LITTLE NELL-BARRI BRYAN

Below is my review of 'Little Nell'. It was an excellent quick read that left me satisfied.


True to its title, this story is all about Little Nell. As a young child she is an orphan that is sent on a train to be basically auctioned off to the highest bidder. Having quite a temper and a very un-lady like mouth, there are not many takers; until John comes along that is.
John’s family is falling apart right before his eyes. His dear, loving wife is slipping further into madness with each passing day due to the fact that their three year old daughter Nell has died. Deciding that he must do something about it to save his family he takes his two sons, David and Richard with him to meet the orphan train to try and find a replacement daughter. They find this spitfire with the same blue eyes and red hair and change her name to Nell. John’s wife is just unstable enough to believe that her daughter has come back to her.
Years later John has died and once again Sarah is mentally unstable. David, Richard and Nell are now grown adults. Thinking that John and Sarah are her biological parents, Nell is confused. She has been experiencing feelings of an un-sisterly like kind towards her brother Richard for quite some time. She is pretty sure he feels it too, seeing the way that he looks at her and the kisses he steals. Nell is mad at herself, and feels worse when her brother David catches on to the two of them, reminding them how incest is a sin. With Nell being the only member of the family who doesn’t know this well kept secret, she continues to struggle with her feelings. Things get even stickier when outsiders find out about their attraction to each other and try to butt in. Will Nell and Richard ever get to be together and be happy? Will Nell ever find out the truth about her upbringing?
Barri Bryan does a great job writing this story. It is quick, to the point, and the reader is dragged into the drama from page one. Your heart can’t help but go out to Nell, who has so many feelings coursing through her; confusion, shame, and excitement. Barri Bryan does an excellent job of making her characters very real like with very real emotions that the reader can relate to.
I read this book in one sitting because I could not find a pause in the story that felt appropriate to walk away from. This is a great story for a rainy or snowy day when you are cooped up in your home looking for something to entertain and keep you occupied for hours. Her writing is clear and concise, and her characters are loveable and not easily forgotten.

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YOUR EVERY DESIRE-MARY EASON

I think my review says it all, but to reiterate the fact....DAMN this was a book filled with chemistry and passion. Aaron and Kylie have it bad for each other!!!! I'm surprised they were ever able to leave the bed room... Not only is this story sizzling on the romantic side of things, but it is also very well written. So many romance books that I have read are just filled with mediocre writing and good sex scenes. This book had both! I also loved the fact that Kylie owned her own business and was struggling to make more of it throughout the book. It made me like her character so much more!
Here is my review! Enjoy :-)

Mary Eason has done a wonderful job creating a very juicy, sexy story. This fast paced, rather short romance book got right down to the romance. No other details or story plots got in the way of Aaron and Kylie’s sizzling passion for each other.
Kylie has known Aaron for awhile. In fact, she was the one responsible for hooking him up with her friend, and house mate Mariah. Kylie has a little secret though; she has the hots for Aaron, and bad. She is good at lying to herself and stuffing her feelings down deep inside and settles for just being his friend. When Aaron decides to break it off with Mariah because of his upcoming job promotion which leads to him leaving the state, Kylie is shocked. She thought for sure Mariah was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with; and who wouldn’t? She’s gorgeous!
Truth be told, Aaron has been trying to break up with Mariah for a while. He does not love her, and hasn’t even slept with her. What he has had are the hots for Kylie since the day he met her. After trying for days to locate Mariah to tell her he wants to end their relationship, he goes to Kylie for help. Knowing she is lying by the look in her eyes, Aaron gets the feeling that Mariah has been cheating on him. Feeling as though their relationship has basically already ended, Aaron takes Kylie in his arms and shows her just how much he has been pining for her.
Both Aaron and Kylie make a lot of assumptions about each other and keep their feelings locked inside because they are afraid of rejection. Due to their lack of communication, they are way off base with each other when it comes to having an actual relationship. The one thing that is right on target though is their passionate lovemaking. They can’t seem to keep their hands off of each other. Aaron’s big move out of state and Kylies growing business is muddling things up for them. Will their romance fizzle and die? Or will Kylie and Aaron find a way to make it work and become honest with each other? <>Mary Eason makes it clear to hear readers that she means business when it comes to the topic of romance. She knows how to get to the readers’ heart and how to turn the heat up a notch. I think a lot of books benefit from detail in the story, but Mary Eason seems to be able to do just fine without an excessive amount of it. What she does pay attention to is what Aaron and Kylie notice about each other; Aaron can’t seem to get enough of Kylie’s eyes, especially the way they change color when they make love, and Kylie can’t get enough of Aaron’s perfect looks. These are the types of details in a romance book that make it so the readers can really get inside the characters’ heads and enjoy the story that much more. I would recommend this story to any romance lover out there. It is a quick read that can be finished in one sitting and will not leave you disappointed!


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THE LONG ROAD HOME-LAUREN N. SHARMAN

I think what caught my interest the most about his book was that the story line was unlike anything I have ever read before. Although there was a bit of romance in the story, the main focus was reuniting a girl with her long lost family; her brothers to be exact.
I found myself in love with the characters, and rooting for everything to work out. It really touched my heart. It was nice to read about a family that was so troubled, and went through so much, and in the end for everything to work out.

Below is my review I did. for more of my reviews and others, go to www.frontstreetreviews.com


Being the final book in the McCassey series did not confuse me at all when I decided to read this book first. I am not entirely sure what the other books in the series were about, but I feel that I did not need to read them ahead of time in order to completely enjoy this book. Lauren Sharman did an excellent job with her characters and told an amazing story.
Georgia McCassey has lived a hard life. At the age of nineteen she has endured more than most have in their entire lives. She was taken away from her mother at the age of fifteen by her abusive father as revenge against her mother. Dolan McCassey raped his daughter, got her hooked on drugs, and whored her out for money. Finally seeing her chance, Georgia leaves his apartment in search of her three older brothers that she has heard so much about, but never actually met
Georgia does not intend on actually meeting them because she feels the things she has done in her past would make them ashamed of her, so she decides to just get a good look at them so she can put a face to their names. The situation changes when they catch her looking at them while they work at their garage. Georgia suddenly finds herself immersed in their world; some of it good, some of it scary. She must fight her demons inside herself and decide if she will be able to believe that she is actually good enough to be around her new family and change her life around for the better.
Lauren Sharman creates a world of wonderfully believable characters. They are rough around the edges, far from perfect, but every bit as lovable. She is able to show her readers just what family is all about; watching each other’s backs and making sacrifices in the name of love. I did not have a favorite character because I loved them all. I was able to finish this book in one sitting because there seemed to be no part in the story that I was willing to walk away from and take a break.
Lauren Sharman also seems to have a knack for clarity in her words. I never once was confused. Her story was very straight forward, moved at a steady rhythm and never once got boring. These are the kinds of stories that I love to read; the organization and planning of this story is apparent on every page. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good read and who has time to tuck in and read it start to finish.

3 ACES-RICHARD IDE

I don't have much to discuss when it comes to this story. I think my review will spell it all out. I do want to stress that i give the author a lot of credit for writing this book. The amount of detail he uses in this story is unbelievable. In fact, I haven't seen this much detail in a book more than a few times in my reading ventures. As stated in my review, I think the detail hurt this story a bit, but it may feel like the opposite for people who don't mind a lot of detail.

This story took me about three weeks to get through. Although this was a very well written story, I do feel that the detail was a bit much. I think it could have been just as powerful a story without all of the detail.
Abner Weaver is a Vietnam War vet who makes his living driving trucks and delivering goods. He picks up a woman named Dawn at a stop who says she is in a tight spot and needs to get away. Charmed by her looks, he takes her as his passenger, under the assumption that she will be getting off in a nearby town and that will be the end of that. What ends up happening instead is that she sticks with Abner and together they make a pretty good trucking team.
Abner learns more and more about Dawn’s past; how she is trying to win custody back of her daughter, how her father used to be a gambling addict, etc. Dawn also learns a bit about Abner’s past; that he was in the war, has PTSD from what he endured, and that he will not tolerate any of her drinking. The two acquire a dog, and that completes their team. An issue involving Dawn and the game of cards erupts and their team breaks up.
This story does not have twists and turns and does not leave you hanging on the edge of your seat to find out what is going to happen next. What the story does have are some great characters that you learn to love and a whole lot of information. I honestly think that after reading this I could successfully go out and drive a big rig and I think I could honestly go and gamble successfully at cards. I made myself push through and read until the end, but I think some would throw in the towel because of all of the detail.
For those folks out there that really enjoy books that delve into the story in great lengths, then this is the book for you. If you are a truck driver, a card player, or interested in Vietnam, then this is also a good story to read because there are a lot of interesting things about all three of these categories. All in all I would say this was a good read, but it does take some stamina to push through until the end.

