Claiming Noah By: Amanda Ortlepp

Book Description...

"Catriona and James are desperate for children, and embark on an IVF program. After a gruelling round of treatments, Catriona finally falls pregnant, and they donate their remaining embryo anonymously.

Diana and Liam are on a waiting list to receive an embryo. Sooner than expected, they are thrilled to discover one is available.

After a difficult pregnancy, Catriona gives birth to Sebastian. But severe postnatal depression affects her badly, and quickly turns into deadly psychosis. For her protection and her baby’s, she’s admitted into psychiatric care. When she comes home, she again struggles to bond with her baby, but gradually life finds its own rhythm.

Meanwhile, Diana has given birth to a beautiful little boy, Noah.
But when he is two months old Noah is abducted … and Diana and Liam’s nightmare begins.

Where is Noah?"

Title:  Claiming Noah

Author:  Amanda Ortlepp

Publisher:  Faithworks/Center Street

Reviewed By: Arlena Dean

Rating:  Five 

Review:

"Claiming Noah" 'by Amanda Ortlepp

My Thoughts...

First of all I would like to say 'Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an exchange of this book for an honest review.'  I will say this was quite a hard read and even though it looks like everything did turn out OK it was still a difficult emotional read for me that dealt with what can happen with embryo donation.  This story will involve: 'post natal depression, fertility issues including IVF, embryo adoption, religious issues, with ethical legal and oral issues, death, suicide thoughts,  that will be a issue to all of the one's involved.'  See, we have two families that will be using this IVF and wow what will happen from the aftermath of their choices they make.  Be ready for many 'manipulation, twist and turns, secrets and lies' that will have you shaking your head and saying  REALLY...I definitely didn't see that coming!

What we have are two women who will be connected by an embryo,  Be ready for some interesting characters [Catriona, James, Diana & Liam] to name a few  that will keep you turning the pages till the end. I found it  all quite interesting read how this author was able to merge these two couples together with each having their own set of problems. I also loved how this author was able to bring out what a person can go through when suffering through post-partum psychosis.  

I don't want to tell too much of this well written and intriguing plot with an exceptional epilogue  other than saying please pick up the read and see for yourself how well this novel has been presented to see who will get Noah in the end.  I would definitely recommend "Claiming Noah" to you as a good read.

Everything We Keep: A Novel By: Kerry Lonsdale

Book Description....

"Sous chef Aimee Tierney has the perfect recipe for the perfect life: marry her childhood sweetheart, raise a family, and buy out her parents’ restaurant. But when her fiancé, James Donato, vanishes in a boating accident, her well-baked future is swept out to sea. Instead of walking down the aisle on their wedding day, Aimee is at James’s funeral—a funeral that leaves her more unsettled than at peace.
As Aimee struggles to reconstruct her life, she delves deeper into James’s disappearance. What she uncovers is an ocean of secrets that make her question everything about the life they built together. And just below the surface is a truth that may set Aimee free…or shatter her forever.
A luminous debut with unexpected twists, Everything We Keep explores the devastation of loss, the euphoria of finding love again, and the pulse-racing repercussions of discovering the truth about the ones we hold dear and the lengths they will go to protect us."

Title:  Everything We Keep:  A Novel
Author:  Kerry Lonsdale
Publisher:  Lake Union Publishing
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"Everything We Keep:   Novel"  by Kerry Lonsdale

My Thoughts....

This was quite one of those interesting reads when you may find yourself shaking your head at some of its chapters, with the heroine being so what naive at times but will still finding the general read captivating giving the reader one intriguing good mystery read in the end.  One will find from the read this is one of  'drama,  grief, heartwarming love story, romance, secrets, unanswered questions that bring on suspense, help from a psychic, and then in the end being given one twisted captivating mystery good read' and let's not leave out that quite interesting epilogue that left me saying what?

