The Point G. Nykanen @AuthorGNykanen #review

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

OMG Im jumping up and down here. I hate typing a review on my kindle, but this was great and I gotta get as much of it down as I can, so its fresh. Just as I always do when reading something I check off

The plot= excellent

The characters= excellent

The story continuity= excellent

The story did it for me all over my little charts! To start with the characters, first up is Jake, I started to hate him when he was introduced. I know that’s bad but he pissed me off. I mean Nora, come on, she was amazing, and he was sort of cold. So when they are leaving for the summer she expected him to define their relationship. Instead he is cold and distant. That is the way the author got me from the first chapter. She very creatively has Jake running a thin line. You are not sure whether to love or hate him. Either way I was hooked.

So Nora leaves to go home to spend the summer with her now widowed Dad William. As for William, I want him as a Dad. So if he exists then I want him to adopt me.

So the summer begins with Nora licking her wounds. I loved her dad and his sporting good store and thought this was just what she needed. She meets up with Lucy and before you know it they are having fun and a few drinks.

Lucy+ BFF Lucy =

Nora meets Dane. OK he had me! He was tall, athletic, fabulously good looking and the cousin to Cooper whom Lucy had an instant attraction to. They go out and I had a WTF moment. He was having the strangest internal dialogue. Calling her (Nora) naive. I was thinking it too so I read on and then…Dane becomes the sexual predator. He strings Nora along in a horrible relationship. The author created the BEAST villian in Dane. He was so handsome and perfect on the outside. The inside was dark, dingy, sneaky, dirty and nasty all over!

The author creates some really really good characters with Nora, Lucy, William, Aunt Sara, Dane, Cooper and Jake. This was a thrilling book. SO Im screaming here to read it. Dont read it like I did camping at the beach, you will scare yourself senseless. There are so many twists and turns here that you will keep yourself on edge.

I think the best part was the turning in the plot. For Dane it was like “OMG he is that good” that people dont see the slimy sexual deviant he is. If you love angst, romance and a side order of thrilling suspense then grab it!

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G. Nykanen

G. Nykanen was born and raised in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. This small, rural land mass seems to cultivate a wide variety of colorful characters who provide a plethora of inspiration. The Point, Nykanen’s first novel, is filled with nuances of these local characters and the landscapes one might find in the north woods.

Well traveled thanks to her husband’s government career, she has lived in Europe and many of our United States over the last twenty years. She has recently returned home, moving back to her beloved Upper Peninsula where she resides with her husband and three children.

With The Point now completed, she will continue working on her next novel, Accumulation, along with continuing to develop other stories in the works.

26Jun2014

The Point G. Nykanen @AuthorGNykanen #Debut #Spotlight

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

Befuddled by her current relationship woes, Nora Reynolds leaves college at semester’s end to drive north of nowhere to her hometown of Iron Bay. Vulnerable and on the rebound, she is the perfect prey for fledgling felon Dane Buchman. Dane takes advantage of the unaware young woman, feeding his appetite for mischief until a rather violent shift in their relationship reveals to him what he’s really been craving. Driven by his new found hunger, Dane feels unstoppable, until former high school rival and town deputy, Doug Sanders, navigates the trail of Dane’s destruction.

The Point is a dark thriller that will allow you to witness a truly dangerous sociopath wander through madness guided by a treasured family heirloom, and a pensive young woman find her way after discovering, that which doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. With echoes of the Coen brothers’ Fargo, the folksy town of Iron Bay and the nearby north-woods community of Deer Lake are the destinations for Mr. Buchman’s many misdeeds.

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G. Nykanen

With The Point now completed, she will continue working on her next novel, Accumulation, along with continuing to develop other stories in the works.

19Jun2014

Chasing Desire by Jen Domenico @jendomenico #review @GCReading

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

This was a very crazy ride. Gosh the train carrying Mackenzie`s baggage was almost as big as the list of girls Brayden had. So Brayden, well one word YUMMO. He is one in a million. I loved this character! He was a sexual harassment law suit just waiting to be assigned to a judge and prosecutor. I loved how completely driven he was career wise. Dont go there on other subjects! Was there an intern he didnt have sex with? I dont think so.

