Book review of Guardian of Paradise

About the book

In 1888, Kira Wall, surviving daughter of missionaries swept away in a tsunami, lives a primitive, but enjoyable life with natives on an isolated island in the South Pacific. But her serene world is turned upside down when an Australian merchant ship, commanded by the sinister Captain Darcy Coleman, arrives with an overabundance of modern and lavish goods. Kira suspects ill intent. Chief Ariki refuses to listen to Kira’s warning, forcing her to uncover the real plan of the captain on her own. Unfortunately, she has a distraction. A six-foot tall, blond, and handsome distraction. Trevor Marshall, doctor and botanist, hopes to find exotic plants on the island to research new cures and medicines. He is dedicated to science, but when meeting the strong-willed, beautiful Kira Wall, he’d prefer to spend time researching her—all night. 

The captain thwarts Kira’s attempts to call him out at every step, turning the village chief against her. With only Trevor and her best friend Malana by her side, she stalks the captain and his officers through the dense, predator infested jungle, toward the island’s inactive volcano. Frustrated by her failure to reveal the captain’s true intentions, Kira begins to think maybe she’s wrong about everything. Then an explosion and earthquake bigger than anyone on the island has ever seen renews her resolve. Was the blast natural or man-made? She is determined to prove it was the captain’s doing. Kira races against time and the island people’s naivety to stop the captain from destroying her home and killing everyone she loves.

My Review

Kira the protagonist of the story lives in Alofa an island in the South Pacific. She has lived on the island for long and is a person of importance. She has taught the people of Alofa the language of the people that came in ships to trade.

When she encounters a ship that had docked on the shore, Kira is septic about the Captain and their motives. It’s strange why Kira is so concerned about the arrival of the strangers on their island. You will find out the reason as you move through the pages in the story.

Coleman the Captain of the ship speaks with the Chief and assures him that he has come to their island in good will. Kira tries to intervene and asks the Chief to monitor the activities of the guests who have landed on their shores. The Chief isn’t convinced that there is any need to monitor the activities and gives the guests thumbs up of their arrival.

Now Kira has an unwelcomed distraction of having fun with the Trevor, a doctor from the ship who came to find new herbs and plants for preparing medicines. But she never takes her eyes off the Captain and tracks his whereabouts and tries to find out why the Captain is digging near the riverbed.

Now why the digging is going one and what can be the reason for that? Will Kira be able to find the true purpose of the Captain’s interest in the island? What is he looking for and why?

With so many questions to be answered and the mysteries that have to be unrevealed you have to read the story to find out what happens next.

The storyline is great but I believe it is a story for the school kids full. The author has done a great job creating the suspense early on in the story but it happens to be a lot earlier than I had anticipated. I don’t know why the words blimy and tee has been used so often in the story. I felt like the author has tried to show the Alofa’s talking accent, which is great but they are used more too often than required.

Ignoring those words, the book is a great read and the kids who like to read suspense and mystery genre stories will love the book.

Read more about the book at Online Book Club.

About the Author

W. E. Lawrence graduated in 1978 from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill with a BS in business administration. Despite wishing he had taken more courses in journalism and communications, he has spent most of his adult life in the corporate business world. Now he reads and writes.

Passionate about God, writing, reading, family, sports, politics, and America, Lawrence currently lives in Davidson, North Carolina, with his lovely wife, Martha, and their wonderful children, Abby and Davis.

Book Review of First Contact: Strings Attached

About the book

Zalk, an astronomer on an oppressive pre-industrial world, discovers more than just life on the other planet they share their orbit with: he forms a telepathic link with an ambassador from this spacefaring society, who promises wealth and fantastic technology. The catch? Zalk must implement his plans for a mining operation, financed by drops of gold from the heavens.

What exactly are the intentions of this celestial messenger? Can he reconcile with an antagonistic reporter to find out in time? Joining forces may be their only hope to save their world.

My Review

Strings Attached is a work of extreme imagination and creativity. If you love to know about the mysteries of the universe and the weird ways it can work, this is a book for you, to think beyond your wildest of imaginations.

I have always envisioned a world where we can have inter-planetary or inter-galactic football matches or send even mails to other worlds and an even more stunning virtual reality of making an all expenses paid trip to the nearest star.

Paul J. Nelson has created a world of virtual reality where people are able to contact with other worlds telepathically. Zalk a sensitive, of the present Orb (planet) is a scientist whose work is commendable in the field of astronomy. One fine day Zalk is petrified when he looks at the nearest Orb Arken through his telescope and was able to see person inside his house and suddenly the person looks and him and says “Good evening Professor Zalk.”