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KUDOS FOR A FRIEND!!!

Hey folks! Usually I just post reviews and such on this site, but I'm really excited to share with you some information about a friend of mine. Susan Helene Gottfried, author of Trevors's Song, has just come out with a demo tape to the band in her book, the ShapeShifters.

Here is a little blip about it!

ShapeShifter : The Demo Tapes -- Year 1
A band's demo tape is intended to introduce listeners to their music. Likewise, this collection of short pieces allows readers into the fictional world of Trevor Wolff and his band, ShapeShifter.
Originally published online between April 2006 and March 2007, The Demo Tapes -- Year 1 brings together the moments that parallel -- but never encounter -- Susan Helene Gottfried's debut novel, Trevor's Song. Arranged chronologically and with introductions to each, this is a must-have volume for anyone who's ever wanted to hang with a rock band.

Here is the link to her page to check out more about, and for purchasing information! http://www.westofmars.com/index.php?id=thebooks

For those of you not familiar with her book, Trevor's Song, here is the link for you to go and check it out!! http://www.westofmars.com/index.php

Do yourself a favor and take a few minutes to check out those links! You won't be disappointed! This lady has some mad writing skills and you owe it to yourself to see if Trevor's Song and the demo tape is something for you!

INSATIABLE DESIRE-RITA HERON

Like I've said about so many books I've had the pleasure of reviewing, this book makes it into my top list of all time books. It is most likely in my top 40 or 50 best reads ever. What is awesome is the fact that there is going to be a sequel coming out!! Rita leaves us at a cliff hanger that makes me very anxious for her sequel to come out.

Rita Heron is also a very skilled writer, which you will see as soon as you start reading her book, so I will definitely be seeking out other books from her.

Below is my review that I did for Insatiable Desire. You can also check it out on www.frontstreetreviews.com along with other great reviews from some amazing reviewers.

Rita Heron does an amazing job at creating a story that is thrilling, sexy, and past faced. I read Insatiable Desire in one sitting because I could not find an appropriate place to put it down. There was excitement on every page and I found myself unwilling to walk away from that excitement.
Vincent is a complicated man. In fact, he really isn’t fully a man; he is part demon. His father was a demon, and his mother was human. After witnessing his mother’s death at the hands of his father when he was just a young boy, Vincent has blocked out most memories of that specific event and those around that time in his life. Now, years later, he is a detective and finds himself called back to his home town. There are multiple murders taking place and the local psychic, Clarissa, thinks the murders are all connected. The spirits of the dead girls are trying to tell her something and are crying out for help. Vincent hasn’t seen Clarissa since he was a boy. Realizing fast that she is no longer an awkward looking little girl, he finds himself lusting after her almost immediately upon their reunion. He knows he is a dangerous man and has desires inside of him that are animal like and on the verge of evil, so he vows to stay away from her. He finds this to be a very hard task because it is evident that she is attracted to him and he cannot get her off of his mind. Although Vincent doesn’t remember all of his past, he does remember a snap shot of his father telling him that he had bad blood inside of him.
Clarissa senses that Vincent may be the key in helping her to solve this mystery. Young girls keep showing up dead; and they are all dying at the hands of their greatest fears. Clarissa senses that the killer may not be human. She knows enough about Vincent’s past to know that he is probably more connected in this than he is willing to admit.
Rita Heron has an amazing ability to create characters that get under your skin and latch on and stay with you. They are personable, intense, and intriguing. She has a great skill with her words. What I really enjoyed was the fact that she was able to weave an intricate story that involves everything from romance, to demons, to mystery, to murder. What I also love is the fact that Rita Heron leaves us at a cliff hanger which leads her readers to believe that the excitement is just beginning and there is much more to come. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a great read that will leave you captivated!

THE WIZARDS DAUGHTER-VICTORIA GRAYDALE

This story, as I mention in my review, is most focused on just a few days time. It is a pleasant story that takes you through the kidnapping of the wrong girl, the attempt to make it right, the realization that it won't work, and the fleeing to safety so that one can avoid certain death and the other won't be forced into marriage.
It is a good, quick read that involves wizards, and young ladies who are ready and waiting to fall in love, a few good battles, and some amazing characters that you will no doubt fall in love with.

Below is my review, check out www.frontstreetreviews.com for other reviews to some great books!

At first glance of the cover art of this book, I thought it was going to be a teen fantasy book. What I realized after the first chapter that it was far from a book for teens to read; this was strictly for adults. Even though the cover art threw me for a loop and made me expect something different than what I got, I am not disappointed in the story. I think Victoria Graydale did a great job creating a lovely story.
Phaedra has been taking care of Millie since they were children. At birth, Phaedra’s mother died and a wizard took pity on her father and brought Phaedra to Lord and Lady Alcock. She grew up with their daughter, who was around the same age as she. Due to a childhood illness, Millie’s body grew up to that of a lady, but her mind stayed immature and innocent. Phaedra knew that Millie’s father wanted her to marry, and vowed to only let her marry someone who would treat Millie right and not take advantage of her.
Phaedra is kidnapped by a man named Adrian and taken to Cedrik, an evil man who wants to marry Millie, by force if necessary. Adrian realizes the terrible mistake he has made; He kidnapped the wrong woman! Mistaking Phaedra for Millie, he realizes that this mistake could be fatal; Cedrik does not take kindly to such mistakes. Both Adrian and Phaedra decide that it is in the best interest of everyone to get Millie and take her to the wizard so that she can be safe from the grasp of Cedrik. Phaedra is doing this for Millie, and Adrian is doing it to save his own hide from the wraith of Cedrik.
As their journey takes them further and further away from Cedrik, Phaedra and Adrian start to realize just how much they really care for each other. Will they be able to reconcile their differences and fall in love, or will Phaedra’s stubbornness and Adrian’s gruffness push each other further and further apart?
Victoria Graydale does a great job at the cat and mouse game with these two characters’. One minute you are sure that they will fall into each others’ arms and consummate their love, and in the next they are in a fight and cannot stand to look at each other. I found her writing to be very seductive, and always leave you waiting for the next encounter between Adrian and Phaedra.
This story does not go into great detail, and it not drawn out; in fact, it is a very fast paced novel that would be great to read front to back on a rainy day. It all takes place in just a few days time, and involves just one big adventure. You get just enough fighting, loving, and mystery to make this a great story. I would recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy, and a good love story.

RED FIRE-A GODS OF MIDNIGHT NOVEL: DEIDRE KNIGHT

Okay, this was another sexy as all freakin hell book. I felt like I was under a trance while I read this. I wanted my world to go away so that I could stay in this world that Deidre Knight created. Don't get me wrong, my life isn't terrible, but this was just so sexy and exciting that I wanted no interruptions!
Regardless of the genre of book it is, the feeling I got from reading this book is what tells me if it is a truely great read. When my reality becomes unexciting and I find myself wanting to get away from it, and the world that the author creates becomes my reality, if only for a few hours, then I know that author has me; hook, line and sinker. This is EXACTLY what Deidre Knight did for me.
Below is my review I did of her book, which goes into more detail about how truely amazing her story is...

