Review: The Haunting of Ashburn House

The Haunting of Ashburn House by Darcy Coates
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I selected this book during the final hours of a 24 hour readathon. I had the hope it would keep me reading during my hardest hours of the 24. The creepiness of the story certainly did just that. It actually became hard to put down once the readathon ended. However as I needed the sleep, I put it down. When I picked it back up to finish it, (or so I intended), a hilarious thing happened.
I woke in the early morning hours and could not get back to sleep. I decided I would read a bit in bed. The house was completely dark except for my Kindle. My dog was sleeping next to my bed. Now, you need to understand this book is very atmospheric. For me, the creep factor is high. The writing had totally drawn me in and I was transported to Ashburn House. At a part that involved a lone neglected grave and a dead looking body, (I don't want to tell you if they were or were not dead - sorry), I felt my bed suddenly start violently shaking! Being completely disorientated, I was wildly trying to figure out where I was and what was happening. The shaking stopped but my heart was racing. The shaking began again along with the doors loudly rattling and my dog freaking out at nothing I could see. Being fully awake now, I realized we were having an earthquake and the haunt of Ashburn House was not in my room. The earthquake was a 6.3 one so you can imagine how it felt. We are fine but I thought I would share that with you. I know I am not the only one who gets so drawn into a story.
I really enjoyed the story. In my opinion the build up was well timed. We were given a chance to experience Addy getting to know an old house she inherited. We became aware of something being wrong the same as she did. This is what allows us to fall so deeply into the story that we are lost in Ashburn with Addy. I do wish we had a bit more information on Marion. It would have been interesting to know her character better. The gore level was a surprise. In my experience you either get a ton of gore or none with an atmospheric book. I felt the author put the right amount of it in the story.
There is no sex in this book, the violence/gore level was appropriate for the story and there is some mild adult language for those who are interested. I would absolutely recommend this book for teens and up. I am looking forward to reading more work by Darcy Coates.

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Review: Playing for the Save

Playing for the Save by Rachelle Ayala
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is the fourth book in the series. I have not read every book in the series yet. I had no problem with reading this out of order. My experience with the series is that though the books are connected each can be read as a stand alone.
This book touched me deeply. I have grandsons who are on the spectrum. I had custody of one. The author worked very hard to present an accurate picture of what autism can be like. Autism can be different for every person on the spectrum which makes it an extremely difficult subject to write about. I commend the author for her decision to tackle it. Autism is on the rise but whether that is because there are more cases or because there is more awareness is up for debate. My personal opinion is that it is a combination of the two. Ms Ayala, in choosing to write a story where autism is included, helps greatly with awareness. That she chose to make it central to the plot and took pains to make it as accurate as she could, helps greatly with understanding. I am deeply grateful she treated this subject with the attention and care that she did.
Ms Ayala wrote an important story that is heartbreaking yet heartwarming. Reading it will take you on an emotional roller coaster where you will laugh, cry, cheer and boo. You will feel happiness, despair, anger and, above all, hope because hope shines through every page. Those of us who have lived with autism, or are living with it, know it is love and hope that carries us through the bad moments. Understanding from family, friends and especially strangers can change a bad day into a bad moment and leave us feeling supported instead of alone. The story is the story of two people with very real problems who fight for love. It is also the story of a family fighting for love, understanding and acceptance. In my mind, it is one of the most important stories you may read.

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Review: A Ghostly Murder

A Ghostly Murder by Tonya Kappes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Things are heating up in Sleepy Hollow, Kentucky. Is there a serial killer on the loose? Is someone out to get Granny? With the election over you wouldn't think so. But strange things are happening and it is looking like Granny is involved. And what is going on with Emma Lee and Jack Henry? Will their romance survive? Tonya Kappes has written another winner in the Ghostly Southern Mystery series. This series is so entertaining to read you don't notice the time flying by! You don't have to read them in order but it is more fun if you do. They are fast reads and, if you haven't read any of them, I recommend a weekend of binge reading.

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Christmas, Actually Review

Christmas, Actually by Anna Adams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this book! It was a wonderful look at life in Christmas Town Maine. I love how the book consists of three stories by three different authors and all center on one member of the same family. It was truly a delight to read these stories.
The Christmas Gift tells Jack and Sophie's story. Jack is a talented, dedicated surgeon. Sophie is the nurse he was with before returning home to Christmas Town. They were together for two years and have a baby on the way...one Jack was not even considering having. I have to say for a smart woman Sophie was pretty dumb in my opinion. I would think with two years gone by you would have discussed whether or not you want to have children together.
The Christmas Wish tells the story of Callie, Dean and Eliza. It is my favorite from the book. Callie is Jack's sister and a school teacher. She meets Dean, a single father, through a student, Eliza. Eliza hates Christmas and Dean doesn't do a lot to encourage his daughter to love it. Callie is all caught up in Christmas. It is a delightful story that has some hurt, happiness and mischief in it. I love, love, love it!
The Christmas date tells the story of Nick, Gina and online dating. This is a wonderful story. Nick is a handyman who is in love with Gina. Gina has a scar and insecurities that make her feel that it is difficult to find a man to look beyond her face. She decides to try online dating. Will she fall for a man she has never met or will she see that love has been waiting for her?
This book is a wonderful look at a magical time of the year in a town that is all about Christmas. It is absolutely clean reading with no sex scenes or harsh language. Get caught up in the magic that Christmas brings with Christmas, Actually.

