Mishel Reviews. Braedric's Bane - AJ Nuest

The key would unlock his future and the safety of his kingdom, but he never imagined the sorceress would unlock his heart…

To escape the clutches of the evil Wizard Gaelleod, Rowena and Caedmon flee to the future. With her memories in tact and the help of her dear friends, Rowena is confident they can uncover the clues behind her connection to the key.

Yet Violet's dire prophecy does more than detail their history. Caedmon's worst fears are confirmed. Though they must return to his realm, everything he loves stands to be ripped from his grasp.

The conclusion to the breathtaking new Fantasy Romance series from AJ Nuest!

My Take:

I don’t think I made it quite clear that my last review was for the third book in The Golden Key Chronicles, my apologies. I only meant that by the time I was writing the last review I had already finished reading the last book, Braedric’s Bane. My favorite out of the series is the third book. But don’t let that deter you from this review. Braedric’s Bane comes in at a very close second place favorite! AJ Nuest has tied everything in the series together in an action packed and exciting conclusion to a series I’ve really come to love. The kingdom of Austiere is on the brink of war.  In order to stay alive, Rowena and Caedmon must return to the future and find the answers they need to save themselves and the kingdom they call home. 

Returning to the future was such a treat for me. Not only do some old characters come back into the story, but the charming and oh-so-sexy Prince Caedmon is finally in Rowena’s contemporary time period. To see him so unsettled was too funny. I came to really love the old world feel of the series but I forgot how much fun modern times could be. Caedmon finally gets to meet Oliver, who was introduced in book one, and his boyfriend John who may or may not develop a crush on our sweet Prince. As for the mission at hand, the couple needs to determine the connection between Rowena and the key. They hope to find some answers from Rowena’s friend Violet. What they find out though is not the happily ever after they were aiming for and the two of them have to reluctantly return to Caedmon’s realm for an epic showdown between good and evil.

Nothing is lacking in the romance department as readers are rewarded with some pretty steamy smexy-time scenes. Caedmon and Rowena’s relationship has continued to grow and bloom ever since they’ve first met. I’ve come to really enjoy how connected they’ve stayed and how true their love remains despite the obstacles that have been placed before them. I can see them becoming a favorite romantic couple for many readers. 

The final showdowns are both super exciting and a little disappointing. Caedmon comes face to face with his half-brother Braedric. After learning so much about his half-brother during the entire series, Caedmon’s final battle is bloodthirsty and very emotional. Rowena faces off with the evil Wizard Galleod. The reader learns much about him in this final book and I was pretty satisfied with the knowledge I got about him. Sometimes evil characters don’t really need much of a back story. Sometimes evil is just evil. However, Rowena’s final battle felt very short-lived. I mean I was ready for some impossible-to-win epic battle between the two, but didn’t really feel like I got that. And honestly, I’m okay with that. I say that because at the end of the day there was a really wonderful happily-ever-after.  I also feel like there are so many more avenues AJ Nuest can explore within the beautiful and magical world she has created. I’m so looking forward to different story arcs with other characters and hope she may be exploring that option. Either way I’m extremely thankful to have discovered AJ’s writing. It’s simplistic, easy to read, and hard to put down. I never once felt overwhelmed by unnecessary filler or over-the-top descriptions. AJ knows how to tell a really great story while staying on point and keeping the reader always wanting more! The Golden Key Chronicles is sweet, sexy, fierce, and filled with adventure. I highly recommend the series! 

Braedric’s Bane by AJ Nuest

The Golden Key Chronicles, #4

Published February 13, 2014 by HarperImpulse

eBook, 121 pages

Rating: 3.75/5

Tags: Fantasy Romance

Received eBook for review

Mishel reviews: Caedmon's Curse - AJ Nuest

The two years Prince Caedmon suffered in the dungeons of Seviere’s keep left him with more than just lash marks lacing his back. He now retains the secret behind the key, and is the only one who understands its grim connection to his beloved Rowena. Torn between telling her the truth and risking their future, he agrees to join her perilous quest. But their enemies to the north are not the only menace determined to see them fail and, to prove his love, he must conquer the demons of his past.

Join Caedmon and Rowena as they rediscover a love bound by fate, and struggle to unravel the significance behind Caedmon’s Curse, Book III in The Golden Key Chronicles.

My Take:

Having now completed the entire series I must say Caedmon’s Curse is my favorite! Although you may start reading out of order, I’d recommend starting this series with book one, Rowena’s Key, to fully appreciate what has happened until now. The romance aspect of the overall story slowed down a bit in the previous installment but I’m happy to report that AJ Nuest definitely turned up the heat! It is equal parts realistic, modern, and oh-so-dreamy. Fantasy elements truly take flight with the introduction of magical places and mythical creatures and the use of magic. Danger is around every corner as Rowena and Caedmon embark on a quest for the truth behind the key that will hopefully save Caedmon’s kingdom and their very lives.

Starting right after book two finishes, Rowena escapes the confines of the castle and decides to journey north in search of the key. Not your ordinary key, it holds the power to destroy entire realms if it falls in the wrong hands. Prince Caedmon is not far behind Rowena since he refuses to let his beloved go off into danger by herself. Their relationship has been a hell of a ride ever since they first met in the book one, separated not only by distance but by time periods as well. Despite having learned the secret involving Rowena and the mystical key during his horrible captivity in an enemy dungeon, Caedmon doesn’t know what to do with his knowledge. Rowena, ever the stubborn one, is determined to find answers and Caedmon reluctantly joins her. The couple faces danger from all sides and a gauntlet of obstacles with no true relief in sight. 

Rowena was a true bad ass warrior in book two. And although she’s still fierce as ever in Caedmon’s Curse, her snarky self returns and I hadn’t realized how much I missed that part of her. She softens a bit as things calm down and she learns to trust her own feelings. One of my favorite parts about the book is the interaction between her and Caedmon. Rowena’s sarcasm pairs so well with Caedom’s old-world charm. Their funny banter is sweet and endearing and I found so much joy in reading the scenes when they were together. They reminded me a lot of my own relationship with my other half and it made the book that much better for me.

The progression of the overall story is very well-paced and I’ve come to really enjoy the ease and finesse of AJ Nuest’s writing. There’s beauty, dangerous battles, magic, love, friendship wrapped in vivid and easy to read descriptions that will leave you breathless at times. I definitely recommend the series as a whole and I’m looking forward to reviewing the final book in The Golden Key Chronicles. If you haven’t started these yet, what are you waiting for?!

Caedmon’s Curse by AJ Nuest

The Golden Key Chronicles, #3

Published February 13, 2014 by HarperImpulse

eBook

Rating: 4.25/5

Tags: Fantasy Romance

Received eBook for review

 

Mishel Reviews: Secrets of a Bollywood Marriage - Susanna Carr

After the glitter settles…  

Tina Sharma and Dev Arjun's whirlwind romance made them Bollywood royalty, but beneath the glitz and glamour there's trouble—Tina is about to demand a divorce!  