Deidre Knight had my body, heart, and soul tingling with excitement throughout her entire, powerfully written, story. Her characters are strong and sturdy in their personality, her words cut right to the heart, and her plot line leaves you breathless and wanting more.
Ajax Petrakos is a Spartan Warrior. He and six other warriors are given a choice by the god Ares; they could move on to the afterlife that awaits them at their deaths, or they could become immortal protectors of the world. They choose immortality, and from there vow to protect the world from all evil. Centuries go by and Ajax finds that he is getting sick and tired of everything; He longs to be set free. During his free time he is drinking and sleeping with women to try and pass the time, until he gets a summons from his King and the real adventure starts. The Oracle foretold that Ajax will encounter a battle that will cause him to fight for his life, and at the same time, he will finally meet the woman he has been promised to for many years; Shay Angel. This is a woman that has been in his dreams and in the Oracles’ vision and he has had a constant lusting for
These two meet up, and realize that their paths were meant to cross and that their destinies involve each other. Their sexual energy is evident right from the start, and together they know they must engage in a battle with one of the most powerful, and evil demons in order to restore order. Together they experience triumph and heartache; all the while falling more madly in love with each other as each passing day goes by.
Deidre Knight has created a true God. Ajax is that man you see in your dreams at night that you wish would come and sweep you off of your feet; quite literally, since he does have wings. He is the definition of a man, and his body leaves you breathless. The seduction scenes between Ajax and Shay leave you trembling. Deidre doesn’t do what a lot of writers do and have them give it up and go for the gold in the bedroom right off. She leaves you waiting; and waiting. Her ability to seduce the reader with her words, which tell of Ajax pulling Shay in for a passionate kiss because he can’t stop himself, or how he nibbles her ear and growls into it softly how much he wants her, leaves her readers trembling.
The characters’ personalities are one of a kind. I fell in love with Ajax because he is a true hero, with all of the right qualities. I feel in love with Shay and her two overprotective brothers because I found that I would respond to things the same way they did had I been in their situation (and I would have LOVED to have been in Shay’s situation!). Deidre Knight’s ability to keep her story exciting and making her readers turn the pages faster and faster, not wanting it to ever end is the sign of a truly excellent story. This is one that I would recommend to anyone who likes spicy novels about warriors, demons, and romance. This is one that I will read over and over again.

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HURRY DOWN SUNSHINE-MICHAEL GREENBERG

This was definitly a powerful story to read. This is a small thing, but I really liked the title of this book, and think you will fully understand and appreciate it once you've gotten through the entire story. Michael Greenberg is a very strong man for being able to tell his story and share it with so many people...

This true life account of Michael Greenberg’s daughter going through her first bout of psychosis is truly eye opening and revealing. His ability to take us into her mind, and give us a glimpse of what it feels like to be manic is astounding. This book packed more of a punch than a text book regarding this illness ever would.
Sally is fifteen years old. Up until now, she lived what she and everyone else thought as a ‘normal’ life. Her father, Michael Greenberg starts to notice her behavior change. She is pacing, acting out verbally, obsessively writing, and saying things that don’t appear to make any sense. Michael finally decides that she needs to be hospitalized because he cannot give her the help that she needs. So begins Sally’s long, hard battle of not only trying to get better, and come back into reality, but also come to grips with the fact that this is never going to go away.
After spending over twenty days in the psych ward, Sally is able to go home. The work is far from over for her. She has to take lots of medication, go to appointments with a psychiatrist that meet multiple times a week, and basically learn how to live all over
What I think I loved most about this book was the fact that it was so real. This could have been anyone’s child. Michal and Pat dealt with the cards they were given in the same way most parents would; fear, frustration, confusion, sadness, and most of all, determination. I think that this book will help inspire many families who have children with a mental disorder to realize that there is hope and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Yes, it is a constant uphill battle, but progress can be made, and your child can still live a wonderful life; they do not have to be defined by their illness.
Michael Greenberg did an amazing job at allowing the reader to see into Sally’s mind, but at the same time not confusing us. His words were clear and concise and very, very real. It is very apparent that he has a skill with using words. He is able to turn his story into something much more than just words on paper; he turns them into hope for others. I think this was also probably a liberating story for him to write as well. I believe it is very therapeutic to write about troubles you have had and to be able to share them with the world and get support from people going through similar circumstances.
I would recommend this book first and foremost to anyone who knows anyone who has a mental illness of this sort. I would also recommend this book to any and everyone. I think it is a great learning tool for people that have never had to experience anyone who is mentally ill to learn about it and be prepared if it ever comes their way. I give Michael Greenberg much kudos for writing this book, and I hope his daughter Sally is staying strong.

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WILLOW IN A STORM- JAMES PETER TAYLOR & KATHLEEN MURPHY-TAYLOR

well, I have had this book sitting on my shelf for a few months before I finally got around to reading it. I was actually kind of dreading it, thinking it was going to drag on and talk about pointless details of a man's life in prison. I also thought that maybe it would just be too damn depressing. Neither of these things happened. Yes, the book was long, and full of detail, but I would not have gotten rid of any of it; I feel it was all neccissary for the book to be as powerful as it was. Although the book was depressing, I also think that it was just as inspirational, so it had a good balance. Below is my review that I did for www.frontstreetreviews.com. This memoir is amazing and it would benefit everyone to read it. I would not recommend it to teens, only because some of the subject matter can be traumatic to read.


This was an extremely powerful memoir. If ever there was a book that successfully exuded raw, human emotion, this is the book. James Peter Taylor endured years of torment, abuse, frustration, depression, unfairness, and punishment. What is amazing is that this man lived through all of this to tell his story.
James Peter Taylor grew up in a household that was not all that healthy. His father abused him in many forms. He did have a lot of positive, influential family members, but they seemed to pass on when he was just a boy. James got hooked up with some bad people, had some head injuries, and before he knew it he was in jail. James spends a little while in jail for crimes that aren’t too major, then when he gets out, he commits his biggest crime; in the midst of trying to rob a bank he kills someone. This is the setting for what becomes his 40+ years in the prison system.
What shocked me the most, and tugged on my heart strings the hardest was the fact that our fellow human beings can treat a man so poorly. Yes, James Peter Taylor murdered a man in cold blood. Yes, he deserved some form of punishment. His entire stay in the prison system was not simply to pay for his crime of murdering a man; a big portion of his stay was due to people in a seat of power, who held a grudge, lied, falsified documents, and just didn’t care about this man’s life. I cannot think of a time when I have felt so much disgust for my fellow human beings. James Peter Taylor paid for his crimes, but who is going to pay for the crimes that were committed against him?
Another issue in this story that totally shocked me was the fact that this poor man was raped more times than I can count. He said that in order to stay safe in prison he had to act feminine so that a male lover would claim him as his own and offer him protection from the other inmates. How sad that it is a well known fact that things like this go on in the prison system, and yet we do nothing about it. If a man or woman is raped out in the community, we as human beings balk at the notion of someone committing such a horrendous crime and we do all we can to make sure the rapist is punished; yet when this happens in prison, we turn a blind eye. It is disgusting.
I think that this story was meant to shock and awe its readers. I think that it was also meant to show the world that there are people out there that maybe do things they regret, but that they can come out of their experience a better, and changed person. It is a beautiful and uplifting story to know that this man has found happiness after having so much of his life spent behind bars. I would recommend this story to anyone; especially those who work in the prison system, or have a seat of power that have maybe turned a blind eye on some injustices that are being done to people. Shame on them. I hope this book opens their eyes and makes them realize that it’s time to take action.

WHERE ANGELS FLY-STEPHANIE GIBBS

hmmm i had some major disappointment with this book. It just wasn't right from the start. It would have been totally awesome to do a story about soldiers and to get so intimate with them, but this was very poorly done in my opinion. I'm not sure if you'd call it bad writing skills or what, but I had to force myself to get through it.

anyways, you may not agree, it's just my humble opinion.

This story had me torn. I really liked what the story was written about, and I give a lot of kudos to Stephanie Gibbs to write a very real life story about what it is like for soldiers in the war. On the other hand, I was not a big fan to how it was written.
For starters, the story is about a reporter, Logan, who is sent to Baghdad to film the war. She is set up to stay with the 101 Airborne Division. She meets the soldiers and throughout the story she films the happenings of the war.
Logan gets to know these soldiers and respects and appreciates them all. She also meets the medical doctors there and forms a special bond with one in particular. I would add more to the story, but that is it. I feel as though Stephanie Gibbs did not introduce her characters well at all. She did a great job at dialoging them talking amongst each other, but I was never really interested because I felt like I was reading the dialogue of strangers. I think it is one of the most important jobs for an author to make his/her readers connect with the characters and fall in love with them; in this instance, this did not happen. Had we really gotten to know Logan and the soldiers, her dialogue would have been spectacular because you would have really had an appreciation for their personalities.For example, within the first few chapters, Logan meets the soldiers and a few pages later they are all acting like best friends; laughing, joking, wrestling, and talking about serious life issues. In reality, people don’t do that. It takes time to warm up to people and be able to become that friendly and adjust to such a new situation like war. I think that was the biggest part that made this story so unrealistic; there were no way the characters would have been able to be as intimate together as she portrayed in such a short amount of time. Everyone basically worshipped the ground Logan walked on, and she didn’t even do anything special.What I also thought was rather random was the fact that a few of the characters were born again Christians. Throughout the story, Stephanie Gibbs had them convert people. One minute the person would be making fun of the fact that so and so was so into his religion, then in the next they would suddenly have a feeling wash over them and just like that, they were ready to commit to God. I don’t buy that. People don’t do that. It is unrealistic.
Like I stated above, I really think the idea of the story is great, but I don’t think the ultimate goal was achieved here. I would not read this book again, nor recommend it.

