Review: The Lost Heir by Allison Whitmore, Erin Virginia & Grace Arden

Image & description from goodreads.com

Isabella Foxworthy was just another girl…until she learned she was an empath, able to read the energy of others. A secret world known as the Violet City lies beneath her family’s hotel in Los Angeles. Through this discovery, Isabella is catapulted into a whirlwind of magic, adventure, and danger. The Violet City holds the key to protecting her stability; her family hotel, her friends, and her very sanity. With morphlings, empaths, and fair folk also comes a powerful entity that twists her mind into knots, threatening everything she loves. Now, Isabella and her new friends—a guitar-playing jock, his gifted but neurotic brother, and a set of over-indulged twins—have until her 16th birthday to save her world with the help of someone who's been lost for a very long time...the lost Foxworthy heir. But will they find him in time? And will he be a friend or foe?

My Thoughts:
To start let me say that the cover of this book is GORGEOUS!  Moving on to the thick of things...there is a lot, A LOT, going on in this book.  It was over whelming to be honest.  Things moved at such a fast pace that you never really have time to acclimate to all the changes.  Therefore, it seemed like the characters really didn't have any realistic time to adapt to all their changes either.  I liked Isabella, Seth, Micah, Cleo & Xander.  However, the domino effect set in motion by the pace of the story is that there is little room for character & world development.  The world the authors write about sounds amazing but I couldn't really picture it.  The characters were erratic and I never got a feel for them.  The idea of the story is a really good one.  I just wanted to understand it more.  I can't really elaborate more without throwing in spoilers.  Isabella is 15 but she seems more like she's about 12.  Her circumstances from the start seemed confusing.  She lives with her grandmother who she claims doesn't really want her, but yet as the story progresses all her grandmother wants to do is protect her.  Several things just didn't add up.  Even though we clearly find out who the villain of the story is other characters are left a mystery.  And where did Isabellas' grandmother & Theophilus go at the end, then suddenly come back?? 
I could go on & on.  
So, it's not that I didn't like the book .  The story could have been amazing.  I just think this book could have actually been two books with a lot more structure & development.  There is a slight cliff hanger at the end so I know there will be another.  I just don't know if I have the patience to read it.  There's always hope that things will slow down and be explained better in the next one.

I received this book from the publisher through NegGalley for my honest review.

Recommended for readers 12 & up.  Mild language.  

Cover Reveal: Proposals & Poison by Rachelle J. Christensen

Proposals and Poison, Wedding Planner Mysteries book #3 Rachelle J. Christensen “Cozy mystery meets romantic comedy in this fabulous, fast-paced story.” Cami Checketts author of The Resilient One, A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance Love can be a very dangerous thing. At least it seems that way to Adri Pyper, the premier wedding planner in Sun Valley, Idaho. When one of her clients dies mysteriously, Adri takes the advice of the local detective and swears she will stay out of the investigation . . . this time. Luke Stetson's involvement in the case, along with the possibility of a kiss between the two, should be enough incentive to keep Adri out of trouble. But when a dog-themed wedding is almost ruined by a suspect, Adri and her assistant, Lorea, are thrust into private eye mode. When poison enters the picture, even a reluctant sleuth can’t steer clear of danger.   

 

 “Packed with danger and romance, intrigue and entertainment, Rachelle Christensen's Wedding Planner series is romantic suspense that will keep you turning pages late into the night!” --Maria Hoagland, Author of The ReModel Marriage (Romance Renovations series)

Author Rachelle J. Christensen Rachelle is a mother of five who writes mystery/suspense, nonfiction, and women’s fiction. She solves the case of the missing shoe on a daily basis. She enjoys raising chickens and laughing with her husband. She graduated cum laude from Utah State University with a degree in psychology and a minor in music. Rachelle is the award-winning author of ten books, including The Soldier’s Bride (a Kindle Scout Selection), Wrong Number, Diamond Rings Are Deadly Things, What Every 6th Grader Needs to Know, and Christmas Kisses: An Echo Ridge Anthology. Her novella, “Silver Cascade Secrets,” was included in the Rone Award–winning Timeless Romance Anthology, Fall Collection. Rachelle has a VIP mailing list where all subscribers get access to free books, guides, and other resources. Sign up now to hear what exciting news Rachelle has to share. http://eepurl.com/eFD3o

