Monday, October 13, 2014

The Me You See by Shay Ray Stevens (Brandi's Review)


The Me You See 
Shay Ray Stevens



Summary:

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. 


Dead. 



Wait. I'm...dead. 



And now they will never see the truth. Because when you're dead, you are only the stories that people tell about you. This is the story of me. This is the story of the me you see. 



** 



After six people are shot at a small town community theater, people gather to attend the funeral of one of the victims: seventeen-year-old Stefia. As those who knew Stefia best privately share their memories of her, we discover a collective picture of a girl everyone loved but no one really knew. 



Who was Stefia? Who knew her best? And why was she targeted in the shooting? 



Enter stage right and prepare for the dark brilliance found in Author Shay Ray Stevens' gripping new novel THE ME YOU SEE. Ms. Stevens will captivate you as she explores the tainted shadows hiding in plain sight on the stage of life. 



When shadows are scattered by spotlight, who will you choose to see?



Brandi's Review:

**I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review**
Sometimes I get stuck in a rut. It feels like I am reading the same story line over and over again with different characters in a series.  Then you have an Author like Shay Ray Stevens come along. This isn't my first rodeo with her, and I hope it won't be my last.

The Me You See follows Stefia's story through the eyes and minds of those who thought they knew her. As you follow each character, you learn a little more about Stefia and how her life affected each person differently. It made me think....a lot. We all are different, and each person we encounter sees us in a different way, but do we really know anyone at all? Once I started reading, I couldn't think of anything else. I just wanted to soak up every ounce of Stefia's story. I wanted to shout from the rooftops! I need someone to analyze every moment of this book with me so we can talk details....spoilers! 

If you are looking for a breathe of fresh air in a thrilling and captivating standalone, then you need to read The Me You See. Once you read it, we need to talk because I won't ever forget this story and I bet you won't either.


I give The Me You See 5 stars.....only because I can't give it more!

Friday, September 19, 2014

The Tin Man By Nina Mason (Stefani's Review)

THE TIN MAN

BY: NINA MASON





Summary:

The last thing Alex Buchanan, the editor-in-chief of a formidable news site, expects as he looks around the newsroom at the bodies of his editors, is that he’ll soon be teaming up with The Ball Buster to solve the crime and stay alive. Well, maybe not the last thing. The last thing he expects is to fall for her or any other woman. Because he’s The Tin Man–a suit of armor without a heart.

Or so he believes…

The Ball Buster is his private nickname for Thea Hamilton, a smart, gutsy, and insecure investigative reporter for The New York News, America’s newspaper of record. They went out once years ago–an unmitigated disaster during which she jumped all over his case about smoking.

When events force them together, they embark on an emotion-charged, high-octane quest for the truth, ending up in bed, but also in the clutches of a sociopathic corporate raider. “Zeus” is obsessed with James Bond and owns a hardcore S & M club in an old fallout shelter. Is he the killer? And, if so, what’s his motive? What he hopes to gain by torturing the journalists is clearer: the proof they’ve uncovered of a corporate takeover scheme that threatens the future of democracy. And he’ll stop at nothing to get it.


My Review:

Well, first I want to say that I loved this book.  It is out of my usual genre, but it was an awesome read.  I could not put it down.  My reading app kept reminding me that I needed to take 60 seconds and look around to give my eyes a break! This book is full of everything it promises.  

Action, politics, a little romance… all wrapped in one convenient package: The Tin Man



Rating:    5 stars




Friday, August 8, 2014

If I Stay by Gayle Foreman (Brandi's Review)


Summary:


Just listen, Adam says with a voice that sounds like shrapnel.


I open my eyes wide now.
I sit up as much as I can.
And I listen.

Stay, he says.

Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones: Stay true to her first love—music—even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind?

Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it's the only one that matters.

If I Stay is a heartachingly beautiful book about the power of love, the true meaning of family, and the choices we all make.



Brandi's Review:



I found out about this book while I was watching the trailers for The Fault in Our Stars. After watching it and knowing that I was still going to be in the mood for "that" kind of story, I picked up If I Stay. I was very ready to get right to it....tissues in hand and eyes ready to cry. 


