Twinsie Talk Book Reviews

Before you start, grab your tissues and get ready for a rollercoaster of all the feels! First, you must read the novella, Feel Me Break. Unexpectedly, Nick saves Chloe by being in the right place at the right time. Neither of them could stop thinking about each other and out of nowhere they see each other again. Fate? Maybe. But a lot happens to each of them since that one meeting that changed their lives forever. “Disappointments, crushed hopes, regrets, guilt, loneliness…” Two years is a long time…Chloe has to go back to the one place she has been trying to stay away from…Home. Then they meet each other again! This is where things get messy. Both have lots of secrets. Many things that they don’t think they can get any help with. Both are punishing themselves for events that were out of their control. Slowly their lives unravel and the undeniable attraction cannot keep them apart.

“Everything I wanted was within my reach but instead of reaching for the stars, I got burnt by the sun and came crashing down.”

“It’s like the brightness of a kaleidoscope surging, the lightness in the bones when soaring high in the sky, the warmth of the first ray of sun that kisses your skin, a swelling symphony that can mend broken hearts. A feeling that’s giddy, complete , baffling and aware, thrilling and comforting ; a kind of love that soaks deep inside your bones, and lights fire to your soul and you feel it inside and outside you all the time.”

I have to be honest, I don’t usually go for this type of story but it is one of my favorites of all time. There are so many different things going on in the story. A lot of it hit home for me and made it all the more real and touching. These two are a definate must read. But take my advice and be ready for the feels because you are going to experience it all!

Tara lives in the lovely city of Toronto. An engineer during the day, she moonlights as a writer. Her favourite genres are romance, mystery and fantasy. She has been writing since she was 7 and her first story was about a spaceship (BIG Star Trek fan here).

When not working or writing, she catches up on her favourite shows on Netflix and spends time with family and friends.

Coming of Age, NA, Part of a Series, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA

#WOTR #Review Girl Departs Three, Part One (Spoken For) by Suzie T Roos

September 7, 2016 Kelly S Leave a comment

Zach and his family made it impossible for Tatum to be his girlfriend. Nigel made it oh-so-easy for Tate to move on. But the shock of seeing Zach again, of finally meeting his mobster family, and even coming face to face with his fiancé, convinced Tatum more than ever that Nigel was the one for her.

Tatum knows Zach still dreams of one day sharing his life with her, but Nigel offers her his life now – no dreaming necessary. And while Zach spends a month entertaining the fiancé that has been forced upon him by his family, why shouldn’t Tatum take her relationship with Nigel to the next level?

When Nigel betrays Tatum, her heart is broken. What once was clear becomes dark. She finds herself by Zach’s side yet again, needing him in a way she never imagined.

Zach or Nigel?

The decision isn’t easy because Tatum has learned the hard way—

Choices last a moment. Consequences last forever.

OMG! I don’t have words right now! Sooooo….In Girl Divided the author leaves us with a huge cliffhanger and this picks up exactly where the other ended. Perfect! So I pick up the book and am immediately engrossed by the story and BOOM! Chaos! Tatum is confronted by Zach and is more or less forced to go to a family dinner with his “fiance” who is a real… you know what. Tatum is trying to keep Zach at bay and convince herself that Nigel is the safe and best choice. Well, that is until we find out what Nigel has been hiding. Our perfect Nigel is not so perfect. Naturally, Zach is there to help Tatum when one thing leads to another and she and Zach are back together. Officially unofficial. Soon enough everything seems to be going the way it should and another curveball is thrown. Whew! Then things just keep hopping at this point. I have no way to tell you about this story other than to tell you to go read this, and now! If I tell you anything more about it then I will give it all away. Again, Tatum is playing with FIRE! HOT FIRE! Then the end happens and smacks you in the face! Suzie T Roos has absolutely captivated me. You have my attention and yes, I am on pins and needles waiting for part two. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!!!!

Suzie T. Roos is from, and has settled in, St. Louis with her husband, two children and a number of foster pets at any given time.

