Book Review: Detour Allure

Get it here: Detour

So here we are again, continuing the adventure of Tucker Blue and Mrs. Monika the flight attendant who now seems to be more than she first appears to be. And the ticket Tucker has found is proving to be more of a hassle than it is worth. On the run after they finally were able to meet up with their friends, Tucker and Monika must race to figure out just who this “Doctor” really is and why she wants them so badly. And why is the Secret Service tailing them now as well? Discover the answer to these questions in the story.

This is the second book in the series and it is much better than the first book. I truly enjoyed this tale, there is a faster pace throughout and there is definitely more believable chemistry that there was in the first book. Note that here are plenty of sexual scenes that may turn some readers off. Overall, a great comeback from a mediocre first novel to a really good second one. 

Book Review: Brothers and Strangers

Get it here: Brothers

This story about Cassie and Gareth who is his boss; but who eventually takes Cassie under his wing and becomes his best friend; was interesting and well detailed, but I believe that the pace being so slow made it harder to read than it could have been. There are mysteries and flashbacks and some things don’t make much sense until you come closer to the end but it is well worth sticking with this book. The author does recommend that you read the first book in the series, but if you don’t (like me), I think you can still find a interesting story here.

Over time Cassie travels from England to USA to become a professor, but still stays in close touch with Gareth, and starts researching something called Hughes gun. Meanwhile their close friend Marianne is investigating a suspicion that Gareth is not who he claims to be. Throughout his life and this quest, Cassie encounters some pretty interesting fellows and gals and we learn a lot about him through his interactions and his thoughts/reflections of events that have happened in the past.

The ending is a pretty good twist and certainly wasn’t obvious. Very superb writing overall.

Book Review: Nicolas Dent and the Mysterious Machines

Get it here: Nicholas Dent

This book was geared towards Young Adults, but since I enjoy reading them, this was a no brainer for me. Our hero is Nicholas Dent who lives with his Mother and sister. His father dies shortly after he was born so he never knew him. Nicholas survived a mysterious illness that almost killed him right after he was born and wants nothing more to be average, normal and unnoticed in his life. However, his mother starts dating a researcher, he starts suffering from unexplainable fatigue and funny things start happening (like who sacked his room).

Nicholas discovers some amazing and some horrifying things at the local Research Facility outside of town and in his Fathers storage unit (until now unknown) storage Locker he finally stumble upon some answers for his questions.

By the end of the novel you will be hanging onto each page, waiting to see if this fatigue will finally overcome him, Will Dr Sam or Dr Leach get a hold of him for who knows what experiments? What is hiding in the bowels of the Facility? And what are all those tiny things in his Cells? A very well written book full of courage, team work, angst and triumph. I would recommend this one to any of my teenage cousins. 

Book Review: By Design

Get it here: By Design

This Romance takes you into the fast paced world of Fashion where Margaux Channing is constantly setting herself up for failure when it comes to love. Once she meets Dr. Joshua Heaven (no pun intended) however, her luck seems to turn around. Wary of love and terrified of having her heart broken again Margaux, reluctantly allows Josh to “woo” her while she is on Vacation in Jamaica, but will it work out once she gets back to the Fashion world in New York (and in vicinity of her Ex Evan)?

I really loved to hate Margaux, she was egotistic, bullying, demanding, unreasonable and selfish. If you saw the movie: “The Devil wears Prada”, then you know what I mean. It seemed like nothing pleased her. Even when she was on Top of her game she would complain how the world hates her.  I don’t mind my characters being driven and a bit edgy, but I think that the author really strove to make this girl a hard cookie. Other than that, the story was nice, the people within were relatable and the ending was satisfying.

Book Review: Second Chance at Love

Get it here: Second Chance

For those of us, who have loved and lost, who have closed their hearts off to the possibility of new love so that we not are hurt again, this book is for you. If you long for a nice romance story that seems real and not far fetched, then this book is for you. 

The quirky choice of name for your main character here (frank as a girls name?) was a bit distracting but in the end not terribly so.

Frank and Colt are two people who have been through the “happily ever after” and are not looking for that hurt again so when their feelings for each other collide they are too bull headed to see how good they would be for each other in the long run. 

Since this is a romance it has a happy ending, although there is a little surprise (or two) thrown in there and it doesn’t feel like its just one more romance. I was able to emphasize with both characters, although I wanted to shake them out of their stubbornness on more than one occasion.

It was a fast and nice feel good book for me. 

Book Review: 9/10 of the Law

Get it here: Law

What a weird thriller. Those were my first thoughts as I finished this book. It was a well written story (although, I could’ve definitely done without the extensive use of profanity and colorful descriptions of people's rear ends and such). If you think this will be your run-of-the-mill crime dramas, think again. The weirdness starts from the first chapter. Detective Ricci is living in Australia and gets called out on a gruesome homicide. Trying to detangle all the people who know “something” and figure out who did the crime is where it gets weird, (think possessions and supernatural feelings) and the story does take several macabre turns before finally leading up to the end and dropping you smack dab into it.

