Sage Nestler's Blog, page 14

Book Review: Knee Deep by Karol Hoeffner

Rating: 5/5
Format: Paperback (Advanced Reader’s Copy)
Quick Take

Knee Deep is a literary storm of a novel wrapped in Mardi Gras beads and drenched in gumbo.  If you are a lover of New Orleans like I am, then you will fall head over heels for this delightful novel!

Tell Me More

I am someone who has always loved New Orleans and everything about it – but has never been – much to my chagrin.  However, I adore reading novels and watching documentaries about and set in NOLA, so I was super excited to come across Knee Deep and its delicious stew of New Orleans culture.

Knee Deep is written as an autobiography and follows a young girl named Camille who is the daughter of a New Orleans bar owner.  The novel takes place during Mardi Gras when Hurricane Katrina hits and Camille and her family lose their home.  Camille soon finds out that a neighbor with whom she is in love has also gone missing, bringing forth deep feelings of sadness and regret.  Knee Deep is largely a novel about the strength that New Orleans stands for as the community comes together to recuperate after the tragedy caused by Hurricane Katrina, mixed with an interracial romance and paranormal elements that connect to New Orleans voodoo.  If you are to read one novel about, and set in, New Orleans, then Knee Deep is it!  It doesn’t get much better than this.

Camille’s eternal optimism is infectious, and I fell in love with her instantly.  Named after a hurricane, her rebellious nature carries the story and mimicks the sassy nature of Mardi Gras and the culture of New Orleans.  Karol Hoeffner is a master storyteller in her ability to present New Orleans to those who have never experienced it firsthand in such a realistic way.  I also appreciated how she blended paranormal elements with realism to bring to life the voodoo spirituality that is such a big part of New Orleans history.  Knee Deep is highly sensual in that it encompasses all of the reader’s senses and drags them into the story face first.  One can almost hear the jazz music and feel the Mardi Gras beads around their neck as they become absorbed into the story.  Hoeffner’s ability to create a young adult novel, that is also an interracial romance, a historical fiction, and a paranormal thriller is astounding and creates a story that is unlike any other.  Hoeggner’s brilliant story took me on a ride I will never forget, and will happy to revisit again and again!

Knee Deep is a love letter to New Orleans that is written for young adults and new adults but will tug at the heartstrings of readers of all ages.  I have never read a novel that encompasses my senses and transports me into the story so well, and I feel honored to have been able to spend time in Karol Hoeffner’s world.  Her novel beautifully represents just about every element of New Orleans, while celebrating its people and the strength it took to rebuild and restore after the Hurricane Katrina tragedy.  I can’t recommend this novel enough, so I am just going to end my review by saying, go pick up this novel now!  You are in for one heck of a wild ride.

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Book Review: An Uneasy Alliance by Kyra Radcliff

Rating: 5/5
Format: Kindle E-Book

A bitter beginning that led to the sweetest ending…

The last thing small town mayor, Katherine James, wants is a call that her

brother is behind bars. Not a good look. When she goes to see him, however, he swears that he’s innocent and is being framed by the brother of the woman he loves.

Set on doing whatever it takes to get her brother out of this horrific predicament without employing her powers as mayor, Katherine finds herself agreeing to a bizarre deal with the cunning and wickedly handsome Tate Reilly: Be his live-in social secretary for one month in exchange for dropping the charges against her brother.

Sounds easy enough, right?

But when a quiet, unassuming beauty falls under the command of an arrogant, hot-as-sin jerk, things are bound to get interesting. It’s not long before the searing attraction between the two threatens to consume them both.

Weeks later, when the tables turn and Tate finds himself on the other end of the stick this time around, Katherine throws him the same deal that he’d thrown her.

During their last deal, things had gotten far too hot and heavy to contain.

This time, their blazing passion just might burn the house down.

Quick Take

An Uneasy Alliance is a steamy treasure that drips with lust and adventure.  Fans of erotica are sure to be overjoyed by the delights inside!

Tell Me More

Often I find myself in the mood for a quick and fun romance, so when I came across An Uneasy Alliance I knew that I was in for a treat.

An Uneasy Alliance by Kyra Radcliff is a high-stakes thriller that follows Katherine James, a small-town mayor, and Tate Reilly, a man who can help Katherine get her brother out of jail if she serves as his social secretary.  In the beginning, Katherine doesn’t get along with Tate, but she is willing to do whatever she can to help her brother get out of jail.  However, the attraction between Katherine and Tate is palpable, and after Tate ends up in a desperate circumstance, Katherine helps him by giving him the same ultimatum that he gave her.  But this time, the attraction between Katherine and Tate heats up, throwing the reader into a whirlwind of lust and desperation.

