Highland Escape by Cathy and DD MacRae

Highland Escape is not like any other Historical Romance I have read. Its a very honest book. I know that seems to be a weird way to describe a book but that is what it is.

The synopsis reads like this: Fleeing the English army that murdered her family before her eyes, Anna Braxton rescues two young women, kidnapped by a barbaric Highland clan only to find herself unjustly imprisoned by the clan she aided. Disgusted by her treatment, she counters their belated offer of friendship with anger and distrust. But she does not count on the unexpected effect the laird’s son has on her heart.
Duncan MacGregor does not understand his da’s command to imprison the young woman who saved his sister’s life. He is more than intrigued with Anna’s skill with a bow and sword—in fact, he is fascinated by everything about her, in spite of her lack of feminine wiles. Straightforward and with a deep-seated sense of honor, Anna Braxton disrupts his entire notion of a suitable woman.
Trained as a warrior and unwilling to be any man’s chattel, Anna shuns the idea of marriage—until Duncan coaxes her into a world of acceptance and passion she never knew existed. He wants her as his wife. She will agree, but only on her own terms—conditions Duncan is not sure he can accept.

This book is number one in my list of Heroines that Kick Ass.

Anna Braxton is a warrior and nothing will stop her from being that. That much she makes clear to Duncan MacGregor from the first time that they meet when she is being held captive by his father, after she risk her own life to save that of his sister and her maid from Highlanders. Anna is held for over a week and still stays strong and silent. Thanks in large part to her advanced training. This surprises not only Duncan but also his father and all of their clan. When she is finally released she makes it very clear that she will do as she wants and that she will not back down from anyone for anything.

Duncan seems to take this as a challenge and very much to heart, as he see's himself as her protector. He shows her that she can be trusted slowing and that she can be with him in a romantic sense will still being herself. This works for a while but then Duncan witnesses a sparing match between her and one of the men that she is training and lashes out. This causes Anna to flee. She then is captured by the same English Army that burned her home to the ground and killed her entire family.

Anna being the fighter that she is, fights for her life and her love... but can she make it out and make it back to Duncan and can they work together to find balance?

This story is honestly like no other. It makes you look at your own relationships and question the warrior inside yourself. Then it goes on to show you that with the right type of love you can be you and still have everything.

Into the Fae by Quinn Loftis

This story starts out right where the 7th book left off... If you haven't read the series please visit the post called PRINCE OF WOLVES...That is the only warning you are getting.

Peri, who is a highborn Fae the protector of all the magical realms and part of the Fae council in the last book she went up against her sister Laurell who was also part of the Fae council with a dark past.

Laural thinks that she is dead and is in for a big surprise when she finds out that she is not. Sadly this relationship doesnt change.  When Peri finds out that she is Mated to Lucian who is an Alpha Werewolf, who was lost in the Dark Forest for over a century. She fights to keep him at arms length but realizes that he is a good guy and that she can like him for him.
The great thing about Lucian is he is a mixture of all the other male characters from the series. He is strong and silent, can make Perri (and me) laugh, wont back down and also is just as damn sexy as they come. --IF you cant tell I really like the characters in this book.


The way that Lucian comes across as a man who has demons and still has a kind and gentle heart,is truthfully amazing to me. Quinn uses he gifts as a writer to remind women what its all about...partnership. Lucian and Peri have their own problems, but if you notice they do complete each other.

As in Quinn's other series the characters are traveling, but this time she is introducing new characters as part of her newest series. (Gypsy Healers).
Which I can't wait to read!

I took a long time in writing this review...sry to Quinn and my readers. I was moving!

But even while moving Into the Fae kept playing through my head. This book I would have to say is Quinn's Best. Although I have not read, Luna Mine yet. 

I (of course) give Into the Fae! 5 out of 5 Cups of Joe...I pesonally read this book in 6 hours total, and enjoyed every minute of it!!

Wonderful read! Get you copy from Amazon or by going straight to Quinn's website

Www.Quinnloftisbooks. com

The Blooming Rose By Jonniedee Izzo (me)

I started writing this story over a year ago and am going to be adding the alternate intro soon... please leave a comment below after reading to let me know what you think. 

