LIFE, ROMANCE AND ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS

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Sunday, 31 January 2016

Review: Helios Crowns His Mistress (Kalliakis Crown #3) by Michelle Smart (Goodreads Author)

Helios Crowns His Mistress (Kalliakis Crown #3)Helios Crowns His Mistress by Michelle Smart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Beware….some spoilers ahead!!!!

Michelle Smart’s Kalliakis Crown Trilogy has quite an original storyline.
The three handsome princes of the mythical island country of Agon, who are bound by duty to find right woman to marry.

I liked the first two books ….Talos claims his Virgin and Theseus discovers his Heir and now we have Helios, the eldest and heir to the throne, in his quest to marry a woman acceptable to his family and country…i.e a young and beautiful woman with Agon royal blood!!!!
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Whilst on his quest to finding a perfect royal to-be-wife, he’s also been busy for the last three months having a “torrid” and secret affair with a not royal blood woman, named Amy Green, who has been hired as the museum curator for the upcoming King Astreus Jubilee Gala.
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Okay, so the guy makes a plan!!! Not to forget, this is a prince soon to be King…..and we know all about Kings!!!! Their word is law!!!!

So, Helios and Amy are taking a sexy bath together, when he delivers a bombshell!!
But it would be inappropriate for my lover to attend the ball where I’m to select my future wife.” –Helios tells Amy
Is it any wonder that Amy sits up and asks………
”Your future wife? What are you talking about?”
Never mind that Helios had told her from the start that this was just going to be an affair. Did Amy actually think that she stood a chance of becoming Helios’s queen???? Off she goes in a huff!!! But Helios sees nothing wrong about having the right wife and a mistress on the side…….as he tells Amy….it’s something that royals do!!! So, does that mean it’s……….
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Amy feels torn….right!!!!! She wants Helios…of course she does….so why not enjoy “bonking” the future king for the next three months until he gets married….so what if he’s chosen his future wife!!!! No problem….Helios tells Amy that she’s the only woman he’s sleeping with now…oooooh, does that make it right??? So, dancing and dining with his chosen future wife and running off to do it with the mistress is okay for Helios……..
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And Amy agrees to this arrangement!!!! Girl, this is just so not right!!!! That is ……
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There are a large number of very negative reviews about this book and I understand the comments made about Helios and Amy continuing with their affair, even when his engagement and wedding plans to another woman are announced. Yes, the whole duty thing Helios felt towards his family and country was outdated….but I felt he should have been more of an honorable man towards his future wife, Catalina. His behavior until the last minute of the wedding day was so not “pretty”. I so not liked this future king!!! In fact, my thoughts were………
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Now, after all my “venting”, you may think……no Alex, the Romance Fox, DID NOT enjoy or like this book!!!!!
The truth……I didn’t want to like it……………but it’s somewhat kind of weird because I didn’t exactly hate it!!!!
One of the reasons ……there were some hilarious moments and witty dialogue…..and some moments of me saying…WHAT!!!!! The scene where Amy is told about the whole future wife thingies by Helios….she bangs Helio’s private apartment door with force, rushes off to her own apartment to discover that her beauty facial mask that she had on during the romantic bath with him, had now dried and cracked!!!!
 photo face-mask_zpsc5ddcsdh.gifNo, not my favorite by this author, but not exactly horrible either!!

My reviews for books #1 and #2
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

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Review: Feverborn (Fever #8) by Karen Marie Moning (Goodreads Author)

Feverborn (Fever #8)Feverborn by Karen Marie Moning
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning is one of my favorite series and yippee…..Feverborn, the 8th book is finally here!!!! I have so been waiting for this book!!!!
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I almost gave up half way………..and the only reason I finished the last page was because of Mac and Jericho….they are still my fav couple….never mind that Mac spends some time being invisible!!!!

Really, what’s going on with Dani…oops now aka Jada??? I loved Dani O’Malley…but her new persona just irritates me………and Ryodan….and King Roach!!!!!!!..........
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and what the hell is happening to my Highlander Druids????

Let’s just say…..I have no idea what I have just read!!! My head is…………………..
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So, should I rethink about this book and read it again????
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All I can do is wait for the next Fever Installment and keep my fingers crossed that I am gonna love it!!!!