We open by meeting Mia and learning about the various quirks of the members of her family. I loved how her Mom and Dad, during the opening scenes as well as flashbacks that we are given throughout the book, are seen as more of a modern, musical, hipster type of family. Mia is the odd one out, preferring classical to punk and cello to guitar, but even in that, you fully grasp the love in the family, wholly and unconditional.

After circumstances change within minutes, less time than the duration of a song which was playing before, during, and after the crash, we follow along as Mia is grasping what just happened. We follow as she struggles to decide, stay or go. The emotion that is exuded from the different characters is real and palpable. Mia's Gramps, in particular, tugged at my heartstrings. His strong silence and few words make the biggest impact for me. 

There were a few things that I did not care for. Overall, even though I enjoyed the book, it felt a bit monotone for me. I wanted to see more conflict within Mia. This is the biggest choice of her life....literally. Also, I found Adam endearing. I really liked him, but I felt the antics that were done to see Mia would have been actually extremely disrespectful in a real life situation. All I could think about during that scene is how I would have felt if I were the surviving members of Mia's family. There was a much more simple way to go about it. I guess it just shows immaturity of the character.

I gave 4 stars!



Thursday, August 7, 2014

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson (Brandi's Review)

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  Summary: 


Before Neverland faded into myth, it was a remote and dangerous island filled with deadly mermaids, psychotic pirates, and watchful faeries. And before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair . . . Tiger Lily.

When fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily meets the alluring teenage Peter deep in the forbidden woods, the two form a bond that's impossible to break, but also impossible to hold on to. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. With her betrothal to another man and deadly enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies lurk inside even the most loyal and loving heart.


Brandi's Review:

I came across Tiger Lily during one of the many takeovers or giveaways I have attended. When I first read the description, I was immediately drawn in, I could not stop thinking about this book. I am a sucker for the untold stories that outline and make up my beloved stories, especially when you give me one surrounding a story I have loved nearly all my life. Tiger Lily is an outcast in her village. She is seen as odd and weird, not conforming to the norms set by the tribe. She is as tough as any boy but strong and silent. Through a few chance happenings, they also come to believe Tiger Lily is one to fear. Tiger Lily is finally betrothed to Giant, who is mean and cruel to her, as a way to try to settle her down. During a chance encounter, she meets Peter Pan. I loved watching their romance bud and bloom, but when Tiger Lily has to break a promise to meet Pan it sets course for a rift in their relationship. Wendy comes to Neverland during Tiger Lily's absence and everything Tiger Lily and Peter Pan have ever known changes. This is very little like the "fairy tale" story that I grew up with, this to me shows such a different and more realistic side to a beloved tale. I felt that I was right there with Tiger Lily during all the different emotions and stages in her life. If you are expecting a sweet love story, then you will be mistaken here. If you want an emotional ride, you have come to the right place. I absolutely love a few lines in the book, which I feel describes it perfectly,"Let me tell you something straight off. This is a love story, but not like any you've heard. The boy and girl are far from innocent. Dear lives are lost. And good doesn't win."


      I gave Tiger Lily 5 stars!

Seeing is Believing by Michelle Graves (Brandi's Review)


Summary:


The life of a Seer isn't for the faint of heart. I should know. Mine has been one of upheaval for the past few years, what with the downfall of the lab, the recent exile from the Council, and a future that is suddenly becoming painfully clear.

With Izzy missing, and the darkness still looming, I know what must be done. I have to go to the Order, find a way to bring Izzy back, and get to the bottom of what is really happening with this darkness business. 

I'm just not sure how to do that when Ian is haunted by his past, Revenants are out to make me one of their own, and the dreaming keeps trying to reject me


Brandi's Review:

I have hardly been able to contain myself as I waited for more books in The Izzy Chronicles! I was so excited when I had the opportunity to read an ARC of the newest release! In Seeing is Believing, we get to see a little part of the story from Molly and Ian's point of view. What is going on now that Izzy isn't there? I always felt like Molly was strong, and this just proves it. As her powers grow, so must she and she does it with such maturity. Also, getting to have more history on Ian brought so many things to light, but also exposed his weaknesses. Molly and Ian grow together so much and that makes me so happy to see them leaning on one another, yet so sad to see a beloved Ian so broken and needing. Molly steps up to the plate in every way possible. If you are like me and are waiting on the edge of your seat for more of the Izzy Chronicles, then do yourself a favor and pick up this short story and get a little bit of a fix and fall more in love with everyone in the series.