Upon waking:

 "Where am I?" Isabella thought out loud  as she turned onto her side. White walls and a long line of beds greeted her as she saw that the windows were spread open wide to let in the sun and that fresh air. At the end of the room there was a woman bending over another bed where a small child laid. The woman was older and had reddish yellow hair that was tied back into a strict bun. As she stood tall and erect such as royalty.

 "That must be the kings mother" thought Isabella as the woman walked towards her.

"Your awake, O' goody, now dear, tell me what caused you to pass out???" The kings mother asked in a kind sweet voice.

"I don't know" replied Isabella "I was watching the festival and when the royal family appeared there was someone new and everyone started pushing and shoving. I got very scared and felt like I was going to die, so I started pushing back and everyone was just so close!!!" Isabella said "I was so scared and they wouldn't stop pushing me and crowding in." There were now tears flowing down her face and she started to sob.

 "It's okay dear, you are fine now, have a tissue" "My name is Floras and I am the Kings mother. You, my dear, are going to stay with us for a little while and then you can go home if you would like. How does that sound?"

Isabella smiled slightly and nodded her head as more tears streamed down her face.

Floras stood and straightened her dress. Isabella looked at her with wonder, she was so pretty and her dress, even though it was a simple linen gown looked amazing as it fit to every curve of the old woman's body. "Wow!" Isabella said in a low whisper "you are so pretty!"

"Thank you dear, now lets go get you dressed and down to eat some food"

Isabella stood and shakily walked behind Floras all the way down the hallway out side of the ward. She felt silly in her linen dress that was a bit to small and showed her legs as she walked. But it was not like she could buy more material to add to the dress. And plus she didn't know how to sew. Her mother had tried to teach her before she passed away, but Isabella had been young and didn't want to learn. Plus she had liked her books and studies more, so her mother never pushed her to learn. But walking behind this tall straight standing woman who commanded such attention, Isabella found herself trying to not focus on her ankles and calves showing and just walk tall and confidently.

After a walk of about five minutes they came to a great hall that had about five soldiers standing outside of it. "Mother Floras" the Captain said inclining his head as he bowed and motioned for her to pass.

"Guardsman, how are my sons today?"

"Very well, Ma'am" The second guard said as he to bowed his head.

"Then tell them that we have a guest."

The Captain walked into the room and whispered quietly to the King, who inclined his head and smiled saying in a joyful and robust voice "ah, our sleeping beauty!!! Come in Dear, Come in!!!"

Very slowly Isabella walked into the room with her hands folded in front of her like a child about to be scolded. Coming to stand in front of the King, she curtsied and bowed her head to the king and then wobbled as she rose. 

"Hello, would you like to join us for some lunch? Its only my mother and I today, as the Queen and my girls are on an outing to visit the market for hair ribbons and such." The King asked in a delighted way.

"yes, Sire" Isabella said meekly

"Please do not call me Sire, My surname is Francis, I do not like formality inside my own Castle. Yes, I do still expect you to bow your head but no more curtsying either." Francis said in a much quieter voice.  "Mother, also take her to the seamstress. We cannot have her walking about in such and attire."

"Of course, my son. I was planning on feeding her some, then taking her." Floras said with a little smile.  Then turning to Isabella she stated much more quietly "The way he talks you would think that I didn’t run this castle for years, before he was born."

"I heard that, Woman!" The king said good-naturedly as he walked up to the now set table and began to dig in. " Help your self, Isabella, we do not stand on formalities here. I like to just have guards and cooks about. You will find that there are a few woman to help my children and my wife, but that most of the work in this castle is done by our very hands. We are here to rule the kingdom as a family and therefore everyone can give their opinions and I like to make sure that everyone does their share to help out. I will come to expect you to help out in the way that best suits you also. As long as you are here that is, you may return home when ever you wish. Please do not think that you are to be kept here. You may roam the castle as you like and please feel free to ask if you have any questions."

"um, Yes Sire, I mean Francis" replied Isabella quietly

Just then the doors flew open to reveal a sweaty man with raven black hair and eyes that glistened. He was dressed head to toe in a black Gi and looked like he just came from a long and tiring battle. "James" Mother Floras said quietly, her voice seemed to fill the room even though it was hardly more than a whisper.  "ah, Brother, how was your workout?, all of my men are still in one piece right?"