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Monday, 25 January 2016

Review: Friends in High Places (Commissario Brunetti, #9) by Donna Leon

Friends in High Places (Commissario Brunetti, #9)Friends in High Places by Donna Leon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Friends in High Places, the 9th novel in the Commissario Brunetti Series starts with Brunetti enjoying a relaxing day at his home, which is interrupted by the news of an official from Officio Castato, the registrar of buildings in Venice, that his apartment on the top floor of one of the oldest buildings in San Polo, Venice may have not received planning permission and it may result in it having to be pulled down if the papers are not found.
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Before Brunetti can solve this problem, the person who had given him the information about his home is found dead. As he investigates a case relating to drug dealing and money laundering, a chain of events occur that seem connected to the official’s death.

One of the things I most admire about Brunetti is that he’s a moral man but also human….
At no time did it occur to him, as it did not occur to Paola, to approach the matter legally, to find out the names of the proper offices and officials and the proper steps to follow. Nor did it occur to either one of them that there might be a clearly defined bureaucratic procedure by which they could resolve the problem.
I love the leisure pacing of these books, and enjoy watching Brunetti go through the clues and steps in the investigation.

Brunetti’s love for his city is evident despite its flaws.
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The beautiful and sinister parts of what make Venice such an interesting setting.

A great series.

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Sunday, 24 January 2016

Review: A Noble Radiance (Commissario Brunetti, #7) by Donna Leon

A Noble Radiance (Commissario Brunetti, #7)A Noble Radiance by Donna Leon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Noble Radiance, the 7th novel and an interesting addition to Donna Leon’s amazing and thought provoking Guido Brunetti Series.

Guido Brunetti, the intelligent and intellectual Venetian Commissario is called in to investigate the findings of a decomposed male body found in a shallow grave by workmen in a home just outside Venice. The body is identified as Roberto Lorenzoni, the son of Count Lorenzoni, a member of the Venetian aristocratic society, who had been abducted two years earlier and had never been found or any ransom being paid.

Brunetti suspects that the family had something to do with the disappearance of Roberto and the more he learns about the Lorenzoni’s family secrets and dubious businesses ventures and as he untangles the clues that are brought to light, the more he realizes that the kidnapping was just the tip of the iceberg in the investigation.

As Brunetti observes the pain and loss of the Lorenzoni family, he reflects on what his wife and children and family mean to him….
"Brunetti's thoughts went from Paola's happiness to his own, and he surprised himself by realizing that it had never before occurred to him to wonder whether he was happy or not. In love with his wife, proud of his children, capable of doing his job well, why would he worry about happiness, and what more than these things could happiness be comprised of?

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Brunetti’s relationship with his father-in-law, Count Orazio Falier, is changing and Brunetti begins to see another side of him that he had never seen before.

Politics, corruption and the different sides of justice in Italy, where the law is manipulated and used by the powerful and rich society for their own gains.

Signorina Elletra is someone that I grow to like more and more as I get to know her. There’s something about her….mysterious, smart…yes, a hacker…..funny and kind hearted and understanding. When Brunetti tells her about the pain of Roberto’s mother on hearing about his body being discovered…..
‘The poor mother,’ Elettra said and then added, ‘I wonder if she’s religious.’
‘Why?’
‘It helps people when terrible things happen, when people die.’
‘Are you?’ Brunetti asked.
‘Per carità,’ she said, pushing the idea back towards him with raised hands. ‘The last time I was in church was for my confirmation. It would have upset my parents if I hadn’t done it, which was pretty much the same for all my friends. But since then I’ve had nothing to do with it.’
‘Then why did you say that it helps people?’
‘Because it’s true,’ she said simply. ‘The fact that I don’t believe in it doesn’t prevent it from helping other people. I’d be a fool to deny that.’
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This is a sad and emotional and very touching story.

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Saturday, 23 January 2016

Review: Quietly in Their Sleep (Commissario Brunetti, #6) by Donna Leon

Quietly in Their Sleep (Commissario Brunetti, #6)Quietly in Their Sleep by Donna Leon


Commissario Guido Brunetti’s latest “case” in the 6th book in Commissario Brunetti Series by Donna Leon, starts off with a visit to his office by a young woman, who he doesn’t recognize but seems familiar to him, claiming that she suspects that several patients who had died unexpectedly and odd circumstances in the nursing home she had previously worked at. She thinks that their deaths may be related to their fortunes being left to the home and the church and not their heirs.

Without any proof of a crime being committed, Brunetti tells her that he will try to find out more about the home. But when she’s left in a coma after injured by a hit and run car, he decides to investigate and look closer to her allegations.

What he discovers is something more and worse than he had thought.

