Balancing Act By: Fern Michaels

 

 

By:  Fern Michaels
Published By:  Zebra Books
Age Recommended:  Adult
Review By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: 4
Book Blog For:  GMTA
Review:

"Balancing Act" by Fern Michaels was a bonus in that you got two books in one.
'All She Can Be and Free Spirits' however this was actually a report of two novels that this author had written years ago and I had already read them but
I read them again.

In 'All She Can Be'
We find Rita is divorced  and a successful author trying to rebuild her life.  How will her life change for her after a recent divorce.  Will the romance writer be able to pick herself up and find a new love and then there were her children
who didn't consider her writing as a job, wanting her to babysit while they went on a 4-5 day trip.   Was she loosing herself in all of this?  You will find this novella was a 'heartwarming' story and well written by this author. 

The next novella was 'Free Spirit'
A very successful Dory makes a discussion  to quit her job, move  to another city with her boyfriend (Griff) and go back to school.  Was this a smart thing to do?  Will she be strong enough to not lose herself in all of this that has been put on her? Will she come to her senses and know that this isn't the life for her?
There is definitely a lesson in both of these novellas for the reader.  Are you receiving it?

This is where I say you must pick up "Balancing Act" to see which way this author will take the reader on this ride.   In both reads you will be able to see how this author was able to use this 'Balancing Act' as it was a emotional ride that this author can only give its readers and I would recommend these two stories as a good read. 

A Dream to Cling To By: Sally Goldenbaum

By:  Sally Goldenbaum
Published By:  Random House Publishing Group-Loveswept
Age Recommended:  Adult
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating:  4
Book Blog For: GMTA
Review:

"A Dream To Cling To" by Sally Goldenbaum was a good romantic read with a lot of drama but still a good read.  We find from this read Brittany who is a pet lover from  a wealthy family and then there is Sam... a 'Renaissance' man who had had it all...been over the world and simply like it like that and no plans of settling down.   Brittany  works at a non profit program, loves her family and especially her Dad who is fixing to retire.  Sam is the owner of a gaming company that gets game personalized for his clients and this is where Brittany  had agreed to help him provide the information that is needed.  As they are working together will Brittany find herself getting emotional  involved with Sam?
"Will she be able to trust Sam with her heart as well as her secrets?"    This will be where this story will pick up  and at this point that I say you must pick up the good read to find out what this author has in store for these two people.  There were some twist and turns where you really had to keep up.  I found all of the characters well developed and very captivating.  If you are looking for a good contemporary romance that is so sweet, with fun and great emotional scenes you have come to the right place for "A Dream to Cling To" will give it to you and Yes, I would recommend this read to you. 

A Craving By: Emily Arnold

 

 

 

By:  Emily Arnold
Published By:  Amazon
Age Recommended:  Adult
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Book Blog For:  GMTA
Review:

"A Carving" by Emily Arnold was a good contemporary fiction that deals with the alcohol addition. It was very sad to see this woman Polly lose it all ....her marriage, children, friends and career to alcohol.  In this ready you can see how this author takes the reader through Polly's life which was full of  ''rationalizations, denials, defensiveness, defeat and the ultimately salvation and repairing job."  This novel is a great help for any one who is in need of striving to get control of their lives or anyone needing some self awareness and help in the problem of 'alcohol.'   It is truly there for you if you really want the help.  I found "A Carving" not a easy read but it was a very enlighten read and I am sure it was be of help to anyone seeking the help.   One thing is for sure after the read you will definitely understand what it means to be a alcoholic and even the rehabilitation that it will require to you to achieve the goal.

"A Carving" was written in a way that it will stay with you long after the read.  For Polly, it was 'anger, shame, jealousy, love and loss' all mixed up in a large range of feelings.  Will she be able to find herself without her 'demon' lover, alcohol? Will she be able to stop  blaming everyone for all of her problems and see that she is the only person that can truly save 'Polly,'  and even  developed more as the artist and save her marriage? This is the time that I say you must pick up the good read to see how this author was able to bring it all out to the reader. 

This was definitely a book with depth and you may be able to learn a lot from "A Carving" and Yes, I would recommend this novel as a excellent read. 