How is that even possible for someone to feel the presence of another and that also from another Orb? Mystery adds up as Zalk encounters this person (Sorrab) from another Orb. Why did he contact Zalk in the first place and what could be his intension? You will confront delicacy of life and how your choices can affect a generation.

You need to read the story to find out that, as I don’t want to be a spoiler.

What I didn’t like about the characters is the nomenclature (names) of the people of the Orb. Weird names are messy and I had a hard time remembering who is who. And what I didn’t like again was the new words that were introduced in the story. The author has detailed out every single detail of the happenings and that makes the story interesting.

In the end I liked the storyline and the creativity of the author in describing the incidents and also the flow of story which was even throughout my read.

What the story lagged is a composite approach and it became predicable at times as to what will happen next in the story. But with originality imbibed in the story I wish the sequel to be more exciting with more mystery and surprises. 

Read more about the book at Online Book Club

Cover reveal of All Signs Lead Back to You

~~~ Cover Reveal ~~~

All Signs Lead Back to You by Aniesha Brahma

2013.

As the final bell for the day rang on their last day in school, Diya Rai, had a chill run down her spine. The chill of not knowing what the future holds for her and her high school sweetheart, Ashwin Chowdhury.

So she does a preemptive strike.

She dumps him before he can hurt her.

2015.

Two years later, Ashwin and Diya, cross paths. Each holds grudges, feelings and only one half of the story that completes them.

Told from alternating points of view, through a non-linear timeline, this is the story about 

first love, second chances and ALL the SIGNS THAT LEAD BACK TO YOU.

About the Author

Aniesha Brahma is an author who realized her passion for writing at the tender age of six. She also happens to be the social media manager for BEE Books. Her debut novel, The Secret Proposal (2012) was published by General Press and was followed by When Our Worlds Collide (2015) by the same. She blogs at: www.anieshabrahma.com and runs an online magazine, BUZZ Magazine (www.buzzmagazine.in). She can be contacted at: aniesha.brahma@gmail.com. She lives in Kolkata with her family and her five super adorable cats! 

Twitter * Instagram * Facebook

Interview with Cate Beauman

Ethan Cooke Security and their bodyguard team return to action in Deceiving Bella – book eleven in Cate Beauman’s Bodyguards of L.A. County series.

With over 7700 reviews and a 4.4 rating for the entire series, see why the Bodyguards of L.A. County is a multi-award winning series.

Buy It Now!

Amazon | Kobo | Nook | iBooks

New to the series? No problem! Each book in the “Bodyguards” series is a stand-alone title. Although reading the books in order is preferred, it is not necessary. Each title features brand new primary characters and limited overlapping secondary characters. Don’t hesitate to jump right in!

Isabella Colby has always yearned for normalcy. Now that she’s settled in LA, she finally has it. Good friends, a pretty home, and her thriving career as the Palisades’ top skincare specialist are a dream come true. Bella is content until she meets her hunky new neighbor, but her attraction to the blue-eyed cutie is the least of her worries when contacting her long-lost father threatens to destroy her happy life.

Reed McKinley is more than ready to forget the past. His seven-year stint as an NYPD detective nearly got him killed. His wounds have healed and he’s starting over as Ethan Cooke Security’s latest recruit. With sixty-hour workweeks and little time to himself, the last thing on his mind is a relationship. Then he bumps into the gorgeous woman next door.

Reed and Bella become fast friends. Before long, Reed discovers that Bella is keeping dangerous secrets. Bella may have the answers to decades-old questions he’s been searching for. Reed will risk it all to uncover the truth, but he soon realizes that the deeper he digs, the direr the consequences. 

Interview with romantic suspense author Cate Beauman

1. What or who inspired you to start writing?

I often say that divinity has played a huge role in my writing career. I’m not one of those people who always knew they wanted to be a storyteller. The idea never even crossed my mind until six years ago when my family and I moved across country. After we got settled in, I accepted a new job that I truly hated. I was miserable, coming home in tears just about ever day. Eventually I resigned and had no idea what to do next. One night, I was lying in bed reading a Nora Roberts novel. I turned to my husband and told him I was going to write stories. I think he thought I’d lost my mind, but he supported my goals regardless. Two years after that, I launched the first three novels in my Bodyguards series. Eleven best selling novels and numerous awards later, I’ve never looked back.

2. How did you come up with ideas for your books?

