Soar with Angels (Angels Fall First, Book1) by Nathan Squiers

It's been a long time since I've had the opportunity to review a book from the Bard. Far too long in my opinion. Little did I know the emotional roller coaster I was signing on for. 

There are twists and turns which are typical of anything Squiers sets his pen to. But when those highly anticipated twists and turns make their appearance, I found more branching off the original. What?! Huh! So I back-tracked a few pages for clarity (that's my story and I'm sticking to it.) and reread the passage. Where in the world does he come up with this stuff? 

I was thrilled to see the characters from Megan J Parkers books that complimentded the original Crimson Shadow series. Serena Vailean is definitely, and without a doubt, an absolute character, albeit overly fond of inserting her favorite swear word in as many places as possible. 

The story opens Serena yelling at Zane about Gergori's bedtime being two hours ago on the eve of his 2nd birthday. It made me laugh, bringing up memories of my own son at that age. I'm sure parents world-wide will also get a laugh from the antics of father and son.

Fast forward a few years to watch Gregori and his girlfriend graduating from the school founded by his idol (it can only be one person) and stepping into their dream jobs. Serena is tormented by a recurring nightmare that she can't remember upon waking. 

The Xander Stryker features large in this new series, complete with a wife and child (a daughter to be exact) of his own. We learn that in the timeline of the last of the Crimson Shadow series to this first of a following series, something has changed Xander. Was the change for good? or ill? I leave that up to you.  

Squires has held true to his calling and once again proven himself worthy of the title Bard. I thought when I finished reading the last installment of the Crimson Shadow series that I had seen the best Squiers could possibly produce. I was difinitely wrong. The cast of characters are older with one or more children, taking on concerns relative to our own world. And he does it with finesse and a deft hand. He presents a seamless blending of characters from both his Crimson Shadow books and those of his wife, Megan J Parker (Squiers).

Newly released this past February, I have faith that this will place is the top 100 for its genre. The cast of characters are fully believable for the worldscape that been created for them, and true to themselves as they appeared in previous books. "Dad bod" is a thing, Xander has changed due events after the last series ended and prior to this one. (What? You thought I'd tell you what happened?) 

If you fell in love with the CS series, you'll love this new one. Once again, I have to give Squiers a full 5 stars. This book is available on Amazon.

Welcome to my world!

Hi everyone! It seems like I've been reading my entire life. The original version of Bambi, written long before Walt Disney and Golden Books came along with their seriously condensed versions. Gone with the Wind was consumed in a week when I was 15. Many times I was told to "put that book down and go outside!" Or got caught reading instead of doing homework. Later I discovered I loved writing as much as reading. Now I combine my two passions and hopefully, help these authors find more readers.

I've been writing book reviews since 2005. Some years later, I decided I needed a "home" for them. Here is where I pay tribute to, and recognize, Indie authors for their work and the worlds they create for us to enjoy and escape into. I'm always on the lookout for a new author to read and review. Their work is sometimes offered free and frequently for less than major names signed to publishing houses. Some of the reviews that follow are books offered free for an honest review. Others I bought.

I read both well-known and Indie authors. I have found some absolutely amazing books by Indies for free or at a very small price. Writing reviews is my way of saying thank you for offering great stories at a price anyone can afford.

Take a look around. Read a review or two. Who knows? You may find a new author for your next read! 

Another tidbit about me totally unrelated to reviews - I collect memes and quotes from the Internet. They are quite likely to pop up here as the mood strikes.

Part 1, Mad Dogma (Without a Leash) by Nathan Squiers

Squiers has once again proven himself worthy of the title of Bard. No one-trick-pony, he has created a universe as different as one could possibly be from the world of the Crimson Shadow. 

Here we follow an incredibly hard to kill character in a post-apocalyptic world. The story begins in a desert of glass - shards both large and small, remnants of the glass mountains and trees that were worn down over the years since the world as everyone knew it went belly up. Not just one god, many had a gleeful hand in destroying the planet and most of what lived on it. 