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THE ELF AND THE PRINCESS: THE SILENT WARRIOR TRILOGY, PART 1-ANNA DEL C. DYE

Being a big fan of fantasy, I was looking forward to reading part one of this trilogy. After the first chapter I became a little skeptical, thinking maybe this was intended for a much younger audience. What I instead found was that Anna del C. Dye had done an absolutely spectacular job at turning this into a book that lured both young and old readers alike. I think I can describe it best by comparing it to Harry Potter. With that series, any age group can read it and fall in love with it. This is the same for The Silent Warrior Trilogy; I loved it, my ten year old cousin would love it, and my mother would love it. This alone proves the immense talent of Anna del C. Dye.
Adren is the sole survivor of her homeland, Menarm. While all of her people are being slaughtered, she is up in the mountains training with a skilled warrior to learn how to fight like him. Adren’s mother, the queen of Menarm, allowed her daughter to enter into this training after much begging on Adrens part. Paletin, the Prince of the North Kingdom, is the one who discovered the ruins of Menarm. Adren’s mother, who kept herself alive until someone happened upon her land, gave him a letter with instructions on it, and then died in his arms. Vowing to avenge her death and follow out with her wishes, Paletin seeks out Adren.
Adren and Paletin follow the letters instructions to head to Lothia, the elf city, to meet Tadren, one of the head Elves. On their way, they get sidetracked and realize that a big battle is about to take place. The same group that killed everyone in Menarm is spreading out, hoping to cause more destruction. Adren and Paletin decide to help fight them, as they both are extremely efficient warriors. Adren decides that she does not want anyone to know that she is a woman, for fear they will not let her fight, so she dubs herself the Silent Warrior and stops talking altogether with a helmet on her head.
Once the fighting is done, Adren soon meets many important people who help her unlock the secrets of her past. She finds out not only who her true parents are, and who she really is, but also her soul mate. Anna del c. Dye does an amazing job at keeping the reader entertained. She really gets you to fall in love with all of the characters. With her knowledge of swordsmanship, I felt as though I was right beside the brave warriors as they fought for peace and freedom.
I particularly liked how she did not go into too much detail of the battles. Don’t get me wrong, Anna del C. Dye did not leave you without description of everything going on, but I find in a lot of fantasy books, when there are big battles, the description goes on for pages and pages and pages. I feel as though she gave her readers just the right amount of detail to be able to picture it all happening in your mind.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a book that is well put together. It is very evident to see the amount of planning and precision that Anna del C. Dye took in writing this. She will not disappoint!

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THE ABRAXAS SERIES:BOOKS 1-3-CINSEARAE SANTIAGO

My first thoughts of this book; absolutely, freaking amazing. I was hooked from page one and sad to see it end when I got to the last page. I am so glad that Cinsearae Santiago is planning on a fourth novella. This is a book that I plan on reading again and again just because it is that good. My only complaint is that it is way too short; I think that the detail should have been greater, and she would have been able to create an amazing story of any great length.
These first three novellas are all combined into one book. Also, this is definitely not your typical, straight laced book. This is about the darker side of life. This is definitely a book for someone who is in touch with their bad side, and can appreciate the sexy, gothic side to life. Count me in on all counts! The characters are dark, their attire is sexy as hell, and they have this seductive creepiness to them that makes me want to visit their world.
Christine Vargas doesn’t even know what hit her. One minute she is a normal human being just barely getting along in life and the next she is all but tossed into a totally different world that she never knew existed. Realizing pretty quickly that her powers are greater than most vampires, and that she is viewed as pretty important, she meets Ryan Price. Ryan cannot take his eyes off of her and she feels the sexual energy between the two of them. Ryan tells her that he has waited a long time for her.
Lord and Lady Abraxas, which is the title that Christine and Ryan have, are now the rulers of their small clan. With powers greater than any, they must fight to keep their clan alive, as well as themselves. Certain clan members feel as though they want to rule and pull out all of the stops to make that happen. While all of this drama is happening, Christine and Ryan find that they have a raw sexual energy that they cannot extinguish. Cinsearae Santiago shows us just how much they want each other in her lusty, leave you panting for more, love scenes.
Later on in the stories, Ryan comes into contact with his ex fiancé’, who he finds out is a witch, literally. She tries her hardest to come between Ryan and Christine and has some very dangerous games up her sleeve. You meet some characters that gave me the goose bumps and made me want to sleep with a nightlight on. The ending of these three novellas is very shocking and definitely leaves you craving to read the fourth book. Ryan starts to exhibit some very strange behaviors, and something bad happens to one of the clan members. I won’t give anymore away!
I absolutely loved the characters. I think Christine and Ryan were sexy, sensual, powerful, and very appropriate for their positions. I loved the description of their love scenes. If you are someone who is not afraid to read spicy material and allow your blood to heat up, then get cozy and read this book! Although there are only a few of these scenes, they are worth it!
Cinsearae Santiago has a beautiful way of writing and using her words. You can tell that she has lots of knowledge of the gothic way of life and is a fan of vampires. Her words allow you to close your eyes and imagine yourself as one of her characters, being the one to slip on that spicy red silk nightgown and slip under the black silk sheets next to your lover and have a wild ride.

This seriously is a hot series! This brought out the side in me that always seems too taboo to talk about in my everyday 'normal' life. Most people see dabbling in this darker side as weird, scary, and they don't approve. I give lots of credit to Cinsearae Santiago for being able to have the courage to be herself and not care what anyone thinks. As for me, I keep my thoughts to myself, and continue on in my cookie cutter life. Don't get me wrong, I love my life and the people in it, but if I had all of the courage she had, I would definitly do things out of the norm and be able to take more risks with my looks and what not.

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FATAL ENCRYPTION-DEBRA PURDY KONG

Kudos to Debra Purdy Kong in this wonderfully thought up mystery. The world of computers and technology is growing each day, and she gives us a big dose of both of these. This is not your typical murder/mystery story; this is so much more. She weaves a tale of lies, deceit, murder, and threatening. A computer master mind is at large and people’s lives as well as the fate of a huge company depend on this man being caught before it is too late.
Alex Bellamy has had trouble finding work. When the owners of a big store confront him, it takes little convincing for him to agree to be added to their payroll. The job ends up being much bigger than he ever expected it to be. With the help of his friend Tristan, Alex rushes against a ticking clock to try and find the code to unlock what could turn out to be a fatal encryption that could destroy lives. The person behind all of this is demanding money, and lots of it or else he plans on permanently destroying a huge company’s computer program as well as the store itself.
What I really liked about this story was that I had many people that I suspected was behind everything, but it wasn’t until the very end when I was able to finally figure it out. I like books like this because it makes me want to read faster and faster so I can figure it out. I hate it when you figure it out for yourself halfway through the book because then I end up not really wanting to finish it.
I think that Debra Purdy Kong does a wonderful job at character description. She really allows you to get inside their head and she makes them so likable. They have senses of humor that I would look for in a friend. Also, she is great at keeping you on track with computer lingo. Not once did I find myself confused about anything going on. I know a bit about computers, but I also know that that is a lot that I do not know, but she is good at keeping it simple and not overwhelming the reader.
I think that this book is a great read for any mystery fans. It goes above and beyond any simple mystery story. This is a book definitely worth having hanging around on your book shelf!

