Amiranda by John P. Adamo

Book Description:
An instant classic tale portraying the life of "Amiranda," an innocent and brave princess, who unwittingly sets out on a quest that will ultimately determine the fate of her entire kingdom. From her castle window, Amiranda would gaze at the beautiful countryside below-always watching carefully, always observing everything. Gradually the princess realizes that she knows very little of the small kingdom over which she would one day reign. Nevertheless, Amiranda would never disobey her father's wishes, especially the one to never enter the mysterious dark forest, which borders their kingdom. That is, until one day when she would have no other choice. Amiranda will take a journey that will lead her on a wild adventure, where the decisions she makes will determine the fate of many lives-the lives of her animal friends, her family members, those who dwell in her kingdom, and her very own life as well. Travel along on this trip where Princess Amiranda hopes to find the missing piece in her existence and ends up trying to achieve the impossible....

My Thoughts:
This was a super cute book.  I completely enjoyed it.  Amiranda is a wonderful character.  She is a princess and she wants to actually get to know the kingdom she lives in.  A dark forest borders the kingdom and of course, she would never venture in there.  Except she does.
The journey she takes is unbelievable.  The adventure she embarks on is for family, but she meets some really interesting friends along the way.  I truly enjoyed her animal friends and not so much the sorcerer.  All in all, it was a great read that I'm passing along to my daughter to read.
It was a 4/5 for me.
Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book (via PUYB).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Pokergeist by Michael Phillip Cash

Book Description:
Sometimes life, as well as death, is about second chances. Luckless Telly Martin doesn't have a clue. An awful gambler trying to scrape by as a professional poker player, he becomes the protégé of world famous poker champion Clutch Henderson. The only catch…Clutch is a ghost.
Telly and Clutch must navigate the seedy gambling underbelly of Las Vegas learning to trust each other in order to win the elusive International Series of Poker, repair their shattered personal relationships and find redemption in this life and the hereafter.

My Thoughts:
This is an entertaining novella.  It was a good, quick read that I enjoyed.  I thought this was going to be a mystery, but it wasn't.  That being said, I still enjoyed the story.  If you enjoy the game of poker, I think this story will strike your fancy.
Clutch was entertaining to me.  As a ghost, he still wants to play the game.  Telly and his girlfriend were both interesting characters and somewhat believable.  Overall an interesting and entertaining read.
It was a 3/5 for me.

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book.  I received copy of this book via PUYB for review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Collision of Lies by Tom Threadgill

Book Description:
Three years ago, a collision between a fast-moving freight train and a school bus full of kids led to devastation and grief on an unimaginable scale. But a fresh clue leads San Antonio police detective Amara Alvarez to the unlikely conclusion that one of the children may still be alive. If she's correct, everything law enforcement believes about the accident is a lie.

With time running out, Amara must convince others--and herself--that despite all evidence to the contrary, the boy lives. And she will do everything in her power to bring him home.

A fresh voice in suspense, Tom Threadgill will have you questioning everything as you fly through the pages of this enthralling story.

My Thoughts:
This book caught my attention at the start and didn't let up.  I enjoyed the way it pulled me in and didn't veer off path but barreled straight ahead.  There was plenty of suspense and it is clear that the author did his research.  The horrible accident the book is about broke my heart but it is something that really could happen.  
Amara was a good character and very realistic.  Following her thought process and all the evidence, she developed well as a character.  I loved her determination.  It didn't matter what, she was going to get to the end of it.  Overall, a really good book.It was a 4/5 for me.  I will absolutely look for more from this author.   Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Shadows of Lela by Tessonja Odette narrated by Emma Faye

Book Description:

A forgotten princess. A deadly quest. A threat that hides in shadow....

Sixteen-year-old Cora is a princess with a dark past. Exile has kept her safe. But when she rescues a dying unicorn from a mysterious band of hunters, her identity - and her life - are in danger.

Prince Teryn has the perfect plan - win the quest, marry his betrothed, and become king. But his mission goes awry when he faces a feisty young woman in the woods. Although they meet as foes, she shares a secret that bonds them.

Teryn and Cora’s fates are entwined in a plot far deadlier than they ever imagined. Can they face the threat together? Or will a terrifying enemy destroy the land they love?

Shadows of Lela is book one in the Lela Trilogy. If you like swoon-worthy romance, adventurous quests, breathtaking magic, and surprising twists, then you’ll love Tessonja Odette’s epic fantasy tale.

My Thoughts:
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book as it is a new author and narrator to me, but I loved it!  Cora has been raised away from the comforts of a princess that she should have been accustomed to.  It wasn't her choice but probably was what wound up being the best thing for her.  Teryn is a prince out on a crazy quest.

I loved the first meeting between Teryn and Cora.  It was great!  I love how the author twisted the story lines together and how we get the different viewpoints.  The narrator did a good job of giving each character their own voice.  There were funny parts, creepy parts, and loving parts to this story.  Lots of elements wonderfully balanced and I cannot wait to see what the author does next with these characters in this land.

It was a 5/5 for me!


Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.