Now, I consider myself a loner. I prefer dogs to people any day of the week. Our protagonist is also a loner, but unlike me, he takes offense when bothered, mostly because people are trying to kill him. Thulu isn't exactly impossible to kill, he just doesn't stay dead. It takes an incredible amount of effort for short-term results. Between the time it takes for the first effort to be made and the last, which does the job, Thulu manages to take out everyone stupid enough to accept the job of trying to put an end to him. Once he gets over the fact that he's been killed again, he has a cozy chat with a god. At some point, he wakes back up in the state that killed him. Most, if not all, of his fatal injuries have healed. 

Squiers signature level of sarcasm is present throughout. That has been one of the things I love about his work. The protagonist takes it a bit (okay, a lot) further and spices up his sarcasm with liberal levels of creative speaking. Thulu is unabashedly unashamed to treat man and gods to his completely unvarnished opinion on everything. And before you think of saying you aren't interested, think twice before saying something he might take offense to. 

The world as seen through Thulu's eyes is dismal. Yet the most redeeming thing, in my opinion, is his ability to see how long any given person he looks at has left to live. It's this ability that kept me reading. And with continued reading I wanted to know why he could see another person's life span.

As always, Squiers doesn't disappoint. Yes, there's language that could make a sailor blush, probably even fall mute at the creative and prolific use of such language. However I don't feel it's used as a way to lengthen the story. Thulu uses such language in much the same way others might say, 'well shoot.'

If you've followed Squiers at all, then you already know how detailed oriented he is at building a world. This one is no different. You won't regret stepping into another universe from the Bard, Nathan Squiers.

5 stars

Dragon's Gap: Set Includes Stories 6-7 Plus A Christmas Surprise by L.M. Lacee

 The stories, while engaging and interesting, are in dire need of editing. Some people don't mind spending money on books that read like they are still a work-in-progress. I'm not one of them. Unfortunately, I bought the entire series based on the blurb for the first book in the series. Lesson learned. I have never read any book that was published in this condition. Since I did purchase the entire series, I will be writing reviews of each one. And just in case she petitions Goodreads to take down my reviews, they will still exist on my blog.

Because of the egregious number of errors that follow from one book into the next, I will no longer be buying entire series sight unseen, based on a blurb, regardless how interesting it sounds. She has my money, kudos to her.

As I've said in previous reviews of this series, I believe her fan base deserves better than a book rushed through with no attention paid to the quality of the finished product - that includes editing. In spite of being an editor myself, I would refuse to take on this author for her lack of professionalism in the face of a review she objects to. I still firmly believe each book I've read so far should be removed from Amazon and any other online bookseller she uses until such time as she finds an editor willing to work with her.

She has several 5-star reviews, many that mention the numerous errors. There are also several reviews on Amazon from people who found the errors too distracting to continue reading the book. Just know that if you write a negative review, you may very well be subjected to hate email and labeled a troll.

Due to the complete lack of editing prior to publishing, I can only give this collection 1 star.

The Dragon's Gap Series: Books 1-3 by L.M. Lacee

Reads like a work-in-progress The story being told is interesting. The characters show growth from one book to the next. The cover art accurately reflects the story inside. However, the mechanical errors (missed or incorrect punctuation, missing words, incorrect word choices) lead me to believe the author used word processing software and relied on that rather than proper editing and proofreading.  I noted each problem in my e-reader. By the end of this three book omnibus, I had marked over 250 problems.  That does not take into account the numerous (to my mind, egregious) errors in punctuation. Every page is rife with missing punctuation creating run-on sentences,  That being the case, it is my opinion that this is still a work-in-progress and should be removed from online booksellers until such time as the above problems have been addressed.  Had the author obtained proper editing for this book, I would have gladly given it at least three stars. I cannot in good conscience recommend that anyone spend money to purchase this set until the numerous errors have been addressed. I will not be spending money on the next omnibus in this series until Amazon notifies me there is an update for this set. I am giving this book only 1 star.

Revealing Hope (Stealing Light Trilogy Book 3) by Julie Cassar

Barely into this story and I had an epiphany. Cash questions CeeCee's guardian angel about why she runs. To him it seems a mindlessly stupid activity. All he needed to understand why she ran was for Aaron to explain things in different words. "... running was a form of prayer and meditation. It was a cadence; the physical body beating in tempo with the spiritual soul."

Side-stepping for a second - I've had many moments where I felt out of sync with myself and the world around me. Going for a walk helped put things right. For my boss it's running. And Cassar absolutely nailed it. There's a rightness to running that doesn't come from any other activity. And back to my opinion on this book . . .

