REVIEW OF GOODBYE FOR NOW BY LAURIE FRANKEL.

In the spirit of ONE DAY, comes a fresh and warmhearted love story for the 21st century. Sometimes the end is just the beginning . . .

Sam Elling works for an internet dating company, but he still can't get a date. So he creates an algorithm that will match you with your soul mate. Sam meets the love of his life, a coworker named Meredith, but he also gets fired when the company starts losing all their customers to Mr. and Ms. Right.

When Meredith's grandmother, Livvie, dies suddenly, Sam uses his ample free time to create a computer program that will allow Meredith to have one last conversation with her grandmother. Mining from all her correspondence—email, Facebook, Skype, texts—Sam constructs a computer simulation of Livvie who can respond to email or video chat just as if she were still alive. It's not supernatural, it's computer science.

My Thoughts

The novel combines romance, technology, a bit of science fiction, humor and tears. I started to read the book while lounging near the pool on a cruise to the Bahamas and I could not put it down. All the characters and storyline was developed fully and was a page turner. While reading the novel, I asked myself numerous times if the use of technology to interact with the dead is ethical but I did enjoy the novel. I have to admit that I predicted the ending and it definitely fit the storyline. I wonder what the author is working on now?

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of the book for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

BLOG TOUR AND REVIEW OF EATING SMOKE BY CHRIS THRALL

I want to welcome Chris Thrall to Books R Us. Chris is the author of Eating Smoke and is touring the Blogosphere with Lightening Books Promotions. Thanks for stopping by.


Book Details:

Title: Eating Smoke: One Man's Descent into Drug Psychosis in Hong Kong's Triad Heartland
Author: Chris Thrall

Publisher: Blacksmith Book
Publication Date: October 16, 2011
Purchase: Amazon|Barnes & Noble.



About the Book:
 Chris Thrall left the Royal Marines to find his fortune in Hong Kong, but instead found himself homeless and addicted to crystal meth. Soon he began working for the 14K, Hong Kong's largest crime family, in the Wanchai red-light district. Dealing with the 'foreign triad' - a secretive expat clique connected to the Chinese mafia - he had to survive in the world's most unforgiving city, addicted to the world's most dangerous drug.

My Thoughts:


When I first read the title, I was intrigued and did not know what to expect. I have read many memoirs and Eating Smoke was fantastic. There was one line in the book  "I'm not a stupid guy, just an average guy who does stupid things." that was so true and made me realize that we all make mistakes in our lives. There were so many emotions depicted in the book that included fear, sadness, loneliness, frustration, humor and paranoia. As I read on, there were parts that I was swept away in the paranoia and I was unsure what scenes were real. Even when Chris was at his lowest, I still liked him and I was rooting for him. There were so many crazy characters that Chris met along the way who either helped him or drove him deeper into drugs. The book was well written and I finished it rather quickly. This is a great memoir full of emotions and I recommend the book to everyone. It will give you an insight into the world of drugs and how it can affect you and possibly your family.

Disclaimer:
I received a free copy of the book for my honest opinion and I was not compensated for my review.

READ AN EXCERPT AND WIN A COPY OF ANGEL'S REST (USA ONLY)

I want to welcome Emily March to Books R Us. Emily is the author of Angel's Rest: An Eternity Springs Novel. Thanks for stopping by.

About the Book:

Gabriel Callahan has lost everything that mattered. All he wants is solitude on an isolated mountain estate. Instead, he gets a neighbor. Vibrant, no-nonsense Nic Sullivan is Eternity Springs’ veterinarian, and she has an uncanny plan to lure this talented architect back to the world of the living. First with a dog, next with a renovation project, and, finally, with a night of passion that ends with a surprise.

Now a man still raw from tragedy must face the biggest struggle of his heart. Can he forgive himself and believe in the power of second chances? Dare he trust in the promise of a future and a brand-new family here in Eternity Springs?

Angel's Rest by Emily March (Excerpt)

Thanks to Random House I can give away a copy of the book (USA ONLY- see rules on Rafflecopter form) To my International Friends: I was just informed today 1/26 that the book is not available on Netgalley any more. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Giveaway ends on 2/12/12 @11:59pm EST.




a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW OF THE UNCOMMON LIFE DAILY CHALLENGE BY T. DUNGY.