She and her husband have lived everywhere from Philadelphia, PA to out West in Santa Monica, Ca. They’re thankful they could expose their children to different American lifestyles and cultures.

Besides writing, Suzie’s hobbies include movies, traveling, and especially concert going with her husband and friends.

She’s always been an animal lover and animal rights advocate. She is certified by FEMA in IS-00011.a Animal in Disasters: Community Planning. She’s also an active volunteer at the Humane Society of Missouri.

NA, Part of a Series, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA

#WOTR #Review Girl Divided Two (Spoken For 2) by Suzie T. Roos

September 5, 2016 Kelly S Leave a comment

Life was supposed to get easier…

At least that’s what Tatum had hoped. New school year, great boyfriend…and things with her and Zach were supposed to be wonderful. Fairy tale wonderful.

They aren’t.

Zach’s overbearing family controls his every move—and worse, they want to control Tatum.

Now Zach is pressuring her to ‘speak for him’, which means she’ll not only be committed to him but also his mob family. Where’s the guy she fell in love with? To make matters worse, her friends introduce her to Nigel, the new guy who is more tempting than Tatum wishes.

So which will Tatum give in to…coercion or temptation?

5 stars from this girl! What is a girl to do when she has an overbearing jock ex (absolute horrible person), an Italian mobster boyfriend, and a hot Brit that all want you, one way or another? Tatum is living every girls nightmare of a dream. In this installment we continue Tate’s crazy life. She is being pressured to “speak for” Zach from his family. All Tate wants is to be with Zach but she feels like she will belong to the mob if she does “speak for” Zach. When push comes to shove they are torn apart by unfortunate circumstances. Tate meets Nigel. Oh Nigel *sigh* the hot Brit that gives Tatum a crazy case of the butterflies. She decides to move on and give things a try with Nigel but things continue to get crazy. Kyle is back and is as crazy as ever. Zach is in Italy and desperately trying to get back to Tatum. And Tatum, she is falling for Nigel. Secrets continue to surface and Tate is right back in the middle of trying to figure out what is right for her. Tate can be rather naive but what girl isn’t somewhat naive in high school? You have to fight for what you love and want but Tatum is playing with fire. The author leaves you with a huge cliffhanger so be ready because I finished this and immediately started the next. Oh yeah….I am hooked!

Suzie T. Roos is from, and has settled in, St. Louis with her husband, two children and a number of foster pets at any given time.

She and her husband have lived everywhere from Philadelphia, PA to out West in Santa Monica, Ca. They’re thankful they could expose their children to different American lifestyles and cultures.

Besides writing, Suzie’s hobbies include movies, traveling, and especially concert going with her husband and friends.

Fantasy Romance, Paranormal, Part of a Series

#Review – Forever at Midnight (The Cynn Cruor Bloodline #2) by Isobelle Cate

August 23, 2016 Kelly S Leave a comment

Picking up where Book 1, Rapture at Midnight, left off – Book 2 in “The Cynn Cruor Bloodline Series”

When Roarke catches a glimpse of Deanna in Dac Valerian’s club, he searches for her in the streets of Manchester just to prove that he hasn’t lost his mind. He is unable to believe Deanna is alive when he’d buried her himself nearly five hundred years before. But when Deanna turns up on the street facing the Cynn Cruor’s headquarters, Roarke needs to know why she’s hid herself from him all these years.

Knowing her secret can only destroy whatever feelings Roarke has left for her, Deanna remains silent until circumstances force her to reveal everything.

Hearts are broken on both sides, but Roarke and Deanna have to work together if they are to find a way of ending Dac and the Scatha Cruor’s power once and for all.

Desire rises and passions are rekindled.

Will their pursuit of Dac lead to another chance at happiness?

Or will it forever tear them apart?