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BABY,BABY- KAREN WIESNER

This story was a nice, quick read. It wasn’t complicated, it wasn’t meant to confuse you; it was simply meant to be a nice story. Karen Wiesner does a great job giving her readers one of those books that is very light on the heart and a great summer time read.
Tamara and her husband Robert are good, practicing Christians. They put the lord first in their lives, and truly believe with all of their hearts that He will provide for them. They are blessed with five children, and wonderful home, and are very happy together. Robert works at the plant and is hoping for a upcoming managerial position while Tamara is a stay at home mom who derives pleasure out of keeping the house clean, home schooling her children when they are young, doing volunteer work, etc.
Just like all couples, Tamara and Robert have problems of their own. Robert is stressed out and has been depressed lately because he thinks that the managerial position is going to go to someone with a college degree who hasn’t worked at the plant half as long as him. Tamara, knowing the reality of their financial situation, tries to ease his burden by using a talent that she has for making gift baskets and taking a chance by trying to sell them. They are a hit. Robert is very unhappy with this, and asks her countless times to give up her new found business and let him worry about providing for his family. Tamara is very heartbroken over this, thinking he is very cruel for crushing her dreams. Robert is torn over this because he views it as a slap in the face that his own wife doesn’t think he can provide well enough for his family.
Their arguing reaches a peak and they both fear for their marriage. They both must pray and seek The Lords’ guidance on what they should do; the future of their family depends on it.
There are no mystery’s to solve and nothing unexpected happens in this story, but I do not think there are meant to be any. This is a simply a story of faith, love, and trust. This is a story is very real in the fact that couples get into arguments all the time and it’s how you handle them that decides the fate of your marriage.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a light read. This would be especially good for Christian women. I myself am not a religious person, but still found this a pleasant read. I got a little angry at Robert’s ignorance and stubbornness when it came to the issue of women earning an income, but the end result put a contented smile on my face. This is definitely a great beach read!!
This is Book One of the Family Heirloom Series


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MELODY:STACY-DEANNE

Another great read! This is definitly a book that is in my top 30 reads of all time. I couldn't put it down!
Here is my review:
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Stacy-Deanne has done it. She has created an amazing plot, with amazing characters and turned this into a fantastic book to read. I was sucked in from page one and did not feel bored once. Any description she was willing to give about any part of the story I soaked up and happily read. This is an A-one story.

Melody and her sister Sarah are complete opposites. They do have one thing in common though; they are both beautiful. Although they look very different, they both have a charm and a grace that causes most men to do a double take. They are both living together in Sarah’s house because Melody is having a hard time finding a job. Everything is going smoothly until Sarah meets a gorgeous man named Keith. Melody knows right off the bat that something is wrong with him. He walks in her room while she is changing and just stares, commenting how beautiful she is. He doesn’t leave when she asks him to and she realizes then and there that this is a dangerous man and she does not want her sister with him.

Unfortunately for Melody, Sarah is as smitten with him as can be, and soon she and Keith announce that they are in love. Keith becomes more and more aggressive towards Melody, even resulting in threatening her, but Sarah is getting more and more fed up with Melody constantly complaining about him and refuses to listen to any of it.

The same time that this drama is going on, the city that they live in is being terrorized by a serial rapist. He has raped over 25 black women already and doesn’t appear to be stopping anytime soon. Melody fears for her friend, a black woman. She is living alone most of the time because her husband is a truck driver. On top of this, Melody is meeting up with an old friend, Lucas, and realizing she may be falling in love, but also realizing that she may not be ready for a relationship and becomes scared.

Stacy-Deanne cranks the drama and excitement up a notch each page you turn. Melody’s life becomes endangered, the serial rapist hits her close to home, and Keith is unrelenting in his quest to control her. How much can she take until she cracks?

The only criticism I have for this book is some of the wording. Stacy-Deanne uses a lot of the same descriptions when describing simple emotions. For example, the sentence “She walled her eyes…” is used a least a few dozen times, if not more. I think that a little more variety when it came to descriptions would have been beneficial. Again, this was only a minor criticism. This book was absolutely amazing and it will be one that I read again and again! I think this book would be a great read for anyone.

IN THE FACE- LORELEI ARMSTRONG

This story definitely stood out in many ways compared to others that I have read. There are a lot of things that I really liked about it, and thought were very original, and there were things that I did not like so much.
Evo Selig is a beautiful man. He was the product of what is called shaping. When Evo was a little baby his parents took him to a doctor to have his face shaped so that he would grow up to be a beautiful, perfect looking person. True to the doctors’ word, Evo becomes a very famous man; he stars in all of the most popular films, has lots of fans, and is loved by just about everyone.
A man winds up murdered on the property of the doctor who shaped Selig’s face years ago and an investigation takes full swing, along with lots of media coverage. A simulation is found of the murder on a video feed and detectives MacEvoy and detective Cleinrath find that it is not actual footage, it is a simulation, and the person they see on the feed carrying the dead body is either being set up, or really did commit the crime; that is what they need to find out.
This story takes lots of twists and turns, and a few more people wind up dead before the surprise ending. This is one of the things I really liked about the story. It was never obvious who the killer was. There were a few people that I thought may have done it, then as the story went on, I found myself ruling them out. The person who ended up being the killer was someone I never suspected.
What I did not like so much about the story was that I felt it was unclear in a few spots. For starters, I have never heard of face shapers and am not sure if there are even doctors out there that do that (I hope not!). I am going to assume that a lot of readers are in the same boat as me, so therefore I think that there needed to be more explanation of this. Also, I found that some characters were thrown into the story before they were properly introduced. I found myself feeling a little confused for longer periods of time than I would have liked. Eventually I found out who the people were, but more of an introduction and more details about them would have been nice.
My last criticism was about computers and simulations. I am in no way a computer geek, so other than the internet, Microsoft word and the occasional card game, I do not know much about computers and what they can do. This book has a lot of talk about simulations. For the longest time I had no idea what that was and what exactly it entailed. I figured out most of what I needed to know throughout the whole story, but I felt that the story would have been much better if I would have known what a simulation was. A big part of the story is the killer murdering people, then making simulations of the murder and sending it through the computer for people to see.
Overall this was an okay read. It was definitely different than anything I’ve ever read about, and I really liked the ending, but the writing was a little weak and I found a lot of holes in the story. I don’t think anyone would be disappointed if they read this, I just think that with a little more work this story could be truly great.


Like i stated above, this was a really interesting book, it just has some kinks that should be worked out. If you are a book lover, it is still worth the read. If you are a computer geek, and know a lot of the terminology, then you'll like this book even more! visit www.frontstreetreviews.com for more reviews!

MERCY STREET-MARIAH STEWART

Never having read anything by Mariah Stewart, I decided to read a few reviews from other books she has written before I read Mercy Street to get a feel for what I was in for. Of course all of the reviews I found were positive and highly recommended this author. I became excited to read her story and dove in. True to their word, her reviewers were right on the money. Mariah Stewart has a gift with her words. I was pulled right into this story and could not take my eyes away from the pages. It takes a massive amount of talent to be able to use words that have enough power to make someone want to put their own life on hold for a few hours so they can finish your book.
Mallory Russo is a private investigator. She used to be a detective, but due to a big misunderstanding on the force, she decided it best to retire early. She now has been hired from a wealthy man to investigate the murder and disappearance of four teenage children. These children met late one night at a favorite hangout of theirs, the playground, to talk about something that had been bothering one of them. The next thing you know two of them are shot in the head and killed instantly and the other two have disappeared. Nobody has a clue if they are alive or dead. Nobody knows where they could possibly have gone. Finding a strip of cloth from one of the kids clothing on the chain link fence leaves Mallory hopeful that they were able to get away from their attacker. Having lost a baby and wife out of thin air a year before, Robert Magellan decides to fund this search in hopes of a happy ending. He has had to suffer a year of not finding any answers and knows the agony it has caused him, and he wants to spare others of that same fate.
Detective Charlie Wanamaker, the detective that is hired to the department to take Mallory’s place, is also in on the search. His reasons are the same as Mallory’s, but also because he finds himself getting lost in her eyes and wanting to know more about this recluse woman. The two of them re-interview and go over all of the evidence that the police have already gone through, and find a few clues along the way that help with the case.
The ending is surprising and action packed. Mariah Stewart gives her readers a healthy dose of romance and suspense that sates our appetites. Her use of wordage is fluid and she gives just enough detail to allow you to feel as though you are riding in the car right along with Mallory and Charlie as they go from suspect to suspect. I would recommend this book to anyone who is shopping for an amazing read with lots of suspense, twists, turns, and some budding romance. Kudos to Mariah Stewart for what looks like another amazing book!


This book is definitly on my top 30 list of best reads!!!! it was excellent! visit www.frontstreetreviews.com for more reviews on some awesome books!

LOOSE GIRL- KERRY COHEN

This is a must have!!

All of us women have a special power that men do not have. We have the ability to seduce and get what we need by using our body parts. Using that, plus our sometimes manipulative talking, allows us to be a very powerful being. Unfortunately by doing this, we are not only disrespecting the person we have turned our attention on, but also we are disrespecting ourselves. Kerry Cohen does just that. In her memoir, Loose Girl, she shows us just what women and young girls are capable of and how our society can take advantage of that.

