#BookReview Without You (The Real Thing #2) by Felicity Rose

Having read The Real Thing (Book #1) by Felicity Rose previously, I was excited to read the sequel, Without You. Here is my review.  

 

My Review

Having read and enjoyed the first book in this series, I was excited to see what happened after a dramatic end previously. It played out pretty much as I would expect but that is a good thing because it is also pretty much how I would behave, or how I would expect other people to behave in similar circumstances. Again, I liked the sex scenes and the visits to "the club." It is nice to see reference to interests that don't fit society's norm, and to have them included in a healthy, mature manner rather than as titillation or something criminal. There had to be a nice, vanilla end to the story of course!

The book could do with some more editing to tighten the grammar, and I could see where readers from other social/cultural circles might find the writing style a bit clumsy. I understood it because the author wrote in the same style as she would speak, which I recognised. Still, I recommend that you focus on the story, not on the writing, and support indie authors.

About the Book

Everything in Saskia Matthew's world changed in an instant when the love of her life, Jim, left to take care of his son.

Broken hearted and hurting, his memory haunts her every move.

The desperate need to release the exhibitionist inside her now plagues Saskia's mind, making her crave the life Jim acquainted her with.

But can she do it without him?

On the other side of the world, Jim's life has also been turned upside down.

In a heart-breaking position, Jim is ready to do everything he can to put the pieces back together and make the best life for him and his son, even if that means taking him away from the only home he has ever known.

But will it be too late?

Buy the book: Amazon.

 

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Book Review: Taming the Vampire (Blood and Absinthe) by Chloe Hart

This is my kind of vampire story! Fast paced, full of sex, passion and just the right amount of magic. It was a quick read, and had been lurking on my Kindle waiting for me to discover it… so glad I gave it a chance! I am now reading the entire Blood and Absinthe series, and loving every moment of it. These books offer a quick fix for vampire fans who like the darker side of the genre, and they are relatable in real terms at the same time.  

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Book Review: Sparks by C.P. Mandara

I have broadened my reading horizons during 2017, and decided to read some books with more adult content and explicit sexual themes. I am not squeamish about sex. I write about it in my own novels and stories. But some books have really opened my eyes, and given me inspiration to free myself in my own writing projects. One such book is Sparks by C.P. Mandara. Here is my review:

My eyes have been well and truly opened. This story is delicious, cruel and gruesome all at the same time, and I want more! Not your average special agent tale. Far darker. You have been warned!

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Book Review - Rule 34: Weird and Wonderful Fetish Erotica #ASMSG

Today I share something a little bit different, and exciting! This is Rule 34: Weird and Wonderful Fetish Erotica edited by Zak Jane Keir.

I was intrigued by the cover on this book, so when I received the paperback it gave me a visual delight straight away. These stories are extremely kinky and yet still fairly comfortable to read, if that makes sense. Put it this way: they gave me a few ideas for how to liven things up in the bedroom! I especially liked the story involving bells, and the one about the caves… I won’t spoil it for you, but I will say give it a try if you are curious.

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Book Review: Pretty Masks by C.A. Bell

Pretty Masks is the brand-new novel by C.A. Bell, and I was lucky to receive an advanced review copy to share on my blog. I must say; this book was not what I expected. Actually, I don’t know what I did expect, but it certainly wasn’t this. The book hooked me in, although I did get a little bit confused during the first couple of pages. Once I warmed to it, I was soon engrossed, and I finished reading it very quickly.

Pretty Masks by C.A. Bell

The subject matter in Pretty Masks is very dark and disturbing, not least because it tackles the issue of mental health. We meet Lois, who on the outside appears to be your average married woman. When she is betrayed by her husband, however, she reveals a life history of tragic events and experiences. The story unravels a mind twisted with pain and suffering, but there is no happy ending when the Pretty Masks are removed… Suffice to say, I believe this book is a good read. A very good read.

                                                      

Did you enjoy this article? Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!) 

Book Review: Deadly Beauty by M.K. Elliott

Today I share my review for Deadly Beauty by M.K. Elliott

Sex, Vampires and Lots of Passion

This is a well-written novel with a very specific and often highly controversial plot. It is, essentially, all about the sex. More specifically, sex between vampires, both homosexual and heterosexual. I enjoyed reading it, and it was hot stuff, but also very violent. I also liked that it was a British story, set in familiar places and locations.

Book Review: Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose

Today I share my review of Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose

A delightful read!

