Lightning Struck (Brothers Maledetti #3) by Nichole Van | A Book Review

I have good news. There will be a change in my work schedule starting August 1 and I'm so excited. I'm excited because it would allow me time to read and post reviews everyday. Unlike my current online job which takes up most of my time, this one, I will only work 9 hours a day and it's not anymore online. Anyway, I'm just so happy with this new development and I'm so looking forward to it. Aside from the schedule, it also pays more than what I'm doing right now. I can't wait for August 1. Yehey!

So, the book I'm reviewing today is Lightning Struck by Nichole Van. This is the third book in the Brothers Maledetti series. Oh, I so love this series. It's not only a romance story but with a lot of very interesting and surprising twists. It has historical fiction, supernatural, and mystery too. That's exactly why I love it. There's a lot of everything in it and it takes me to picturesque Italy too. Fantastic!

In this third installment, this one is about Chiara, the one and only sister of the D'Angelo triplets and Jack Knight-Snow. Chiara is a very feisty and very bubbly character. She's very adorable and her antics are very funny. In this book though, she finds Jack very irritating and gets to her nerves. Aside from that, she still gets this weird dream that keep haunting her about the death of their dad. Jack, on the other hand, is a very curious and interesting character as well. Jack first appeared in the second book Love's Shadow. On this book, more is revealed about the mystery surrounding Jack's character and how he is in anyway related to the D'Angelo's. If you love the first two books, you will definitely not get disappointed with this one. 

Wow! There are a lot happening in this book and it has more to do with supernatural things that have surrounded the D'Angelo's. And this time, Chiara, the only sibling purported to be not fortunate enough or maybe better off not gifted with The Sight is having this vivid and scary repetitive dream that had haunted her in her childhood. Now, the dream is coming back and it seems to be telling Chiara something and she won't rest until she gets to the bottom of that secret message and mystery.

This is such an enjoyable read especially when it comes to Jack and Chiara's scenes exchanging banter and trying to piss off or outwit the other. Obviously, Chiara is more often the one that gets irritated in the exchange. It's very cute and it's obvious that these two have a thing for each other. They are such a very lovely and adorable pair. Their exchanges always give me a laugh. 

On to a more serious note, a lot has been revealed about the gift of sight of the brothers because of the mystery surrounding Jack and Chiara's recurring dream. It's seems like there might just be hope for the cursed brothers. I really love that idea. I so root for them to master their abilities and not be turned into lunatics because of the strong pull of their gifts. I want them to live long and not follow after their ancestors who didn't have the chance to grow old because of this curse or this family gift. And most of all, I wouldn't have to worry about Ten. Ten is one of the triplets who is mostly susceptible to the effects of the curse. So, I'm pretty sure the next book would be about Ten and them finding more concrete information about their gifts and maybe win over the curse after all. I'm so stoked!

I just love this series. I give this book five scenes with lightning. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book. I am supercharged to know what's going to happen next and finally be able to hear about Ten's story. A lot of possibilities are presented in this book and I am so so eager to learn about them. This is probably one of the most enjoyable series I have ever read or the most enjoyable yet. It's incredibly addicting and this is one addiction I'd love to keep. I hope this series does not end on the next book. 

Hope...when you haven't had any for as long as you can remember...can be a dangerous thing. Hope leads to wants. And wants lead to disappointment. And disappointment, when you are already on shaky emotional ground, can be deadly.

- Nichole Van, Lightning Struck - 

Thank you again, Kathy of iamareader.com and Nichole Van for the review copy. 

Other books in the series:

Gladly Beyond (Brothers Maledetti #1)

Love's Shadow (Brothers Maledetti #2)

Blood Oath (Blood Oath #2) by Amanda McCrina | Release Day Blast and Ask the Author

Blood Oath

(Blood Oath #2) 

Author : Amanda McCrina

Publisher: Month9Books

Publication Date: June 19, 2018

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 244

Amazon | Goodreads

I was asked to review this second installment but I just can't insert it anymore into my overly crowded TBR and more so because I would not be able to read and review it in time for the release day. So instead, I opted to just post something to help promote the book in time for the release day. Since I read Blood Road, I decided to ask the author some questions regarding some of the things I've noticed on the first book. So, scroll down to the Ask the Author portion of this post and find out for yourselves the questions I've asked the author and her interesting answers. Hopefully, I would be able to read and review this second book of the series in the later months. 

Thanks again Month9Books and Amanda McCrina for allowing me to ask my questions and have them answered. 

For everyone's information, this is my first time to ask an author questions about the book and get them answered and I am allowed to post them. Mostly, this usually happens in private messages and some authors gave me inside information on their books that I've reviewed but of course, I am not allowed to share them with anyone. And that's one of the greatest things about being a book reviewer and blogger. I get to be privy to some very important updates and development of some of my favorite books that are not included in newsletters and other pubic forums or social media platforms. It's like an insider tip given to me by author. This is officially my first author interview though very very brief. Thanks Month9Books for facilitating this and for the awesome opportunity.

The aftermath of what happened in the capital has shaken Torien to the core. Battling self-doubt and bitterness, he must find his resolve as he is sent back to Tasso to quell a violent uprising on the Road.

But Torien will need more than resolve to navigate the deadly path before him. His troops are inexperienced and his new adjutant untrustworthy. A series of murder attempts leaves the whole camp on edge. As the threat of mutiny builds, the mission seems doomed before they even reach Tasso—and Torien is beginning to suspect it was meant that way. He and his men are being set up to fail.

With his best friend in the hands of the rebels, his commanding officer refusing to negotiate a peace treaty, and his own men ready to turn on him at any moment, Torien must decide once and for all how much he’s willing to sacrifice for an empire he no longer believes in.

Chion unsheathed his knife and slid the blade under the edge of Torien’s cuirass, above the hip.

“I’m going to signal the ships tonight,” he said.

Torien stood very still against the blade. “Chion—”

“I won’t kill you—though I think Serik would, if I asked him. I’ll let them give you your trial in Choiro.”

“Listen to me, Chion.”

“You’ll be under guard. The Tegeni can do it. Easier that way. You’ll be in your quarters as if nothing has

happened.”

“I sent to negotiate. I sent to offer peace.”

“General Sarno said you would.” Chion unbuckled Torien’s sword belt with his free hand. “He said you’d

try. Said it was in your barbarian blood—to betray us. I said I’d stop you, if it came to that.” He tugged

the belt off and bundled it under his elbow. He shrugged Torien’s hand from his shoulder. He eased the

blade a little, pushing Torien around toward the hilltop. He jabbed the point into the small of Torien’s

back. “Walk.”

“Is that what you think? That it’s my barbarian blood?”

“I don’t know.”

“Is that what you think, Chion?”

Chion was silent, for a moment.

“I don’t think you’re a traitor,” he said finally. “Not the way Sarno thinks, anyway. I think you really

believed they’d give us peace.”

“At least give them the chance. Wait until the signo comes back.”

“If he comes back.”

“You’ll know by nightfall. At least wait until then.”

“I can’t,” Chion said. “I can’t, even if I wanted. I gave Sarno my word.”

“You gave me your word. Any oath I asked—you weren’t the traitor. Your word doesn’t mean much, at

this point.”

“I can swear truthfully that I serve the Empire. My word to you came subject to that. You should

understand. You swore it the same.”

“I serve the Empire,” Torien said.

“They can decide it at your court martial,” Chion said.

In the first book, Blood Road, I observed that Torien seemed to faint a lot of times. Why did Torien keep passing out in the story? Does this happen in Blood Oath?

Honestly, Torien had a pretty rough time in Blood Road: getting stabbed twice and suffering a seriously infected wound, taking a spear butt to the face, being tortured via exposure/water deprivation ... the list goes on. He does pass out after one of the stabbings, during the extended torture sequence, and while suffering an extremely high fever from the infection, but I don't hold it against him—I’m pretty sure I wouldn't have lasted as long.  I'm happy to report that he doesn't take such a physical beating in Blood Oath.

One of the characters that I really liked in the story is Lieutenant Senna. I want to know who's the inspiration for his character. Is he based on a person in real life who's close to you? Is Torien based on anybody in your life?

None of my characters are intentionally based on real people, though I'm sure I've subconsciously recycled bits and pieces of people I actually know. I will say that Alluin's snark and sarcasm came pretty easily to me; his sense of humor is pretty close to mine. Torien himself is a character type that I tend to write quite a lot—an insufferably honorable character, usually a soldier, who's trying to do the right thing even if it means personal hurt (and it always does)—and he's drawn from the types of characters I like most to read about. Costis, from Megan Whalen Turner's Queen's Thief series, is an example of a similar character, as is Aquila from Rosemary Sutcliff's classic YA novel The Lantern Bearers.

How did Torien's story come to be? What inspired you to write it? Did something close to what Lida experienced happen to you personally or someone close to you? Or were you a witness to some cruel injustice and corruption and have taken it as a personal cause?

Writing from a position of privilege as a middle-class white woman, I've never experienced the kind of hardship Lida experiences in Blood Road—seeing her mother murdered by gangsters, her twin brother sold into slavery, and her government either turn a blind eye to or actively participate in her oppression. But that kind of violence and injustice does happen in our world, and closer to home than we'd like to think. Too often, we can witness it just by watching the news. I truly wish Torien's story didn't have so many real-life parallels.

Amanda McCrina was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She received her BA in History and Political Science from the University of West Georgia. She lives in Madrid, Spain, where she teaches at an international school.

She writes historical fiction and political fantasy.

Website | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

Pennies From Heaven by Gary Chattman | A Book Review

As the title would suggest, this book sort of speak of miracles and of second chances. If it were you, how would you go about receiving pennies from heaven?

Aaron Cohen, the main character in this story is having the time of life. With a loving wife and a cute three-year old daughter, he could not ask for more. Until, a tragic accident took the lives of the love of his life. How will he live the rest of his life with the emptiness and void left by her wife and child assaulting him from every corner?

This is a story of tragedy, a miracle and then a second chance. If you were Aaron Cohen, you would go crazy with all the experiences and emotions he has to go through but the end is the best of all. A life far more than he have expected. I ended up wishing something of the same sort of incident or miracle would happen to me. That in some bizarre way, the universe will give me a reason for waking up each morning and go on with life, even if it's more tempting to just sleep and wake up in the next century or never at all. 

The story also has an aspect of time travel. And the most unique of all is the narrator. In some way, I found him annoying yet informative and the way he emphasized some of the important facts and events in the story, helps the readers remember the very relevant details. Though, the story is at times bordering on monotonous and has a lulling quality that might put you to sleep, it also has a magical quality that redeems it. How the story ended was even more surreal but it worked and I would have never wanted for any other way for it to end. Aaron Cohen was devastated and broken and by some miracle of sorts, ended up finding the strength to go on. If I were him, even if the succeeding events in my life seemed like an episode from The Twilight Zone, I would do the same thing he did. Hold on to that piece of string that will help me get out of the fog and the dark. A little spark of hope can go a long way. And Aaron did not just get one penny that dropped on his doorstep but more.

I give the book 3.5/5 pennies. This is a very unique story of loss, time travel, magic, miracles and second chances rolled into one. At the end of the story, you will wish that like Aaron Cohen you will fall unconscious and wake up in a brand new life and start over again. 

People are prejudiced because they are bad people; they need to pick on someone different than themselves to make them feel better.

- Gary Chattman, Pennies from Heaven - 

Thank you, Netgalley and Black Rose Writing, for the copy. 

The Last Princess (Islands of the Crown #2) by Jewel Allen | A Book Review

This is the sequel to the Spanish Exile. From the last book, Capt. Raul Calderon was exiled to Manila but with a very special assignment from the King. If he succeeded, he will be welcomed back to Spain with open arms. His transgressions will be forgotten.

Unfortunately, Capt. Calderon got captured by the natives who are slave raiders and was presented to the Last Princess, who had a reputation of torturing and beheading those who trespass her beloved islands. Juliza Alimuddin was curious of the spaniard and she nursed him back to health, even against her allies wishes. 

I have been looking for stories about the Philippines written by contemporary authors. My country is rich with stories, legends, myths, folklores and so on. I wonder why not a lot of modern writers wanted to tackle those kind of stories. If I wanted to write a book, I would definitely write about the rich culture and stories of my people. Whether they'd be historical ones, retellings of popular legends and myths, or talk about the supernatural experiences and superstitions of my people. A whole lot of subjects and area is available and I think there are research materials available too. I would want to share a part of my culture and the richness of its history to the world. Looking at it may be a daunting task but if anyone could pull it off, I think the rewards would be as amazing.

So, it was just a surprise and a joy for me to find this series. Thank you ebooksforreview.com for featuring Jewel Allen's books. I would not have meet this author who I share a heritage with as she is part Filipino. I am so proud to have found her works and be reminded how rich the Filipino culture is and the world needs to know that.

Reading this book brought a kind of pride that only could come from being a part of a heritage and culture that had been mixed and influenced by cultures from around the world. Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Malay, American and so on. These have added to the richness and color of what the modern Filipino is today. I hope that Miss Allen will continue to write the same genre and explore more aspects of her heritage and culture of our country. I also hope that more authors would follow suit and share in the endeavor. I share that dream too.

The Last Princess, features a colorful and descriptive encounter between a spaniard and a native of Gurian. In spite of the differences in culture, language and customs, Juliza and Capt. Calderon found a common ground and these two developed a friendship and love beyond their differences. The scenic backdrop of Gurian island and Zamboanga and the host of other interesting characters, in an era where a few remaining islands in the archipelago tried to steadfastly hold on to its roots and refuse to succumb to the foreign influence. This is such an insightful read and it showcased just how abundant and interesting these 7,107 islands of this country is. 

I give this book 4/5 colorful vintas. Thank you Miss Allen for this very intriguing and colorful series. I am looking forward to more of the same stories about the Philippines from you. Hopefully, you'll find more interesting subjects about our culture to coin stories from, whether they'd be a personal journey for you or just out of curiosity of your roots and heritage. And I am calling on all the other authors, especially those with Filipino blood and descent, I think it's time we hear more stories about our rich culture and share it to the whole world. 

Perhaps I've fallen in love with a myth too, like the rest of the fools.

- Jewel Allen, The Last Princess - 

Other books in the series:The Spanish Exile (Islands of the Crown #1)

Yesterday's Promise (Scottish Historical ) by Michelle Paige Holmes | A Book Review

I got this from ebooksforreview.com. I love historical fiction and this one falls under the same genre. This is the second book that talks about Scotland and the Scots that I have read one after the other. Yes, imagine kilts and tartans. Accents that are a bit hard to understand and highlanders. All that are in this story.

This story will take us back to Scotland in 1761. Yes, that far back. A time when clans are in play and England is trying to takeover the Scots. Katherine is about to meet her future-husband Laird Collin McDonald. She was promised to marry this Scottish lord whom she hasn't seen before. She can't seem to refuse because a settlement will be give to her family in return, which they badly needed at this time.

I was imagining my reaction if I were in Katherine's place. Would I runaway or face my future bravely, even with dread? I don't think any girl would fancy meeting her future-husband on the day of the wedding itself. I don't think it is romantic at all. It is very scary. Lucky for Katherine, she is not marrying a total stranger after all. In fact, she might just be marrying her sort-of childhood sweetheart. 

I love little Katie! She is just full of spunk and so brutally honest. I really liked the first thing he said to young Collin--I will wipe my grandpa's face and now, you can apologize. You should be nice. A very smart thing to say for such a very young child. I didn't think words like that would come from such a young mouth. And the rest of the her words were cleverer still. I would love to adopt little Katie for her being honest and direct. We all could take a lesson from her.

Collin, on the other hand, is an epitome of a gentleman. He kept his promise, even if it meant putting his life in danger. He would protect Katherine with his life until she would claim what is rightfully hers. Her claim to her Scottish heritage is not going to be easy but Collin will make sure that the promise he made to Katie's grandpa will be done, for it would also mean the peace for all of the clans in the Scottish highlands. 

I also love the about Katie's special ability. It added more appeal and magic to the already mysterious highlands and moor. 

I give the book 4.5/5 tartan colors. A tartan stands for a clan, or like the colors of a Scottish clan. According to wikipedia, a plaid is a tartan cloth slung over the shoulder as a kilt accessory, or a plain ordinary blanket such as one would have on a bed. Like in the story, a tartan is sort of an emblem for each Scottish clan. It is very important. I learned a lot of the Scottish culture from the story. The Scots are very brave and loyal people. And it isn't a wonder why until today they may seem like a separate race from the Brits. 

I will give you my heart at the rising of the moon and the settling of the stars. To love and honor through all that may come.

- Michelle Paige Holmes, Yesterday's Promise -  

Map of the Dead by Murray Bailey | A Book Review

I received this book from Librarything. I read this in June and yes, it took me quite a while to write a review. Like all book blogger and reviewers, I am suffering from a chronic difficulty in catching up with my TBR and getting reviews written. Yes, this is the  major dilemma of every book blogger.

This is my first time to read a book by this author. What prompted me to review the book was the title. It just simply means a call for adventure and discovering the mysteries of the long-forgotten dead. A map would most definitely lead to something big, like a treasure, an unlikely find, an elusive and powerful artifact or anything else that would surely tickle anyone's sense of mystery and adventure. This was exactly what the book elicited from me when I came upon its title.

True enough, this was an adventure and a foray into uncovering the mystery of Isis. I have read a few books about Egypt, its enigmatic pharaohs and their own mythology but I am still not as familiar with it as with the Greek and Roman mythologies. Egypt is a land of a rich culture and astonishing stories. For me, Egypt is an exotic land ripe with mysteries and adventures. So, this story being set and about an Egyptian pharaoh or royalty was surely a treat. This was done with a story within a story. 

I felt like Indiana Jones or Lara Croft in this story following the main character Alex from one location in Egypt to the next. Running from his pursuers, staying alive while trying to figure out how to outwit them. I did enjoy reading this book. Its claim that Judaism may have been based on the ancient Egyptian religion is very fascinating. I also enjoyed the part about Yanhamu. I think I could just read his story and this would be all good for me. I agree with one of the reviews that Yani's story was the best part of this book. Totally! 

I give this book 4/5 Egyptian ankh. I am looking forward to reading more stories from the same author. I did not give this story a perfect rating even though it is apparent that I liked this story because, I can't seem to recall easily what the story was about. I had to read the synopsis again to refresh my memory. That being said, I know my memory is far from what it was (perks of aging), I still think the best stories often stay with the reader, even after a time. They leave a permanent mark. Being unable to recall the story from the top of my head is where I think the story failed me. It is in no way any indication of the author's talent. As I have said, the author did his job and I can very well remember that I did have a good time reading this but the specifics were a bit lost to me now. And that accounts for the one point less in my rating. 

The way the ripples spread made him think of events and consequences: something small, spreading outward and wider, becoming something else, becoming something bigger.

- Murray Bailey, Map of the Dead -  

Thanks again Librarything.com for the copy.

Daughter of a Thousand Years by Amalia Carosella | A Book Review

It took me a while to finish this not because the story was uninteresting. On the contrary, I was so hooked. We went out of town because a friend died and we attended the burial. After which, we decided to get on an hour boat ride to another island known for white sugar-like sand beaches for a post and advance all-in-one celebration of my nephew and niece's April birthdays. I was busy catching up with relatives and friends that I never had time to read.

I got Daughter of a Thousand Years from Netgalley. I realized that Netgalley features a wide genre and a variety of authors that I get to read really interesting stories that really capture my heart. Most of the stories I signed up are historical fiction and done by authors which I have never meet and heard before. This book is a definite example and the story is centered on the life of Freydis. A bastard daughter of Erik the Red. Freydis may or may not actually exist in the history of the Norse but may just be a character created by historians to contrast the character of Gudrid -- a Christian-convert, a dedicated mother, a devoted wife and a loyal friend.

The story is not pure historical fiction. The story starts with a chapter on Freydis and then the next one introduces the other main character which is Emma, born a thousand years after. Emma is a current professor of history who teaches about Charlemagne and the Vinland sagas. The chapters switch between Freydis and Emma, from past to present. 

Freydis and Emma represent a lot of modern empowered women. Strong and stubborn women who want to excel and explore. Women who value their freedom to express themselves and reach for their dreams. Women who wanted to be their own persons. Women who are striving hard for equality and against any form of discrimination, whether it is in religion, race, culture and career advancement. Women who can actually rule the world if they want to.

One thing I learned from this story is there is actually a religion called Asatru which is a pagan belief based on the Norse Gods like Thor, Odin, Freya, etc. This is an eye-opener. I thought this was history but amazingly it is still alive today. As alive as Hinduism, Buddhism and other non-Christian beliefs. As the story suggests, religion is a relationship between a person and his/her god. And like all Christian religions, some of these pagan religions like Asatru believed in the same values as that of Christianity. Values such as community, respect and honesty. I think, it doesn't really matter whether you pray to a god or not, as long as you live your life with integrity, respect for people and life, with compassion and not stepping on anyone's toes just to get ahead is what's important. I know of people who claim to be pious Catholics or Christians who go to church almost everyday yet does not act or think like one. I think religion is only as good as you are willing to practice it in real actions. Walk the talk. Not the holier-than-thou but a living example of fairness, humility, respect and kindness to everyone, including those who don't deserve it.

I give the book 5/5 Mjolnir (pronounced: myawl-nir, literally means to smash) necklaces or Thor's hammer. This book talks about a very sensitive topic which often leads to debate. Religion-- differences in this belief often lead to misunderstandings and even break apart families because it is implied that you should stand for your belief. It is imperative that you should be able to defend your religion against any detractors. Just like in the story, wife against husband, siblings against siblings, friends against friends, parents against children. Sometimes, others use religion to drive people to guilt. To alienate people because they did not agree with you. Sometimes, it's even used to push personal motives, agendas, causes, selfish desires and whatever you call it. How many people claim that their religion is better than the others? Justifying actions in the name of religion. But the real question is--have we become better people, citizens, neighbors, parents and children because of religion? In the end, it all lies in the individual. It's how s/he lives his/her life. Did you act with kindness or did you just turn a blind eye to the sufferings of others?

In this day and age, religion should not be an issue anymore. Everyone should be open-minded and accept that we live in a very diverse world. Our diversity makes the world even more a wonderful place. I recommend that everyone should read this book. It will put some things into perspective, especially about religion.

Best friends always brought the tough love, even if sometimes it fell a little on the misguided side.

- Amalia Carosella, Daughter of a Thousand Years - 

The Mask of Minos: Bruno's Inferno by Robert Walton | A Book Review

When searching for books to review, especially if presented with a lot of titles to choose from, I usually look at titles that demand attention. Titles that come out strong and shout "read me". Of course, the type of genre I love to read would also come into play. For me, since I love mythology, thriller and women's literature, titles that jump out to me are those that have words related to the three things I mentioned. I am also interested in titles that hinted of a scandal, a conspiracy or anything mysterious. I decided to review this book because of the word Minos. Minos is a character in Greek mythology. So, after reading the blurb and liking it, I signed up for this one. I also have a penchant for reading books that are not widely read by everyone. I also love to meet obscure, not mainstream authors.

Mask of Minos is an archaeology thriller. If you love James Rollins, you will love Robert Walton also. This is about the search for an elusive mythical object that has left a trail of dead bodies. A secret society that is bound to protect its identity and aims to rule the world. The main protagonists of this story are Harry Thursday and Sara Webster. Thursday is an archaeologist who is recuperating from his previous adventure in Fatal Snow (which I have not read yet). Sara is a special agent from BAR. BAR is a special branch of the CIA which recovers stolen artifacts and treasures from the WWII. Theses two traveled from South America to Europe in search of the mask which was fabled to give an immense power to the wearer. It would be a major catastrophe if the mask falls into the wrong hands.

I think Thursday is the only protagonist in all the archaeology thrillers that I have read that I do not love. I am not sure if I like him, yet. The book hinted of his involvement in shady characters in his previous transactions. I like my heroes with integrity and stubborn will. I like those who have strong convictions and can never be swayed by anything. In the whole story, I don't think he has proven himself to be trustworthy. Or I could be prematurely judging him on this one book. But I also think that this book gave me enough information as to his personality. I guess, we'll see if he changes my mind in his next adventures.

Sara, the female protagonist is obviously so taken by Mr. Thursday. Maybe, she can give me a further insight into Mr. Thursday's personality in the next books. I still can't decide if the partnership of these two is rock-solid. I am still not able to make up my mind if these two make a very formidable duo. Their knowledge, experiences and skills relating to ancient artifacts are very impressive, I admit. I would like to hope that these two will have more adventures to share together. Hopefully, they will grow on me.