I’m obsessed with crime television or any reading materials that allow me the opportunity to get inside the heads of the criminal element. I’ve always been fascinated with psychology. It’s so fun to try and figure out why people do the things they do. When I’m in need of story ideas, I often plunk myself on the couch and watch crime documentaries until something exciting catches my attention. The plot for Deceiving Bella came from a docuseries on the mob. After spending six hours entrenched in the mafia life, I knew I had the storyline for my next novel.

3. As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?

At this point, my goals are to continue writing the Bodyguards of L.A. County series, sprinkle in a few spinoffs, and add standalone titles to my repertoire. There are so many stories to share. I just have to find the time to tell them all!

4. Do you belong to a critique group? If so how does this help or hinder your writing?

When I first started my writing journey I was an active member of Critique Circle. I can honestly say that learning the art of critiquing and receiving honest, productive feedback was very beneficial. Providing advice to others sharpens a writer’s skills. Pondering someone else’s thoughts can make a writing piece stronger. I think one of the most valuable tools I learned on Critique Circle was learning what advice to take and what to leave behind. At the end of the day, a writer’s work must be true to the story they want to tell. Everyone has an opinion, but the creator’s voice/style/vision must be forefront.

5. Do you outline your books or just start writing?

I’m a Type A all the way, so there’s no story without an initial outline. I allow myself to adjust and make changes as each plot starts to unfold, but I can’t imagine trying to share a five hundred page adventure without my outline to keep me on track.

6. Do you have any hobbies and does the knowledge you've gained from these carry over into your characters or the plot of your books?
I love to try new things, but cooking and baking are something I’ve always enjoyed. Cool food ideas often find their way into the pages of my novels. In fact, Reed and Bella take a cooking class together in Deceiving Bella, which was incredibly fun to write.

7. Do you have an all time favorite book?

Yes! My all time favorite book is Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss. I love the wisdom wrapped up in Dr. Seuss’s crazy rhymes. When I feel out of sorts, I open this book and remember that my mountain is waiting for me. It’s very inspiring.

8. Have you started your next project? If so, can you share a little bit about your book?

I’ve just started researching content for my next novel, Secrets Hidden In The Glass, which will be a standalone story. I love Ethan Cooke Security and his crew of sexy bodyguards, but this next novel is one I’ve wanted to share for a long time now. At this point, I’m still fiddling with the plot and exactly who my characters are going to be, so there’s not a whole lot to tell, but I’m excited to dive in and bring a whole new adventure to life.

9. Who is your favorite actor and actress?

This a tricky question. I don’t typically have favorites when it comes to actors/actresses, singers, etc. I find myself fascinated by the art of acting/singing and the individuals who are so talented at their crafts. I’m often awestruck by the idea of men and women standing in front of cameras, bringing stories to life that were simply words in a script. That’s a true gift, and I have nothing but respect for anyone who can do it.

10. What is your favorite reality show?

My family and I have been watching Gold Rush on Hulu. My husband and kids started watching the show, and I got sucked in. It’s fun to see if the gold miners will make their season goals. Plus, the Alaska scenery is truly breathtaking.

About the author:

International bestselling author Cate Beauman is known for her full-length, action-packed romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County. Her novels have been nominated for the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, National Indie Excellence Award, Golden Quill Award, Writers Touch Award, and have been named Readers Favorite Five Star books. In 2015, JUSTICE FOR ABBY was selected as the Readers' Favorite International Book Award Gold Medalist, while SAVING SOPHIE took the Silver Medal. SAVING SOPHIE was also selected as the 2015 Readers Crown Award winner for Romantic Suspense and FALLING FOR SARAH received the silver medal for the 2014 Readers' Favorite Awards.

Cate makes her home in North Carolina with her husband, two boys, and their St. Bernards, Bear and Jack. Currently Cate is working on her twelfth full length romantic suspense novel.

DO YOU LIKE FREE EBOOKS?

http://www.catebeauman.com/getmyfreebooks

FOR A LIMITED TIME: NEW SUBSCRIBERS WILL RECEIVE A FREE COPY OF MORGAN’S HUNTER AND FALLING FOR SARAH, BOOKS ONE AND TWO IN THE BODYGUARDS OF L.A. COUNTY SERIES!

Follow Cate

Amazon Author Page

http://www.amazon.com/Cate-Beauman/e/B00A05KHVM/

BookBub

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cate-beauman

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/catebeauman

Social links:

Twitter: @CateBeauman

www.catebeauman.com

www.facebook.com/CateBeauman

www.instagram.com/cate_beauman_author