Book Review of My Familiar Stranger

Book Review of My Familiar Stranger Sponsored by Bewitching Book Tours

 Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share my review of this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.

My Familiar Stranger
By Victoria Danann

The Order of the Black Swan #1

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: 7th House

Date of Publication: April 21, 2012

ISBN: 978-1-933320-49-6

ASIN: B007V8RAKW

Number of pages: (estimated 370)

Word Count: 111,268

Blurb : 

Minutes ahead of inevitable assassination, Elora Laiken is forcibly transported to an alternate dimension similar, but not identical, to her own. She is stranded. Alone. Far from home. A stranger in a "strangish" land.

Of course a girl could suffer worse problems than having gorgeous suitors. Perhaps more importantly, in the midst of an epidemic of vampire related abductions, can she stay alive long enough to choose between an honor debt, true love, or the breathlessness of single-minded passion?

My Familiar Stranger is a full length, stand alone, Paranormal Romance novel that also sets up the foundation for the Black Swan series. It is loved by fans of paranormal romance, fantasy romance, and urban fantasy.

Erotica quotient: A few steamy scenes. No menage. No BDSM.

About the Author:

For the past thirteen years, Victoria has illustrated and authored Seasons of the Witch calendars and planners.

 

Though works of fiction are a departure for her, she has had this series simmering on the back burner of her mind for years. In addition to authoring and illustrating Seasons of the Witch, she plays rock music and manages one of Houston's premier R&B/Variety/Pop bands.

This series will include some of my actual experience in the paranormal with fictionalized anecdotes from my journals during the years when I was a practicing "metaphysician", but most of the material is fantasy.

Contacts:

Purchase Links: Amazon  Smashwords

BOOK TRAILER: Book Trailer on youtube

web http://www.victoriadanann.com

blog http://www.victoriadanann.me

facebook http://www.facebook.com/Victoria.Danann.9

goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8920457-victoria-danann

Book Review:

            Firstly, while this may be the author’s first foray into fiction, PLEASE don’t let it be her last.  Wow, is she good!  This book is amazing.  Love the story, love the concept, can’t wait for number 2.  If I could write like this I would never do anything else… unfortunately I have no talent that direction.

            Fabulous romance, with a paranormal twist.  There is one line something being a stranger is a strange land, and that totally reminded me of the movie “Fiddler on the Roof” where Tevye totally misquotes the Bible using the line, “I am a stranger in a strange land.”  So I made a connection with a favorite movie before I ever started reading.  They are nothing alike, but I loved the idea of feeling misplaced and not where you belong that I could relate to.

            I gave this book 4 out of 5 clouds.

This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

Book Review of The Baby Matrix

Book Review of The Baby Matrix ~ Sponsored by Pump up your Books

 Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share my review of this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.

Blurb : 

ABOUT THE BABY MATRIX: WHY FREEING OUR MINDS FROM OUTMODED THINKING ABOUT PARENTHOOD & REPRODUCTION WILL CREATE A BETTER WORLD

In the movie The Matrix, the character Morpheus offers two pills to Neo—if he takes the blue pill, he will go on with life as he has before, believing what he has always believed. If he takes the red pill, he will find out what the “matrix” really is, and many of his earlier beliefs will be shattered. When it comes to taking a hard look at a specific set of beliefs about parenthood and reproduction that has driven our society for generations, The Baby Matrix is the red pill.

What is this set of beliefs? Pronatalism. At its core, it’s the belief that having children should be the central focus of every adult’s life. In this book, author Laura Carroll shows us how pronatalist beliefs have become so embedded that they have come to be seen as “true” and takes a critical look at their pervasiveness in our society.