An Uneasy Alliance is unique in that it houses a complex storyline as well as erotic moments, and two main characters who completely captivate the reader.  I loved to hate Tate, and I enjoyed Katherine’s wit and humor.  The erotic moments were appropriate to the storyline and weren’t overbearing, allowing the novel’s plotline to shine through.  This is the second book that I have read by Kyra Radcliff, and I can honestly say that I adore her storytelling skills.  There were so many facets to this story, and it completely captivated me.

Radcliff’s ability to develop her characters intensified my enjoyment of the story, and forced me to fall into Radcliff’s fictional world from the get-go.  Her characters take the reader on a delightful adventure filled with satire, grit, and attraction that is undeniable.  I lost my sense of reality while I was reading, which, for me, marks the presence of an incredible author.

If you are looking for a complicated and intriguing romance adventure, then please go and pick up An Uneasy Alliance.  You are sure to love Kyra Radcliff’s writing as much as I do!

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Interview with Waco Survivor David Thibodeau

This week I had the pleasure of sitting down with Waco survivor and humanitarian, David Thibodeau! We discussed all things Waco, Black Lives Matter, social justice, and equality. David’s story and his humanitarian work are very inspiring, and I hope that you enjoy our interview as much as I did!

To listen to the full interview, visit: https://anchor.fm/releasingthephoenix/episodes/Interview-with-Humanitarian-and-Waco-Survivor-David-Thibodeau-ef65hn

To learn more about David and the truth about the Waco siege, visit: www.wacosurvivors.com

Interview with Waco Survivor and Humanitarian David Thibodeau

Ashley Nestler: Hi David! Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me. Why don’t you introduce yourself for those who may not know you.

David Thibodeau: Hi, my name is David Thibodeau. I guess that’s a good place to start. They just recently released a six-part series on Netflix that was originally released a few years ago, actually under the Paramount Network and it’s entitled Waco. It’s a series about the Waco siege in 1993 at Mount Carmel that resulted in a fire and numerous deaths. The series is from a survivor’s perspective (my perspective) and from the perspective of one of the FBI negotiators who was there in 1993. The series revolves around a guy named David Koresh and some of his followers — the people who were with him at the time that the building burned after the 51-day siege. I’m one of the survivors of the siege, and I was in the building for the entire siege 51 days. I’m one of the nine fire survivors that came out on April 19th, 1993. So, I’m a witness to every single thing that happened from inside of the building.

AN: Wow, I just can’t imagine what you had to go through during those 51 days, and that only nine survivors came out. Are you still in contact with the other survivors?

DT: Sure. I’m still in contact with many of them, but not all of them. Some of them have moved out of the country, and people are scattered pretty much throughout the world. Also, I want to add that I there were more than nine people that survived the siege. There were 23 of us that came out during the 51 days, including some older women, and quite a few of the children. It just wasn’t until the fire when there were only nine of us that came out. So. I think altogether 35 or 36 people survived.

AN: Oh okay, that makes sense. With everything that you have been through, what are your feelings about the George Floyd protests, police brutality, and the movements that have erupted in recent years, such as the Me Too movement?

DT: Well, I’ve been following Black Lives Matter, honestly, before Black Lives Matter. To me, the destruction of indigenous peoples throughout the world by the forces that be is despicable. I’ve followed events that have happened in the course of the history of the world all the way to America and us taking over this country and basically destroying the American Indians and destroying their way of life for our own greed. My dad is a history teacher, so I’m no slouch when it comes to history. History has always been a thing for me and understanding it is paramount. I’ve always related more to the underdog and I have a deep relation with the American Indian movement and the American Indians in general. I always have.

I think being a part of Waco is something that was a massacre as well. As far as I was concerned, it was a massacre for religious beliefs more than anything else. There are several different avenues of thought that I have on that one, if we’re going to get deeper into Waco, but you know, my story and the story of the survivors is the one that has not been told because it has not been allowed to be told the FBI. Basically, you know the old saying the Victors always rewrite the history. Or, as I should say, write the history. The protests now with George Floyd, and the George Floyd case as a whole is probably one of the only cases in modern history where that’s not happening. I think that technology has helped to document the truth and allowed people to fight the system, which is amazing.

A lot of things have changed in recent years for the better. Women’s rights are becoming more prevalent and women are having the bravery to speak up, especially if they’re being abused. A lot of women have been scared for years and years and years to say anything because they knew how they were going to be treated. And just to have that kind of bravery. It’s such an inspiration to see how this generation has led. I’m very happy about it, but at the same time, there’s going to be a lot of issues that take place right now. I’m worried that this could end in more violence because people are mad enough and want our society to change, but I am hopeful that positive change will come of it.

AN: What are your thoughts on how protesters have been treated by law enforcement throughout the George Floyd case?

DT: This is a heavy one as well. People are looking the cops directly in the eye, standing on the front lines with no weapons looking at them — a bunch of armed people with weapons, shields, and batons — and the people are screaming in their faces. That doesn’t happen often. That’s something that’s been building for a long, long time. So, we’re going to have to see how the American authorities handle all of this. I have to say that I’m pretty nervous about that.

AN: Do you see this time as a time of deep trouble in our country?

DT: Well, scripturally, every prophet talks about the time of trouble that’ll come at the end of the days, right before the kingdom of God is to be set up or they talk about this time of trouble being worse than any other time of trouble since the beginning of time. However, I don’t often get into scripture with people due to the sensitive nature of it. I talk, you know, like a real person, because I am a real person. The Bible at one time in my life was paramount. I spent a lot of time studying it, but I live in the real world.

But the problem with people asking if we are in a time of trouble is that if there was ever a time of trouble, it probably should have been World War II or, or if you want to think about it from a scriptural standpoint, it was probably during the time when the Romans went into Jerusalem and ransacked it and took it over. I’m pretty sure all the Jews at that period of time thought that their Messiah was going to come and save them.

Every generation thinks that they’re living in the end days, so I don’t like to be one of those people that says this is it, because nobody truly knows. Scripture says that no man knows. So, I just think it’s very interesting. I hope that it doesn’t happen now, but I know there’s definitely some things going to change in this country. There’s just no doubt about it. Something has to change because people are just so fed up, as they should be!

AN: Have these current events been bringing up your memories of the Waco siege?

DT: Yes, absolutely, because at Mount Carmel, we were all people of light. You know, a third of the people in Mount Carmel were black and most people don’t even know that. They wanted to be teachers of the scripture and they met David and they learned more from him in one night than they had in their many years of studying at their seminary schools. They ended up leaving their schools to come study with David. So, you know, I heard that story over and over and over again. But the point is, a third of the people that died at Mount Carmel were black. Where was the ACLU then? Where was anyone to be found to help us?

You know, I was raised with National Public Radio, PBS, and I thought the intellectual sows, as I like to call them, would want to know the truth about the Waco siege when it happened. But nobody wanted to hear the truth. The media just talked about how we were a bunch of religious nuts with guns, which was absolutely crushing. That was the attitude from the intellectual side that blew my mind. The fact that when I came out, I wanted to talk about my experience, and people who I admired wouldn’t hear it.

It’s shameful is what it is. People accepted what the media told them about us and moved on. They didn’t bother to talk about the infrared video at the back of the building at Mount Carmel where there were shooters, literally fully automatic weapon fire, right next to the tank shooting into the back of the building as people were trying to escape. They didn’t talk about any of that.

AN: I know that you have said that many of the documentaries out there on Waco don’t represent the truth as you know it. What documentaries on Waco do you recommend for people who want to learn more?

DT: There are so many documentaries out there that I’ve seen over the years, but there’s really only two decent ones. The first one is Waco: The Rules of Engagement, and the follow up, Waco: A New Revelation. Those two are phenomenal.

(You can purchase both documentaries on David’s website:  www.wacosurvivors.com )

AN: How did you go about publishing your book back in the 1990s? Was it self-published?

DT: No, actually, in Los Angeles I found a literary agent, but my book was turned down by 23 different publishers before it was finally accepted. At the time, only a few people were even interested in the book or my story, and I eventually slowed down with my work of getting the truth about Waco out because I felt like no one cared. But I didn’t expect any of this to happen with the series and how people are talking about Waco again! It baffles me, but I am glad people are finally listening.

AN: Have you struggled with your mental health since the Waco siege?