When Mackenzie comes into his life it is interesting. The author created a situation where she scouted him and Capella, his agency, out and wanted to be hired. He noticed her and wanted her. What I hated about her was the fact that she was so bold. I struggled liking her because she was alpha and so was he. He was the one who wanted a relationship. She had rules and they applied everywhere but with him.

My Mackenzie is my Khloe is my all time fave Kardashian ever! She is bold, smart and quick witted!

What a fantastic book. Totally loved it for the right reasons. The authors creates two characters that I love to hate. There are a few minor characters that I loved too. Brayden’s sister was a hoot ass well as Dan his best friend. Special mentions and best friend buddy, secretary, confidant and brilliant pal Macy. She was the root of my love for the people in Capella. It is so worth the read. Great for the beach or a long weekend and I think it is available tomorrow.

It was over 400 pages and for that I was loving the author. Im also not gonna ruin anything but I will say there isnt any cliffhanger. There characters can be brought I am sure into another book but this is wrapped up. Brilliant!

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Jennifer Domenico started writing as a five-year old child in the back of her mother’s bible in church. It was a way to keep the fidgety child quiet but even then she took simple stories and twisted them into even more imaginative tales. As she grew, the stories grew with her and she filled notebook after notebook with her musings.

As an adult, she knew she wanted to be a writer but she lacked the attention span and inspiration required to produce a full length story. Eventually she put away her notebooks and turned her attention to the business world where she toiled away for many years.

She stopped reading fiction, stopped entertaining her outlandish imagination, and stopped dreaming of being a writer. Until one day, many months ago she went to sleep and a beautiful love story played out in her dreams.

When she awoke she felt compelled to write it down. And she wrote and she wrote, for days and days she wrote. The result is part one of Enzo and Ava’s story. Turn Towards the Sun is her first, but certainly not her last, novel.

Ms. Domenico lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her very Italian husband, a dog that adores her, two cats that tolerate her, and wicked sweet tooth. She is currently working on part two in the series.

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27Dec2013

To Catch a Falling Star by L. Duarte @LDuarte77 #review

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

“The paths of our journeys cross with unlimited sorrows, unreachable goals, and unattainable dreams”

This is book 2 of the series. It takes a fast forward to five years after book 1. The focus is Melody, the sister of Will from book 1. I know in book one I was harsh on the character, but once I got to know her, I loved her. She came across to Portia as being very opinionated. This doesn’t change. She is still mourning the death of Tim, her husband who was killed. The thought of her having Ella alone ten days after Tim is mortally wounded in Afghanistan is horrific. The fact that she has not come very far is shocking to me. I liked how Mel seemed content as she ritualized her life. She gave herself a set time each day to talk to Tim, pray, or grieve. It is a heartbreaking story, one that I found so touching.

“I follow him. I’ve followed him since I was five. We met during my first week of kindergarten. I fell in love”

Her life is, in my opinion, not being lived the way Tim would want. She does so much for others, I guess keeping busy was her way of not thinking. Her partner Lucas is in this book playing a very important role for her. This is another platonic friendship that is sort of the author’s style. In the same way very similar to Tarry and Portia. Portia opens her home to Tarry. She play a minor role as does Will in his struggles dependency.

The way they get together is what I call divine intervention. Sometimes fate jumps up placing people where you need the in your life. This for me was the moment when I though God is here telling her to live. The messages were there sometimes louder, bolder, and as big as a neon sign. Tim being the competition for Tarry was hard. How do you compete with memories? How can she come to realize that she has got to live?

“Please forgive me Tim, I whisper. A gut-wrenching pain swamps my heart” Words like these will keep you thoroughly entertained. There are so many passages that made me appreciate this author. Another quote “Why does he have to be so handsome and carnal. I swallow hard. Every pore of his body emanates sensuality” OMG swooning big time for Tarry.

So when the court orders Tarry to complete court ordered counseling sessions and stay sober, he turns to best friend Portia. Dan, her father in-law is pivotal in Tarry’s sobriety. This is where the brilliant faith aspect comes into the scheme. Dan is away with Maritza, so Melody does the beginning sessions with Tarry. The old Mel comes on like a bulldozer “It’s okay to have a bad day. But, try to be present in your next session, will ya? Or I’ll drop your ass. I’m not here to waste time” Immediately you are thrust into the Mel takes no prisoners arena. I enjoyed the fact that the characters each had a distinctive personality.