Now that the New Year has just begun and many of you have New Year's Resolutions and need motivation to follow them. I want to introduce you to a remarkable book full of inspirational stories, thoughts, quotes and  tips for everyday life called The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge by Tony Dungy and N. Whitaker.

About the Book:

Strengthen the core of your life and faith on a year-long journey with beloved Super Bowl–winning former head coach Tony Dungy! The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge contains 365 reflections from the #1 New York Times bestselling author on living an “uncommon life” of integrity, honoring your family and friends, creating a life of real significance and impact, and walking with the Lord. This year, step up to the challenge—and dare to be uncommon every day.

The book focuses on several themes: Core, Family, Friends, Potential, Mission, Influence and Faith. Each theme is repeated every seven days.

About the Authors:

 Tony Dungy:

 Tony Dungy is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Quiet Strength, Uncommon, and The Mentor Leader. He led the Indianapolis Colts to Super Bowl victory on February 4, 2007, the first such win for an African American head coach. Dungy established another NFL first by becoming the first head coach to lead his teams to the playoffs for ten consecutive years.

He retired from coaching in 2009 and now serves as a studio analyst for NBC's Football Night in America. He and his wife, Lauren, are the parents of seven children.

 Nathan Whitaker: 

Nathan Whitaker is an attorney who lives in Florida with his wife and two daughters. He graduated from Harvard Law School and has worked in football administration for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His firm currently represents NFL and college coaches.

 

My Thoughts:

I am not a football fan and I did not even know who the author was until I had the opportunity to read the book. The book is full of inspiration, hope and encouragement to be a better person. Each day begins with a passage of scripture followed by a devotion that includes a story taken from the authors family life or athletic career. I have read many devotionals and have found many of them boring or they do not relate to my life but this book is quite different. Even though I do not follow sports or football, the stories about the sport were very easy to understand and the author was able to relate it to everyday life. The book was easy to read and understand. At the end of each page is a "Uncommon Key" to think about during the day. One of my favorite is on May 22nd and speaks about family. "Spend time with your family and loved ones- for no reason at all but to be there. You will witness miracles you might otherwise miss forever." Boy is that so true. There are times that work always interferes with our family and I have missed so many important events that occurred. So if you need a little motivation to keep your resolutions or just to make your life better this is the book for you. You will not be disappointed.

Connect with the Authors:

AUTHOR WEBSITE: Tony Dungy
FACEBOOK: Tony Dungy
TWITTER: Tony Dungy
GOODREADS: Nathan Whitaker

www.tyndale.com

Would you like to win a copy of the book? 

Stop back tomorrow during the New Years Resolution Blog Carnival to enter.There will be so many blogs participating and they will try to help you keep your resolution.

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of the book for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

REVIEW OF WITCH SONG BY A. ARGYLE

The world is changing. Once, Witch Song controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons-but not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by a traitor. All but Brusenna. As the echo of their songs fade, the traitor grows stronger. Now she is coming for Brusenna. Her guardian has sworn to protect her, but even he can't stop the Dark Witch. Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find the traitor. Fight her. Defeat her. Because if Brusenna doesn't, there won't be anything left to save.


About the Author-

Amber Argyle grew up with three brothers on a cattle ranch in the Rocky Mountains. She spent hours riding horses, roaming the mountains, and playing in her family's creepy barn. This environment fueled her imagination while she was writing her debut novel. She has worked as a short-order cook and a janitor in a mental institution, all of which gave her great insight into the human condition and has made for some unique characters. She received her bachelor's degree in English and physical education from Utah State University. 
                 

Author's Website-

Read an Excerpt.


My Thoughts-

I was hooked from the first page and I was taken into a world of magic, innocence, adventure and drama. The main character, Brusenna is witty, charming, magical and stubborn and the author takes you on a fantastic journey to save the last of the witches. Brusenna travels with her guardian, Joshen who is protective of her and they develop a bond that gets stronger throughout novel. The medieval touch, and the scene descriptions were fantastic and all of the characters were developed fully.  This is a fantastic YA debut novel and I hope the author continues to write in the future. Ms Argyle has a wonderful imagination and a writing style that kept me interested and I could not put the book down. I recommend this book to everyone who loves fantasy, paranormal and a touch of romance.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

GUEST POST AND REVIEW OF THE NOT SO PERFECT PRINCESS BY M. MCCLONE.

I like to welcome Melissa McClone to Books R Us. Melissa is the author of  the novel Not-So-Perfect Princess (Harlequin Romance) and is touring the blogosphere with Goddess Fish Promotions.Thanks for stopping by.