This story deals with so many issues. The Catholic church, greed, corruption, Opus Dei, the handling of priests who have been found guilty of sexual abuse of children and cover-ups.

I find the author’s views on the dynamics of religion in Italy really interesting. One of the parts in the story , where Brunetti and Paola are discussing Chiara’s school report results and the low marks she obtained for religion instructions, and her feelings about that subject….
“I raised my hand and asked if God was a spirit. And he said yes, He was. So I asked if it was right that a spirit was different from a person because it didn't have a body, wasn't material. And when he agreed, I asked how, if God was a spirit, He could be a man, if He didn't have a body or anything.” Chiara


And how much value we place on material things. Brunetti and Vianello visit one of the deceased patient’s son and heir, who is more interested in what he owns and has inherited than about his dead mother. And this quote is so true in our society….
““We buy things. We wear them or put them on our walls, or sit on them, but anyone who wants to can take them away from us. Or break them.
...
Long after he's dead, someone else will own those stupid little boxes, and then someone after him, just as someone owned them before he did. But no one ever thinks of that: objects survive us and go on living. It's stupid to believe we own them. And it's sinful for them to be so important.”
What makes this series so special are the characters and the sense of place that is Venice.

An enjoyable read.

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Thursday, 21 January 2016

Review: Death and Judgment (Commissario Brunetti, #4) by Donna Leon

Death and Judgment (Commissario Brunetti, #4)Death and Judgment by Donna Leon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We return to the beautiful city of Venice and meet up once again with Commissario Guido Brunetti, in Donna Leon’s 4th book in the Commissario Brunetti Series.

A truck crashes on a mountain road in the Italian Dolomites, killing the driver and a cargo of unidentified women.
A month later, a prominent local lawyer, is found murder on an intercity train in Venice.

Two incidents that seem totally unrelated until Commissario Brunetti begins investigating the murder of the lawyer, who has a clean record – something Brunetti finds hard to believe in such a corrupt city like Venice.

And when the lawyer’s brother-in-law is murdered, Brunetti digs deeper into the coincidences that link the three crimes and discovers something so horrifying and so shocking that points to the powerful and elite society being part of a ring that deals with prostitution, human trafficking and the making of snuff movies and even child pornography.

This is a dark and sad story of how powerful people see themselves above the law and see corruption as just part of their lives. Corruption continues infiltrating everything in the city and how the country’s laws are so outdated and confusing, which makes it possible for criminals to bend the rules for their benefit.

Brunetti’s frustration at the abuse of power and how justice is manipulated is something that he feels strongly about.
“Why bother to put the boy who broke into a house in jail when the man who stole billions from the health system is named ambassador to the country to which he had been sending the money for years?”
We follow the thoughts and actions of different characters in the story as well as Brunetti’s, which gives us an insight about the case.

I enjoyed seeing the special bond Brunetti has with his daughter, Chiara, who even helps him out with the case by offering to be one of his “spies”.

We also see a bit of Brunetti’s humor……..
‘How will I know you?’ Brunetti asked, hoping della Corte wouldn’t be a cop who looked like a cop.
‘I’m bald. How will I know you?’
‘I look like a cop.’
The story is set in the 90’s and I had great fun reading about the new technology that was available at that time……Signorina Elletra, of course, is totally up to date with new items on the market…..
“I’ve had a modem installed on the Vice-Questore’s phone,” she said, pointing to a metal box that sat on the desk a few centimeters from the phone. Wires, Brunetti saw, led from the box to her computer.”
The results and conclusion of the case were frustrating and depressing.

Excellent story revolving around human trafficking and slavery which is still happening today.

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Monday, 18 January 2016

Review: Dressed for Death (Commissario Brunetti, #3) by Donna Leon

Dressed for Death (Commissario Brunetti, #3)Dressed for Death by Donna Leon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dressed to Kill, the 3rd book in Donna Leon’s Commissario Brunetti Series starts with a body found behind a slaughterhouse in Marghera. Despite the case falling under the Mestre police department, Brunetti is sent to investigate due to a shortage of detectives in that station. Brunetti is not pleased with the situation as he was due to start his leave and take his family to a vacation in the mountains.

At first, the body is thought to be of a male transvestite prostitute but when it’s identified as a married man and the director of the Bank of Verona, it seems that there is something more than just a prostituted murdered by a client.

Brunetti’s investigation uncovers a world of corruption, where powerful men are using male prostitutes as decoys in the scam involving illegal property rentals in Venice.

The intelligent and sensitive manner in which Brunetti deals with suspects is done so well.

