Review by @LaurieKozlowski of “Immortal Ever After” by Lynsay Sands #BookEscapeReviews #Amreading

A kiss doesn’t mean eternity . . .

Valerie Moyer doesn’t believe in vampires—until she is kidnapped by a fanged psychopath! After escaping her bloodthirsty captor, she’s through with creatures of the night. Until she finds herself under the protection of the darkly handsome Anders. Not only is she expected to accept that Anders is immortal, but also that she is the woman destined to be his life mate!

. . . Or does it?

Anders felt a connection to Valerie from the moment he cradled her bruised body in his arms. But before he claims her, he must destroy the vampire who almost stole her from him forever. His job would be easier if Valerie didn’t fight him every step of the way. Still, Anders loves a challenge, and the green-eyed beauty is worth fighting for!

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo

Review of Immortal Ever After 

A Dark and Sexy Book

Being pulled into a Lynsay Sands book means I will always satisfy my craving for the paranormal world of vampires, dangerous villains, great suspense, and the right amount of “thriller.”

“Immortal Ever After” is one book of several from the Aragenau series. In this novel, I was pleased to meet the hunky and heroic Anders as he protected mortal Valerie. The best thing about Anders was his dominance in the story (alpha all the way), without having a “heavy-handed” attitude. It allowed for his intelligence and scars to show without being caught up in ego too much. He had a great sense of humor, also. Which I LOVE in an alpha hero!

Valerie had a tragic beginning in the story. It was honestly spooky to read, but the good part is that soon Anders and the good vamps soon step in to serve justice to the rouges. I love how Valerie and Leigh (a pregnant vamp) work together to get out of a dangerous situation toward the end. What Valerie does to the bad guy is…well, I won’t ruin it for you, but I’ll just say this–who knew duct tape and good bludgeon could be so hilarious?!

And there is the beauty of the Lynsay Sands story. Always well balanced with just the right amount of alpha in a hero and independent heroine. Usually comic relief at the strangest time possible. Then you leave a book wondering…when can I read the next one? Beautiful.

FIVE STARS * * * * *

Reviewed by Laurie Kozlowski — Also posted to Goodreads. Like this review? “Friend” Laurie on Goodreads! 🙂

****New Releases By Lynsay Sands****

About The Author

LYNSAY SANDS is the nationally bestselling author who is known for her hysterical historicals as well as the popular Argeneau/Rogue Hunter vampire series. With her witty and charming personality, Sands describes books as, “Waking dreams or stories, tales to amuse, entertain and distract us from everyday life.” She’s been writing stories since grade school and considers herself incredibly lucky to be able to make a career out of it. Her hope is that readers can get away from their everyday stress through her stories, and if there are occasional uncontrollable fits of laughter, that’s just a big bonus. Visit her official website at www.lynsaysands.net.

 

 

Book Escape Review of The Greatest Gift by Michael John Sullivan #amreading #inspirational #timetravel #fiction

Is there one more miracle left?
Teenager Elizabeth Stewart has been given the gift of life once more and uses it to risk everything for a close friend – even though it means leaving behind her father, Michael.
Distraught, Michael poses as a Roman soldier, takes a sea journey with an Apostle, and is asked to help write part of the Gospel in his quest to safely bring his daughter home to the twenty-first century.
In present time, Hewitt Paul, an embittered FBI special agent, seeks solutions to the mysteries surrounding Elizabeth and Michael’s disappearance.
As faith collides with cynicism and compassion faces off against cruelty, these three people will encounter the unimaginable in ways that alter their lives forever.
Thrilling, illuminating, and ultimately resounding, THE GREATEST GIFT concludes the trilogy begun in NECESSARY HEARTBREAK and EVERYBODY’S DAUGHTER in awe-inspiring fashion.

*** The Greatest Gift can be found on Amazon and Barnes and Noble ***

Book Review of The Greatest Gift

Five Stars * * * * *

Excellent Ending To A Great Series

I’ve been following the When Time Forgets series for a while now and each book has had the unique aspect of being inspirational without having religious overtones. This aspect has kept me reading the series, but also, I have enjoyed reading what Jerusalem and the depictions of people from the Bible, from Mr. Sullivan’s point of view.  In The Greatest Gift, I found myself connected with some characters more than others, but essentially the story was of the same excellent quality of the books before. It included mystery, action, inspiration, and was vividly drawn with words, as the story became increasingly more interesting.

What made The Greatest Gift stand out, to me, was finding out more about Hewitt Paul–a minor character from the series. Though he was not one of my favorite characters, I liked how his vulnerability showed toward the end. My favorite characters, aside from Michael and Elizabeth, would have to be Connie and Susan. I loved Connie’s no-filter approach toward Hewitt…and well, anyone. Susan was lovable in a practical way and was a good friend. Dennis was another great character.

There are two endings to this book. The author lets the reader choose. I’ve never been one to discriminate happy endings, so I chose them both! Great ending to the When Time Forgets series.

Reviewed by Laurie Kozlowski–also posted to Amazon and Goodreads.

