Endless Incarnation Sorrows: one mistake leads to generations of suffering

Endless Incarnation Sorrows: A Spiritual Odyssey of Mortal Imprints on Earth by Lucia Mann is the story of reincarnation in which a curse is handled out through time and life after life. Inspired by true events of the Ms. Mann’s ability to perceive and recognize the memories of people and places from the past and the connection to her current life after multiple hospital resuscitations. The story opens in the Judean Desert, 609 BCE where a group of women are traveling, in search of a new home. Rebekah bas Sora is pregnant, a result of a scandalous affair. When her daughter, Lala, is born, she is born with physical deformities, which do not belong to anyone in the family. It is immediately believed that she is cursed. The story continues with another generation who is born with these physical deformities and who seemed doomed to live a life of misery. From Lala’s struggles to Leandra in the Ptolemy Royal Dynasty, BC. To Laurencia in Medieval Spain during the Inquisition to Lyveva in Northumbria, 793 AD. To Lidiya in Ireland, 1847. To Lucja in Poland, 1939 to Maria in Sicily (who’s full story is told in Ms. Mann’s book The Sicilian Veil of Shame). To Shiya in South Africa, 1950 (Ms. Mann’s book Rented Silence) to Madeline Clark in Canada, 2018 (featured in Addicted to Hate). Is there a curse which links these women? Are they doomed to live a life of misery?

I have read and reviewed Ms. Mann’s books for a few years and each book is a powerful, often disturbing, revelation into events that many do not know occur or have occurred and were difficult to read, given the subject matter. When compared to her other books, Endless Incarnation Sorrows was easier to read and not as powerful. Possibly because I do not believe in reincarnation and familial curses as she has presented in this book. Possibly because the subject matter wasn’t presented as disturbing and heartbreaking as in her other books. Overall, the book was enjoyable. The writing style was easy to follow, and it was interesting to see different historical events and the people who lived during such times. The treatment of people simply based on who they are or what religion they follow is a story as old as time. The connection to her other books was also enjoyable. If you have read Ms. Mann’s other books, you may enjoy Endless Incarnation Sorrows.

Girl in Trouble: a mystery that's hard to care about

Girl in Trouble by Stacy Chaflin is the first book in the Alex Mercer Thriller series. It is the story of Alex Mercer who is a self-described deadbeat dad and loser. His daughter, Ariana, was adopted by her mother’s, Zoey, parents as both Alex and Zoey were 16 at the time of her birth and wanted to give her a better chance at a decent life. One night, Alex takes Ariana to a popular hangout for kids. After an evening of fun and excitement, Alex witnesses Ariana being taken by a man in a dirty SUV. As investigation gets started, Alex must deal with the criticisms of those who blame him while he tries to track down the man who took his daughter and finding Ariana alive. Will he find her in time? Will they discover the identity of the man who took her?

When I read the description of Girl in Trouble, I was intrigued; however, the book fails to live up to its description. From the get-go, I found myself uninterested in the characters. Alex’s self-loathing is annoying. Zoey’s meanness and bitchiness were irritating. The opening chapters were bored and failed to truly draw me into the drama. The book is described as a thriller but there was nothing thrilling about it. I was also disturbed by the number of chapters. 82 in a 365-page book. That is just too many. The chapters are too short for any real action to take place. Once something starts to happen, the chapter ends, and the reader is taken to a new scene and different action. It was hard to stay engaged. I do not recommend Girl in Trouble.

Girl in Trouble

is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Emma's Dream: a pleasant romance

Emma’s Dream by M Lee Prescott is the first book in the Morgan’s Run Romances series. It is the story of Ben Morgan, who is on his way to his family’s ranch in the Saguaro Valley, Arizona. He has been ordered a few months rest by his doctors. His day back in town, he has a fender bender and the other driver is none other than Maggie Williams. Ben and Maggie had a one stand night many years ago. He left to start his business in California, she left to go to college. But she was back in town working at his family’s ranch. Ben learns she has a 4-year-old daughter, Emma, who has been in a wheelchair after a car accident. It is obvious from the beginning that Emma is Ben’s daughter, but will Maggie tell him? Will she be able to keep it a secret? How will he react? How will his family react?

Emma’s Dream is a nice romance as Ben is immediately drawn to Maggie as he was so many years ago. The characters were fun and relatable. I particularly liked Ben and Maggie. I understood her reluctance to tell Ben even though she knew she would have to in the future. The story was enjoyable and set up future stories in the series. My only complaint is the book had way too many chapters. 71! Granted they were short chapters but most of them could have been combined into larger chapters. Overall, I enjoyed Emma’s Dream and recommend it. I may continue the series if I come across the other titles.