I find the Brunetti family really interesting and fascinating. Their interaction is beautifully done and I particularly enjoy the chemistry between Guido and Paola….
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“Once, walking with him, Paola had stopped and asked him what he was thinking about, and the fact that she was the only person in the world he would not be embarrassed to tell just what it was he had been thinking about at that moment convinced him, though a thousand things had already done so, that this was the woman he wanted to marry, had to marry, would marry.”
And finally……………….my favorite secretary/hacker is introduced!!!!
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A clever and complex mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end.

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Saturday, 16 January 2016

Review: Death in a Strange Country (Commissario Brunetti, #2) by Donna Leon

Death in a Strange Country (Commissario Brunetti, #2)Death in a Strange Country by Donna Leon


3,5 stars

"Death in a Strange Country, is the second book in Donna Leon’s Guido Brunetti Series.
When the body of Sgt. Michael Foster, a public health inspector at the American base in Vicenza, is pulled up from a canal in Venice, it looks like a mugging gone wrong. But Brunetti is convinced that there’s something more than just an American being a victim of a robbery.

When he travels to the American base in Vicenza to obtain more information about Forster, he’s suddenly told by his inept and blustering boss, Vice-Quetore Patta that the case has been closed as a mugging gone wrong.

As more bodies turn up dead, Brunetti is determined to get to the bottom of what looks like a huge conspiracy linking the Mafia and the US and Italian governments in a cover-up of illegal toxic waste dumping. He’s unable to come to terms with the fact that the government could be involved in something so dangerous….

When Brunetti is pulled off the case, the more resolute he becomes in solving the mystery. Even if it means doing it behind his boss’s back.
‘“He looked down at the glass again. ‘I care that these things happen, that we poison ourselves and our progeny, that we knowingly destroy our future, but I do not believe that there is anything - and I repeat, anything - that can be done to prevent it. We are a nation of egoists. It is our glory, but it will be our destruction, for none of us can be made to concern ourselves about something as abstract as “the common good”. The best of us can rise to feeling concern for our families, but as a nation we are incapable of more.’

‘I refuse to believe that.’ Brunetti said.
‘Your refusal to believe it,’ the Count said with a smile that was almost tender, ‘makes it no less true, Guido.”– Poala’s father’s answer to Brunetti’s question about the corruption and ineptitude of their government.
We continue to see more of Brunetti’s family life and I enjoy the warmth and connection that he has with his wife…
Then I discovered girls, and I forgot all about being angry or lost, or whatever I was. I just wanted them to like me. That’s the only thing that was important to me.’
‘Were there a lot of them?’ she asked.
He shrugged.
‘And did they like you?’ He grinned.
‘Oh, go away, Guido, and find yourself something to do. Watch television.’
‘I hate television.’
‘Then help me do the dishes.’
‘I love television.’
We get to see how much he loves his city. The beauty that surrounds him….
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The resolution in the end is one that Brunetti was happy about but understandable – where corruption is involved in governments without morals, it’s something one comes to expect.

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Friday, 15 January 2016

Review: Death at La Fenice (Commissario Brunetti, #1) by Donna Leon

Death at La Fenice (Commissario Brunetti, #1)Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Death at La Fenice is the 1st book in the exciting Guido Brunetti Series by Donna Leon, set in the beautiful, romantic, mysterious and unique city of Venice.
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The series features Commissario Guido Brunetti, family man, modest, moral, loyal and philosophical detective extraordinaire.
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When famed conductor Helmut Wellauer is found dead in his dressing room between Acts 2 and 3 of the of LA TRAVIATA at the La Fenicia theatre, Brunetti is assigned to investigate the murder by cyanide poisoning.
He immediately realizes that there’s a lot more about the victim than what he’s being told by the suspects …….his much younger wife and soprano, Flavia Petrelli and her lesbian lover, Brett Lynch and the people in his life who have been offended by his homophobic views. Brunetti also discovers Wellauer’s past as a Nazi sympathizer.

Narrated from Commissario Brunetti’s POV, we accompany him on his investigation and we experience his thoughts and musings as he works through the clues.

He’s forced to make choices between what the law is and what he believes is right. And that’s where we see the side of Brunetti that makes him such a moral person.

I enjoyed the segments with Brunetti’s family. There’s such love and warmth in their home. And I loved Paola, his wife.

If you enjoy a well-crafted and well-written story with beautiful settings and unforgettable characters, then this is the series for you.

I loved this segment in the book…………..
“Where does American money come from? Steel. Railways. You know how it is over there. It doesn’t matter if you murder or rob to get it. The trick is in keeping it for a hundred years, and then you’re aristocrats.’ ‘Is that so different from here?’ Brunetti asked. ‘Of course,’ Padovani explained, smiling. ‘Here we have to keep it five hundred years before we’re aristocrats. And there’s another difference. In Italy, you have to be well-dressed. In America, it’s difficult to tell which are the millionaires and which are the servants.”


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Review: Acqua Alta (Commissario Brunetti, #5) by Donna Leon

Acqua Alta (Commissario Brunetti, #5)Acqua Alta by Donna Leon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alta Acqua, the 5th book in the Commisario Brunetti series by Donna Leone. The title of the book refers to the time in winter, where water from the Adriatic Sea overflows into Venice causing homes and places in the city.
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Guido Brunetti, the highly skilled, tenacious and very likeable Venetian police detective and family man finds himself investigating a murder and art fraud after his friend, Brett Lynch, an American archeologist and companion of the famous opera singer Flavia Petrelli, who were introduced in the 1st book of the series, Death at La Fenice, is savagely attacked at her home.

He discovers that her assault is linked to the murder and to a conspiracy that involves people in high places who will go to any lengths to silence Brett from delving into the world of art fraud and the stealing of valuable Chinese antiquities.
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Guido Brunetti is one of my favorite detective characters. He’s honest, gracious, loyal and resolute but he also sees not only the beauty of the city but also the rise in corruption and crime that is threatening his much beloved Venice. He’s not admitting that there are things in his country that he will never change.
”No Italian would bother to ask why the shipments were not made directory in Germany. The Germans, it was rumored, saw the law as something to be obeyed, unlike the Italians, who saw it as something first to be fathomed and then evaded.”
Once again, the city of Venice is as much a character as the setting of this series. Through Brunetti eyes we see the daily life of the city’s inhabitants, the local restaurants, bars, family life, politics the dark alleys and beautiful architecture.
The author’s vivid and descriptive words give a look into the life in Venice that gives you a picture in your head that you are actually there.

The main characters are so likeable and endearing and most of all incredibly real.
I adore the talented and glamorous secretary, Signorina Elettra and love it when Brunetti describes her clothes….
“Signorina Elletra pushed her chair back from her desk and crossed her legs, revealing a short red skirt and a pair of shoes so high they would have raised her above even the worst acqua alta.”
I am looking forward to knowing more about her in the next books.
I loved Brunetti’s family dynamics. His interaction and dialogue with his wife and children is so amazing.

And of course, there’s Brunetti’s boss, the bureaucratic peacock Giuseppe Patta…a total pain in the butt…
“He removed his coat and put it on a hanger, then hung it on the curtain rod that ran in front of the window above the radiator. Anyone looking into the room from across the canal would see, perhaps, a man who had hanged himself in his own office. If they worked in the Questura, their first impulse would no doubt be to count the floors, looking to see if it was Patta’s window.”
A great addition to this series.

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Tuesday, 12 January 2016

Review: Out of Plans (The Mercenaries, #2) by Stylo Fantome (Goodreads Author)

Out of Plans (The Mercenaries, #2)Out of Plans by Stylo Fantome
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kick-ass heroines RULE!!!!

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Yes, there will always be those helpless damsels who need rescuing by Prince Charming…and that’s okay with me! But a woman who needs no rescuing or saving and perhaps even rescue the hero….now that’s what I call cool!!!

Liliana aka Lily Brewster, the kick-ass heroine we first met in Best Laid Plans, the 1st book in Stylo Fantome’s fabulous The Mercenaries Series, is back again in the follow up book, Out of Plans. Meaner, tougher and more determined than ever to take down the bad guys responsible for her sister’s death.
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After being left stranded in some exotic island in Zanzibar by Marcelle de Sant, Lily doesn’t break down into distress mode for very long. If he thinks that she will abandon her goal of taking down the Russia Mafia head honcho….he’s got it so so wrong!!! Nothing and no one will stand in her quest for justice.

She contacts Kingsley Law…yes, the gorgeous and amoral mercenary she met in Africa and persuades him to train her in all the skills required to her becoming a dangerous and skillful killer.

The scenes between these two were so funny and enjoyable. Kingsley is beyond awesome…and he knows it too!!
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Marc is in for a huge surprise when he meets up with Lily again……she’s much more than the woman he first met in Africa.
” He'd once told her that she didn't have to be the person she was anymore; clearly, she'd taken it to heart. She was something entirely new.”