DT: I taught, I gave lectures and talks all over the country for a while after Waco, but again, it was only the radical right elements that wanted to even hear what I had to say. So even that was frustrating. But the point came where I saw the infrared video for the first time when they were filming The Rules of Engagement.

I gotta tell you, it affected me in such a deep way. They gave me a copy of it to show people, and I was giving talks at this point that was in front of an audience four or 500 people. And I was showing the infrared for the first time. And I was showing where the fully automatic weapon fire was. I just lost it in front of the audience, and I knew that I was not in control of my anger. At that point, I had always been controlled in front of an audience. And, so, when that had happened, I said, okay, I can’t talk about this publicly anymore. Something is happening to me, and I don’t know what it is. And you know, that had to do with the anger. A lot of that was PTSD, but this was before anyone knew what PTSD was. This was back in the nineties, early nineties. I didn’t know what was going on. I just knew I was a very angry individual, and I experienced periods of what I call a darkness but what others might call depression. But my anger has been the biggest challenge.

AN: Where can people go to learn more about Waco, your book, and the documentaries you mentioned?

DT: I have a website called www.wacosurvivors.com that includes various FBI transcripts between David Karesh and the FBI during the siege. I also sell my book and the documentaries I recommend, as well as the Waco series, and I autograph everything. The website is the best destination if you want to learn more about the truth of what happened at Waco.

To learn more about Waco and purchase a signed copy of David’s book, visit:  www.wacosurvivors.com

Book Review: On A Blue Moon: The Incredible Journeys by Willow

Rating: 4/5
Format: Paperback

The lives of a man from Earth, an alien being, and a young girl converge on a moon deep in space. A violent act is the spark that ignites incredible journeys. The moon has three human societies. In each society there is an evil presence that the man, girl, their friends, and their loved ones must confront, or flee from. In the end, life on that moon is vastly transformed.

Willow is the author of ON A BLUE MOON. That tale, and the five to follow, are based on her experiences, and the accounts related to her by the many beings she has known, both human and nonhuman. Those tales are collectively THE DAUGHTERS OF FIRTH TALES.

At the beginning of each tale, after the Prologue and before the first chapter, Willow and her daughter, Frither, are together and interacting. Their banter is the thread that ties the six tales together by providing an introduction to each tale, and a hint about what’s to come. Sam is the main protagonist at the beginning of ON A BLUE MOON. As it and future tales progress, Willow, Frither, and the other daughters of Firth, become the driving force.

Earth, as viewed from space, is primarily blue. So is Bluemoon. Bluemoon represents a much less complex version of Earth, yet possess some of the malignant forces of our “real world”: a malicious leader of an autocratic society, a ruthless despot who has his henchmen kill anyone who dares oppose him, racism, and environmental destruction.

Shadow, an alien Meddler, represents an uncontrollable force that drastically alters Sam’s life’s journey, and that of the inhabitants of Bluemoon. Similar to how forces beyond our control shape our lives on Earth.

Overriding everything else, the tales are about the courage of individuals intervening to protect the vulnerable, while so many others observe but do nothing.

Quick Take

On A Blue Moon: The Incredible Journeys is an entertaining and complex science fiction novel that appeals to lovers of the young adult genre.

Tell Me More

On A Blue Moon: The Incredible Journeys is a young adult science-fiction/fantasy novel written by a character named Willow.  The novel follows the stories of a man from Earth, an alien, and a girl as they fight off evil on a moon in deep space.  Each character transforms throughout the novel, and the reader can’t help but grow along with them.  I felt myself attaching to each character as their stories progressed, I was fully absorbed soon into starting the novel.

Willow, the author of On A Blue Moon: The Incredible Journeys, is actually a pen name.  She is a fictional character, and along with being the author of the book, she is one of the main characters.  The prologue of the book introduces you to Willow and gives some insight into her story and who she is in relation to the novel.  I found the prologue to be helpful because it gave me a sense of what the story was going to be about, and who Willow was.  The author’s unique storytelling abilities were inspiring and I adored how they were able to intertwine Willow as an author with her character in the story.  Even though there were multiple storylines throughout the book, it was easy to follow along and I didn’t find myself confused – which can often happen with science fiction novels.  However, the writing did seem to be directed more at young adults, and I didn’t find as much enjoyment in the story as I might have when I was a teenager.  With that being said, I think that young adults will eat up this novel and the incredible stories it holds!