Emma’s Dream

is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Running on Empty: title says it all

Running on Empty by Christy Reece is the first book in the LCR Elite series. It is the story of Sabrina Fox, an LCR operative who rescue people when the officials have run out of options and leads. Her husband, Declan Steele, is an operative with The Agency. Their marriage is a secret to everyone expect their respective bosses. Tragedy strikes and Sabrina witnesses Declan die before her eyes. Fast forward to 11 months later and Declan is discovered in an Africa prison and has suffered physically and mentally from extensive torture and abuse. He believes in one thing that Sabrina betrayed him, and he is out for revenge. When they are reunited, Sabrina tries to explain that she had nothing to do with his capture and thought he was died. Although the attraction is still there, Declan keeps Sabrina at arm’s length, determined to find out who is behind this elaborate scheme. Will they discover who betrayed him? Will they be able to come together again?

Running on Empty was a very tedious book to read. It started out great and suddenly it wasn’t. It was bogged down with the various rescue missions and the main plotline, the find out who was behind Declan’s capture and torture, was sort of forgotten until the end. The reveal behind the culprit was dragged on and on until the final reveal was anticlimactic. Reading it was like enough already, get to the point! One of the minor characters had a name that sounded familiar. I don’t know if it was unintentional on the author’s part or if it was a shout out to a favorite show, but I laughed when I read it. Overall, the plot was unbelievable. The characters were unlikeable. I do not recommend Running on Empty.

Running on Empty

is available in paperback and eBook

The Glittering Hour: a mother's story and her daughter's discovery

The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey is the story of Alice Carew, a nine-year-old girl left at her grandparents’ estate, Blackwood Park, in Wiltshire while her parents, Rupert and Selina, are on a business trip to Burma in 1936. After she writes to her mother about how lonely she is, her mother decides to have a treasure hunt in which she will leave clues in her letters for Alice to follow around the estate. When Alice finds the location of the clue, a letter her mother leaves for her, tells her a story which corresponds to that location. It is at this point the story flips to the summer of 1925 when 20-year-old Selina was a young and wild woman. Along with her group of friends, known as the Bright Young People, her escapades were front page news. As the story flips back and forth between 1936 and 1925, Alice is taken on a journey of freedom, societal expectations and love. What will Selina’s story reveal to Alice? What secret has she been hiding all these years?

The Glittering Hour is filled with discovery, heartbreak and love. There is so much about this story that I wish I could talk about; however, spoilers, I can’t. The story is told in two parts. Part 1 was a bit slow and left me wondering where the story was leading. However, Part 2 blew wide open with a story of love, sacrifice, fear and learning about real love is. Ms. Grey wove a story so intriguing that even the slow parts kept you wondering if she was hiding a clue to the mystery and you kept reading. And as I kept reading the more intrigued, I was. I enjoyed Alice as the little girl who loved her mother and wished her home. Even the characters you were supposed to dislike, like her grandmother, Lady Lennox, you begin to feel for the woman who didn’t know how to do anything else but keep a sift upper lip. As the story ended, I had tears running down my face. I highly recommend The Glittering Hour!

The Glittering Hour

is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook

Dark Desires: a gothic romance with a mysterious twist

Dark Desires by Eve Silver is a gothic romance set in London in 1828. Darcie Finch is alone in the Whitechapel area of London as she runs from a dangerous situation in search of somewhere safe. Her sister directs to find Dr. Damien Cole and seek employment in his household as a maid. Darcie is warned to keep her nose out of the doctor’s secrets. She is hired and quickly hears about the mysteries surrounding the doctor. A maid that suddenly left without a word. The doctor keeps late hours and has strange books in his study. On a whim, Darcie draws a sketch in his sketchbook and the doctor realizes her talents are needed elsewhere and she begins work as his assistant. Darcie cannot help being drawn to the handsome and mysterious Dr Cole. As word spreads of horrific murders in the Whitechapel area, Darcie fears her employer could be involved. While her head cannot help but notice the strange coincidences between the murders and the doctor’s late-night activities, her heart tells her something different. Will she follow her head or her heart? Will the mysterious murderer be uncovered?

