Archive for the ‘Fiction’ Category
Healing the Faith – Mocked by Faith 2 by Michele Richard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
From the moment, they’d met, Alexia and Justin McNear’s life has been anything but peaceful. Contracted to marry, they never set eyes upon one another until they day they were to say ‘I do’. Yet they were willing to overcome this fact, praying they’d able to trust one another and find the love they’d always been looking for.
For a time, everything was perfect and nothing could come between them. Until the moment their were lives were further thrown into turmoil when they found out they were expecting not one, but two, babies. Life was hectic because of this, but the two were determined to work together in overcoming the trials and tribulations that God was throwing into their path. Read on »
Tags: Adult, Arranged, Arranged Marriages, Books, By, Drama, Faith, Family, Fiction, Healing, Healing The Faith, Marriages, Michele, Michele Richard, Mocked, Mocked By Faith, Reviews, Richard, Romance, The, Young, Young Adult
Posted in Books, Drama, Faith, Family, Fiction, Healing, Reviews, Romance, Young Adult |
Hunters by Gregory Marshall Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Fort Worth, Texas
Louis Riordan, a vicious, yet determined, master vampire rules the city with an iron thumb. Every thing that happens, every movement made – he knows it all. Surrounding himself with only the best, he seeks to extend his reign over the entire vampiric world, regardless of the consequences. His goal – to gain the allegiance of 16 of America’s top master vampires in hopes of achieving an awakening that will further cement his standing within the dominion that he’s created.
The Hunters have been privy to Riordan’s movements for ages, eager to take him down in any way possible. Considered a ragtag group of mercenaries, Riordan and his cohorts think that The Hunters are easy to take down. Little do they know, looks are definitely deceiving.
The group, led by Jesus and Dolores Montoya, has huge bones to pick. The death of their daughter, a necessity that Jesus and Dolores found necessary in order to keep her from harming others after becoming a vampire, is one thing that they resent Riordan for. Hiring the likes of Angelica Morales, a former bodyguard, Marcus Van Niekerk, a formidable, yet very deadly mercenary, Cantrell Ryker, a man who was said to have died so long ago, and several others, with the hopes of crippling Riordan’s empire.
A traitor lies within their midst, one who will stop at nothing. Racing against what little time they have, the groups set out to end the lives of those who’ve Riordan their loyalty. Things start to look sketchy, yet hope is on their side. For they hold the key that may end Riordan’s rule, once and for all.
I absolutely enjoyed this book. Found it very well-written. Gregory adds quite a spin on this vampiric tale that will leave the reader wanting to read more. I hope that some day soon he’ll consider continuing the storyline found within this book. I’d love to know what happens next with the group. Read on »
Tags: Books, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Gregory, Gregory Marshall Smith, Horror, Hunters, Marshall, Paranormal, Reviews, Smith
Posted in Books, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Paranormal, Reviews |
Once A Goddess by Sheila R. Lamb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was such a stirring story. I enjoyed it very much. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series when the time comes.
Although a work of fiction, it was truly wonderful learning about the Túatha dé Danann and of the Fomorians. Not to mention the Fir Bolgs. I kept trying to picture what these ancient races would have been like so long ago. While they are a part of Irish mythology, Sheila was able to paint such a vivid picture of their customs, and of what they were like, that you feel drawn to the lives of all the characters found within her story.
Brigid, who was forced at a young age to uphold a treaty between her people and those of the Fomorians, never really knew what she was getting herself into. Sacrificing all hope of ever finding her anam cara, she reluctantly enters an arranged marriage with Bres, a man who’s the next in line to be chieftain of his race. One who is willing to do anything to maintain his position in all that he does.
Hating the fact that she’s been married off to Bres and sent to spy on the enemy, she does her best to overcome a bitter rivalry with Morrigan, another woman who seeks her husbands attentions, while also trying to maintain the peace within both tribes. As time goes by, she comes to realize that her anam cara does indeed exist. Yet she knows that they can never be. A fact that breaks her heart over and over again.
