Review: The Mephisto Kiss

The Mephisto Kiss by Trinity Faegen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



4.5 Stars!


GoodReads Synopsis: The eyes never lie. No one’s eyes are darker than Eryx. Not even the Devil’s.

When Jax and Sasha first see Jordan Ellis, they know she is no ordinary teenager. She’s the daughter of the President after all, but she’s also Anabo – a descendant of Eve.

What they don’t know is that Eryx plans to kidnap Jordan and force President Ellis to pledge his soul. If Eryx’s plot succeeds, the consequences would be catastrophic.

But the Mephisto brothers do know about Jordan’s secret identity. And for one of them, she could be the match that leads to their soul’s salvation.

Now it’s a desperate race against time to save Jordan and prevent Eryx’s haunting eyes from discovering her true identity.

My Thoughts: If you can put this book down after the first chapter, I will eat my hat. Talk about something grabbing you and not letting go?!? Holy Hannah!

I really wondered what this book was going to feature. I figured the story could go one of two ways…we could 1) Continue with Jax and Sasha or 2) Read about one of the other brothers. I can’t say that I had a preference for which way it was going to go because I enjoyed the first book, Mephisto Covenant, so much.

I’m here to tell you, it was option 2. This story centered around brother #2, Key, and it was quite a story! In learning about Key, we also learned a lot more about Eryx than we ever knew from Mephisto Covenant…and it was typical sibling stuff all of us with sibs have to deal with, just no escaping it I guess.

I dare say I enjoyed this book even more than Mephisto Covenant. Key was a total dichotomy…the person he projected was completely different than what was inside and a lot of it came from taking on the mantle of “oldest” once Eryx fell. Jordan was just what he needed and they complimented each other beautifully. Jordan was incredibly strong on the outside and made all her decisions based on the whole rather than herself. AND, Jordan and Key did not have a case of “insta-love”, which seems to be the case in the vast majority of YA books. The ending of this one was something completely unexpected as well! Hadn’t seen that one coming in a million years!

Now the question is where will the next book go? Will it follow Phoenix? Or, will it follow another brother allowing the Phoenix sub-plot a chance to grow a bit? Hmmm…can’t wait to read the next installment!




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Review: The Shadow Cats

The Shadow Cats by Rae Carson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness. And it was not Alodia.

Alodia is the crown princess of the realm. The sister who knows how to rule, and the one who is constantly reminded that she has not been marked for a grand destiny. But Alodia has plans, and she will be the greatest queen her people have ever known. So she travels--with her hopeless, naïve, chosen sister--to a distant part of their land, to begin to secure her supporters. This region needs its princesses, for it is plagued with a curse. The crops don't grow, the spring doesn't arrive, and a fierce jaguar stalks the shadows, leaving only empty homes splashed with blood behind. If Alodia can save them, no one will be able to deny her strength and her sovereignty.

But what she discovers could change the fate of her kingdom, if not her world. And it will most certainly change her opinion of her younger sister.

My Thoughts: This was a novella that takes place before the events of “Girl of Fire and Thorns”. It was an opportunity to get to know Elisa’s sister a bit better. This also had the first chapter of the next book in the series, “The Crown of Embers”. We didn’t learn anything new or earth-shattering, but it was a quick read and a good story.




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Review: Perception

Perception by Kim Harrington

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: When you can see things others can't, what do you do when someone's watching you?

Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.

Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.

But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back?

One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared

My Thoughts: I love this series! It’s not a traditional mystery, it’s way more fun!

In this installment we have some common threads from the previous book, Clarity, that weave through this one. I love the subplots that continue in the background, they keep me coming back for more…kind of makes me feel like I’m part of the family.

Since “Clarity” took place during the Summer, Perception starts out shortly thereafter and Clare is in school. In previous years Clare has been perceived as an “odd ball”, but after helping to solve the murder from the Summer, the “cool” kids are paying her more attention. Clare also seems to have a secret admirer/stalker. Add to this the fact that a Senior has gone missing and Clare’s got a lot on her plate.

Maybe I was a bit slow reading Perception, but I didn’t figure it out until just before Clare did…that doesn’t happen to me very often. I find this series to be so much fun. Lots of twists and turns, very likeable, flawed, HUMAN characters, some with extraordinary gifts, all of them with great personal stories. I sincerely hope Harrington can find the creativity needed to keep this series going for a long time to come.