How I Came Up The Novel.

It’s so good to be here today. Thanks for hosting this stop on my virtual book tour. I thought I’d talk to you about how I came up with the idea for my newest release from Harlequin Romance Not-So-Perfect Princess.

                                                                                   

Back in February 2000, If the Ring Fits… was published by Silhouette Romance. In the story, I introduced two secondary characters, Crown Prince Brandt and his older sister Princess Julianna aka Jules. Brandt wasn't mature enough to be the hero of a romance novel, but I knew Julianna was ready for her own story. I tucked in a few details that I could use in her own book: a love of sailing, broken engagement and wanting to marry for love. But one thing led to another, and I never ended up writing her story.

Fast forward nearly a decade when I decided to wanted to write another royalty-themed romance. I remembered Julianna from my days at Silhouette, but now that I wrote for Harlequin Romance, I decided to come up with a new idea. After a few starts and stops, I settled on what would become my February ’11 release, Expecting Royal Twins!

In that story, I needed a secondary character, someone who could be both a friend and a sort of fairy godmother to my heroine. With my editor’s permission, I resurrected Princess Julianna. As soon as she showed up on the page, I knew I was ready to write her story. Fortunately, around the same time, my editor asked if I wanted to participate in the Once Upon a Kiss miniseries where books are loosely based upon classic fairytales. I said yes. I asked if I could use Princess Julianna in Sleeping Beauty. My editor's answer—yes!

I knew Julianna's character pretty well by now, but I wasn't quite sure about the plot. With Sleeping Beauty as the basis, I knew the story had to be about an awakening. Face it, a woman on her third arranged marriage contract when she'd rather marry for love has been sleepwalking through life and not being true to herself! I wanted to address the question of duty vs. desire. I also knew sailing needed to be a big part of the story. The question was how to do it.

I happened to be staying at my good friend and Avon historical author Elizabeth

Boyle’s house last summer. I was finishing up revisions on another manuscript, but wanted to start thinking about the next book I would write. One evening we sat a Seattle Starbucks. With Frappucinos in hand, we brainstormed. The idea of two brothers in the story came from our session, as did the island setting and the hero designing and building racing sailboats. From there, I started plotting, working on character arcs and the romance, until the story evolved into what was published in Not-So-Perfect Princess.

_________________________________________________________________

About the Book-

Dutiful Princess Julianna has a secret—she’s actually happiest makeup free, sailing with the sea breeze in her hair. Her attraction to rebel prince Alejandro is instant—but her intended is his brother, the proper but dull Enrique!

For the first time, Julianna’s irresistibly tempted. Before long, she’s spending her nights sailing with gorgeous Alejandro while the rest of the palace believes she’s sleeping. Soon she’ll have to choose—remain the perfect princess, or follow her heart and stop sleepwalking her way through life....

About the Author- 

Melissa McClone writes for Harlequin Romance. Her November '10 release Christmas Magic on the Mountain (Harlequin Romance) is a RITA® Finalist in the Contemporary Series Category. She graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, but quit her job to write romance novels. Writing happily ever afters is a lot more fun than analyzing jet engine performance. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, three children, four cats and a dog named Chaos.

My Thoughts-

I have always thought that Harlequin Romance novels were erotic but that was not the case with this novel. I read the book while on vacation in Florida lounging by the pool. I was captivated by the storyline and I finished it rather quickly. I felt that all of the characters were developed fully and Melissa was able to retell a classic story in a whole new way. The use of the kitten Boots as a means for the main characters Julianna and Alejandro to meet was perfect and their romance started to develop throughout the book.. One character that I disliked was Enrique because he was arrogant and obnoxious but he played a major part in the plot. This a great summer read and I recommend the book to all of you romance lovers out there who likes a clean romance novel

Read an Excerpt-

“We are approaching the palace,” the pilot announced over the headsets.

Goosebumps prickled Jules’s skin.

Full of curiosity at her new home, she peered out the window. A huge white stucco and orange tile roofed palace perched above the sea. The multistoried building had numerous balconies and windows. But no tower. Another good sign?

A paved road and narrower walking paths wove their way through a landscape of palm trees, flowering bushes and manicured greenery. Water shot at least twenty-five feet into the air from an ornately decorated fountain.

The Mediterranean island and palace were a world away from Aliestle and the stone castle fortress nestled high in the Alps. Living somewhere lighter and brighter would be a welcome change from the Grimm-like fairy-tale setting she called home.

“Father may have finally gotten this right,” Brandt said.

Jules nodded. “It’s pretty.”

“At least on the outside.”

She sighed. “Don’t forget, dear brother, you’re here for moral support.”

“And to make sure the honeymoon doesn’t start early,” Brandt joked.

As if she’d ever had that opportunity present itself. She glared at him. “Be quiet.”

“Sore spot, huh?”

He had no idea. Engaged three times, and she’d never come close to anything other than kisses. Besides making out with Christian while a teenager, she’d been kissed once as an adult. Prince Niko’s kiss while sailing had been pleasant enough, but nothing like the passion she’d overheard other women discussing. Perhaps with Prince Enrique…

The helicopter landed on a helipad. The engine stopped. The rotor’s rotation slowed. Her hand trembled, making her work harder to unbuckle her harness. Finally she undid the latch. As they exited, a uniformed staff member placed their luggage onto a wheeled cart.

“Welcome to La Isla de la Aurora, Your Royal Highness Crown Prince Brandt and Your Royal Highness Princess Julianna.” An older man in a gray suit bowed. “I am Ortiz. Prince Enrique sends his regrets for not meeting you himself, but he is attending to important state business at the moment.”

“We understand.” Brandt smiled. He might not be the typical statesman, but no one could fault his friendliness. “State business comes first.”

Jules looked around at the potted plants and flowering vines. A floral scent lingered in the air. Paradise? Perhaps.

“Thank you, sir.” Ortiz sounded grateful. “I am in charge of the palace and at your service. Whatever you need, I’ll see that you have it.”

Jules glanced at Brandt, whose grin resembled the Cheshire cat’s. She would have to make sure he didn’t take advantage of the generous offer of hospitality.

“The palace grounds are lovely, Ortiz,” she said. “Very inviting with so many colorful flowers and plants.”

“I am happy you like it, ma’am.” His smile took years off his tanned, lined face. “Please allow me to show you and your party inside.”

Klaus nodded. Her bodyguard, in his fifties with a crew cut and a gun hidden under his tailored suit jacket, had protected her for as long as she could remember.

“Lead the way, Ortiz,” she said.

As they walked from the helipad to the front door, Ortiz gave her a brief history lesson about the palace. She had no idea the royal family had ruled the island for so long. No doubt the continuous line of succession had impressed her father who would want to ensure a long reign for his grandchildren and the heirs that followed.

“Prince Enrique has done so much for the island,” Ortiz said. “A finer successor to King Dario cannot be found, ma’am.”

If only Jules knew whether the compliments were truthful or propaganda. She knew little about her future husband besides his name. “I’m looking forward to meeting Prince Enrique.”

Ortiz beamed. “He said the same thing about you at lunchtime, ma’am.”

A third good sign? Jules hoped so.

When they reached the palace entry, two arched wooden doors parted as if by magic. Once the heavy doors were fully open, she saw two uniformed attendants standing behind and holding them.

Jules stared at the entrance with a mix of anticipation and apprehension. If all went well—and she hoped it did—this palace would be her new home. She would live with her husband and raise her children here. She fought the urge to cross her fingers.

With a deep breath, she stepped inside. The others followed. A thirty-foot ceiling gave the large marble tiled foyer an open and airy feel. Stunning paintings, a mix of modern and classical works, hung on the walls. A marble statue of a woman sitting in the middle captured Jules’s attention. “What an amazing sculpture.”

“That is Eos, one of the Greek’s second generation Titan gods,” Ortiz explained. “We are more partial to the Latin name, Aurora. Whichever name you prefer, she’ll always be the Goddess of the Dawn.”

“Beautiful,” Brandt agreed. “Eos had a strong desire for handsome young men. If she looked anything like this statue, I’m sure she had no trouble finding willing lovers.”

“Close the front doors,” a male voice shouted. “Now.”

The attendants pushed the heavy doors. Grunts sounded. Muscles strained.

“Hurry,” the voice urged.

The people behind Jules rushed farther into the foyer so the doors could be shut. The momentum pushed her forward.

A shirtless man wearing shorts ran toward the doors. Something black darted across the floor.

Yvette screamed. “A rat, Your Highnesses.”

“There are no rats in the palace,” Ortiz shouted.