He seemed to glide into his chair moving with the grace of a cat, but his eyes were like that of a wolf, Hungrily looking over the food and the company at the table sitting there. "Your men are fine." James said with a dark husky voice that seemed to run over Isabella like chocolate over a strawberry.  "your men are fine." James stated again "but the Queens are not! I ran them though the paces over 100 times and could still find flaws."

"James, I handpicked those men myself, with you testing everyone until there were only the ones that could almost match you, and now you are saying that after 5 years of training non-stop with the best warriors in the lands, the Queens Guard still has flaws??? How can this be??? Also where is the Queen? If you were beating up the guard then she must be home, why has she not come to show me her purchases?

"Because SHE was helping the two daughters that you created to get washed up before supper." The voice was smooth as silk and seemed to cascade upon the king as though he was a dog and she was bacon. The queen walked out from another hall and stood there with a child no older than three in her arms and she was wearing a long green gown with a golden tassel and carried upon her head a gold circlet. It was a rumor among the town that the circlet had in fact belonged to the Queens mother and that many years ago the Queens mother was a lady in waiting who found great favor with the queen of that time. No one ever dared to ask though. 

Vampire Academy Series

A long time ago I used to work in a library and a children's librarian said that I should read the Vampire Academy Series. In my recent search of the library here in GA, where I now live I went ahead and decided to check it out. Boy am I glad that I did!!! I have never read any series of books that was so captivating. As you all know, I read a lot... but this series I finished in a week. All 6 Books!


Captured by the Guardians, Rose and Lissa are dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy. A boarding school for Vampires where they are educated in the ways of magic. Rose is a Dhampir, a half-human who is trained to protect Lissa a Royal Moroi Princess and the last of her line. The Dhampir's, also known as the Guardians are suppose to protect the Moroi (the vampires) from the things that go bump in the night. The Strigoi are the most horrible blood-sucking vampires known to the world, they don't care if you are human, Dhampir or Moroi, they catch you and you are good as dead!

As Rose and Lissa become entwined in forbidden romance, Royal politics and crazy teen angst. They discover they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

With hidden powers and remarkable friendship on their side Rose and Lissa battle against not only their enemies but also their hearts... The question is can they win?

Out of the Dark (Grey Wolves Series #4) By Quinn Loftis

Out Of The Dark starts out with all Four of the Grey Wolves Packs joined together at the Gathering. This has now come to an abrupt stop as one of their own has decided to Attack the Romanian Pack... and as we know they don't take to kindly to that! Since this Alphas plan to kill off Vasile didn't work out, he decides to Attack Jen and Decebel! First off... How dare he! And second, What??? are you crazy... Dec with rip your head off for just looking at her the wrong way?? 

Unknown to the Romanian Pack the Alpha that attacked them has employed a Witch to do his bidding and she has created a Curse for Decebel that will potentially destroy his already fragile bond with Jen. 

Mean while Jen is fighting for her life and the love of her life, as she finally starts to accept that she will never feel him again. Help comes along in a very unexpected way (and once again we are introduced to a few skeletons and new characters).

Vasile who is very much alive and very angry decides to call upon all of his resources. Which includes Sally, the Gypsy Healer, to find a way to help Dec and in turn help Jen. While also inadvertently solving a mystery that has been around for over 300 years...

This story has all of the makings of a Turkey Dinner with all the Trimmings! I couldn't put it down and even was late for work cause I didn't want to stop reading. As with all of her writing +Quinn Loftis makes this world come to life and creates even more characters that are as relatable as a best friend and as smoking hot as a Sexy Werewolf Furball.

I have to give this book 5 out of 5 Cups of Joe as she once again completely wrapped me up in a story that I couldn't get enough of.

Interview with Quinn Loftis-- Author of the Grey Wolves Series!!!!

Hello,

This past week I went ahead and asked +Quinn Loftis  if she would like to do an Interview with the Author for a publishing company that I am interning at...Barista Books.

Anyway, she agreed and I thought that you all would like to read her interview as much as I loved doing it. Quinn is a wonderful writer and it shows though her work as well as in her interview.

Clink the link for it to take you to the Barista Books website and you can check out her words!

Interview with Quinn Loftis

and make sure to check out her new book in the Grey Wolves Series --- Sacrifice of Love!!!

Also, she is writing the next book in the Elfin Series. I think its called Rapture... and I will be posting that review in a few minutes!

Revival (Variant Series #1) by Jena Leigh

Possessing the uncanny ability to fry a television set from twenty paces can really wreck a girl's social life.

