Book Review - Blamed (A Blood Money Novel) - Edie Harris

Title:  Blamed Blood Money #1

Author:  Edie Harris

Review:   Beth Faraday started her teenage years a little different than most because at 16 she carried out her first hit for hire and since then has become one of the most feared assassins.  Then one day after a job went south Beth decided to walk away and create a normal life for herself.  She owns a condo, dates chefs but every night she still sleeps with a gun under her pillow.  One night she realizes the life she left behind has followed her to her new home and Beth is forced to flee and to  follow an MI6 agent back into the world she left behind with the support of her family.

Where to start this book has everything a suspense novel should have, sexy spies, really creepy villains, supportive family, exotic locations, smart dialog that keeps the story moving forward and enough action to keep the reader reading until the very last page and still it will have the reader beg for more.

Beth is a well thought out character with flaws, a big heart, and moments that will pull at your heart strings. Edie Harries created a character that will have the reader crying along side as she struggles with her heart and mind.  Everything about Beth is believable- the way she acts with her brothers, sister and father, the way she converse with the MI6 agent and the way she struggles to survive and keep the life she has created. Edie Harris made Beth come off the pages to the point the readers feels as if they are in the room with her while she was getting tortured. 

The author tells Beth's story amazingly well and the characters popped off the page making the reader want more even after the last page is turned.

The book has sex, swearing and violence which all seem to flow natural throughout the book.  I will admit I am on pins and needles waiting for the next book in the series.

Thanks to Heidi for this review

Published:  Expected publication: November 3rd 2014 by Carina Press

Page Count: ebook

Quick Review: 5 out of 5 stars

Why I Read this Title:  ARC sent by Netgallery

Synopsis:   Born into a long line of spies, sanctioned killers and covert weapons developers, Beth Faraday carried out her first hit-for-hire when she was still a teenager.

That part of her life—the American spy royalty part—ended one year ago, with a job gone wrong in Afghanistan. The collateral damage she caused with a single shot was unfathomable and, for Beth, unforgivable. She’s worked hard to build a new life for herself, far away from the family business.

But someone, somewhere, hasn’t forgotten what Beth did in Kabul. And they want revenge.

As the Faraday clan bands together to defend Beth and protect their legacy, Beth is forced to flee her new home with the unlikeliest of allies—MI6 agent Raleigh Vick, the only man she’s ever loved. And the one she thought she’d killed in the desert.

 

Author Information:

Edie Harris studied English and Creative Writing at the University of Iowa and Grinnell College. She fills her days with writing and editing contract proposals, but her nights belong to the world of romance fiction. Edie lives and works in Chicago and is represented by Laura Bradford of Bradford Literary Agency.

Other Review:

Carina Press 

Product Review - Think Fun - Brain Fitness Pathwords - Word Search Exteme

Product:  Pathwords - Word Search Exteme

Manufacturer:  Think Fun

Review:  This is a different word search that took me a few puzzles to figure out - you find the words that fit the shapes of your colorful pieces - it takes a bit of brain power to turn around your thinking to fit the pieces over words - the words are backwards or forwards - much like Boggle - but this is a single player brain fitness game.

I enjoyed this game - it took thinking and a way that changes the way I usually think about word searches - I love word searches like Boggle - but it is tough to find someone to play with me when the urge hits me - this is one player so I can pick it up and play anytime - this is also a green game that you can let others play if you finish it - nothing to write or or throw away - heck even a donation to the Good Will would work when you are done learning from this game and someone else would get the same joy as you did - Great game to play alone and really test your brain power in a new way - which is what Brain Fitness is all about.

Description:  For word search lovers who want a little extra brain workout, this is the game for you! In this amalgamation of Terminus and Word Search, players select a challenge and then place the pieces onto the game grid so that the letters under each piece spell a word either forward or backward. Not only will this game give your vocabulary a run for its money, it will strengthen your visual perception and reasoning skills.

PathWords® Brain Fitness

Word Search Extreme

Strengthen your vocabulary and visual perception skills in this amalgamation of polyominoes and word search!

