Review: The Steady Running of the Hour

Title: The Steady Running of the Hour

Author: Justin Go

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Blurb: In this mesmerizing debut, a young American discovers he may be heir to the unclaimed estate of an English World War I officer, which launches him on a quest across Europe to uncover the elusive truth.

Just after graduating college, Tristan Campbell receives a letter delivered by special courier to his apartment in San Francisco. It contains the phone number of a Mr. J.F. Prichard of Twyning & Hooper, Solicitors, in London--and news that could change Tristan's life forever.

In 1924, Prichard explains, an English alpinist named Ashley Walsingham died attempting to summit Mt. Everest, leaving his fortune to his former lover, Imogen Soames-Andersson. But the estate was never claimed. Information has recently surfaced suggesting Tristan may be the rightful heir, but unless he can find documented evidence, the fortune will be divided among charitable beneficiaries in less than two months.

In a breathless race from London archives to Somme battlefields to the Eastfjords of Iceland, Tristan pieces together the story of a forbidden affair set against the tumult of the First World War and the pioneer British expeditions to Mt. Everest. Following his instincts through a maze of frenzied research, Tristan soon becomes obsessed with the tragic lovers, and he crosses paths with a mysterious French girl named Mireille who suggests there is more to his quest than he realizes. Tristan must prove that he is related to Imogen to inherit Ashley's fortune--but the more he learns about the couple, the stranger his journey becomes.

The Steady Running of the Hour announces the arrival of a stunningly talented author. Part love story, part historical tour de force, Justin Go's novel is utterly compelling, unpredictable, and heartrending.

Review: I read this book due to the recommendation of a great friend of mine. I was certain it was going to be good due to the fact that the preview that I read was GRIPPING! I couldn't wait until the library or Amazon got the book in so I could devour it in one sitting. I have never been more wrong in my entire life.

The first 1/3 of the book held me, switching back and forth from present day to WWII. Then it got to be a little old. I put the book down 2/3 of the way through and vowed I would not finish the book. The book lover in me decided that I couldn't leave a book unread no matter how much I didn't care for it. So I read it all the way through to the end.

I have never been so disappointed in my entire life. The ending literally SUCKED. OK, it can't literally suck since it's not a vacuum or black hole, but it was not good. If my boyfriend had not been in the bed asleep beside me when I finished the book I would have thrown it.

What looked to be a promising start to a new career turned out to be a sad ending to a would be novel.

Review: Dragon Lord by Tamara Monteau

Title: Dragon Lord

Series: Haven's Realm #3

Author: Tamara Monteau

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Blurb: Before Tyler Jenkins embarked on her mission to retrieve stolen Government secrets, she reviewed every scrap of intel; memorized floor plans and guard schedules, knew everything she needed to achieve her objective. The one thing she didn't count on was the interference of one irritating vampire.

Ronan promised to protect an HSA agent infiltrating Courleon's Consortium. He hadn't counted on that agent being a woman, and worse: the most intriguing creature he'd laid eyes on for thousands of years. He knew from the start that if he wasn't careful, he would lead them into a chain of events that could force him to lose control and destroy everything in his path.
Review: Holy crap on a cracker! (Sorry I watch too much Big Bang Theory!) I've been in a book funk for so long that I haven't been able to read one book 3/4 of the way through without putting it down. Not so with Dragon Lord. I read this one cover to cover in 48 hours flat. I would have read it sooner if I didn't have to sleep.

Tamara Monteau is a friggin' genius with her character development, and plot twists. Just when I thought I couldn't take any more, another twist. What a joy to travel on the wings of the Dragon Lord!

Review: The Darker Path (Haven's Realm #2) by Tamara Monteau

Title: The Darker Path (Haven's Realm #2)
Author: Tamara Monteau
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Blurb: Ki’ara’s responsibilities were clear: she was destined to rule her world and produce heirs to strengthen the Royal Family. But on the eve of her coronation, with uncertainty about her suitors bearing hard on her, she chooses to follow the strange path that opens for her, allows it to take her to the strange place called New England and into the arms of Colton Graves, a man more powerful and dangerous than she ever imagined. Her struggles to understand his self-hatred and anger leads her to the Vampire Community, where answers only bring more questions, and she is forced to choose between her love of Colton and her duty to the Realm.

Review: 

At first I had a hard time getting into this book because my preconceived notions of vampires were not met, but after allowing myself time to sit and read I found I couldn't stop.I'm so glad that the author has shown me that all vampires are not created equal and hers are wonderfully well written on every single page. Tamara has again woven a tale full of well written characters and a page turning plot. If you haven't read Haven's Realm yet, you need to start now so you can get to this wonderful book. Off to read book three.

Review: Call Me Cat by Karpov Kinrade

Title: Call Me Cat

Author: Karpov Kinrade

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Blurb: Catelyn Travis is a good girl who gets good grades in law school, doesn’t date and never gets into trouble. 

But when a run of bad luck threatens to destroy everything she's worked for, she's forced to become Cat, phone sex goddess who fulfills the fantasies of her clients night after night.

When she meets Ashton Davenport the Third, bad boy biker billionaire, she knows to stay away. But when he calls her alter ego, Cat, she has no choice but to fall for the sexy stranger.

Now her life is spiraling out of control as she struggles to keep her two identities separate, but there's one person who knows her secret.

And he'll stop at nothing to destroy her, just like he destroyed her parents.