What I really liked about the story was the historical background of the artifact and about the monks. At the onset of the story, dead bodies have been dropping to keep secrets hidden. The legend of Count Bruno, a Bavarian Knight of the Templar, was also very interesting. I think the story of Count Bruno being a Templar Knight is the best part of the story. Yes, I am a sucker for anything that has to do about the Knights Templar and the mystery surrounding Christianity, Jesus Christ and other religions. In short, I like books that tackle controversial issues and taboo topics. Adding in the Hyperboreans into the mix has made it more appealing. I just hope that in the next books, the Hyperboreans will be given a face and their secret society will be aired out in the open. They really got me curious.

I give the book 3.5/5 scary masks. This book brought me to Costa Rica, Paris and to Switzerland. I was shown the inner sanctum of the vault where safety deposit boxes of the famous Swiss bank lie. This was a good thriller ride but I think the whole story did not flow seamlessly. I felt like there were a few things that were a little fuzzy. Maybe it was me not really comprehending it or I was distracted while I was reading. On the whole, it just appeared to me that there were a chunk or two that were missing or I might have missed. Or it could be just my imagination. Anyway, the ending also was good but I wished something more interesting happened to the mask. I think after all the near-death experiences Sara and Harry went through, I deemed it just appropriate that they have to at least bring home the bacon. That is just my opinion. Well, the story does not end here. This has now made me curious as to what happens next.

But reality is not truth, there is a difference between the two. What we perceive to be truth isn't always reality.

- Robert Walton, The Mask of Minos -  

Thanks again, Netgalley for the copy.

Love's Shadow (Brothers Maledetti #2) by Nichole Van | A Book Review

This is one of those reviews that were due last week. Finally, I am able to slowly catch up with my overdue reviews. It was sad to not be able to do my book reviews and post on Instagram. I hope I won't get the flu ever and the laptop would not go crazy again. Well, it's still with the technician so it's still to be determined. I am using the other laptop which is painstakingly slow compared to the other one. Better than no computer at all.

Love's Shadow is a very good surprise. I am so in love with the very unique story and the D' Angelo brothers. I was so caught up in the twist, the history and the landscape. Who would not fall in love with the picturesque Italy? Its name alone makes me want for mouth-watering gelato, hand-made pasta and authentic Italian pizza. 

This book felt like a cross between a Steve Berry and a Clive Cussler. Yes, two of my favorite mystery and historical fiction writers. This story just had the complete ingredients of what I so love. History, archaeology, old legends, magic, powers and a love story that promises an unhappy ending. All these elements thrown in, mix well then stir and you will surely end up engrossed and unable to let go until the end. And the best thing? I just realized that this story is part of a series so I could have a few more helpings of this delightful and talented author. This is my first of Nichole Van and I am so impressed. You know what this means? I will be hunting for her other stories because I just can't get over the pleasure of having found this story and this amazing author.

Are you the type of reader who likes to guess what the story is just by looking at the title? I am one. It's not an exact science. Often I feel disappointed to not figure out why the story is entitled as such after reading it. And what an exhilaration it is to be able to grasp and understand why the title fits the story. For this story, I had no idea why it's called Love's Shadow. I don't have any theories. But after reading it, I totally get why the author called this one as it is and I totally agree with it. I book no arguments or any comments. I think the title is very curious. Just as curious as the story is.

This is without a doubt one of the best stories I have read this 2017. Stories like these are what I would die for. The marriage of the past and current events in this story was perfect. How the past events were connected to the present time in this story was seamlessly done. I just loved it. 

No questions asked, I give this book 5/5 pairs of leather gloves. This is just perfect for me. It fits like a glove. Nice to meet you Nichole Van. Looking forward to the next stories in the series.

Why did it have to be this man? Of all the men on Planet Earth? Literally, the one person who would be utterly off limits? Figured I would fall prey to some demented god who got off on cruel ironies.

- Nichole Van, Love's Shadow -  

Thank you again, Kathy of ebooksforreview.com for the copy. 

