their upbringing. A sassy, tenacious nanny named Leia and an eccentric unorthodox warrior named Maui complete the dream team of mentors to aid in the complexity of their lives.

Evil, wicked forces lurk in the shadows and the boys are in danger if they don't learn how to control their unique talents and harness their elemental powers. Humanity rests in the hands of the young brothers as they embark on an epic adventure to save mankind from the dark emperor.

Review

Twin boys with amazing abilities, a mom with strength and courage who can’t be there for now, and a dedicated father doing the best he can. Elements: The Beginning takes the reader on a journey of prophecy and legend.

Gable knew the love of his life, Jacquelyn, had special powers, but he had no idea just how powerful his twin sons, Gage and Talon, would be. And he certainly couldn’t guess their destiny as the saving grace for mankind. A powerful mentor, Uncle Maui, enters the boys’ lives, and Gable supports their new training.

The boys only begin to come into their powers when an evil force, Maradati, finds them. Realizing the boys’ power, he sets out to kill them before they can destroy him. The book ends on a tantalizing cliffhanger, one bound to make readers grab Book Two right away.

Both boys, although very different, are enchanting. Gage can control water and is a mind reader/manipulator while Talon can shape shift into animals and control fire as well as reading minds. I was rooting for both boys, although I’m probably Team Gage (see below) if I had to pick. I think readers from 10(ish) up will enjoy the brothers’ story. It’s a quick, fun read and definitely one that will leave you wanting to know more about Gage and Talon.

If you enjoy fantasy elements and interesting characters, you’ll enjoy this fast-paced ride. Just be prepared for an abrupt ending.

Rating: 4 stars

For more on the author, please visit the author’s website. And check out Elements: Veil of Darkness, book two in the series.

For fun, I’m sharing this from her website so you can start deciding which team to be on…

Team Gage -

Gage can control the power of water, he can manipulate your thoughts and read your mind, telekinetic and extremely intelligent.

Personality Traits: passive , methodical, sensitive.

Team Talon-

Talon can control the power of fire, he has the ability to shape shift into any living creature, telekinetic and extremely intelligent.

Personality Traits: volatile, high energy, determined.

Note: I received a complimentary copy to review from World Literary Café. A positive review was not guaranteed or requested; the views expressed are my own.

Vision, Beth Elisa Harris (3.5 stars)

From Amazon: The "Vision" trilogy spans centuries, starting on a remote Scottish island haunted by dark secrets and a violent past. Two loves, Sarah and Jonathan MacPhie are brutally murdered in 1731 by a jealous clan leader out for bloody revenge. The night before Sarah dies, she predicts her death in a letter to a distant relative Layla Stone who will be born in 1994. But that isn't all she predicts.

Three centuries later, Abbey Grace digs up Sarah's letter in her backyard and contacts Layla in Portland, Oregon just as Layla leaves to study in the UK. Coincidence? Not in the life of a Clear.

Once in Cambridge with her host family, Layla meets Stuart Fairchild, a friend of her host family, who seems more than familiar, mysterious and disarming. Layla's once isolated existence turns upside down as she learns there are many things she doesn't know about, including details about her workaholic mother and father.

And what she doesn't know could kill her.

Layla can hear what people are thinking. As if that’s not enough, she’s also having intense dreams about a woman dying. Little does she know that the woman in her dreams is a part of her. As she begins to discover who and what she is, she realizes the people around her know more than they are letting on. Layla is a Clear.

Enter Stuart and Andre. She’s attracted to Stuart right away, but accepts a date from Andre. Too bad Andre’s father, Jasper, is the head of the Bane. Jasper wants a Clear, and threatens the lives of everyone Layla loves in order to sway her to his side.

Just as Layla thinks things are settling down, her mother gives it to her straight, “Oh dear, girl. Now it begins.” And this is how the first book ends.

The premise, the characters, the mixture of past and present… so many things were right about this book. All it needed to go from good to great was better editing. I can look past a few errors, but there were some very distracting grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes in this piece. (One that particularly stood out to me was the author’s reference to Judy Bloom. The inner teenager in me, the one obsessed with Judy Blume, was a bit crushed.)

Thanks to the intriguing story and interesting characters, I’d recommend this book to readers looking for a series with great potential.

Rating: 3.5 stars

For more on the author, please visit her blog. Soul Herder, the second book in the Vision Trilogy, is now available here.

Note: I received a complimentary copy to review from World Literary Café. A positive review was not guaranteed or requested; the views expressed are my own.

