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Tuesday, June 23, 2015

✰ Book Review ✰ ARMY RANGER SERIES by Tracey Cramer Kelly


RANGER'S LUCK
Author: Tracey Cramer-Kelly
Series: Army Ranger #1
~ SYNOPSIS ~
U.S. Army Ranger Cory Foster returns from his latest mission to find the ‘civilized’ world turned upside down. Trading in defending his country for protecting his sister, he’s just biding time until he can leave on his next mission. 

Dr. Madison Wright doesn’t date military men - or family members of her patients. But when a medical emergency introduces her to a tough-but-sensitive Army Ranger, she’s tempted to bend the rules despite the little voice inside her head. 

When a beaten and bloody Cory shows up on Maddy’s doorstep, she can’t turn him away. But their relationship is soon tested as Cory struggles with doubts about his future in the Rangers, and Maddy wonders if opening herself to loving a military man is a wise choice. 

This is Book One in the Army Rangers Series. It is a novella of under 15K words. There is one sexually explicit/erotic scene in this novella.


RANGER'S DESTINY
Author: Tracey Cramer-Kelly
Series: Army Ranger #2
~ SYNOPSIS ~
U.S. Army Ranger Chase Richards just wants to do the honorable thing. That’s pretty easy when he’s chasing bad guys, but harder when it comes to his best friend’s little sister. 

Ella Foster is off limits - and has been for three years. But when Chase agrees to help her in an emergency, he gets more than he bargained for - with Ella and her drug-dealing ex-boyfriend. Now he’s got to keep his hands off her - and his heart intact - or risk losing the respect of his best friend. 

Ella has been infatuated with Chase since the day her brother first introduced them. The handsome hero was her knight in shining armor when she needed rescuing, but he’s so far out of her league, she’s sure she can never have him. 

But when Ella’s ex crosses the line, Chase’s honor will be tested like never before… 


- Both books reviewed -

The moment I started reading Ranger's Luck, I was hooked. The opening scene intrigued me beyond belief and I loved seeing Cory's protective side right off the bat. Without even know who he was, I was already swooning for the guy.

An unfortunate but fateful incident brought Cory and Maddy together. Once they met, Cory could not get enough of her. But there was one problem. Maddy and Cory were both on the "no dating" lifestyle...for very valid reasons, of course. 

However, once again, life had a funny way of working out. Cory got himself into a medical emergency in which Maddy had to step up and care for him. She was hesitant at first, but she really couldn't say no. Not when his life - and career - depended on it.

Cue the steamy romance. Maddy and Cory couldn't help but connect and develop feelings for each other. The situation they were in, after all, made it ten times harder for them NOT to fall in love. You'll see once you read this.

Now, this was a very short novella, but that doesn't mean it lacked emotion or depth. There was enough drama and romance to keep me turning the pages! Also, the way it was written was a massive plus. Everything had this natural and smooth flow that allowed me to connect not only with the characters, but their story as well. If you're a fan of military romance, I would really recommend you pick this one up. It's a quick read you don't want to miss out on. To say I'm looking forward to Chase and Ella's story would be quite the understatement!
__

After reading Ranger's Luck, the first installment in the ARMY RANGER SERIES, I could not wait to start this one. Ranger's Destiny starts off in a scene we didn't quite see in book 1, but we 'knew' about it - when Chase and Brett pick up Cory after he had gotten hurt. And let me just say that I LOVED THAT! I felt like I got the whole picture now and made me feel even more invested in the general story line behind this series. I love these characters! The guys are all Army Strong but yet, easy to relate to.

Ella was very much off-limits. She was Cory's little sister and one of the secondary characters from book 1 whom I could not help but really like (and at times, feel sad for). Chase was Cory's best friend and he was always there for him, come hell or high water, he was there. So when he had to go and be there for Ella, he did not think twice. 

Boy was he in for a ride...

Ella didn't make it easy for him to "stay away" from her. Suffice it to say, he didn't stay away long! He couldn't. He'd fought it long enough.

When Ella's life is threatened (Rolando is still causing trouble), Chase goes into full-on protective mode. Cue my swooning! :)

Another wonderful and at times steamy quick read you should pick up if you're sucker for a guy in uniform. ;) Book 3 will follow Maddy and Cory's story and Book 4 will continue Ella and Chase's. This kind of serial is new for me, but I must say, I'm a fan of this style and this author!


Meet the author:Tracey Cramer-Kelly

Wounded veterans. Biker chicks. Famous people with secrets to hide.

These are the characters that tend to populate Tracey's writing. It's about their personal journey, and their transformation.

Tracey's writing draws from her experience as an Army Reserve paramedic as well as over 20 years of being a "biker chick" herself.

In addition to fiction, she also tries to keep one toe in the music world, contributing vocals to several albums as well as releasing her own covers. She has even been known to produce a video or two!

When she's not writing or running the family motorcycle accessories business, she enjoys hanging out with her husband and two young kids, especially in the great outdoors.

Her web site/blog can be found at http://www.TraceyCramerKelly.com.