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Series endorsements “Mystery, suspense, murder and romance all intriguingly tied together in one very fun walk-down-the-aisle cozy mystery!”—Shauna Wheelwright, reviewer “I love a great mystery that keeps my interest and keeps the pages turning. I loved the Hawaiian setting, that was a character on its own. As the story progressed, I enjoyed where the author went with the mystery, doing a perfect job of planting the right amount of seeds to try to throw me off the trail of who the killer was.”—Mindy Holt, reviewer   Giveaway Details $25 cash giveaway plus an ebook bundle of the Wedding Planner Mystery Books 1 & 2. (gifted via Amazon) Ends 3/3/16 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Catch Me When I Fall by Vicki Leigh

Image & description from goodreads.com

In 1814, at the age of seventeen, Daniel Graham sacrificed himself to save another. Recruited at his death to be a Protector of the Night, he has spent 200 years as a Dreamcatcher, guarding humans from Nightmares—clawed, red-eyed creatures that feed off people’s fears while they sleep. He’s become one of the best, but he wants nothing more than to stop.

Then he’s given an assignment to watch over sixteen-year-old Kayla Bartlett, a clinically depressed patient in a psychiatric ward. Nightmares love a human with a tortured past. Yet, when they take a deep interest in her, appearing in unprecedented numbers, the job becomes more dangerous than any Daniel’s ever experienced—because someone with the power to control the monsters seems to want her dead.

Driven by his growing feelings for her, he whisks her away to Rome where others like him can keep her safe. Under their roof, the Protectors discover what Kayla is and why someone who can manipulate Nightmares has her in his sights. But before they can make a move, the Protectors are betrayed and Kayla is kidnapped. Daniel will stop at nothing to save her. Even if it means giving up his immortality.

He thought she was just another girl to protect. He was wrong.

My Thoughts:
I liked the concept of the story.  It was original.  I think the history of the dream catchers & weavers could have been expanded on. I also feel like there would have been a bit of divine intervention when hell on Earth breaks out.  I liked Daniel.  I thought he was a great hero.  I think Kayla was a bit naive and some of her reactions to certain events were unrealistic.  Of course my biggest problem with the book was the "insta-love" connection between Daniel & Kayla.  I might have been able to accept it on Daniel's part if he'd been watching over her for at least a few months.  The pace of the story was slow up until about the 1/3 of the book.  This is why it took me so long to read it.  I'd stop & then once I finished another book I'd pick it up again.  Then the pace picked up & things got more interesting.  I don't think I'll read the next book in the series.  The reason being that I just don't connect to these characters & therefor don't really care what happens to them.

2.5 Rating.
For readers 14 & up.  Mild to moderate language, violence & sexual content. 
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Not Always Happenstance by Rachael Anderson

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  Not Always Happenstance by Rachael Anderson Lani has lived in Hana, Hawaii for five years. She’s learned to surf, fish, dive, and manage her grandmother’s bed and breakfast. She’s also learned to take one day at a time the way it should be taken—relaxed and unrushed, savoring every moment. But, like a large wave on the brink of breaking, her life is about to crash out of control. A proposal of marriage, a conniving grandmother, a cryptic Asian woman, and a handsome guest, and suddenly everything calm begins to churn, everything clear becomes confused, and all that was normal segues into peculiar. As Lani struggles against the current to hold her ground, she realizes that she can either continue to fight and eventually lose, or take a take a leap of faith, hold her breath, and ride the wave wherever it takes her. ***This book is part of the Power of the Matchmaker series that features one recurring character—the match maker—but it is a STAND-ALONE novel.***

My Thoughts:
This is the second book in the Power of the Matchmaker series.  I love these books.  I've read several books by Rachael Anderson as well, and they are always some of my favorite reads.  The only recurring character in the books is Pearl.  An almost mystical Asian woman who seems to always know just the right thing to say when you need to hear it most.  
I kind of want to be Lani.  She lives in Hawaii, has an awesome group of friends & can bake bread!  She likes the laid back, easy going life in Hana.  I could see how being close with her grandmother had become so important to her. 
Easton was like the Tasmanian devil tornado swirling in & shaking up Lani's serene, but a bit boring, life. I loved how he challenged her & made her crazy.
The way the supporting characters were great & could just hear their Hawaiian accents come through.  
The books in this series can be read as stand alone novels.  Not Always Happenstance is a sweet, witty & fun read that had me chuckling to myself.  

Recommended for readers 14 & up.  

  Author Rachael Anderson A USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.

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  Blog Tour $50 Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 2/29/16 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway