THE VAMPIRES NEXT DOOR by @ElleKlass #YA #Paranormal #Bookreview

The Vampires Next Door by Elle Klass
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Vampires Next Door is book #1 in The Bloodseeker Series of YA Paranormal books. It opens with a prologue set in St Augustine, Florida 1823. A young girl is rescued by ghostly apparitions, given a protective amulet and informed she is a Slayer.

Present day, sixteen year old Alison is home alone in her apartment she shares with her Mom. Neighbours are having a loud party and she reports their unsocial behaviour. Nearby, Rodham has disturbing visions of Vampires and can zone in his telepathic abilities to communicate with Alison.

A quick friendship forms between Rodham and Alison and they agree the neighbours show all the signs of being Vampires, Alison, an avid bookworm knows all about such creatures from her vast reading experience. Concerned about missing policemen, they sneak into the neighbour’s flat looking for bodies, but discover a strange glowing amulet which speaks to Rodham.

An old book which came with the amulet informs them about Slayers and Bloodseekers and they find themselves in a real life paranormal world. Alison’s Gran arrives for a visit, but soon reveals she too is a Slayer. Bloodseekers, once crushed are again becoming strong and seven magical Slayers must join to defeat them once more.

A quick, light, easy read, I felt this book was let down by poor editing, including using dialogue for info dumping, over use of adjectives and places where I felt the plot jumped and I was left flailing trying to work out where people or events had come from.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

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CARIBBEAN HEAT (Baby Girl #5) by @ElleKlass #ShortStory #wwwblogs #Bookreview

Caribbean Heat by Elle Klass
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Caribbean Heat is the 5th book in the Baby Girl series of short stories. I do recommend reading them all in order or this book will not mean as much to the reading experience. The book does begin with a short recap about how the story began back when Cleo was just twelve years old.

This book is based in the Caribbean, Cleo now lives on the island of St. Thomas. Her father figure ex employer PI La Tige arrives for a short vacation. He offers Cleo a job helping him solve a case. Titled “The Black Widow” La Tige wants Cleo to follow Ashla and discover more about her. She uses her own investigative skills to plant a GPS signal and cameras in Ashla’s room. Ashla is here to meet Alberto Salazar for a romantic break, is he her next victim or is there a darker secret to discover?

When Cleo can’t get hold of La Tige after he returns home, her concerns rise. One evening Alberto reveals some frightening details about Ashla, add to this the missing La Tige and Cleo jumps on a plane to go to his rescue. What she finds there is a cold and calculating kidnapper.

This book ends on a huge cliff hanger which, so far didn’t work for me, I felt it was all very rushed and I have doubts about the practical details hinted at by characters at this point, I believe all will be revealed in the next book.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

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Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Baby Girl Box Set I-IV by @ElleKlass

Today’s team review comes from Heidi, find her here https://m.facebook.com/#~!/heidi.simon.921?ref=bookmark

Heidi chose to read and review Baby Girl Box Set by Elle Klass

Baby Girl Box Set Books I-IV

By Elle Klass

Review by Heidi Lynn

 

First, I would like to thank Rosie Amber and Elle Klass for providing me with this box set so I may bring you this review.

 

Baby Girl by Elle Klass was full of kidnapping, neglected children, crime, fake identities, two great loves, poverty, death, loss, reinventing yourself, missing person, secrets, hit n run, mystery, suspense, homelessness, body guards, proposals, glitz and glamour. This book had me at the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen.

 

Cleo and Einstein’s story touched my heart. I loved their first kiss, the first time they explored each other and their blossoming relationship. To see where they both came from to now was amazing. Yet, heart breaking as well.

 

Baby Girl was extremely well written. I loved the attention to detail and descriptions that she was able to give the characters and situations. Many times I would come across a line or a paragraph and it would crack me up. Some of the names I felt were unique.

 

This book gave you an inside view of what it like to actually be homeless. You get to visualize what Cleo and Einstein had to go through to get by. Seeing her transform and her self discovery was a joy to read.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

 

 

Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Lynn reviews Eye Of The Storm by @ElleKlass #Thriller

Today’s team review comes from Lynn

She chose to read and review Eye of the Storm by Elle Klass

Eye Of The Storm: Elle Klass.