But Dev won't give in without a fight, so he proposes a deal: play the dutiful wife for two months, then he'll let her go. Tina is furious! He clearly regrets their shotgun wedding, so why stay together a day longer? But it isn't the days she should be worried about….  

As Dev turns up the heat, Tina may just find herself wishing for a lifetime of pleasure with her devilishly delicious husband!

My Take:

I have to admit this is my first Harlequin Presents read. Secrets of a Bollywood Marriage marks book 3228, according to Amazon! That’s a crazy number of books! Anywho, my knowledge of Bollywood movies, fashion, lifestyle, etc is extremely limited. I’ve always been interested in learning more about Indian culture and it was really refreshing to read a romance in that setting. I can’t guarantee authenticity and accuracy but I’d like to think the author stayed as true to the traditions and customs portrayed in the novel as possible. I also loved the idea of a marriage on the brink of divorce and having a couple fight for their happily ever after. 

Tina is an underdog heroine married to the prince of the Bollywood world. Growing up in the slums and having to struggle her way to her current position everyone, from fans to fellow actors and actresses, is very skeptical and judgmental of their marriage. The tragic circumstances the couple faces soon after their marriage is definitely crippling but not beyond mending. Tina insists Dev married her only out of duty while the rest of the world thinks she seduced him just for fame, fortune, and a way into the Arjun Empire. She wants a divorce and she wants one now! But Dev refuses to give in without a fight. He demands Tina stay with him for a while longer so he can reel her back to his side. Love is a battlefield and it’s up to both parties and their arsenal of emotional tactics to determine who will win.

While I really enjoyed a lot of aspects of the novel I felt even at 192 pages it was too long for the story that was being told. I found myself a little frustrated at the lack of communication between Tina and Dev. The fact that they were both standing in each other’s way was very redundant. I felt their heartache and I felt the rip in their marriage but I wanted to smack them both many times! They were obviously making things a lot harder than it needed to be by simply not being forthcoming with their feelings about their lives, their emotions towards each other, and their outlook on life. While I was definitely rooting for them and their marriage to succeed I found their problems and petty jealousies got old and tired very quickly. However, I will say that every time the two came together was electric. I adored the realistic passion the couple shared.  

Things progressed quickly enough but nothing really stood out for me to love the book. This one had a number of pluses and minuses that balanced out to a pretty enjoyable read. I wasn’t blown away and I may or may not be reading another book by the author. I guess it all depends on the subject matter and if I feel like giving her another go. I think many people will enjoy Tina and Dev. They had pretty good personalities and were a very decent couple to read about. I can definitely see a lot of people liking this one more than I did and I say give it a go if the synopsis appeals to you.

Secrets of a Bollywood Marriage by Susanna Carr
Published March 8, 2014 by Harlequin
Mass Market Paperback, 192 pages
Rating: 3/5
Tags: Contemporary Romance
Received eARC for review 

Mishel Reviews: Above - Isla Morley

I am a secret no one is able to tell.

Blythe Hallowell is sixteen when she is abducted by a survivalist and locked away in an aban­ doned missile silo in Eudora, Kansas. At first, she focuses frantically on finding a way out, until the harrowing truth of her new existence settles in—the crushing loneliness, the terrifying madness of a captor who believes he is saving her from the end of the world, and the persistent temptation to give up. But nothing prepares Blythe for the burden of raising a child in confinement. Deter­ mined to give the boy everything she has lost, she pushes aside the truth about a world he may never see for a myth that just might give mean­ ing to their lives below ground. Years later, their lives are ambushed by an event at once promis­ ing and devastating. As Blythe’s dream of going home hangs in the balance, she faces the ultimate choice—between survival and freedom.

Above was a very interesting read. I didn’t know about the apocalyptic aspect of the book until I got to the second half.  It sort of felt like two books in one which worked out really well at times but tended to fall a little flat at others. I loved the fact that this book was full of surprises and had me second guessing my loyalties for certain characters. While I didn’t understand, or necessarily like, the shift in direction within the second half of the book things sort of fell into their perspective place by the time I got to the end. I enjoyed the book as a whole even if I didn’t like certain pieces and I will definitely be reading more from Isla Morley. 

The plot starts out fairly quickly with Blythe’s kidnapping but everything slows down dramatically when she’s actually placed into the missile silo by her abductor. Time truly seems to stand still as the reader gets to experience the frightening, lonely, and maddening world “below”. I really felt heartbroken for Blythe and don’t know how I would have coped in a similar situation.  Dobbs, a school librarian, is Blythe’s abductor and her only source to the outside world. His twisted state of mind, which could have been somewhat reasonable in the long run, challenges Blythe both physically and mentally. She ends up spending seventeen years in that silo, teetering on the edge of madness at times, and it’s still difficult for me, even now, to fathom how one could possible make it without losing their entire self. After giving up her initial mission on finding a way out Blythe’s sanity, emotions, and well being is tested relentlessly when new life is brought into the picture. How can Blythe possibly raise a child in such conditions? I can only sit back with admiration at the courage, resiliency, hope and love that she is still able to possess.

The years “below” in that silo were long and hard to get through. It wasn’t tiresome to read or exhausting in detail but I found Morley was really able to make the concept of time nonexistent as Blythe’s days turned into weeks, months, and then years. Her loneliness and poetic thoughts haunted me and although she didn’t sound like a typical teenager, in thoughts or in dialogue, she wasn’t under any typical circumstances that teenagers face (or adults for that matter). I really enjoyed the way Morley surrounded me with her descriptions and I think Blythe’s silo days will always stay with me. 

Now without going too much into the second half of the book, because it seems very spoiler-ish, I will say I was a little disappointed. I was just as shocked as Blythe and her son were when coming “above”. I was actually confused and may have said “WTF?” a time or two. The second half’s events take some time getting used to and honestly it felt like an entire different storyline to me. Blythe’s beloved heroic personality, which won me over so strongly in the beginning, sort of dissolved into an extremely protective mother that was understandably cautious and maybe a little paranoid. While I don’t fault Blythe for her reasoning or her actions I just can’t say I was strongly attached to her as I was in the beginning. 

Being “above” was eerie and I felt both Blythe and her son’s reactions were genuine and reasonable. I did like how I was able to experience the things they did when they first surfaced. The sensory overloads, the unbelievable shock, the fear of the unknown were all depicted very well. I was very happy with a lot of parts of the book. And then Morley went down random avenues that felt a little “shoved in” for shock value or some other addition to appeal to the reading audience. While I get what Morley did with the second half and understand its overall value to the story I just didn’t like it really matched up with the memorable beginning.

With that said about part two of the book I did enjoy (most of) the ending. As I mentioned earlier, I became aware of the entire picture and had to re-evaluate my feelings towards all characters; including beloved Blythe and the woman she ultimately became. Above is cleverly written, with a few randomly lost parts, that I very much enjoyed reading. I would read it again and I am looking forward to more from Isla Morley. 