You know, when you read enough of an author's work you start thinking you know what to expect. (You're familiar with what happens when you 'assume' right?) Yeah I assumed I knew what to expect. The curves kept coming from pretty much every direction. Who was CeeCee, really? And Cash. He would have torn off his wings again to save her. But he struggles to live with the consequences for the rest of his now human life. His new mortal status rather puts a wrench in things. Instead of being a guarding angel, he now has one of his own.

The questions that have followed us through the first two books are answered in typical Cassar style - with elegance, poignancy, and grace. And the occasional 1-2 punch. We learned in Chasing Darkness who is really after CeeCee. When the final battle comes there's a HUGE surprise. The book wouldn't have been successful without this twist. The entire book is packed with action, heart, and unexpected curveballs.

I found Revealing Hope to be a riveting read. The characters continued to grow throughout the trilogy. Although I purchased the eBook version, I fully intend to get the print as well. (I want them signed by the author.) Once again, Cassar has given her readers an engrossing, hold-on-to-your-seats exciting, emotionally captivating read. The editing is spot on. And of course I stayed up too late at night before a 6a shift reading.

5-stars for another amazing story! You go girl!

Chasing Darkness (Stealing Light Trilogy Book 2) by Julie Cassar

There are plenty of books written about the fight between good and evil. Pick up any book that involves angels or nephilim and you will likely be reading about a war with humans caught in the middle. Cassar has put a somewhat different spin on it which I truly appreciate. Lucifer is, so far, staying out of things but how much longer will that last?

This book opens where the last one left off. One of the things that stands out for me is the tact and care with which she handles intimate events. Cassar nailed that down with her final Ruby Blue book, Forever Kansas. She is proof you can show intimacy without being explicit. Adult readers will understand what is happening. I have so much respect for an author who understands you don't need to bludgeon readers with sexually explicit scenes. I'm a Cassar fan for life.

Cassar has exceeded herself with this book. The pull to continue reading is so much stronger than I felt from Stealing Light. She honed her craft with her Ruby Blue series. This book proves she is only becoming a stronger writer. And dare I say it - showing all the signs of becoming a bard, those storytellers of olde who captivated their audiences with voice alone.

In all the books I've reviewed, I've only given that title to one author. He had to work hard for it, as does Cassar. As with him, I see the time coming when I must bow down and give her her due - the mantle of Bard. You're not quite there yet, Julie. But I see it coming.

I'm sure you've heard the phrase: buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy ride." Well, buckle up. It won't be a bumpy ride, but there is no slowing down in this book. I hear authors all the time saying that you can't catch every error. Guess what folks? It's a load of malarky. This book is perfectly edited. Yes, you heard me. Perfectly edited. No mistakes. Easy to do? No. But a proper collaboration between author, beta readers, and an excellent editor prove this can be done. So, many kudos to everyone who made this possible.

Was it an un-put-downable book? Very nearly. I fell asleep reading it. I woke up to find my phone had fallen to the bed and ended up under my shoulder. Um, not a good thing. iPhones are NOT cheap.

For all of the above reasons, I'm very happy to say I'm giving this book 5 stars. Way to go Julie.

Stealing Light (Stealing Light Trilogy Book 1) by Julie Cassar

The title doesn't say anything about what lies between the covers. What we get is a more mature story from the author of the Ruby Blue series. Cassar deftly weaves together a tale of tragedy, guardian angels, a forbidden love, a fallen angel, and the undecided darkness. Quite the cast of characters she's bringing us.

CeeCee has had a rough go of things ever since her parents died in a car accident. Since then, her older brother has raised her. Something happens that enables CeeCee to see more of the world around her than she ever thought was possible. What she now sees has always been there - and now she knows how dangerous some of it can be.

What Cassar has brought that is new to the reader is the Light within each of us. Most of us have heard someone described as "shining bright as a beacon," or having an "inner light" that makes everything seem less dreary or drab, or maybe brightens up someone else's day. CeeCee's Light is brighter than anything the angels have ever seen. That very brightness makes her look oh so tasty to some dangerous folk.

