Brothers in Crime by K.M. Rockwood

Title: Brothers in Crime

Author: K.M. Rockwood 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars 

Online Ratings: 4 out of stars 

*I RECEIVED THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*

NO SPOILERS! 

Summary from Goodreads:

The cops say surveillance video doesn't lie. But could they be mistaken? 

After nearly twenty years in prison, Jesse Damon is just trying to make it on parole. But nothing comes easy. The cops say they have a video of him breaking into an ATM. He’s in trouble at work over a toxic chemical spill. A runaway wife shows up on his doorstep, dead broke and needing somewhere to stay. And his sometimes-girlfriend Kelly seems to have met someone new. Sydney. At an AA meeting, of all places. When Jesse goes to Sydney's office and finds his dead body, he’s pretty sure the guy has been murdered. And that he will be the prime suspect.

My Opinion: 

K.M. Rockwood is back with our favourite character, Jesse Damon, and a heart-stopping, intense, electrifying conclusion to a phenomenal series. Brothers in Crime doesn't fail to disappoint and it definitely lived up to the high standards I set before reading this novel.

This novel went straight into the action with new mysterious events and situations. Brothers in Crime had to right amount of comedy and mystery making it a fast, quick page turner but an interesting read. There was never a dull point in this novel- K.M. Rockwood kept you on the edge of your seat, curious to know more. 

This captivating read reintroduced the famous character, Jesse Damon, the main protagonist, who somehow always seems to be a 'magnet' for trouble. In this novel, after a huge amount of character development, the readers finally get to see Jesse in a new light. Jesse is finally portrayed as an intelligent young man who is quick-witted. In this novel, Jesse is no longer portrayed as an introvert and has found the ability to stand up for himself and his rights, understanding his place in society. 

I felt as if Kelly's personality in this novel was quite different from the first novel. Kelly seemed to be more dependant on Jesse and sort of used him to take care of her children. Her dependency in this novel really portrayed a lack of confidence and character underdevelopment. Kelly's extrovert personality didn't mask her weaknesses in the novel, which was one aspect I didn't exceptionally like in the novel. 

The conclusion and the last few chapters of this novel was not very descriptive and ended almost abruptly. All the solutions, to the issues introduced in the novel, were 'thrown' at the reader in one stage, which was another aspect I wasn't a very big fan of. 

But an aspect I extremely enjoyed in the novel was Rockwood's ability to entwine and interconnect all the various scenarios and situations. Rockwood wrote beautifully and really helped readers experience Jesse's everyday life and emotions. 

Overall, Brothers in Crime was a fantastic conclusion to the series and I recommend for everyone who loves mystery to pick up this series, you won't regret it. Thank you so much K.M. Rockwood for allowing me to review and read your novel. 

- Erisha <4 

The Kandesky Vampire Chronicles by Michele Drier

Title: The Kandesky Vampire Chronicles (Books 1-4) 

Author: Michele Drier 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Online Ratings: 3.7 out of 5 stars

NO SPOILERS! 

Summary from Goodreads: 

This boxed set includes Books One through Four of the Kandesky Vampire Chronicles: Book One, SNAP: The World Unfolds; Book Two, SNAP: New Talent; Book Three, Plague: A Love Story and Book Four, DANUBE: A Tale of Murder.

Follow Maxie Gwenoch as she takes the job of Managing Editor for SNAP Magazine, the world's largest and most popular gossip media covering celebrities around the globe.

First, she finds the owners of SNAP are a family of Hungarian vampires, then she discovers she's the reason for an escalating war between the Kandeskys and their archrivals, the Huszars.

My Opinion:

Book 1: 

SNAP: The World Unfolds is the first novel in a new fantasy series. This novel has everything one reader desires for. This novel has fantasy aspects for those who like fantasy and also romance for those who prefer reading romantic novel. Not the forget that this novel has quite a lot of adventure sequences which definitely appeals to both genders. One aspect that I wasn't a fan of, was that this novel had quite a lot of world building so at times there were a lot of information the reader had to process. And also the romance between Jean-Louis and Maxie seemed slightly rushed and not well throughout. They jumped to conclusions before even analysing the conflict that has occurred. Other than those tiny errors, SNAP: The World Unfolds is a promising novel in a new fantasy series and I recommend all to read this novel. 