Everything We Keep was my Kindle First choice for this month. Aimee Tierney was supposed to get married to her childhood sweetheart, but the wedding day turned into a funeral day as her fiance was found dead a few weeks after he goes missing during a trip to Mexico. The book is told from Aimee's point of view and deals with her grief over her loss and things she does with her life over the next two years. She has lots of unanswered questions, including some mysterious circumstances over her fianThank you for the read of Everything We Keep.  This was my Kindle First choice for this month of July, 2016.

Wife Of A Misfit: A Cameron Spin Off By: Jade Joes

Book Description....

"Juicy's entire life changed when she met Tariq Haddad aka Rico. With his suave demeanor and devilishly handsome looks, he was every girl's dream and every father's worst nightmare. Because he was a smooth-talking pimp, she knew the risk that came with getting involved with a man like him--and yet she still allowed him to pull her into his underworld...but now it may be too late for her to escape his deadly grasp.

Roxie was simply trying to move on with her life when Kwon came along and helped her get over a broken heart. Sweet, charming, and charismatic, he's seemingly a breath of fresh air and the exact opposite of her cheating no good ex, Magyc. Yet there's only one problem...Kwon is hiding a deep, dark secret. One that could potentially put her and her daughter's life in danger.

"Wife of a Misfit" is a rollicking ride full of drama, betrayal, and unexpected twists!"

Title:  Wife Of A Misfit

Author:  Jade Jones

Publisher:  Jade Publications

Reviewed By:  Arlena Den

Rating: Five

Review:

"Wife Of A Misfit" by Jade Jones

My Thoughts....

Wow, what a ending this author gives us!  Not only that the whole story was a attention grabber with a lots of 'drama and even more drama with some love, sex,craziness, kidnapping, disloyalty, secrets, vengeance, organ trafficking, twist and turns and lets not leave out murder.'   The characters Diana [Juicy], Kwon, Maygc, Roxie, Rain, Soul, Madison plus  a few others[many from the 'Cameron' storyline] were simply off the chart all being well developed, portrayed and oh so believable giving this read a very good plot as well as a well told story.  However, the readers will have to pick up the next series to see what will happen next in this action and suspenseful read.  If you are looking for another good read from this author then I would recommend this one to you.

Thank you to the author for the gift of the read for my giving a honest opinion of the novel.

Mama's Lies - Daddy's Pain By: Brian W. Smith

Book Description....

"Jamal Simms is the loving father of Jada Simms. He struggles to raise Jada with her mother (Tracy) whom he can't seem to get along with. Shortly before Jada's 18th birthday, a DNA test reveals that Jamal isn't Jada's biological father. Feelings are hurt, lies are told, loyalties are tested, and lives are forever changed."

Title:  Mama's Lies - Daddy's Pain
Author:  Brian W. Smith
Publisher:  Hollygrove Publishing
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Mama's Lies - Daddy's Pain" by Brian W. Smith

My Thoughts....

Oh, my goodness..so this is how a lie can start during one's teenage years and continue all the way
to adulthood.  But what will happen when the lie is finally found out?  Well, this is what happened to Jamal and Tracey during their teenage years. Now, only if Jamal had listened to his best friend Greg...
oh well there are so many parts of this story that you will just have to pick this one up and see for yourself how well this author brings it all out so well to the readers.  I was left feeling very sad with its ending but so many times in life we are not given that HEA in situations like this.  That was one ending I wasn't looking for but what will be will be.  Was there a lesson learned from the read YES! And with saying that I will only say that this read was one excellent read dealing with emotional life issues that do happen due to 'deceit.'  

Thank you to the author for a good read.  I  this one for my prime read for July, 2016.

Mr. and Mrs. Black By: Roy Glenn

Book Description...

"With all of their enemies defeated and Rain Robinson firmly in control of his Family, Black and Shy have put that life of constant war and death behind them. They moved back to the home that they built in Freeport, Bahamas; the home that they built to spend the rest of their lives in, so many years ago. Shy has promised to hang up her guns to live the quiet life with the man she loves; raising their children and focusing on running her legitimate import/export business. So when Shy is presented with the opportunity to become the U.S. importer for a company that made hand-made women’s apparel, she jumped at the opportunity. A meeting was quickly arranged in Palermo, Sicily to meet the owner and negotiate a deal. That’s when the trouble begins and that is when Shy is glad she brought her gun."