This is her first foray into the New Adult genre and I would have to say it's every bit as compelling as her first series. I wasn't drawn in by anything but her name on the cover. Not the title, the cover art, not the blurb. Her world building is solid. The characters are believable. The ending knocks it out of the park. A truism given in the form of a riddle ultimately makes the book.

There were a few errors, not many, but they made for a little hiccup in reading. I was offered the book free for an honest review. However, knowing that Amazon has a habit of removing reviews that aren't verified purchases, I went ahead and bought the first two books in the series. I'm happy I did. Stealing Light kept me up a bit later than I should have been a couple times. Eh, who needs sleep anyway?

I'm giving this book 4 stars. It wasn't "un-put-downable," but it was close. Pick up your copy at your favorite bookseller.

Accepting the Moon: Prequell for the Moonrising Series by K.S. Haigwood, Narrated by Pyper Down

There is something of a sense of anticipation when an author gives the same attention to her choice of narrator as the printed word. This is her third audiobook I've listened to. So far, each choice she has made in narrators has only enhanced my enjoyment of her work. Pyper Down hit ever inflection, every emotion perfectly. I found her vocalization of the male characters remarkable in that each one was easily identifiable. To my mind women narrating male parts, as well as men narrating for female parts can be tricky. You either nail it or you don't. Pyper Down definitely nailed it.

As with her written works, Haigwood's audiobooks are definitely worth picking up. The only way she could have put out a better audiobook was to have hired a full cast voice ensemble. Five stars to both author and narrator.

Becoming Charlie: Part 2 by Kristie Haigwood, Audiobook narrated by Melissa Moran

Melissa Moran has nailed it again. Her vocal changes hit in every place I do in my mind when reading. It was pure joy to close my eyes and listen to one of my favorite Haigwood stories. I have to say 'one of' because each one is better than the one before. I would be hard put to choose one book as a favorite, but a series? Charlie and Sean's stories are the current choice.

So many subjects are covered in this book (PTSD, war injury, emotional manipulation, and more) that reading was both enthralling and at times, painful. I grew up during the VietNam war and clearly remember news casts showing rows of flag-draped caskets coming off the planes. I remember seeing the dark green car pulling up across the street and someone's mother collapsing. That Charlie's dad was injured and not killed was still traumatic. Sgt Mason's PTSD was voiced with a deftness that has to be heard to be appreciated.

When Charlie is accidentally injured as a direct result of her father's PTSD, Moran had me in tears. I've read the book; I know what's coming. That didn't help. My chest grew tight. I clenched my fist and rode it out.

I enjoyed this audio book so much I listened twice before finally writing the review. Moran gives you everything you could want in a narrator. It goes without saying that Kristie Haigwood does the same as an author.

Great work ladies! 5 stars.

Andromeda's Reign: Moonrising, Book 2 by Kristie Haigwood, Audiobook narrated by B.D. McMonnies

One of my favorite parts is also a section I consider the best narrated - Ace telling Andra about losing his fiancée to Justin. The pain and anger are perfectly expressed by the narrator. I believe that extremely emotional scenes are this narrator's strength. Each one is precisely conveyed leaving no doubt how the character feels.

Haigwood seems to have a knack for selecting the best people to narrate her novels. I've been a fan of hers from the first page of the first book I read of hers.

A narrator can make or break an audiobook. McMonnies does justice to a fantastic story. There were moments when I felt the vocal distinction between characters was not as good as it could have been, but overall I thought he did a wonderful job. He has a voice that makes you want to put down everything you are doing, close your eyes, and get lost in the story. He's not someone you should listen to while doing other things. This is your 'take a break' audiobook. Grab your beverage of choice, get comfy, and fall away into Ace and Andromeda's story.

5 stars.

Becoming Charlie: Part 1 by Kristie Haigwood, Audiobook narrated by Melissa Moran

This is the second audiobook I've ever listened to and I'm so happy I did. If you've ever browsed through the "Books I've Reviewed" tab, you'll notice quite a few by Kristie Haigwood. I love her. I have all her books on Kindle and print editions signed by her. I love everything she's done.

Now, I don't know about you, but when I read, I hear the story in my head. The characters have their own individual voices and I imagine what they look like. Given that, I've been hesitant to listen to well-loved stories being narrated. Knowing the quality of Kristie's work, I decided one of her books would be a good place to listen to a book for the first time in over 50 years. The previous story was on LP - Tale Spinners for Children: Cinderella. It was magical. These days, that album would be considered an audio drama since it had a full cast rather than a single narrator.