The story (minus the language) was pretty unique, and in itself gripping. It might very well have you questioning whether to turn off that hallway light at night. The descriptions are pretty graphic and there is some drug use depicted within the book. I know some people were saying the Australian slang was hard to follow but I didn’t think so. Nothing was so far out that I couldn’t deduce what the author was describing. A good book, but definitely not lighthearted.

Book REview: A Different Breed

Get it here: A Different Breed

So this book’s story is based upon the premise that Vampires did not inherently stem from a curse from god, or that they are demons or evil incarnate. This book proposes the theory that Vampires are a form of Natural Evolution of the Human species. That one does not Die and then re awaken as a blood sucking tyrant, rather one falls ill and in this illness the person falls into a coma like state and when they awaken they are remade.

Reading it as a vampire novel only this book might not do it for you. It didn’t for me until I simply stopped trying to see the vampires that I have become used to and started to see this as the story and adventures of Kate Sutton a young girl who, through unfortunate events gets captured, tortured and turned into a half-breed. Reading it as a adventure for her, following her story, the vampire aspect falls to the background only reemerge here and there, staying relevant and not distracting from the main story.

The ending was good; however, since it is the first in a series, the ending does leave some loopholes that will hopefully be tied up in the next book. I truly enjoyed reading this book and will recommend it to others.

Book Review: Wake not the Hangman

Get it here: Wake not the Hangman

While this book on the surface seems to be your typical western novel, within the pages is a tale of courage, abuse, heartbreaking love and the ultimate betrayals. Thornton is treated just like a slave by his abusive father and made to work the farm day in and day out. He despises Slavery and when his father brings home three slaves to help out around the farm Thornton welcomes these new potential conspirators for a daring escape. However, when his cousin Ethan (who is as mean spirited as Thornton’s Father), makes a sudden appearance, it puts the entire plan and family at risk.

This book was so well written and the characters were so fleshed out that I was drawn into it quickly. The ending was superb and actually interesting since you sort of have the happy ending you would expect. Then again you don’t. The reflection by Thornton at the end is extremely thought provoking since it is still relevant today. What are the consequences of your actions? And do you let the fear of repercussions stop you from doing the right thing?

Just Listed:

Get this beautiful Tasbih here at: OfftheNeedle

Book Review: Swimming with Sharks

Get it here: Swimming

As the title suggests, this is a story involving a mafia/mob group. I always enjoy a good crime related story so this was an easy pick. The story centers on Allison a divorced, single mom who keeps getting into situations she needs to be rescued from (be it by herself or someone else). This is mainly due to the fact that she cannot leave well enough alone and has to play at being a Private Investigator to solve the mysteries in her life.

The “tragic” back-story to her (in)existent love life was pretty fun and entertaining to read and it did flesh the characters out nicely, making me care about her that much more.

This is a book within a series but I didn’t think that it mattered in which order you read them, I only found out it was a series until the end. The book is good enough to be a standalone on its own. I didn’t like the cliff hangar ending; it left plenty of story lines open to where it almost felt as if the story was chopped off between chapters. 

Book Review Detour Paris

Get it here: Detour Paris

The story follows Tucker Blue as he hilariously tries to find his way to Barcelona after being bumped off the companion Ticket that he was using from his Flight Attendant Girlfriend. Coincidentally, another Flight Attendant got bumped as well and she joins him as he makes his way across the globe to meet up with Ebba his Girlfriend. 

All in all, after some misfortunes they are finally on their way. Some things that make this story interesting: The mystery around the raven and the one around the man who crashes through their compartment door and dies, where did the Lottery Ticket come from?

The author leaves a bit of a cliff hangar here, although there is an excerpt from the second book in the series at the end of this one, which starts to answer some of them. The story is a mix between a lust story and a murder mystery as you have these different angles that are there telling their story and then you discover how the different people meet and how they tie together.

I found this book entertaining, the concept of “divorced people dating” wasn’t all that new to me (I am divorced) but the Flight Attendant angle put a new spin on it and overall the story was sound. 

Book Review: Searching For Cool, Praying for Heat

Get it here: Searching for cool

The coming of Age story of Brian is set amidst the 50/60’s racial turmoil in the south. There is some language within that might be uncomfortable for some people, but the author mentions it within the foreword and their wish to keep the tone of the book as authentic to how it was back in those times. Thus hoping to fully immerse the reader within the story and I do say that this was a fantastic read. The main point of view is from Brian over the summer, and throughout the school years although you do get some chapters written from the view of others in the story, his parents, Angela (his crush) to name a few.

