Out of the Blue by Caroline Clemmons

Book Description:
A desperate flight from a dangerous man plunges Deirdre Dougherty off a cliff-and into the future... Swept through a time portal 165 years beyond the life she knew in rural Ireland, Deirdre plunges into a lake in central Texas. The brooding man from her precognizant visions rescues her but demands answers she cannot give. Deirdre knows only that he is in danger, and the source has a familiar vibe. Police Detective Brendan Hunter wants answers. Who shot him and killed his partner? Why? And why does Deirdre know details only he and his late partner knew? The beautiful psycho's story has to be a colossal fabrication. He wants her gone before he becomes even more fascinated with her. Together they must solve the riddle of Deirdre's displacement, battle a drug scandal and stay one step ahead of the enemy-without knowing friend from foe.

My Thoughts:
I absolutely adore this book! Deirdre is from Ireland 1845, and when a mob chases her she jumps off a cliff and lands in Texas present day! Brendan is the police officer who rescues her and refuses to believe her story. He is on leave after being shot and is searching for answers to the questions of who shot him and killed his partner and why. He and Deirdre get tangled in a mess of questions and have to find the answers before the murders get to them!
This book was quite original, romantic and with a touch of mystery. I fell in love with Deirdre's character from the beginning. The confusion, temper, visions and overflowing heart of her character are endeering. Brendan is a wonderful, caring man who does amazing things for others and tries to pass himself off as a man 'just doing his job' and nothing more. Blossom is Brendan's mom and a completely priceless character. She is funny, loving, and smart. The combination of these three main characters and the cast of other characters weave a wonderfully fun and suspenseful story.
I give this book a 5/5. Go buy it, and once you start reading it you won't be able to put it down until you've read the whole thing!
Disclaimer: Thank you to the autor for the review copy of this book. I recieved this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinion above is 100% mine.

Guest Blog Cissy Hunt Author of A Rose Blooms Among The Thorns

Good morning everyone please help me in welcoming my guest Cissy Hunt. She is the author of A Rose Blooms Among The Thorns. Thank you so much for stopping by today Cissy!

Here is a little about Cissy:

I was born and grew up in Louisiana. I worked in the nursing field as a licensed practical nurse for almost 30 years. My husband and I now live in the beautiful Ozark Mountains with our two small dogs and two cats, where we love to night fish in one of the beautiful lakes here and work in our yard.
I have been an ordained minister since August of 2007. I am called to minister to hurting women who carry the emotional scars of domestic abuse.
For as long as I can remember I have always loved to write. When I couldn't express myself verbally, one only had to hand me a pen and paper and out would flow my words on to the paper. I have written poetry most of my life and now my life-long dream has come true. I have written a book. My book, A Rose Blooms Among the Thorns, is the story of a woman's journey from domestic abuse, through healing, to forgiveness.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
My book, A Rose Blooms Among the Thorns, is a fictional story about a woman’s journey from domestic abuse through healing to forgiveness. This book covers a subject matter that is very close to my heart. the subject matter it covers is domestic violence.
Domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone, yet the problem is often overlooked, excused, or denied. This is especially true when the abuse is psychological, rather than physical. Emotional abuse is often minimized, yet it can leave deep and lasting scars. Most cases of domestic violence are never reported to the police.
Domestic abuse, also known as spousal abuse, occurs when one person in an intimate relationship or marriage tries to dominate and control the other person. Domestic abuse that includes physical violence is called domestic violence.
Domestic violence and abuse are used for one purpose and one purpose only: to gain and maintain total control over you. An abuser doesn’t “play fair.” Abusers use fear, guilt, shame, and intimidation to wear you down and keep you under his or her thumb. Your abuser may also threaten you, hurt you, or hurt those around you.
Domestic violence and abuse does not discriminate. It happens among heterosexual couples and in same-sex partnerships. It occurs within all age ranges, ethnic backgrounds, and economic levels. And while women are more commonly victimized, men are also abused--especially verbally and emotionally. The bottom line is that abusive behavior is never acceptable, whether it’s coming from a man, a woman, a teenager, or an older adult. You deserve to feel valued, respected, and safe.
Domestic abuse often escalates from threats and verbal abuse to violence. And while physical injury may be the most obvious danger, the emotional and psychological consequences of domestic abuse are also severe. Emotionally abusive relationships can destroy your self-worth, lead to anxiety and depression, and make you feel helpless and alone. No one should have to endure this kind of pain--and your first step to breaking free is recognizing that your situation is abusive. Once you acknowledge the reality of the abusive situation, then you can get the help you need.
There are many signs of an abusive relationship. The most telling sign is fear of your partner. If you feel like you have to walk on eggshells around your partner--constantly watching what you say and do in order to avoid a blow-up--chances are your relationship is unhealthy and abusive. Other signs that you may be in an abusive relationship include a partner who belittles you or tries to control you, and feelings of self-loathing, helplessness, and desperation.
When people think of domestic abuse, they often picture battered women who have been physically assaulted. But not all abusive relationships involve violence. Just because you’re not battered and bruised doesn’t mean you’re not being abused. Many men and women suffer from emotional abuse, which is no less destructive. Unfortunately, emotional abuse is often minimized or overlooked--even by the person being abused.
Understanding emotional abuse
The aim of emotional abuse is to chip away at your feelings of self-worth and independence. If you’re the victim of emotional abuse, you may feel that there is no way out of the relationship or that without your abusive partner you have nothing.
Emotional abuse includes verbal abuse such as yelling, name-calling, blaming, and shaming. Isolation, intimidation, and controlling behavior also fall under emotional abuse. Additionally, abusers who use emotional or psychological abuse often throw in threats of physical violence or other repercussions if you don’t do what they want.
You may think that physical abuse is far worse than emotional abuse, since physical violence can send you to the hospital and leave you with scars. But, the scars of emotional abuse are very real, and they run deep. In fact, emotional abuse can be just as damaging as physical abuse--sometimes even more so.
Even though A Rose Blooms Among the Thorns is a fictional book it is taken from my own life experiences. I chose to make it fiction rather than non-fiction because I want every woman that has gone through domestic violence to be able to relate to it. I don’t want them to just read about another woman who experience domestic violence. I wanted them to read the story and relate to it to be able to make it their own. I also want them to know that another man is not the answer to getting free of their situation that healing is their answer. They need to be free to seek healing and find their self. To find who they really are. Jumping into another relationship after domestic violence without healing 90% of the time leads to another abusive relationship. Yet, if they take the time to heal then they can find a new life that does not include domestic violence.

I would like to leave you with this exert from my book.

After stepping to the podium, LaRae looked down at the urn holding Terri’s ashes then to the picture displayed on the easel before looking back up and beginning to speak.

“Terri never made it to true womanhood for she was only nineteen years old when she died. She will never know what it means to be a mother or a grandmother because her life was devalued so greatly by her abuser that it meant nothing to him to take it. Her life was snuffed out instantly with no thought of remorse because her life wasn’t her own; it had been taken from her. She had become property not a human being.

Domestic violence and emotional abuse are behaviors used by one person in a relationship to control another. Do you know that every nine seconds a woman is assaulted and battered in this country, and 5.3 million women are abused each year, and that Domestic Violence is the single major cause of injury to women, more than muggings and car accidents combined. Fifty percent of all women murdered in the United States are killed by a spouse or an intimate partner.
Also, over 500,000 women are stalked by an intimate partner each year. An average of about four women per day dies because of domestic violence.

So you see on the day Terri died at the hands of her abuser so did three other women. Three other families in this country lost a mother, a sister, a daughter, an aunt, or a niece. Terri Carter is not the first nor will she be the last this town will gather together in mourning over. I wish she would be the last, I pray she would be, but until this community starts changing and becoming
aware of domestic violence; there will be more victims like Terri. Think about it! The next service could even be held for one of your family members…maybe even one of your daughters.”