Dark Desires started slow but once the mystery gets going, it draws you in and becomes an exciting page-turner. I loved the dark and brooding Dr Cole who is haunted by his secrets and Darcie who kept help but try to help him through his pain. While I figured out some of the mysteries, the reveal why still surprising especially Dr Cole’s reasons for his strange behaviors. If you like dark, gothic romance and mysteries, you may enjoy Dark Desires. It is the first book in the Dark Gothic series. I look forward to continuing the series in the future.

Dark Desires

is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Not a lot of romance but plenty of drama

The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson is the romantic story of Cassie Everson and Jett Bentley. Cassie, 33. Is the director of Girls Haven, a center for disadvantaged girls, has been dating through an app with no great prospects until Jett Bentley finds her profile. Jett remembers Cassie from high school although he doubts, she would remember him. He sends her a message anyway and they are brought together by the scheming plans of her best friend, Bree. Soon their lives are thrown in chaos as Cassie takes in three sisters from a terrible situation and Jett is saddled with his niece and nephews as his sister suddenly shows up. In the chaos of their lives, a series of misunderstands and miscues leads Cassie and Jett to believe that the other doesn’t want children. Will they be able to finally clear the air? Will they be able to adjust to their new lives?

The Dating Charade started out as a great story, then facts about the characters’ backgrounds and plot points changed. It felt like the author didn’t remember she presented the information already and different information. For instance, Jett’s full name is presented one way in chapter 5 and presented another way in chapter 18. Then Cassie recognizes a character as a former date in chapter 5 and has the same recognition in chapter 23. It did start out great with drama and tension with the potential of a great romance but the misunderstands and miscues between Cassie and Jett were frustrating plus the lack of continuity was distracting. The story just fizzled for me. as the book is also marketed as a Christian romance and the only thing that makes it “Christian” is that the characters go to church at one point. In Jett’s case, he goes to church to get a couple hours of peace and quiet. I do not recommend The Dating Charade.

The Dating Charade

Is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

With Every Heartbeat: a great story with dancing, drama and passion

With Every Heartbeat by Melody Grace is the story of Annalise Taylor who is a member of the American Ballet Company studying in Rome. As the daughter of a prima ballerina, ballet has been her life and her dream until she met Raphael. One day while touring the city with her friends, she watches local street dancers and there she catches the eye of Raphael Gibraldi. Their whirlwind romance opens her eyes to new desires and new dreams. Does she desire to be a prima ballet and dance in the limelight? Or is she living someone else’s dreams? Annalise must decide if she is going to follow the path that has been laid out before her all her life or will she follow her heart?

With Every Heartbeat is a fascinating story about the cutthroat world of ballet where, as one character states, “You don’t get ahead without pushing someone else down.” Annalise is a great dancer but doesn’t live up to the expectations of her mother who gave up ballet when Annalise was born. The demands of training leaves Annalise with very little enjoyment in life. When she meets Raphael, her eyes are open to living life to the fullest. This book is filled with drama, tensions between Annalise and her friends as well as her rivals. It is filled with passion as Annalise opens her heart to Raphael and the excitement of life he offers. Their love scenes are breathtaking and heart stopping. There is a point in every one’s life when they must decide if they are chasing their dreams or the dreams of another. This is Annalise’s fork in the road life decision. With Every Heartbeat is a great weekend read with dramatic twists and turns with a great romance. I highly recommend it.

With Every Heartbeat

is available in eBook

Which end is up?: when the life you know is turned upside down

Which End Is Up? by Patricia Kay is the story of Grace Campisi, a New York lawyer who is about to have her life turned upside down. Her sister, Perry, shows up at her apartment, pregnant and needing a place to stay. Reluctantly, she allows her sister to stay. She soon delivers a baby girl she names Emily Grace. It quickly becomes apparent that Perry has no idea what she is doing and in an act of desperation, leaves baby Emily with her sister and runs to join her deadbeat boyfriend in Vegas. Grace is left to figure out how to take care of Emily and pursue her dreams of making partner at her law firm. When faced with tough choices, will Grace put her dreams ahead of her niece or will she find a new life and new dreams with Emily?

Which End is Up? is a story that you think you know where it is heading as you read. Oh no! The book did not go the way I thought it would. Grace is a typical older sister who feels she is always cleaning up after her wayward sister who has no faults in their mother’s eyes. She also learns that life has a funny way of turning out for the better in ways you could never have imagined or planned. Filled with family drama, old tensions and self-discovery, it is a beautiful, heartbreaking and tear-jerking story. You will cry at certain points and laugh and smile at others. I highly recommend Which End is Up?!

Which End is Up?

is available in paperback and eBook.