I gave it 5 stars!!!


Need to catch up on the Izzy Chronicles? You can get them below. Start with See How She Runs, which is FREE! So what are you waiting for?


Redemption By Heather Gray (Stefani's Review)






Summary:


Murder, mayhem, marriage, and a horse named Mutiny...

Minnie's impulsiveness has been getting her into trouble her whole life. She never expected it to land her on a suspect list for murder, though. With nothing left but a few trunks of possessions and her own defeat, Minnie leaves San Francisco behind and returns home. In an effort to protect her family and friends, she keeps them in the dark about the ongoing investigation and the possibility that danger may have followed her to Larkspur. When events force her to trust someone with her secrets, she turns to the sheriff and finds both a friend and an ally.

It may have been four years since he last saw Minnie, but how could he ever forget her? When Art finds her sneaking through a back alley in town, he knows somethings wrong. The once vivacious Minnie is a mere shadow of her former self, all sparkle gone from her eyes. Art knows that time spent with her will be dangerous to his heart, but he can't turn Minnie away. Even if it means protecting her from her own impetuous decisions, he vows to keep her safe.

In her attempt to take responsibility for her own choices, Minnie shut out her friends, family, and God. An unsolved murder isn't all that's chasing Minnie, though. Will she find her way back to the heart of her faith before it's too late?



My Review:


…..I received this book in exchange for an honest review…

Minnie doesn't have the greatest track record with good decisions in her life.  She has one lead her to the next and then her life is upside down on a ship that seems to be sinking.  When she has to return to her hometown she thinks that everyone will see through the lies and judge her as an outcast.  It is hard to be a completely unforgivable person.  What Minnie doesn't realize is that in life, we are not alone.  We are surrounded by those who will willingly help us if we let them.  This is a hard thing to do for her to do and even more so for ourselves.  It doesn't have to be this way.  There is forgiveness available for those who feel it is not available to them.

This was a delightful read for me.  I even found myself talking about it to the hubby.  THAT shows that it was an all-around good book.  There was suspense and love and family; very well rounded excitement.  It covered many areas of interest in book genres (not just romance).




My Rating: 4 stars



Saturday, August 2, 2014

Romancing the Dustman's Daughter by Ruth J. Hartman


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Summary:

Augustus Sinclair has a broken heart. His betrothed has dropped him for his best friend. Former best friend. When he meets Anne Balfour, though, he questions whether he'd ever really been in love with his fiancé. Some of Anne’s reactions to what he considers everyday activities are puzzling, but that doesn't stop him from falling head over heels for the first time in his life. 

Anne Balfour is amazed to be a guest at the Shrewsbury’s, one of Mayfair’s most well-to-do families - even if the circumstances are less than ideal. Still, she can't help but get caught up in the excitement of society life. Especially when in the company of Augustus Sinclair. He makes her believe in love and romance, even if she is just the dustman’s daughter. 


Brandi's Review: 

Anne is a humble young lady as the daughter of the Dustman when one day, her scheming father thrusts her into a less than ideal situation. Suddenly thrown into the world of high society, how will she adapt?

Augustus is broken hearted. His fiance left him for his best friend and he seems to have lost interest in his former friends and world. One day he has a chance meeting with Anne and everything changes. How will Augustus react when he learns that Anne is not one of their own and is actually a poor young lady? Will he care?
A quick, easy, and light read when you just need a bit of historical romance. At only .99, it is worth your afternoon!

I gave it 4 stars!


Friday, July 25, 2014

The Falling of Love by Marisa Oldham




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Summary:



You will never forget your first date, your first kiss, or your first love. You will also never forget how it felt when it was torn apart. 


