Pop Manga Coloring Book: A Surreal Journey Through a Cute, Curious, Bizarre, and Beautiful World By Camilla d'Errico

Book Description....

"Manga artist and Pop Surrealism superstar Camilla d Errico presents her first everadult coloring book, filled with portraits, patterns, and the stunning artwork her fans and collectors have come to love.
This one-of-a-kind book offers you the opportunity tocollaborate with d Errico, adding your colors to her gorgeous black and whitelinework. Featuring everything from haunting and surreal character portraitsto pages filled with patterns and designs all rendered in d Errico sinimitable style, "Pop Manga Coloring Book "is guaranteed toprovide hours of coloring fun and excitement."

Title:  Pop Manga Coloring Book

Author:  Camilla d'Errico

Publisher:  Watson-Guptill

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: 5

Rating:

Review:

"Pop, Manga Coloring Book" by Camilla d'Errico

My Thoughts....

Wow, what a beautiful coloring book in Manga 'black and white' lined work.   If you are looking a coloring book with some 'incredible patterns' you have come to the right place where one can find not only faces but whole images that are simply beautiful detailed. This was definitely a good book showing different coloring techniques when you are painting.   I especially liked the varieties  that are presented in the different themes where I found them all so creative and let me not leave out the 'step by step instructions' on this author's technique.  In the end all I have left to say is that coloring book is full of details where the quality is simply fantastic.  So, get ready to color!

I received this from Bloggingforbooks in exchange for honest review.

COVET: Deceptive Desires (A BWWM New Adult Romance) By: Amarie Avant

Book Description....

"For Jonathan Liam Delacroix Lemaitre, everything revolved around the love of his life: Raven Shaw. But they were too young, too destructive and too clueless.

Raven thought they would always be friends, yet Liam knew a different truth. The son to a vast Legacy, he is shipped off to Paris at a tender age, leaving Raven to fend for herself, full of questions and doubts.

Now, he is back in town and determined to get back in her good graces. Gone is the clumsy, fat boy he once was. In his place stands a man ready to take on the world, with the woman he wants at his side. Raven, on the other hand, can see the new man but still searches for echoes of her friend. Who is this guy that has swept into her life? He was Liam, but he wasn’t HER Liam…. And she wasn’t sure if he ever could be."

Title:  Covet: Deceptive Desires

Author:  Amarie Avant

Publisher:  Blu Savant Press

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating:  Five

Review:  

"Covet:  Deceptive Desires" by Amarie Avant

Definitely a attention Grabber!  

Be ready for a little bit of it all as this author will take you through lots of 'deception, drama 

 hurt, secrets and lies' with all the twist and turns with such  emotions that will keep you on the edge of your seat.  

What will happen to these two young friends .... lovers....Raven and Liam?

And what about those other intriguing characters in this  good read...some you like others

well...still well developed, portrayed and believable giving the reader one

heck of a good read.  It was quite interesting as the readers will be lead to see the 'past and present collide' in this story.  However, we will be left waiting [cliffhanger]for the next series to see how this 

story will all come out.

Meant To Be Mine By: Lisa Marie Perry

Book Description....

"Loving him was hard. Wanting him was so damn easy . . .

Sofia Mercer may have been sick as a teen, but she’s no delicate flower. And she’s proven it by making it on her own and starting a new life away from the town that turned against her, away from the boy who broke her already fragile heart. But when her aunt Luz dies unexpectedly, leaving Sofia with a mountain of regrets and the keys to a quirky boutique, Sofia has no choice but to return to Cape Cod. Only, this new life in her old town comes with complications.

Burke Wolf was Sofia’s first love—a relationship that burned bright and went up in flames. Seeing him again, Sofia can’t help but get caught up in that all-too-familiar tornado of passion and pain. He’s battled his own demons—that much is clear. But Sofia can’t afford to be careless with her heart . . . and loving Burke again might just break it completely."

Title:  Meant To Be Mine

Author:  Lisa Marie Perry

Publisher:  Forever

Series:  Guilty Pleasures # 1

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: Five

Review:

"Meant To Be Mine" by Lisa Marie Perry

This first series of Guilty Pleasures...."Meant To Be Mine" was a wonderful read with its beautiful setting in Eaves, Massachusetts.   The story was a sweet contemporary romance story that featured Sofia Mercer and Burke Wolf who had been childhood friends. I found the story will start with Sofia being at her Aunt Luz's funeral that will take you to the end giving the reader quite a interesting story where there will be a lots of  'secrets of the past, feelings, fears  along  with some self discovery, redemption, forgiveness and love' that will come out.

