Book Review: Meeting Destiny by Nancy Straight (Destiny Book 1)

     Lauren has had dreams every night since she turned 18 of a man with unique green eyes telling her that when she was courageous she would unlock her destiny. Of course she never believed it would be true. After-all it was just a dream. But, when she got a funny feeling about the man who entered the fast food place where she worked she trusted her instincts. This fast thinking saved a young boys life, but she got shot in the process. The thing is she barely noticed, until she came face to face with those same green eyes from her dream. Max. 

    Max was a paramedic and had no idea who she was, of course. But, the young woman had captured his attention just as he had captured hers. Just because your dream comes true doesn't mean everything is sunshine and roses. After-all, attraction can only take you so far especially when the girl has been in a long-term relationship and calls you the man of her dreams. Literally. 

    At the beginning of this book I was a little hesitant. It just seemed a little bleh. At some points it just seemed like the author was trying too hard. Like they named an inconsequential police officer Officer Lawless just to make some lame joke about needing to change their name. I love dad jokes (and play animal crossing where dad jokes abound) and rolled my eyes at it. That being said I truly enjoyed this book. So much so that as soon as I finished reading it I went into the Kindle store and bought book 2. 

    This isn't something I normally do, not because I don't love the books that I read. I frequently do. More so because my TBR is already so long that adding another by an author I have already read one by just seems rude. But, some times there are things that must be done and information that must be known. In this case: Do Lauren and Max have a future together? I can say that without spoiling anything for you. Really though, if you like romances of any variety give this one a go. 

    This book is available on Amazon for free by clicking here.

Books by this author: 

Destiny's Revenge (Destiny Book 2)

Book Review: The Cambodian Book of the Dead by Tom Vater

     Maier was once a war-time journalist who decided to call it quits when his friend and guide was blown up in Cambodia. One death too many. However, the thrill of his previous life led him to be a private detective. Too bad his new client may be the last one he ever takes, especially placing him right back in the country he left so long ago. 

    A rich coffee company heir left Germany to go open a diving business in Cambodia and his mom wants him to come home and take over as he should. It is up to Maier to go, find out what is keeping him there, and make him an offer he can't refuse. 

    Under the guise of becoming a real estate investor Maier hopes to get in good with the locals. However, what lies in wait for him is a haunting past and is bigger than he could have anticipated. It may even mean the end of his life. Will Maier be able to solve his case or even escape with his life? 

    This book....this book. Where to begin. It has a lot of facts in it. I didn't fact check them. Didn't really have the desire to if we are being honest here and that is the point of reviews, right? If we take out all of the random facts and we just plot this, I liked it. Without the facts and history lessons we have a fast paced book with lots of action that could have happened very easily. A suspenseful thriller as it were. This book has strong Stieg Larrson vibes. With the addition of all of those facts it was like I was reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo all over again. If you are a Sieg Larrson fan then you will enjoy this book.  If you are not then maybe you will if you ignore all the trivia. 

    This book is available on Amazon for $2.99 or free with Kindle Unlimited by clicking here.

Book Review: Reality Testing by Grant Price (Sundown Book 1)

     Mara Kenzing decided to join the LINK program in order to gain some extra carbon so she and her partner would not be so hard pressed. Jema warned her against it and it seems the feisty reporter was correct, as Mara has woken up ahead of schedule in a body that is not her own and a corpse in front of her. Now, Mara must escape Berlin and try to find out not only what happened to her but what the future may hold. What makes it worse is there is another consciousness in her mind as well, the Other. Can she carve her way with the group on the outside of the city or will the true purpose of the Other come to fruition? 

    A woman in a "progressed" world tries her best to save herself from her new reality. While trying to escape the lower class she finds herself out of the caste all together and with less than she ever had to begin with. She has lost her home, her partner, and even her body. Now, she must leave the only home she has ever known in order to track down a band of people that may not even exist in order to have some hope of survival. 

    I was approached to read and review this book as part of the Blackthorn Book Tours and I agreed readily. All in all I liked the book that being said unless you have a very broad vocabulary over multiple languages be prepared to translate a lot. Some of it you can get by context, some of it Google translate had no idea and I am still lost on. Also, numbers are a lie. 15 is ten-five. I don't know why that irks me so much, but it really really does. Alright, now that I have ranted about the things that drove me absolutely nuts during this book for the goods. 