Book 2 (Few Spoilers from Book 1): 

New Talent, the second novel of The Kandesky Vampire Chronicles, is an action packed, fantasy novel. This novel had everything a reader would like. From epic fantasy battles to romance, this novel will definitely keep the reader curious till the end. New Talent was based more around Maxie Gwenoch's strive for independence and also the Kandesky and Huszars' old rivalry. I really enjoyed how this novel really helped in the development of the world. Also this novel helped readers to understand the rivalry between Kandesky and the Huszars'. Although, the beginning of this novel was slightly slow paced, the novel redeemed itself through the middle, where there were a lot of fantasy battles. New Talent has the right amount of romance and action scene, which balanced this book nicely so readers would get to read a diverse amount of genres. I extremely enjoyed Maxie's strive for independence and development throughout this novel. The ending and the cliff hanger at the end of this novel was amazing and mind blowing. Drier has once again written a fabulous novel with a balance of different genres to keep readers interested and curious till the end. 

Book 3 (Few Spoilers from Books 1 & 2): 

Set in the 14th Century, the time of the Black Plague, Drier brings a novella based on the beginnings of the Kandesky company and family. This novel really helps develop and set the background for the other novels in this series. Drier introduces readers to a new setting, background and protagonist. Readers learn about Stefan and how became the business man and the Kandesky Company owner. Stefan's life, before his life as a vampire, was well written and definitely evoked an emotional response from me. Stefan went through so much and held a huge amount of pain in his heart. I really enjoyed learning about the history of the Kandesky Family and how it came to be. I seem to be getting more and more impressed as the Chronicles goes on. Drier has written a beautiful novel which definitely has left me eager and excited to read the next novel in the chronicles. 

Book 4 (Few Spoilers from Books 1, 2 & 3): 

And this is the novella I have been dying to read for quite sometime. This novella is based on Jean-Louis' story before he met Maxie. Learning more about one of my favourite characters in this series, was very exciting and thrilling. Danube, follows where the last novella left off. This novella explains the rivalry between the Kandesky's and Huszars' in greater detail. Readers will be thrown into a world with more adventures, battles and romance. Learning about the Kandesky business and how the three owners managed to handle all the problems and issues that arouse was amazing. Drier has definitely satisfied her audience through this novel. I recommend fantasy and romance readers to immediately read this series, if they haven't already. Thank you Michele Drier for sending me this book set to read and review, I extremely appreciate it. 

- Erisha <4 

Infinite Limits by Megan Duke

Title: Infinite Limits

Author: Megan Duke

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Online Ratings: 5 out of 5 stars

NO SPOILERS! 

Summary from Goodreads:

You've heard their stories. You've felt their pain. Now, in this thought-provoking conclusion to Small Circles, the characters we've come to love are faced with an abundance of difficult choices. It's time for each of them to choose a path, but who's to say which is the right one? Between a wedding, a pregnancy, a disappearance, and a disturbing dream turned reality, there are an infinite number of ways this story could end. But there is a limit to every infinity, and everyone has a breaking point.

My Opinion: 

Megan Duke has done it again. She has managed to break my heart and place all of the fallen parts back together during the span of one novel. There is no other way to describe or explain this novel other than, 'a fantastic conclusion to one of the most inspirational series I have ever read'. 

This novel's character development was absolutely outstanding. Each character underwent a transformation which helped them to become a better human being. The first character who really transformed and developed would have to be Paxton. Paxton was portrayed as a lost, immature boy but by the end of Infinite Limits, Paxton finally found middle ground and was able to cope with life. Larson was another character who truly developed throughout this novel. His trust and faith in others was quite weak due to the loss of his love, Owen. But overtime, throughout this book, Larson started to develop and he learnt how to trust and confide in others. Silas really brought the best out of Larson. He supported and protected Larson from any complications and always helped Larson through the tough times. Audrina was one character who I believed would be impossible to develop. Her difficult attitude in the last few books in the series, portrayed Audrina as an overprotective, slightly immature girl. But Megan Duke, in Infinite Limits, really conveyed Audrina developing. As readers, we could see every stage of Audrina's development and by the end of the novel she was a completely new character who was willing to let go of her past. 