Sunset, Pact Arcanum: Book One by Arshad Ahsanuddin (3.5 stars)

From Amazon: Book One of the gay vampire saga Pact Arcanum.

With millennia-old magic, emerging romance, and ever-shifting allegiances, this inventive new series unveils a scintillating, homoerotic world of Nightwalkers, Daywalkers, Sentinels, and Humans, who battle for world dominance in the not-too-distant future.

Los Angeles, 2040. The terrorist Medusa and her followers threaten to destroy the metropolis with a nuclear bomb. One individual, the vampire Nicholas Jameson, comes forward to oppose them. As Nick takes on the terrorists, the fragile peace between the races hangs perilously in the balance as the supernatural peoples are exposed.

How many awards shows have you watched? How stunned would you be if one was taken over by a terrorist on live television? But that’s only the beginning… who saves the day but a space-travelling vampire.

Nick Jameson has suffered and sacrificed, both of which have hardened him to love. He’s a vampire, but of a special breed—he’s been redeemed, earning back his soul, and can walk in the day. When he steps up to be a hero, his world is revealed to humans. Can our world, particularly the United States government, find a way to peacefully coexist?

Wouldn’t you love a synopsis of how it all goes down? I’m sure. But I must admit, it’s so intricate and involved that trying to summarize it might just make my brain explode. I can tell you not one word is wasted. Everything that happens leads to the ultimate battle and conclusion. Each character is well-defined and serves a purpose. So much so that I truly believe this book could have been separated into two parts. There’s just so much going on.

Let me also address the white elephant in the room. Prior to this book, I had never read a novel with detailed homosexual love scenes. While a bit uncomfortable for me, and I would say this about overly detailed heterosexual love scenes, they provided a much-needed look into the character of Nick Jameson. His male relationships, and gradual maturation process from sleeping around to finding love, is crucial to the story.

Although I admired the story (and world) the author creates, the constant jumping around in time and the details about the vampire/Sentinel society became overwhelming. I felt bogged down reading it. About halfway through, with my brain packed to capacity, the book started really moving. From that point on, it was a great read full of twists and turns and anxious excitement.

I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a different take on vampires or readers who love intricately built fictional worlds. Just be prepared to constantly visit the opening glossary and the timeline at the end to keep things straight.

Rating: 3.5 stars

On GoodReads and Amazon, the rating will be listed as a 3 since I believe it’s closer to a 3 than a 4.

About the Author

According to Amazon, Arshad Ahsanuddin is a hematopathologist. The irony of a physician who specializes in blood disease writing a series of vampire novels is not lost upon him. For more information, please visit his website, Pact Arcanum Series.
 
Note: I received a complimentary copy to review from World Literary Café. A positive review was not guaranteed or requested; the views expressed are my own.

After the Snow Falls, Carey Jane Clark (4 stars)

From Amazon: In the middle of a soccer drill, in an awful, awkward moment, Celia Bennett's eight-year-old son Caleb lands on his face and chest in the grass. The diagnosis blindsides her, bringing her face-to-face with every parent's worst nightmare.

Desperate to save her son's life, Celia pursues a cure through alternative medicine, but her quest ends in frustration and disappointment. Facing despair, hope walks in on the most unlikely set of legs, when her father returns after a 30-year absence. Can she release pain to embrace hope? Will it make a difference, or is it too late?

Your heart will belong to the Bennett family from page one. Celia Bennett faces something every parent fears the most, the very real possibility of losing her child. As she’s reeling from the news, the father that abandoned her comes back into her life.

The story alternates between the perspectives of Celia and Alfie, her father. At first, Alfie’s story is an unwelcome diversion from finding out more about Celia and Caleb. But it soon becomes clear just how intertwined the two stories are.

Celia goes through a roller coaster of emotions. The reader follows her from diagnosis to considering alternative medicine, to meeting a parent going through the same thing, and finally to questioning her religious beliefs. There were times I was so entranced by the story that I heard the doctor’s footsteps coming down the hall and cried right along with Celia.

I admit I wanted more from Celia’s journey to Mexico, exploring alternative medicine was a great plot point that was wrapped up a bit too quickly. The characters were well-developed and memorable, except for Celia’s best friend, Sarah. I kept waiting for a better explanation for why she wasn’t there for Celia. But these are nit-picky details in an otherwise inspiring novel.

After the Snow Falls is a compelling story of courage, faith, strength, and love full of characters that will stay with you long after the last page. I walked away from this book feeling stronger and blessed, and I’m sure you will, too.

