Review // The Law of Moses by Amy Harmon

January 03, 2023

The Law of Moses by Amy Harmon

Whatever it was, when Moses came to Levan, he was like water—cold, deep, unpredictable, and, like the pond up the canyon, dangerous, because you could never see what was beneath the surface.

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The Law of Moses by Amy Harmon

The Law of Moses by Amy Harmon


Standalone
Release - November 18, 2014
Genre - Contemporary Romance / second chance
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - 2 out of 5 / fade to black mostly
Format - ebook from Amazon
Length - 366 pages
Publisher - Indie

If I tell you right up front, right in the beginning that I lost him, it will be easier for you to bear. You will know it’s coming, and it will hurt. But you’ll be able to prepare.

Someone found him in a laundry basket at the Quick Wash, wrapped in a towel, a few hours old and close to death. They called him Baby Moses when they shared his story on the ten o’clock news – the little baby left in a basket at a dingy Laundromat, born to a crack addict and expected to have all sorts of problems. I imagined the crack baby, Moses, having a giant crack that ran down his body, like he’d been broken at birth. I knew that wasn’t what the term meant, but the image stuck in my mind. Maybe the fact that he was broken drew me to him from the start.

It all happened before I was born, and by the time I met Moses and my mom told me all about him, the story was old news and nobody wanted anything to do with him. People love babies, even sick babies. Even crack babies. But babies grow up to be kids, and kids grow up to be teenagers. Nobody wants a messed up teenager.

And Moses was messed up. Moses was a law unto himself. But he was also strange and exotic and beautiful. To be with him would change my life in ways I could never have imagined. Maybe I should have stayed away. Maybe I should have listened. My mother warned me. Even Moses warned me. But I didn’t stay away.

And so begins a story of pain and promise, of heartache and healing, of life and death. A story of before and after, of new beginnings and never-endings. But most of all...a love story.

My Two Cents

4 "My heart hurts" stars

Anyone who's read a story from Amy Harmon has had their heart put through the wringer. No doubt. Even I, the queen of no tears, have had to battle them back. This book tried to break me and I feel like I'm better for it.

It's a small town with small town values, small town minds, and small town drama (or lack of). So when Moses, born a half-Black crack baby in a mostly White town, came to be... he was newsworthy. People called him weird. Wrong. Evil. He was constantly talked about and did almost nothing to deserve it. Is it his fault that the dead won't leave him alone?

I was unhappy about the fact that the first person of color I've found in one of this author's books was depicted in such a negative light, but I loved the way this story was written. It grabbed a hold of me, broke my heart, and made me smile.

Georgia wasn't exactly my cup of tea, but I could see her appeal. I did wish that she was more understanding and supportive of Moses. How can you say you love someone without really loving them?

I loved the friendship that grew between Tag and Moses. They both knew little more than pain, but together, there was such comfort and caring. Their brotherhood was very special.

And the connection Moses had with those who had passed... intense and magical.

I'm in awe of how powerful this story was and how it affected me.

The Author

Amy Harmon is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and New York Times Bestselling author. Amy knew at an early age that writing was something she wanted to do, and she divided her time between writing songs and stories as she grew. Having grown up in the middle of wheat fields without a television, with only her books and her siblings to entertain her, she developed a strong sense of what made a good story. Her books are now being published in seventeen different languages, truly a dream come true for a little country girl from Levan, Utah.

Amy Harmon has written eightteen novels - the Washington Post bestseller What the Wind Knows, the USA Today bestsellers The Bird and The Sword, The Smallest Part, Making Faces and Running Barefoot, as well as the #1 Amazon bestselling historical From Sand and Ash, Where the Lost Wander, The Songbook of Benny Lament, The First Girl Child, The Second Blilnd Son, The Queen and The Cure, The Law of Moses, The Song of David, Infinity + One, Slow Dance in Purgatory, Prom Night in Purgatory, and the New York Times bestseller, A Different Blue. Her latest novel, The Unknown Beloved, a historical romance, was released April 19, 2022 by Lake Union Publishing and is now available for purchase.

Visit http://www.authoramyharmon.com for more information

Review // Broken Angel by Cynthia Eden

January 01, 2023

Broken Angel by Cynthia Eden

"You're in my soul, Lila.
The only good part that I have left."