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Thursday, June 11, 2015

✰ Book Review ✰ THE SEEKER SERIES by Amy Reece


THE SEEKER SERIES 
Author: Amy Reece
Publisher: LIMITLESS PUBLISHING
Genre: YA | Paranormal | Romance | Suspense 
~ BLURB ~
Ally Moran is psychic. She also may be the next Oracle, a powerful Seer descended from ancient Druids. She would like to be able to forget all that and just concentrate on making it through high school.

Jack Ruiz is 18 and still a junior in high school. He’s back on track after a few rough years, determined to keep his head down and graduate. 

The Seeker Series follows their adventures through high school and into college, as they help friends in trouble, solve cold cases, dodge stalkers and try to discover if Ally really is the next Oracle. They might just fall in love along the way.


SEEKER
Author: Amy Reece
Series: The Seeker Series, #1
Genre: YA | Paranormal | Romance | Suspense 
~ SYNOPSIS ~
Ally Moran has always just known about things—things she shouldn’t really be able to know… 

Suddenly when she starts having vivid visions about a former friend who is in desperate trouble, the adults in her life think she might hold the key to an ancient mystery. 

Jack Ruiz has a troubled past, but is trying to make a fresh start at a new high school… 

He just wants to keep his head down and graduate, hopefully before he turns 20. The last thing he needs is to get involved with a feisty redhead and her psychic visions. 

While Jack valiantly attempts to keep Ally at arm’s length, she is equally determined to be a part of his life. Who will win this battle of wills? 

More importantly… 

Can this unlikely couple work together to find answers to Ally’s visions before someone gets killed?

The Seeker is Book One is a Series





When I first started reading this book, I had no idea what to expect. Heck, I didn’t even know what the book was about or how many books were in the series. But boy, am I glad I signed up for this tour! I truly enjoyed SEEKER! The author’s writing style made me not only fall in love with the story line, but the characters as well. I had no problem whatsoever visualizing the scenes throughout the book. Everything – the characters, their problems, their lives, the dialogue – were truly brought to life and very realistic! I was right there with them.

In Seeker, we got introduced to Ally. She was a normal 17-year old in high school…or so she thought. You see, one day during class, she just about passed out while having a vision. She could not explain what she had seen in her head, but she knew she was no longer a “normal” teenager. Little did she know, her life was about to change in ways she could not even begin to imagine.

Through her new journey, (and quite the journey it was!) Ally was able to share her experiences, frustration, and fears with Jack, a very hot and protective friend. You see, Jack was older than Ally and had a past he was trying to stay away from, so while it was clear as day that they both were very much attracted to each other, Jack kept fighting his feelings.

Jack. OH, JACK. I think I fell in love with him from the very first moment he got introduced. The way he treated Ally was simply swoon-worthy! I was rooting for them to get together the whole, entire time, so imagine my excitement when it finally happened!!! I may have squealed and done a few happy dances, LOL!!

Seeker had a perfect combination of drama and suspense with a touch of romance. Ally’s journey was anything but boring, let me tell you! Overall, I truly did enjoy this book, but towards the end, I felt like it dragged a little. Other than that, I’ve got no complains about this first installment in The Seeker Series. If you’re a fan of YA Paranormal Romance, this is a series you need to start!! 
4.5 – 5 stars!






DREAMER
Author: Amy Reece
Series: The Seeker Series, #2
Genre: YA | Paranormal | Romance | Suspense 
~ SYNOPSIS ~
Meet Ally, a 17 year-old who also happens to be psychic. Oh, and she’s getting more psychic with every passing day, so much so that she’s been sent to Ireland to check in with the Seer Council to see what’s up with her freaky new powers.

Jack is her 19 year-old boyfriend, a former trouble-maker who is back on track and trying desperately to graduate. His plans did not include falling in love with psychic trouble-magnet.

Just last month they worked together to save a friend in deep trouble and ended up exposing a steroid ring at their school. Now there’s a new guy at school who seems just a little bit too interested in Ally for Jack’s liking. And why does Ally keep dreaming about a kidnapping? Last month seems like a cakewalk compared to this semester. Ally's trying to solve a mystery, but Jack is just trying to keep her alive.




 Holy cow, what an amazing sequel! This book follows Ally’s and Jacks story so I will HIGHLY recommend you read Seeker first.

When I started Dreamer, I had NO idea where the author would go with the story line. For a while there, I was VERY nervous, but suffice it to say, everything unfolded in a way I was happy with. There was more suspense and drama in this book than during book 1, and yes, more romance too!! Things between Jack and Ally really started to heat up!!! *fans self!*

The suspenseful aspect of this book really HOOKED me. I also loved how the author incorporated the paranormal side into the plot – it made everything click. Ally’s powers kept developing and getting stronger. She was not just a Seer anymore…she was suspected to be very powerful. More so than anyone expected. That too had me intrigued beyond belief!