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Review: Timekeeper

Timekeeper by Alexandra Monir

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: When Philip Walker appears as a new student in Michele Windsor's high school class, she is floored. He is the love she thought she lost forever when they said goodbye during her time travels last century. Overjoyed that they can resume the relationship they had a lifetime ago, Michele eagerly approaches him and discovers the unthinkable: he doesn't remember her. In fact, he doesn't seem to remember anything about the Philip Walker of 1910.

Michele then finds her father's journals, which tell stories of his time-traveling past. As she digs deeper, she learns about his entanglement with a mysterious and powerful organization called the Time Society and his dealings with a vengeful Windsor ancestor. Michele soon finds herself at the center of a rift over 120 years in the making, one whose resolution will have life-or-death consequences.

My Thoughts: It’s been way too long since I’ve read Timeless! I’m so glad I was able to get a galley copy of Timekeeper!

Before starting Timekeeper, do yourself a favor and make sure you read the novel Monir put out called, “The Secrets of the Time Society”. If you don’t, the beginning of Timekeeper will be very confusing.

This was a sweet conclusion to Michele and Philip’s love story. We learn about how Philip is suddenly enrolled in Michele’s high school, as well as the answers to many other questions. And the story ended in such a way that there could be further time-travel adventures for Michele…but I don’t think so.




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Review: Secrets of the Time Society

Secrets of the Time Society by Alexandra Monir

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: There exists a secret society where one's ability to travel through time is "gifted" to members only by blood. Those who try to enter the society quickly come to realize that time is a force not to be reckoned with. Alexandra Monir's short story exclusive eBook, SECRETS OF THE TIME SOCIETY, sheds light upon the world created in her novel, TIMELESS, and forecasts the fate that lies ahead for its protagonist, Michele Windsor. Now that Michele is gifted, there are some who will do anything to take that power away.

My Thoughts: I’m so glad I had this novella on hand. When Timekeeper started out I felt like I was missing something. I remembered this novella and read it before diving back into Timekeeper. The Time Society plays a large part in Timekeeper and this provides the back story. It could have been done within Timekeeper, but this was short and read fast, answering the questions that the beginning of Timekeeper left me with. Anything to feed my time-travel addiction is a good thing.




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July Round-Up

I don't think I did a round up for June now that I think about it. It was a tough month and I completely spaced it. But here are the books I read for July:

Review: Awful First Dates: Hysterical, True, and Heartbreakingly Bad

Awful First Dates: Hysterical, True, and Heartbreakingly Bad by Sarah Z. Wexler

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Goodreads Synopsis: "He spills out a pile of pennies all over the table, telling me he fished through the couch for change to pay for his big night out."
From the guy who chews on rocks to the one who has his mom tag along, Awful First Dates is filled with hilarious, cringe-worthy, holy-crap-did-that-really-happen? stories from celebrities like Lauren Conrad and Michael Kors, you'll laugh, you'll cringe-and most importantly-you'll feel better about some of the date's you've been on
-He ate an entire bowl of dip with his fingers.
-He said, "I think we should hang out in the woods and just groove on each other."
-About thirty minutes in, he paused, took a sip of win, and then said, "So, can we go have sex now?"

My Thoughts: LOL...read this in one sitting. As someone who didn't go on a ton of first dates before finding my hubby, thankfully none were anywhere near as bad as the ones described in this book. I cringed throughout the book...it astounds me how tacky and totally clueless some people can be. And this is a great example.



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Review: The Watchers

The Watchers by Jon Steele

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: Meet Marc Rochat, a man-child who has devoted his life to being the bell ringer at the Gothic Lausanne Cathedral, one of the greatest architectural structures in the world. Eerie things have been going on in and around his church, including tremblings in the underground crypt and a variety of gruesomely murdered bodies showing up in nearby streets. Across the square from the cathedral lives Katherine Taylor, a beautiful young American woman who is making phenomenal money as one of the highest-priced call girls in Switzerland; she's a bit too introspective for her own good and, unfortunately, much too observant of her clients' peccadilloes. Rochat's and Taylor's lives collide with Jay Harper, a British private eye who has been sent to investigate the killings and other strange doings; alas, he has no memory of who hired him or precisely why he was chosen for the job. And now all the clues are pointing skyward, where fallen angels are said to haunt Lausanne.

My Thoughts: OK…I have to say that this was very slow starting. I can honestly say I fought to get through the first 1/3 of the book. But once we had all the back story out of the way, the real story really picked up. Also I can see where this could become a series…although I can’t find any indication that is to be the case. At almost 600 pages, this book can stand alone.