Above by Isla Morley

Published March 4, 2014 by Gallery Books

Hardcover, 384 pages

Rating: 4/5

Tags: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Adventure, Survival

Received eARC for review 

Mishel reviews: Find Momo

Thousands of Internet fans play hide-and-seek with Momo the border collie every day, and now you can, too. Momo and his best buddy Andrew Knapp have traveled all over—through fields, down country roads, across cities, and into yards, neighborhoods, and surreal spaces of all sorts. The result is a book of spectacular photography that’s also a game you can play anytime. Lose yourself in page after page of Andrew’s beautiful, serene, dreamlike images, and sooner or later you’ll find Momo’s sweet, eager face looking back at you. (Can’t find him? Don’t worry…the answers are in the back.)

Andrew Knapp is a freelance interface designer and photographer from northern Ontario who desires to make everyday routines into creative adventures. Along with his commercial photography and design work, he’s filmed a TEDx Talk, collaborated on an Instamissions project with MTV and Sony, and cofounded the We Live Up Here collaboration exploring life in Sudbury, Ontario.

Momo is an adorable black-and-white, brown-eyed border collie, Andrew’s BFF, and a genius at hiding. Together they’re an Instagram phenomenon, bringing smiles to over 100,000 followers who never miss their chance to try to find Momo.

Dog lovers, photography buffs, and all readers in general will fall in love with Momo and his human sidekick, Andrew Knapp. This dynamic duo has been hiding-and-seeking through Instagram (http://instagram.com/andrewknapp) for quite some time. I remember seeing an article years ago when Andrew first started posting photographs featuring his beloved border collie. His photography is beautiful by itself – unique places, gorgeous landscapes, peaceful and bustling spaces. The bonus part with this photography book is finding Momo hidden somewhere in each photograph! And if you somehow can’t find him within the pictures featured within don’t fret – there’s an answer key in the back!

What I really love about this book is how inspirational it is. With every photograph I felt the need to travel to places I’ve never been but have always wanted to visit. I wanted to go to any and all places that I’ve only seen in pictures and only dreamed of going. I tend to get like that anytime I look at fantastic photography but pair the stunning images with Momo’s beloved face and a new sense of longing comes to mind. I had a border collie years ago and I know all too well the loving spirit these dogs possess. But you don’t have know the breed personally to know how magical the human and dog bond can be. That magic comes through these photos and through Andrew’s few pieces of writing in the book. The love shared between them is abundantly clear and really great to be a part of.

I loved the inclusion of an answer key. I’m not tooting my own horn but I found Momo in every photo! (TOOT TOOT) Although I was stumped on a few pictures it’s easy to spot Momo’s charming, furry face. I almost became automatically drawn to him as soon as I turned the page. I also enjoyed the fact that Andrew included where each photo was taken – in case one feels the need to travel to those very places (like yours truly)! The tiny snippets of personal information about Momo and his relationship with Andrew was a wonderful addition that added a sweet and relatable touch to the entire book. I would have loved more writing but this is a photography book after all. 

Find Momo has found a permanent home on my bookshelf. I even asked my other half if he had heard of Andrew and Momo and as I handed him the book he quickly got lost in the game of hide and seek. This book can serve as a great gift or just a simple reminder that the love of dogs, photography, travel, and friendship can shine through and spread happiness with just a turn of a page.

5/5

Find Momo by Andrew Knapp

Published March 4, 2014 by Quirk Books

Paperback, 144 pages

Tags: Art, Photography, Non-fiction, Animals -Dogs

Received for review

Mishel Reviews: Hannie Rising - Jeanette Baker

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: December 2013 

Publisher: Createspace

Pages:  428

Author Site:  

My Rating: 4.25/5 

Source: Received for review from author

Cover: I don’t really see a connection between the cover and the story but the cover is pretty with the clean and simple colors.

Mickey Enright isn’t ready to be dead. His life on earth has been more than satisfactory. He is an icon in Tralee, a “typical Kerryman,” an easy-going, life-of-the-party jokester, a man’s man, a decent, although unexceptional provider who took for granted the faithfulness of his wife, the love of his children, Kerry football, and a few pints with the lads in Betty’s Pub on Rock Street. Convinced there has been a mistake, he demands another chance at mortality.  

St. Peter, with an agenda of his own, sends Mickey back to Tralee as a stranger.  

Meanwhile, Hannie, Mickey’s widow, has begun to resurface from her loss and celebrate her freedom. She has also learned a thing or two about her late husband, enough to convince her that life after marriage might be more satisfying than it was during.

Mickey, his original purpose to win back a few more years of his former life, finds himself in the unique position of attempting to court his wife, a woman he believed held no surprises for him and, in so doing, learns a thing or two about Hannie as well as playing directly into the hands of St. Peter.

Review:

I read, reviewed, and enjoyed Catriona by Jeanette Baker back in 2011. Ever since, I’ve been interested in reading more of Baker’s work. I’m happy to report that I really enjoyed Hannie Rising and am actually pretty surprised how much the story stuck with me. It wasn’t quite what I expected having read the synopsis. This story has nothing to do with the supernatural but rather redemption, the love of family and friendship, and self-discovery. It left me with a warm and fuzzy feeling inside that stayed with me long after I finished. 

The untimely death of Mickey Enright has affected a lot of people in the small town of Tralee. His wife, Hannie, isn’t quite sure how to cope with the loss and his grown children, Kate and Liam, can’t quite imagine what life will be like without their father around any longer. Mickey himself is probably the most shell-shocked of them all. He’s far from ready to leave his life and family behind.  After passing into that brilliant white light, St. Peter is there to greet him. Mickey all but begs for a second chance and is again surprised to find out that his wish is to be granted. But his mission isn’t simply about unfinished business. Mickey is in fact allowed to return; he must come back as a stranger and keep his true identity a secret. Not quite sure what this new venture entails Mickey is all too eager to return to his wife, his children, and his life without truly understanding what he must 

Meanwhile, it’s been a year since Mickey’s death and Hannie is still missing her husband but is starting to adjust remarkably well. With her children out and living their own lives she has her home to herself and is able to do whatever she likes without having to worry or look after anyone else. It’s a refreshing freedom that comes to a screeching halt even before it truly began. When both of her children ask to come back home and her mother slow descent into the grip of Alzheimer’s, Hannie must relinquish hold on a life she barely got a taste of. But what can she do? She’s a mother, a daughter, a pillar of emotional strength. She couldn’t possibly turn her family away when they need her. But when is someone going to be there for her when she needs it?

I can’t really say this story is just about Mickey or Hannie. Even though the title and even synopsis may lead one to believe this is Hannie’s story it really belongs to the entire family. It’s told in alternating POVs and is very well-executed in my opinion. Kate and Liam become main characters in their own right and even Hannie’s mother levels up there with the rest of the family. What I like most about Baker’s writing is her ability to create relatable, down-to-earth, and emotionally-layered characters. I found a little bit of myself in each of these people. Both Kate and Liam are in their twenties and are struggling to find a path for themselves with different obstacles in their way. Hannie is determined to be the person her family needs but she was just starting to experience a newfound freedom that I really hated to see taken away. Mickey, in disguise, is plopped down into the hubbub trying to discover what his new purpose is. All of them are on a journey that I know countless people can relate to on some level. 