On A Blue Moon: The Incredible Journeys is one of the most unique novels that I have read this year.  It is a beautiful science fiction/fantasy novel that appeals to young adults, and I wish that I had read it when I was younger.  If you are pining for a new science fiction novel to captivate you, then this one is it!

Book Review: Billionaire Boss, Undercover Affair by Kyra Radcliff

Rating: 5/5
Format: Ebook – Mobi
Synopsis:

Sent by her boss to break up his daughter’s engagement to his irresistible rival, Miles. Susan finds herself in trouble, she wants Miles all to herself…

Susan Johansen is efficient, ambitious and cool-headed in a crisis, which

is exactly why her boss, Charles Dunlap, needs her. As the successful

owner of one of the richest old money industrialist conglomerates in the

world, he is under pressure of a different kind when his daughter Alicia

becomes involved with internet entrepreneur Miles Middleton.

With an ego as big as his bank balance, Miles has a reputation for a string of affairs and Charles doesn’t want his daughter anywhere near him. And so, he enlists Susan, as a Trojan Horse, burying her deep within Miles’ business interests in the hope that she can sabotage his relationship with Alicia.

It isn’t long before the plan seems to be working…

Miles is missing lunches, dinners and other dates with Alicia in favour of making money and sealing deals. But it’s when he takes Susan away on a business trip

and tries to seduce her that she sees him for what he really is.

But now that she is close to her goal, Susan suddenly has a crisis of confidence? Is she really still working for Charles or is she now pursuing her own agenda with Miles?

As he continues to get under her skin with his continuous attempts at seduction, Susan finds that she is more conflicted than ever. And the closer she gets to completing the assignment, the greater the chances are that Miles will discover her secret.

Quick Take

Billionaire Boss, Undercover Affair is a steamy and ambitious read that forces the reader to fall in love with not only the book’s primary love interest, Miles, but the sassy heroine, Susan, as well.

Tell Me More

When I pick up a romance book, I often look for more in the hero or heroine of the story than just the love interest.  This was exactly how I became drawn to Billionaire Boss, Undercover Affair – I was simply drawn to the main character, Susan.  I am always looking for romance novels with strong female characters, and I was not disappointed.  Kyra Radcliff writes with the sassy flair of a power woman, and her seductive scenes are drool worthy.

Billionaire Boss, Undercover Affair is one of those delightful romance novels that comes into your life unexpectedly and takes you on the ride of a lifetime.  I devoured each page of this novel, and not just become of the delightful romance and sexual elements, but because of how well written the story was.  Susan, our heroine, is hired by her boss to break up his rival – Miles – and his daughter Alicia’s engagement by implanting her within his business dealings to distract him.  Susan is cutthroat and up to the task, but as she successfully begins to distract Miles with business dealings, she becomes distracted by his attempts at seduction.  Susan soon becomes confused as to what her intentions are with Miles: is she really dealing with him strictly through business, or is she beginning to fall for his seduction and in turn, fall for him herself?

I swoon over forbidden romances, and I particularly enjoyed how strong of a woman Susan was in that she fought Miles’ seduction attempts and tried to remain professionally tied to the mission given to her by her boss.  At no point did Miles seem to have the upper hand over Susan, and I appreciated how Radcliff made Susan a strong female character.  She was confident in herself and her attraction to Miles was of her own concern; and despite his coercion, she remained in control.  The attraction between Susan and Miles was sexy and the erotic moments added some delightful steam to the storyline.  I appreciated how complex Billionaire Boss, Undercover Affair was, and I would gladly read it again when I need a shot of hot literary romance in my life.

Billionaire Boss, Undercover Affair is essential reading for anyone drawn to business-based romance and erotica.  The storyline packs a punch filled with a witty heroine and a mouthwatering bachelor that the reader can’t help but swoon over.  I look forward to reading more from Kira Radcliff, and swooning once again!

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Book Review: Billionaire Boss, Undercover Affair by

Rating: 5/5
Format: Ebook – Mobi
Synopsis:

Sent by her boss to break up his daughter’s engagement to his irresistible rival, Miles. Susan finds herself in trouble, she wants Miles all to herself…

Susan Johansen is efficient, ambitious and cool-headed in a crisis, which

is exactly why her boss, Charles Dunlap, needs her. As the successful

owner of one of the richest old money industrialist conglomerates in the

world, he is under pressure of a different kind when his daughter Alicia

becomes involved with internet entrepreneur Miles Middleton.