Thanks again for talking to us today, I know domestic voilence is a touchy, but important subject that most people would rather avoid talking about. You can purchase Cissy's book on her website http://www.cissyh.webs.com/ or here at amazon.com. Leave a comment today to be entered in a chance to win a copy of Cissy's book.

New Moon (Twilight Book 2) by Stephenie Meyer

Book Description:
I FELT LIKE I WAS TRAPPED IN ONE OF THOSE TERRIFYING NIGHTMARES...
For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself: Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is even more dangerous than Bella ever could have imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of one evil vampire, but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realize their troubles may be just beginning...

My Thoughts:
Once again, these books are addicting. Bella and Edward are now together and she is ecstatic. Alice throws her a birthday party and things go horribly wrong. Edward thinks he is putting her in too much danger and he and his family leave. Bella is heartbroken and just not herself. She renews a friendship with Jacob Black and things get weird with him too. Now her world is turned upside down and there is danger waiting for her.
Edward and Bella's relationship is an interesting dynamic. It is like they literally can't live without each other. That is what makes his decisions in this book so surprising. You can understand the decisions while disliking them. Then there is Jacob. I automatically loved Jacob's character. He is just a fun loving free spirit and is wonderful for Bella. There were quite a few unexptected things that happened and I just couldn't put this book down.
Overall I give this book a 4/5. I really liked it, the addiction element was there but it just wasn't as good to me! I am definitely going to read the next book in the series.

The Guardian (O'Malley 2) by Dee Henderson

Book Description:
A federal judge has been murdered. There is only one witness. And someone wants her dead. U.S. Marshal Marcus O'Malley thought he knew the risks of the assignment going in ... until he fell in love. Book number two in the popular O'Malley series brings back Marcus O'Malley from The Negotiator in a tense investigative thriller. Marcus has a case to solve, an assassin to stop, and a lady to convince he's right for her future. To do that he's going to have to walk back into his own past and wrestle with the complex matter of prayer -- and he's going to have to learn to trust again a sovereign God.


My Thoughts:
This series is just getting better and better! I loved this book. Marcus is a US Marshal and also the oldest of the O'Malley family. Shari is a very family oriented, political speech writer and also the only witness to the murder of a federal judge. Marcus' job is to protect her but while doing that he will have to face some things he's not faced in years.
The O'Malley family is one I've now grown to love. They aren't related by blood but are a very strong family and take care of each other. Marcus and Sherri have a very sweet love story that is mixed in to a suspenseful story of 'who done it'! The way they meet is humorous and there is a cast of characters who have wonderful senses of humor which I greatly appreciate in a book. The love story is completely believable and the plan of salvation is shown through the book. The suspense of Marcus and his partner Quin trying to keep Sherri alive while an assassin is hunting her is nail biting!
I rate this book 5/5. You need to read the Negotiator first, but even if you don't, you won't be confused or lost, it just sets up the characters for this book. Buy this book, it will definitely go on your 'keeper' shelf!

Vendetta (Sisterhood Book 3) by Fern Michaels

Book Description:
Once upon a time there were seven very different women who had been broken but not beaten by life. In those tough days of healing, they became the Sisterhood, a group of devoted friends who vowed to change their lives, empower themselves, and be there for each other, no matter what. Now, they're ready to answer the call for the woman who started it all, Myra Rutledge.
Five years ago, Myra's pregnant daughter was killed by a hit-and-run driver--the playboy son of an ambassador with diplomatic immunity. Myra was left to grieve while the murderer was free to return to his lavish lifestyle with no fear of ever having to pay for his crime. But not for much longer.
As the air turns crisp in the Virginia hills around Myra's lovely old farmhouse, the Sisterhood has gathered for a little creative planning, and what they have in mind is a gift for Myra of long-awaited and very sweet revenge.