Seventeen-year old Grace Hathaway does not give much thought to falling in love, until the day that Ian Taylor, rebel and misfit walks into her math class. From their first conversation, Grace is mesmerized by Ian's charisma and rock star façade. 

Ian Taylor, a seventeen-year old kid from the wrong side of the tracks tries to ignore the feelings he has for Grace, but is captured by her caring, non-judgmental personality from the moment they meet. Grace becomes Ian's everything and there is nothing he will not do for her. Hurting her was never part of his plan. 

“The Falling of Love” will take you on a sweet, emotional journey of two young adults falling in love for the first time, and then tear your heart apart when that love is threatened by dishonesty and betrayal. 


Brandi's Review:



I won a copy of this book during a giveaway. I got in the mood for what I thought was going to just be a sweet love story so I picked it up.. Quick and easy....right? I got so much more! Quick? Yes, I couldn't put it down. I told myself that I was just going to read for 30 minutes before bed last night and the next thing I know, I am finished with The Falling of Love and hungering for more!  Easy? No! Now, I am not saying it was hard to read or the style is poor...not at all. I am saying that at times Marisa rips your heart from your chest, this was not your cookie cutter romance. I may have an inside view to the music world with a musician for a husband in real life. I have seen what fame can do to people. That may have attached me to this story even more. I can fully relate to being 17 and in love....deep crazy love...with a musician. I remember us always talking about him making it and I remember when local fame started knocking at our door. Fast forward nearly 13 years later and we survived the odds, but what about Grace and Ian? Is his love for her enough for him to pick up the pieces as fame swallows him up? Is her love for him enough to save him? This book follows a real life feeling and situation to me. I loved it so much. I loved, laughed, cried, and picked up pieces with Grace. 



I gave it 5 stars!



Thursday, July 24, 2014

Haven by Stevie Kopas (Breadwinner Trilogy #2)(Brandi's Review)

20809918

Summary:

The end of the world is not glamorous. The survivors of The Breadwinner have barely escaped the clutches of the undead and are headed into the unknown, continuing their never ending search for solace in the post-apocalyptic landscape they were suddenly thrust into. The city of Haven, once a paradise for the living, but now crawling with the flesh hungry creatures they try so hard to elude, could be their only chance. Resume your post-apocalyptic survival adventure with Veronica, Samson and Ben as they struggle with hope and loss, and as they battle the futility of existence. Take on a new experience as you find yourself once more at the beginning, thrown into the depths of the end of the world with new survivors. Join Michelle and Lulu, ordinary women faced with extraordinary obstacles on their devastating journey and the pursuit of sanctuary in a world collapsed. 


Haven continues the story of The Breadwinner with the addition of new territory, new characters, and new complications. The second book in The Breadwinner Trilogy will leave you stunned and bloodthirsty for the conclusion of the series. Who you once were still does not determine who you will become in the face of catastrophe, especially in Haven.






Brandi's Review:

The end of the world as we know it has come. A sickness has swept over and claimed nearly everyone, turning them into eaters. Samson, Veronica, Ben, and the rest of their group seems to have escaped the madness....or did they? When they awake the next morning drifting on the boat they escaped on, a chance encounter with a lone survivor in a resort off the shore gives them a new safe haven. When they all form a plan to scout a nearby strip mall for supplies and survivors, new encounters change everything. Will these new survivors they meet provide safety and comfort in numbers, or are they just as dangerous as the world outside? 
I have enjoyed both of the books that are currently available in this trilogy. We get to see how extreme situations affect and change people. Who are truly good and evil at heart. I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know exactly what was going on. What was going to happen next?! We are left with a shocker of a cliffhanger and I can't wait to see how the group reacts to it in the final book. If you haven't already, pick up The Breadwinner so you can get absorbed in it and move on in to Haven!

I gave 4 stars!


Saturday, July 19, 2014

We are not alone By Angela Fattig (Stefani's Review)






Summary:

‘The world in 2044, filled with hate and corruption, finds that the ‘God’ of the Bible is not what He appears to be or is ‘He’. 


Dr. Jay Winder, a man with a secret unknown to even him, alongside Dr. Mandi Stevens must work with a government he disagrees with in order to save the human race from extinction. 