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And if Marc wants to stay alive and well, he’d better shape up and keep out of Lily’s way or else.
Lily is not prepared to listen to Marc’s excuse of abandoning her in Africa…..he wanted to protect her!! Pleeez!!! She doesn’t need or want his protection! She’s focused on her mission of vengeance and nothing will stand in her way.

Despite the chemistry and feelings between Marc and Lily, they both try to keep things on a professional level….which of course they both find very difficult to maintain. Lily doesn’t give in too easily …she’s mad at Marc and that’s that…..
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…and he will have to work hard at getting her to trust him again.
Marc just never gets it about Lily. He continues to wanting to protect her, trying to keep her away from all the badness out there…..he has no clue on how to handle a deep relationship with a woman….his feelings for Lily affect his ability to stay focused on the mission.
"You left her, remember, idiot? So stop chasing her. Treat it like a job. Like any other job." –Kingsley

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Non-stop action…………fast paced……….nail biting……on the edge of your seat…….
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Evil drug and human trafficking cartels, car chases, arms smuggling, gun fights in the steamy South American jungles and the streets of NYC, assassins, romance, sexy and dangerous mercenaries, blowing up cars, friendship and best of all…….a totally KICKASS heroine!!!

The banter between all of the protagonists was absolutely stunning.

It’s amazing how much I engaged with the characters in this series. I know….mercenaries, killers…..but somehow there’s something about them that makes you believe that there’s a good side to them…..how could I possibly find Damiano Ledo, arms dealer, drug lord, killer……charming and likeable…..
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What a great storyline! If you want an action packed romance with the most unlikely and unique characters…..this is the series for you.

I am hoping that we will get more about these three absolutely unforgettable characters….how about Kingsley story next??? Please Ms SF!!
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Oh, yes…you’re curious about Quentin Tarantino’s pic having anything to do with this book?

Okay, let me explain! I sent a message to Mr Tarantino begging him to making a movie based on this series because I really believe he would be the only director who could turn it into an AWESOME, COOL and more than FABULOUS movie ever!
Now, please tell me….do you think the expression on his face could possibly be a YES?????

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Sunday, 10 January 2016

Review: After She's Gone by Lisa Jackson (Goodreads Author)

After She's GoneAfter She's Gone by Lisa Jackson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

After She’s Gone by Lisa Jackson was a bit of a disappointment for me.

The story starts off really well but one third of the way I was completely “bamboozled” by what was going on. There were so many characters and a lot of different POV’s that I lost track of who was who and what was what. And all those flashbacks and inner monologues just added to my confusion.

The main character, Cassie – I couldn’t get this woman. Her behavior was beyond bizarre and she kept doing the most unbelievable things…..so much so that I kept thinking that there was something off about her….like she was someone else and that I was being led along with all those may red herrings and when all was going to be revealed…it would be a shocker!!!
But no……….the revelation in the end was not a huge surprise because I had an idea who the baddies were very early in the story.

I couldn’t engage with any of the characters in this book.

The writing style didn’t feel like the other books written by this author. I skimmed over a lot of the pages….the story dragged and I felt it a bit too long for me.

The plot was so interesting but got bogged down by some of the things I mentioned above and too much repetition of same phrases over and over……

I have read most of this author’s books and she has remained one of my favorite romance/suspense authors but this latest offering was a letdown for me.

Oh, I did like the book cover!!!

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Wednesday, 6 January 2016

Review: Mistress of His Revenge (Bought by the Brazilian #1) by Chantelle Shaw

Mistress of His Revenge (Bought by the Brazilian #1)Mistress of His Revenge by Chantelle Shaw
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

MISTRESS OF HIS REVENGE by Chantelle Shaw, is the first book in Bought By the Brazilian Mini-Series.

Cruz Delgado and Sabrina Bancroft first met when she visited her father, Earl Bancroft, at his mine in South America. He was one of her father’s workers in the mine, who had been born in the favelas and the boy from the wrong side of the tracks for the aristocratic Sabrina. During this time, the two had embarked on a very torrid relationship, which ended abruptly when she returned back to her home in England.

Ten years later, Cruz is no longer the slum boy and is now a very wealthy owner of a diamond and jewellery design empire. On being told by his partner that Sabrina’s father has in his possession a map of the mine he now owns, which could save it from shutting down, he decides to contact the Earl about purchasing it.