My Thoughts:
I had fun with this book. Once again the women get together to choose whose wrongs they are going to avenge and this time Myra is chosen. I guess in a way, Charles and Nikki also get their revenge. Barbara, Myra's pregnant daughter was killed in a hit-and-run by a jerk with diplomatic immunity. They have to come up with an inventive way to avenge her murder without being caught by those who now watch them!
Once again I absolutely LOVED the vigilante justice and cheered them on the whole way through the book! I enjoy the relationships shown between the women, and Charles for that matter. The trust that the women have for each other and Charles is immense, not to mention that they are REALLY starting to act like 'sisters' and care deeply for each other instead of just being an organization. The fact they are under constant surveillance and still manage to pull off the vengeance is astounding and hilarious!
Overall I give this book a 4/5. Very good, entertaining read that you could probably find on sale or used.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Book Description:
"About three things I was absolutely positive.
First, Edward was a vampire.
Second, there was a part of him--and I didn't know how dominant that part might be--that thirsted for my blood.
And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him."
"I'D NEVER GIVEN MUCH THOUGHT TO HOW I WOULD DIE. I'd had reason enough in the last few months--but even if I had, I would not have imagined it like this.... Surely it was a good way to die, in the place of something else, someone I loved. Noble, even. That ought to count for something...."
When Isabella Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious, alluring Edward Cullen, her life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. With his porcelain skin, golden eyes, mesmerizing voice, and supernatural gifts, Edward is both irresistible and impenetrable. Up until now, he has managed to keep his true identity hidden, but Bella is determined to uncover his dark secret.
What Bella doesn't realize is the closer she gets to him, the more she is putting herself and those around her at risk. And, it might be too late to turn back....


My Thoughts:
I honestly didn't think I would like this book at all, but boy was I wrong! I absolutely loved it! Bella chooses to move to Forks and live with her father so her mother can live her own life with her new husband. The move from sunny Phoenix to dreary Forks is made better for her when she meets Edward Cullen. She notices he and his family are different and determines to find out what makes them so different. The only part of her plan she doesn't realize is how dangerous that mission is for her. Since Edward and his family are vampires, she is putting her life into their hands the closer she gets to the truth.
I loved the interaction between the characters. The story is written from Bella's point of view but you meet so many interesting characters that it is almost addicting. Bella and Edward seem to be destined for each other, but he is fighting hard against it. I like Alice, Jasper is interesting, Emmit is funny, Mike is annoying....the whole cast of characters is memorable and you enjoy each of them!
Overall I rate this book 5/5. It was a wonderfully fun read with a mix of science fiction, romance, and suspense.

The Secretary Gets Her Man by Mindy Neff

Book Description:
The Agent: Penny Archer, former teenage bookworm, lately of the Texas Confidential secret agency, had finally come home to settle a score. The Target: Sheriff Joe Colter, the most popular boy in his school, was now the local law. He'd never forgotten Penny -- or how he'd once crushed her girlhood fantasy.
The Mission: Coming back to her hometown had only one appeal: show Joe Colter the woman she'd become! Trouble was, she hadn't ralized he could make her feel things she had long forgotten: anticipation, desire... and completion. Suddenly Texas Confidential's most resourceful agent was under fire and in danger -- of losing her heart!

My Thoughts:
This was a fun book to read. I liked that the two main characters were both strong and self assured. Penny is a character from the Texas Confidential Harlequin series. She basically runs the agency office but aspires to be an agent. She has to go back to her home town where she was the 'nerd' who got made a fool of by the star football player, Joe Colter. She is home to clean up her grandmother's estate but strange things started to happen and she has to turn to the one man she is trying to prove herself to for help! Joe is the town sheriff and is protective of his town.
This book makes you remember the people you went to school with and wonder what happened to them. Penny was the nerd who turned into a bombshell. Joe was the jock who was destined for the 'big life' and wound up being the small town sheriff. I liked all the romance, mixed with the suspense. Joe has the 'good ole boy' protect and serve routine and it clashes with Penny's 'don't need a man' outlook, I really like that aspect of the book.
Overall I give this book a 3/5. It was a quick, fun read but it is also an older book that could easily be found in a used bookstore. It does have a story that stays with you after you've finished it and put it on the shelf!