The best parts of Tarry’s recovery were his sessions with Dan. The way Dan grins just annoys Tarry to no end. He is so unfamiliar with faith that when Dan says “So I ask you this morning. What melody has heaven whispered in your heart today” Tarry is the opposite of Dan so he really needs a push to find his purpose.

There is a lot to learn for those of you never knowing an addict. He struggles every minute to stay sober. Most of the time his withdrawals seem so real that I visioned Tarry scratching himself in a fit of need. The descriptions are just amazingly vivid. You as the reader will be thrown into Tarry’s love for getting high as well as his struggles to stay clean.

This is a brilliantly plotted book. I am so glad to have read it and call the author my friend. I believe in her so much. I am feeling proud knowing this is yet another great novel. PLEASE support the indie authors and share your reviews, thoughts and then click recommend! This is another read it right now type books.

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I have found that there is only one thing better than reading, and that is writing. I am always torn between the two. I am also frequently torn between chocolate and coffee. However, I emphatically do not like the month of February, lies, and flies. For me, bravery is defined by the courage to do what we fear the most. This conviction is reflected in my debut work of romantic fiction, Chasing Stars. I live in Connecticut with my husband and two children. Drop a few lines. I would love to hear from you.

26Dec2013

To Catch a Falling Star by L. Duarte @LDuarte77 #spotlight

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

It’s been five years, but Melody still mourns the death of Tim, her soul mate and beloved husband who never had a chance to hold their daughter. Mel and her daughter have the love and support of Mel’s brother Will and sister-in-law Portia, the famous Oscar-winning actress-turned-mother. Mel works three jobs and mothers Ella, but she spends her mornings facing the demons of her grief. Her faith and her father, the pastor, helps Mel grapple with her grief.

Portia opens her home to her childhood friend Tarry Francis, a successful, womanizing rock star. He’s trying to beat his addictions. Again. He’s going through the motions, but needs his drugs and rowdy lifestyle to keep his childhood pain in check. Tarry’s privileged upbringing contrasted with his cruel parents, who starved him of affection. Who can fix that?

Mel is forced to counsel Tarry, but he’s so damaged and unwilling to try that she’s not sure anyone can help fix him. She gives him a special coin. Could this open their hearts to each other and fuel their love? Is this a step forward that will free them to catch the falling stars? Or will Mel remain faithful to her first love?

Rich in meaning, To Catch a Falling Star is about two lovers whose hearts struggle to open to find the magic of the journey of love. It’s a joyful and passionate story about overcoming challenges to lead us to love and the fulfillment of our dreams.

To Catch a Falling Star is the stunning follow-up novel to L. Duarte’s debut Chasing Stars about Portia and Will’s romance. A spiritual and playful read, L. Duarte has provided readers the chance to believe in healing a broken heart.

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17Dec2013

After Tuesday by Renee Ericson @EricsonRenee #review

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

Family really is a pain…especially when your father is an addict.

I have found another great book loaded with angst. The best thing was how accurate the author was with her addiction portrayals. I loved the fact that she incorporated AA and Teen AA. That was the best part of the book.

For the characters, I loved Ruby, name and all! She is focused on work, school, Dragon (he is a dog and her best friend), and her car a Gremlin. That is until she gets a camp job and meets Lexi. They go to school together and she works at the canoe activity too. She doesn’t need the money, she says it will help her get into a good college and it looks good on an application. This why the author was SO good. All these little details made it a great read. Enter Brent the one who was into Frankie and very personable. Wait what rumor? Oh he and Frankie broke up?

Can it get any better? He asks her to go out and Lexi is shocked at first but jumps into action. She prepares all of Ruby’s stuff and pumps her up for the big date. Lexi is into Brent’s friend Owen. Lexi openly expresses her “occurrences”with Owen and that makes Ruby blush.

Hey Brent Cromwell, my soccer star

Ruby is sort of one person on an island. Her Dad’s Brother, Uncle Jason aka Jas and her cousin Cody live next door. They are all so stuck in the past. They act like they are twenty somethings all drinking and hanging out without a care in the world.

