Cranky - The Book Curmudgeon: December 2019

New Review! The Trouble with Gravity by K.K. Allen 4.5 Cranky Stars

The Trouble with Gravity by K.K. Allen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 Cranky Stars

Sebastian AKA Broadways bad boy is trying to salvage his career and break free from the chains of his past. He agrees to one more run of his Broadway show that tanked thanks to Dirk and some bad decisions. They are to take Angst and Grace to the high seas. Yep taking the show to a cruise ship near you. When it comes time to find their principal dancer he zeroes in on Kai. She has something that he can’t put his finger on and champions for her hire. Sebastian doesn’t realize that in a lot of ways Kai is going to change his life. Make him see himself for something more than a guy who screwed up and plays a mean piano.

Kai has suffered tragedy. Her childhood was spent in the open waters with her father. Sailing from place to place but one day the sea took her father from her and she hasn’t set foot near a boat or the ocean since. She has focused all her energy into dance. She loves Gravity dance complex and the people she calls family. Kai is just waiting for her break and when it comes in the form of a principal role in Sebastian’s show she knows this is her moment except her one fear the open waters. Kai has a come to Jesus moment with herself and opens up to Sebastian and he agrees to help her through this if she just takes a chance. In the chaos of the show and the drama of the working relationships Kai and Sebastian find themselves falling for each other.

I love this series. Sebastian and Kai kept me company while I was in bed with the flu. I was cheering them on and was a proud mama when Kai faced her fears. Sebastian in a lot of ways to me was just misunderstood. Sometimes It is better if you just let people think what they want to think. Dirk and this ex-wife were horrid. I kind of wanted to kick them off the boat without a life vest or a lifeboat. This book just like the others had the dance links to immerse you into the story even more. Another winner from K.K. Allen

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New Review! My Fake Rake (Union of the Rakes #1) by Eva Leigh 5 Cranky Stars

My Fake Rake by Eva Leigh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 CRANKY STARS

This book was certainly a surprise. I am trying to read some romance. I thought this would be just another entry into the world of Hallmark movies. However, I was totally shocked. I loved this silly little story. It was so predictable but was so well written that I became one with the characters and couldn’t put it down.

It takes place in London in the early 1800’s. Lady Grace and Sebastian have been friends for years and are frequently found in the Benezra library studying together. She is a herpetologist and he is an anthropologist. The other character in this group is Mason, who is a naturalist. The problem is that Mason must find a wife and marry soon. Alas, Lady Grace has been told by her father that she must wed soon but she only has eyes for Mason. No men beat down her door because as a female scientist, no man is interested. Which is why she wants Mason. Afterall, their fields of study are compatible, and they could go on investigations together. Problem, Mason, doesn’t see her as a viable love interest. Thus, the title of the story-My Fake Rake. She decides to teach poor Sebastion how to behave like a Rake. He can then show interest in her in the hopes of making Mason discover a love for her. Some scenes are right out of old Lucy-Desi movies and other scenes make one want to cry.

I haven’t read such an enchanting story in a while. I highly recommend that everyone needs to read this. You’ll be charmed. It would make a great light-hearted movie.

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New Review! Asking for a Friend (Boyfriend Material #1) by Lauren Blakely 5 Cranky Stars

Asking For a Friend by Lauren Blakely
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 Cranky Stars

This story made my heart so happy that I had to read it twice. Words can describe anything and this book give us a world where words are everything.

Amy is a bubbly word loving woman who I'd love to be friends with. She embarks on the challenge of finding her bestie a date when the tables turned on her in the best way.

Linc just moved across the country to escape the disaster of a failed office romance. His one rule is no fishing in the office pond. Everything changes when Amy starts slinging words, cat memes and skirts with pockets in his direction.

I can't recommend this book enough. The characters are dishy (yep, borrowed that word from Amy) and loveable. I look forward to reading more from this author.