We find that Eaves wasn't a new place for Sofia for she had grew up there with her parents, Aunt Luz and her friend Burke. However, Sofia a been a sickly child that dealt with heart problems and suddenly she [at 17] and her father had moved leaving Eaves far behind [due to be run out of town].   Now, [at 31] she had lived in NY with her best friend Josie and it was after funeral  Sofia learns that she was her Aunt's beneficiary getting [her Aunt's 'erotic novelty boutique'  & her dog named Tish]and left with a decision to make in what to do .... live in NY or Eaves, Cape Cod?  As the story continues Sofia has come into contact with her old friend Burke but were they still friends after what had happened in the end when she had left Eaves?  This interesting and compelling story really keeps on moving and we learn a lots of what all had happened previously in this emotional story where truly Sofia and Burke had gone through quite a lot in their life as children there in Eaves.  Be ready for a little bit of from laughter and happiness, fighting and even some 'crazy hot sex' that will be all in this captivating read.

This author really knows how to keep the readers attention turning the pages as we will see how
love was so hard for these two people. Feeling the love that Burke had for Sofia was off the chart. Seeing how much he went through ....all of the pain...well I will stop here so I won't spoil it for you. It was indeed a good read of how we see the characters,,,Sofia, Burke along with [Caro, Joss, Bautista] to name a few secondary characters were able to come together and help each other when it was needed, being well portrayed and even believable giving the readers one heck of a good read. Will these two get a new start in life  and love as their second chance comes together with all of its twist and turns after their past?

 You definitely have to pick up this heart warming novel... 'Meant To Be Mine' to see if these two Sofia and Burke will get their HEA?   Would I recommend?

I will be definitely looking forward to reading

 the second book!

This ARC was given by the publisher and NetGallery in exchange for a honest and unbiased review.

The Things We Wish Were True B: Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

Book Description....

"In an idyllic small-town neighborhood, a near tragedy triggers a series of dark revelations.
From the outside, Sycamore Glen, North Carolina, might look like the perfect all-American neighborhood. But behind the white picket fences lies a web of secrets that reach from house to house.
Up and down the streets, neighbors quietly bear the weight of their own pasts—until an accident at the community pool upsets the delicate equilibrium. And when tragic circumstances compel a woman to return to Sycamore Glen after years of self-imposed banishment, the tangle of the neighbors’ intertwined lives begins to unravel.
During the course of a sweltering summer, long-buried secrets are revealed, and the neighbors learn that it’s impossible to really know those closest to us. But is it impossible to love and forgive them?"

Title:  The Things We Wish Were True
Author:  Marybeth Mayhew Whalen
Publisher:  Lake Union Publishing
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"The Things We Wish Were True" by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

My Thoughts....

The small town of  Sycamore Glen, North Carolina was interesting in how this author gives the readers a alternated told stories  that were narrated by a group of characters [with each one with a story of their own to tell] that told a little bit of it all as the reader reads from chapter to chapter and even being told from multiple viewpoints. Was this like  a little bit of  'where everyone knows everyone's business?'

 What was most interesting was as the reader read through  the chapters there would be many 'small town twisted secrets and even some lies' that would seemed to be hidden.   Did it seemed like everyone had some kind of secret? Will these long buried secrets come out?  What about the saying 'The truth will set you free.' The main meeting place during this summer in Sycamore and where one would find the locals  daily at the pool that was being greatly used.  What will happen after there is a tragedy almost occurs?  How will this affect this small community? To find out the answers to many questions the reader will have to pick up this read to see how this author will bring it all out to the reader.   Be ready for a read with a good plot even though somewhat predictable with lots of drama, little mystery and even with a few flawed characters.   Some of the most memorable characters were Cailey, Zell and Lance. Jency, Bryte and Everett with each being well developed, portrayed and even believable.  One of my favorite parts of of the read was when  the 'Miracle tree' and the reason it was given.

I liked how this author brought out the story and by the  end of this read it showed some positive changes, with joys along with 'redemption,'   Also, I liked some of the book club discussions questions at the back of the novel.


This was a Kindle First Pick read for August, 2016.

Dare To Seduce By: Carly Phillips

Book Description....

"Lucy Dare & Max Savage
NY Dare cousins … the hotter Dare books!

Max Savage has had a thing for Lucy Dare for as long as he can remember but he values his long standing friendship with her brothers too much to cross the line. When Lucy shows up at an engagement party on the arms of another man, Max doesn’t like the changes he sees in her.
It’s now or never. Max can think of one way to convince Lucy she’s with the wrong guy. He’ll dare to seduce her …"

Title:  Dare To Seduce

Author:  Carly Phillips

Publisher:  C.P. Publishers

Series:  NY Dares Book 3

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: Five

Review:

"Dare to Seduce" by Carly Phillips

My Thoughts...