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Emma Blooms At Last Review

Emma Blooms At Last by Naomi King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved reading Emma Blooms At Last. It is part of the 'One Big Happy Family' series. I believe it is better to read them in order, so you don't get lost in who is who, but also because story lines get carried over. I love the fact that the previous stories are woven into the new ones. I love being able to visit with old friends and catch up with them while reading the new chapter. I think it is the way the author leaves no one behind that makes this series so special to me. In this book we get the story of Emma. Emma is living at home taking care of her parents. She had been in love but the man married someone else. Now she feels there is no one for her and, due to her hurt at being rejected, fights the prospect of someone else. I think that is a reality for many. You get so caught up in the love you thought was yours that you can't see the love being offered to you. While reading Emma, (and really the other books in this series), I felt like I was there, visiting family. I love when an author can draw you into the story so that you feel a part of it. The story has plenty of emotional moments, some happy and some sad with some where you want to shake someone in frustration. Just like real life. I think what I took from this book is sometimes you need to let go of a dream that isn't working for you so you can embrace your reality. We all need that push at some point. We get so stuck on what we think our life should be that we don't see the opportunities for a new dream, a realistic one. We carry hurts with us and project them unto those who have not hurt us. The fear we hold distorts the reality offered. I really love the way Naomi King brings that message to us in Emma. Another thing I love about this story is that the characters are flawed and not just Emma. Jerome has broken engagements and hasn't committed to the church. Hmm commitment issues for him? I can certainly see why Emma would think twice before trusting him. He may be a good man but he has his issues too. Which is the point...don't we all have issues? It doesn't make us good or bad only human. I think when we look for the "perfect" mate we get in trouble. Emma brings home the message that a perfect mate isn't perfect. As flawed as Jerome and Emma are together they make the perfect couple. Sigh. Isn't that what we all want?

I would highly recommend This book and series, (as well as any written by Charlotte Hubbard/Naomi King), for anyone interested in the Amish lifestyle and/or clean romance. These are books you can trust to make your heart flutter without the pressure to add sex to every date. I love the way the author writes in the sexual feelings we all have but leaves out the falling into bed as soon as I know your name. It is refreshing to know we can have the feelings and longings and not die if we decide not to have sex on the first date. We can say no to ourselves and others without dying. It is a worthy message for many young women who get caught up in the pressures of sex with no commitment. There may be no commitment but there is always a consequence.

I received a copy of this book for review purposes. Thoughts and opinions of the book are my honest feelings of what I read.

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The Heart of Christmas Release News

I am so excited about the release of The Heart of Christmas by Brenda Novak  in just 4 days. 

You can already pre-order this fabulous book on Amazon.com .

Brenda Novak is also offering a $1.00 coupon 

Click over to Amazon if you want to pre-order or clip out the coupon and take it to your favorite store. Be sure to tell your friends about the latest installment from the Whiskey Creek series. 

THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS

Just call her Christmas Eve… Eve Harmon has always enjoyed Christmas, but this year it reminds her of everything she doesn’t have. Almost all her friends are married now, and that’s what Eve wants, too. Love. A husband and kids of her own. But the B and B she manages, and even Whiskey Creek, the small Gold Country town where she was born and raised, suddenly seem…confining. Eve’s worried that her future will simply a reflection of her past. There’s no one in the area she could even imagine as a husband – until a handsome stranger comes to town. Eve’s definitely attracted to him, and he seems to have the same reaction to her. But his darkly mysterious past could ruin Eve’s happily ever after – just when it finally seems within reach. And just when she’s counting on the best Christmas of her life!

For all the exciting news about The Heart of Christmas, The Whiskey Creek Series or any of Brenda Novak's books please go to 

http://www.brendanovak.com/

While visiting her website be sure to check out the contest for your chance to win awesome prizes and the freebies page for fun items. 

After The End by Bonnie Dee

After the End by Bonnie Dee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow. I really wasn't expecting a lot when I requested to review this book. I had never heard of the author and it was listed as a zombie romance type, (romance during the apocalypse not zombies in love - there would be a book: "oh I love you so much because you are so smart. Just let me have one taste of your brains. I promise I'll still love you in the morning and I will stop if you say to." Haha). So I was really surprised to find that I really enjoyed it. Yes the editing could have been better but quite honestly I have read some books lately by the big names and guess what? The editing could have been better. I don't know what is going on with that but it seems to be the start of an issue that is no longer limited to self publishing. I did not find the editing mistakes in this book to hamper my enjoyment of the book. The book is pretty much basic zombie fare - the hero, the female who starts out weak but turns out strong, the ditz, the geek, the guy with the antidote who needs to be kept safe,the older wealthy female, the strong black female and the lesbian couple. The author added in a couple of children, one teen and one younger. I thought she did a good job with getting me to care about the characters. I like the way she pulled them together to help each other but also wasn't afraid to tear them apart. This book delves into the thoughts of our hero. We see the way he is thinking and feeling. I like that the author made him a human hero. He has bad thoughts. He has realistic thoughts. He has tired thoughts and he has typical sexual thoughts. I know a lot of people think sex isn't going to happen in a zombie outbreak, (unless it is rape - which seems to be expected), but the reality is it will. People are people. Attractions will be there and sexual release will happen. I thought Bonnie Dee did a good job with the people she chose as the romantic interests. The timing of the unfolding was paced well. It is a z outbreak. Things happen fast because death is waiting. There is also plenty of action. The zombies were a bit different in that they seem smarter than usual. Also they do decompose. That was a huge change. I think that, along with the physiological aspect, makes this a book that could go to series very easily. The author has a good grip on what changes the survivors are going through mentally. The ending of the book had me on edge and still does. I want to know more. I want to find out what happens next for the survivors. I want to know ...well, I don't want to give spoilers, so, I just want to know. Check it out. It is on the intense side but also has it's moments of humor and hope. I am looking forward to reading other books by this author.

* I received a copy of the Kindle version of this book for review purposes. All opinions and thoughts are my honest feelings about the book. *

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