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New Review! Speak No Evil by Liana Gardner 5 Cranky Stars

Speak No Evil by Liana Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 Cranky Stars

First of all, I have to say that this book should have trigger warnings for readers. The book deals with several sensitive subjects, including sexual abuse of a minor girl, rape, torment, and physical abuse.

Melody Fisher is a young woman who has suffered a lot in her sixteen years. Her father was a snake handler in Appalachia and her Mama was killed by one of his snakes. Then, her father disappeared. Thus begins Melody's trip through a flawed foster care system. She has been shifted from home to home, each more horrific than the one before. As the book begins, Melody is spending every afternoon with psychologist Dr. Roger Kane because she hasn't spoken a word in over two years.

As the story unfolds, the author leads the reader through Melody's life, with flashbacks filling in the blanks of the present. Dr. Kane uses a unique approach to try to communicate with Melody by utilizing her love of music. Since Melody won't talk, he asks her to tell him what she is feeling/thinking through music she has downloaded on a MP3 player. I found this to be a very different, intriguing and effective way for two people to communicate.

I found myself highlighting many of the lyrics that Melody used to tell her tale. At the end of the book, I learned that many of these lyrics were written specifically for this book by Lucas Astor. I hope that someday he will be able to bring those songs to life and share them with the world. The emotions that they evoked were truly heart wrenching.

Melody has suffered a lot at the hands of those who were supposed to protect her. The reader eventually learns of some of the horrors that have led to her uncommunicative state. "The pain you feel today is the strength you feel tomorrow. For every challenge encountered, there is an opportunity for growth."

In the end, Melody finally finds peace and friendship with several people who truly care about her. As her favorite Foster Mother Quatie Raincrow tells her, "May the stars carry your sadness away, may the flowers fill your heart with beauty, may hope forever wipe away your tears, and, above all, may silence make you strong."

All in all, this book was well-written and I found myself feeling Melody's emotions as she struggled with telling her story. In fact, it took me several days to process what I had read and to be able to write a review. This is the type of book that will stay with me for a long, long time.

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New Review! 'Twas the Night Before- A Magical Holiday Romance Anthology by Multiple Authors 4 Cranky Stars

'Twas the Night Before - A Magical Holdiay Romance Anthology by S.J. Pierce
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 CRANKY STARS

This is an anthology by three authors. Each story was entertaining but not anything I would bother looking for the sequels too. They are short little novellas. They unfortunately are very similar in subject and in writing style. The first book is Spell of Snow by S. J. Pierce and is the longest of the three. It takes place during the Salem Witch hunts in Ipswich, Massachusetts. At the age of ten, Rosanna discovered a special talent. With a wave of her hand, she could make dead flowers bloom. She didn’t consider herself a witch but at sixteen, the world considered her one. She had kept that secret for six years, but a careless chance encounter ruined it. Her best friend caught her and reported her. Could her boyfriend save her?

The second story is Christmas Savior by Jo Michaels. It is Kent England, 1544. Victoria is an angel. She has a special task to perform. She must protect a young woman named Catherine from falling under the influence of the dark side. In other words, Vampires are after her. Having never seen a vampire, Victoria isn’t sure what she is watching for. While out walking one night she meets an amazing young man just down the alley from her house. She introduces him to Catherine but for some reason, Victoria is smitten with Vance and vice versa. She introduces him to Catherine not knowing he is a vampire. Will she give up her wings to stay with him or go back to Heaven.

The third story is Immortal Faith by Tia Silverthorne Bach. It is New York City, 1889. Lucent and Mary are husband and wife. They are also vampires who refuse to drink from living humans. After Mary is killed, Lucent refuses to mix with other vampires. One night he meets a witch who tells him he has a divine purpose in life. He is falling in love with her when their world falls apart.

Again, these are short stories that lead to other books in their respective series. Unfortunately, I wasn’t that thrilled with the stories to look for more. They were predictable. That is my reaction but maybe not yours so give them a try.