I love how I was also able to be totally immersed in Tralee and Ireland itself while following these characters. Having never traveled out of the country, or much out of my home state for that matter, I truly appreciate author’s that are able to bring the setting to life as if I were there. I’m very happy with my overall reading experience and although this is Baker’s latest release I still plan on reading her other books and any future ones she may write. 

Mishel Reviews: Princesses behaving badly - Linda Rodriguez McRobbie

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date:  November 2013 

Publisher: Quirk Books

Pages: 288

Author Site: 

My Rating: 4/5

Source: Received from publisher for review

Cover: It’s pretty creative; I like it, although the princess at the very top looks very manly…

You think you know her story. You’ve read the Brothers Grimm, you’ve watched the Disney cartoons, you cheered as these virtuous women lived happily ever after. But the lives of real princesses couldn’t be more different. Sure, many were graceful and benevolent leaders—but just as many were ruthless in their quest for power, and all of them had skeletons rattling in their royal closets. Princess Stephanie von Hohenlohe was a Nazi spy. Empress Elizabeth of the Austro-Hungarian Empire slept wearing a mask of raw veal. Princess Olga of Kiev murdered thousands of men, and Princess Rani Lakshmibai waged war on the battlefield, charging into combat with her toddler son strapped to her back.  Princesses Behaving Badly  offers mini-biographies of all these princesses and dozens more. It’s a fascinating read for history buffs, feminists, and anyone seeking a different kind of bedtime story.

Review:

I know the whole Disney princess franchise is a rip-off and may or may not be detrimental to young girls today. But honestly, I like Disney princesses…to a certain extent. Do I like that most of them (the earlier ones especially) need a prince to have their Happily Ever After? No, I don’t like that fact or many others. But I’m a sucker for fairy tales and the entire idea of what a Disney princess is appeals to me for some reason. I have a three year old daughter that loves all things Disney princess-related. Do I want her to eventually grow out of it though? Hell yes! But this isn’t a rant or discussion about Disney princesses. I brought Disney up because unfortunately that’s my only real knowledge of princesses. But real life princesses – the ones who fight for their freedom, scheme for power, lie, cheat and steal for gain are the ones featured in this book. These women are nothing like the princesses I grew up with but I became truly fascinated by so many of them after reading Princesses Behaving Badly.

I love the fact that this is such a fun, light, and fluffy read. These short, mini-biographies of the royal women of history is not only fascinating but an excellent introduction to a lot of women I hadn’t even heard of before. A number of their stories intrigue me enough to want to go off and explore more about their lives. It got especially exciting for me as the author moved closer to the current time period and even included some women who were still alive or had recently just passed within my lifetime. I do believe there was no intention of a deep, methodically researched portrayal of these women and honestly that’s what makes this read so much fun and so easy to read. McRobbie provides just enough insight to attract even the most reluctant historical reader. The gossip-rag style of delivery brings a modern outlook on these women and the choices they voluntarily made or were forced to make during their lives. Again, I think it’s a brilliant way to interest young and older readers alike. 

Although I’m sure all facts are as reliable and accurate as possible I don’t think one should look upon this book as a serious read. I think it was meant to shed light on royal women, (including empresses, ones that may only be myths, ranis – which means “queen” or “lady” in many Indo-Aryan languages, khans – yes think Genghis!, and even imposters) that have “made the headlines” in their day. While most of these princesses were definitely behaving “badly”, even downright insane in some cases, some were merely stepping over boundaries that were frowned upon greatly or doing things other women would only dream of.  The majority of these ladies never got their fairytale happily-ever-afters but they led extraordinary lives that over time have come to inspire and/or entertain the masses; a big accomplishment in its own right!

Mishel Reviews: Prayers for the Stolen - Jennifer Clement

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date:  February 2014 

Publisher: Hogarth

Pages:  224

Author Site:  http://www.jennifer-clement.com/

My Rating: 3.5/5 

Source: Received for review from NetGalley

Cover: It’s eye-catching and I like it better than the UK edition.

A haunting story of love and survival that introduces an unforgettable literary heroine

Ladydi Garcia Martínez is fierce, funny and smart. She was born into a world where being a girl is a dangerous thing. In the mountains of Guerrero, Mexico, women must fend for themselves, as their men have left to seek opportunities elsewhere. Here in the shadow of the drug war, bodies turn up on the outskirts of the village to be taken back to the earth by scorpions and snakes. School is held sporadically, when a volunteer can be coerced away from the big city for a semester. In Guerrero the drug lords are kings, and mothers disguise their daughters as sons, or when that fails they “make them ugly” – cropping their hair, blackening their teeth- anything to protect them from the rapacious grasp of the cartels. And when the black SUVs roll through town, Ladydi and her friends burrow into holes in their backyards like animals, tucked safely out of sight.

While her mother waits in vain for her husband’s return, Ladydi and her friends dream of a future that holds more promise than mere survival, finding humor, solidarity and fun in the face of so much tragedy. When Ladydi is offered work as a nanny for a wealthy family in Acapulco, she seizes the chance, and finds her first taste of love with a young caretaker there. But when a local murder tied to the cartel implicates a friend, Ladydi’s future takes a dark turn. Despite the odds against her, this spirited heroine’s resilience and resolve bring hope to otherwise heartbreaking conditions.

An illuminating and affecting portrait of women in rural Mexico, and a stunning exploration of the hidden consequences of an unjust war, PRAYERS FOR THE STOLEN is an unforgettable story of friendship, family, and determination.

Review:

This one was a different kind of reading experience for me. Ladydi’s story is exceptional in many ways: from the rural setting of Mexico to the almost tangible emotions to some truly unforgettable characters. But I was disappointed when Ladydi became more of a narrator than anything else. I couldn’t connect with her even though I tried. Every time I felt I got some sort of inkling of a personality it disappeared and I felt at a loss. She had many great traits but I forgot she was the main character at times. I was just really surprised at how much of a backseat she took to her own life story. Other characters, even minor ones, really stood out from the pages at time. Her mother is one that immediately comes to mind. Strong-willed and resilient in her own right, Ladydi’s mother can be described as a little mad as well. She really drove the story in the beginning for me. Even so I plan on reading more from Jennifer Clement. I like her unique style of writing and am very curious to see it shine through with other stories and characters. I think once I get used to her writing voice I’ll come to appreciate the way she does things. 