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. It was a birthday gift from a friend, and I did really enjoy reading it. At first I was unsure because I felt like the author was simply showing off her own academic knowledge of books, and I wondered about why she shared such lengthy extracts from other stories to fill her book. However, after the first chapter I really got into the stride, and I delighted in the language she used, how she demonstrated her sheer love of reading, and then she proceeded to explain that actually, all of these traditional writing rules are made to be broken, but sometimes they can be used to good effect. This book made me feel good about my own writing, because I can see my talent compared to the extracts I read. It also gave me some new authors and stories to explore, and there is an extensive reading list at the back which I will take great pleasure in ticking off (although it might take many years to succeed!) All in all I recommend this book to readers and writers alike, especially if you take pleasure in wordplay.

Book Review: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

Today I share my review of Shantaram, by Gregory David Roberts

One of my all-time favourite books!

This massive tome was allocated as the summer read by my local book club. I had not heard of it previously, but I am so glad that I read it! I know when I am on to a good book if I find myself reading it during the day while my children play, or taking it in the car when I am a passenger. I just had to read this whenever I found time. The prose is delightful, with a wonderful feast of words that delight the senses. And the author really takes you into his world. I have never visited India, and I know very little about these distant countries, but now I really want to visit after reading Shantaram.

I will not give too much detail about the story, because I could write a whole book just discussing the narrator, the text, the themes etc. Suffice to say I feel a huge sense of achievement for reading the book because it is huge, and I enjoyed every word. None of it seemed excessive, or waffling, which I have found in previous large novels. The only negative I can offer is the sheer volume of characters and sub-stories involved. They did cause some confusion, but ultimately this story will stay with me for a very long time.

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Book Review: Mystical Circles by S.C. Skillman

Here is my review of Mystical Circles by S.C. Skillman:

I had been looking forward to reading this book for a while, since I follow the author’s blog and feel she is something of a kindred spirit. The story was interesting and a little bit different, but I have to say the book was not as good as I had anticipated. I found it fairly dull in places, and I really struggled to connect with the protagonist, Juliet. I suppose this was intentional, because the story follows Juliet as she tries to ‘rescue’ her younger sister from a perceived threat after she falls in with a crowd of people that might be part of a cult, and at the very least are of the New Age persuasion in spiritual terms. I personally follow this kind of spirituality, so perhaps I was instinctively feeling protective towards my own kind. Not surprising then that I preferred the leading male character, Craig, because he is the leader of this group, the Wheel of Love. Ultimately I thought there were some interesting social and cultural themes in the story, and it was something that is all too familiar to me, an English woman from a very traditional British working family. It is worth reading if you are more interested in thoughts and feelings, but don’t expect much physical action.

Book Review Captain Corelli’s Mandolin #AmReading

Book Review Captain Corelli’s Mandolin  by Louis De Bernieres

Wow! This is one fantastic novel! I have to admit the book took me a heck of a long time to read, but only because it is very deep, very intelligent, and I started reading it soon after the birth of my baby when my body was going through all sorts of crazy hormone-related stuff. Therefore I think this book is probably one of the longest reading projects I have ever taken. I am so glad I persevered. The first few chapters were quite self-indulgent and fairly boring, but on the recommendations of my book club buddies, I kept going. And I loved it. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me cringe. I loved the descriptive language, the variety of characters, and the entertaining history lesson that it gave me.

Book Review: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

I finally got round to reading this classic novel just before Christmas, and I finished reading it in January. I loved it! Dickens had me chuckling from the very first page with his witty description and conversational tone.

Pip is a thoroughly loveable character, and the story is just as relevant now as it was all those years ago when it was first written. In some ways I found it a little sad that British society still has parallels with the austere and oppressive Victorian era, although there is a part of me that thrives on nostalgia. I also felt quite surprised to see the ‘text speak’ in the sections where Pip was teaching Joe to write on a tablet (you know, the old-fashioned chalkboards, not the modern electrical versions). I couldn’t help but think that maybe Mr Dickens was something of a prophet when he described these activities… anyway I highly recommend this book to everybody.

Book Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I read this for my local book club, and I was quite excited at the prospect because it had been on my to-read list since I first spotted it in my local bookstore. Anyway, I have to say I ended up with a sort of confused response to the story. In the beginning I was full of enthusiasm, even when I was confused by the first few chapters. It took a little while for me to make any sense of it, and I found myself thinking throughout “what is the point of this whole ‘game’ storyline?” I enjoyed the love story element, and the descriptive text was beautiful in places, but all in all I would only ever say this was a good  book, not excellent. I had to read it to the end, but I never quite connected on an emotional level.