I enjoyed this Book 3 of NY Dares...'Dare To Seduce' that featured Lucy Dare and Max Savage's story.  After Max was given the OK from Lucy's brothers[Gabe & Decklan], he didn't lose any time at going after what he had always wanted which was Lucy.  We find from the reads that Max had always had feeling for Lucy but will she feel the same for him? With Lucky having some issues with the 'fear of losing people' and Max having had 'abandonment issues' will these two ever have their HEA?   Indeed this novel was another one of this authors delightful, sexy, steamy hot romantic read.
 Even though this novel is a standalone read 'Dare to Seduce' I would suggest the readers read the first and second books ...'Dare to Surrender' and 'Dare to Submit' to get the whole amazing story about this 'Dare Family.'


 

Dare to Submit By: Carly Phillips

Book Description...

"Decklan Dare knows about the unexpected loss of loved ones and for this reason, he values control in all areas of his life. Amanda Collins enjoys the freedom she finds in casual encounters without the emotional connection a relationship brings. They meet and their physical attraction is mutual but both experience feelings that could run deeper – if they drop their guard and let each other in. Decklan is first to trust, but when he discovers the secret Amanda’s been hiding, will he forgive? Or will he rebuild every wall before she has a chance to explain?"

Title:  Dare To Submit
Author:  Carly Phillips
Publisher:  C.P. Publishing
Series:  NY Dares Book 2
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:

"Dare To Submit" by Carly Phillips

My Thoughts....

Wow what a read of this sexy alpha cop [Decklan]  and curvy and beautiful [Amanda]!  With them meeting at the BDSM club you can only imagine what will happen for these two people. Would you believe they were there at this club because they didn't want any relationships other than to get their needs fulfilled.  However, what will happen when these two spend a night together?  Well, I don't want to spoil it other than say you will have to pick up this novel to see what all comes after this one niter.   How will a secret that comes out affect this relationship?  Yes, this is a BDSM read so be prepared for that in the read.  I loved how this read tied in Decklan's  other family members and friend from book 1.  If you love a hot contemporary romantic read you have come to the right place for "Dare to Submit" featuring Decklan and Amanda will give it all to you.

The Captive Heart By: Michelle Griep

Book Description....

"Proper English governess Eleanor Morgan flees to the colonies to escape the wrath of a an angry duke. When the Charles Town family she’s to work for never arrives to collect her from the dock, she is forced to settle for the only reputable choice remaining to her—marriage to a man she’s never met. Trapper and tracker Samuel Heath is a hardened survivor used to getting his own way by brain or by brawn, and he’s determined to find a mother for his young daughter. But finding a wife proves to be impossible. No upstanding woman wants to marry a murderer."

Title:  The Captive Heart
Author:  Michelle Griep
Publisher:  Barbour Publishing
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"The Captive Heart" by Michelle Griep

My Thoughts.....

What a interesting and captivating frontier read with its setting in 1770's  South Carolina colonies before the Revolutionary War where the settlers had to 'honor the crown or be punished.'  This author really knows how to keep the readers attention with there being so much going on  in this well written story from the very first chapter to the end presenting never a dull moment.  The reader can see that there was a lots of research done in this read as we learn a lots about the 'Cherokee culture.'  Be ready for a little bit of it all from 'much sorrow, redemption to love.'  This heroine Eleanor really had to learn to adapt to it all...even from having a 'marriage of convenience' after she had to flee from England. Truly what she had to go through was simply horrible and to now have to marry someone she knew nothing about due to survival.  Now, the hero Samuel was a 'backwoodsman, a trapper, half Native American' and I found it so interesting how this author brings this all out to the heroine who had no idea who he was other than being told that he was a murderer.  Now, what was up with all of that?  I won't give it away other than to say you will have to pick up the good read and see how well this author will present it all to the reader.  It is one amazing plot that I did enjoy reading.  If I had any thing I didn't care for was that the heroine at times got on  my last nerve because she didn't care to take instruction especially from her husband which did make life somewhat hard at the time.  I found the characters were well developed, well portrayed and believable giving the reader a good story with heartache, emotions, even some romantic tension and less not  leave out all the danger that seemed to be all around every corner.  I did also enjoy how this author presented the christian aspect that was presented with the many prayers that went up by the heroine and hero. After all the misunderstands that will do on will these two finally get their HEA?  Well, you will have to pick up this read to see.

So, if you are looking for a good historical fiction read with lots of adventure then I would definitely recommend "The Captive Heart' to you as a good read.


I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.