*Warning: Contains explicit content and graphic details. 18+ Audience

Love Deanna’s and Roarke’s story! Get your tissues and prepare for the emotional rollercoaster ride. The history between these two is jaw dropping. Deanna and Roarke have mated, they belong to each other, forever and ever. But, is forever a myth? Roarke lost Deanna when the Scatha destroyed his fastean. She died. He buried her. She was lost forever. He was to live his immortal life alone. He sees her one night and thinks his mind is playing tricks on him. But little did he know that she is alive and has been looking for him. They are once again in each other’s life and sparks fly! And these scenes are hot, Hot, HOT! But the past and the future threaten to keep them apart. Dac Valerian is still at it as evil as ever trafficking women and children. Deanna has seen this first hand and she along with the Cynn Cruor go after him to stop him. This is a beautiful story of incredible heartbreak but also amazing love.

He once thought he would remain adrift forever, but she was his anchor, his safe haven. She was his strength and the love his eternal soul had searched for.

You can’t help but to feel the love and despair within this story. Roarke’s fastean brothers come together but then split again. There are so many other stories that are about to come to light. I’m loving the Cynn Cruor series!

Isobelle Cate is a woman who wears different masks. Mother-writer, wife-professional, scholar-novelist. Currently living in Manchester, she has been drawn to the little known, the secret stories, about the people and the nations: the English, the Irish, the Scots, the Welsh, and those who are now part of these nations whatever their origins. Her vision and passion are fuelled by her interest and background in history and paradoxically, shaped by growing up in a clan steeped in lore, loyalty, and legend.

Isobelle is intrigued by forces that simmer beneath the surface of these cultures, the hidden passions, unsaid desires, and yearnings unfulfilled.

Fantasy Romance, Part of a Series, Sci Fi, Suspense, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR #REVIEW – His Precious Cargo (The Heart Nebula Series, #1) by Ava Cuvay

August 22, 2016 Kelly S 1 Comment

One illicit lap dance becomes a flight for their lives.

A stripper with dreams of being a princess.

An intergalactic thief with a freighter of stolen cargo.

At the outskirts of space and away from the rigid control of Central Command, Granger entices Kaedi to break her strict no-lap dace polity. The repercussions force her to pack up and hitch a ride off-world in the same freighter he has hired. They discover a passion hotter than a super nova, but their plans are shattered by the untimely death of the ship’s captain and the duplicity of the co-pilot.

The two lovers crash headlong into the clutches of Granger’s best-friend-turned-torture-happy-enemy. When Granger’s heritage is revealed, Kaedi relinquishes the pleasure she finds in his arms, believing herself unworthy. Granger chases after her, determined to convince her she is more precious to him than stolen cargo.

Oh my stars and planets! A stripper and an intergalactic thief! What more could you ask for?! This book was exciting from beginning to end. It grabs your attention and holds you right to the very end and leaves you wanting….no, needing more. Right from jump the author puts you in a seedy type of strip club with all types of characters. Granger is the intergalactic thief and he has hired Dex, a shady pilot, to get him off of the rock they are on. He runs into Kaedi, our dominant exotic dancer, and he cannot get her out of his mind. Kaedi decides at the last minute she is going to hitch a ride with the guys but they run into all sorts of trouble with Central Command. They lose their pilot and lots of cargo. Only to have to deal with ships tailing them and some not so savory back stabbers. Kaedi and Granger grow instantly close. They cannot keep to themselves and it’s not about number one anymore….its about them together. Absolutely action packed with crazy ship chases, crashes, and very hot scenes between these two! Just wow! This is my first book by Ava Cuvay and will absolutely not be the last. This is one of my new favorites!!!

Ava Cuvay writes out of this world romance featuring sassy heroines, often-alien-but-always-sexy heroes, and an alcoholic beverage or two… Set in a galaxy far, far away. Think “Star Wars” meets “Firefly”, without Jar-Jar Binks, and with a lot more heat.

She resides in central Indiana with a hubby who makes her laugh and kiddos who are growing up way too quickly. She enjoys the world of wine and spirits, amusement park thrill rides, and laughing at her own foibles (yeah, she laughs a lot).

She believes life is too short to surround yourself with negative people, and Han Solo shot first. When not writing, Ava is thinking about writing. Or wine. And she’s always thinking about bacon.

Coming of Age, Part of a Series, Suspense, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA

#WOTR #Review – Girl Spoken For by Suzie T. Roos

August 18, 2016 Kelly S Leave a comment

What’s the point of making a New Year’s resolution when weeks later your life goes to the toilet anyway?

Sixteen-year-old Tatum Duncan’s life has turned upside down. Her best friend and grandmother has died, her mother is threatening to send her to an all-girls school for defending herself against a bully, and her abusive boyfriend nearly kills hers. 1989 isn’t turning out to be her year.

But just when it seems like all is lost, Tatum is saved by Zach Bertano, her longtime friend and secret crush. Her dormant attraction to him surfaces with his persistent attention. As her love for Zach grows, she comes to learn that he too has skeletons, and his issues could affect Tatum’s life in ways she never imagined.

Zach’s overlooked her baggage—can she overlook his?

I have Spoken For this story! This is a mixture between YA with some scenes that could move it into the NA category. I absolutely love that this is set in 1989. So refreshing! Tatum is a sophomore in high school and has just lost her best friend, her grandmother. She has always embraced being different and being her own person. She ends up with Kyle, the super hot jock. She then thinks that everything is great and how she is so lucky that he wants her. Tatum is extremely naive and keeps trying to give Kyle the benefit of the doubt when he gets extremely possessive and abusive. She is put in a situation that is life altering. This is where things get really emotionally unstable. She feels that she cannot go to anyone. Zach (the other super hot, dark and mysterious guy) knows something is going on but cannot resist being Tatum’s knight in shining armor….or mobster in black. So many conflicting emotions and crazy secrets start surfacing. Gauntlets are thrown. And Tatum always ends up in the middle. The characters in the story are well written, extremely relateable, and easy to fall in love with. In the end Tatum does get what she wants but it may be at an incredible price. I have to say that I picked this book up because of the cover. It’s absolutely gorgeous! The perk is that the story is even better. I could not put this down. I am looking forward to the rest of the series.

Suzie T. Roos is from, and has settled in, St. Louis with her husband, two children and a number of foster pets at any given time.

She and her husband have lived everywhere from Philadelphia, PA to out West in Santa Monica, Ca. They’re thankful they could expose their children to different American lifestyles and cultures.

Besides writing, Suzie’s hobbies include movies, traveling, and especially concert going with her husband and friends.

Erotica, Paranormal, Part of a Series, Uncategorized

#Review – Rapture at Midnight (The Cynn Cruor Bloodline #1) by Isobelle Cate

August 5, 2016 Kelly S Leave a comment

Book 1 in The Cynn Cruor Bloodline Series

There is an on-going war between two breeds of immortal warriors who carry human, vampire, and werewolf blood, the Cynn Cruor and the Scatha Cruor. The Cynn Cruor wants to live in harmony with the human race. The Scatha Cruor wants to enslave them. Finn Qualtrough, a Cynn Cruor warrior is on a mission to find Dac Valerian, the leader of the Scatha Cruor responsible for the deaths of many, including his parents. When he pursues three Scatha warriors who can lead him to Dac, he happens upon a woman who awakens a desire within Quinn to claim her as his own.

She is the very essence of his immortal life.

Eirene Spence is an insomniac and a computer genius who loves walking in the park at midnight. She stumbles upon the Scatha Cruor and is almost killed until a handsome stranger rescues her. His touch ignites a hunger inside her that only he can satisfy.

He is her soul.

By some twist of fate, one of Eirene’s clients is Dac Valerian. She is able to tell Finn and the rest of the Cynn Cruor where Dac is hiding. Now Dac wants her dead.

Will Finn be able to keep Eirene alive and at the same time fulfill his mission? Will Eirene’s wish to be part of Finn’s life come true knowing that he is destined for someone else?

*Warning: intended for mature audiences 18+

What a twist of fate! The author has taken vampires and werewolves and put a new spin on them. This is not your ordinary paranormal story we are all used to. The Cynn Cruors are a species that was made using the best attributes of vampires and werewolves. Finn is one of the Cynn and has lost his parents at a young age. He is working with others to try and stop this war with the Scatha Cruors. Many years pass by and he is on the hunt for the Scatha in the middle of the night. The Scatha have their sights set on Eirene who is walking through the park by herself in the middle of the night. Finn jumps in and saves her life. And here go the fireworks! They are pulled to each other with an intense connection. One that neither of them can deny. What they don’t know is they both have a connection with the Scatha that tried to kill her. With her extraordinary computer skills and Finn’s Vampire/Werewolf blood they go on the hunt.

The streetlights cast shadows everywhere, but Eirene wasn’t afraid. There was something about the dark which beckoned to her and soothed her soul. It didn’t frighten her. It was as if the night knew she felt at home in it and welcomed her without question.

The author has this story jam packed with action and plenty of hot scenes to keep you wanting more. Ms. Cate does a great job of giving you a backdrop that you can picture perfectly in your head as well as making sure the characters all work together. You will feel like you are right in the middle of the story. This is the first book by Ms. Cate that I have read and it will not be the last.

Isobelle is intrigued by forces that simmer beneath the surface of these cultures, the hidden passions, unsaid desires, and yearnings unfulfilled.

NA, New Release, Part of a Serial, YA

#Review – Sweet & Sour (Skylar Wolfe Mysteries Book 5) by Mariana Thorn

August 4, 2016 Kelly S Leave a comment

Skylar Wolfe is at it again, and this time, her favorite fried rice is on the line!

When the owner of her favorite Chinese food restaurant goes missing, Skylar takes the case. And even though she’s come down with the plague or something, nothing will stop her from getting to the bottom of the bowl, not even Aiden and the new woman in his life.

Sometimes a girl’s just gotta hold her head up high and show the boys how it’s done, even when covered in swamp muck!

Yes! More Skylar!!!! Skylar’s last adventure has left her stunned. She has been having nightmares and is having a hard time coping. But of course she won’t let anyone in on this. Now, she is sick. As if she wasn’t irritable before, she is now. Who doesn’t love Skylar when she is a little irritated. She finds out that the owner of her favorite Chinese restaurant is missing. She is freaking out because she has no clue where she is going to get her fried rice now. What a fiasco! Sick Skylar, no fried rice, and Aiden is being nice! Whatever is she going to do?!

Skylar is one of my favorite serials. Super snarky…sweet and sour, lol! Always. If you need a fun, fast read that will put a smile on your face, this is it! Keep it up Mariana Thorn! Skylar is the bomb!

If you look in the local coffee shop or bookstore you might just find Mariana Thorn. She can usually be found with headphones in and deep into the worlds she has created. There is this thing about her pens if you touch them you might receive a smack to the hand and the well-known glare of destruction.

As a child all her stories involved horses, horses and more horses. There might have been a slight obsession. Writing became more serious in her early twenties but she never dreamed of publishing until much later. Mariana participates yearly in the international event called NANOWRIMO. She has even been known as a Municipal Liaison for that crazy event. There is nothing like the feeling of encouraging other writers, she would say.

Outside of writing one of her favorite places to sit and read are the sunny beaches of Florida. At home in Washington State her favorite activity is riding horses up on the mountain trails. She has an awesome group of family and friends that keep her in coffee and encouragement. Then there is her best buddy Tony, her little dog. She suspects he will try and take over the world someday.

Fantasy Romance, NA, Paranormal, Suspense, WOTR Event

#Review – #WOTR – Banished by Elissa Daye

August 3, 2016 Kelly S Leave a comment

My time here on this world was embittered from the start. As a carrier, I had very little choice in the matter. The demon inside had been planted long before I even had a voice. From the very minute my first breath entered my body, she was coiled inside like a venomous snake. The Brotherhood wanted to control me, to keep their demon Gladius inside a host that they could groom from birth, but as soon as my mother caught on, she ripped me away from their evil clutches and kept me hidden from their reach. Under her tutelage, I had learned how to keep the monster at bay.