Other books in the series:

Gladly Beyond (Brothers Maledetti #1)

Lightning Struck (Brothers Maledetti #3)

Girl in Disguise by Greer McAllister | Spotlight Tour and Giveaway | A Book Review

Girl in Disguise

Greer Macallister

Publication Date: March 21^st, 2017

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Format: Hardcover

ISBN: 9781492635222

Review copy: Netgalley

Inspired by the real story of investigator Kate Warne, this spirited novel follows the detective's rise during one of the nation's times of crisis, bringing to life a fiercely independent woman whose forgotten triumphs helped sway the fate of the country.

With no money and no husband, Kate Warne finds herself with few choices. The streets of 1856 Chicago offer a desperate widow mostly trouble and ruin―unless that widow has a knack for manipulation and an unusually quick mind. In a bold move that no other woman has tried, Kate convinces the legendary Allan Pinkerton to hire her as a detective.

Battling criminals and coworkers alike, Kate immerses herself in the dangerous life of an operative, winning the right to tackle some of the agency's toughest investigations. But is the woman she's becoming―capable of any and all lies, swapping identities like dresses―the true Kate? Or has the real disguise been the good girl she always thought she was?

Today is International Women's Day. More power to all the strong, loving, generous and kind women in the world. It's just fitting that a book about a very strong, skilled and intuitive woman is what I am featuring today. Girl in Disguise is a historical fiction based on the first woman spy.

I thought Mrs. Pollifax was the most amazing spy ever but before her, there was Kate Warne. A widow, who was desperate for an employment, convinced Mr. Pinkerton to take her in as the first woman private investigator. The first woman to embark on a world dominated by men. She was underestimated and was told she won't do but she challenged Mr. Pinkerton to test her by sending her on a real assignment, and if she succeeds, he will have no choice but hire her. To Mr. Pinkerton and all of the detective agency's astonishment, she succeeded and got on board to start her training. Much to Mr. Pinkerton's delight and shock, a lot of assignments require the finesse and intuition of a woman. So, the rising career of Kate Warne lifted off until she had to lead and train her own group of women operatives to answer to the rising needs of the agency and of the changing times in Chicago and the whole US. 

Kate Warne's uncanny and exceptional talent in seeing what's not obvious that eludes even the most attentive person and her strong intuition, inherent only to a woman, has made her one of the most instrumental characters in keeping Abraham Lincoln alive and ultimately contributing to the end of the Civil War. Apart from this two exemplary exploits, she also had other assignments that added to her badge as a seasoned, resourceful and dependable Pinkerton operative. Her missions took her to various parts of Chicago and all over the US, solving mysteries and exposing secrets that are even too deadly for strong-bodied men to accomplish. She had proven that being a woman is not a weakness but rather an asset. An asset that is often overlooked and underestimated which could only prove deadly because nobody sees what is coming.

She had her own share of hurts and pains, heartaches and being powerless to stop the death of her beloved. Kate Warne was one of those first women who had broken the walls that separate men from women. She had proven that women are not limited by their gender, or weak, to be able to perform whatever task a man can do - just like being a spy, to wear disguises, infiltrate secret societies and ferret out valuable information right out of the horse's mouth.

The only reason I am not giving this a perfect rating is because there were parts that were a bit dull. A narrative of sorts that seemed to be long-winded. I think it was in a way necessary to get an understanding of the succeeding events. I don't fault the author for that but I just wished it maintained the same pace and energy throughout the whole book. Nevertheless, it was still a good read. For one who is an avid reader of thrillers and mysteries, this book can hold its own. 

I give this book 4/5 sealed envelopes. This book is a good example of women empowerment. Books that celebrate women, heroines and strong characters that broke through stereotype. Happy Women's Day everyone! This is a salute to all the extraordinary and amazing women in the world. Whether you are a mother, a teacher, or whatever your struggles are, you deserve respect, love, and understanding. Who rules the world, girls?

We are all misrepresenting ourselves to each other after all. To live in this world daily was to traffic in the business of leading other people astray.

- Greer McAllister, Girl in Disguise -  

Raised in the Midwest, Greer Macallister is a poet, short story writer, playwright and novelist whose work has appeared in publications such as The North American Review, The Missouri Review, and The Messenger. Her plays have been performed at American University, where she earned her MFA in Creative Writing. She lives with her family in Brooklyn.

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