Book Review: The Darkness of Love #ReadMe

Here is my first review of The Darkness of Love... http://www.tony-paul.com/

Book Review: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Here is my review of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Fascinating and disturbing, worryingly close to our everyday reality

I read this book as the first on the list in my newly formed local book club. It was a book I had not heard of before, and I admit I was a little snobbish and decided right away that I wouldn’t enjoy it, even though I knew nothing about the story or the author. I think I have been reading a few too many indie books recently! Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed Gone Girl, and I will definitely read the other books written by Gillian Flynn. It had me hooked from the first chapter, and I felt a certain empathy for the lead characters, more especially Nick, even though he has his faults. They were believable and flawed just like the rest of us, and I can even relate aspects of all the characters to people I know in real life. The only criticism of this book is that I didn’t like the ending, and nor did my fellow book club members. It was a total anti-climax and left you feeling a little flat and unfulfilled, although I think this was intentional on the author’s part. Try the book for yourself, and you won’t be disappointed.

Book Review: Media Magnetism by Christina Hamlett #Bizitalk

Here is my book review of Media Magnetism: How to Attract the Favorable Publicity You Want and Deserve by Christina Hamlett:

A useful guide for small business owners seeking media publicity

This book is very informative for people seeking advice about how to market themselves as a brand and a small business. The media world is a confusing place, and it helps if you know where to begin in terms of approaching radio, TV and print media outlets to receive coverage and advertising for your business. As an Indie author I found this book quite helpful with guidance on getting the best use from my social media connections, and also some insight into the industry for future reference. I recommend it to anyone in a similar situation, who wants to expand their customer/client/reader numbers but has little or no experience with the media industry as a tool for wider publicity.

Book Review: The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner

Here is my book review of The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner:

A story inspired by a local legend in East Cheshire, England

I was quite excited to read this book, since it was set in my home county and an area with which I have become familiar during recent years. Unfortunately, I really struggled with this book. Perhaps the reason is that I am more interested in adult themes and paranormal tales at the moment. This novel is a fantasy story incorporating myth, magic and folklore, and it will be a treat for the right reader. It just wasn’t for me at this time, and I found it confusing in places.

Book Review: One Soul to Share by Lori Devoti

Here is my review of the paranormal romance novella One Soul to Share by Lori Devoti:

A different story concept, not quite emotionally involved enough for me

I had quite high hopes for this novel, since the story was a little different to what I have come across before. I enjoyed reading it, and it didn’t take long to read either, but I did not feel drawn in as I would have expected. The characters seemed distant, perhaps intentionally due to their nature, but I just could not sustain that personal connection that I like to develop when I read a book. I probably identified best with the vampire Nolan, but I feel that overall the book could have done with a little more description in places, just to draw the reader in more closely. Still, I intend to try out some of the author’s other books, so it wasn’t that bad in the end!

*Free Novel* - Review Request for Love Redeems (A Redcliffe Novel)

I have decided it is time for another book giveaway, but this time I do have an ulterior motive. I am offering a free PDF copy of my third novel Love Redeems (A Redcliffe Novel) in return for honest reviews on websites including Goodreads, Shelfari and Amazon. If you are interested, please contact me directly and I will supply you with the book. I am also happy to do return reviews for other authors on request.

Book Review: Urban Shaman by Serge Kahili King

Here is my review of the non-fiction book Urban Shaman by Serge Kahili King:

An inspiring book for those seeking or travelling the shaman path

A friend bought me this book as a birthday gift, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. At the time I was concerned that my shaman activities were not progressing as they should, but now I feel calm, confident and filled with renewed enthusiasm about my life journey. If you are curious about what it is to be a shaman, then this is a good book to start with. It is easy to read, does not dictate a strict regime or spiritual practise, and gives you plenty to think about and explore in your own time. If you are already a practising shaman, this book serves as a useful resource for reference and alternative cultural practices.

Book Review: Deadly Reunion (A Taci Andrews Mystery) by Amy Manemann

Here is my review of the novel Deadly Reunion (A Taci Andrews Mystery) by Amy Manemann:

I enjoyed this book, although I did find that the storyline seemed to jump quite abruptly between the heroine’s love life and her professional one. It felt a little disjointed in places, but this did not detract from my enjoyment of the story. I would also recommend a little more editing and proofreading, just to polish it up. Overall I found the novel easy to read, fast paced and entertaining. I look forward to reading the sequel.