Carroll examines the historical origins of pronatalism, the reasons why it has such a deep hold on societies even though most people remain unaware of it, and whether it makes sense – for individuals or for the world as a whole. She examines the ways in which pronatalism is perpetuated, scrutinizes seven major pronatalist assumptions that lead people to accept them without question, and offers alternative mindsets that reflect realities, true reproductive freedom and responsibility in today’s society. Whether you are already a parent, want to be a parent, or don’t want children, you will never think about parenthood in the same way.

Investigating what few have had the courage to discuss, The Baby Matrix examines the negative effects of pronatalist beliefs, including how they dictate the “normal path” to adulthood, put unwarranted pressure on people to have biological children, and fail to foster a society in which those who are best suited to become parents are the ones who have children.

Carroll also brings to light the impact that pronatalism has had on the world at large and will continue to have if its ubiquitous influence is not challenged. Citing compelling statistics, she shows how our belief that we can have as many children as we want is a serious threat in a world with finite resources. In the process, she brings into focus how every life brought into the world directly affects our survival.

This manifesto makes the case for why it’s time for all of us to understand why we can no longer afford to leave pronatalist assumptions unquestioned. Without compromise, The Baby Matrix is a reality check for us all. Are we willing to hold on to beliefs that aren’t necessarily true … even to our detriment? This book will make you examine your own intentions and beliefs, will rile you, and might just change your mind.

The Baby Matrix is a must-read for anyone interested in psychology, sociology, anthropology, parenting issues, environmentalism, and social justice. Those who revere the truth, want the best for themselves, their families and our world, and decide to take “the red pill” and read this book will find the truths that need to be told about pronatalism, and why it’s time to shift our thinking for the betterment of all.

About the Author:

Laura Carroll is the author of The Baby Matrix: Why Freeing Our Minds From Outmoded Thinking About Parenthood & Reproduction will Create a Better World, Families of Two: Interviews With Happily Married Couples Without Children by Choice, and Finding Fulfillment From the Inside Out.

In addition to writing nonfiction books, she has worked over the last 15 years as a business and litigation psychology consultant and used her expertise in behavioral sciences, psychology, and communications to advise business, legal, and nonprofit professionals on their communications strategies and goals.

Laura is a seasoned leader of personal and professional development seminars, and has appeared on a variety of television shows, including Good Morning America and The Early Show. She has been a guest on many radio talk shows to discuss social science topics.

You’ll also find her online at her nonfiction book site, LiveTrue Books, and her top blog, La Vie Childfree.

Contacts:

To get your copy of The Baby Matrix by Laura Carroll at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Baby-Matrix-Parenthood-Reproduction/dp/0615642993/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1339007434&sr=8-2

Pick up your ebook copy at Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-baby-matrix-laura-carroll/1110625478

To get your e-copy of The Baby Matrix by Laura Carroll for your Kindle:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Baby-Matrix-Reproduction-ebook/dp/B0081HSF3S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339007434&sr=8-1

To learn more about Laura, go to her website: http://lauracarroll.com/

Visit Laura Carroll on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/LauraCarroll88

Like Laura Carroll on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheBabyMatrix

Find out all about The Baby Matrix at Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13641241-the-baby-matrix

Book Review:

This was an interesting book.  While I have wanted children since I was a toddler, my mom says I used to I would toddle over to other strollers and talk to the “babies.” My now 16 year old daughter has decided she doesn’t want to bring children into the world when there are so many children that need homes and love. Part of me is really proud of her because I have worked in the adoption division of Child Welfare Services in our area and I know how hard it is to find families for these kids, but part of me is also scared because I also know how often these kids are really damaged and beyond helping.

So we both read this book and it brought about some really good discussions about this topic and other topics about the world view of children and issues surrounding that one.   Not sure I agree with everything the book said, but definitely an  eye opener and great for starting discussions about these topics.

I give this book 4 out of 5 clouds.

This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

Book Review of Love Chosen: The Fae Dragon Chronicles, book 1

Book Review of Love Chosen:  The Fae Dragon Chronicles, book 1

Sponsored by Bewitching Book Tours

Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share my review of this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.