Jon Steele spent a lot of time building the world of the Cathedral…where most of the story takes place. I must admit after reading this book, seeing this cathedral is now on my bucket list. Equally fascinating was the references to the Book of Enoch which was part of the Dead Sea Scrolls and it is the framework for the angelic part of the storyline.

Mark Rochat is, in my opinion, the main character. He is one of those people who are often referred to as “slow”. He is aware of his limitations, “I’m not so good with words and numbers” he says, but more importantly, he is the type of person who only sees the good in others and fosters that goodness.

Jay Harper is our intrepid investigator. He seems a little slow on the uptake, like he’s operating in a fog, but nothing gets past him. He is our “hero”, though he would be the last one to think so. Eventually he is able to shake off the fog and figure out what is truly going on. I found him snarky and sarcastic…LOVED him!

Kathryn Taylor is our “Damsel in Distress” and she is a “Hot Mess” and then some. On the lam from the IRS, she is cashing in on her Playboy “fame” and working as a high-class call girl in Switzerland. And like most literary call girls, she finds herself in a mess of her own making and can’t quite figure out how to get out of it. Kathryn is a shallow twit who thinks of no one but herself. That is until Rochat and Harper enter to save the day.

If you can stick it out through the first 150 pages or so, I think the book is worth the time and effort. Most of the info from that beginning does come full circle and is necessary by the time you come to the ending. You just have to decide if the writing and storyline engages you enough to hang on. Personally if there is a possibility of angelic involvement, I will usually stick it out…and since Steele is a gifted writer and storyteller, I’m glad I hung in there.




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Review: The Syndicate

The Syndicate by Shelena Shorts

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: For centuries, the Petrescu family has been protecting society from a danger that moves among the population undetected. Eighteen-year-old Vasi Petrescu has never had a problem carrying out his duty, but, when ordered to eliminate an eighteen-year-old girl, he is immediately taken out of his comfort zone.

The Syndicate has never targeted a female before, yet somehow this one has ended up on more than one hit list. Vasi would like to find out why, but there may not be time.

Now, he'll have to decide whether or not to keep her alive even if it means going against his own family.

The action, mystery, and conspiracy in The Syndicate will take readers on an immersing journey in which decisions are not only life changing, but irreversible.

My Thoughts: This book used one of my favorite tricks to hook the reader…mystery. The reader doesn’t completely comprehend who and/or what the Syndicate and Hybrids are. So I had to keep reading to see what the deal was. By the time you do learn the answers to that question, others have replaced it and keep you reading.

Vasi is portrayed as a young man fighting an internal struggle between the integrity his parents instilled in him before their death, and the demands of the Syndicate. Most of the time they are in alignment, but at one, crucial, instance they are not. Vasi is a strong character with strong character. I wasn’t as big on Riley, I found her whiney…but loved how Vasi dealt with her.

I enjoyed this story immensely. It was a quick, one-sitting read. And one of the few I wouldn’t mind if they turned it into a series.




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Review: Romeo Redeemed

Romeo Redeemed by Stacey Jay

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Romeo was plucked out of the end of “Juliet Immortal” and asked by Juliet’s nurse and Ambassador of Light, if he wanted a chance to redeem himself. If so, he would have 3 days in an alternate reality, where he would be back in the body of Dylan Stroud and he would have to get Ariel to “believe in love”. Which might be kind of tough considering the bet he had with his friends. Romeo jumps at the chance for redemption.

This book, like Juliet Immortal, had flashbacks to 1300’s Verona…and Juliet waking up in her tomb with the wicked Friar waiting for her. Which totally contradicted the end of Juliet Immortal…it was confusing and frustrating.

Outside of the aforementioned contradiction, I liked Romeo Redeemed. I love stories of redemption and let’s face it, Romeo was dripping with charm! It would be hard for anyone to resist him…*swoon*. Where all that charm could have been very smarmy, it turned out very sincere as Romeo realized he was falling for Arial and that his love for her is what was driving him and all his decisions. He was totally redeemed for me!

Arial I was not a fan of. I would have like to better understand how she could have such a huge impact on either side. She was a little too fragile and whiny! The speed at which she would believe the worst about Romeo made my faith in her dwindle to nothing. I guess I don’t care for characters with no spine and Arial had no backbone what so ever.




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