Adam Orser: Chronicles of Evolution by Daniel Armand

Goodreads Summary

Adam Orser seems to be a regular guy, leading a fairly successful life in Toronto as a psychologist with a loving girlfriend, Jazmin.

But there is nothing ordinary about Adam.

Fate interrupts his planned marriage proposal, and a serious car accident thrusts him into a metaphysical reality behind a deep coma that holds his physical body in check. Through an advanced system of training and evolution created by the celestial realm, Adam is called to a dangerous mission with profound implications for the world he knows, and life and death consequences for one missing nine-year old girl, who is no ordinary kidnapped child. Fantastical forces are at work on both sides of the veil between the world we recognize and those yet to be discovered.

Destiny compels Adam to freely choose the part he will play in a no-limits competition between good and evil. Questions of existence, causality, and truth converge as Adam struggles to find his way back to Jazmin and a life that will never be the same.

My Review

This a fast paced read, with a very interesting plot line. Although it kept me on the edge of my seat, I felt overwhelmed at times while trying to keep track of what was going on. In some ways the story felt familiar, but in others, it was a complete breath of fresh air. The characters are well thought out and relatable, the plot is fast and intriguing, and the world is exciting and mysterious. Overall, it was an enjoyable read. I found the writing to be solid, and I think this is a series to watch. My only real quibble was that it was hard to keep up with at times, and that was a bit distracting. If you’re a fan of complexity, look no further than this book.

Spectral by Shannon Duffy

Goodreads Summary:
Convinced she’s a part of the witness protection program, sixteen-year-old Jewel Rose is shuffled around the globe with her family like a pack of traveling gypsies. After arriving at lucky home twenty-seven, she stumbles upon a mysterious boy with magical powers claiming to be her guardian . . . and warning of imminent danger. Despite the obvious sparks between them, Jewel discovers a relationship is forbidden, and the more she learns about dark, brooding Roman, she begins to question who she can even believe—the family who raised her, or the supposed sworn protector who claims they’ve been lying to her all along.

As she struggles to uncover who her family has really been running from, she is forced to hide her birthmark that reveals who she is. With new realities surfacing, unexplained powers appearing, and two tempting boys vying for her heart, Jewel battles to learn who she can trust in an ever growing sea of lies, hoping she’ll make it through her seventeenth birthday alive.


My Review:

Spectral is a young adult novel by Shannon Duffy. Jewel has grown up thinking her family is in the witness protection program. A month before her 17th birthday she learns otherwise and her family has been on the run because of her. Now what she knows and what she doesn't know could kill her. Who can she trust?

I enjoyed reading this book. It was exciting. It has action, adventure, and even some romance. I couldn't wait to see what happened next.

I like Jewel. All of sudden everything she thought she knew about her life and her family was gone. It would've been very tempting for her to just ignore the new revelations and continue living with her head in the sand. She found the strength to start probing and discover the truths.

I didn't know quite what to think of Roman during most of this book. He seemed like a good guy and that he wanted to protect her but then we discover some things about his past. However, I did end up liking him.

This was a fun book to read and I highly recommend it.

Bonds of Fenris by S. J. Bell

Goodreads Summary:
Talia Thornwood's life ended one year ago, when she became a werewolf. She survived the attack, and the horrifying transformation a month later, but the life she has now is barely worth living. She lurks about in a filthy, run-down house, with too many werewolves crammed into too small a space. Every day is a struggle against the stress of human contact, the romantic prodding of her obnoxious packmate Pierce, and the gnawing hunger for flesh in her soul.

She's all but resigned herself to a dreary existence on the margins of society when she meets Corwin. Corwin is a werewolf like none other. He walks among humans as if it was nothing, and can keep his wolf under control even when the moon is full. Talia's mind is suddenly opened to the possibilities before her, and the realization of how little she really knows about lycanthropy.

Corwin claims that he can teach her how to cope as he does, even how to transcend her affliction. But it will not be easy. It is a hard education that requires her to question everything her pack taught her, and confront exactly what she has become. And, more amazingly, what she never stopped being.


My Review:

Bonds of Fenris is a young adult novel by S.J. Bell. It is about a girl Talia who became a werewolf one year ago. Since then her life is been a daily struggle of keeping her inner wolf at bay. She meets another werewolf, Corwin, who has mastered his wolf. Desperately wanting what he has Talia embarks on a journey of self-discovery.

I love this book. Talia had to learn to make peace with and live in harmony with her wolf. She had to overcome her prejudices in order to do this. This book is not only a beautiful tale of her journey but also a life lesson. Many of us have obstacles that seem insurmountable. Only when we make peace with these obstacles and seek to live in harmony can we truly live.

Talia and Corwin had to learn that people learn in different ways. What works for one person may not work for another. This is a lesson that is very important.

I'm not a big fan of werewolf books overall. This book is very insightful about the life of a werewolf. I'm glad that I read it in my highly recommend.

Taking a break

I wanted to announce that I'm going to take a break from blogging for now. I hope that it's a temporary break but am afraid it may be permanent. I have mentioned before that I have ALS (a.k.a. Lou Gehrig's disease). When I started this blog I had just given up knitting and crocheting. I wanted a project that I could work on that had nothing to do with ALS and that I could do in spite of having ALS. This blog filled those needs. Unfortunately in the last month or 2 it is just gotten to be to much to keep up with. I am hoping that the break will help me to get some energy back and go back to blogging.