With an ego as big as his bank balance, Miles has a reputation for a string of affairs and Charles doesn’t want his daughter anywhere near him. And so, he enlists Susan, as a Trojan Horse, burying her deep within Miles’ business interests in the hope that she can sabotage his relationship with Alicia.

It isn’t long before the plan seems to be working…

Miles is missing lunches, dinners and other dates with Alicia in favour of making money and sealing deals. But it’s when he takes Susan away on a business trip

and tries to seduce her that she sees him for what he really is.

But now that she is close to her goal, Susan suddenly has a crisis of confidence? Is she really still working for Charles or is she now pursuing her own agenda with Miles?

As he continues to get under her skin with his continuous attempts at seduction, Susan finds that she is more conflicted than ever. And the closer she gets to completing the assignment, the greater the chances are that Miles will discover her secret.

Quick Take

Billionaire Boss, Undercover Affair is a steamy and ambitious read that forces the reader to fall in love with not only the book’s primary love interest, Miles, but the sassy heroine, Susan, as well.

Tell Me More

When I pick up a romance book, I often look for more in the hero or heroine of the story than just the love interest.  This was exactly how I became drawn to Billionaire Boss, Undercover Affair – I was simply drawn to the main character, Susan.  I am always looking for romance novels with strong female characters, and I was not disappointed.  Kyra Radcliff writes with the sassy flair of a power woman, and her seductive scenes are drool worthy.

Billionaire Boss, Undercover Affair is one of those delightful romance novels that comes into your life unexpectedly and takes you on the ride of a lifetime.  I devoured each page of this novel, and not just become of the delightful romance and sexual elements, but because of how well written the story was.  Susan, our heroine, is hired by her boss to break up his rival – Miles – and his daughter Alicia’s engagement by implanting her within his business dealings to distract him.  Susan is cutthroat and up to the task, but as she successfully begins to distract Miles with business dealings, she becomes distracted by his attempts at seduction.  Susan soon becomes confused as to what her intentions are with Miles: is she really dealing with him strictly through business, or is she beginning to fall for his seduction and in turn, fall for him herself?

I swoon over forbidden romances, and I particularly enjoyed how strong of a woman Susan was in that she fought Miles’ seduction attempts and tried to remain professionally tied to the mission given to her by her boss.  At no point did Miles seem to have the upper hand over Susan, and I appreciated how Radcliff made Susan a strong female character.  She was confident in herself and her attraction to Miles was of her own concern; and despite his coercion, she remained in control.  The attraction between Susan and Miles was sexy and the erotic moments added some delightful steam to the storyline.  I appreciated how complex Billionaire Boss, Undercover Affair was, and I would gladly read it again when I need a shot of hot literary romance in my life.

Billionaire Boss, Undercover Affair is essential reading for anyone drawn to business-based romance and erotica.  The storyline packs a punch filled with a witty heroine and a mouthwatering bachelor that the reader can’t help but swoon over.  I look forward to reading more from Kira Radcliff, and swooning once again!

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Book Review: The Billionaire Needs a Bodyguard by Ravina Hillard

Rating: 3/5

Format: ebook

“Alexandra “Lex” Granger is a private security consultant who has to go undercover to protect billionaire businessman Michael Thornton, pretending to be an escort. Michael does not think he needs a bodyguard, despite the death threats he has received from protesters against his takeover of a Danish company, but he does need protection against the predatory wife of the Danish ambassador. Lex knows that this assignment is dangerous, made more so because her client does not even know that he is being protected.

She doesn’t know that he thinks she is a con-artist a gold-digger who takes rich men for everything that she can get. As sparks fly, and the attraction between the two go stronger, they face a deadly danger from an unknown assailant. Lex and Mike embark on a turbulent affair in the beautiful city of Copenhagen, with Mike realising that there is much more to the sexy seductress, her bewildering vulnerability evoking unfettered passion and feelings that he has never experienced before. Lex realises that she has committed the ultimate folly, that of falling in love with a man who despises her. Will she overcome the dangers to Michael to her breaking heart?”

-Synopsis was taken from Amazon.com

Quick Take

The Billionaire Needs a Bodyguard is an entertaining and suspenseful romance novel that keeps the reader company during long nights.

Tell Me More

The Billionaire Needs a Bodyguard is a pedestrian romance between Lex – an undercover bodyguard – and Michael – the man Lex is sworn to protect.  I appreciated how the woman, in this case, was written as the protector of the man, rather than having her be the damsel in distress; however, I did find numerous errors with this book.