The author has this keen ability to write a story that is automatically brought to life. Smooth. Natural. Once again, Amy Reece delivered a wonderful read. I had no problem connecting with the story or any of the characters – LOVED the secondary characters as well!!! Every single detail in this book fit perfectly and made all the details come full circle. I cannot wait for book 3 in this series!!!! Dreamer ended in a wonderful place, but yes, plot-wise, there is MORE to come and I am SUPER excited and curious!!  FIVE STARS!





Meet the author: Amy Reece 

Amy Reece lives in Albuquerque, NM, with her husband and family. She loves to read and travel and has an unhealthy addiction to dogs. She loves wine and friends, in that order. Stay tuned for the rest of The Seeker Series, coming Summer and Fall 2015


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Thursday, June 4, 2015

✰BOOK REVIEW✰ Kane's Hell by Elizabeth Finn - 5 STARS!


KANE'S HELL
Author: Elizabeth Finn
~ SYNOPSIS ~
Kane and Helene were the best of friends until a nightmare devastated them… Hopes were destroyed, dreams shattered, a budding teenage love torn to pieces. Eleven years later their lives are nothing like they once were. Time has changed them … and not for the better.

Helene is smart, driven, and accomplished—her education and achievements a smoke screen hiding the frigid and fragile child wounded long ago.

Kane is equally obsessed with his coping mechanisms—fighting … drinking … screwing … compulsively destroying himself one vice at a time.

When their paths collide again, their past becomes an obstacle no coping mechanism in the world can protect them from. But confronting the past so they can heal in the present is no easy task. Can Kane reach Helene and recapture what used to burn so warmly between them, or will his own self destructive demons pull her into his hell?

A woman determined to look forward. A man always looking back. A love desperate to be restored. 

“You’re the brightest, warmest star in my universe. You’ll never be less than everything to me.”

WARNING: This book contains darker subject matter and violent content that may be difficult for some readers.




 ~ 5 out of 5 STARS ~
★★★ Spoiler FREE ★★★

Let me start right off by saying that Kane’s Hell is a fascinating 5-star, MUST READ novel! Drop everything and one-click this book NOW. Really. AMAZING. Emotionally gripping, RAW, addictive, heart-wrenching….oh, my!!! I could NOT stop reading to save my own life. Some scenes were VERY hard to read, mind you, and yet, I could not stop turning the page. I could NOT look away. I was SO nervous and anxious of what might happen next that I practically held my breath throughout the entire book! It was THAT phenomenal. Gosh – it’s so hard to put into words the EXPERIENCE that was reading this book. It’s something you need to go through yourself to fully understand the depth of all the EMOTIONS you WILL feel.

“I’m not good at much in this world… But I’m good at loving you.”

Helene and Kane had an easy-going friendship in high school. They were both very sarcastic and had a smartass attitude that made them click. They had this sort of sexual tension between them that truly sizzled off the pages.  To me, it was crystal clear they both wanted each other...that they both cared deeply for each other.

But then….it happened.

“How can one little thing destroy you so much?”

And destroy them, it did. There was no going back after that night. And let me tell you, those scenes were incredibly HARD to read. My heart ACHED. My stomach was in KNOTS. My vision was blurred with tears… This author truly NAILED IT. She made me, as a reader, truly FEEL the pain Helene and Kane felt. I was an emotional mess. A WRECK.

“I needed you, and you left me. You left me in this place to deal with…everything on my own.”

Now, this book goes back and forth timeline-wise and it all fit perfectly. It allowed my connection to the characters to become stronger by the page. Everything made sense. Everything fell into place at a perfect pace. We’re taken through one hell of an emotional and passionate journey that is the love story of Helene and Kane. The love they shared was pure and deep. I felt it in my bones. So honestly, that only made my heart break even MORE for both of them. They had faced and continued to face so many obstacles…and not easy ones, mind you. FAR, FAR, FAAAAAAAAAAAAAR from easy. They faced challenges that would easily BREAK anyone.

“The only thing in the world I want is to be close to you.”

Okay – I will NOT go into any more details regarding the AMAZING plot in this novel. Like I mentioned in the beginning, it’s something you must EXPERIENCE for yourself. Trust me, you’ll thank me. Not knowing what happens will make it that much better. Oh!!! And the ANGST. Oh my gosh – THE. ANGST. It will certainly have you wanting – needing – more.

This was my 3rd novel by Elizabeth Finn and it was yet another 5-star read for me. Kane’s Hell was a true page-turner, without one ounce of a doubt. I read it in one sitting! Another massive plus for me is when book titles have deeper meaning than the one that meets the eye, and this one, well, this one was truly fascinating and made me fall in love with the story even MORE. Seriously, if you haven’t yet, check this author out! You won’t be sorry! And DEFINITELY ONE-CLICK Kane’s Hell…now!



~ Meet the author: Elizabeth Finn ~

Elizabeth Finn is a multi-published contemporary romance author. Her passion is creating stories packed full of angsty believable conflicts, characters who leave you rooting for them, and romance that might just short-circuit your e-reader. She likes her characters flawed and scarred, but they always find the best part of themselves on their journey, and her readers find themselves devoted to her authentic, honest and heartfelt voice.

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