Ages:  8 to adult

Players:  single player

Features: 

• 80 Challenges

• 8 Puzzle Pieces

• Instructions & Solutions

Information on this game:  They also have a pathword for kids.

No game grid with the version I have - but this will give you the idea of how this game works.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Product Review - Display-Sheet Makeup Bag

Product:  Display Sheet Makeup Bag

Review:  My daughter gave this bag a try - she can never find what she wants in her bag and so the idea that you can dump everything out on the display sheet and find what you need and then slide everything back in is Great!!!  She can now easily find items without making a huge mess and if things spill it is so much easier to clean up seeing the offender right there on the display sheet.

The drawstring is good but I do wish it had a toggle things that you can use to secure the string to be sure it doesn't open by accident - she is pretty rough with her bags and so that would be something she could use - I do like the bag and would recommend it to anyone who wants to easily find what they need in their makeup bag - great concept - other reviewers think so also - see below - 

Places you can purchase this item are ebay - bononza

Description: T he Display Sheet Makeup Bag is made of durable water resistant materials, and can easily fit inside of a handbag to take with you. This bag has a really cool concept, you store your makeup or skincare items in this bag, and there is a sheet feature that allows you to display all your products as you are using them.

When the display sheet is inside of the bag, it doesn’t take up much space at all, there is still plenty of room for all of your makeup items.

The display sheet easily pulls out of the bag extending fully without spilling out any of the bag’s contents. 

The display part of this bag is so handy especially if you’re on the go and need to quickly find a product without digging through the bag forever. The sides of the display sheet are sewn together so your things don’t fall off or get misplaced. 

Once you’re done with the display sheet, you simply grab the end of the sheet and lift straight up. Your items will all slide off of the sheet back into the bag with no mess and no fuss.

The display sheet itself folds up neatly and is easily tucked back away inside your makeup bag! I love this concept because you don’t accidentally misplace an item by digging through everything and sitting things in different places.

The Display Sheet Makeup Bag is then easily closed with a draw string closure.

Other Reviews:

Mom Among Chaos

Daisy's Reviews

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Book Review - The Skeleton Song - Angela Kulig

Title:  The Skeleton Song (The Hollows Series Book)

Author:  Angela King

Review:   Drowning might not be the way most adventures start, but it is the only way at Skeleton Lake. When Death is your only companion, darkness is always on the horizon.

In the prequel to SKELETON LAKE, Cassie chooses the wrong brother. That leads to a series of events that take all of her choices away. For in a world of beautiful bones and false flesh, sometimes life after death is a killer.

I took the premise from Amazon because I wasn't sure how I would describe the book.

I am not sure what to say. The book is very haunting and stayed with me well after I turned my Kindle off.  The writing style of the author is almost poetic and very lyrical creating a world that will haunt you. As a prequel it was interesting enough to pull me to read the next in the series but at the same time it was almost somewhat depressing to find three souls pulled apart unable to find peace.  I would get confused because I wasn't sure what Cassie looked like because I knew she was suppose to be a Skeleton but she also had skin to cover her bones. The author created such an amazing character with Cassie that you felt overwhelmed and confused when she was overwhelmed and confused. I have to admit she dived in the teen psychology and depression that will make you heart hurt for the three characters. 

I have lots of questions but I am assuming they will be answered in the next book.

I have to admit I love the fact that Angela Kulig found an unexplored area of the YA paranormal genre.

Mentioned on twitter and found it on Kindle Unlimited.

Thanks to Heidi for this review

Published:  Published November 5th 2012

Page Count: 91

Quick Review: 5 out of 5 stars

Why I Read this Title:  Amazon Unlimited from a mention on Twitter

Synopsis:   Drowning might not be the way most adventures start, but it is the only way at Skeleton Lake. When Death is your only companion, darkness is always on the horizon.

In the prequel to SKELETON LAKE, Cassie chooses

the wrong brother. That leads to a series of events that take all of her choices away. For in a world of beautiful bones and false flesh, sometimes life after death is killer.

 

Author Information:  Angela Kulig is an American gypsy, and former pirate. She has been from sea to shining sea--and though she is currently trapped in the desert against her will, she escapes everyday in the form of many books.