Damaged (A Maggie O'Dell Novel) by Alex Kava

Product Description
New York Times bestselling author Alex Kava joins the Doubleday list with her best novel yet.
On Pensacola Beach, the Coast Guard prepares for a Category 5 hurricane that has entered the Gulf of Mexico. When the air crew patrols the waterways, they spot a huge fishing cooler about a mile offshore. Drug traffickers have been known to dump coolers with smuggled product to avoid detection and pay fishermen to retrieve them. But when the crew open this cooler, they’re shocked by what they find: body parts tightly wrapped in plastic.
Though she is putting herself in the projected path of the hurricane, Special Agent Maggie O’Dell is sent to investigate. Eventually, she’s able to trace the torso in the cooler back to a man who mysteriously disappeared weeks earlier after a hurricane hit Port St. Lucie, Florida. Only Port St. Lucie is on the Atlantic side. How did his body end up six hundred miles away in the Gulf of Mexico?
Cliffhanger chapters, behind-the-scenes forensic details, colorful characters, and satisfying twists have become the trademarks of Kava’s psychological thrillers. In Damaged, she ratchets up the suspense a notch by sending Maggie into the eye of an impending monster hurricane to track down a killer.


My Thoughts:
I couldn't put this book down! This was my first Alex Kava book and apparently the newest in a series of books about the FBI agent Maggie O'Dell, but it stood well on its own. At no point did I feel lost or that I'd missed something. Liz is a rescue swimmer trying to prove herself to her new team, and she pulls a cooler out of the ocean that is filled with human body parts. Platt is trying to figure out what is killing solders, O'Dell is trying to solve a murder mystery and all of Pensacola is having to prepare for a cat 5 hurricane.
This book has several twists and turns, you know pretty much through the whole book who the killer is but the big question is how they will be caught! I very much enjoyed the different story lines and how they are all woven together. The race to figure out the mystery before the storm hits makes the drama of the book even more intense. This may have been my first book by Kava but it definately won't be my last!

Overall I give this book a 5/5. It was a great read and I say go get it today, you won't be disappointed.
Disclosure: Thank you to Double Day for the free review copy. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinion above is 100% mine.

Against All Odds by Irene Hannon

Book Description:
For FBI Hostage Rescue Team member Evan Cooper and his partner, dignitary protection duty should have been a piece of cake. Unfortunately, Monica Callahan isn't making it easy. Estranged from her diplomat father--who is involved in a sensitive hostage situation in the Middle East--she refuses to be intimidated by a related terrorist threat back in the States. That is, until a chilling warning convinces her that the danger is very real--and escalating. As Coop and his partner do their best to keep her safe, Monica's father triggers an abduction that puts his daughter's life at risk. And with every second that ticks by, Coop knows that the odds of saving the only woman who has ever breached the walls around his heart are dropping. After all, terrorists aren't known for their patience--or their mercy. Book one in the Heroes of Quantico series, this suspense-filled novel will whisk readers along for the thrilling ride.

My Thoughts:
This was a good book. Monica has nothing to do with her diplomat father, but is dragged into the middle of some tricky negotiations when they use her as a threat to him. Coop is an agent in a special division of the FBI and his job is to keep Monica safe. She dislikes the idea of a bodyguard much less being the focus of FBI agents' attention, but they eventually convince her that it is in her best interest to cooperate. The big problem is that the terrorists are always one step ahead of them.
I enjoyed the whole book. It was a very clean, mildly suspenseful read. It was a bit predictable but was still quite good. I liked the interactions between Coop and Monica, it wasn't a typical 'romance' story as it seemed neither wanted to even consider a relationship. I also very much enjoyed the interactions between the two FBI agents, there was a deep friendship and not just a working relationship shown there.
Overall I give this book a 3/5. I liked it and it is worth reading, but I would borrow or buy used.