Flash forward to today, I was again to experience the magic of an audiobook. Once I settled into the story and became familiar with the narrator, I was transported to Charlie's world. Melissa skillfully wove new life into a beloved story, creating unique voices for each character.  It wasn't long before I moved beyond knowing a woman was narrating to being fully immersed in the experience. I moved through the day carrying my phone with me, taking care of daily chores while listening to the story. I cried again at the same points at which I cried when I read the book. It didn't matter since I wasn't trying to read through my tears.

Melissa was the perfect choice for narrating Charlie's story. She gave the same emotions I did to each part when I originally read the story. I didn't just imagine Charlie's fear when she was being bullied at the beginning, Melissa made me feel her fear. She expertly vocalized Sean's disappointment that Charlie listened to the girls saying he was gay, and his desperation when she believed he repeated her secret about not remembering her brother.

The joy I found listening to Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty on LP has been reborn with this experience. If you love stories, but don't feel you have time to sit down and read one, by all means get the audiobook. And if you're already a Haigwood fan, you can't do any better than start with one of hers. You won't be disappointed.

For all of the above reasons, I'm giving this story 5 stars.

Becoming Charlie: Part 2 by Kristie Haigwood

What do you say about an author that consistently puts out amazing books? The "Becoming" series is her first foray into the Young Adult genre. I thought she'd pulled out all the stops on "Becoming Charlie: Part 1." Boy was I wrong. So very wrong.

Part 2 picks up at the end of the school year with Charlie arriving at Sean's father's house for the weekend. The tension between Sean and his father reaches from the page to ensnare the reader, willing or not. His feelings regarding his stepmother are quickly made apparent.

Haigwood's deft handling of her characters is evident from the beginning. There is more of reality in this series than in any of her other stories to date. She skillfully weaves the drama that is high school into a story that is impossible to put down. Haigwood was not my introduction to the YA genre, but she is far and away my favorite.

The story may be fiction, but what her characters experience accurately reflects what the modern teenager deals with in high school - the loner geek, the hot sports star boy, the snooty clique that puts down everyone else as beneath them, the unexpectedly loyal goth girl all feature large in Charlie's life. As the story progresses, Charlie starts having dreams that leave her confused. Are they memories, or is her subconscious just messing with her? There are revelations that erode her trust that must be worked through. The summer goes by far too quickly and everyone is back in school

Coming home from school one day with Sean, Charlie sees a black sedan in her driveway with a US Army emblem on the door. She runs screaming to the house. My father served during the Bay of Pigs. As a military daughter, I was too young to know the fear my mother felt every time my father was called to grab his go-bag from beside the door and jump in the truck to go to the airfield. As a veteran myself, I've seen first hand how absolutely terrifying it is to have that car pull up to someone's home. I gave thanks that it never pulled up to my home. It never brings good news.

Haigwood inserts a "Message from the author" for readers asking how she could "do that" to characters they fell in love with. And she offers a solid answer. Life happens and it's not all roses and champagne. She also provides links at the end of the book for hotlines and charities that offer help. 

Although only her second YA book, there is no aspect of teenagers' life in high school that she fails to touch upon. She does it all with respect for the situation and the reader. This book can absolutely be read by everyone from kids as young as junior high (or middle school if you prefer) to grandparents.

To date, I've only seen one other author capable of taking me through the entire gamut of emotions in one book. I was into his third book before I felt he was worthy of the title of Bard. I have read every book Haigwood has written, including one she never published, each one a masterpiece. With this series she has placed herself in rarified company with this second installment of her "Becoming" series. I felt book one was solid gold. This one continues her gold streak.

For her deft handling of sometimes painful, sometimes sensitive topics, continuing development of believable and relatable characters, she gets 5 stars from me. She's earned every single one.

Crimson Shadow: New World Order (Volume 7) by Nathan Squiers

What do you say about the end of a series you've come to love? To know when that last page is turned there won't be another that follows it? I have read every book Squiers has written about Xander Stryker and the world in which he lives. Every book in Xander's world written by his wife, Megan J Parker-Squiers. And every book they have co-authored together.