Rating: 4 stars

Note: I received a complimentary copy to review from World Literary Café. A positive review was not guaranteed or requested; the views expressed are my own.

Welcome Russell Blake, author of The Voynich Cypher (5 stars)

I am thrilled to welcome Russell Blake, international bestselling author, today. His newest book, The Voynich Cypher, debuted March 17, 2012. I was fortunate enough to receive a copy to review.

But first, Russell is answering a couple of questions. Welcome, Russell.

In your research for the book, what's the most interesting fact/information you stumbled across?

Boy, this book was research intensive, so that's a tall order. I think I'd have to say that the research into the Voynich Manuscript's authorship was probably the most interesting, as it involved reading dozens of web resources and an entire book on the topic. Of course, the book was wrong in its conclusions about authorship, as carbon dating of the manuscript would make the notional author, Roger Bacon, pre-date the document by over a century. But it was still fascinating reading the history of the Voynich's possession through the ages, much of which is speculative as well. It really is one of the last mysteries out there, and one of the most enduring.

What book has most influenced your writing and why?

Day of the Jackal, by Frederick Forsyth. Why? Because up until that book came out, thriller fiction was mostly cartoonish - sort of the Ian Fleming brand where tough guy superagents were bigger than life, bedded beauties at every turn, and had bullets bounce off them. Jackal changed that. It singlehandedly introduced realism in the genre, and changed everything. It's one of my favorite books, still, for that reason.

Having said that, I would also give a nod to Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco, and of course Angels and Demons, The Da Vinci Code, and half of Clive Cussler's novels - when it comes to my latest, The Voynich Cypher. That book is a departure for me, and pays homage to those types of treasure hunt novels. It was a fun departure from my typical conspiracy theory driven novels, although I managed to work in a conspiracy to drive the story.

Thanks for stopping by, Russell.

And without further ado, the review…

From Amazon: When a sacred relic is stolen from its subterranean guarded vault, Dr. Steven Cross, amateur cryptographer, becomes embroiled in a deadly quest to decipher one of history's most enigmatic documents - a 15th century parchment written entirely in unbreakable code; The Voynich Manuscript. Stalked by secret societies, and aided by the daughter of a murdered colleague, a trail of riddles catapults Cross from England to Italy to the Middle East, where a Byzantine web of ancient secrets leads him to a revelation so profound it will change the world order.

Thanks to my husband, I knew just how good this book really was. Sure, I would have enjoyed it. What’s not to like? There’s intrigue, danger, romance, mystery, emotion, and so on. From the first word to the last, you’ll be hooked. But without hubby’s previous book recommendations, I wouldn’t have known it was as good as novels by Clive Cussler and Dan Brown.

Dr. Steven Cross goes from decoding as a hobby to a world-wide adventure that puts his life in danger. Enter Natalie Twain, a woman of mystery who is quite capable of taking care of herself. But her father’s been murdered, and she needs Dr. Cross to translate The Voynich Manuscript. She has the key to doing so, but will the bad guys get to them first?

Action abounds, but the author never sacrifices character development for pulse-pounding thrills. Instead he gives us both. The twists and turns left me constantly guessing what would happen next and who the main characters could trust.

If you have read and loved Cussler and/or Brown, you’ll love The Voynich Cypher. My husband is quite eager to get his hands on it. But don’t worry, ladies, it’s not only for the guys.

Rating: 5 stars

For more information on Russell Blake and his novels, please visit his website. 

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes (thanks to the World Literary Café Review team). A positive review was not asked for or guaranteed. The opinions expressed are my own.

Trying to Stay Sane While Raising Your Teen, C. Lynn Williams (4 stars)

From Amazon: Does this sound familiar?: I am so tired of repeating myself… no matter how many times I tell my kids to stop their tantrums… nothing seems to work and I don’t know what to do anymore!

When you are reading the Forward to Trying to Stay Sane While Raising Your Teen, you’ll learn to redefine your meaning of the words ‘growing up’ and how to interpret and move through the maze of myths that stand in the way of your teen experiencing responsible behavior.

This book was divine intervention. I am constantly searching for faith-based parenting books, especially ones that focus on the teen years. I have three up and coming teenage daughters (ages 12, 10 & 7), so I appreciate any and all help in my efforts to raise them. Staying sane would be an appreciated bonus.

The book covers the importance of consistency, listening, parenting versus friendship, and many other topics. There was a piece on parent timeouts that particularly spoke to me. The author is candid with her own mistakes and how difficult proper parenting can be.

Also, the book focuses quite a bit on parenting when divorced or single. I’m fortunate that neither applies to me, but I think it would be extremely useful to others facing this situation.