As tensions rise, and invasion is inevitable, Brigid realizes that there are too many lies and deceptions being played by both sides. Feeling betrayed by those she’s always loved, she finds it difficult to forgive their treachery. Despite this, she resolves to make the best of things, while protecting those that she loves more than life itself. Read on »
Tags: A, Books, Fantasy, Goddess, Historical Fiction, Lamb, Once, Once A Goddess, Paranormal, R., Reviews, Romance, Sheila, Sheila R. Lamb
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Reviews, Romance |
Fugue by J. Joseph Wright
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely loved this story. The twists and turns that the authors offers throughout the books keeps the reader on his, or her’s, toes.
Paul Smith seems like an ordinary guy – quiet, considerate, and just an overall nice guy. But is he really what he appears to be?
He finds himself caught up in his neighbors lives, living each day to hear what Jenn and Dave have to say to one another. It doesn’t matter to him if they’re fighting. Nor does he really care about they’re getting it on. It’s Jennifer that he cares about – Jennifer, the woman who stirs his senses and fires his loins.
His fascination with Jennifer mounts as the days continue passing. He yearns for the sound of her voice. Sitting near the wall to listen attentively whenever she and husband have an argument, Paul finds himself wishing that he could save her, aching to take her away from everything that pains her. His hatred for Dave is evident throughout the story. So much so, that you can practically feel it.
~ Per Author’s Request, please note – SPOILER ALERT! ~
When Dave murders his wife, it’s Paul’s last straw. He does his best to try and save her, even though he knows that he’s too late. His mind fragments and he refuses to believe that Paul and Dave are one and the same, living each day believing that the other man is someone else entirely.
Yet at the end of day, he knows that he can never escape from the atrocities that he’s committed in the past. Nor can he escape the memory of the woman he’s always loved. A woman he will forever hold close inside his head.
Most of all, he discovers that no matter how much he may want to, he can never rid himself of the knowledge that he is, and always will be, Dave – the man who killed his wife in a fit of jealousy. A man he hates the most. A man buried deep inside of his soul – one whose clutches he will never be able to rid himself of. Read on »
Tags: Books, Fiction, Fugue, Horror, J., J. Joseph Wright, Joseph, Reviews, Wright
Posted in Books, Fiction, Horror, Reviews |
Mocked by Faith by Michele Richard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
While I’ve read religious-themed books before, I confess that this one was completely different from anything that I’ve ever read. It was truly an interesting read and I confess that I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I honestly couldn’t put this book down once I started reading.
I found myself engrossed within the lives of those living within a tightly-knit community where their faith was based around arranged marriages. I’ve heard about this sort of thing before, but never really knew that it was widely practiced here in the States. Yes, I confess it – I did a little research in regards to this sort of practice and what I came across was mind-blowing. Forgive me, I’ve strayed a little from what I want to say, I know, but I assure that it does relate to the book.
As I continued reading the story, I came to know Alexia Cross and her family. I saw her grow alongside Madison and Ginger and tumbled through her bouts of happiness and displeasure at the things that she had to endure in waiting to meet her husband-to-be.
Michele painted such a vivid picture of this tightly-knit community that’s not that hard to envision every moment of it. It’s so easy to become engrossed within each character’s lives. To feel what they felt. To wish for that tiny bit of happiness that would make their world complete.
At times, I felt irked at Justin because he seemed to think more about himself than he did about his wife and child. Yet I can also understand what to drove him into drinking. The atrocities that he endured at the hands of that minister was appalling and I know that it took every ounce of his willpower to deal with everything on his own.
While Alexia may have felt betrayed by his actions and his decision to leave at the very end, I know that she still loved him and perhaps a small part of her did indeed know that he needed to set all of the ghosts within his closet to rest.
His letter at the very end was quite moving. I confess that I wanted to read what happened next. I’m so very looking forward to the next installment of this story: Mocked by Faith – Healing the Faith. This book was such a great read. I hope others enjoy it, as well. Read on »
Tags: Adult, Arranged, Arranged Marriages, Books, By, Faith, Fiction, Marriages, Michele, Michele Richard, Mocked, Mocked By Faith, Richard, Romance, Young, Young Adult
Posted in Books, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult |
