The Keeper of the Book by Lana Melyan (Eternity Road #3)

Synopsis:

The moment Samson and Craig are back, Eleanor finds out she has another task. The outcome of the Hunters last battle against Fray and his army depends on her. Would she be able to fulfil her new mission? Would the Hunters make it through the fight? Right now the odds are not in their favour and their lives are at stake. But each and every one of them is ready to do their duty, to make sure that no evil walks down the Eternity Road.

My review:

A perfect ending to this fabulous trilogy. I am kind of sad it's over and somewhat hoping there will be a little more to this story.

Samson, Craig and the gang of hunters are facing their biggest battle yet against one they counted as their own. They face exposure, death and decisions harder than they ever imagined having to take.

This trilogy is a brilliant mixture of humans, vampires, love, adventure and mystery. I love the relationship between all the hunters, the closeness of their 'family' and the blossoming love between the unreachable Ruben and Kimberley.

I really enjoyed the twist in the last part, where not everyone can expect a happy ending, it lent the story the human touch that so many supernatural stories lack.

Well done Lana and thank you to TBConFB for access to this book.

My rating: 5/5

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The Haunting of Hattie Hastings Part One and Two by Audrey Davis

Synopsis for part one:

Hattie Hastings is happily married, even if husband Gary drives her up the wall at times. When tragedy strikes, she is left alone and heartbroken, with only an assortment of family and friends to prop her up.

Struggling to cope, she is left reeling when her deceased other half returns, popping up at the most inappropriate times. Hattie can't convince anyone that Gary is back. Not even best friend Cat – now free from the cruel and controlling Stewart – will believe her.

Why has Gary returned? And what will Cat do when her slimy ex-husband tries to worm his way back into her affections?

The Haunting of Hattie Hastings will make you laugh, cry and count down until Part Two …

 

Synopsis for part two:

The story continues … Hattie is used to her deceased husband Gary dropping in and out of her life. His timing might not always be great, but at least he's still around. Although – when Hattie tentatively tries a spot of dating – his interference isn't entirely welcome.

Best friend Cat is lapping up her new relationship with teacher Jamie, but ex-husband Stewart isn't prepared to fade into the background. Hattie's mother Rachel faces a daunting battle, one she doesn't want to burden family and friends with. But there's someone waiting in the wings who might be more than a shoulder to cry on.
Gary still doesn't know what his mission on earth is, and spirit guide Clarence isn't offering any clues? Will an encounter with another provide him with answers, or put Hattie in an impossible situation?

Prepare for more laughs and tears in the second instalment of a trilogy which takes a darkly comic look at life … and the afterlife.

Warning: Cliffhanger ending

My review:

My review will cover both books one and two as I have read them together. Both books are quite short, quick and easy reads and storyline well thought out. The author has good sense of humour, which shows throughout both books and makes the story current and relatable.

In part one, we are introduced to Hattie and Gary, a married couple trotting along quite nicely in life. Until an awful accident in which Gary dies. However, it turns out that for Gary, death is not the end and much to Hattie’s shock, he comes back, sometimes in the most inappropriate of times. Hattie does not really struggle believing her own eyes, what proves more difficult is to make other people believe that her husband’s ghost is basically haunting her.

Book two delves deeper into the main character’s lives. We get to know Hattie’s best friend Cat a little bit more, especially since Garry makes an appearance to her. We also meet Hattie’s brother Jack and find out more about her mother Rachel and son Johnny. And just as Hattie thinks she could not get more surprises in her life, Garry asks her to do something for another person who recently passed away.

These are laid back, funny books that will put a smile on your face after a long day at work.  

Thank you very much to the author and TBConFB for access to this book in return for this honest review.

My rating for both parts: 3/5

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK – part one

Amazon UK – part two – available for pre-order

Amazon US – part one

Amazon US – part two – available for pre-order

Scavenger Girl: Season of Talium by Jennifer Arntson (Scavenger Girl #2)

Synopsis:

When the gods leave and evil freely rules Ashlund, Una and her family bear down for the season of darkness. Seemingly safe in the comfort of her own home, she explores her newly acquired gift with the help of her loved ones. Within days, her plans are interrupted and instead of fighting boredom, she finds herself fighting to survive. Trapped in a situation where there is no escape, Una endures the worst the Authority has to offer. Who knew family could be so kind...or so ruthlessly cruel? For all the things her parents taught her about surviving in a world set against them, they never prepared her for this. Una is about to discover the true demons of the dark were here all along.

My review:

I have been waiting for this book and wow, it did not disappoint. I absolutely loved the first book and thought that this could not get any better, but hey, I was wrong. It does get better. Much better.

The first book left off with Una returning home after the festival at the end of the season of Atchem, torn between saving her family by marrying Blue (a man she got to fear and hate) and her true love for Calish, her once so-called brother. Una learned a lot about herself, including her biggest secret she must guard with her life – that she is a Seer.

As the family enter the season of Talium and with it its darkness, monsters hiding in the shadows and danger everywhere (from wolves and citizens alike), Una hopes for a rest and time to get to understand her new relationship with Calish and to understand more about herself, what she has gone through and what is expected of her.

However, time is not on her side though and soon after her return Una has a vision that will change the course of her life once more. She understand clearly, what she has to do and sacrifice in order for her family to stay safe.

This second instalment is much darker in its context then the first, given us a real insight into the twisted minds of the Authority and what goes on behind the closed doors. We also learn more about Una’s family, the political plotting and the power that comes with being the Lord of Authority and ultimately the puppet master in all things political and religious. Una has to grow up and fast, making friendships where she would never expect and finding herself to be a much stronger person she would ever think herself to be.

As you can tell, I love the books and I cannot wait to read the next one. I just hope it will not be too long before I can get my hands on it!

Massive thanks go to Jennifer for once again allowing me to read her fabulous book.

My rating: 5/5

Author's website: www.scavengergirl.com

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The Year that Changed Everything by Cathy Kelly

Synopsis:

Three women celebrate their birthdays . . . 30. 40. 50. But their milestone birthdays mark the start of a year that will change everything . . .

Ginger isn't spending her 30th the way she would have planned. Tonight might be the first night of the rest of her life - or a total disaster.

Sam is finally pregnant after years of trying. When her waters break on the morning of her 40th birthday, she panics: forget labour, how is she going to be a mother?

Callie is celebrating her 50th at a big party in her Dublin home. Then a knock at the door mid-party turns her perfect life upside down . . .

Full of warmth and wisdom, this is a story about finding happiness on your own terms from international bestseller Cathy Kelly.

My review:

I have always loved Cathy Kelly. I find her books uplifting, relatable, full of great characters and her story-lines very realistic. And of course this book is Cathy at her best – please do not ever stop writing.

All three women have problems. Callie has been abandoned by her fraudulent husband; Sam’s new-born baby has left her feeling like a failure of a mother and poor ginger is completely thrown under the bus by her so-called best friend. Each woman is at a crossroad of her life and not a clue which direction to take.

It takes determination, support from friends and family and lots of brave decisions to bring their lives back on track. Their paths cross and they find new friendships blossom.

What a lovely book. And I also say the cover design is so pretty. Definitely something I would pick up from a shelf and it would catch my eye.

Thank you very much to the author and TBConFB for access to this book in return for this honest review.

My rating: 5/5

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The Eternity Road: The Return (The Eternity Road Trilogy #2) by Lana Melyan

Synopsis:

The Book is open, the Hunters’ powers are back, but Fray’s plan is back in motion as he gets away with the Book. To Eleanor’s surprise, nobody rushes after him. Instead, Samson lets Fray go and asks Eleanor to put her trust in him once more. Leaving the Hunters with the task of finding the transitioning vampires, he and Craig depart on a secret mission.

My review:

I’ve been looking forward to reading and it did not disappoint. Now I have to wait for the next book to be written and can’t wait to find out where the journey takes us.

It’s easy to read, well-kept story-line that keeps you turning the pages.  There are great, likable characters and we get to find out so much more about them most of them in this second instalment, especially about Riley and Ruben.

There is a great bond between the Hunters and they are happy to see Eleanor back to her old-self, although it takes some time getting used to having their powers back. However, not all is happy-go-lucky and the story goes a bit darker in this book. The vampires are causing havoc and death and the whole family is affected by their actions including the only human in the mix and Eleanor’s (Amanda’s) best friend Kimberley.

The hunt for the transitioning vampires is on and it doesn’t look good. Fray has century and half of experience in hiding from the other hunters and the advantage of knowing how they work and think. However, he does not have their bond and determination. This makes for an exciting game of cat and mouse and a very good read.

Not giving away too much but this book differs from the first quite a lot. The first book gave us a fab insight into the hunters’ history, where this second one focuses on the hunt and the now.

Thank you very much to the author and TBConFB for access to this book in return for this honest review.

My rating: 4/5

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Alice and her mother have spent most of Alice’s life on the road, always a step ahead of the uncanny bad luck biting at their heels. But when Alice’s grandmother, the reclusive author of a cult-classic book of pitch-dark fairy tales, dies alone on her estate, the Hazel Wood, Alice learns how bad her luck can really get: her mother is stolen away―by a figure who claims to come from the Hinterland, the cruel supernatural world where her grandmother's stories are set. Alice's only lead is the message her mother left behind: “Stay away from the Hazel Wood.”

Alice has long steered clear of her grandmother’s cultish fans. But now she has no choice but to ally with classmate Ellery Finch, a Hinterland superfan who may have his own reasons for wanting to help her. To retrieve her mother, Alice must venture first to the Hazel Wood, then into the world where her grandmother's tales began―and where she might find out how her own story went so wrong.

My review:

This book is a perfect mix of modern world and dark fairy tales that have somehow gone missing form our busy lives. If you look at the history of fairy tales most of them started out full of death and darkness and shadows and over time became the nice, good-wins-against-evil type that we know and love today.

The Hazel Wood goes back to those shadowy roots. Alice thinks she’s just a normal girl, growing up with bad luck following her and her mum Ella around. But when her mum gets kidnapped and a page from her estranged grandmother’s book of fairy tales is left behind as a message to Alice; things go from bad to worse pretty quickly.

Armed with the only nearly-friend she has, they set out on a dangerous road to find the Hazel Wood as Alice believes that’s where her mother was taken. But on this journey her whole world is turned up-side-down and Alice finds herself right in the middle of one those tales that her mother has tried so hard to keep from her.

It’s a fabulous, exciting book, with hints of magic and good old-fashioned Grimm-like tales.

Thank you very much to the author and NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: 5/5

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Thirteen (Psychic Surveys Companion Novel #2) by Shani Struthers

Synopsis:

Don’t leave me alone in the dark…

In 1977, Minch Point Lighthouse on Skye’s most westerly tip was suddenly abandoned by the keeper and his family – no reason ever found. In the decade that followed, it became a haunt for teenagers on the hunt for thrills. Playing Thirteen Ghost Stories, they’d light thirteen candles, blowing one out after every story told until only the darkness remained.

In 1987, following her success working on a case with Sussex Police, twenty-five-year-old psychic, Ness Patterson, is asked to investigate recent happenings at the lighthouse. Local teen, Ally Dunn, has suffered a breakdown following time spent there and is refusing to speak to anyone. Arriving at her destination on a stormy night, Ness gets a terrifying insight into what the girl experienced.

The case growing ever more sinister, Ness realises: some games should never be played.

My review:

Another brilliant book from Shani Struthers and how wonderful to find out more about Ness and her past. Thirteen is a brilliant book of fear, hope and light and once again had me on the edge of my seat willing the book to just go on and not finish. Also just to add that although this book is a second part in the Psychic Surveys series, it can be read as a standalone novel.

The book is based around an old lighthouse on Skye, that has been left by its last occupants to rot away in the harsh weather and darkness that surrounds it. It certainly has its own strange past, but that doesn’t stop teenagers taking refuge there and play a decades old game of thirteen ghost stories.

But it goes wrong and the last lot to play the game are affected by some sort of dark energy, that is slowly overtaking their lives. So here comes Ness, psychic girl, who on occasion helps Police find bodies of victims of violent crimes and someone with her own past still haunting her.

I can’t say anymore other than the fact that Ness soon learns that she must trust in herself and the people around her, as together they can create the light needed to banish even the darkest spirits hiding in the corners of the abandoned lighthouse. But it can come at a cost.

I am always excited to read one of Shani’s books and even more excited to write about it so thank you very much to TBConFB and Shani for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: 5/5

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The Third Rule (Eddie Collins #1) by Andrew Barrett

Synopsis:

When you're accused of murder, you'd better hide, run, or fight.

The Third Rule is England's new infallible capital punishment. But absolute proof of guilt is no longer required, so there’s a queue at the Slaughter House doors.
CSI Eddie Collins hasn't killed anyone, but he knows who has. That’s why he’s on the Slaughter House list, and when a government hunter tracks him down, Eddie has to fight or die.

“If you want to kill serious crime, you have to kill serious criminals.”
Sir George Deacon, Minster of Justice.

My review:

This is the first in Eddie Collins series and what a start. I have actually already had the pleasure to meet Eddie in Ledston Luck and actually liked his unlikable character. But The Third Rule has given me a fab insight into why Eddie can be such an ungentlemanly character.

At first I was confused and slightly afraid of the amount of characters that were being thrown at me for the first quarter of the book, but Andy has a great way of marrying up the story of each and every person and it all just slots together beautifully.

The overarching theme of this novel is the idea of ultimate punishment. The Rules should provide the country with a legal way of cleansing society of dark characters that are not allowing the ‘normal’ law-abiding members of public to live their lives to the full as they hide behind closed doors afraid of being burgled, attacked, killed etc. On the surface, the idea is excellent. You commit a crime; you get rule one. You recommit, you get rule three. And well, if that doesn’t stop you then the bullet of rule three will.

However, what happens when the rules are used for someone’s own gain of power. Let’s say a police officer just wants that promotion and will convict the easy target for a quick conviction, even though the evidence points the other way. Or if a high-power politician uses the rules to cover up tracks from his own crimes.

It’s a superb question of morals and it’s so well written, it keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time you read it. Eddie is a very unlikely hero and that’s what’s most attractive about him, because underneath all the darkness, he is a good, fair character that will do anything to stop injustice.

My rating: 5/5

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Forte by J.D. Spero

Synopsis:

Back in New York City, piano filled Sami McGovern's life, but moving upstate has changed everything. Thanks to the coach at Skenesboro High, Sami's volleyball skills blossom like magic. But success comes at a cost, and the same sports drink that makes her a superstar silences her music. Worse still, to stay in the "in" crowd, she must betray the few true friends she has made in the tiny town. Her one hope: fulfil a prophecy to end the magic before it destroys her...and everyone else in its thrall.

My review:

Young adult fiction has for a while become somewhat stagnant in the whole vampire, supernatural genre, which I must admit I do enjoy as one of my guilty pleasures. But after reading Flawed by Cecelia Ahern and then this book I feel like this genre is now getting much bigger and covering more of the modern day issues that youngster these days have to face.

Forte started off slightly confusing and I couldn’t really identify with the main character Sami until about third of the book through. I found her too easy to jump between the two sides and I also found her so-called new friends unhelpful in their multiple warnings with no explanations – I would be frustrated so no surprise that Sami was. Being a pianist all her life, suddenly she signs up to the volleyball team. Her mum warns her against the team and the fascinating blue drink the athletes seems to drink like water, but of course being a typical teenager, Sami knows better and has to learn from her own mistakes before it’s too late and she loses her ability to play the piano forever.

What was quite well portrayed in this book was the peer pressure young adults go through to be with the cool gang, to be athletic, to look a certain way and to be noticed by the ‘right’ crowd. There is a clear sense of hierarchy and class separation at the school Sami attends as the new girl.

It’s an enjoyable book and I would say quite unique in its storyline and ideas.

Thank you to the author and the wonderful TBConFB for letting me read this book in return for an honest review.

My rating: 4/5

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The Eternity Road (1) by Lana Melyan

Synopsis:

When at her eighteenth birthday Amanda blows out the candles on her birthday cake, she wishes that Craig, her best friend Hanna’s brother, would finally notice her.

Her wish comes true less than half an hour later when Hanna gives her a present - an antique bracelet. To Amanda's astonishment, Hanna says, that the present isn't just from her, but also from her brother. But that isn’t the only surprise.

Later, Craig tells Amanda that two men are following her and that she is in danger, but he’ll do anything to keep her safe. This announcement brings up a lot of questions. Why did she suddenly become the center of Craig’s attention? What did these men want from her and who were they? But even though Hanna and Craig know what’s going on, they refuse to give her the answers.

What Amanda doesn’t know is that the men following her aren’t humans, but vampires. And Craig and Hanna, who moved to Green Hill to be close to her and protect her, are not ordinary people. They are the legendary Hunters, the ones who rid the world of supernatural evil. Strange, vivid dreams help Amanda understand that she has a mission. But she has no idea where this mission leads her and how close she is to uncover the deep secrets of her life.

My review:

This was a little bit of an easier read for me. Well written with likable characters and good ongoing story. If only I've realised it was first in a series and I will have to wait for the next book.

Amanda doesn't know who she is. Or better said she thought she knew who she was until her 18th birthday when the strange dreams started. In the dream she wakes up in a strange empty house. But she knows the house has something within it with strang pull that she cannot ingore.

Things go from bad to worse really quickly and Amanda soon realises that the world she thought she knew doesn't exist. That the stories she read about monsters lurking in shadows are true and she is part of something big and there is no way out.

The setting for this book was well thought out and all characters played well together. The bits sets in the past helped to paint a good picture of how each person developed into who they were today.

I very much enjoyed this book so big thanks to the author and TBConFB for giving me access in exchange for an honest review.

My score: 4/5

Available from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US