Busy parents will also appreciate that the book is short and concise, no wasted fluff. However, there were times I wanted more and thought the book only skimmed the surface. Still, the fact that I wanted more details and advice says a lot.

If you are looking for some faith-based parenting tips, pick this book up. You can read it over breakfast and be ready to start your day with a new parenting attitude.

Rating: 4 stars

Note: I received a complimentary copy as a World Literary Cafe reviewer. A positive review was not guaranteed or asked for; my opinions are my own.

The Wonder of Ordinary Magic, Lilli Jolgren Day (4 stars)

From Amazon: Bobby Weaver is a young writer with an unfinished novel: a murder mystery involving two strangers hiking on the Appalachian Trail who slowly fall head over heels for each other. However, there's a caveat to Bobby's work--Bobby's in a coma, deteriorating both physically and mentally while still painfully aware of what's going on around him. As Bobby strives to tie up loose ends in his final story, if just for himself and his characters, the reader is given a glimpse of the life he's left behind in the form of day-in-the-life vignettes of his family. A vibrant, original story steeped in symbolism and family ties, this haunting debut explores the subtle ways lives are connected, broken, and renewed by love.

Bobby Weaver is struggling to write his latest novel and deal with the aftermath of a horrible accident. To top it off, he’s in a coma. The story is told not only from his point of view, but from several other family members’ perspectives.

Each family member is dealing with their own issues and facing Bobby’s deteriorating condition. They’ve all dealt with loss and are struggling to find their way. So much so that the novel ends up being about all of them, almost a collection of mini-novels.

The narration from Bobby is captivating. He’s aware and his mind is overflowing, even though he can’t communicate with his visitors or the nursing staff. The internal dialogue was real and pulled you in. His thoughts jumped from one topic to another, which I appreciated because it was so similar to my own internal musings. But most intriguing, he’s writing his final novel in his mind.

One can’t help but wonder if his novel, about a boy and girl getting in way over their heads, is symbolic of his own fear as he faces the end. The author built an emotional intensity with Bobby’s novel and internal interpretation of what was happening to him.

Yet, my heart went out to many other characters in this novel, too. Bobby and his brother, Tom, had already lost both their parents and Tom’s wife, Miranda, lost her mother to cancer. But intertwined with their tales was Chloe’s, Miranda and Tom’s daughter, who added the note of childhood innocence and pure love.

Days after I finished reading this book, I was still thinking about it and wondering how the family would move on. My only complaint… I loved all the insight provided by multiple characters as narrators, but I wished there had been more interaction between the characters—a bit more balance between insight and interaction.

I’ll admit, too, that I was frustrated that it took so long to find out what happened to Bobby and that there weren’t more scenes with the characters at his bedside. A few times, the stories felt disjointed. Fortunately, the author crafted such compelling characters that I still felt engaged even when the story veered a bit of course.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys in-depth insight into compelling characters. If you are constantly intrigued by the inner workings of the mind, you will love the multi-character story arc. And I can’t imagine anyone could read the end without a tear rolling down their cheek.

Oh, and I have to mention how very much I loved the cover. Beautiful and compelling.

Rating: 4 stars

*****

I’m including this information from the author from Amazon, because I found it interesting:

The Story Behind the Book

One afternoon, while driving down a highway near my home, a large semi-truck suddenly swerved into my lane and cut me off. At that moment, I happened to be thinking about an important change I wanted to make in a book I was writing. As I headed for what I thought might well be that grand finale in the sky, I waited for the rush of Technicolor memories from my vanishing life to flash before my eyes. Instead, my adrenaline charged brain was only capable of processing one thought--if die right now, what will happen to my book? And then I wondered, what if I live but I'm badly injured in the accident, say left in a coma, could I still keep working on the book in my head? Nobody would know of course, but at least I could finish it!

As it turns out, my guardian angel must have been on her toes that afternoon, helping me to fearlessly guide my car up onto the narrow shoulder of the road long enough to let that bullying eight-wheeler pass. Those few scary moments and peculiar rambling thoughts inspired this book, a spare, bittersweet story with an unexpected and poignant ending.

*****

Note: I received a complimentary copy as a World Literary Cafe reviewer. A positive review was not guaranteed or asked for; my opinions are my own.

Marrying Cade, Sally Clements (4 stars)

From Amazon: Capable financial advisor Melo Bellucci always knew when it came to organizing her sister’s wedding she’d be in charge. After all, her sister Rosa is notoriously scatterbrained. But there’s a silver lining in the form of the Best Man, Melo’s childhood crush, Cade West.