From the very beginning these books were meticulous in detail. An entire world was developed before the first word was written. An entire back history created before the first page was published. I would come to recognize that attention to detail was Squiers' trademark.

Through each successive book I was captured anew, enthralled, sucked in, and had my mind blown. I've burst into unexpected laughter, felt lost, and cried. There is no corner to which you can retreat when reading his work. You are his for the duration of the book and he doesn't let go.

I have known for some time that Squiers had in mind only a certain number of books for Xander and company. However, it was always "someday," but not today. "Down the road," but not today. "Someday" has arrived and "down the road" has come to an end. This is it and the reader in me that is so addicted to this series hurts.

Let me just diverge here for a moment so you understand what I am saying. I am a bibliophile. I have over 700 books in print, and over 6000 Kindle and Nook books. I've read them all. I love to read. So when I make space on my shelves for a (print) series, it has to be pretty darned special. As you can imagine, with that many books, I know a well-written one when I get it.

Back to the subject at hand. In this latest, and last, venture into the world of Xander Stryker, his wife, cohorts, friends, and of course his enemies, any residual questions you may have had are answered. However, before you get those answers, Xander gets a world class beating, breaks the biggest taboo of the Mythos world... on t.v. no less, and disappears. Wait! What!?!? Yup. Squiers doing what only he can. He's not only throwing curveballs, his curveballs have curveballs.

I first named Squiers a bard when I reviewed "Crimson Shadow: Forbidden Dance" for his ability to weave a story, and his skill at making us feel what he wants, when he wants. That was April 2014. He has come so much farther since then, grown so much more with each book that, were we living in the times of the ancient bards, he would be the chiefest among them.

Although "New World Order" has come to an end, Xander and his worldscape will continue on because they are a treasured part of my library. Nathan Squiers has shared a bit with me of what he plans to do next and I anxiously await the question, "will you review it?" But I will cherish this series most because they introduced me to Nathan and Megan Squiers and the world they created for Xander Stryker.

This is a somewhat emotional review, but I truly fell in love with this series. Subtle life lessons were offered under the guise of prose. Challenges have been faced and either passed or failed. But is it a fail if you learn the lesson the challenge offered? So as a reader of these books, and this one as the last offering for the series, I'm urging you to add this one to your collection. Take one last wild ride with the Stryker gang. You won't regret it.

An unparalleled author, exceedingly good at his craft. A true Bard in these modern times. For all of the above reasons, I'm giving this 5 stars. You've earned every one Nathan.

Contrition (Faltering Souls Book 3) by Haven Cage

I purchased this book because I loved the first two so much, and am so happy I did. Remember where we were at the end of book 2? Contrition picks up right there. Rhett has escaped and taken over Nevaeh's body. It takes a while, but the angels do catch on. Satan is out for revenge and left a new guy (reluctantly) in charge of Hell. Nev's gifts are being used for all the wrong reasons by the absolute worst person that could have control of them.

It's really hard to predict where this story will go from one page to the next. I was taken on a full rollercoaster ride of emotions. I found myself at points trying to encourage some of my favorite characters and wanting to kick tail on others. Once the angels figure out who's controlling Nev's body it's game on. From there to the end of the book, just hold on tight to your seat because it doesn't slow down. I wasn't expecting the conclusion I read, but it was definitely the right one.

The depth of each character is richer with each book in the series. This is to be expected from any reasonably good author who is continually honing their craft. Haven Cage is more than reasonably good. All of her books are compelling, and Contrition is no different. I didn't want to put it down. But there comes a point when you have to give in. Sleep is required to function and reading when you're so tired that your vision blurs does not do justice to the story. I do see myself rereading this trilogy again at some point, possibly even purchasing the books in print.

There were two errors in the book, much fewer than I've seen in many books by Indie authors. But for those two, I would have happily given her five stars. As it is, I'm still happy giving her four stars. She definitely earned them. I can't wait to see what she has next for us.

This book is available on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

Craving Love & Death by Haven Cage

Oh boy, where to start... I took on this book because I've read and loved her "Faltering" books. She did warn me this one was nothing like that series. I had no idea how true this statement would turn out to be.