The Cove by Catherine Coulter (FBI Book 1)

Product Description:
Sally St. John Brainerd is on the run from the authorities, who want to question her about her possible involvement in her father's murder. FBI Special Agent James Quinlan goes undercover in the picturesque town of The Cove-home of the World's Greatest Ice Cream-where Sally seeks sanctuary. But The Cove and its elderly residents harbor sinister secrets of their own. After Quinlan and Sally discover two dead bodies, Sally vanishes, and Quinlan turns to his partner Dillon Savich to rescue her from a place where no one should be held. Quinlan discovers she is indeed the key to a murder-but whose murder?


My Thoughts:
This was a wonderful book! Sally is on the run from the FBI who want to question her about her dad's death. Quin an FBI agent tracks her back to her 'home town' The Cove. Her aunt plays that she's crazy but Sally is determined to figure out what is going on. Quin and Sally find bodies and then the search is on to figure out exactly what is going on in the picture perfect little town.
I couldn't put this book down. It has more twists and turns than I thought possible. The interaction between Quin and Sally was interesting, she was a witness, might be crazy, but it was like they couldn't help themselves. Quin has to enlist his partner's help to solve the mystery and the people of the town are a bit creepy, but it all works together and makes a great story.
I give it a 5/5. It was a really good read, with lots of twists and suspense. If you are in the mood for a good 'who done it' book this is it!

Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills

Book Description:
Paige Rogers is a former CIA agent who lost all she treasured seven years ago when her entire team was killed in a covert mission. She blames their leader Daniel Keary, whom Paige believes betrayed them. Disillusioned and afraid for her life, she disappeared and started a new life as a small-town librarian. But when Keary announces his candidacy for governor of her state, he comes after Paige to ensure that she won't ruin his bid for office. He threatens everything she holds dear, and Paige must choose between the life of hiding that has become her refuge... or risking everything in one last, desperate attempt to right old wrongs.

My Thoughts:
I liked this book. It is a good, slightly suspenseful read. Paige is a former CIA agent and is in a small town working as it's librarian. Miles, the town's football coach, is a friend to Paige and if she would allow, he would like to be more. Keary is the main reason Paige left the CIA. He is the man she blames for getting her entire team killed and he is now running for governor of Oklahoma. She knows she can't allow that to happen.
I like the different character interactions and how Paige is a strong woman. I also like how protective and loving that Miles is throughout the whole book. He is a good, loyal friend to Paige. There wasn't as much suspense as I had expected but it was still a wonderful story with some suspense.
Overall, I give this book a 4/5. It is a good read, I'm sure you can find it on sale at your local bookstore.

The Negotiator by Dee Henderson

Book Description:
In this dynamic rerelease of The Negotiator, FBI agent Dave Richman from Danger in the Shadows is back -- and about to meet Kate O'Malley. A hostage negotiator in Chicago, Kate is a legend on the force, willing to walk into any situation. Dave is a Christian, but Kate isn't. Their relationship is going to be a challenge. Kate's family, the seven O'Malleys, were orphaned or abandoned as children; they chose to become their own family. But an airline bombing, tragic family news, and the appearance of a brother Kate didn't know she had will change her family's life -- and her own -- forever.

My Thoughts:
I absolutely loved this book. It is the follow up to Dee Henderson's book Danger In The Shadows and starts a series about 7 'siblings'. Kate is a negotiator and she meets up with Dave, and FBI agent, under unusual circumstances. She gets dragged into a bombing and her family decends on her to protect her and help her solve the case, and Kate finds out she has a biological brother that may be the cause of a lot of her problems. Through the whole thing, Dave is there helping and protecting her, even when she tries to shut both he and God out. The book outlines the plan of salvation in a very simple and easy to understand way, which I like.
I give this book a 5/5. Go out and get it today! You will read it cover to cover without wanting to put it down. Since it was published in the '90s you could probably find it used somewhere, but if not, it is worth the expense to just go buy it.