If your looking for proof, just ask sixteen-year-old Alexandra Parker. After catching her boyfriend in the arms of the prettiest girl in school, she made the journey from social elite to social pariah in a haze of electricity and exploding electronics. But finding herself at the bottom of the Bay View High's social hierarchy was nothing compared to the shock of discovering who-and what-she really is. 

After being zapped out of a burning bookstore by the mysterious Declan- a hero nearly as handsome as he is infuriating-Alex finds herself under the protection of the powerful Grayson family. It's through them that she learns the truth: that the world she's always known is nothing like it appears to be... and that she has far more in common with them than she might want to believe.

Now, on the run from a fire-wielding hit man and a secretive government organization, Alex must navigate a strange and treacherous new world filled with superhuman mutants known as Variants. As she begins to unravel the many secrets of her family's past, she uncovers the real reason for her parents' death twelve years earlier- and finds out that the threat to her family, and to everyone she cares about, is still dangerously real. 

I went ahead and copied the summary from Amazon because it perfectly describes the book. I bought this book last night, looking for something to help lull me to sleep...This book did not! In fact I was up till 1:30 reading and I just finished it a few moments ago. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of detail that the author put into the setting and the way that she actually took time to develop the characters by not only showing you Alex's thoughts but also the other characters in the stories. I loved the twist and turns that came around 3/4ths of the way through the story. Also, when she tells a story inside the story she doesn't do it from the perspective of the person who told the story...She did it from Declan's point of view and that made it even more interesting. 

I have to give this story 4 out of 5 Cups of Joe, because it was wonderful...But it did have some typos. They really don't effect the story and if your not looking for them. I doubt that your brain will even register them. 

I did go to her website and found out that she is entirely Self- Published! So check it out :) www.jenaleighbooks.com.

I really can't wait to read the next story. I just found out on her blog that she is working on the second book and has already started on the third!

Dark Summer (Witchling series) By Lizzy Ford

Dark Summer is the story of a small slight orphan girl who is just trying to fit in. She has moved from school to school foster home to foster home. She doesn't believe that there is a place that she can belong. When Summer goes to a strange boarding school at Priest Lake in the Rocky Mountains, she thinks that its just going to be the same. Fate has another plan for her, the darkness surrounding the school has been growing and with a New Master of Fire and Night about to be ordained, she has to find where her heart really is...

I would love to go on more and more about this story. I would love to tell you that I couldn't put it down. But thats not true. I could. Lizzy Ford does a wonderful job of spinning words in to pictures for the reader. The amount of internal and external struggle that Each character goes through is well defined to their personalities in the story. It wasn't calling to me when I set it down and even though I did go ahead and buy Autumn Storm (Witchling Series), Immediately after I finished with Dark Summer. I do have to say that this part of the story felt like an introduction to the characters and really made me want to read the second book.

Overall, I give this book 4 out of 5 Cups of Joe, Because the writing was done well, There was a lack of emotional pull for the reader. The Characters were well defined in their roles. Dark Summer is a great book for those of you that want to enter into the world of Dark and Light at Priest Lake.

                                                      Check out Autumn Storm ------------------>

Sacrifice of Love, Book 7 The Grey Wolves Series Trailer (newest book by Quinn!)

I am totally Psyched about this book and can't wait for it to come out! Seeing this trailer today made my birthday all that much sweeter! I am waiting to pounce on this book coming to all of us on September 13!  I just couldn't wait to share this with you!!!!

Pass it along and Happy Chomping!

Just One Drop (Grey Wolves Series #3) By Quinn Loftis

 Just one drop focuses on Jennifer Adams (Jen) and Decibel the Beta to Vasile of the Romanian wolf-pack. She is the best friend to Jacque who we met in the first book and she has just found out that she is a dormant. Meaning that she has Werewolf blood in her but only a drop. That one drop though means a lot when it comes to the sexy Decibel who is just barely maintaining control of his wolf when he has to deal with Jennifer. Her wacky nympho attitude is no where near to what anyone is prepared for and with her smart-ass mouth you just cant get enough.

This book though it takes us from the world of Jacque and Fane, transitions easily to the relations of another couple and still keeps us knowing about the dynamics of the relationship that we have already witnessed. Even though they are still ever present in this one. It shows the crazy wild side of Jen and how much its fun to aggravate the Mates in the werewolf world.