At the age of eleven, Kerry realizes this power she has when an older man gives her a suggestive smile while he is checking out her young, maturing body. This power she had was lying dormant until this point in time. She got an adrenaline rush, and decided that she really liked how it made her feel. From then on out she started to seek out men, using her body to get their attention. She hung out at clubs, went into the city, went to boys’ homes that she didn’t even know, and hung out with the wrong crowd to accomplish this. She starts to sleep with a lot of these boys and men and eventually even loses count of how many she has slept with. Some people in her life start to lose respect for her and I think at one point she even starts to lose respect for herself.

Kerry realizes along that way that what she really wants is to feel loved. Her parents are split
up, and are not very good role models to boot. She and her sister have grown distant as well. Kerry saw her mother act sexually inappropriate with her sister, and her father tried to climb into bed with her one day. The boundaries of what are sexually appropriate and what is not has been blurred for this young girl. With that image being skewed and her hunger to feel powerful, Kerry gets herself into a routine that is very damaging to her. She has to deal with heartbreak after heartbreak, gets used, contracts STDs, etc. She eventually realizes that she is doing something wrong and that if she keeps acting the way she is acting she will never find true love. Kerry goes to great lengths to get some help for herself.

This memoir does not leave anything out and Kerry Cohen allows you to feel her greatest triumphs and her greatest failures. I was very impressed with this book and how honest Kerry Cohen was able to be with her audience. Her writing was smooth and easy to follow and she gave us just enough detail to really pack a punch. I think this is an excellent book for all young teens to read. The more we can educate these girls the better. All of the events that take place in this book are all things that could easily happen to any one of us. If you have young children and want to try everything you can to help them succeed in a very tough society, where they get lots of attention for all of the wrong reasons, then this is a book you should make sure they own.

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EXTRAORDINARY WILL-TRISH EDMISTEN

Wow, this book was amazing!!!!!

I read this book in one day. Usually I then will turn around and review it right off while it is still fresh in my head. With this book, I had to walk away from it for awhile. I had to wait until my emotions were a little less fresh in regards to this story. This book had me crying page after page after page. This is a first for me. Sure, I sometimes get misty eyed when something terrible happens to a character or when something miraculous happens, but this was all pure, raw emotion spilling fourth.
Brandy is a nineteen year old girl who is doing normal nineteen year old things. She works at McDonalds and hates it, so she finds a new job in an office and continues to go to school. When Brandy meets Will, the son of her boss, Felicia, everything appears normal. I thought this was going to end up being a typical romance, with some twists and turns and possibly a break up or a ‘happily ever after’ type story. Boy was I wrong.
Trish Edmisten takes her words and lifts them off of the page and shoots them straight into your heart. Will and Brandy fall in love and are extremely happy. What Brandy doesn’t know is that Will has a secret. He is no ordinary, healthy young man. Brandy finds out that Will has fought and survived a brain tumor that could just as easily have killed him. They make a pact that no matter what happens, they will continue to stay together, even if the tumor comes back full force. That’s just what happens; Will’s tumor comes back and he finds himself once again fighting for his life. Brandy and Will no longer have a normal relationship where they can take things slow and just enjoy life. They now are dealing with a love that may be short lived and tear their lives apart. Instead of going to the movies on a Friday night, or ordering in pizza with the love of her life, Brandy finds herself quitting school and completely taking care of Will to help him fight for his life, and their relationship.
Trish Edmisten grabs hold of your heart and will not let go until the very last page. She forces you to come to grips with the fact that this could happen to anyone; even you. She makes you realize just how precious life is and that once you find the gift of love and happiness you should enjoy each and every precious day because you never know when it is going to be your last. Finding true love is a rare and beautiful thing, and there is nothing stopping the powers that be from tearing it away from you. For days after reading this book I looked at my relationship in a while new light and pondered what I would do if I lost the love of my life.
I would recommend this book to everyone to read. Grab a box of tissues and tuck in to read it front to back. This is a reality check for everyone and is a must have on your shelf.

This review is also posted at www.frontstreetreviews.com

POISONWOOD BIBLE-BARBARA KINGSOLVER

I did not do a formal review on frontstreet.com for this book, but I thought I would talk about it anyways. My cousin from Colorado had to read "The Poisonwood Bible" for a class and answer some questions about it and she asked me to read it as well so we could work on the questions together. I finally finished it at work last night. I thought it was pretty good, but I remember a few years ago it was like this big deal, and I'm not seeing that.

I really like how Barbara Kingsolver broke up "chapters" by using all four sisters and their mother as separate narrators. By doing it this way, I felt as though we really got to get to know each character, their flaws, their strengths, etc. Since the book was over 400 pages, I think this was key so that the readers didn't get bored.

If this book is bordering on truth, which I am assuming it is, then I really learned a lot a bout Africa, the Congo, etc. It was really neat to learn about their culture, how they survive, how many of them don't survive, and then to put all of that in perspective about how we live everyday and what we take for granite. I really think this is a great book to have high school age children read because it shows them that there is a different world out there and that here in America we really have it made. For a lot of teenagers, the biggest crisis in their life is to keep up with their friends when it comes to clothing, and all of the latest gadgets, who has the most hip hair style, etc.

Has anyone else read this book? Did you have any favorite parts? Any parts you didn't like?

On another note, I know that I have been lacking lately with posting on here...I promise I will start to do it more often! I had about 63 family members from all over the US come up to Maine to visit out at our family camp this year and it was soooo hectic for a few weeks. My grandparents were the last to go and they just left on Friday, so things are starting to get back to normal! I hope you all can forgive me, stay patient, and continue to visit my site! :-)

INCOGNITO SERIES-KAREN WIESNER

So far I have reviewed six of Karen Wiesner's Incognito books. I am working on her latest one right now. I took a look at her web site and found that she doesn't plan on stopping the series anytime soon. Within the next few years she will have at least a few more books in the series done.
http://www.frontstreetreviews.com/ is where you can check out all six of my reivews for that series. In a nut shell the books all follow the same theme. They are action/romance stories. The books can be read seperatley and/or out of order if you wish, but it goes the most smoothly if you read them in order. The theme that is the same in each book is the Network. The Network is kind of like the CIA, but it is even more hush hush and only the top US officials, including the president know of the Network's existance. The Network obtains justice where justice is due. They target drug traffickers, terrorists, etc. There is a specific ranking within the Network. The members of the Network are called operatives. They give up their freedom to ensure the freedom of the rest of the world. There are different levels of operatives; these different levels decide what it is you are allowed/not allowed to do. It takes years to train an operative to be able to perform at the neccassary level. They go through every type of traning imaginable: torture, etiquette training, training in seduction, business, fighting, weapons, etc.
Each book targets a different operative (s). The book becomes their story, which also inclues romance. As an operative you are strictly forbidden to have a romantic relationship of any kind within the wall of the Network as well as without. What the top officials don't understand is that it is human nature to love and crave a connection, so each story delves into this. If caught, the operatives face severe punishement, and even death.
The six books that I have read so far have been amazing and worth the read. I would recommend them to any and everyone. Karen Wiesner has written many, many books and has a great skill for writing.
Have any of you bloggers out there read anything by her? I have yet to read her other books yet. Do they compare to this series?

THE LOST EPISODES OF BEATIE SCARELI-GINNETTA CORRELI

So I was a little skeptical at first about reading this 'experimental novella'. it was sent to me via computer, it looked unorthodox and the title gave away nothing. i put it on the back burner for a week or so, then one day decided to read at least the first few pages so see if i should put it further on that back burner. it starts by giving very straight forward, short descriptions of the characters. Ginnetta Correli had me at that. I did not stop reading until I got to the end, and at that, when it did end, I kept scrolling down, hoping for more. I wasn't ready for it to end the way it did, I wanted to be in Beatie's world forever so that I could root her on as she went through her life.

as I stated in my review on www.frontstreetreviews.com, this book was short, and to the point, getting right in on the action. Beatie Scareli is a 12 year old girl. She lives with her schizophrenic mother, and her abusive father. He mother is ill to the point of not even being on the same planet as the rest of the world, doesn't take her meds properly, sleeps endlessly, and cannot take care of her own hygiene. She ends up in a mental hospital and Beatie's dad divorces her. She moves in with a man she met in the hospital.
When Beatie goes to visit her mother every week she tries to avoid the boyfriend because he tries to touch her in inappropriate ways and is a raging alcoholic. Her mother is too sick to even notice, except to get jealous that Beatie is getting more sexual attention than she is.
Living at home with her father is not much better. He hits her, ignores her, and eventually even he tries to get inappropriate with her. Beatie doesn't have a chance at hell for a normal life; in fact, all she knows is this life, so it IS normal for her.
The story continues with more instances that make you feel so badly for Beatie. There isn't much detail about minor things, which i think is appropriate in this book. The details would just sugar coat the real purpose of this book. This is a real, raw look at abuse and what an unhealthy family looks like and the damage it can do to a child.
I am definitely saving this on my computer, and will read it again. Hopefully I'll get a copy of the book at some point when it comes out in print!