Ruby goes through this so-called father daughter relationship with her guards up. Her dad is not a bad guy but he can drink. She is the most responsible in the family. She is counting the days until she turns eighteen and goes to college. She just wants out. It doesn’t take long for the angst meter to hit full throttle. Ruby is starting to act like a regular senior high school girl who goes to pep rallies and sleepover. One may say “normal”

What I truly loved was the authors portrayal of Ruby. She is strong , determined, smart, and responsible. She also feels somewhat sorry for her dad. I wont say she excuses his behavior, but she understands it and just chooses to remain in her house without communication. It is a tale with so many twisting turns you will love it.

Overall it is a wonderful must read for the lovers of this genre. Now I love angst and the meter was pretty high here so please jump on the emotional train into Ruby Tuesday land!

YA-M: This book contains mature content including profanity, drug/alcohol use, and sexual situations/language

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Renee loves to wear hoodies, is fluent in Yoda speak, and likes to make videos with Lego figures. She is a long time insomniac, but doesn’t have the energy to start an underground Fight Club so she settles for writing stories about the characters who plague her mind. She grew up in the Midwest and currently resides in the Boston area, but sounds nothing like Ben Affleck or Matt Damon.

7Nov2013

After Tuesday by Renee Ericson @EricsonRenee #review

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

Family really is a pain…especially when your father is an addict.

Hey Brent Cromwell, my soccer star

Overall it is a wonderful must read for the lovers of this genre. Now I love angst and the meter was pretty high here so please jump on the emotional train into Ruby Tuesday land!

YA-M: This book contains mature content including profanity, drug/alcohol use, and sexual situations/language

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3Nov2013

Searching for Tomorrow by Kathryn M. Crane #review @KCrane_katiemac #debut

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

Some people are blessed to find that one certain person who completes them.

This is a very emotional book. It has alternating time frames between past and present. Out main character is blessed with a caring, loving and supportive family. Wrynn’s growing up with her best friend and her brother is where the story starts. Wrynn and Tripp were the best of friends and when they fall in love and her brother sees them holding hands he remarks t was about time. I guess everyone saw it before they realized it.

Wrynn has a long journey of loss with Tripp. It is hard to imagine being alone with three kids and struggling.Although many people who read the book will argue, I like his Mother. She brought a different dynamic to the story. The reason why I liked her was because I hated her. The author did a great job with her background and reveal. That being said, she was evil for a reason and although I wanted Wrynn to smack her, I completely understood she was not made to be like that even for an evil woman. There sure is a lot that created Mother to be the way she was. It is a big reveal, so hold on for that.

Wrynn has a job as a hostess, which is exhausting and she does not need the money. I think it helps her to keep the nervous breakdown at arms length. It is a very compelling tale of life, love and the serious effects of military life. I would have liked to have it read all together and not alternating. It was hard going from happy, curious, young and in love teens to the reality check he was gone. So there is a lot of emotions here.

I will add it is totally a PG rated book. So share it with your teens and maybe it will let the reading bug bite them!

If you are reading this, I think you should know that “About me” sounds so very pretentious to me. I guess that is what I am supposed to write about, so here it goes!

Kathryn is a simple country girl who likes to spend time with her hubba, hunka hubby, her three kids and her friends. She loves to cook and really loves to eat! During the spring and summer, you will more than likely find her outside puttering around in her garden. When the veggies start coming in, she will probably be sweating over a hot canner in the kitchen, canning all the goodies she is blessed with. Kathryn likes to hike and go camping, and as a Girl Scout leader, she gets to do this pretty often! On cold winter nights, you will probably find her wrapped in a warm blanket, lost in a good book, while sitting in her rocking chair on the front porch!

Kathryn was born and raised in North Carolina, and while she loves to travel, she can’t imagine ever leaving the mountains that she has come to call home. Not a day goes by that Kathryn doesn’t thank God for abundantly blessing her. He has been so good to her, and she is very grateful. She holds Jeremiah 29:11 very close to her heart and believes it with every fiber of her being. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Kathryn loves flip flops, chocolate, sweet tea and dirt between her toes. As far back as she can remember, she’s had a book in her hand. Reading has carried her to places she will never go. It has introduced her to people that she will never meet. When life is great and when it is rough, she’s always been able to find a book to carry her through. She finally decided to write down some of the stories in her head (yes, be scared) and heart after dawdling around and wasting years dreaming. She hopes you enjoy reading those stories as much as she loves writing them!