When Cade returns to the Tuscan island, Isola dei Fiori, he’s prepared to mix business with pleasure, especially when he meets Melo again. The confident, sexy woman is a world away from the lanky tomboy he remembers, and attraction burns between them instantly.

But when he discovers that the perfect site for his hotel, idyllic Paradise Beach, belongs to Melo rather than her father, can their relationship survive, when there are two plans for Paradise?

 

Sweet and satisfying, Marrying Cade is an enjoyable romance between childhood friends. Often, romance novels pair two characters who bump into each other and immediately fall in love. Not true for Cade and Melo. They grew up together and know each other intimately.

Brought back together by Melo’s sister’s wedding, Cade is drawn to “the siren Melo had become.” He doesn’t realize she’s been carrying a torch for him for years. The heat between them escalates only to be sidelined by wedding activities and business deals. Unfortunately, Melo is dealing with an ailing father who has made poor business decisions. Little does she know that Cade’s involved as well.

The story moves at an easy pace, gradually building Melo and Cade into a believable couple with rooting value. Melo is no damsel in distress, ultimately working out her family’s business issues without Cade having to swoop in to save her. He’s willing to, but she stands on her own. It made me appreciate the characters individually, which only added to their dynamic as a couple.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romantic heat mixed with a believable relationship. Cade manages to be both the White Knight and a man who respects a confident, strong woman like Melo. It’s sexy, and what’s a romance novel without a good amount of sexy?

Rating: 4 solid stars

For more information on the author and her books, please visit her blog or follow her on Twitter.

Note: I received a complimentary copy as a World Literary Cafe reviewer. A positive review was not guaranteed or asked for; my opinions are my own.

Sugar is Sweet, Carrie Green (4.5 stars)

From Amazon:  PLAYING FOR KEEPS--Sometimes a mother/daughter bond can be so close that it kills.

LOVED--Being loved is sometimes a fairy tale, sometimes, a nightmare. It all depends on who falls in love with you.

CHRISTMAS IN STRIPES--An ex-con spends his first holiday back home with his family and realizes that you can never go home again.

Sugar is Sweet is a collection of short stories written by Carrie Green. I first met Carrie during a Gratitude Blog Hop through the World Literary Café, then known as the WoMen’s Literary Café. She guest posted on my Depression Cookies blog: Thank You, Stephen King. Carrie was lovely and helpful, but more than that, she encouraged me to try the horror genre and to read Stephen King specifically.

Thanks to Carrie I read Stephen King’s On Writing, find the post here, and joined the Stephen King Project. Just recently, I read two of her short story collections, starting with Sugar is Sweet. There are three stories in the collection: Playing for Keeps, Loved, and Christmas in Stripes.

The short story collection starts with Playing for Keeps, an eerie and unsettling story about Dawn, a little girl with an abusive mother. I cringed most of the tale, realizing what a delicate relationships mothers and daughters have and how easily a mother can use that bond to an unfair advantage. My heart broke while I was internally screaming at the story, hoping Dawn could hear me and have courage. (I’m praying for a cushion for her journey’s end.)

 
Then, we move into Loved. “Had he died and gone to Hell?” I was wondering right along with Nick Goggin, completely absorbed with all the questions and fears he was facing. I was being pulled with him. This story explores more family issues, gives us more eerie feelings, and offers us another memorable character.
 
And finally, there’s Christmas in Stripes. The title alone hooked me. Douglas Kuznar, an ex-con who feels the weight of his stripes, is heading to his family’s house for Christmas dinner for the first time since his release. My favorite story in this collection, I was impressed with how much rich family history the author squeezed into so few pages.
 
What I love about this collection is that Ms. Green mines the depths of relationships. She plays with our sense of fear in the everyday instead of terrifying aliens or vampires, knowing sometimes the most troubling stories are the ones that can be true.
 
Each story leaves you wanting more, needing more. The suspense builds at a steady pace, and the author manages to successfully develop meaningful characters in a few words. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this collection, and the 4.5 star rating is a reflection of liking Roses are Red (5 stars) even more. My review for Roses are Red will be available Tuesday, February 21.
 
Many thanks to Ms. Green for encouraging me to give horror a chance. She was right, there’s so much more to it than meets the eye, as she so expertly demonstrated in her two short story collections.

Rating: 4.5 stars

For more about Carrie Green and her books, please visit her Amazon Author page.

When’s the last time you tried, and loved, something new in the world of books?