Love Chosen

The Fae Dragon Chronicles

Book One
By Marne Ann Kirk          

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press

ISBN:  978-1937254490

ASIN: 978-1-937254-50-6

Number of pages: 277

Word Count: 86,100 words

Blurb : 

For millennia, dragon and fae have peacefully co-existed, but the fae themselves have lived segregated and very different lives.

Now a malevolence threatens to separate them all permanently. Can a Queen's guard and a rebellious outlaw join forces to defeat this common enemy?

Tyler's touch sparks fierce desire, drawing Issie to him, but she despises his way of life and all that palace society represents. If he learns she wields magic to help the less fortunate escape the kingdom, he'll charge her with treason. Her punishment - death.

Issie is a sassy rebel who is constantly looking for ways to circumvent the conventions of their society. Tyler's head warns that she's a non-magical lower, beneath him. His heart sees by her inner strength and outer beauty. Only a binding love will lend them strength to save her life - their world.

About the Author:

Marne Ann Kirk grew up wild, exploring the vast high deserts and mountains of the West with her family as a child. Marne Ann loved making up stories and, well, lied about just about everything. Thankfully, she grew out of the lying stage...now she calls it story-telling.

Her debut novel, “Love Chosen: Book One of The Fae Dragon Chronicles,” is available now. “Love Dared: Book Two of The Fae Dragon Chronicles,” is coming soon. “Goddess on the Run,” a paranormal romance, will be available September 17, 2012. You can find out more about Marne Ann through her publisher, Crescent Moon Press, or visit her at: www.marneannkirk.com  or www.cowboysndragonscafe.blogspot.com

Contacts:

http://crescentmoonpress.com/books/LoveChosen.html

Web: http://www.marneannkirk.com

Blog: http://www.cowboysndragonscafe.blogspot.com

Twitter: MarneAnn

Facebook: MarneAnnKirk or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marne-Ann-Kirk

Goodreads: Marne Ann Kirk or http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5822484.Marne_Ann_Kirk

Excerpt:

Tyler pushed his way through the onlookers. They reeked of sex and sweat. The foul odor made his eyes water and his vision blur as he forced his way to the front of the crowd, almost stepping on the female lying in a heap on the floor. He turned, saw his guards at the rear of the crowd, and addressed the unfortunate Lowers. “Leave now.”

He turned back to the scene, expecting them to follow his orders. Disgust filled him as he assessed the scene. Blood pooled on the bed where two bodies laid holding each other. The heads from both bodies were missing. He wouldn’t bother searching for them now. He wouldn’t find them. The killer, it seemed, liked to keep the heads as trophies.

Tyler sighed, becoming aware again of the others crowding the room. When he found those heads, he’d find the sick bastard who did this.

“But what ‘bout Lenore?”

“I ‘eard Issie scream.”

“She all right?”

One chattered over the next in their efforts to find out what happened. They weren’t listening to him.

His eye twitched. He hated when that happened.

How could he make these dullards leave? Did they not see the violent murders on the bed? Or did they not care? Were their lives so barren and meaningless, death didn’t bother them?

His gaze fell on the female at his feet. Her face covered by her mass of honeyed tresses, she lay in a limp pile, her robes undone and revealing a creamy swell of ample breast.

The two victims in the bed were beyond help, but this unconscious female held the concern of the others.

He knelt by her side and lifted her in his arms. She smelled clean, like moss and sea air, instead of the sweaty body he’d expected. Her hair caressed his arm when he stood with her nestled to his chest. It fell like a lowered curtain and hung almost to his knees. A waterfall of honey.

She felt right in his arms; her neck fit into the crook of his shoulder, her breath warmed his chest like she belonged there.

Where had such a thought come from? He didn’t associate with the powerless Lower class. Ever.

He pushed aside a rising need to draw her even nearer.