WOMB CHILD-ALTHEA PASCASCIO

okay, i really don't want this to turn into a political debate any more than it has to, but i fear that it will be inevitable.
"Womb Child" is a pretty short novel. the narrator is a fetus that is inside of his mothers womb. This fetus, before going into the womb, was an angel up in heaven and spent many, many years learning about who it's family is going to be, and what it is destined to be when it is born. When it finally gets a chance to enter into the womb as a fetus, it already has a very intelligent mind from day one.
As the book goes on, the fetus's soon to be parents realize that having a child may not be the best thing right now. They discuss the option of abortion. Because the fetus is so intelligent, it can hear and understand everything the parents are saying. The fetus gets so upset at the prospect of abortion that it purposfully causes it's mother pain by moving all around. The fetus says that it has a destiny and will save lots of lives, and by aborting it we are basically dooming all these people.
When the parents decide not to abort, but decide to give it away for adoption, the fetus becomes upset again. It goes on to say that the fetus was meant to have this specific set up parents and all will be doomed if another family brings it up.

So basically the message behind this book is that it is pure evil to abort or adopt. It is saying that babies have a brain from day one of conception, there is a plan in place from the get go of what they are supposed to do with their lives, and that they are very aware of it. It isn't until the actual birth when they forget that they were an angel.

as i said in my review at www.frontstreetreviews.com, i think that the story was cute, but this author definitly had a political agenda, and for her to say that adopting or aborting, at the appropriate time of course, is pure evil is a little extreme. this puslished book is so that she can send a political message to whoever will read it.

see, i knew this would turn into a political post ;-)

APPLES & ORANGES-MARIE BRENNER

This book took me a little while to get through because it appears to be so jumbled and disorganized. To us, it is, but to the author, Marie Brenner, i'm sure it makes perfect sense. This book is all about her relationship, and sometimes lack of a relationship with her older brother Carl. This book gives us snapshots and tid bits of her time with him.

My formal review is at http://www.frontstreetreviews.com/ if you are interested. What I focused on in my review was the fact that this book, in my opinion, was mostly for the author herself. She wanted to have a written account of her life with her brother and try and answer some questions for herself. I think this was brave of her to do. She questions the relationship they had, thinking maybe it could have been better, etc.

Her brother is diagnosed with cancer, and in the end it steals his life. This book shows how these two siblings rekindled their sibling relationship with the little time they had left. I think that this book allows us to imagine a lot of what happened in between the bouncing around of memories. We weren't there to experience it with them, so we are left to our imagination. I think by writing this book it helped to convince Marie Brenner that she was a good sister, and did have a special relationship with Carl. I commend her on this.

This is a good read for anyone who knows what a relationship is like with a sibling. It is not easy, but at the same time it is one of the most rewarding things in life.

LET'S TALK

okay so today is a slow day for me here at work. I only have one client and the staff member that I am working with is handling the group therapy today so I'm in the office doing some paperwork and trying to act busy. Now would be a good time for you book lovers out there to comment on a book I"ve posted so we can get a conversation going! Come on, I know you are out there :-)

SHAKE DOWN-JOEL GOLDMAN

Next up on our list of good reads is ''Shake Down". As I said in my formal review on www.frontstreetreviews.com, this was a good murder mystery. I really got into the characters, there were a lot of nice twists and turns that I did not expect and I was never really bored.
What makes this book stand out from most murder mystery plots is the fact that the main character is not allowed to work the case because his boss puts him on medical leave due to uncontrollable shakes that he is having. Instead of the book starting out with a murder, then you get to know the FBI characters and police, then off you go, this book adds a little more spice to it.
I do wish that when the doctors figure out why it is he is shaking, that they make it part of the story more because this is something that you deal with the entire time, then it seems like just a few paragraphs are dedictated to explaining what it is.
I also thought the ending could have used another 20 or so pages. We wait soooo long to finally figure out all the answers to our questions, and then feel a little short changed. Now don't get me wrong, the book was great, and I did like how it ended, I just wish it was explained a little more. Maybe the author is planning on writing a series to this book? If so, that would be fine by me! I'd go out and buy it.
So for your murder/mystery fans out there, this is one you don't want to miss. It is just enough out of the ordinary to make it worth the trip to go out and buy!

AND THE WINNER IS!!!!!!!!

allrighty! time is up and it's time to choose a winner!!!!

I'd like to congratulate the winner of my first ever book give away......drum roll please.....WINDYCINDY!!!!!

Congrats!! I"ll be contacting the author and will have him send you the book directly! I hope you enjoy the book and I hope after you are done reading it you will visit my blog again and let me know what you liked about it! :-)

STILL A LITTLE MORE TIME

Due to the fact that i'm at work all day today, the free book contest will not be ending this morning, but instead will be ending this evening! Make sure you send me a message! You don't have much time! Good luck :-)

huffin and puffin it at the gym

okay so usually i blog on here about books i read, but we're gonna step outside the box for a minute. i just got back from the gym and daaaamn I'm tired. i could easily shower, then curl into bed and sleep the rest of the day away. i thought working out was supposed to give you all this extra energy and boost your day! well I'm calling their bluff cuz i think that's buulllllll crapppp.

i also blame the gym on why I'm not posting as many book blurps on here as i should. i work out to stay healthy, but then it makes me tired, so my creativity gets sapped in the process. it's a lose lose situation here folks!

okay, off to the shower, then I'll get some food so try and steal back some of that energy that the gym gods have so rudely taken..i may even post another book on here today!

don't forget about the contest for the book "An Embarrassment of Riches"!!! I'll be announcing the winner tomorrow :-) we've already got some great entries!

STILL ALICE-LISA GENOVA

First off, don't forget about the free contest book giveaway that I posted in my last entry. The winner will be announced FRIDAY FRIDAY FRIDAY so you don't have much time to enter! :-)

This next book that I read was truly a sobering book. I did a review on it almost a month ago now. If you are interested in that, go to www.frontstreetreviews.com to check it out. As I mentioned in my review, this is the type of book, in my opinion, that would not be appropriate for people who have loved ones that have Alzheimer's disease. This book would just depress the crap out of you.

Alice is a woman who is in her early 50's. She is bright, intelligent, works as a prominent college, travels, wrote a book, teaches, etc. Her and her equally smart husband have three children together, ranging from college age to 30ish. Alice starts to realize that she is forgetting things more often, getting lost in places that she usually knows like the back of her hand, missing flights because she forget she had a plane to catch, etc. This leads her to eventually go to the doctor, who in turn runs a bunch of tests and confirms that she has Early on set Alzheimer's disease. This devastates her and her family.

I think you all can see where this story is leading. She declines, more and more. People with Early on set Alzheimer's decline more quickly than someone who gets it later in their life. In less than two years Alice doesn't even recognize her husband or children.

I felt so depressed and helpless and scared after reading this book. I was depressed because I cannot believe that we haven't found a cure for this terrible disease. I felt helpless because I cannot imagine having a loved one go through this and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it but sit around and wait for them to forget who you are. And I felt scared because I can think of nothing worse but to one day lose your mind like that. I would rather die. There is no quality of life if you don't know anyone around you or can't remember what you had for breakfast.

I think for someone who is looking for more information on the disease, this would be a good story to read. The other reason is simply for the fact that up to three dollars from the purchase of this book goes to the Alzheimer's Association. Every little bit helps!

Again, I loved the book, loved the characters, but damn it sobered me up.
If anyone out there is interested in reading it, or has read it, give me a shout out! I'd love to hear what you think!

