The Peterson Gang: Unlikely Friendships

I recently had my first experience of reading a book that someone I know had written.  This experience really showed me how much an author pours their heart and soul into every book they write, putting a little piece of themselves on every page.  It definitely gives me a new appreciation for all of the work that authors do.

The Peterson Gang: Unlikely Friendships by Muriel Chesterton is a story that follows the lives of a group of friends that met in secretarial school after the war. I really liked this book because I found the characters genuine and easy to relate to.  They are normal people.  They laugh, cry, have adventures and obstacles, love and heartache.  I feel like I am sharing such a personal part of their lives and really get to know them.

My favorite character is Ben, I love how he is who he is, take it or leave it. He sticks to his guns even if his choices may not conform to what people expect of a young man his age. He doesn't want kids, and there is no changing his mind.  This was so interesting to read, because having three children myself I don't often get to think of how life is for people on the other side of the fence who have no children and no desire to ever have any.  I adored how Doris didn't try to to change Ben's mind, it shows how strong they both are by living their lives the way they want to live them and not how they are expected to live them.  I also enjoyed Ben's little quirks, like his neatness. A place for everything, and everything in it's place. It reminds me a lot of someone I know, and was a pleasure to read. 

I look forward to seeing what happens to the Peterson gang in the next parts of this series.

A Prayer Heeded

After finishing A Silent Prayer by Samreen Ahsan last week, I had to pick up the sequel so that I could see how the story would end.  I must say, I was not disappointed!

In A Prayer Heeded, the story of Adam and Rania continues.  They must develop their relationship based on complete trust.  Rania's troubled past is always hanging over her like a dark cloud, and she is afraid to hope that Adam could be the one to save her from that.  If he is the one, he will have to have faith, something that is not easy for a former atheist to do.

This is a beautiful spiritual romance.  Adam and Rania are soulmates, but they have many obstacles that they must overcome in order to truly be together.  Adam must overcome his stubborn refusal to believe in things he cannot see.  Rania must put her complete faith in Adam, and after all of the abuse that she has been through, will she be able to do this?

Reading this novel left me with warm fuzzy feelings.  It is nice to read a story about all consuming love that is spiritual and emotional.  This book series has won numerous awards, and I am very glad to have had the chance to read it.  If the author has managed to be so successful on her first published works, I am very excited to see what kinds of things we will see from her in the future.

You

I received a free advanced copy of You by Caroline Kepnes as part of the Goodreads giveaways.

"You" is the story of Joe who is an obsessed, deranged stalker/serial killer.  He sees Beck, has an innocent interaction with her, and becomes absolutely obsessed with her.  He goes into stalker mode.  He follows her activities on facebook.  Steals her phone so that he can read her emails.  Obsessively checks her twitter feed.  Finds her address.  Watches through her windows.  Sneaks into her house.  Kills her boyfriend....

This story is told in the first person, so the main character is relating all of these events as if they are normal which adds to the creepy factor.  It is not a romance.  It is a view into the mind of a very sick individual.  He seems normal to everyone who meets him.  A real nice guy, innocent manager of a book store.

After reading this, I found myself checking the privacy settings on all of my social media accounts, making sure my curtains are fully drawn at night and double checking the locks on my car and house when I go inside.  This is an unforgettable, chilling tale.  I still have goosebumps.

The Man Within (Breeds #2, Feline Breeds #2)

I read the book The Man Within by Lora Leigh earlier in the month of August but didn't get around to putting my thoughts down until now.

Ever since she was a little girl, Roni has always been protected by her friend Taber.  He has captured her heart.  They are finally going to get together.  Then he brushes her off and never wants to see her again.  Her heart is shattered.  They spend months apart, then the news of the Breeds gets released.  She finds out that he is one.  Her father finds out as well when he sees the mark on her neck.  Her dad would do anything to sell her out, and he does.  This throws Roni back into Taber's arms, and his kiss seals the deal.  Even after months apart they are drawn to each other.  They are in a mating frenzy, chemically drawn to each other.  Nothing but pregnancy will make it stop.

This second book of the Breeds series felt a lot like rehashing the same things that happened in the first book.  There was not much of a plot and the mating frenzy had already been the main event of book 1.  There was the story line about Roni's father but even that I found weak.  All that being said, I did find it hard to put the book down.  I really do want to continue to read the series, I just hope that the other books have a bit more of a story to them.

Tempting the Beast (Breeds #1)

It is so hot outside, so what better way to enjoy then relaxing with a steaming hot book?  Tempting the Beast by Lora Leigh is the first novel of the Breeds series.  The idea is that a group of evil scientists and government officials worked on genetic experiments crossing animal and human DNA.  Their goal was to create ultimate soldiers, and they performed all kinds of ruthless tests on their subjects as part of their experiments.

In this first book of the series, we meet Merinus Tyler who is a reporter.  She wants to do a story on Callan Lyon, one of the survivors of the experiments whose DNA is crossed with that of a lion, in hopes of exposing the whole sordid affair.  Marinus ans Callan meet, and some sort of weird hormonal reaction occurs between them, throwing them both into a mating frenzy. 

Mating Frenzy:  uncontrollable need to have sex all day long, the urge is calmed somewhat when orgasm is achieved by both parties but returns again shortly after.

There is one part of this book that irritated me a bit.  Throughout the first half of the story, Marinus is pissed that she can't control what is happening in her own body and is required to have sex with Callan to stay sane.  She finds him attractive and certainly enjoys having sex with him, but there is no emotional spark between them.  Then out of the blue she is saying she loves him, and has loved him since the first time she saw his photo.  I don't buy it.  If she loved him so much right from the start, the author could have done a better job in that regard, as it was it seemed like an afterthought added in half way through the book.

The idea of this book series intrigues me, and the sex scenes were ok, but please remove all instances of the word uterus from the entire book.  It was a bit of a mood killer.  I will read more books of the series because I am anxious to see what happens with the Council and all of the other Breeds that are out there.

If you like naughty sexy books, a bit of action and government conspiracy, give this book a try!

Pride and Prejudice

Ahh the proud Mr. Darcy and the prejudiced Miss Bennet.  Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is one of the most romantic stories I have ever read. 
Miss Bennet is the daughter of a gentleman, and forms an opinion of the proud Mr. Darcy based on bits of gossip ans his demeanor at various social gatherings they attend.  These opinions are quite prejudiced, and not at all based on facts.  When Miss Bennet gets to know the real Mr. Darcy she falls in love.  Sigh. 
I think one of the reasons I love this story is because it manages to be romantic and get your heart racing without overwhelming you with sex.  I was easily transported to the past where etiquette ruled, ladies celebrated their entrance into society, and people spent much time sitting around and talking. 

I adored this book and highly recommend everyone give it a chance.