The themes in this novel was quite strong and well written. Issues that could be seen in our daily life's was well portrayed through Duke's realistic characters. As a teenager, I could really understand and put my self into the character's 'shoes' as some of this issues have been aroused in my daily life. 

In addition, this novel was a beautiful end to one of the most realistic and phenomenal series I have read yet. Although the ending was bittersweet as we say goodbye to this phenomenal series, I can assure everyone that this series will always have a place in my heart and in yours.  From this novel I have learnt to understand, accept and not stereotype others, especially without knowing their background and where they are coming from. 

Thank you Megan Duke for allowing me to enter, explore and accept each character, their attributes and their flaws. I will never regret or forget reading this amazing series. I seriously recommend everyone to read this series, adults to teenagers, this novel will blow your mind away. 

- Erisha <4 

Steeled for Murder by K.M. Rockwood

Title: Steeled for Murder

Author: K.M. Rockwood

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars 

Online Ratings: 4.3 out of 5 stars

*I RECEIVED THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*

NO SPOILERS!

Summary from Goodreads:

On parole for a murder conviction, Jesse is the first suspect when Mitch, a forklift driver at work, is killed. Will Jesse be able to figure out what happened, or be sent back to prison?

After nearly twenty years in prison on a murder conviction, Jesse Damon has been released, a home detention monitor strapped to his ankle. Determined to make it and mindful of his parole restrictions, he struggles with life outside prison. He finds a basement apartment, a job on the overnight shift at a steel fabrication plant and a few people who treat him like anybody else. Especially Kelly, a woman who works in the shipping department. He seems to be making it. Until Mitch, forklift driver on the shift, is found murdered in the warehouse. Investigating detective doesn’t want to look any further than Jesse to close the case He’s not fussy about the methods he uses to gather evidence. If Jesse isn’t going down for this, he will have to be the one to figure out who killed Mitch and why.

My Opinion:

Mystery, Suspense, Romance, Self Discovery, Respect, Family. All of these different themes can be found in K.M. Rockwood's novel, 'Steeled for Murder'. Steeled for Murder was an intense, electrifying, mysterious read that is bound to keep readers interested till the very end. Steeled for Murder by K.M. Rockwood is definitely ranked as my favourite mystery novel. The tension and curiosity this novel evoked was commendable. Steeled for Murder has risen my expectations for any mystery novel I read. K.M. Rockwood a elegant writing skills have helped shape this novel into a fantastic read. K.M. Rockwood really knows how to capture the readers attention and emotions. 

The novel revolved around young adult, Jesse Damon. Jesse had been locked in prison from an early age accused for a crime he did not commit. After twenty years spent in prison, Jesse finally was allowed his freedom but in one condition- he had to be paroled. After restarting his life and attempting to 'get back on track', things seemed to be going smooth and good for Jesse until an unexpected murder at his work place. Immediately blamed for this murder due to his previous prison records, Jesse is determined to prove himself not guilty. Through many highs and lows, readers experience Jesse's thoughts, opinions and different personalities he portrays. 

The characters introduced in this novel were multi-dimensional, making them more realistic and relatable too. The main character, Jesse Damon, was my favourite male protagonist I have read about in a mystery novel. Jesse Damon was framed for a crime which he was unaware about. I adored his character and at times, I felt really bad for him. His shy, introvert personality didn't really help give him courage to stand up for his rights. I loved how Jesse valued his education- when he was locked up in jail, he would read novels and extended on his knowledge. The main female protagonist, Kelly, was another multi-dimensional character. Completely opposite from Jesse- she was an extrovert, who spoke her feelings and never excluded anyone. She accepted Jesse, knowing all the things he had been accused for, and she still loved him. I adored learning more about her life and finding out about her mysterious past. 

The setting in the novel was very vivid and descriptive helping readers to be comfortable in the current atmosphere set in the novel. 

Something which I personally wasn't a fan of was the ending chapters. I felt the end of the novel was very rushed and slightly confusing. I really wished the ending of the novel was spread out a little more. But other than that small factor in the novel, K.M. Rockwood has written a promising novel in a new series. I am eagerly waiting to read more novels in Jesse Damon's perspective.

Thank you K.M. Rockwood for giving me the opportunity to read and review your amazing, suspenseful novel. It was definitely an honour to receive your novel and I can not wait to read more books in this new mysterious series. 