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New Review! Knight of the Crescent Moon (Crescent Moon Chronicles #1) by L.E. Towne 4 Cranky Stars

Knight of the Crescent Moon by L.E. Towne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 CRANKY STARS

I enjoyed this book, but it didn’t knock my socks off. The writing was well done and the story was sufficiently different to be interesting. It’s a modern-day story with a twist. However, I didn’t find it interesting enough to look for the next book in the series although it did give me a sneak preview. It’s about time travel and magical creatures. Pretty predictable unfortunately.

The story revolves around a female police detective who also can see magical creatures. It starts with her being saved from a demon by a debonair British gentleman. Only a couple of her friends know she has this power. Now she meets someone else with her talent. As the two of them embark on a mission to save the city, they take turns saving each other. The British gent is quite famous in his time and is the time traveler. Of course, there is a love story in here somewhere as they work to help the police with her regular criminal cases. They also must solve the case of the supernatural demon. Are the two cases related? They are about to find out. Might be more enjoyed by a younger set of readers.

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New Review! Beneath London's Fog by Iona Caldwell 5 Cranky Stars

Beneath London's Fog by Iona Caldwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 CRANKY STARS

Well, this book was not what I was expecting but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Vampire stories are always fun for me ever since I found author Ann Rice. This vampire is a little different and because it is a short easy read, it ended too soon.

I liked the concept of vampires (however, the main character doesn’t consider himself one) having different levels of magical power. Because he was created hundreds of years earlier, he has way more power. There are only a few like him still in hiding. He gives us some of his background and the story starts in the 1565 in London where he meets his true love Annabelle. It then jumps to 1910 and this is where I got confused.

Of course, it is many years after Annabelle’s death and Jonathan is raising a daughter named Holly. She seems to be in her late teens, early twenties and is just starting to spread her wings. It is just a short time after the Jack the Ripper scandal and Jonathan is hesitant to let her leave home at night. There is what appears to be a vampire hunting in the city and creating hideous corpses. Jonathan knows of only one other vampire capable of such atrocious behavior, but she is dead.

I’m not telling you anymore but there is action and suspense as Jonathan tries to help the police. A great quick read for a dreary afternoon.

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Preorder Blitz! Bulletproof by Samantha Harris

BULLETPROOF

Author: Samatha Harris

Designer: T.E. Black with T.E. Black Designs

Release Date: January 14, 2020

Genre: Contemporary/Suspense Romance

PREORDER FOR 99 CENTS!

When Manhattan chef, Jake Maxwell, walks into the Rock Bottom Bar and Grill, he’s hit with an overwhelming sense of belonging. It’s not the place that feels like home, but rather, the bombshell behind the bar armed with a quick wit and a fresh sharpie.

Ashlynn Hicks is fighting to keep a roof over her family’s head, even though her father’s addictions threaten to tear it all down. She knows better than to fall for the city boy’s charm, but something in his eyes provokes a dangerous feeling of hope.

Hope isn’t real, not for girls like her. It’s fleeting and leads to nothing except disappointment and heartache. Still, the pair is drawn together despite the ghosts of their pasts threatening to tear them apart or the devastation that leaves them staring down the barrel of a gun.

When shots are fired, they find out that while separate, they may be broken; together, they are bulletproof.

AMAZON:

https://bookgoodies.com/a/B082YDVB14

Will be in Kindle Unlimited!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48734822-bulletproof

Samatha “Sam” Harris lives near Baltimore, Maryland with her husband David and daughter Ava. Born in Florida, she migrated north which most people agree was a little backwards. She has been an artist all of her life, a Tattoo Artist for more than ten years, and a storyteller since she was a kid.

Sam has a slightly unhealthy love for Frank Sinatra, classic movies, and Jazz and Blues music, but her first love will always be reading. From Romance, to Thrillers, to Historical Fiction and everything in between, she loves to become a part of the story. As a writer she tells the stories that she would want to read.