In the darkest night, my life had spiraled to a meaningless end as my time as a mortal subsided, for I had fallen under a spell woven by the vampire Demetrius. After draining me to the brink, he tossed me aside and left me to die with the first morning light. My propensity for survival he had not calculated.

Now, I was left with a single purpose, destroy the man who had obliterated the calm control I had kept over my life, over the monster that slithered beneath.

This has it all! Demons, monsters, evil incarnate, vampires, cults, witches….I could go on and on. Grace is not your normal everday girl. She was born into a world where things go bump in the night. She was born to bear a demon in her body and soul. The only thing is she was raised to be able to keep the demon at bay. She works and tries to stay off the radar to keep away from The Brotherhood. Their only mission is to bring Gladius, the demon inside of Grace, to the surface. She is enamoured by Demetrius and lets her guard down. He turns her to a vampire and leaves her to die. She is found by the Night Order who want to enlist her help to keep demons and vampires at bay. She is brought into a new world and is no longer on her own. She is with other vampires and mortals who want to help her rid the demon inside. Of course there is a love story here. She has been on her own for so long that receiving help from anyone and having any luck in gaining her trust has been incredibly difficult. She has things she must do to keep her sanity an one is going after the man that did this to her and to rid the demon.

Pity was for the weak, and that was something I never considered myself. I had been a fighter most of my life. From the time I was a child, I had learned that the world would never make it easy for me. I had to push against the machine if I wanted to survive, and I had pushed so hard that I carried battle scars, some visible, but many more that were not.

From the moment I was born, life was a series of missteps in directions that twisted and curled into roads where the streetlamps never seemed to work. Darkness had followed me like a harbinger, circiling around until I had no other recourse but to embrace the path that was paved in front of me.

The story has great characters with so many different personalities. I absolutely love paranormal and this has a great twist on something that can seem so overdone. Grace’s struggle is real and you feel it to the core. It is a fast paced read with lots of action and some hot scenes. A must read!

Ever since childhood, I have enjoyed reading stories as an escape from life. When I was a teenager I started to write my own stories that kept me entertained whenever I ran out of books to read. When I was accepted into Illinois Summer School for the Arts in my Junior year of High School, I knew I wanted to become a writer. I graduated from Illinois State University in December 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and began my teaching career, hoping to find moments to write in my free time.

After seven years of teaching, I decided to focus on my writing and made the decision to put my teaching years behind me so that I could create the stories I had always dreamed of. I am now happily married and a stay at home mom. I try my best to master the art of multitasking to get everything accomplished and write in any spare moment I can find.

Fantasy, New Release, Part of a Trilogy

#Review – #Ren – Ren: The Monster Inside the Monster (Ren Series #3) by Sarah Noffke

August 1, 2016 Kelly S Leave a comment

Ren Lewis, who has faced every danger known to man, is about to meet a challenge he’s convinced has the power to undo him. When he discovers that his daughter, Adelaide, has been hiding a pregnancy he goes into hiding himself. Having a daughter was one catastrophe he struggled with. But now, being expected to welcome her baby into his home is not something Ren knows how to assimilate into his life. With a new ferocity he throws himself into his work in order to avoid family responsibility. And there’s enough work to keep him occupied with Vivian Bishop trying to infiltrate American homes, intent on controlling and manipulating their residents. Ren soon realizes that Vivian is his perfect enemy. She’s strategic, brilliant and stunningly beautiful.

In this third and final installment, the monster in Ren will have to do the unspeakable. He will have to evolve. Nothing in his life can be approached employing any of the strategies he’s used before. The evolution of Ren might be his undoing, but it might also be the one thing that brings him real happiness.