- Erisha <4 

Covet by Terri Herman-Poncé

Title: Covet

Author: Terri Herman-Poncé 

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Online Ratings: 4.6 out of 5 stars

*I RECEIVED THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*

NO SPOILERS! 

Summary from Goodreads: 

Everyone wants something.

Even if it belongs to someone else.

And some will destroy the very thing they want, just so no one else can have it.

Professional soldier David Bellotti's latest mission seems simple: steal the key card to a drug lord's compound so the empire can be infiltrated and destroyed. But when David discovers evidence of his lover Lottie’s possible infidelity, his mission turns personal. He searches for answers others would kill to keep buried and discovers a link to the past he's been trying hard to ignore.

Ancient lives, twelve thousand year old secrets, murder, and primal instincts lead David on a journey through past lives and present danger—all to save the woman he loves.

My Opinion (Spoilers from first novel): 

From what started off as business turned into a personal mission. The first novel follows a strong female named Lottie and Covet, the second novel, follows male protagonist and Lottie's lover, David, through his unexpected journey back to the past. Following David and Lottie's love story through this mysterious novel has been phenomenal. Covet, the second novel in the Past Life series, has lived up to the high expectations I set before reading this novel. This novel was definitely more action packed and mysterious than the first novel.

Poncé's unique and elegant style of writing definitely shone throughout this book. The chapters were written in three different perspectives, firstly, in David's point of view, secondly, in Lottie's point of view and thirdly, in third person. 

The small aspect which I wasn't a huge fan of was that the alternating chapters did not state whose point of view it was currently in. This led to a small amount of confusion and I really hope that the next novel states whose point of view the current chapter is following. 

Other than that, David's perspective in the novel had to be my favourite to read from. Following his opinions and thoughts on certain situations was definitely a treat. Also seeing his transformation and him reliving his past lives was quite interesting as he was quite oblivious to the fact he was reliving old times. David's reactions were 'spot on' and I could feel all his emotions and really relate to him.

Reading Lottie's 'point of view' chapters was quite amazing and refreshing as it helped relive the special bonding I created with her in the first novel, 'In This Life'. Lottie still had her strong, bold, independent personality and I felt that she also went through quite a bit of character development. 

Lottie and David's relationship definitely developed into a more mature, trust-worthy relationship. In this novel I felt the characters were more comfortable in their relationship. Although in the beginning there wasn't much trust in their relationship, by the end readers could see the an enormous difference from the beginning of the novel as David and Lottie were more honest with each other. Their relationship development was another aspect I really enjoyed reading about. 

This novel was very intriguing and had really great plot twists! With new characters introduced, this novel has many twists that never would have been expected! The novel had so many mysteries to be solved and so many answers to find that readers were always left with something to anticipate for. I adored how every event, situation and character intertwined to together. The interconnection was an intelligent idea and really made me appreciate this novel more. 'Covet' by Terri Herman-Poncé was a very mysterious novel that kept readers entertained and curious to the end. 

I definitely recommend this series to mystery readers and romance readers. This series is exceptionally good to read if you want to try reading in the Mystery genre for the first time. Thank you Terri Herman-Poncé for allowing me to read and review your excellently written novel- I am very grateful. 

- Erisha <4 

I Know Lucy by Melissa Pearl

Title: I Know Lucy

Author: Melissa Pearl

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 

Online Ratings: 4.1 out of 5 stars

*I RECEIVED THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*

NO SPOILERS! 

Summary from Goodreads:

Lucy Tate is on the run. After witnessing the brutal murder of her parents, she's spent five years in hiding -- taking on different personas and faking her way through life. The authorities can't be trusted, so she remains in the shadows, always one beat ahead of the man who is forever hunting her. That is, until she meets Zach Schultz, a senior at Monte Vista High and the one guy she can’t bear to leave. Suddenly her natural instincts to lie, steal, and run are overshadowed by something else...the desire to stay. It’s her one shot at a normal life.

Curious by nature, Zach is immediately drawn to the new girl at school. How can a person look both confident and vulnerable all in the same moment? Determined to learn more about her, he tries to get close, but is thrown into a world of lies and confusion. The only thing that becomes apparent is that discovering the truth may get him killed.

My Opinion:

'I Know Lucy' by Melissa Pearl is an adventurous and mysterious read. This novel, by far, is one of the best books I have read this year.