Tyler faced the crowd again. “As you can see, she sleeps. She’s not injured. Now go. All of you.” He fixed a few of them with the glacial silver stare which always yielded results. “Go back to your beds. I’m Tyler, of the High Council. My warriors will take care of this.”

“But, Issie. Is she hurt?” one barmaid asked, wrapping her arms around her waist as if she feared retching.

“You, take me to Issie’s rooms. The rest of you, go. She’ll be fine.” Or at least I’ll be, if I can have some quiet to think.

“But--”

”What ‘bout Lenore? She pass through the gates?”

Everyone began speaking at once, like a gathering of Lower younglings after a sweet. They had no regard for his orders. Such disrespect was unacceptable. He had to get this under control.

”Go,” he roared, silencing the room.

The crowd shuffled down the hall and disappeared behind different doors. Bits of conversation-- “Can’t believe Lenore’s gone,” and “who could do such a thing?” --floated back to him.

Who indeed? The fae were peaceful caretakers for the dragons. Murder didn’t happen among them. It was a coarse crime of the mortals--until three moons ago. And now, it had happened again--to another messenger and another whore-maid.

Book Review:

            I love books about the Fae, especially romances.  This book has a fun history that I haven’t seen in a Fae book.  I am enjoyed seeing the new or different back drop because I like the way different authors see different back stories.  This is definitely a different background.

            The basic story plot is that only some Fae have magic, and those that don’t are lower class.  Only some people lie or hide their magic and live with the lowers and fight the against the prejudice in the fae community.

            I give this story a 4.5 out of 5 clouds.  A definite recommendation for anyone who enjoys reading about the Fae or about dragons or romance and mystery, then this is the book for you.

This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

Book Review of Mrs. Jones

Book Review of Mrs. Jones Sponsored by Bewitching Book Tours

 

Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share my review of this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.

Mrs. Jones

By B.A. Morton

Publisher: Taylor Street Publishing

Date of Publication: April 7, 2012

ISBN: 978-1468116885

ASIN: B006OEVRBM

Number of pages:256

Word Count: 88.000

Cover Artist: Bradley Wind

Blurb : 

 

A British girl with a secret.

A New York cop with a past.

And a mob that wants revenge

In the slickest, sexiest novel to come out in a long time, ruggedly tough and honest cop Detective Tommy Connell picks up an English girl, Mrs Jones, who claims to be the witness to a murder, and falls in love with her. Well, Mrs Jones, whoever she is, must be very attractive because an awful lot of people seem to want to get their hands on her if they can get her away from Connell's determined hands, including some organized crime boys along with the Feds.

Detective Connell definitely has his work cut out for him if he wants to end up with the body of Mrs Jones, dead or alive, that's for sure. All-in-all it's probably safe to say he hasn't a clue what is going on. It is probably equally safe to guess that Mrs Jones does. Not that 'safe' is quite the right word to use here.

About the Author:

 

B.A. Morton is a British crime, historical and romance writer.

Her first novel is 'Mrs Jones'. The next in the series, 'Molly Brown', will be published during 2012.

She lives and writes on the Scottish Border.

Contacts:

www.goodreads.com/author/show/5405833.B_A_Morton

Amazon

Excerpt:

She answered the door on the sixth knock.

He knew that because he had counted.

Six knocks, thirty seconds between knocks, three minutes.

He’d raised his hand to give her the seventh, seeing as how seven was his lucky number and three and half minutes was as long as he was prepared to wait, but she’d beaten him to it. All the same, six knocks.

These weren’t palatial penthouse apartments, they were studios. What had taken her so long? Delays in answering the door in this neighborhood were usually accompanied by the sounds of a hurriedly flushed toilet. On this occasion there was silence.

When the door finally opened, she left the chain on, which he supposed was sensible, but didn’t make his job any easier or quicker.

He had a hot date waiting. He checked his watch. If she was still waiting. Taking out his badge, he flashed it through the crack in the door.