The ball of black fur darted between Jules’s legs. Startled, she stumbled face-first.

“Catch her,” Klaus yelled.

Too late. The marble floor seemed to rise up to meet Jules though she was the one falling.

She stopped abruptly. Not against the floor.

Strong arms embraced Jules. Her face pressed against a hard, bare chest. Her cheek rested against warm skin. Dark hair tickled her nose. The sound of a heartbeat filled her ears. He smelled so good. No fancy colognes. Only soap and water and salty ocean air.

She wanted another sniff.

Ortiz shrieked. “Your Highnesses. Are either of you hurt?”

Highnesses? The man must be a prince. Her father had only spoken of the crown prince. No other brothers had been mentioned. Oh, if this were Enrique…

 You can purchase the book at-
Amazon.com.

Barnes and Noble.
Author's Website.

GIVEAWAY-

  

Be sure to leave Melissa some comments, she'll be giving away a $20.00 Amazon gift card at the end of the blog tour.

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of the book for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

REVIEW OF STILETTOS AND SCOUNDRELS BY L. TURNER

-
 I want to welcome Laina Turner to Books R Us. She is the author of numerous non-fiction titles and Stilettos & Scoundrels is her first fiction novel. Thanks for stopping by.

Presley Thurman, a sassy, thirty-something red-head, was looking to reinvent herself. She didn't allow the fact she was recently fired to bother her - she was ready to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a writer. Presley is a lover of shopping and Starbucks, and even though she sometimes had bad taste in men, she always had great taste in clothes. Not looking back on corporate America, Presley decided to follow her dream. With her feisty nature and a spirit to not "sweat the small stuff," she was ready to tackle any challenge (even if she had no idea how she would pay the bills). When her friend Trevor offered her a job with his online magazine to interview public figures, she jumped at the chance. However, the new job turned into something unexpected when the U.S. Senator she was slated to write about was murdered - in her home town! Presley was excited - she hadn't seen so much buzz since the spring sample sale at Saks. She was ready for this adventure, even if it didn't seem to fit neatly into her life. She couldn't pass up the opportunity to be in the middle of the buzz. Presley was determined (not to mention curious) to find the killer and write her story. After all, she couldn't afford her shoe habit without a job and she was certainly not one to shy away from danger. The only thing standing in her way was an old high school fling, Cooper Sands, head of the Senator's security. He was not actually standing in her way, but because of his good looks, he was the biggest distraction and one she was having the hardest time overcoming. Cooper felt it was too dangerous for Presley to look for a killer and tried to distract her with reliving the past; which Presley found more dangerous than any killer. While she attempted to resist Cooper's good looks and charm, Presley was able to discover the Senator's wife, Helen, had been having an affair... with her best friend's boyfriend! Did Helen kill the Senator? Or was it the Senator's love of gambling that got him killed? And what was Cooper's secret tie to the mob boss Garrison Palazzo? Presley was betting her favorite pair of Manolo's she will find the killer... but will time run out!

My Thoughts- 

The plot was interesting and fast moving. The story was written in Presley's point of view and there were times in the book that confused me because I was unsure of what character was speaking/thinking at the time. Because of that, I did not get to know the other characters very well. There was a lot of mystery and romance throughout the book that kept me engaged and when I though I knew who the killer was, there was new twist introduced in the storyline. I recommend this book to anyone who likes romance, mystery and looking for a summer read.

Author's Thoughts-

"Stilettos & Scoundrels is my first foray into fiction writing. As a avid reader all my life I always wanted to write but never had the confidence. When I finally decided to pursue my dream of being a author I didn't know I was in for such a fun time. Oh sure it's been hard and as I write the sequel to Stilettos, I think of how better I am at writing now. But it has been so satisfying to have accomplished a dream."

Author's Blog

Author's Twitter

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of the book for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

REVIEW OF THE ARRIVALS BY MEG MITCHELL MOORE (GIVEAWAY)

I want to welcome, Meg Mitchell Moore to Books R Us. Meg is the author of her debut novel The Arrivals and is presently touring the blogosphere.          

It’s early summer when Ginny and William’s peaceful life in Vermont comes to an abrupt halt.

First, their daughter Lillian arrives, with her two children in tow, to escape her crumbling marriage. Next, their son Stephen and his pregnant wife Jane show up for a weekend visit, which extends indefinitely when Jane ends up on bed rest. When their youngest daughter Rachel appears, fleeing her difficult life in New York, Ginny and William find themselves consumed again by the chaos of parenthood – only this time around, their children are facing adult problems.