Faced with said extinction, he finds love in a burning world filled with rubble, ash, death, and betrayal. 

Does he have the strength, and can he find the will to overcome his past and vanquish the enemy in time? Or will he allow his secret and the betrayal to cause their demise?



My Review:



I received this book in return for an honest review.


The world is coming to an end in the worst possible way imaginable and it seems that the world is helpless to fight against it. Dr. Jay Winder, however, seems to be the only one with a plan. Having researched theories for years on end, he and a team of colleagues have to race against the clock to change the fate of the human race. There are twists and surprises that you never see coming. Even when you think you have it figured out, things are NOT what they seem to be.

This book isn't your normal run of the mill mainstream genre material. Angela Fattig takes this futuristic US and carefully lays out the plan for it's fate. Even though it was not my normal type of read, it was very interesting to see the path that Angela was unraveling before our very eyes. Being Book One (1) of Three (3), I am looking forward to the next one in this series.



My Rating:   4 stars 





Welcome to Luna's Review Blog!

We are so happy that you ventured across our blog. 

We are Brandi and Stefani, two sisters (in-law) reviewing books like crazy! 


Join us as we review ALL genres of books so that you can better decide which ones to put on your TBR (To Be Read, in case you're a newbie) list. 



We also welcome authors who are looking for reviewers as well. Feel free to email us with requests, suggestions, and overall feedback.



Thursday, July 17, 2014

The Places I Never Meant to Go By Shay Lynam (Stefani's Review)







Summary:

Tyler works a dead end, 9-5 job by day and drinks himself stupid by night. When the girl he has been talking to online for several months is suddenly on the 6 o' clock news, Tyler finds himself driving across the country in hopes of finding her. In search of the only thing he's ever really cared about, he will learn what it means to fight for something in his life that actually matters instead of letting life pass him by.




My Review:

....I received a copy for an honest review...


Tyler is lost and alone in this world. The problem is that he thinks he is doing just fine. Drinking and women and a dead end job, his contentment is just barely getting him by day to day. His friend Paul wants to see him be a better man, but the first step to getting better is to admit that you have a problem and Tyler is nobody's fool. When his only 'emotional attachment' is becomes unreachable, he has to go find her. No matter where it takes him. A long road trip and a lot of soul searching bring to the realization of many things he never wanted to know.

This story is sad and heart-wrenching. You see thing through the eyes if this neglected boy (now a young man) who is struggling to find out what life is all about. Hurt and searching for the one thing that he never thought he had, love. I had to stop and think after the end of the story. I got to the song list and listened to the songs that Shay chose, and found them all saying what I felt at different points in the story. Well done, Shay, well done.


My Rating:  5 stars




Wednesday, July 16, 2014

The Breadwinner by Stevie Kopas (The Breadwinner Trilogy #1) (Brandi's Review)

18210114


Summary:

The end of the world is not glamorous. In a matter of days the human race was reduced to nothing more than vicious, flesh hungry creatures. This three part story takes you into the world of the survivors, coming from different generations and different sides of the tracks, they all share one thing in common: who you once were can no longer determine who you will be in the face of catastrophe. 

Samson, a once wealthy and powerful criminal defense attorney struggles to keep his family safe and keep his sanity intact when the world comes apart at the seams. Veronica, the high school track star races to get her brother out of the city and into the safety of Franklin Woods. Along the way we come across the struggles of finding solace, finding out who you really are, and making decisions in a post apocalyptic world. The Breadwinner is a three part story and the first book in a planned series that will leave you craving more.


Brandi's Review:

Have you ever wondered if everyone you knew suddenly started getting "sick" how you would react? If the world around you suddenly went into panic mode because of this sickness, would you panic also? While everyone else seems to be eating each other, we meet a group of fighters. Sam was a lawyer before everyone went mad. He relied on his smooth talking to provide a lavish life for his wife and 2 children. Now, Sam has to become street smart or be eaten. Veronica was a normal high school girl who lived with her Dad and brother. Luckily, she was also on the track team which is a big advantage as she tries to stay alive. We watch as the world around them goes to hell. They both only know one thing to do.....survive. In a chance encounter, Sam and Veronica find each other and make a plan to get away from the area, hopefully to a place that is safe. Along the way, we meet Ben, Andrew, Clyde, and Jasmine. They all end up coming together to form the final group. A group that under normal circumstances would never have come together. The greatest question of all is who will survive and who will be eaten! 