I do like how Clement shined light on some of the issues of the hardships and tragedies the people, especially the women, of Mexico face daily. From the politically involved and horrific drug wars to the tragic world of human trafficking I think Prayers for the Stolen can be used as an introductory awareness piece of work for those that aren’t as familiar with these things, like me. A lot of the time Clement let the reader fill in the blanks with their own imagination rather than blatantly shove violent or graphic details into her work. From the very first words of the book the reader knows Ladydi’s daily life is one of struggling survival. Yes, she lives in a poor rural part of Mexico but it’s more the danger of being stolen or killed that she must really survive. From her childhood to her teenage years, Ladydi must always remember to be a female is dangerous, to be beautiful or pretty is to invite the drug lords to the door of your home. 

I had trouble with the gaps within the plot and even the actual delivery of the story. I mentioned earlier that this was a unique reading experience for me and I could very well come to really like it once I become more familiar with Clement’s writing. However, as a first time reader of hers I just wasn’t won over. The lack of quotation marks took some getting used to and the indecisive pacing made it difficult to want to continue at times. Some things within the plot didn’t make sense to me as Ladydi got older and moved away from her home. Other things felt a little too wishy-washy and the story lost its vivid story-telling halfway through the book. The portrayal of Ladydi’s home and childhood stood out immensely with poetic descriptions and metaphors in the beginning. And then things kind of sizzled out and got lost. 

Again, while not a bad book in any light I just found myself a little disappointed. There were such strong moments within the story that makes me want to continue with Clement’s other books. Still Prayers for the Stolen is very insightful and has parts within that I promise will stay with you after you close the book. I’d recommend giving this one a borrow if you want to read it. See for yourself if it works for your reading tastes.

Mishel Reviews: Candra's freedom - AJ Nuest

Series or Stand Alone: The Golden Key Chronicles, book two

Release Date:  December 2013 

Publisher: HarperImpulse 

Pages:  88

Author Site:  http://ajnuest.com/

My Rating: 4/5 

Source: Received for review from author/publisher

Cover: Pretty and goes well with the first book cover.

The key would unlock his future and the safety of his kingdom, but he never imagined the sorceress would unlock his heart…

Lost in a world she doesn't recognize, Rowena struggles to find her place.

Yet her abilities with a blade and the loyalty of a fierce falcon don't discourage the heated advances of the handsome Prince Caedmon, and the connection between them seems much deeper than her troubled heart can recall.

Review:

Candra’s Freedom is a tad bit shorter than Rowena’s Key, the first book in the Golden Key Chronicles, but it still packs quite a punch! Even with its minor faults it’s still a quick, satisfying and addictive read. 

I’d highly recommend reading the first book before starting this one to really appreciate Rowena as a character. After Prince Caedmon reluctantly leaves her side, Rowena is left on her own with no memories of her life, who she is, or what is happening. She is pretty much forced into a fierce and independent transition in order to survive. Although she is staying at the castle, royal intrigue has kept her at arm’s length from everyone around her. It’s difficult to know who to trust and who can be turned to for help so Rowena relies on herself. In the two years since Caedmon has been gone she has furiously trained with the royal guard to become an independent, respected, and strong-willed warrior. Her only desire is to escape her confinement and live away from the scrutiny and confusion of her current life at the castle. 

Prince Caedmon was whisked away shortly after the events in book one. He was actually taken captive during an important mission that involved Rowena’s move into Caedmon’s realm. I’m trying to be ridiculously vague in order to prevent any spoilers of the previous book or this one, so bear with me. With the disappearance of Rowena’s memories of everything so went her recognition and love for Caedmon. So when he finally escapes and returns to his kingdom he soon realizes that Rowena is no longer the sweet and docile woman he left. He must tread carefully in order to regain Rowena’s trust and hopefully her love. Caedmon also knows that his capture had nothing to do with chance but rather someone’s betrayal. 

There was a lot of action in this installment rather than romance. With Rowena’s shift in personality comes a lot of growth in her character development. I really enjoyed the fighting scenes that show just how much Rowena has had to change in order to survive. But oh how I miss the romance… I’m excited to continue on with the series and see more of Rowena and Caedmon. I’d really like to see some more development on the magical aspect of the key and the kingdom now that it is the current setting of the story.  I would have liked a more fleshed out transition in the beginning of the story since there is a significant time jump. I was also a bit confused on the title, if the name Candra was explained somewhere in the first or second book I completely missed it.  Either way the change in pacing and direction of the story was very much welcomed. I can’t wait to see what book three has in store.

Mishel Reviews: Maiden Flight - Bianca D'Arc

Series or Stand Alone: Dragon Knights series, book one

Release Date:  September 2013 – paperback (First Published February 2006) 

Publisher: Samhain

Pages:  173

Author Site:  http://biancadarc.com/

My Rating: 3.5/5 

Source: Kindle Freebie

Cover: I don’t like the original cover – at all. The new cover is nice though – everyone on there is good looking and a dragon is included, thumbs up!

War is coming for the dragon knights…but love may find them first.

A chance meeting with a young male dragon seals the fate of one adventurous female poacher. The dragon’s partner, a ruggedly handsome knight named Gareth, takes one look at the shapely woman and decides to do a little poaching of his own.

Sir Gareth both seduces and falls deeply in love with the girl who is not only unafraid of dragons but also possesses a rare gift—she can hear the beasts’ silent speech. He wants her for his mate, but mating with a knight is no simple thing. To accept a knight, a woman must also accept the dragon, the dragon’s mate…and her knight, Lars, too.

She is at first shocked, then intrigued by the lusty life in the Lair. But war is in the making and only the knights and dragons have a chance at ending it before it destroys their land and their lives.  

This book has been revised for rerelease.

Product Warnings: Contains dragons, their sexy knights and a damsel who is not quite in distress. Sizzling hot m/f/m scenes may leave you breathing fire.

Review:

Apparently I have a thing for dragons, and there aren’t even any shifters in here, go figure! I was actually pretty surprised at how much I liked the plot of Maiden Flight. A lot of the story was world building, character introduction, and crazy hot m/f/m sexytimes. This is my first ménage a trios read so it’s exciting to get something new under the reading belt. Being a short kindle freebie I was pretty satisfied overall. I’ve read some reviews that mention how similar this is to Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series and I can’t comment on that because I haven’t had the chance to start her books yet. I can do some similarities between authors and the worlds they create but I really don’t like copycats, just saying. I hope I don’t find out in the future that it was a little too alike for my tastes…

The storyline concept was actually really interesting if not a little over-the-top. The dragons are intelligent, fierce, and very loyal warriors. They are matched with a human knight that they can telepathically communicate with. But the bond doesn’t stop there – the dragons are unable to mate until their knight counterparts find their mate first. Why, might you ask? Well knight and dragon have such a unique bond that they can actually feel what the other feels. So in other words the dragon sex drive is so strong that it would drive their knight insane if they had no mate to run to. This exceptional fact made all the sex scenes pretty fascinating. If there was human sex, there was sure to be dragon sex involved as well, and vice versa. This I could handle. The insta-love on the other hand I had an issue with.