Sabrina’s life since she last saw Cruz has changed dramatically. Her father has gone missing for over a year, all his bank accounts have been frozen and she has resorted to using her ancestral home as a venue for hire to keep it in the family. She also needs funds to pay for her younger brother’s studies.

Cruz finally finds a way to get back at Sabrina. He believes that she had thought he was not good enough for her all those years ago and his ego is still pretty shattered. So he offers her a million pounds if she pretends to be his mistress for six months and help him with being accepted by the aristocracy, of which she is very much part of.

I felt for Sabrina. A father is totally not interested in his children; she is left alone and almost penniless with no family except her younger brother, who she’s determined to do everything for.

I did find her reason for leaving Cruz all those years a bit weird. Instead of talking to him about her feelings, she keeps everything bottled up and just runs away. But then, she was quite young and inexperienced at that time.

Cruz was a bit of a twit at times and I kept thinking that I was just not going to like this guy…but he kind of grew on me towards the end.

The one thing that made the story more believable was (view spoiler)

Their relationship developed really well, they had a great chemistry and it was great to see the two sorting through the issues in their past and working towards building a life together again.

An enjoyable read.

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Tuesday, 5 January 2016

Review: Theseus Discovers His Heir (Kalliakis Crown #2) by Michelle Smart (Goodreads Author)

Theseus Discovers His Heir (Kalliakis Crown #2)Theseus Discovers His Heir by Michelle Smart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

THESEUS DISCOVERS HIS HEIR by Michelle Smart is the 2nd book in her Kalliakis Crown Series about 3 Princes and brothers.

I enjoyed the 1st book in the series, Talos Claims His Virgin and was looking forward to Prince Theseus book.

Five years ago, Joanne Brookes had a torrid and steamy fling with a gorgeous Greek man, Theo Patakis, whilst on holiday on a Greek island. When she returns home, she discovers that she’s pregnant and has spent years trying, unsuccessfully, to find Theo to tell him about their son.

She’s been given an assignment to do research for the biography of King Astreus of Argon and when she meets the Prince who is in charge of the book, she’s shocked to discover that Prince Theseus is the same man she had met and known as Theo Patakis.

Theseus was not the most likable character in the beginning but as the story progressed, I did find myself warming up to him. He kind of grew on me.

I did like Joanne – she was a caring and loving person……and also the love for her cute son.

The interaction between Theseus and his father was really beautiful.

The story developed at a good pace as Theseus and Jo try to work out their issues.

I would have loved if Talos and Amalie from previous book had played a bigger part in this book.

An enjoyable read of the girl who gets her Prince!!!!

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Sunday, 3 January 2016

Review: The Cost of the Forbidden by Carol Marinelli (Goodreads Author)

The Cost of the ForbiddenThe Cost of the Forbidden by Carol Marinelli
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Carol Marinelli’s Irresistible Russian Tycoons Series is about four Russian orphans, who lived together in an orphanage and how their lives are connected to each other.
I enjoyed the 1st book in the series, The Price of His Redemption, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... , and I was looking forward to the next story.

The Cost of the Forbidden is the 2nd novel and tells the story of Sev Derhavin, one of the 4 orphans.

His life is now very different from the time he spent in the orphanage. He has become a very wealthy and successful businessman and ruthless to boot! He does not allow any emotions of feelings touch his heart. Having been rejected as a child and never having experienced love and family in his life, he allows nothing to stand in his way of getting anything or anyone.

Naomi Johnson is trying to reconnect with the father who had disappeared from her life when she was a small child. She has also lacked a loving family in her life.
Hired as Sev’s PA, she soon realizes that her heart will be broken again by this man who shows no feelings whatsoever for any human being. But will she be able to walk away from him when she has such deep feelings for him.

I adored these two characters. They were so endearing and likeable.
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There’s a lot of passion and chemistry between them and I enjoyed the way their relationship developed. I liked that there wasn’t all that OTT drama and darkness and angst….and the way they open up to each other. I also liked some of the quirkiness’s that these two had…..Sev and his coffees!!!! Sugar one day, no sugar the next…….it’s funny that in the beginning I thought…this guy is so just not for me….but as the story progressed…I actually found myself liking him a lot.

The epilogue left me with such a warm feeling…….
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This is turning out to be a really enjoyable series and looking forward to Book #3.