WIN A FREE BOOK

Ladies and Gents!!! For those of you who like getting things for free (who the heck doesn't), there is a contest that my editor at http://www.frontstreetreviews.com/ is holding for this book that I just wrote a review for. The book is called "An Embarrassment of Riches", Gerald Hansen. This author was generous enough to be willing to give away five copies. front street will be giving away 4 of them, but I get the privilege of giving away one of them!

The book is set in Northern Ireland and is in very thick Derry Dialect. So yea, it is little hard to understand at first, but you find yourself easily understanding it after 10-15 pages. It's dark comedy. To put it in a quick nut shell it's about a woman who wins the Irish lottery and how she spends most of it on material things and how her family will stop at nothing to try and milk her for it, thinking she owes it to them. It's hilarious! Read more at www.frontstreetreviews.com . My review of it was just posted so you'll find it right on the main page.

HOW DO YOU WIN????

All you have to do is write me a comment here on my blog and give me a shout out telling me that you want this book! Leave me your email address and if you win I will contact you for your mailing address. Don't post your mailing address on the site because then everyone will see it. If you want more of a description of the book, go the front street.com and read my review!

Lastly, if you want to try and win one of the four copies at front street, just click on the contest link and follow the directions. it's easy as pie! This is a book you'll read again and again and it will stick out among the rest. Gerald Hansen is one talented man with a great sense of humor.

Let the blog comments roll! :-) I'll be announcing the winner on Friday! Good luck!

Willie's Dad-Stanley Williams

Again, it's been forever since I've posted...I've been in Florida, my Grandpop has been sick, life is in full swing! alas.

I think I've missed a few in between, but the next book I read and did a review for was called "Willie's Dad", by Stanley Williams. This is a childrens book. As always, my full review of it is at www.frontstreetreviews.com if you are interested! But by reading this, you get my uncensored opinion here! muahahah. just kidding. well, not really.

As I said in my review, this book is an innappropriate subject matter for children. In my opinion. i don't want to be harsh, and I hate giving out criticism to authors who work so damn hard on their books, but hey, I'm a reviewer, it's what i must do; respectfully.

I was watching CSPAN yesterday and it had Steven King, his wife Tabitha and there kid Owen (I think it was there kid!). A question they were asked was about what they think of criticism to their book. Suprisingly, Steven King stated that he HATED it when reviewers criticised his book. He said that it hurt, made him feel like crap, etc. It really put things into perspective. At the same time though, how are you gonna learn and be able to make your novels the best they can be without an honest review?

Back to the book! This short childrens book is about a young child who's father is in jail. We're not told why, but we are told that it is for a looooong time. This child visits his father in jail with his mother and her boyfriend. The father hugs the kid and tells him thathe loves him and doesn't want him to make the same mistakes he did, and that he wants this new man (mom's boyfriend), to be his new father. Then he walks away. Mom gets married to this new man. End of story.

Now I understand Stanley Williams' point about how some kids go through the situation of their father being in jail, but I think that maybe this should have been geared towards kids in like 5th-6th grade. a young, young child in my opinion will not understand this, and this book will definitly not put a smile on their young, innocent face. Books are meant to be read and enjoyed, not to sober you up and make you sad (this is for kids i'm talking).

So I have to give lots of kudos to Stanley Williams for taking this step, and I think he does have potential, and his writing isn't all that bad, but the subject matter is just way too innapropriate. I would never let my children read a book like that.

What do you think? would you read this to your children?

The Wentworths-Katie Arnoldi

hmmm what to say about this book....well, the word AMAZING comes to mind. Let me set this up for you as simple as I can. There's a rich family, you get inside of all of their heads, they are snobby, in denial about the outside world, they all have MAJOR faults, they don't accept outsiders, and then something huge and tragic happens in their little bubble and it kind of wakes them up and taps them in with the rest of the world. End of story.

For those of us who dislike rich people (and yes, I do, and it's probably because I'm jealous), you'll love this book. It's halrious and it almost makes you happy to be poor because you ever want to be like them; not for all the money in the world.

The mother is an anorexic lady who knows her husband is cheating on her with basically every woman under the age of 25 but chooses to close her eyes to it. Her youngest son is as gay as gay can get and instead she chooses to believe he's retarded so he can't help himself.

The father is big and fat and probably going to drop dead of a heart attack any time. He sleeps with young pretty little things and buys them lots of things to keep them happy.

The oldest son is a sadist and dates women that look only like his mother (uhhh gross) and he loves to spank them and to dabble in bondage. He is an ass hole.

The middle child is just like her mother. They even share clothing. She has a pill popping problem but is in denial about that. Her 15 year old daughter is a coke addict, and her little boy is a clepto.

The youngest kid is gay. gay gay gay. But everyone in the family doesn't see it. He is the only one in the family who is half normal. He knows he's gay, he knows they pretend not to see, he knows he does drugs to get away from his utterly fucked up family. He knows they are in denial about everything. He's in his 30's and lives with his parents still. sad.

the rest of my review is at www.frontstreetreviews.com if you want to check it out. this was a great book. it really makes you think that your problems and flaws really arn't that bad!

In the Shadow of the Glacier- Vicki Delany

I've posted about a few mystery books on here, but this one is by far the best! if you walk away agreeing to read any of these mystery books, this is the one to seek out! not to say the other's are great, but this one outshines them!
The difference with this story is that I feel as though the author allows you to really really connect with the characters, so you actually really care what happens to them. I found myself feeling what they were feeling. I felt frustrated when Molly Smith, a police officer who is helping on the investigation of who killed a man in her town, can't find a lead to the murder. My heart goes out to her friend who gets brutally attacked by her stalker. I feel elated when they finally catch the psycho behind all of this.
This story is set up in a small town in British Columbia, Tralfalgar, to be exact. Everyone there knows everyone and they all basically grew up together, so it's a big shock when someone winds up dead.
My review is much more detailed so check it out at www.frontstreetreviews.com!

Marathon Murders- Chester D. Campbell

This book, as you can tell by the title, was a mystery novel. It was the fourth in the series, so the characters are main characters, which are the two PI's (private investigators) are already introducted many times before this book. The book thing is, that you don't have to read the first three to understand the book. The author does a nice job at re-introducing us to Greg McKenzie and his wife.
at first i didn't think I was going to like this story because it seemed a bit slow, but I really got into it and found that the ending had a nice twist. It's set up as a typical mystery story; someone goes missing, you find out they are dead, a few more people die, you look for clues, you have a few suspects, then it ends up being someone you really didnt suspect. Chester Campbell does a good job at staying on track and giving good information, without going overboard with too much detail.

if you like mystery's, then you'll enjoy this story.
to see my full review, check out http://www.frontstreet.com/

Generation NeXt Marriage- Tricia Goyer

Well this is yet another marriage book that I read and reviewed. I don't have all that much to say about it. The things that stood out for me in comparison to other marriage books that I read was Tricia Goyers set up of the book. She broke her chapters up into topics she wanted to cover about marriage, gave her blip, but the different part was that all throughout she put what "real" people thought about that certain topic. There were people that she actually went out and interviewed and got their opinion on. I really liked that. So not only are we getting the author's view point, but we are also getting what random people across the country think about certain topics on marriage; what works, what doesn't, etc.

Since I havn't been married even quite a year yet, I'm not yet having some of the problems that long time married couples have. I'm taking a lot of the advice from these books and storing some of the information in my wee little brain until there comes a time when I may need to pull it out and use it. I even talk about some of it with my husband just to get an idea on what he thinks about it.

To see my full review on this book, and more detailed examples of what was in the book, go to www.frontstreetreviews.com to read it!

sorry!

Just a quick note! i've been sick recently so I've been wayyy behind on this site! I have five really great books to add on here and will start posting them tomorrow! two of them I need to wait on because they have not been posted at frontstreet.com yet, but three of them i'll be putting up here tomorrow!

<3 ashley

pep talk to all you blog readers

okay! I'm gonna give it to you straight! *rolls up pant legs and bends at the waist with hands on legs* in order for this blog thing to work, i need feedback! tell me i suck at writing, tell me you don't agree with my ideas, tell me you went out and read what i suggested, tell me what the weather is like in your town! tell me if you pick your nose or not! SAY SOMETHING!

There is great potential here people! *points to figures written on chalk board* If subject A (that's me) makes a move (writes a post), then subject B (all you wonderful blog readers) need to intercept the pass and run with it! (respond to what i write! talk about anything!). with that game plan you will have a great victory!

can I get a G-O B-O-O-K-T-O-P-I-A!!!!

Phew! *wipes brow* lets make magic people!