I mentioned in a previous review that I used to absolutely adore the idea of love at first sight. It’s such a dreamy and romantic idea that I still sometimes like to daydream about it. But reality and reading well-paced romantically involved books has shifted my judgment. I find myself actually cringing and rolling my eyes pretty far in the back of my head when insta-love hits a heroine and/or hero. Sadly in Maiden Flight’s case the couple (and the third-wheel!) gets hit pretty hard. Now of course once I got my eyes to focus in their proper position I just accepted the fact that it was part of the story. After that I could enjoy most of what was going on.  I actually enjoyed the romantic situation between the heroine’s mother and her perspective beau. It was slower-paced and much more realistic. 

Although there wasn’t much of a plot to be found I still enjoyed the book. I liked Maiden Flight so much that I went ahead and bought the next couple of books to see how the story progresses. I am hoping the sex scenes become a little bit more creative and the characters get more fleshed out. I’m hoping for more of the plot to come to the forefront about the war going on, the politics within the Lair, and I’d like to see more interaction between the characters. I like me some sex but I also like some dialogue, some intrigue, something, anything really. Hopefully I’ll get some of that with the upcoming books.                      

Mishel Reviews: Deeper - Robin York

Mishel reviews

Series or Stand Alone: Caroline and West, book one

Release Date:  January 2014 

Publisher: Bantam

Pages:  400

Author Site:   http://www.robinyork.com/

My Rating: 4.75/5 

Source: NetGalley

Cover: The cover model is pretty but that’s really the only thing…I like that it’s simple and it goes well with book two’s (HARDER) cover!!

In this New Adult debut by Robin York, a college student is attacked online and must restore her name—and stay clear of a guy who’s wrong for her, but feels so right.

When Caroline Piasecki’s ex-boyfriend posts their sex pictures on the Internet, it destroys her reputation as a nice college girl. Suddenly her once-promising future doesn’t look so bright. Caroline tries to make the pictures disappear, hoping time will bury her shame. Then a guy she barely knows rises to her defense and punches her ex to the ground.

West Leavitt is the last person Caroline needs in her life. Everyone knows he’s shady. Still, Caroline is drawn to his confidence and swagger—even after promising her dad she’ll keep her distance. On late, sleepless nights, Caroline starts wandering into the bakery where West works.

They hang out, they talk, they listen. Though Caroline and West tell each other they’re “just friends,” their feelings intensify until it becomes impossible to pretend. The more complicated her relationship with West gets, the harder Caroline has to struggle to discover what she wants for herself—and the easier it becomes to find the courage she needs to fight back against the people who would judge her.

When all seems lost, sometimes the only place to go is deeper.

Review:

While I get the idea of the new emerging genre of New Adult I really don’t feel it’s all that necessary. I like to read any kind of book that sounds good whether it be fantasy, romance, horror, suspense, etc. Differentiating between adult, young adult, and now, new adult feels like a waste of time. But I get the need to micro-manage and to sub-genre genres. I get that. I have my weird quirks too. So I’ll go along with it and read what I like in whatever genre, sub-genre, or categorical scheme to get me to buy more books =D So with that said  Deeper is my first dip in the New Adult pool. I’m amazed by how much I liked it. There was sexy times a plenty, a super hot bad boy who is secretly a pretty charming and caring man, a smart and very likeable heroine, a lot of different issues to contemplate and discuss…basically Deeper is a keeper on my bookshelf.

Law school bound Caroline recently breaks up with her longtime boyfriend, Nick, of three years. Soon after the breakup she discovers a set of sexually explicit photos posted all over the internet. Hmm I wonder whodunit? Now before I could even start to contemplate blaming Caroline for her part in the picture taking she surprised me by accepting her responsibility. I was kind of half-expecting her to be all “woe is me” and “I can’t believe this happened!! *sob sob*”… but yeah I didn’t get any of that. She knew she shouldn’t have let Nick take those pictures. But she never dreamed they’d be blasted over the web or ever used against her. No one ever dreams of that, well not anyone I know at least. 

Despite having a big “SLUT” sticker on her forehead Caroline doesn’t roll over and die or go crawl in a hole to disappear. Like I said, she really surprised me by taking control and trying to do what she thought was best to remedy the situation. I honestly would have been a very “woe is me” kind of heroine in a very dramatic fashion. The repercussions can truly be devastating and just imagining myself in Caroline’s situation makes me shudder. And while I respect the hell out of Caroline for putting her brave face on, I must say she did create some unnecessary drama for herself. Bullying sucks no matter what age you are but fighting back can really do wonders. I wish she would have stood up for herself a little more and asked for help rather than trying to bury it under the rug and wish it all away. Ain’t gonna happen honey! Sometimes you can’t let what others think get in the way of your life. Especially when Caroline didn’t do anything wrong but take sexy pictures for her boyfriend. 

Now I read the blurb before I requested the book on Netgalley, okay okay maybe I skimmed it. (oh and by the way, this book was formatted just fine! Thank goodness, Thank Netgalley!) But I had no idea that the story was going to take off into this passionate affair with my new fictional boyfriend. I mean really, I didn’t prepare myself!  To Caroline, West is like this tempting, beautiful to look at but don’t even think about touching (or talking to) creature. Even before Caroline’s picture scandal and her breakup with Nick, West was someone that very much interested her. His allure was almost tangible but Caroline was too afraid to be anything but the good girl she’s always been. But when West steps further into her life by beating Nick up, she has no choice but to acknowledge her growing attraction to someone she’s hardly spoken to. 

One of my favorite parts of the story is West’s point of view and his story. I absolutely loved the fact that the author chose to tell the story in alternating perspectives. Without West’s thoughts I don’t think the book would have had such an impact on me. West is not a true bad boy. He grew up struggling to get by with his younger sister and mother. And his mother has had a very devastating and consuming love affair with West’s father all his life. West has had to step in as a brother, son, and father-figure all at young ages. He’s had to grow up fast and use whatever was in reach to get by, including his own body.  I did become attached to Caroline and the fact that she came out of her shell with West. She learns how to survive, how to grow, and how to let go of what’s safe all the while teaching West about what it means to be truly cared for and loved. The two of them are explosive when they come together. Which brings me to my next favorite part of the story – the sexy times!! HOT, steamy, and extremely well written - I loved the sexy times shared between Caroline and West. Even with blunt and abrasive language I still found the scenes to be some of the best sex scenes I’ve ever read!

I am sort of just blown away at how much this story has to offer: amazing sex scenes, nicely written secondary characters, and a number of issues that will resonate with many different readers. And I actually felt pretty content with the ending. I would have definitely wanted another book if the author didn’t already have Harder (July,2014) coming out. However the ending was enough for me. I cried, my heart was aching, but I was content with using my imagination to put the pieces together for myself. But I’m not complaining with the fact that there will be another book. I’d like to fast forward time so I can read it now! But to me the ending wasn’t a cliffhanger. Anywho, I really liked Deeper! I liked it so much I pre-ordered a paperback copy of it and the next book so they’ll have permanent homes on my bookshelf. So would I buy it? Heck yes, I already did =P I’m actually looking forward to reading the author’s other books under her real name (Ruthie Knox). 