Is a thriller that will keep you guessing until the end.  The story follows the two main characters: Eilida, who is in the hospital with amnesia from a fall and Sunshine, a receptionist at a local paper who becomes fascinated with Eilida’s story.  As the story progresses and they find themselves with a psychic connection to each other you must keep reading to figure out what that bond is all about. There are great twists and turns in this story, you won’t be bored.  In fact when I finished this story I had questions running through my mind for two hours after.  It was a great read and ended all too soon.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT E.L. reviews As Snow Falls by @ElleKlass

Today’s review is from E.L. she blogs at http://lindleyreviews.blogspot.co.uk/

E.L chose to read and review As Snow Falls by Elle Klass

As Snow Falls is a simple, unusual story, in which Elle Klass affords us a glimpse of a woman’s life in its entirety. The novella begins with an old woman, who has reached the end of her life, reminiscing about the unusual twists and turns it has taken.

The novella starts off in an almost cinematic style, which is very effective and allows the reader to get a vivid image of where the old woman is. The isolation is emphasised, not only by the fact that she is in a cabin far from the beaten track, but also due to the heavy snowfall that will further cut the cabin off from the world.

The style of the novella is unusual in that there are no characters, dialogue or interactions. All events are related to us by the old woman, who remains nameless, which creates a sense of distance, seeming to further isolate us from her. Each chapter is essentially a memory which ends with a description of the old woman resting in her chair, waiting to die. This repetition and rhythm mirrors the rhythm of the woman’s life.

The woman’s memories begin in the womb with her reluctance to leave her “sanctuary” and thus start a journey that is not always easy. The woman is a prickly character, especially during her childhood and young adulthood, where she finds it difficult to get on with people. She sees society as an “evil” form forcing her to attend school and then go into the work place where she is unhappy.

The novella adopts a supernatural/spiritual tone, when the woman meets a seeming stranger in a park, and decides to change her life by embarking upon several years of travel. Dreams and premonitions also feature heavily in the story. The woman’s life improves when she finds true love and from then on her memories are the more conventional ones of marriage, children and the loss of loved ones.

I think As Snow Falls has a lot to recommend it. Klass is clearly an assured writer and she sets a scene of isolation beautifully. My only misgiving is that the nature of the story makes it difficult to connect with what is essentially the only character in the book. Klass clearly demonstrates how we are all isolated within ourselves, no matter how much we may love other people but has ultimately isolated us from the heart of the story by not allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in it. That being said, I really admire the fact that Klass has tried to do something different with her writing and if you are looking for an original, quirky read then you should give this one a try.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com 

 

Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Amanda reviews As Snow Falls by @ElleKlass

Today we have a review from team member Amanda, she blogs at https://ajbookreviewclub.wordpress.com/

Amanda chose to read and review As Snow Falls by Elle Klass

WHAT I SAY

I read this book as part of Rosie’s book review team member i would like thank Rosie and Elle for sending me a copy of her book for me to read and review for you all

What a harrowing and dark tale this book is . It packed with emotions it all about family,  their life’s , the dreams with all have .we should follow are dreams if you can

It the memories of an old lady she not got a name but i think she needed one i would have help me to relate to her more what do you think ?

We get to hear all about the births , deaths , the children and her grandkids sometimes it hard to read things seem to be very tough at times

I did feel she was a bit selfish at times she just seem to do things could she not see the reaction of what she did have on people   I felt she struggle to find her place in life

She did not have a good job the children at the school she was a teacher at did not seem to warm to her ways i enjoy hearing about her life the earthquake would have been so scary the family had a few troubles to deal with it was had for them it told in a heartbreaker way

This is one lady life story she telling you her tale it so simple it just a very through provoking tale you just get pulled into the tale as the storm falls out side your inside this log cabin miles from others she just telling you  all her memories

It very well written the details are very strong you can picture it all in your mind you just get pulled into her life it a good easy to follow read  It would be a nice tale to read on a cold night with a nice hot chocolate and cream in your hand

I did enjoy it just make you think about life.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com 

Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Karen reviews Eye Of The Storm by Elle Klass

Today we have a review from Karen, she blogs at https://mytrainofthoughtson.wordpress.com/

Karen chose to read and review Eye Of The Storm by Elle Klass

My Opinion

This book is written from three points of view: Eilida, Sunshine and occasionally the narrator. As a reader, I automatically tried to solve this strange case.