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Review: Faithfull by Marianne Faithfull, David Dalton

FaithfullFaithfull by Marianne Faithfull
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just finished Faithfull…for the 3rd time!! And each time I am fascinated by this woman.
One of the most unique and original female singer-songwriter.
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An iconic singer, actress, songwriter and trendsetter, whose career has spanned over 50 years.
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First reviewed in 2012

I love this book – first read when it was first published in 1994 and for me it’s a book that I can read again and again and still be touched and astounded by this extraordinary woman’s life.
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Faithfull tells her story in a candid, hard-hitting and gritty way and one of the things I really liked was that she never looked for sympathy or made excuses for her mistakes but that she was honest and not shy to admit the mistakes she made.
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”When you are 18, 19, 20, you're used to being photographed all the time, in a certain way. So, the narcissism becomes almost out of control. And the way that young women are photographed, they become addicted to this feedback of the image.”

There’s so much I want to write about my feelings and perceptions about this book..but it would fill pages and pages, so I am going to keep it as short as I can.

From a gawky, vivacious, ethereal and beautiful 17-year old, she soon became part of the Swinging 60”s London, after being discovered by the Rolling Stone’s manager and recording her first single, As Tears Go By, ironically written by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards, reaching No 9 in the British Charts.
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By the age of eighteen, she was married and had a child, toured the country with well-known English bands, began hanging out with the Rolling Stones which soon led to her much-publicized relationship with Mick Jagger , which included the famous not so true “Mars Bars” episode,
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the drug busts, her attempted suicide in Australia,
losing her baby at 8 months. A muse, fashion trendsetter…..
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Her spiral into a world of drugs, drink and homelessness was fast, furious and unrelenting and complete by the age of 23.
Obscurity, shooting heroin into her veins, drinking, squatting, losing her child, going days without food so she could get drugs, living in the streets was her life for the next couple of years.

I felt really sad as I read about this young woman whose life could or may have been so different and to actually experience what she did at that age.

How many people out there could ever pick themselves up from the pitiless bottom she found herself in?
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One asks the question of why would a woman who was loved and loved a rock star walk away and choose the life she did for the next decade.

Yet, she was able to comeback…after being rejected by most of her friends and lovers, her family….the fact that she was able to emerged from that dark and painful period in her life is truly astounding.

And how sad it is that she is most famously known as Mick Jagger’s beautiful and drugged girlfriend and not for her own singing, song writing and acting talents. She was already a pop star before meeting the Rolling Stones, she acted as Ophelia in the movie Hamlet, she had done stage plays and yet not enough credit or recognition. Even had to fight Mick to get him to give her credit for the lyrics she wrote for the song Sister Morphine, Wild Horses…..when Marianne woke up after her six-day coma from her attempted suicide, the first words she said to Mick Jagger were…“Wild horses couldn't drag me away” and they wrote the song Wild Horses together and she never received any credit for her contribution.
Keith Richards tells us in his autobiography, Life, that Marianne was the inspiration behind many of the Rolling Stones songs and even helped Mick writing a lot of the lyrics……and to date she has never received any mention or given any credit for being the early Rolling Stones muse.

There are some fabulous parts in the book that were humorous…her sense of wit and humor comes across so well, especially when she first meets Bob Dylan at the Savoy Hotel in the 60’s,
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and later when she talks to him about her album Broken English.

Life was certainly not kind to her even after her comeback there were so many set-backs and excruciating times for her. But you know what? Despite the knocks and beatings she has had in her life, she’s still around, still singing, still reading and LIVING.

I love her voice and her 1979 comeback album, Broken English, totally blew me away.
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It was like listening to her talk about her life and all that despair heartbreak...I felt it I felt it... and when she does The Ballad of Lucy Jordan - is she talking about herself? And I can never forget her version of John Lennon's evocative and so hauntingly beautiful song, Working Class Hero.

Read her book and you decide if she’s a survivor – an EPIC one or not.
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For me, she will always be remembered as someone who had something in her that said…DON’T GIVE UP. In her own words….
:”'Never let the buggers grind you down.'"
And hey, if you want to see this incredible and iconic performer live…..this is where she will be in 2016…..I am booking my tickets RIGHT NOW!!!!

Tue, 02 Feb Roundhouse, London, UK
Fri, 08 Jul Jardin Public, Cognac, France

Check out some amazing shots of the beautiful and talented Marianne Faithfull:
http://www.vintag.es/2011/06/beautifu...

And if you want to hear some of her music…..check it out….
https://youtu.be/S7oTqILoLns?list=RDS... as tears go by
https://youtu.be/3N_rNz2oAGA?list=RDS... working class hero

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