Threatened at every turn, her life crumbling around her, Catelyn must decide who she can trust, because the wrong choice could end her life.

Review: Cat is a college student trying to make it in the world. Money isn't the easiest thing to come by. When dire straits hit, Cat takes matters into her own hands. She knows that others will be a little concerned about what and how she's making it, but what has to be done is done. When real life and her alternate life collide will she be able to handle it?

Karpov Kinrade is not one to disappoint in Call Me Cat. With endearing characters, and spectacular writing this book will take you for a ride and keep you guessing. 

As always Karpov Kinrade has given me something to get hot over and to worry and wonder over. All I can say is that the next book has a lot of answers in it, or it better. I need more Catelyn!

I'd like to thank Karpov Kinrade for providing a copy of this book for me to read. All opinions are 100% mine and receiving a copy of this book in no way swayed my opinion.

Review - Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich

Title: Big Girl Panties
Author: Stephanie Evanovich
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Blurb: Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich is a rollicking and poignant romantic comedy about a young widow who decides to get in shape...and winds up getting her groove back--and a whole lot more! Holly Brennan used food to comfort herself through her husband's illness and death. Now she's alone at age thirty-two. And she weighs more than she ever has. When fate throws her in the path of Logan Montgomery, personal trainer to pro athletes, and he offers to train her, Holly concludes it must be a sign. Much as she dreads the thought of working out, Holly knows she needs to put on her big girl panties and see if she can sweat out some of her grief. Soon, the easy intimacy and playful banter of their training sessions lead Logan and Holly to most intense and steamy workouts. But can Holly and Logan go the distance as a couple now that she's met her goals--and other men are noticing?


Review: Being a heavy girl myself, I found the emotion written into Ms. Evanovich's character to be genuine and true. There were times when I had a tear in my eye, and a laugh escaping my mouth at the same time. Kudos.

When Molly and Logan get together I can honestly say that I disliked him and thought he was a giant ass. He views outer beauty instead of inner beauty. You wanted to hate him, you wanted Holly to find someone who wanted her for her. But the hearts wants what the heart wants. Luckily Logan pulls his head from his posterior and becomes the man he needed to be all his life. But is it in time? Only flips of the page, or in my case tones of a beautiful voice. (I listened to the audio book loaned to me from the local Library!)

Review - The World of Relaxation by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn

Title: The World of Relaxation
Author: Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn
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Blurb: The World of Relaxation was conceived as a way to reach out to patients lying in bed in the hospital and inviting them to experiment inwardly, with Jon’s guidance, in bringing mindful awareness to their present-moment circumstances, utilizing the occasion of having to lie in bed for some time — whatever the viewer’s medical condition and prognosis — to do something for him or herself to promote healing of the mind and body, as a vital complement to whatever the health care system and one’s doctors are doing by way of medical treatments and rehabilitation. Over one hundred hospitals have used this program over the years on their in-house television channels, and doctors often prescribe it to their patients, recommending that they practice with it several times a day. The program is meant to be “done” by the listener, rather than simply listened to. During most of the time, the listener is encouraged to have his or her eyes closed. In the past 30 years, Dr. Kabat-Zinn’s eight-week out-patient mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program has spread from the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center to hospitals and clinics across the United States and around the world and occasioned an entire field of clinical medicine and basic and clinical research, much of which has already demonstrated the profoundly positive mental and physical health consequences of practicing mindfulness meditation both formally and informally in one’s daily life. The practices in The World of Relaxation are guided meditations similar to the formal practices in MBSR, particularly mindfulness of breathing, body sensations, thoughts and emotions; and the body scan. The original harp music by Georgia Kelly was composed specifically for this program and is played by the composer. Harp music has been associated with healing since pre-biblical times. The music enhances the process of relaxation and establishes a flowing rhythmicity that entrains the listener’s attention and carries it through the various stages of the program. The notes of the harp have the quality of coming out of silence and disappearing back into silence, singly and in raining curtains of sounds, just as do our thoughts and emotions. Mindfulness, one’s capacity to inhabit the present moment with non-judgmental awareness, deepens over the course of a single session and even more, through repeated practicing with this program over days, weeks, months and years. The learning occasioned by practicing with this program on a regular basis can stand one in good stead from moment to moment and from day to day as one’s life continues to unfold.

Review: Though the title of this meditation states that it’s for those in the hospital and at home, it really mentioned the hospital too much. Which then made me think about asking the hospital if they have a patient library and if they have this meditation in their records. 

This was an audiobook borrowed from the library.

Review: a WHALE who dreamt of a SNAIL by William Heimbach

Title: a WHALE who dreamt of a SNAIL
Author: William Heimbach
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Blurb: "When I was little, I had a dream." 
So begins the new book by William Heimbach, illustrated by Angelina Tolentino. 

This story inspires us to think about our dreams while playfully showing kids the diversity of animals and environments in the world. 
If we dream about a whale, what does the whale dream about (perhaps a snail,) and then what? How are we all connected? 
The poetic quality of the story and the vivid illustration style makes for the perfect book to read before bedtime.

Review:This was a book that I got FREE from bookgorilla.com. This is a site that I get book deals from for my Kindle. You have to love good deals on books.

This lovely little children’s book was the perfect bedtime story for a child that you cherish. Though I must admit I stared at the art far more than I did the words. The artist did a fantabulous job!