“Ma’am, New York Police Department, Detective Connell.” He made an effort to speak slowly and clearly, wondering if they were old folks and whether that could explain the delay in answering.

“You called in a report about a hit and run. I’d like to speak with you, ask you a few questions.”

He pulled his badge away just in time to avoid his hand being jammed as the door slammed closed. Rolling his eyes, he checked his watch again. She definitely wouldn’t be waiting now. She’d be on her way home and deleting his number from her phone. That was twice he’d stood her up; she wouldn’t be letting him make it three. And that was a shame - she was a looker, and no dummy either. No matter, probably for the best in the long run.

He was about to give her the seventh knock, when he heard the chain being slid. Placing a hand on the weapon holstered under his left arm, he watched as the door swung slowly inwards. All he needed now was some geriatric cop-hater to come barreling out with a sawed-off Zimmer frame, so he stood off to one side of the door, just in case.

Connell had drawn the short straw on this case. Everyone else on the squad had more important things to do on a Friday night than chase up old ladies who may or may not have seen an accident. He had more important things to do; he’d been on a promise, after all. But he was on dicey ground and his arrest rate was looking bad. He’d been spending far too much time on impossible cases and this looked like an easy wrap. Find the old lady, confirm her statement and sign off on the case. Maybe his date would wait. Maybe pigs would fly.

“Honey, is your mom at home?” he asked the young girl who peered anxiously at him from behind the door. She was slender and pale, with a mop of unruly dark curls and wide dark eyes. Her feet, resting one on the other, were bare, her toenails painted a vivid pink.

She wore washed-out jeans with holes at the knees and a baggy grey T-shirt. Connell processed her slight frame in seconds and disregarded her. It was a necessary knack - identify and eliminate any risks - certainly in this neighborhood. “I’m looking for a …” He pulled out his notebook and checked the name he’d scrawled down back at the station “… Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Elizabeth Jones.”

The girl nodded, opened the door wide and he realized his knack for on-the-spot identification was slipping. She wasn’t a young girl; she was a young woman who looked like she hadn’t been sleeping too well and he knew exactly how that felt.

“I’m Mrs. Jones,” she said hesitantly in a soft, British accent. “You’d better come in.”

Connell wasn’t often surprised. In his line of work it was a necessary requirement to be unflappable and unshockable, or at the very least to present that image to the public, but she was definitely not what he’d been expecting. She was far too young for a start, didn’t look old enough to be Mrs. Anybody and she didn’t sound like the voice on the tape. The voice had been muffled, admittedly, but had sounded older and certainly not British. Either she hadn’t made the call or the voice had been deliberately disguised. He narrowed his eyes. The first of his inner alarm bells had just gone off.

He followed her into the room. If she wasn’t what he’d expected, then the room certainly was. It was typical of a thousand more in the neighborhood. Close your eyes, stick a pin in a map and you couldn’t fail to come up with a place like this. Short-term, low-rent housing where absentee landlords turned a blind eye and made a killing.

Book Review:

            I can’t wait for book 2 because I loved this book so much.  I hope book 2 tells us how they stay together because the romance was charming.  The mystery was fabulous with a total “left turn without signaling” twist that I never would have seen coming.  Wow was that a shocker.

            So the book synopsis is take one highly protective, handsome, somewhat wounded New York city cop, add a fragile ethereal beauty from England, mix with two bad guys:   one an albino creep with a history of killing the girlfriend of the cop who is the mother of his child and the guy who introduced him to the girl, who happens to be the brother-in-law creep of the girl and she is terrified of him; shake with the FBI, a case of identity confusion, and some more bad guys; and add missing mob money then toss with very good writing and bake.  That makes this wonderful book.

            There is mystery, romance, best buds, a cute as a button kid, family, mobsters, kidnapping, torture, lots of getting hurt for the poor cop, and lots of interrupted loving.

            I give this book 5 out of 5 clouds.   

This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.