This story grips and shocks you right off the bat; within a few pages you are witnessing a young girl’s rape. This and the actions that it sparks play out throughout the novel and have a way of resurfacing. Brian and his family are “Yankees” from up north so they do not adhere to the strict segregation beliefs as much of the surrounding residents in town do, and Brian even participates in the Sit Ins, he rides around on a Motorcycle behind an African American man, “thumbing his nose” at the establishment so to speak. He ends up having a confrontation with the Klan that leaves him almost dead and then fighting for recovery afterwards. Brian struggles to really discover who he wants to be and what he wants to stand for morally, as a young man, all the while being constantly “distracted” by the pubescent awakening of his body (so to speak).

An intriguing read from front to back, this book is great for any history buff, and even those who enjoy some drama twisted into it all.

Book Review: No greater Love

Get it here: No greater Love

What a wonderful romance novel! And it is such a current topic right now, with the refugee situation that the concept of this book intrigued me and I am glad I got it. The story follows Janan and Pieter how their lives start and ultimately intertwine and the love that blossoms from it.

Janans sense of duty and honor towards her family and friends was admirable and something that I was able to identify with and made me emphasize with her much more than any other character. Janan ends up asking Pieter for one night, and one night only, (mainly because she is under the impression that he will be leaving her small town and so the possibility of gossip or heartache of seeing him would be removed), but over the course of that one night they discover afterwards that they have lost their hearts to each other and so much more. After some predictable turmoil they find their ways back to each other and are united again.

Even with some predictable situations and plot turns (it is a romance after all), this story was refreshing and entertaining to read. Great book!

Book Review: Wake me up!

Get it Here: Wake me up

Well, this book had a slow start for me. I don’t think it really took of until the story hit the third or fourth chapter. But once it did, boy did it ever take off. Talk about sweet revenge that is best served up cold.

The story starts with us being introduced to this perfect little family the Calley’s: Mary the stay at home Mom, Connor the son who gets skipped a grade ahead for being such a genius and Tony the investment banker who is at the top of his game. But are things truly as they seem? Tony ends up being addicted to gambling and a cheat and Mary is skipping her Thyroid meds (because they make her feel funny), ending her up in the hospital.

Over the course of the story, things keep getting more and more twisted until someone snaps, and “takes care of everything” and without spoiling the story that is all I can really say. Even with the slow start its worth a read, especially for the twisted ending.

Etsy stuff....

Get them all here: OfftheNeedle

glass bead rosary

Red Tigers Eye Rosary

Chain Tassel Tasbih

Knitted Hat

My DD Modeling the Knitted Hat

Tree of Life Bracelet

Leaf Bead Earrings

Craft Fairs

Am wondering ... Does anyone have a Do's and Don'ts for selling at Craft Fairs? Am considering maybe doing one to showcase the variety of items I have been able to make..

I know there are plenty in the area, and I have even been to a few, but I haven't thought about bringing my items to the masses in person before (other than at my Cousins Weekend Flea Market Stand)

Any ideas, tips, tricks, knowledge is greatly appreciated!

Book Review: The Thyroid Cure

Get it here: Thyroid

Be your own Health advocate with the guidance of this book! Take control of your life!

After being diagnosed with a Low Thyroid function I picked up this book thinking it will help explain to me what is actually going on in m y body and how I can fix it. Well this book did that and so much more. This book covers the basics of the Thyroid then gets more detailed in how it affects each and every part of our body. She also writes how the Liver and Immune System are important to the functions.

 It was a bit “new Age” in some spots as the author herself noted in the beginning of the book, but overall I found the wealth and breadth of information almost overwhelming. I have book marked and highlighted this poor book all over because I want to be able to refer back to certain spots as I need.

She has helpful tips that I haven’t even thought of, and discussion points to bring to your doctor as well as helpful examples of previous people who she has been able to guide on a healing path. I am encouraged by this book to try and start my own healing journey and maybe I too will be able to get my Thyroid Condition into remission if not Cured Altogether!

Book Review: Steele Resolve

Get it here: Steele

Wow, finally a different type of Crime Novel. If you were looking for those Main Characters in a book that are a member of the LGBT community, (because we all know there are so few out there and the ones that are, are completely overblown) then look no further. Detective Steele is a no-nonsense, down to earth, competent person, and yet she struggles with life’s hardball’s just as the rest of us. Recently she had to become the guardian of her nephew due to her brother’s death and she is reeling with the responsibilities while trying to solve what looks like a Serial Killer running rampant in her town.

The twists and turns in this novel, as well as the heartache, grief and compassion will keep you on the edge of your seat and will grip you until the very end. And what an end it is, I never saw the twist of who it was coming, and that made this book that much more enjoyable for me. I like it when a book can surprise me and I will certainly be picking up the next book. This will go on my series to watch list.