    Mara was in the body of a savant, which is an orphan that passed a certain test and is trained in certain areas of expertise with everything else essentially removed. There actually is a Savant syndrome where someone is highly specialized in a few areas while lacking in all other areas. Something I did not know before beginning this book. She loses everything and still she presses on. Many would have just given in to the bulls after any of the things she encountered before leaving Berlin, but at each obstacle she buttoned down and was able to make it through. Yes, she had the guiding hand of the Other and once outside the city she had the Vanguard, but there were things that she had to do for herself. Things that if she had done nothing would not have been possible. For that I give her Kudos. 

    There are a lot of same sex relationships in this book, money is not a thing, them/theys seem more commonplace than he/shes, men can have babies, food is not even real food, rain is the result of engineers, and life does not exist outside of cities. I don't really know if the world is one giant Pangea kind of thing or if this book is just centralized in Asia. America was mentioned once stating that they fully embraced the Seahorse program (how men were able to have babies), but that is the only instance that I can recall. Theses are things that are just facts from the book and do not mean them all in a bad light. Except the food one. I like food. 

    Honestly, this is a fast paced, survival of the fittest type book where we have to choose between "progress" or reverting to how things once were done. How things are mostly done now. Planting crops and not relying on physical augmentations to survive. Personally give me blue clouds and plants any day over engineered rain. 

    If you don't mind all of the translations or the annoying number thing this book is a great read and one that I hope you take the time to enjoy as well. When I initially posted this review on 5/22/21 this book was free for purchase. It is now, confusingly enough, on preorder with a set release date of 1/27/22. It is possible that they are making edits, but I have no idea. If you would like to pre-order this book it will be $6.99 on Amazon by clicking here.

This book is available on Kindle Unlimited. 

Book Review: Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

     Elisabeth was left at the Great library of Summershall when she was a baby. While apprentices were all orphans they normally came to the libraries at 13, but in her case the director made an exception. All of her life she wanted nothing more than to be a warden and protect the libraries and the kingdom from Malifects (grimoires that have turned into monsters), but she is nervous about dealing with sorcerer's on a daily basis. After all, all sorcerers are evil. Nothing can change her mind on that, especially when the director is killed and she smells ethereal combustion and it is blamed on her. Since the only sorcerer she has ever met, Nathanial Thorne, is the one to escort her it seems logical that he may have something to do with the death. Just how far does this plot go and who will believe her that she did not commit these heinous crimes? 

    Elisabeth has led a very sheltered life her entire life. Knowing only what she has learned from books and what she has been taught by her tutors. Nothing exists for her outside her library and yet nothing will quell her curiosity. For instance, do sorcerers have horns? That question is the beginning with young magister Thorne that is a dizzying tale that is cute, funny, and just a little bit obvious. Thorne has his own demons to battle. His father was killed by the same demon that has been at his side since he was 12 years old and to whom he exchanged 20 years of his life. Because of this he has nightmares and can't stand others company before the nuisance of a girl, Elisabeth, must stay with him. Just how far he is willing to let the menace in is another matter altogether. But, a girl who can withstand the thrall of a demon is intriguing indeed.

    I have been on a bit of a magic kick with my audiobooks of late and this one is no different. There is magic, great libraries, grimoires, demons, and plots to destroy the kingdom. Duu Duu Duuuuuuu! Kidding, but you get the gist. It is all very dramatic. Especially when you add in the use of forbidden magical artifacts. The Harry Potter vibes are real. So is the oblivious young adult crushing and feels. That being said I am a sap and loved this book from start to finish. I have nothing to add to this cheesefest and laughed openly at some parts. Even if my husband probably thought me delusional to be doing a mundane task such as crocheting or feeding the baby then randomly start laughing. I think he has accepted that it is a part of life. Besides, he is also a reader and does the same from time to time. Even if he doesn't audiobook. 

    If you liked Harry Potter, Immortal Instruments, or the Novice you will love this book. It is available on Amazon for $9.99 by clicking here.