Title:  Mr. and Mrs. Black
Author:  Roy Glenn
Publisher:  Smashwords Edition
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"Mr. and Mrs. Black" by Roy Glenn

My Thoughts....

This was a good 'Mike Black' saga that dealt mainly with the Black's family business and adventure. This time the focus wasn't only about Mike and his wife Cassandra but also of her aunt and uncle as they became involved in a mystery military espionage due to 'art and the ancient history world.'  As usual we find guns that will come out and will be given quite a interesting read.  Along with all of that we still see that Mike and Shy are still deeply in love. The characters are all true to form as begin well developed and portrayed giving the reader a intriguing journey of a read.

So, if you are looking for a action pack read with lots of adventure you have come to the right place for 'Mr. and Mrs. Black' will bring it all to you.

True, Undying Love: A Twisted Love Story By: Ms. T. Nicole

Book Description....

"When you are born in the hood, the game won’t allow you to fall in love. The streets will take everything they can from you. On a cold night when the odds were stacked against him at the worst point in his life, Lex finds a woman that is truly the Bonnie to his Clyde. Will snakes slithering within the team cause them drama or bring them closer together? Or will this instant love connection be a match made in heaven or lead them to find their destiny in hell?"

Title:  True, Undying Love:  A Twisted Love
Author:  Ms. T. Nicole
Publisher:  Treasured Publications
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"True, Undying Love:  A Twisted Love Story" by Ms. T. Nicole

My Thoughts...

I will say the title says it all "True, Undying Love:  A Twisted Love Story" was definitely one good fast paced urban romance story.    What a dream Lex Jr. was having! The story definitely was given some of that 'Bonnie and Clyde'...featuring Lex and Treasure!  We were given quite a suspenseful intriguing TWISTED read that I couldn't stop reading it until the end and then I was left with that epilogue only wanting more of this story about Lex Jr, Lex III, and Treasure. There are just too many unanswered questions we need answers to! So, yes I would love to see a spin off from this read. This author has done her thing once again and that is leaving her readers wanting more.

Thank you to the author for the gift of your novel for my giving my honest opinion of the read.

No Loyalty in The Hood By Ms. T. Nicole

Book Description....

"The streets of Chicago better known as Chi Raq was once ran by the well-known, most respected, and feared man named Mitch. In a fast lifestyle full of gangs, drugs, women, and money, it usually comes with a six feet grave or life beyond bars. After serving a 15 year bid for a crime he didn’t commit, only one person will continue to reign in these streets. True bonds are put to the ultimate test; but when the streets is no longer showing you the love that you feel you deserve, you understand that everything is for the taking, and death is always just around the corner. Follow Brandon and Cashmier as their bond of brotherhood and loyalty is put through the test of time. Will a new life bring them together, or fuel a burning desire to rage war in Chi Raq?"

Title:  No Loyalty in The Hood
Author:  Ms. T. Nicole
Publisher:  Treasured Publications
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"No Loyalty in The Hood" by Ms. T. Nicole

My Thoughts...

This read will definitely keep your attention as Cashmier and Brandon give us a true ride through it all.  With all of this stories drama, twist and turns the reader will be kept on the edge of their seat because there is so much going on.  I found all of the characters in the read very interesting people with all having a story to be told.

What will happen when best friends turn with one wanting it all by any means necessary.  The question I had was wondering whether  or not Cash was a bit too loyal to his friend? Was Cash too into the 'brotherhood' that had once been shared with Blade that he could see what was happening? What will happen when Cash's daughter Cassidy becomes involved with Deuce?  Not as this point this story is at dangerous point...what will happen?  Oh well, to find out all the answers to these questions and more of that has gone on you will just have to pick up this authors next series  to find out.

Thank you to the author for the gift of your novel for my giving my honest opinion of the read.