Mishel Reviews: The Troop - Nick Cutter

Mishel Reviews

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date:  January 2014 (ebook)

Publisher: Gallery Books

Pages:  368

Book Site:   

My Rating: 3/5 

Source: NetGalley

Cover: I like it. I think it fits the story well and portrays the isolation of the island while looking ominous.

Lord of the Flies  meets  The Ruins  in this frightening novel written in the bestselling traditions of Stephen King and Scott Smith.  

Boy Scouts live by the motto “Be Prepared.” However, nothing can prepare this group of young boys and their scoutmaster for what they encounter on a small, deserted island, as they settle down for a weekend of campfires, merit badges, and survival lessons.

Everything changes when a haggard stranger in tattered clothing appears out of nowhere and collapses on the campers’ doorstep. Before the night is through, this stranger will end up infecting one of the troop’s own with a bioengineered horror that’s straight out of their worst nightmares. Now stranded on the island with no communication to the outside world, the troop learns to battle much more than the elements, as they are pitted against something nature never intended…and eventually each other.

“Lean and crisp and over-the-top....Disquieting, disturbing,” says Scott Smith, author of  The Ruins  and  A Simple Plan,  The Troop  is a visceral burn of a read that combines boldly drawn characters with a fantastically rendered narrative—a terrifying story you’ll never forget.

Review:

I’m just now starting to delve into NetGalley, after having signed up over two years ago without actually using it. I had The Troop on my TBR list and was pretty excited that my request was accepted. The rough copy of the book took some getting used to. But I understand that it’s an ARC copy so I eventually got over the weird formatting and lack of editing.  I briefly skimmed over other reviews and came away with a wide range of likes and dislikes people had while reading. I don’t like to do too much research on a book before reading because I like to go in with a “clean slate”. Anyhow, I had some prior knowledge on what to expect – gory details, animal abuse, something shocking/disturbing. What I got out of The Troop are exactly these things and more! However, I felt the execution and character depth were both lacking and I honestly had a tough time staying interested at times.

While the sense of honor and duty within the Boy Scouts can be found in some passages, I never really got a sense that this rag-tag group of kids and their Scoutmaster were ever truly connected. They had years of history together but I was quite shocked by how quickly things fell apart for all of them. The friendship and family-like bond was pretty much non-existent. I also had a hard time connecting to any of the cookie-cutter characters. Each boy had personalities that were very distinct and different but none of them truly stood out. Their personalities were a little too cliché and I found it hard to care much about them, or what happened to them.

But was I scared? Hell yeah! But I was more scared of the reality of the plot. Icky germs, parasitic worms and viruses, things that do nothing but eat, breed, and destroy, diseases that spread regardless of safety precautions all tend to freak me out. It’s always the unseen enemy that can do the worst and isn’t it always the unknown that scares us the most? The fact that the evil in this book isn’t a psychopathic serial killer, mutant monster, flesh-eating zombie, or creepy alien scares the crap out of me. Did the author actually scare me through his writing? Eh, not really. While I appreciated his overly very dramatic metaphors and detailed scenes I was never really engaged enough to be truly scared by the actual delivery. 

Nick Cutter is a pseudonym and I couldn’t figure out who he was until I read a review on Goodreads that stated he put his real name on the copyright page. Very cute. So now that I know about “Mr. Cutter’s” other work I’d very much like to try it out. Some readers won’t like the detail of some of the scenes or the animal abuse/experimentation in The Troop. And while I didn’t get a true sense of horror I still thought it was a good story. Would I read it again? Probably not, but I’m not sorry that I did read it. Although I did lose interest a time or two during my reading I still enjoyed the book overall. The way the story was told through the narrative and through an outside perspective was actually pretty cool. To make the bigger picture make more sense clues were dispersed in front of some chapters. These could be found in the form of interviews, news bulletins, diary entries, court evidence and documents, etc. These elements helped make sense of what the boys were going through on the isolated island. So I definitely say give this one a go, maybe by borrowing, to see if you’d like to give it a permanent home on your bookshelf.

Mishel Reviews: The Princess of Egypt must die - Stephanie Dray

Mishel reviews

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date:  November 2012

Publisher: Originally appeared in the ETERNAL SPRING anthology of Young Adult Fiction

Pages:  55

Author Site:   

My Rating: 4/5 

Source: Kindle Freebie

Cover: She’s wearing the royal purple, I like it =)

Princess Arsinoe came of age in the glittering court of Ptolemaic Egypt. Abused by her ruthless sister, a pawn in the dynastic ambitions of her father, and dismissed by the king who claimed her for a bride, young Arsinoe finds herself falling in love with a young man forbidden to her. She dreams of a destiny as Egypt's queen, but first she must survive the nest of vipers otherwise known as her family.

Review:

Ugh, this is why I dislike short stories/novellas/novellettes. Call them what you want and I’ll pretty much ALWAYS want more! The Princess of Egypt Must Die is absolutely no exception, especially when I became so attached to characters within a mere 55 pages! I mean, COME ON!?! And while I’m moaning and complaining let me underline the fact that this short story was fantastic! 

Doing some vague and mild research I’ve come to see that the heroine of this story is Queen Arsinoe II. While there is a lot of crazy rivalry – sibling, family, political, etc involved in her history (and pretty much everyone in history it seems), this particular story is about young Princess Arsinoe. Here she is portrayed as the sweet, fragile, younger daughter of the pharaoh who wants desperately to be loved. After being reluctantly married off to the King of Thrace she hopes to find some form of happiness in her new life. But Princess Arsinoe soon learns that rivals will always be around and the love and happiness she’s always wanted may continue to be out of her reach. 

I’ve only dabbled here and there in historical fiction so it’s always a treat to find a book that makes me want to go do research on the time period or featured character. Now if I follow through on said research is an entirely different subject matter that we may or may not discuss (probably not) at a later date. Ancient Egypt has continued to fascinate me with the few works I’ve read about the time period by different authors. I’m excited to continue on in the time period and hopefully continue to be just as thrilled.  

Having already read Stephanie’s work, it’s hard for me not to compare this short story to her Cleopatra’s Daughter trilogy. There are many similarities and differences but the bottom line is I truly love Stephanie Dray’s writing.  Her attention to historical detail is amazing and her ability to engage readers on an emotional level is staggering. I’m looking forward to her future work that will encompass the life of Martha “Patsy” Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson’s daughter (the third president of the United States, just putting it out there…) For those who are new to Stephanie Dray I’d highly recommend this short gem of a read as an introduction to her and her writing. P.S. It’s still a Kindle Freebie

Mishel Reviews: Rowena's Key - AJ Nuest

Mishel Reviews

Series or Stand Alone: The Golden Key Chronicles, book one

Release Date:  November 2013 

Publisher: HarperImpulse 

Pages:  109

Author Site:  http://ajnuest.com/

My Rating: 4/5 

Source: Received for review from author/publisher

Cover: It’s nice, I like the colors.