I really enjoyed reading this book. Even though it is a trilogy, I do believe it would also work as a stand alone without taking away from the story, which is refreshing because so many series leave on such a dramatic cliffhanger that you don't have much choice. I love that Stevie allows you to connect with the characters and decide for yourself if you want to find out what happens next. 

I gave 4 stars!


Tuesday, July 15, 2014

The Fault in Our Stars (Stefani's Review)





Summary:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.



My Review:


Well, be still my breaking heart(again)...

Life is real, Cancer is real, and Death is real. How can you fight what you cannot touch? You do the best you can while holding on to hope again all hopes that this time the doctors can get it right. While you wait, do you just mull over the truth of it all or live life to the fullest. Hazel and Gus have a chance meeting at a support group for past and present cancer patients. As Hazel watches one by one members of her group succumbing to the disease, she figures her number is going to be up soon. But, in life you never know what the road ahead holds for you, you just have to remember to stop and contemplate the stars.


My Rating:

 5 Stars






Burning Embers by Evi Asher (Brandi's Review)

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Summary:

Born a pyro destined to die in her own flames, but raised a human, Scarlet is unwittingly thrust into the world of the Eternals, where she hurtles toward her ultimate fate. 



A vision of a woman dying in flame has haunted Archer from his childhood, so when he learns about the rare pyro, he appoints himself her protector. How do you protect someone when everyone is out to kill or capture her, and how do you protect her when the greatest chance of dying runs in her own veins?




Brandi's Review:

I received a copy in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed this story. It is a quick and easy read that I completed within a day. When we first enter the story, we meet Archer and find out about an eternal being that is very rare. We follow Archer as he searches for Scarlet, the pyro. I also loved the reaction that Archer's inner beast has to Scarlet. What started as simple "bounty hunting" just gave us a new twist.

While we are following Archer, we get to see things from Scarlet's point of view as she is realizing that she has these powers, but she is also in fight or flight mode. She has always had to fend for herself, and these new abilities puts her into ultimate self preservation mode.

We are left with a cliffhanger. I have a love/hate relationship with series. In some cases, I do believe it is needed and a series is the right choice so readers don't become overwhelmed by the sheer size of the story. Sometimes, I feel like the book could have gone on further and possibly cut out the series to have a stand alone. That is what I do wonder about Burning Ember. I believe it will do just fine as a series, but wonder if a stand alone would have been a better choice. That alone does not detour from the fact that it is worth reading and enjoyable. It is a little bit different than the normal paranormal take and that is a good thing!

I gave it 4 stars!

Saturday, July 12, 2014

The Regent's Gamble by A. Payne & N.D. Taylor


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Summary:


Something evil festers in the heart of Manhattan...

Months have passed since Addison Rhydderch's epic battle in Central Park. After awakening to discover that he's the new Regent, he's tasked with protecting the fragile balance between the mundane and the supernatural. It's a job that's easier said than done, even with the aid of a sultry half-dryad who possesses unique talents of her own.

The attraction between them is immediate, powerful, and forbidden, but dark events have plagued Saraia's nature spirit kin. To make matters worse, the fae are on the verge of war with the Magi, and there's a murderer stalking the streets. It's up to Addison to get to the bottom of the mystery, and they must work together to overcome the forces of evil that seek to overtake their world.

Can Addison and Saraia unite Manhattan against this new magical threat... or will the corruption claim everything that they hold dear?



Brandi's Review:




This book is beautifully written. Whereas its size does seem a bit daunting to begin with since it comes in at 600 pages, it is more than worth the time put in to it. Well developed story line and characters that you find yourself attached to. If you love a fantasy or paranormal genre, this book is just for you with Fae, dwarves, nymphs and so much more.  Follow Addison, Saraia, and all the others on this wonderful journey.



I gave it 5 stars!