LIKE THIS REVIEW? If you hang out more on Goodreads, why not connect with Laurie, there, too?

Laurie Kozlowski on Goodreads

~ More Works By This Author ~

Necessary Heartbreak, Book One in When Time Forgets Trilogy

Everybody’s Daughter, Book Two in When Time Forgets Trilogy

An Angel Comes Home, Prequel to Everybody’s Daughter, part of the When Time Forgets Trilogy

ABOUT MICHAEL JOHN SULLIVAN

Michael John Sullivan graduated with a communications degree and a promising future in the field of journalism after working for the official school paper the previous two years. Six months later, he found himself washing his hair in a toilet at the same university as he prepared for a job interview.

Sullivan was homeless at the age of 23 after first watching his mother — his protector in a dysfunctional family — die from cancer. A year later his father asked him to leave. Riding a New York City subway train at night, his only companion was a green plastic bag of belongings. During these bleak days he began writing his most reflective and emotional childhood and adult memories now featured in two of his novels.

On a bitterly cold New Year’s Eve that year, Sullivan intentionally hid under a pew in the back of a church to stay warm for the night. After the doors were locked, he lay near a makeshift manger, writing and talking to the baby Jesus. It was a cathartic experience, one that would continue to resonate with him years later.

He was rescued off the train by an aunt and uncle.

After spending much of the past two decades raising their daughters while working at home, Sullivan returned to his notes in 2007 and began writing Necessary Heartbreak: A Novel of Faith and Forgiveness. It was published by Simon & Schuster’s Gallery Books imprint in April 2010. The Library Journal named Necessary Heartbreak as one of the year’s best in Christian fiction for 2010. He recently finished the sequel, Everybody’s Daughter, featuring more memories from his young adult life, including the day he walked to Forest Park as he contemplated taking his own life. Only the strains of a song prevented him from doing the unthinkable.

Sullivan lives with his family in New York. He is a board member for the Long Island Coalition of the Homeless.

MJS Website

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MJS on Goodreads

Book Escape Review of ‘Journey To Murder (An Alex Warren Novel)’ #Amreading #Suspense

A Wonderful Cozy Mystery With A Great Twist

5 Stars * * * * *

DJ Owen is a new author and her talent to tell a well-balanced mystery without extreme gore or violence was just what I had in mind. I’m usually hesitant to read those types of books because I have a low tolerance for violence, unless it is well-justified. I was not disappointed one bit, and rather amused by the book blurb, so I gave her book a chance and loved it.

Alex is a single mom and since the unsolved murders of parents and her husband, she and her daughter rely on her sister as Alex travels to find her own ‘justice’ in the world by targeting serial rapists and killers to prevent them from hurting anyone else. I know…I was hesitant about this story-line, too, until I read further into the story. It seemed a bit redundant, at first, for her to be a killer and to be going after other killers. But it’s also clear that her conscious is traumatized from the deaths of those closest to her. She will do anything to protect even a stranger from being attacked and feels deep remorse about her actions. In a way, this is a psychological thriller, but on the lighter side.

Kyle is a cop who steps in to help with Alex’s fifteen year old daughter, Amy, when Monica (Alex’s sister), is abducted by a dangerous psycho. I won’t say anything more, because it would tell too much, but the twist at the end was great. It is a short and cozy mystery, so expect predictability. But this book packs a punch with suspense, thriller, a sprinkled in love story, family, and  friendship. It is well worth your time to read this book if you like any or all of those elements. For me, it was just enough suspense to keep me intrigued without grossing me out. I loved it.

A side note: this story also contains the first chapter of the next book, Journey to Redemption, of the Alex Warren Novels series by DJ Owen.

Reviewed by Laurie Kozlowski – also posted to Smashwords

* Being that this book is a new release and isn’t yet on Goodreads or Amazon, I’ve only posted a review to Smashwords, in addition to this blog post.*

‘A Journey To Murder’ On Smashwords (Epub available download for Nook or read it directly, online)

Book Blurb

Alex Warren is a single soccer-mom and freelance writer with a mission — to help prevent the weak from being victimized. Traveling in her Winnebago, she seeks out those who would harm others to prevent them from hurting another person. She begins to fall for a Sheriff’s Deputy causing her to rethink her life when her only sister is kidnapped. Will she save her sister, or are both doomed?

About DJ Owen

DJ currently lives in Louisville, Kentucky.  She published her first newspaper at age six, interviewing her family members, typing her own stories and articles, drawing her own comics, and selling one copy of her one and only issue for a nickle.

She has always loved the written word, reading everything she could get her hands on.  She started out with The Bobsey Twins, then moved to The Hardy Boys.  She never really cared for Nancy Drew, but did read them if she had nothing else around.  Eventually she discovered Black Beauty, and as she moved into junior high and high school she began reading encyclopedias for fun.  She would read Popular Science and Mechanics Illustrated magazines, and then would read her mother’s Ladies’ Home Journal and Redbook… (Bio continued on her blog.)

Read her entire bio at her blog, HERE.