I’m a fan of romance, but I don’t usually read suspenseful romance novels; therefore, I highly anticipated shaking up my reading tastes with The Billionaire Needs a Bodyguard.  But upon reading the first few chapters of the novel, I quickly found the characters and plot to be cliche – like something you would see in a Harlequin mass market paperback.  While I love Harlequin romance novels as much as the next person, I had hoped for a more substantial storyline and characters with depth who I could relate to and treasure.  But quickly into the novel, I began to see numerous spelling and grammar errors that clouded my view of the writing and detracted from my enjoyment of the story.  While I can appreciate how the author flipped the script and made the woman the protector instead of the man, as is common in romance novels, it became a lost feminist opportunity as it was bogged down with a shallow plotline and various errors in the writing that I couldn’t ignore.  If I had not been reviewing The Billionaire Needs a Bodyguard, I most likely would not have finished the book.

The Billionaire Needs a Bodyguard is the kind of book you pick up at the supermarket and settle down with on a rainy afternoon.  I felt like I was having a quick fling with the characters, and I did finish the novel quickly due to the fast pace.  Even though I found the characters and plot to be cliche, I still couldn’t help but flip the pages.  I found an afternoon of enjoyment while reading this novel, and it is a great quick read if you don’t have a lot of extra down time.  I would just like to see this book go through the editing process again so that the internal errors can be fixed, and the story can be more enjoyable for the reader.

If you are in the mood for a quick, hot romance, then The Billionaire Needs a Bodyguard might be a good fit for you.  Just be aware that there are errors present throughout the book and that the storyline is unremarkable.  This novel provided me with an afternoon of entertainment, but I wish that it would have had more depth so that it would stick with me for days after reading.

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Book Review: Odriel’s Heirs by Hayley Reese Chow

Format: E-Book
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis:

The brave, burning with fire, harnessed the Dragon’s Rage….

As the Dragon Heir, seventeen-year-old Kaia inherited the power of flame to protect her homeland from a Tell necromancer’s undead army. But after centuries of peace, the necromancer has faded to myth, and the Dragon Heir is feared by the people. Persecuted and cast out, Kaia struggles to embrace and control her seemingly useless gift while confined to her family’s farm.

But when the necromancer’s undead terrorizes the land once again, Kaia runs away to join the battle.

With the help of her childhood rival, the handsome Shadow Heir, and a snarky, cursed cat, Kaia must figure out how to control both her fire and her confidence in time to save Okarria. If she fails, she will sacrifice her family, her new friends, and the enchanting world she has only just begun to see.

And time is running out.

Quick Take

Odriel’s Heirs by Hayley Reese Chow is a captivating fantasy adventure filled with a storm of female power and breath-taking world-building.

Tell Me More

Odriel’s Heirs is one of those rare novels that you read once maybe every ten years or so and can’t get it out of your head.  Hayley Reese Chow’s writing provided me with an emotional catharsis for experiencing and releasing passion, rage, and excitement, and I am changed after reading her astonishing novel.

Our story begins with Kaia – the Dragon Heir and our protagonist – who has inherited the power of the flame to protect her people from the necromancer’s undead army.  Unfortunately, the necromancer is now a thing of legend, and Kaia is outcast because others fear her power.  Kaia is forced to manage her gifts on her own while living remotely until the undead begins to terrorize her people once again, and her powers are needed so she joins the battle.

There is some ambiguity when it comes to interpreting Kaia’s circumstance, but I found it interesting how she was feared because of her power and outcast; however, as soon as her powers were needed, she was “useful” for once.  Kaia’s situation echoes some of the dilemmas facing modern women (such as others being intimidated by a woman’s talents and successes) and I found the ideology of feminism to be present throughout the novel.  I am a sucker for kick-ass female protagonists, and Kaia is the epitome of a world-rocking female.  Rather than taking on fighting the undead herself, Kaia teams up with the Shadow Heir – her rival – to embrace her power and bring justice back to their land and protect the people she loves.  Kaia is powerful while keeping her sights on protecting others and using her powers for the good of all.  She is a wildly complex character, and I simply fell in love with her.

But there is a reason behind why Kaia’s story is so powerful, and that is Chow’s writing style.  Her writing blew me away.  I found her world-building technique to be flawless and without wordiness that can often be present in high fantasy novels.  I floated away on her charming words and I was fully absorbed by the third page of the novel – a record for me.  Odriel’s Heirs filled all of my fantasy dreams, and I look forward to reading more of Chow’s work.