The twist in this book is that not only do they have to deal with the normal emotions of not knowing if Jen and Decibel can be allowed to be together for the Lack of mating signs but how are they going to deal with the other males at The Gathering. The Gathering has not taken place in a few centuries and its only now taking place because of the shortage of females in the species.

This book keeps your emotions running high as you vote for Jen and Dec, But also keeps you thinking what the hell... why is this so complicated...are they really not meant for each other?

I love the thoughts that this book provokes and am really trying to not give anything away...since I had to go read the 4th one in the series right at the end of this one. I do though have to give this book only 4 out of 5 Cups of Joe cause there were some Massive typos that should have been caught and at one point towards the end I noticed the mistakes with the names of the characters and who they were speaking with though the Bond.

Also I just found out that this book is available as an audiobook and so are the Others.

Double Dare by Rhonda Nelson

This book was a great fast read. It took me only a few hours to read but it kept me really interested. The main character Louisa Honeycutt (Lou) is really funny and (the only word I can think of here is) Spunky. I love how the author paired this good girl gone bad with a thrill seeking, rugged looking, not so bad boy, Sam Rollins. 

Lou is a runaway bride who is trying to get away from her overbearing father, and an almost marriage that would have been completely loveless.  Her solution to this, is to run away and she ends up on a Not So Wild Thrill Seeking Adventure, with the Adventure guide who is extremely unprepared for the crazy ride that he is about to go on. 

This book is only about 106 pages, and is perfect for a few hours of enjoyment. I would say that it gets a 5 out of 5 stars,for the fast                                                   pace and the relatable characters. 


    

The Sword of Truth Series By Terry Goodkind

The first book in the series of the Sword of Truth is "Wizard's First Rule".

This story starts out with a man named Richard Cypher and a Woman Named Kahlan Amnell. They meet in a particular way as she is being chased by four men. The first scene upon which they meet sets the tone for the rest of the book. The other main Character in this story is the Wizard named Zed or Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander. This story has many twist and turns but the one thing that stays constant for the entire story is the relationships and the trust that each person in this story must place in Richard Cypher. 

The deep desire to destroy the Evil Darken Rahl is what seems to be the glue to this group of travelers at least until actual friendship starts to bloom.'

I would have to give this book 4 out of 5 stars. Its very well written and captured my interest from the very first page.I liked all the twist and turns with the plot and the multiple fights and scraps that the characters got themselves into and out of. But i didn't enjoy the continual rape that happened in the book. and scraps that the characters got themselves into and out of. 

It seemed as though every time a female was present she was either trying to seduce and then rape richard Cypher or it was Richard Cypher who was trying to protect someone from getting raped. At one point there is a character that even rapes little boys. (THAT IS JUST SICK!) I am pretty sure that he is killed at the end of the book, If that is not accurate then I am sorry. I love books with a plot twist and I would have to say that the twist in this book are wonderful. I have to say that a secret lies within this story and that I could have never predicted the outcome of the truth. I am not giving away the story before you get a chance to read it, But that secret is worth the read, that I can promise you.

 In all the book is over 800 pages and took me over 13 hours to read (I had a very long train ride.) I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fantasy novel about the nature of people and would like to really dive into a story that is going to continue.

 Check out his other books below. This is such a great deal. You get all three of the first books!

A little Introduction

Hi,

I am a 24 year old college student. I have been haunting libraries since I was 2 years old and haven't been able to stop yet. Going to the library was how I got to escape my life. A good book is a blessing in this world. I am hoping to one day join the great minds that showed me the world of books. I read books to my little cousins and I love to read new things. My favorite types of books are Sci-fi, Fantasy, and Romance. If you have a book that you think I would like, Then send it my way. If I like it. I will share it with the world. Also feel free to check out my Goodreads Sites for some of my favorite books! Lately I have been reading on my Kindle App for the IPhone, and Many of the the books that I review here are going to have a link as the picture for you to get that same book for your Kindle.


Here is a list of some of the books I have read recently:

 Terry Goodkind
 --------------------
Wizards First Rule
Stone of Tears (currently Reading)

Erica Cope
--------------
Lark

Addison Moore
--------------------
Ethereal *Celestra Series*

Mira Lyn
------------
Waking up Married

Rhonda Nelson
--------------------
Double Dare