Catch A Falling Star By: Beth K. Vogt

By:  Beth K Vogt
Published By:  Howard Books
Age Recommended:  Adult
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Book Blog For:  GMTA
Review: 

"Catch A Falling Star" by Beth K. Vogt was a very sweet contemporary Christian romantic story that I could not put down until the end.  I loved the way this author brought in adoption.  This was indeed a well thought out script.  This "author did a great job showing that it wouldn't be easy and that rejection is part of the deal as the child heals over time."  This was very well done.  For the main part of this story we find Dr. Kendall Hayes who is  36 and unmarried.  It seemed like all of her friend...Melissa, Sonia, and Rachel...all doctors were married but not Kendal...even her kid sister was getting engaged.  Kendal was having a evening out with her friends and notices a young man who starts having a allergic reaction and she fines herself quickly responding.  Now, this is where the story gets interesting and I will say you must pick up this read to see what happens next when Kendall  learns that Griffin  and Ian Walker are brothers who recently lost their parents.  Kendall and Griffin will get off to a rock start but keep reading to see if this will lead to a road to romance for these two.  In the end we will find out that life doesn't always go according to our plans.  The characters were all well developed, 'vibrant, spunky, complex' and so real. Be ready for many conflicts that will only cause you to  keep reading.  Would I recommend "Catch A Falling Star?"  YES!

Caught in Amber By: Cathy Pegau

By:  Cathy Pegau
Published By:  Carina Press
Age Recommended:  Adult
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Book Blog For: GMTA
Review:

"Caught in Amber" by Cathy Pegau  was a good 'Sci-Fi romance that I really enjoyed reading.  I found this read somewhat sci-fi, urban fantasy romance really madeking a statement about dug addiction in general.  This drug is called Amber, heroine or another other highly additive drug.  From the read we find Sasha has been out of a correctional facility for eight months  as a reformed addict.  She has a chip in her neck for monitoring her and she wants to remain clean.  Never wanting to see they guy that got her in all of this who was 'Guy.'

Nate Sterling who was a CIA agent, sister, Kylie is working for 'Guy' and is more likely involved with Amber as Sasha used to be and he wants her to introduce him to Guy as someone who has a business proposition hoping that he can get him into Guy's operation and get his sister out of this mess.  Why would Nate want Sasha to do this for him?  Does it have anything to do with the chip in her neck? Will Sasha help Nathan because she wants to get back a Guy for throwing her away like garbage? This is where I say you must pick up this excellent read to find out how this all comes out. 

"Caught in Amber" was a good romance and the characters were all developed and colorful personalities.  Sasha, Nathan and Guy really gives the reader a intriguing story from the beginning to the end. 

If you are looking for a good sci-fi read with some romance you have come to the right place..."Caught in Amber" would be recommended to you. 

A Cast of Stone (The Staff and Sword# 1) By: Patrick W. Carr

By:  Patrick W. Carr
Published By:  Bethany House publishers
Age Recommended:   YA - Adult
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Book Blog For: GMTA
Series: The Staff and Sword # 1
Review:

"A Cast of Stones" by Patrick W. Carr was good fantasy read with some Christian based and the first of this series of 'The Staff and Sword.'  You will find it a very interesting and exciting novel. This read starts out with a drunken young teen boy named Errol and believe it or not becomes the hero of this story. We will find that Errol get caught up into something that he never dreamed existed, "he is challenged, stretch and even forced to make decisions that will change his life forever."  We find from the read...' On Errol  way to deliver the messages, someone tries to kill him. It's definitely not the last time through out the book that someone tries to murder him, but the question is why? Why are there so many people after a simple 19 year-old town drunk?" This is where I say you must pick up this read to find out what is going on.  Be ready for a very captivating and mysterious story as the boy will leave "his village and go to the city of Erinon to help his king and kingdom."  The plot consisted of a lots of twist and turns, with a descriptive scenery and characters were all so real and well portrayed. 

If you like very creative medieval  fantasy then you have come to the right place for: "A Cast of Stones" will take you there and I would recommend this read.

Carved In Darkness By: Maegan Beaumont

By:  Maegan Beaumont
Published By:  Midnight Ink
Age Recommended:
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Book Blog For:  GMTA
Review:


"Carved in Darkness" by Maegan Beaumont was some thriller/suspense read that was simply some good read.  We find that Melissa Walker for 83 days of rape and torture has been taken by a psychotic killer.  She was just seventeen year old.  She is left for dead but is alive.  The person that did this to Melissa was never found and she was not able to identify him because he had her eyes sewn shut.  As times goes on we find that Melissa Walker has began a new life with a new name trying to forget the past.  Melissa is now Sabrina a police officer who is carrying around a big secret. "She's Melissa and no-one knows she survived apart from her Gran, her room-mate Val and her younger brother and sister."  However, when the person who did this to Melissa/Sabrina finds out that she is alive we find out from the read that he will do anything to get her back.  Now, this is when I say you must pick up the excellent read to find out what all this author has in store for the readers.  There will be a lots of twist and turns in this novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat.  The characters are all so well developed and very intriguing along with being so very captivating. Sabrina is really one heroine that you don't want to mess with.  She may have been damaged but she is also 'strong and smart.' 

If you are looking for a well written mystery, suspense and thriller you have come to the right place for "Carved in Darkness" will give it all to you.  Would I recommend?  YES!