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Broken Angel by Cynthia Eden

Broken Angel by Cynthia Eden


Standalone - Bad Things #4
Release - December 13, 2016
Genre - Paranormal Romance / instant connection / forbidden
POV - Multiple 3rd person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5
Format - ebook from Amazon
Length - 202 pages
Publisher - Indie

A fallen angel has a bad side...and that side is about to be set free.

Angel Lila is being hunted - she can feel the hunter closing in behind her. Every move she makes, he's stalking after her. But does the werewolf on her trail want to destroy her - or can he protect her from the growing darkness that she is trying so desperately to fight?

Werewolf Rayce Lovel doesn't know what to do with an angel - especially one who makes him think too much about paradise. Lila may be heavenly, but every time he's near her, Rayce wants to sin. Angels aren't supposed to feel, but Lila was introduced to the world by way of pain. Pain is all she's known for far too long, and now, Rayce is tempted to introduce gorgeous Lila to pleasure.

But the longer an angel stays out of heaven, the more dangerous she can become. Lila sinks deeper into the darkness with each night that passes, and she finds herself becoming a pawn in an eternal battle...good versus evil. Is Rayce really her protector? Perhaps he is just the hungry wolf who has been sent to ensure that Lila never sets foot back in her paradise.

My Two Cents

4 "She'll Always Be His Angel" stars

Instalove with a forbidden romance twist? I'm here for all of it!

After rescuing Lila, she went off the grid and Rayce has been searching for her ever since. He's supposed to be looking for her for his friend, the Lord of the Dark, but all he wants to do is protect her from anything that can hurt her—even if it means saving her from himself. But what happens when even his best intentions lead them down a dangerous path?

As a fallen angel, Lila has no idea what's happening to her. But something is definitely happening to her and the author did a great job of capturing her fear, anxiety, and hopelessness. However, with all of her doubts, there was one thing (or one person) she was pretty sure of... Rayce.

And I couldn't get enough of Rayce.

As an Alpha werewolf, he was wild, he was fierce, he was dominating and controlling, but he was also kind and sweet and generous and loving and amazing.

With tons of action, this story had me turning the pages very quickly and I'm looking forward to reading more from this series.

The Author


Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes sexy tales of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over one hundred novels and novellas.

Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.

Visit http://www.cynthiaeden.com for more information!

Review // Knotted by Pam Godwin

December 27, 2022

Knotted by Pam Godwin

Not everything's meant to be, but Jake and I are inevitable. We're knotted together, and damn if he doesn't know how to tie a knot that withstands the test of time.

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Knotted by Pam Godwin

Knotted by Pam Godwin


Standalone - Trails of Sin #1
Release - April 25, 2018
Genre - Contemporary Romance with dark elements
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - 4 out of 5
Format/Source - owned paperback
Length - 311 pages
Publisher - Indie

I try to forget her.
It’s impossible.

Growing up together, Conor and I shared all our firsts.
First love, first kiss, first…
Not all our firsts.

We were sixteen the night she was violently assaulted while I helplessly watched.
I’ll never forget the sounds of her suffering.
Or my inconsolable agony when she left Oklahoma.

Years later, she returns to honor our teenage pact.
Except the boy she loved is gone, replaced by a ruthless cattle rancher knotted with secrets.
She doesn’t know my dark cravings or the trails of sin that lead to her.

I don’t deserve her, but one truth remains.
She’s mine.

My Two Cents

4.5 "Healing all of her pieces" stars


I went in blind and was completely blown away by everything this book had to offer. I figured it would be a light western read about a cowboy and his girl. It was about so much more than that.

This story was full of lies. So many lies that I'm still not sure if the whole truth has been revealed to my satisfaction. And while the lies and deceit were supposed to be for the greater good, to protect Conor... I'm still feeling hurt.

Ain't that some shit?!


I get why Conor couldn't know the truth. And honestly, I had to repeatedly remind myself that these characters were young because they had to make adult choices and decisions way before they should have. Three men and a woman when they were still babies!!

Their lives just weren't fair. I get all of that.

This is what death feels like. The shattering, unstoppable separation between life and the bleeding remains of the soul. There's no countermeasure. No resuscitation. I've taken my last breath as Jake Holsten's girl.


And yes, it's so cool that Jake found a way to give himself to Conor, even if she was kept in the dark about it for years.

But why did he have to sleep with practically everyone while he was pining for Conor and keeping her away for her own good? And yes, yay for him not kissing any of the numerous people he screwed.