I do have some book reviews that I will be doing to fulfill promises that I made.


May 2, 2012 The Bonds of Fenris by S. J. Bell


May 3, 2012 Spectral by Shannon Duffy


June 6, 2012 Adam Orser: The Chronicles of Evolution by Daniel Armand




I appreciate each and every reader and follower that I have. Thank you so much for your support. 

Blind Sight Through The Eyes of Aniela Dawson (Blind Sight #1 Aniela) By Eliabeth Hawthorne

Goodreads Summary:
A blind girl drawing is abnormal even on the magical island of Edaion where leaves brush themselves into piles in the middle of the night. As an immigrant, Leocardo is not biased by accepted rules of magic and determines that Odette’s drawings are premonitions. Aniela grew up with magic and knows premonitions are impossible. She determines Odette is a medium channeling voiceless spirits.

In this volume: While Aniela tries to escape a lifestyle where obligations take priority over friendships, she befriends Odette, a blind girl with the ability to draw. Almost immediately, concerns and questions arise as Aniela suspects that Odette’s gift is far stronger than any seen before. In the middle of family turmoil and a complicated romantic relationship with Odette’s brother, Aniela faces the realization that helping her comatose friend means disobeying her mother, something she has never done before.


My Review:

The Blind Sight books are 2 different books written by 2 different authors. The time period of the books is the same. The difference is you see the same events from 2 different perspectives. This allows insight that a reader might not otherwise receive.

Blind Sight Through The Eyes of Aniela Hawthorne is about Leo and Odette’s coming to Edaion through Aniela’s viewpoint. She is the younger daughter of Edaion’s Queen. She meets Odette at school and is the 1st person to pick up Odette’s gift.

I like Aniela. She's from the ruling family of the island but she's very down to earth. Her family is dysfunctional but she's dealt with that pretty well. Even though she's a princess once she graduates high school she gets a job in the flower shop. She also is involved with the local orphanage. I was a little confused as to why the orphanage was not her full-time job. It was also fun to see her fall for Leo.

This is a very interesting book to read and I enjoyed it very much. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.

Blind Sight Through The Eyes of Leocardo Reyes (Blind Sight #1 Leocardo) by Ermisenda Alvarez

Goodreads Summary
A blind girl drawing is abnormal even on the magical island of Edaion where leaves brush themselves into piles in the middle of the night. As an immigrant, Leocardo is not biased by accepted rules of magic and determines that Odette’s drawings are premonitions. Aniela grew up with magic and knows premonitions are impossible. She determines Odette is a medium channeling voiceless spirits.

In this volume: Snatched out of their life in Spain, Leocardo and his blind sister Odette find themselves on an island with no recollection of the trip. After foiled attempts to escape, Odette’s strange behavior gets worse. Even after learning the island has bestowed magic upon them both, Leocardo faces the possibility his sister is having a mental break down. Just as he thinks he is settled in, job and romantic life stable, Odette disappears.

My Review:

The Blind Sight novels are 2 different books written by different authors. They cover the same period of time and give you the same events from 2 different points of view. I had never read anything like this before and found it very intriguing.

In Blind Sight Through The Eyes of Leocardo Reyes, Leo and his teenage sister Odette were living their lives in Spain when suddenly they were transported to the island Edaion with no memory of how they got there. Leo really struggles with his new life. Odette is blind but suddenly she's drawing pictures. Who is trying to tell her something? What are they trying to say?

I enjoyed reading this book. I did have some trouble getting into it. I was a little confused as to how they suddenly got to Edaion. Once I got into it I really enjoyed the book and couldn't wait to see what happened next. There were some parts that I would've enjoyed more background and detail.

I like Leo. He loves his sister and did his best to take care of her. He's a good guy and I enjoyed reading from his point of view.

His sister Odette was a pretty typical teenage girl. She was totally blind but dealt with that pretty well. She started drawing pictures and had no memory of doing it. I really liked her.

This was a fun story to read and I am looking forward to reading the book through Aniela’s eyes. I was glad that I read this book 1st because I got to learn about the island as Leo did.

Promise Me Eternity by Ian Fox

Goodreads Summary:
Dr. Simon Patterson is a successful and well-respected neurosurgeon at Central Hospital in the town of Medford. Married, though without children, he keeps himself so busy that one day is not much different from another. Until, that is, he saves the life of the powerful mobster Carlo Vucci.
At a dinner in honor of Dr. Patterson, Carlo Vucci introduces him to his alluring wife Christine. Simon is entranced by her beauty.
Three weeks later, Christine shows up at the hospital, complaining of terrible headaches. Dr. Patterson offers to help her, but Christine did not come to see him just because of her headaches. A series of shocking events follow that turn Dr. Patterson’s life into a nightmare. Among other things, he finds himself in court being accused of murder in the first degree …


My Review:

Promise Me Eternity is a mystery novel by Ian Fox. Dr. Simon Patterson is a workaholic neurosurgeon. By day he performs life-saving surgeries and by night he is researching an antiaging vaccine. His wife feels very neglected and deals with that by spending money they don't have. One night he saved the life of a local mobster and his life goes into a downward spiral and changes forever.

I enjoyed reading this book. It had action, drama, mystery, and suspense. The story was very engaging and I couldn't wait to see how it ended.

I liked Simon. He was such a brilliant Dr. but he was a complete idiot when it came to his personal life and women. This is not uncommon.

I liked this book and recommend it.