The Last Dance By: Kierney Scott

Book Description...

"American-born prima ballerina Georgina Fairley made a mistake that could destroy her. Now, saving her career means selling her soul to the Russian government. A spy who uses her body to lure men and secure their secrets, Georgina is tasked with seducing Roman Zakharov, the most dangerous oligarch in Russia.

Roman Zakharov a man with a past as ugly as his disfigured face. An assassination attempt left him horribly burned, but the scars go deeper than the frightening exterior. Jaded and cruel, he lets pots Georgina into his world but only to punish her and teach the pretty dancer that no one crosses Roman Zakharov. He will show her what it means to be used. And he will teach her to beg.

And in the end, they may teach each other to love..."

Title:  The Last Dance

Author:  Kierney Scott

Publisher:  Loose ID

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: Five

Review:

"The Last Dance" by Kierney Scott

My Thoughts....

This was definitely one of those romantic suspenseful reads that you will not want to put down until the very end.  In the end the reader gets a well written story that will put a smile on your face and saying well done to the author.  The two main characters Georgina and Roman were some very interesting characters in this hot and steamy erotic tale.  How Georgina gets mixed up with Roman was truly one story all by itself.  Who knew that there would be such a attraction between these two people. Even after everything seems to come to out just who Georgina was and all of her involvement with Pavel and being a spy, would Roman like this heroine even though there was much  doubt in his mind that he had about Georgina?  Will Georgina be able to carry through her assignment in seducing Roman? As the story continues on from the read one will soon find out that things don't go according to the plans that had been set out.  Why was that?  I will say this will be interesting in how this author presents to the reader quite a intriguing good read.  Will Roman turn out to be a good guy in the end? By the end of this story you have a good story of apprehension, a dark pass, deception, desire,    and less not forget to mention the erotic romance.   Well, I will stop here and just say you will have to pick up this good read to find out how this story will turn out.  Since it seems like Georgina is doing all she can do in order to survive  will she be able to do so without Roman?  I will definitely say that Roman was quite some hero of a character!

Waiting For Rio By Marie Cole

Book Description...

"Rio Levant growing up had a normal loving family. But one fateful night his mother was killed and the life he knew was gone. His father committed an unforgivable act and Rio blames himself for the outcome. Now, a recovering alcoholic, Rio is still struggling to piece himself back together. Nothing and no one has been able to help him.

Until her.

Growing up, Stacy Hammond was taught that the best way to survive was to latch onto a man and hope he never let you go. Stacy is determined not to follow in her mama's footsteps and is committed to making a life for herself without a man by her side. But a drunken one-night stand pushes Stacy towards a man who she never would have picked out for anything other than his hot body and his bad boy attitude. He seems like the wrong choice but she can't seem to get enough of him.

Rio and Stacy are going to find out that sometimes what you believe is completely and totally wrong."

Title:  Waiting For Rio

Author:  Marie Cole

Publisher: M.C.

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: Four

Review:

"Waiting For Rio" by Marie Cole

My Thoughts...

Yes, I will agree with this title ...as it seemed like Stacy was 'Waiting For Rio' especially after what she had with her previous relationship with Chance. This was a sweet romance about how two people finally comes together in the end.  I thought the story was rather predictable but still one that would keep you turning the pages to see how this relationship will go. I like how this author brings in the secondary characters that kept this read interesting and moving right along at a good pace. Be ready for a story will lots of drama in this seductive tale.  One thing I felt this story lacked was communication between the two main characters.  Will Stacy be able to make her goal of graduating and getting a good job in order to help take care of her mom and will Rio be able to face his past and insecurities in order to finally move on with his life after what had happened to him during his childhood?  Will Stacy and Rion finally get their HEA in the end? Well, you will just have to pick up this good read to see for yourself how well this author brings it all out to the reader.

Ashes By Steven Manchester

Book Description....

"Middle-aged brothers Jason and Tom Prendergast thought they were completely done with each other. Perceived betrayal had burned the bridge between them, tossing them into the icy river of estrangement. But life – and death – has a robust sense of irony, and when they learn that their cruel father has died and made his final request that they travel together across the country to spread his ashes, they have no choice but to spend a long, long car trip in each other's company. It's either that or lose out on the contents of the envelope he's left with his lawyer. The trip will be as gut-wrenching as each expects it to be . . . and revealing in ways neither of them is prepared for.

At turns humorous, biting, poignant, and surprisingly tender, ASHES puts a new spin on family and dysfunction with a story that is at once fresh and timelessly universal."

Title:  Ashes

Author:  Steven Manchester

Publisher:  Story Plant

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: Five

Review:

"Ashes" by Steven Manchester

My Thoughts...

'Ashes' was quite some story about two brother Tom and Jason Prendergast. These two brothers
hadn't been together for many years [15]mainly due to their hateful abusive father and now he was dead and had requested them  to make a drive together to Seattle in order to take and spread  his ashes.  Now, they had to do this in order to get the 'contents of a sealed envelope their father had lift with his lawyer.'   At this point I wondered why it was so important to get this envelope especially since the way their father had mistreated them so horribly while growing up. What in the world world would this man be leaving them that was worth this trip?  What turns out to be a trip from hell also turns out to to be so much more as these two brothers travel together to Seattle.  What these two brothers find out during this trip will truly have you shaking your head and saying how more crueler could this father have been!  Wow! I don't want to spoil it for you the reader other than saying this is one well written story to pick up and read. I enjoyed how this author was able to give the reader a little humor and even some tears in the midst of what all was going on in this read.   In the end will these two brothers be able to get over the abuse they both suffered during their dysfunctional childhood and now they were both parents how has this affected their present life?  I liked how this author puts the storyline together with answering all the questions....to how will this trip end?  Along the trip who all did they come in contact with?  Was this trip with getting that 'envelope' left from their father? What happens in Tom and Jason's 'brotherly relationship' after this trip?  All of these questions and so much more will be answered fully in this excellent read.

So, be ready for a very tensed, emotional journey, sentimental, a travel across country, little mystery and even some humor  as "Ashes" will bring it all to you front and center all the way to the very end. Would I recommend? YES!    

Daily Wisdom: That Small Still Voice By: James V. Daniels

Book Description....

"Read this book and be blessed. Learn how to be happy, cheerful, and at peace with yourself and others. Learn that being happy is a choice that we all have. Learn how to keep your peace and be happy with the everyday challenges of life. Daily Wisdom is a book of true life experiences, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of God's love for us and how he wants us to be happy here on earth."

Title:  Daily Wisdom:  That Small Still Voice
Author:  James V. Daniels
Publisher:  J.V.D.
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Daily Wisdom:  That Small Still Voice" by James V. Daniels

My Thoughts....

What a wonderful Christian novel that is for anyone to read and understand. The one thing that I enjoyed reading was in putting God first in your life and listening to Him and from that I know that in the end everything will work out alright. I love the all the chapters for the deal so well with our daily lives.  I think one of my favorite ones was from chapter 9 and that was 'Smile and Laugh as Much as Possible'  and not letting your happiness go out the window! This one definitely is needed in our world today!  I also loved the scriptures that were featured that went right along with the subject matter.

This novel is truly a 'personal guide' for one to be able to live a Christian life each and everyday.
If you are looking for a inspirational read that gives you 'Daily Wisdom' as this read gives one
purpose for being able to walk in the spirit of it each and every day.

'Daily Wisdom' was definitely a read written from the heart and I would  recommend this novel to you as a excellent read.  It is a easy short read that will find yourself re reading, studying it again and again giving you many thoughts long after the read.  Would I recommend this wonderful read? YES!

Really Bad Girls of the Bible By: Liz Curtis Higgs

Book Description...

"When it Comes to Badness, There's Nothing New Under the Sun

In her best-selling book Bad Girls of the Bible, Liz Curtis Higgs breathed new life into ancient stories depicting eight of the most infamous women in scriptural history, from Jezebel to Delilah. Biblically sound and cutting-edge fresh, Bad Girls already has helped thousands of women experience God's grace anew by learning more about our nefarious sisters.

And there are more where they came from! With Really Bad Girls of the Bible, Liz reveals the power of God's sovereignty in the lives of other shady ladies we know by reputation but have rarely studied in depth: Bathsheba, the bathing beauty. Jael, the tent-peg-toting warrior princess. Herodias, the horrible beheader. Tamar, the widow and not-so-timid temptress. Athaliah, the deadly daughter of Jezebel. And three ancient women whose names we do not know but who have much to teach us: the ashamed Adulteress, the bewitching Medium of En Dor, and the desperate Bleeding Woman.

The eye-opening stories of these eight "Really Bad" women demonstrate one really life-changing concept: the sovereign power of God to rule our hearts and our lives with grace, compassion, and hope."

Title:  Really Bad Girls of the Bible

Author:  Liz Curtis Higgs

Publisher:  WaterBrook

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating:  Five

Review:

"Really Bad Girls of the Bible" by Liz Curtis Higgs

My Thoughts....

I loved this author's goal of writing this book..."My goal is simple: to help women embrace the grace of God with joy and abandon!" and I think she did a wonderful job at it. I will say I was able to learn

from the read. Some of these characters I hadn't read about and it was quite interesting reading about

them in the modern day version.  I was definitely found opening up my Bible to read about these 'bad girls' and definitely looking at their stories quite differently seeing how God pulled them through it all.  

It was quite interesting in seeing so many of these traits that were portrayed by these 'bad girls' can be found in us today. Wow, some things just don't change!  This author does a wonderful job at relating the 'Biblical archetypes to the what is going on now,' giving us some 'humor, empathy and intellect.'  

There is also discussion questions and study guide for ones personal use or for your a study groups that are included.  

If you are looking for a informative and interesting read about 'Really Bad Girls of the Bible'  I would recommend read to you as a good read.  

I received this book from Blogging for Books to read and review. 

What Doesn't Kill Us By: Stephanie Henry

Book Description.....

"In What Doesn’t Kill Us, we follow two teenagers in alternating point-of-views as they experience life-changing events. Drew is the son of a cop, raised in a small house on his dad’s average salary. His mother ran off when he was just a boy, due to a tragic accident that will forever define Drew’s life. Hailey is from a wealthy family and has a seemingly perfect life, until she learns of the secret her father has been keeping for years. Subsequently, her peaceful reality becomes morphed into something she never could have predicted. When Drew and Hailey meet, they quickly fall in love and ultimately discover that fate had meant for their lives to be perpetually entwined."

Title:  What Doesn't Kill Us
Author:  Stephanie Henry
Publisher:  S.H.
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"What Doesn't Kill Us" by Stephanie Henry

My Thoughts....

This  YA romance storyline was a very good one.  This author gives the reader quite a interesting story about Andrew [Drew] and Hailey.  I liked how this author brought these two together with them both having had something in their lives that was troubling. For each one the trouble was
with their fathers.  The story will be one that will keep your attention all the way through to the end
because each character had something going on.  For Drew all I can say is that this poor kid really
had it bad with what he had to endure from that father [abuse & pain] and for Hailey well it seems like her life was falling apart with what all had happened to her relationship with her father.  I don't want to spoil it so I will say you will have to pick up this well written read to find out what this story is all about.  The big question to be answered is will Hailey and Drew find love and happiness in the end?

I am sure when you get into the read the reader will find it one good read.  I don't want to leave out the secondary character for they really presented some very interesting thoughts that gave this read
one you will not want to put the read down until the end.  Be prepared for a excellent read with many twist and turns that will have you saying I didn't see that coming!  I will say I enjoyed this authors writing style and I would recommend this novel as a good read.

What I'd Do For Love By: K. F. Johnson

Book Description....

"A woman scorned is a dangerous woman. Greer Patterson always felt like an outsider. Loathed by her step mother and half siblings for being the green eyed, fair skinned product of her black father's affair with a white woman; she's never truly felt loved by anyone except her father and husband Michael.
When Greer's life as she knows it comes crashing down after discovering her husband's torrid affair, she decides to take matters into her own bloody hands. Soon, after sending Michael to his untimely death and framing his mistress, she begins feeling something she's never felt before...powerful. Now, with a new found confidence and the freedom, if she can stay out of jail, she's determined to stop anything and anyone from standing in the way of true love again!"

Title:  What I'd Do For Love

Author:  K. F. Johnson

Publisher:  One Ironwoman

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: Five

Review:

"What I'd Do For Love" by K. F. Johnson

My Thoughts.....

Truly Geer Patterson was one women who one didn't mess with.  Now why was that?  One may not
be long on this earth as it was for Geer's husband Michael.  It seems like all of Geer's life after the
death of her mother she hasn't had a good life definitely bringing on many dramatic unresolved issues.  It seems like it all starts with her father bringing her to his home with his present wife and children and presenting her as the daughter he had by a 'white women.' Now, will he be able to protect her?   The stepmother and her children seems to hate her and it seems like Geer's life was simply horrible living with these people.  Will Geer ever have the life she wants after marrying Michael who she thought loved her. For a minute Geer thought she had it all well in her life but, this is when all hell breaks loose when Geer [the scorned woman] learns about her husband Michael's infidelity and from here all the way to the end this author gives the reader one story  that will keep you turning the pages to the end.  What all will Geer do when she finds out that not only her husband had a problem but also her father who she thought had love her unconditionally?  This will be quite some read when she finds out about her father and so much more!  I don't want to spoil to much more about this read other than say this was one exceptional written story that will have you shaking your head by the time you get to the end of this suspenseful read. Many questions will be asked...  Will Geer get the love she wanted now that she had a new beau in her life?  Will she be able to give up to her old life to get on with her life after all she had done by the end of this read?   Yes, I will admit that Geer was 'certified crazy' that needed some help...but will she get the help before it's too late?  Again this is where I say you will have to pick up this good read to find out. Truly the title say it all..."What I'd Do For Love" left me saying wow..between a husband, a sex friend, a boyfriend and a father what a ending! This was definitely a read about what happens when a woman is scorned and she can't seem to find her way.   If you are looking for a well written read with intriguing drama, some mystery/suspense with a little romance then you have come to the right place for this novel will give it all to you and much more.  Would I recommend?  Yes!