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2Nov2013

The Lake House Secret by Debra Burroughs @DebraBurroughs #review

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

I am a big Debra Burroughs fan. When I read Three Days in Seattle (buy it here) I knew I stumbled on to something really good. This book has the romantic suspense theme that I love. I am also one of the stars. I am Aunt Renee! Yup that is me. I am so happy I won that contest Anyways enough of my babbling.

The story starts out creating the love I had for Jenessa. She has a bad day, she gets the lay off speech at work, goes home to see a 3 day eviction notice and then hears her Dad has had a heart attack and he didn’t make it. Sorting through this mess is going to take time. So I get invested in her character and I feel sorry for her, but I admire her strength. She hops in her old beat up Toyota and drives to Hidden Valley. When she gets there you are introduced to Aunt Renee (ME) and her sister Sara and Ramey her best friend. It is here that all the secrets come out. There is a huge murder investigation, a lie, a betrayal and a BIG family secret.

On the way there poor Jenessa gets stopped by the police. It is something that happens to her often. She may have a lead foot!

Enter Mike

Gosh he is cute, smart, and has shown great improvement since high school.

The lovable Aunt Renee (me) gets the word there is a report job and recommends Jenessa. Lucky for her she gets the job. Being she has a parent to mourn, a job to do, and about $5 in her pocket, she needs to get together and move on. It is a Jenessa Jones is immediately pulled into the human remains story. Juicy and interesting. She has a flair for getting a detective on her side. I loved her and George together. Not a spoiler, but she does have a way with getting him on her side to spill a secret or three.

Now enter Logan. He is the one who got away. Well I dont know if that is accurate anyway. I hated him and then loved him. The author does a great job of adding one mystery and one secret at a time. Seriously a page turner. This town is chock full of drama.

Obviously I loved Jenessa, she was all that! Funny, pretty, smart and sneaky! I liked how there were secrets being spread out through the Hidden Valley chapters. I also liked how she second guessed who was the killer. There is a chapter where you even think it may be her best friend. A very good plot that moves along at a steady pace.

The biggest reveal was about Logan the boyfriend who stole her heart. His part is a steamy must read for sure! The characters are all lovable in a way that you know they will be in the next book. I hope it is a long series. Long live Aunt Renee! Did I mention that was me? I’m a star!

Debra Burroughs writes with intensity and power. Her characters are rich and the stories are full of compelling suspense and real romance. She can be found, most days, sitting in front of her computer in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, dreaming up and writing about strong women, their relationships with men (good and bad), involved in exciting, mysterious, and romantic situations.

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29Oct2013

The Broken by Ker Dukey @dirtyhoesbook @KerDukeyauthor #review

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

What a book! I should say more but I have been a little speechless since I finished it. For starters it is not for the faint at heart, love and flowers sort of people who may read my blog. I like taboo subjects, dark and dangerous themes, so of course this was a great pick. I wanted to help my fellow bloggers and I did a few posting because this is a debut. I decided after reading the blurb, I would read it.

Obviously the main characters are very disturbingly real. River (who is a girl) has been broken for some time. Her brother Blaydon (not sure if I like that name) and her boyfriend Danny all live in what was once her family home. The story tells of their growing up and how the abusive Danny moved on in. The neighbor and equally dysfunctional Sammy returns from college with his best friend Jasper. As for describing them and their past, the author did an awesome job. Very slowly the clues come out. I was totally invested in all of the characters and couldn’t wait to get to some reveals. When they came, YIKES, gosh darn it they were almost as wild and unbelievable as I thought they would be.

Questions are answered for Blaydon and River. The past is brought front and center with their fears. They cover up a lot as you would expect. What I thought was the best part was the strength of River. Aside from River I felt so bad for Blaydon. When his discoveries come to light I totally fell in love with his big heart. He suffered from depression and seriously how could he not? So….. there is a lot of lying, drugs, sex, and finally truths. Here is the best part = it ended and there was NO cliffhanger. YES it is going to be a series and we will get to know more complex characters, which is great, but I was not left with the infamous read more from book two.

It is a great twisted tale. Please check this out ONLY if you like what I do. It is not flowers, romance and little kids singing the Barney theme song. There was so much to love about the book and the richness of the characters. I am going to sing praises for Ker and say bravo !!