Melissa Pearl has written in a new, unique way which definitely helped captivate readers attention. Pearl decided to try a new style of writing which was to dedicate each chapter to the two main protagonists. With alternating perspectives we got an insight on the female protagonists' past life and also we got to follow the present story in the male protagonists' point of view. This idea was really interesting and definitely worked out well. The male protagonist's, Zach's, chapters were written in first perspective while Lucy's, the female protagonist's, chapters were written in third person. I commend Pearl for testing this new technique and I can definitely say that I am a fan of novels written like 'I Know Lucy'. Melissa Pearl has definitely risen my expectations of Author's writing styles and I can not wait to read more novels like this one. 

The characters in this novel were very relatable too and I felt as if I could feel all of the characters emotions, especially Lucy's. Lucy, the female lead, was definitely my favourite character. Her mysterious past and all the adversities she had to face were two things that I adored about her. Lucy was independent, helpful and headstrong. At first, Zach, the male lead, seemed immature to me. But that theory proved to be incorrect as I read more. Zach's character was protective and caring- he supported Lucy through her tough decisions and always had her back. Zach and Lucy's relationship was adorable. It was not fast paced and we really got to understand their feelings for each other. Character development was conveyed incredibly in this novel. We saw each character face adversities and also overcome those challenges with great strength. Some methods to overcome obstacles were taken 'to extreme' but I still enjoyed reading those certain scenes. Those scenes made me realise how humans can become so desperate in their lives that they have to 'do the unthinkable'. Overall, Melissa Pearl has written a beautiful novel with a lot of character development. The characters, plot and setting were amazing and I loved how this novel was set in different time periods. I recommend this novel to any romance and/or mystery readers- this novel is a 'must read'. Thank you Melissa Pearl for allowing me to review your fantastic novel. 

- Erisha <4 

Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan

Title: Apple and Rain

Author: Sarah Crossan 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars 

Online Ratings: 4 out of 5 stars

*I RECEIVED THIS BOOK FROM BLOOMSBURY AUSTRALIA IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*

NO SPOILERS! 

Summary from Goodreads:

When Apple's mother returns after eleven years away, Apple feels whole again. But just like the stormy Christmas Eve when she left, her mother's homecoming is bittersweet. It's only when Apple meets someone more lost than she is that she begins to see things as they really are.

A story about sad endings.

A story about happy beginnings.

A story to make you realise who is special.

My Opinion: 

Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan was a story about family, love and self discovery- this novel can truly mend a broken heart. Sarah Crossan has written a phenomenal middle-grade novel which definitely evoked a lot of emotions. Her fluent and elegant writing skills made this book easy to understand. I felt all of the emotions of the characters in the novel which made them quite relatable. The female protagonist, Apple, had suffered through a lot in her life. A lost mother, a strict grandma, a father who doesn't notice her- are just a few of the adversities Apple had to deal with in her life. I found her character headstrong and independent, I truly admired Apple's character. Reading the novel from Apple's perspective really helped readers to connect with the female protagonist. I felt all the events on going in Apple's life could be seen in our modern day world. The plot was quite intriguing and mysterious. There were a lot of unimaginable secrets revealed that readers were left speechless. The first few pages of this novel really seemed to draw me into Apple's world. The romance between Apple and her quirky, confident neighbour, Del, was not forced at all. In fact their relationship helped bring out the good in Apple. Del helped Apple deal through tough times making him the ideal fictional male protagonist. The relationships in this novel definitely left an impact on readers. With such strong emotions being evoked from each relationship, readers felt great empathy for each character. Self discovery was a reinforced issue throughout this entire novel. Throughout this novel we saw a lot of character development- which was mostly evident through Apple's character. Family, which was another strong theme in this novel, helped readers to see that just because two individuals are related through blood does not mean that those individuals are close and supportive of each other. This idea was evident through Apple and her mum's relationship. Her mum was not a supporting, female role model to Apple but instead a 'runaway'. And when things became too tough, Apple's mum ran back home. This not only shows two individuals relationship but also conveys the idea of selfishness. Overall, Sarah Crossan has written a beautiful novel and I am quite grateful for having the opportunity to read and review this novel. I recommend teenagers and readers who love middle grade novels to read this novel. 

- Erisha <4