And yes, let's celebrate that he still loved Conor after all that time. Still wore her bracelet while he pounded away through the women in town. Still carried her in his heart while he devastated her.

But was it necessary? Because here at the end, when they've got their happy for now ending, I'm still thinking that he didn't need to do all that. I'm still hurting and he ain't even my man!

However, because this story touched me so deeply, that even now my heart is hurting, I can't help but realize how very much I enjoyed it. Can you imagine reading all of that and feeling nothing? I'm feeling everything and although I don't love these emotions, I'm loving that the author was able to bring them out of me.

It's impossible to describe the bond we share. We're too great for words. Too sacred. We're a feeling that goes beyond starts and stops. We're stronger than hellos and goodbyes and deeper than beginnings and ends.


I believed in Jake's devotion to Conor and her's for him. I believed in their love, their connection, their future, their everything. Them coming together was truly a solace to the excrutiating parts of this story. I can't wait to dive back into their world in the next book, which is Jarret's story—Buckled.

The Author

New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author, Pam Godwin, lives in the Midwest with her husband, their retired greyhounds, and a foulmouthed parrot.

When she ran away, she traveled fourteen countries across five continents, attended three universities, and married the vocalist of her favorite rock band.

Java, tobacco, and dark romance novels are her favorite indulgences, and might be considered more unhealthy than her aversion to sleeping, eating meat, and dolls with blinking eyes.

Review // Where Good Girls Go to Die, In Deep, and Part of Your World

December 25, 2022

Where Good Girls Go to Die by Holly Renee


Standalone - Good Girls #1
Release - April 13, 2017
Genre - Contemporary Romance / second chance
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat 4 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook from Amazon
Length - 340 pages

It was a bad idea from the beginning.

He was my brother's best friend and the definition of unavailable.

But I didn't care.

I had loved him for as long as I could remember.

He was worth the risk. He was worth everything.

But then he broke my heart as easily as I fell for him. He watched me fall, spiraling out of control, and as I reached for him, he wasn't there to catch me.

So I ran.

Four years later, I never expected to see him again.

He was still my brother's best friend, and he was more unavailable than ever.

He looked every bit the bad boy I knew he was, covered in tattoos and a crooked smile.

Guarding my heart from him was top priority because Parker James was where good girls go to die.

Unfortunately for him, I wasn't a good girl anymore.


My Review (3 stars) ~ I still don't know how I feel about this book. If you don't like cheating, stay away from this book. It's messy. Really messy. One girl becomes a stripper because the boy broke her heart. The boy doesn't know how to be a good guy. He constantly cheats on others with this girl. Constantly. Liv was annoying. Parker was a tool. The end.

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In Deep by Callie Harper


Standalone - All In #1
Release - August 5, 2016
Genre - Sports Romance
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook from Amazon
Length - 256 pages

Chase is an Olympic swimmer going for gold.
Focused.
Driven.
Intense.

Emma is a blogger going for the scoop and she has the perfect in.
She’s gotten herself hired as his physical therapist.
With all that intimate time together -- the secrets
from his past don’t stand a chance --
And neither does she ...


My Review (3 stars) ~ I found it hard to get into this story, which was surprising because I'm a fan of this author and her writing. I just didn't like either Emma or Chase. They kinda felt plastic to me. I know that explains nothing, but I missed the usual sparks that are familiar to me. Emma turned out to be a liar, even if by omission, but the big reveal still didn't touch me. It could be that contemporary feeling romance isn't really my jam anymore.

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Part of Your World by Liz Braswell


Standalone - A Twisted Tale
Release - September 4, 2018
Genre - Young Adult Fantasy
POV - Multiple 3rd person
Heat - 0 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 475 pages

What if Ariel had never defeated Ursula?

Five years after the (twisted) events of the film, Ariel is now the queen of Atlantica, and Ursula is running Eric's kingdom on land. But when the sea witch threatens Atlantica once more, Ariel finds herself returning to a world (and a prince) she thought she'd left behind forever.


My Review (3.5 stars) ~ This was such a cute read and I believe that it should be listed as a book for all ages. If you would allow your child to watch the movie, The Little Mermaid, then they would be absolutely fine reading this. It wasn't as dark as the movie.

Ursula has always been one of my favorite Disney villains and the author only made me love her more with the way she was re-imagined. She had Eric and his entire kingdom under her thrall while she waged war with everyone else. She was hilarious!

Obviously the good guys won and the journey was such fun!