By summer’s end, the family gains new ideas of loyalty and responsibility, exposing the challenges of surviving the modern family – and the old adage, once a parent, always a parent, has never rung so true.

About the author-

Meg Mitchell Moore worked for several years as a journalist. Her work has been published in Yankee, Continental, Women’s Health, Advertising Age and many other business and consumer magazines. She received a B.A. from Providence College and a master’s degree in English Literature from New York University. The Arrivals is her first novel. Her second novel will be published by Reagan Arthur Books in 2012. Meg lives in Newburyport, Massachusetts, with her husband, their three children and a beloved border collie.
To learn more about author Meg Mitchell Moore please visit her website.

My Thoughts-

What a fantastic book. I REALLY enjoyed it. All of the characters were unforgettable and realistic. The author has a wonderful way with words and the story flowed perfectly. It was a page turner and I stayed up until 2 am to finish the book. There was sadness, humor, excitement all bundled up in a fantastic novel. There were many memorable parts in the book but I especially enjoyed the chapter when William took on the washing machine and the cleaning. Boy, was that a humorous part of the book. It reminded me of what happens in my house. I do not want to spoil the book for you so you will have to go out and pick yourself up a copy. This is the best book that I had read all year and I highly recommend it to be read by a book club. I cannot wait to read the author's next novel.

Giveaway-
  
I am able to giveaway 2 copies of the book. Please visit http://ow.ly/52NXm to enter the contest. Contest ends 6/4/11.

 

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of the book for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

REVIEW OF MURDER IS A FAMILY BUSINESS BY H. HAVEN

Join Heather Haven, author of the humorous mystery, Murder is a Family Business (MuseItUp Publishing, January 2011) as she virtually tours the blogosphere in May on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!

Just because a man cheats on his wife and makes Danny DeVito look tall, dark and handsome, is that any reason to kill him? The reluctant and quirky PI, Lee Alvarez doesn’t think so. But the 34-year old ½ Latina, ½ WASP and 100% detective has her work cut out for her when the man is murdered on her watch.  Of all the nerve. Set in the present, Murder is a Family Business is the first in a series of humorous mysteries revolving around Lee Alvarez, a combination of Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone and Janet Evanovitch’ Stephanie Plum, and rest of the Alvarez Family, detectives all. Seemingly light and frothy on the surface, the novel nevertheless explores familial love, the good, the bad and the annoying.

Completing the family is Lee’s Never-Had-A-Bad-Hair-Day aristocratic mother, Lila; computer genius brother, Richard; beloved uncle “Tio;” and her energetic orange and white cat, Tugger. When this group is not solving murders, they run Discretionary Inquiries, a successful Silicon Valley agency that normally deals with the theft of computer software. The love, humor and camaraderie shared within this family are what set this series apart from others.

My Thoughts-

When I first saw the cover with the cute orange kitten, I did not know what to expect. As I started reading the book, I was drawn into the plot and I had to keep reading.  The author combined mystery, suspense and family into a great detective novel.  There were twists and turns throughout the book that made the plot  interesting and fresh. The members of the family complemented the storyline and I really liked Lee and her little kitten Tugger. I look forward to following the Alvarez family in the next book of the series, A Wedding to Die For available now.

Author's Site-

View the Trailer- 

Read an Excerpt-

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

REVIEW OF CLARITY BY K. HARRINGTON

When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth? 

This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats. 

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift. 

And a curse. 

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most? 

My thoughts-

Ms. Harrington's debut novel is fantastic. I really liked Claire and her family. Each of them had a unique ability that made the book interesting. I finished the book rather quickly because I could not put it down. I have always enjoyed books about mediums and psychics but Clarity is one of the best I have read so far. Claire "Clarity" and her family were considered freaks by the townspeople in their town but they have a lot to give to the town. Claire was a remarkable teenager full of spunk, adventure and was able to stand up for what she believes. The plot was fantastic and had me guessing throughout the entire book. The opening line "YOU DON'T WANT TO KILL ME," I SAID, "Of course I Don't, Claire. But I have to." had me hooked. I thought that I knew who the killer was but I was surprised at the end. Ms. Harrington is a wonderful writer and I hope that she continues to write about Claire and her family. This is a 5 star novel.






Disclosure: I received an ARC from Book It Forward Tours for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.