Storm Warning by Billy Graham

Book Description:
An examination of the imminence of Christ's return in light of today's headlines and the events recorded in Scripture.
The morning newspapers are jammed with alarming headlines and stories asking questions no one can answer. In Storm Warning, Billy Graham examines the problems facing America today compared with what is to come as revealed in the Bible. He answers the tough questions as only he can with astute biblical insight, and points to the hope and renewal found in Christ—for our families, our nation, and our world.
Includes an in-depth analysis of the four horsemen of Revelation chapter six as well as insight on:
Signs of the times The Apocalypse Standing before God


My Thoughts:
I very much enjoyed Storm Warning by Billy Graham. I like the way that compared the 'storms' the world is facing to the Bible. He includes the salvation message through the book, which I love. The wars, economic problems, natural disasters, and many more things, he directly compares to the Bible. He is very 'straight forward' in his approach and makes no apologies for it.
I was intimidated by the fact this book was written by Billy Graham, as I've never read one by him before and assumed it would be difficult to read and understand, but it was actually very easy to understand. Also, it kept my attention through the whole book. I found it interesting this was a rewrite of a book he originally wrote in 1992. It seems like the book is more relevant today than it was then!
Overall, I give this book a 4/5. It is a good book, especially for anyone interested in Revelations and the 'end times'.
Disclosure: Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing this complimentary copy to review. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and all opinions stated above are 100% mine.

The Ambassador's Mission by Trudi Canavan

Book Description:
Sonea, once the despised commoner in the Magicians' Guild, is now a Black Magician of Kyralia. Though she is now part of the establishment, she comes to find that the past is not so easily left behind...
Lorkin, Sonea's rebellious son, has volunteered to join the formidable Lord Dannyl in his new post as Guild Ambassador to Sachaka - a land ruled by cruel, slave-owning black magicians. There is suspicion that some of the Sachakans still harbor dreams of conquest, so when word comes that Lorkin has gone missing, Sonea is desperate to find him. However, Guild law states that if a Black Magician leaves the city he or she will be exiled forever.
As she fears for her missing son, Sonea dedicates herself to helping her old friend Cery. For some time, there has been fear and paranoia on the streets of Imardin. Leading thieves have been dying under irregular circumstances. The need to discover who has been picking off the leading thieves of the city is now a very personal crusade - one that Sonea must aid, for the killer appears to be using magic.
Either a member of the Guild is leading a double life as a hired killer, or there is - once again - a rogue magician on the streets of Imardin . . .

My Thoughts:
I absolutely loved this book! It is the first in a follow up trillogy to the Black Magician Trillogy. Sonea is now the mother of a son, Lorkin, who has graduated from the Guild and goes to Sachaka as Lord Dannyl's assistant. Cery is on a personal quest to find the 'Theif Hunter' and goes to Sonea for help when it is proven that magic is being used in the thief murders. When Lorkin goes missing, Sonea fears the worst as it was her and Lorkin's father who killed many Sachakan invaders, but she is forbidden from leaving the Guild.
There are some strange alliances formed, some characters you don't expect to split up, and there always seems to be something going on to keep your attention! Most of the characters you met in the Black Magician Trillogy are back but there are a few missing, that I wonder if they will come back in the next book.
Overall, I give this book a 5/5. It is worth going out and buying to read this entertaining book! I can't wait for the next one.

Gallant Waif by Anne Gracie

Book Description:
Battle-scarred Jack Carstairs just wants to be left alone! Retreating to his country estate, he stubbornly resists attempts to return him to Society. Miss Kate Farleigh, his newly employed housekeeper, challenges him at every turn. What will it take to persuade him to rejoin the human race?

My Thoughts:
I really liked this book. I'm generally not a historical romance reader but this one I did enjoy! Jack has gotten hurt fighting in the wars and has scars, been dumped by his fiance because of the scars and has chosen not to interact with the outside world. Kate has her own scars and deals with them in a much better way than Jack, but not in a way that HIS meddling grandmother approves of. The grandmother puts the two together in an amusing position and they help each other in ways neither imagined possible.
Overall I give it a 4/5. It is definitely worth finding at a used book store and reading! Its an older book so it shouldn't be a problem to find. I have it now on my 'keeper' shelf!