Other Reviews:

Amanda

Biblophliic

Book Review - Full Throttle - Julie Ann Walker

Title:  Full Throttle

Author:  Julie Ann Walker

Review:  I read four of Julie Ann Walker previous Black Knight series and to be honest after the first they all read the same so I ended up not reading the rest of the series from my local library.

They start out the same boy meets girl, girl has a thing for boy, fight, battle, mystery, one night to remember each other and boy can't live without girl and tries to prove it.  The mystery or suspense was good but not enough to get me to read anymore of her books. However I received Full Throttle as an ARC and I decided to give her books one more chance and boy was I surprised how different this book was from the other four I had read.  The book was cute, fun, spicy, and full of one liners.

Abby Thompson didn't sign up to be the daughter of the President of the United States it was forced on her when her dad took the job.  She just wanted a normal quite life instead she had a dad who made enemies around the world.  When a group of armed thugs took her hostage -half a world away her father sent in the best to find her and the best is her friend Carlos- a  Black Knight agent.

Carlo's had been head over heels for the sweet cute Abby Thompson but since he grew up on the wrong sides of the tracks he figures they don't belong together but he could always be her friend except after the loses the one person who connect them both.

Julie Ann Walker write Abby Thompson to be the all American girl and she did with her constant one liners that even had me laughing down to her sweet appearance.  "She noticed something poking into her lower belly, about to cause her full bladder to burst wide open. "Is th-that an extra magazine in y-your pocket?" she asked. "Or are you j-just happy to see me?" This is an over used line in books, tv show and movies but the author made you laugh because as Abby asked this question- Carlo pulls out an extra magazine clip.  Another funny and great moment is with ants and I won't ruin it for you but again it was pretty funny and another reason I enjoyed this book from beginning to the very last page.

Abby is a half glass full type of girl which makes her even more loveable so no matter what happens though out the book her rolls with the punches. The friendship the author created at the beginning of the book made the book more believable and again created many moments where you will find yourself laughing and sighing as well.

Instead of the one moment of passion which is still there both characters know they love the other one and it isn't some major revelation it is simple and sweet and to be honest perfect. I was more than happy to see the author switch things up in her writing style and I hope this is what she has planned for her future books.

There is sex, swearing and enough action to keep you reading into the late hours of the night.

Thanks Heidi for this review

Published:  Expected publication: December 2nd 2014 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Page Count: 352

Quick Review: 5 out of 5 stars

Why I Read this Title:  Sent for an honest review

Age: 7-13 years of age-

Synopsis:   She Needs a Hero...

Abby Thompson didn’t sign up to be the daughter of the President of the United States. The position was forced on her by the small matter of her birth. Preferring a quiet life of study, she’s content to leave the politics and the international intrigue to her father. Unfortunately, the most powerful man on the planet is sure to make enemies. When a group of armed thugs takes her hostage half a world away, demanding the U.S. government release prisoners in exchange for her safe return, she fears her father’s policy of “not negotiating with terrorists” means she’ll never see the shores of the Potomac again. Luckily, there’s one glimmer of hope. His name is Carlos Soto. And though she abruptly ended things with him years ago, she knows now he’s the only man who can save her…

Black Knights, Inc. to the Rescue...

Carlos “Steady” Soto has taken part in his fair share of dangerous missions working at the covert government defense firm of Black Knights Inc. But nothing prepared him for the emotional rollercoaster he faces when he’s tasked with rescuing the only woman he ever loved—who also broke his heart. Racing against time and outmaneuvering a group of trained terrorists will take everything he’s got. Plus there’s the heat simmering between them which is threatening to ignite into an inferno. While ruthless enemies stalk them, they must learn to trust each other again. Even if they do make it out alive, will Abby turn her back on him…for the second time?

Author Information:  Julie Ann Walker is prone to spouting movie quotes and song lyrics. She'll never say no to sharing a glass of wine or going for a long walk. She prefers impromptu travel over the scheduled kind, and she takes her coffee with milk. You can usually find her on her bicycle along the lake shore in Chicago or blasting away at her keyboard, trying to wrangle her capricious imagination into submission Visit her at http://www.julieannwalker.com or follow her on Facebook and/or Twitter