With Eye of the Storm: Eilida’s Tragedy, Elle Klass has created a thrilling paranormal suspense story with a touch of horror. With Eilida and Sunshine, Eye of the Storm: Eilida’s Tragedy comprises believable characters, having to deal with partially unsettling situations and interesting interactions to solve a set of crimes. It took me a while to buy into the story, then I had a great time reading – this is a very intriguing read. I was really drawn into the story when reading the chapter ‘Opportunity’, thrilled to solve the mystery ‘together with Sunshine’. This is for you if you like a thrilling paranormal suspense with a slight horror streak.

A thrilling book and/or series to read again. I’m eagerly waiting to read the other volumes of the trilogy.

Recommended.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Baby Girl Book 4 by Elle Klass

Baby Girl Book 4: Bite the Big Apple by Elle Klass

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Baby Girl Book 4 – The Big Apple is the conclusive in a series of short stories surrounding the coming of years of a runaway teenager until the present day on the eve of her twenty-first birthday.

Book one saw the young child left alone by an uncaring mother. She decided life on the run would be better than what she currently had. Calling herself Cleo she met up with other runaway children and formed a survival relationship with Einstein.

Book two, and Cleo changer her persona to Justine and moved to Paris and became involved with hotelier Didier. She became a model and began research into her past to find out more about her missing Mum.

Book three, and Justine was shed for Shanna to escape those that followed her. Shanna got work for La Tige a private detective, and used the opportunity to dig deeper in to her past.

Book four now concludes Cleo’s search, she is now an executive secretary for William Briggs III. She discovers the women she thought was her Mum was only caring for her in a complicated web of secrecy. She meets the parents of Einstein and lays to rest some of his ghosts and finally she writes a book about these runaway years of her life to share with all those people who touched her life but with whom she couldn’t share the truth until now.

I’m really pleased we got closure for Cleo, each previous book left us hanging on cliff edges, looking back I have enjoyed the series very much.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

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Good Deeds Challenge, Year 2, Week 42

Welcome to my second Year of Good Deeds, a challenge I set myself during April 2013. I decided to do at least one Good Deed a day for a whole year, now I am into my second year.

This week I’ve been doing the following;

February 1st – Online versions of the two magazines that I write book reviews for went to 7000 local homes and the online version went live today. Each magazine prints 5 of my book review recommendations for a total of 10 lucky authors. It’s been windy and there was loads of litter to pick up on my daily walk.

February 2nd – My morning at school volunteering my help to children learning to read. Just finished reading Yesterday’s News by Sam Cheever a cosy fun mystery. Picked up litter on my walk.

February 3rd – Am reading Walking the Edge by Zee Monodee a romantic suspense. Really busy day, but managed a late walk and picked up litter.

February 4th – Today I read Raven’s Choice by Harper Swan a short historical fiction and an introduction to a series about man’s genetic descent from the caveman. Each day I try to take a forty minute power walk and I pick up litter on my route.

February 5th – Helping out a new author find her way around the book reviewing scene. Read Baby Girl Book 4 by Elle Klass.

February 6th – Today I’m reading Mrs McKeiver’s Secrets by Margaret Morgan set in rural England in 1799. An icy blast was blowing when I went for today’s walk, but still found litter to pick up.

February 7th – I’ve lent some of my books out today, then whilst I was out for my walk I was astounded to find a think metal cable deliberately tied low across the path in a gloomy alley. It would have caused an accident to any cyclist, jogger, skateboarder or even another walker as I only just saw it in time. I decided to remove it completely and place it in a rubbish bin a little way away, to deter it being retied later. I have no idea why it was put there, kids? Angry residents if kids use it at night as a race track? But I don’t believe deliberately trying to endanger innocents should be allowed.

Reading What Happens To Men When They Move To Manhattan by Jill Knapp.

City By The Bay – Baby Girl Book 3 by Elle Klass

Baby Girl Book 3: City by the Bay by Elle Klass

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

City By The Bay is the third book in the Baby Girl short book series. Justine leaves Paris and heads back to America where she changes into a third new identity. On the run since a young girl, she’s looking for answers as to who she is, where she came from and who’s after her.

As Shanna Nu she gets a job for San Francisco based La Tige investigative services. She discovers more about the woman she thought was her Mum and old wounds are opened up when familiar names crop up once more.

With more answers yet to find, the story will continue in the next book.

I’ve read all three books in this series so far and this book was back on track for me, I would recommend reading all the books in order to fully understand all the back story.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

View all my reviews on Goodreads