If you are a fan of high fantasy and strong female protagonists, then you are going to adore Odriel’s Heirs! It is a book that will stick with me for a very long time, and I am so grateful to the author for allowing me the chance to enter her awe-inspiring, richly imagined world.  I didn’t want to give away too much of the story, so go pick up a copy and find out for yourself what happens!  You will be glad you did.

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Book Review: Embroidered Wild Flowers by Kazuko Aoki

Format: PDF
Genre: Craft/Hobby – Needleart
Rating: 5/5
Quick Take

Embroidered Wild Flowers by Kazuko Aoki is a gorgeous collection of embroidered flowers with easy to understand instructions that educates as much as it entertains.

Tell Me More

I have a treat in store for you today!  If you are a fan of embroidery, Japanese crafts, and wild flowers, then I highly recommend the following book.  Embroidered Wild Flowers by Kazuo Aoki provides hours of education, art, and fun in that it provides the reader with scientific insight as well as connecting science and art.  This book is filled with high-quality images of each pattern presented, and easy to understand instructions that take the fear out of embroidery.

I am a needleart enthusiast, and I have just recently begun to explore hand embroidery.  Apart from cross stitch, I don’t have a lot of expertise in the area of embroidery, so I was excited to learn new techniques when I came across Embroidered Wild Flowers by Kazuo Aoki.  I am a big fan of Japanese style crafts due to their detail and complexity, so I couldn’t help but absorb this book!

The first asset of Embroidered Wild Flowers by Kazuo Aoki I noticed was how beginner-friendly it is.  The first half of the book shows actual, detailed pictures of the designs once they are stitched, along with the flower’s name and a reference to a page in the back of the book that holds the instructions.  The first half of the book is split into sections based on different types of flowers, plants, and best of all, seasons.  My favorite section featured leaves in the fall that are gold, orange, and red  The book is beautifully scientific in that it gives the natural names of each wild flower and plant as well as instructions on how to gather your own plants and flowers to create inspired designs.  But don’t be fooled – this book isn’t merely a collection of embroidered flowers, it is a collection of plants and bugs in various seasons of natural scenery that end up looking like fine landscape paintings.

Every instructable in Embroidered Wild Flowers by Kazuo Aoki is given as a diagram, which I found incredibly helpful because I am a visual learner.  The diagrams are listed at the back of the book with further instructions and a stitch catalogue. The various stitches in the catalogue represent every stitch that is used by the patterns in the book so that embroiderers of all levels can understand the patterns.  Even though I am newer to hand embroidery, I found the patterns in this book easy to understand and follow. Not only did I learn new stitches and designs along the way, but I learned about various wild plants and insects and how to create my own inspired designs.

Embroidered Wild Flowers by Kazuo Aoki is a gorgeous work of art that every needleart enthusiast and embroider should have in their collection.  Even if you have never tried embroidery but are interested in starting, this book is a must-have because it teaches you along the way.  While the book starts out intimidating with patterns that appear complex, the patterns are dissected and presented in such a form that they become suitable for needleartists of all ages and levels.  I appreciate how Aoki incorporates instructions on how to collect your own plant materials to inspire further needleart creations, which inspires the artist to get outside – or connect both worlds if they find pleasure in the natural and art worlds.

I can’t wait to try every pattern in this book, and make my own!

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Disclaimer

*I received this book on Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

*This post contains affiliate links.  Affiliate links allow me to make a small income each time a purchase is made through one of my links.  This does not affect your purchase at all, and it ensures that I make a small income for my writing.  Thank you for your support!

3 Subscriptions for Your Next Date Night In

Happy Monday, Everyone!

I hope you all are doing well.  I received my COVID-19 test results back, and they were negative!  So I am quite happy about that.  It looks like I just have the flu, which, for once, is more than welcome news.

Anyhoo, today I wanted to share with you three subscriptions that are excellent for having a date night at home!  With many of us being stuck in self-isolation, going out on a date is pretty much out of the question; but with these three subscriptions, your date night is brought straight to your door.  Practicing self-care through quality time with your significant other is so important, especially if you are isolated together, so try out one of these subscriptions below and start planning your next date night in!

Let me know if you try any of these subscriptions in the comments!  I’d love to hear your feedback.