That our female lead, Vivienne, is troubled and survived a traumatic past is obvious immediately. You open the book and she's drowning a man she just had sex with. As a waitress and sometimes nightclub singer, her sultry voice and beauty ensure men flock to her. Those she is attracted to enough to want to take to bed also have her wanting to fight that attraction because she knows the craving to kill him is inextricably interwoven with sexual desire.

Her killings haven't gone unnoticed by the Russian mob either. She has become hunted and is on the run with the man assigned to kill her for them. Unfortunately for him, she's also very attracted to him. Where it goes from here is for you to read.

This is a dark story, much darker than I generally read as it's not really my preference. I struggled with this book for this very reason. Cage is an excellent author. Her narrative is concise without being abrupt. Her characters have depth to them necessary for a quality read. This book could have been drawn from life. Everything felt quite real as I was reading, disturbingly real for my imagination. There's twists and turns aplenty to keep you riveted to the story.

It's obvious that the author has honed her craft. The editing left nothing at all to complain about. I found absolutely no errors in my reading. For these reasons alone this book deserves 5 stars. Did I like it? No. As I said, it's far too dark for me. I struggled to finish the book. For that, I would only give her 3 stars, which would not at all be fair for all the work she put into this story. I will ignore my posted rating scale by giving her 4 stars. Why? I believe there IS a market out there for this story. As I stated previously, the book is well-written and well-edited. So yes, in spite of not enjoying this book, I must in all fairness, give her 4 stars.

This book is currently only available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Becoming Charlie: Part 1 by Kristie Haigwood

As a first book in the YA genre, Haigwood has outdone herself. I have read every book she's put out so I know exactly what I'm saying here. I devoured every chapter as she posted it to Wattpad.com and had to go back multiple times to read everything. She addresses multiple societal concerns with a deft hand - bullying, body shaming, anger all receive her treatment in a way that leaves you hopeful.

This story is told from Charlie's point of view and in doing so, we learn a lot about being on the outside of school cliques. Haigwood doesn't waste any time at throwing Charlie to the high school wolves. They crudely and cruelly put down her under-developed body. One begins to grope her when her secret crush spectacularly comes to her rescue. Following him are the rest of the varsity baseball team and several faculty.

From this point on, Sean challenges Charlie's perception of herself. Both are keeping secrets from everyone but their families. You might be thinking, "How many twists and turns can a YA story take? I mean, really. These are teenagers!" Yet each new chapter posted on Wattpad was devoured within minutes of learning it was up.

I would never have guessed this genre could be so all engrossing. I should have known better because I know Haigwood's work. Silly me. This is more than an excellent read. "Becoming Charlie" offers gentle lessons on getting to know someone before judging them, on sticking up for someone who may not be able to do so for themselves. And does it all without preaching, without you realizing there's a lesson here. Without doing anything more than being a fantastic book.

"Becoming Charlie: Part 1" isn't due out until December 5th on Amazon. I've already told her I want a signed copy of the book. Yes, I love the story that much. Her characters are believable. The high school trauma of being on the "outside" is quite accurately portrayed. Although I wasn't invisible like Charlie, I was never part of any "in" group. I stayed on the edges.

Haigwood deserves 5 stars for this book and has them from me.

Moonlit Seduction by Megan J. Parker and Nathan Squiers

I seriously disliked short stories at one time. Intensely disliked. It was a long-lived dislike spanning most of my life. It all has to do with being a voracious reader and short stories being, well . . . short. I finish them so quickly I wonder why I even bothered. Then about three years ago, someone gave me a set of short stories to read and review. And I sort of changed my mind. Her shorts were actually really good! I was truly surprised anything that short could be worth reading.

Yes, I still prefer the tomes, something I can just sink into for hours if not days. Yet, there are still those pesky short stories. And sometimes, you just want something you can finish on your lunch break.

One recently came my way with a request, please would I review their book? Given who was doing the asking, there really was only one answer. Of course! And so began my love affair with yet another  book by the intrepid duo, Megan J. Parker and her husband Nathan Squiers. This one begins a new series (yay!) for them.

A vindictive witch feeling spurned because the man she wants is in love with another. In fact, his wife who also just happens to be pregnant with their first child. Yup, there's a curse, but not just on the man she wants for herself. Nope. Not just on the child in the womb. The witch's plans go much farther than that.