The key would unlock his future and the safety of his kingdom, but he never imagined the sorceress would unlock his heart…

Antiques restorer, Rowena Lindstrom, finds herself the owner of an ancestral armoire containing a hidden key and a magic mirror leading to another realm!

But the handsome warrior prince waiting on the other side is truly the final straw. This must be an elaborate joke, right? As she struggles to discover the truth, Rowena learns Prince Caedmon Austiere needs the key to save his kingdom. In the end, she cannot deny him anything. Including her heart.

Review:

Rowena’s Key is a great start to a series that I think a lot of people will enjoy. I honestly wasn’t expecting to like this one as much as I did. I’m glad I decided to give it a go when the author asked me to review it. I liked the heartfelt but subtle romance, the fantasy and magical elements, and the modern and believable characters. Everything flowed nicely into a quick and satisfying read.

We meet Rowena shortly after she impulsively buys a rather old and beat up armoire from overseas. As both a business owner and antiques restorer, she probably should have held on to the expensive shipping fees and thought a little bit more about what she was purchasing. Beginning to suffer from buyer’s remorse she sees firsthand how much wear and tear the piece has endured over the years. What makes matters worse, besides the obvious smoke and water damage, is the fact that the doors won’t even open! But life quickly changes for Rowena after she discovers a beautiful chain with a key and entire other world inside the armoire. 

Kind of makes you think of Narnia, doesn’t it? The idea of alternate realms, especially inside furniture!, is always fun in my opinion. I liked the fact that Rowena didn’t automatically accept that what she was seeing was real. Of course, what she thought was a little far-fetched as well…thinking her best friend Ollie had somehow set up some masterful play-acting through the mirror of the armoire…yeah, makes much more sense. The interaction between Prince Caedmon and Rowena was one of my favorite aspects of the story. Even though they were in different time periods, spoke and acted differently, the attraction between them was genuinely felt.

I’m getting a little burned out from the meet-and-greet insta-love thing. I used to be a firm believer in the idea of ‘love at first sight’! But I suppose after reading so much about it, I started rolling my eyes more than sighing dreamily when the heroine/hero swooned seconds/minutes/days after meeting their perspective soul mate... I do believe in insta-attraction though. This I have experienced, even though I haven’t acted on it…I’ll work on that though (maybe). Rowena and Caedmon have an attraction between them despite the odds set against them.  I like that the two shared intimate details about each other before even thinking of the future or the ‘L’ word. It was a nice change and made the story and romance more satisfying.

While it was a bit short for my taste I still felt pretty content with the plot, characters, pacing, and ending. I of course wanted more, but I have a good feeling that the things I was looking for in this first book will head my way with the next installments. And while the ending was a semi-cliffie, I could totally deal. It left me wanting more without feeling cheated or like I’m going to die waiting. I’m looking forward to seeing the story and the author’s writing grow in the upcoming books.

Mishel Reviews: Daughters of the Nile - Stephanie Dray

Mishel Reviews

Series or Stand Alone: Cleopatra’s Daughter, book three

Release Date:  December 2013 

Publisher: Berkley Trade

Pages:  576

Author Site: 

My Rating: 5/5 

Source: Received for review from author/publisher

Cover: Thumbs up! It goes very well with the other two books and shows the growth of the main character. I also like that Selene’s daughter is featured on the cover.

Based on the true story of Cleopatra’s daughter…

After years of abuse as the emperor’s captive in Rome, Cleopatra Selene has found a safe harbor. No longer the pitiful orphaned daughter of the despised Egyptian Whore, the twenty year old is now the most powerful queen in the empire, ruling over the kingdom of Mauretania—an exotic land of enchanting possibility where she intends to revive her dynasty.

With her husband, King Juba II and the magic of Isis that is her birthright, Selene brings prosperity and peace to a kingdom thirsty for both. But when Augustus Caesar jealously demands that Selene’s children be given over to him to be fostered in Rome, she’s drawn back into the web of imperial plots and intrigues that she vowed to leave behind.

Determined and resourceful, Selene must shield her loved ones from the emperor’s wrath, all while vying with ruthless rivals like King Herod. Can she find a way to overcome the threat to her marriage, her kingdom, her family, and her faith? Or will she be the last of her line?

Review:

Daughters of the Nile has to be one of THE most satisfying conclusions to a trilogy I have ever read. I closed the book sighing with contentment as I wiped the remaining tears off my face. Yes, folks it was THAT good! I can’t help but write this review with the previous two novels in my head. The overall reading experience was epic in my opinion. I’ll try not to be a fan girl as I review this one but please excuse the moments when my cup runeth’ over. 

Selene has come a long way from the captured prisoner she once was as a child when she first set foot in Rome. She has now lived over two decades, gotten married, become a powerful Queen, had children of her own, and continues to stand up and defy the most powerful man in the empire. One of her biggest desires is to reclaim her rightful place in Egypt and Selene has been fighting non-stop for it. However, when her ambitions become close enough to taste and grab with two hands she hesitates. Although she’s lost so much for her dreams already, can she risk losing her new family, her fragile relationship with her husband, her beloved kingdom, or the new life she has come to embrace? Selene must choose between her past and her future, as she has always had to do, and risk losing it all.

Again, I must comment on how much I love the characters in these books. I’m pleasantly surprised to report that none have been stagnant. Each person has had ample time to develop and not once did I feel overwhelmed by any of their stories. Everyone had their share of high, happy times, and low, heartbreaking times. It was amazing to see everyone treated as if this was their story to tell, not just Selene’s. 

Coming in under 600 pages I hardly noticed the heaviness of them. I couldn’t believe how the words were flying off the pages and how I still wanted more after I finished. I have to say that the emotional peaks and low points were so numerous that I was shocked. After each critical, climactic point I felt that the story was probably ending soon and things couldn’t possibly get worse and there was no way there could be more to read in the remaining pages. It has been an emotional journey, through this book especially, that has made the entire trilogy a favorite of mine. I adore this author’s writing and I know I will be revisiting Selene again in the future.

I suppose I can’t give all props to Stephanie for putting my emotional investment to the test time and time again. I suppose I should thank history itself and all the players involved. While Stephanie may have been expanding on true events she did so with a beautiful style and with not too much to go on if you think about it. Although I’m sure her extensive research was time-consuming and exhausting there isn’t much known about Queen Cleopatra Selene, before she was Queen of Mauretania or after. And in each of the Author’s Note provided I felt Stephanie was fair in explaining all, or most, of her reasons for writing the story the way she did with the information she had at hand. Basically this small rant is to give the author her deserved props for surrounding real people from the past in a beautifully brutal world that I quite frankly hated to leave. I highly, highly recommend this book and the entire trilogy as a whole. You may of course read this as a standalone but the true enjoyment and experience will come when read them all, in order and hopefully back to back.