The craft Nathan perfected in his Crimson Shadow series is evident. And don't think I'm slighting Megan's talents either. Megan is an artist with words every bit as much as her husband. What makes this team so fantastic? When they collaborate, there's no telling where one left off and the other began. That is exactly the way it should be. I've long since been saying Nathan Squiers is a Bard. Megan has proven herself as gifted a Bard as well.

When authors as talented as these two put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), you know what comes out will be anything but boring. So what to do about stars, hmm? No matter how much I love their work, my rating standards are published. I must abide by my own words. Sadly, I did find three errors. But for those I'd have have slammed down 5 stars. Regretfully, I can only give them 4.

Regardless, you do want to get this book. Yes, it's a short read. And yes, the stinkers left a cliffhanger on the curse. But you can't go wrong with a book written by this dynamic husband and wife team.

Coming out soon on Kindle Unlimited.

In the Beginning: Charlie by Kristie Haigwood

I don't as a rule write about books that aren't finished and published, but I was sent a link to this story and have been hooked ever since. If I find a book I like, I tend to scoop up as many more by that author as I can afford, especially if there's a series. I can't help it. I just like to keep going until I reach the end. As far as I know, this is Haigwood's first venture in the YA (young adult) genre. I keep telling her she doesn't know how to write a bad story. Well, true to form, she hasn't yet.

This book is being fed to us a chapter at a time on Wattpad, a site where both professional and beginning authors share their work. When you're hooked on a story early on, one chapter at a time makes for an antsy, impatient reader. Haigwood has it covered though. Every addition keeps me glued. Who'd have thought I'd get sucked into reading, and RE-reading an unfinished book?!

So... Charlie is in high school and she's a geek. As in the "in" crowd ignores her until they need her help as a tutor. She's clumsy, awkward, and has a thing for the cutest jock in school. Sean is the jock in her dreams. They're both keeping secrets from each other and everyone else. In a classic "boy rescues girl" scene, the two get together. He's all calm, cool, and collected. She's all nerves, and can't figure out why he's helping her.

In a recent post on Facebook, Haigwood has let us know she's hoping to publish this story in about a month. In the Beginning: Charlie is the first of four books planned for this series. Each book will be written either from Charlie's point-of-view or from Sean's. You really do want to read this story. Haigwood never disappoints, even when it's one chapter at a time. Follow the link and you see what I mean. Hop on the Charlie train, you'll be glad you did.

In the Beginning: Charlie

Gods and Monsters by Nathan Squiers

Xander continues to work on his father's dream of building a clan of different mythos. Now the leader of the clan, even more weight and responsibility land on his shoulders. Praise and adulation sit uncomfortably on him, but deal with it he must. The mansion is rebuilt and already in use. The clan name still bring pain to my heart when I think about how it came to be chosen, but if I tell you that story, I would be giving you a spoiler from a previous book. In addition to being the head of his own clan, Xander has to deal with hero worship. Could his life be any more interesting? Dumb question when Nathan Squiers is the name is on the cover.

Something new is in the wind and it's brought to Xander's attention by an unexpected source... a quiet, unassuming auric with a serious case of (yup, you guessed it) hero worship. What she points out is disturbing to say the least. (I rather want to theatrically say, "something wicked this way comes.")

Some "unknowns" from other books are answered and new questions arise. And he does that thing we as readers tend to hate the most... he left us a cliff hanger! How could he do that to us

Just when you think an author has reach the pinnacle of their capability, they pull out something to surprise you. Nothing can be taken for granted when a book has Squiers' name on the cover. I was first introduced to the worldscape of the Crimson Shadow in Noir. His writing took me in. He made me feel what he was telling me on the pages, made me visualize the story every step of the way. With each successive book his prose only got better. With each book his ability to pull emotion from me grew stronger until finally, he threw me a left hook that reduced me to tears. Now I'm sitting on the edge of my seat going, What!?!

I know you're waiting for my rating, probably almost as much as he is (I've had the book a while). Once again Squiers proves he's earned the title of Bard in his chosen genre. Not sure I can find higher praise than that for this author. No errors (really... no errors), beautifully written, his characters continue to grow as he introduces new ones to us. There is nothing not to love about this author, this book, and indeed the entire series. What's left to say? Oh yeah, the stars... 5 of course!