Dangerous Secrets by Melanie Paige | A Book Review

Happy New Year everyone! 

It's been about three weeks since my last review. Yes, I too was busy during the holidays and also because I also started a new online job last December. That took a lot of time from my reading and of course, writing reviews. I'm still trying to find the best way, in order to be able to reach my quota and still get to read books after each shift. But nevertheless, I am happy to be busy and earning without having to commute and getting stressed with being caught in traffic, but I also missed talking to people face to face and meeting new friends. 

Anyway, I will continue to keep up with work and at the same time, read and post reviews. My reviews to be written have started to pile up and I hope it doesn't get as high as my TBR. My wish for 2018, since resolutions are so overrated, to continue to meet new authors and be introduced to new characters and stories and discover new worlds. My real life is shaping up better and I am optimistic that great things are in store for me this year. And I guess, a part of the strength to survive 2017 came from the stories that had came my way. Without them, I am not sure where I would be honestly. So, to all the authors, publishers and the book gods, thank you and may a lot more people join our lifestyle.

My first review for 2018 is Dangerous Secrets. I read this last month but as I have said, I had my hands full and was having a hard time trying to squeeze in some reading time, harder still to sit down and write a review. I know you all share the same sentiment. 

I got this book through Instagram in August of last year. Yes, you don't have to state the obvious. It took me 4 months after to get to the book and then another month to review. Yes. I am embarrassed to admit but I am falling way behind on my review requests. That's why, I just try to make it up on my reviews. I make sure that they're as objective and as honest as possible. And here it comes.

This is my first time to read a book of this author. Honestly, I haven't met the author until she sent me a DM on Instagram. Thank the book gods for that. The title would suggest some mysterious story or a thriller plot line. Yes, in a way those elements are in the story but it has a lot more than that. I think I read the blurb, but when I started reading the book I have forgotten what the book was about. And that often happens to me. I often forgot what the blurb was and that would add to the excitement and the curiosity which helps set the mood for me at the beginning of the story. The same happened for this book. I didn't know that I would meet very interesting characters in here. To be honest, when you realize the type of creatures that are in this book, you will probably think of Twilight. Yes, vampires and werewolves. But, Twilight never once came to mind when I was reading the story. It only came to me now, while drafting this review. The similarities between Twilight and Dangerous Secrets stopped at vampires and werewolves. Just that.

Until now, just reading the title, the first thing that still comes to mind is a mystery and a thriller story. It's the title. It conveys that kind of message but when you read the book, you will be surprised that it's a totally different kind of danger and secrets that it was referring too. I love it. I love that it somehow, not really mislead, but it's not obvious also. It's subtle. In truth, the title sums up what the story is about. It fits but it also makes anyone curious. I know, I often talk about how the titles of books appear to me. It has become my thing to scrutinize and judge the title. How it makes me feel? Did it impress me? It's always the first thing that anyone notices aside from the cover. But to me, the title is the biggest thing because in just a few words, it has to convince me or anyone to pick it up and burrow into its contents. And I think, this title did the job.

The story revolves around Jennifer Anderson's life and her sister Hayley. They were just orphaned. Their parents died in a car accident and it was up to Jennifer now to support her sister and herself. Jennifer's life was mostly centered on Hayley and how to make ends meet until the King brothers moved in across the street. From here on, their lives will never ever be the same again. Not ever.

This is a classic example of curiosity killed the cat. Here, it almost went that way. Hayley's weird curiosity and suspicion about the new neighbors brought about the unexpected change in her and Jennifer's life. And those changes were really overwhelming. Literally, life-changing at it's best. Jennifer is literally and figuratively, the epicenter of this whole influx of new information and truths about her family and her parents. If I were Jennifer, it would have been amazing to find out that there's more to me and that I still have family out there. That they were not alone. They still have relatives alive but the way the truths were revealed, was just not the best timing. And same with anyone else's normal reaction when confronted with the truth, Jen was more confused and overwhelmed. Good thing, we have Aidan to the rescue. 

The revelations in the story came in stages. Not everything was revealed at once in one go which is what I liked. I never thought installments would be good but it was so done nicely here that you can't help but kept being surprised every time a new revelation is dished out. I never expected each one. Honestly, nothing is obvious at all in this story, except, the thing about Jen and Aidan. Other than that, I could not anticipate any of the next scenes or chapters. I lived the story page after page. I was drawn in chapter by chapter as the whole story was given to me in piecemeal. And I enjoyed every second of it. It was not done in a one-time-big-time-grand-explosion-kind-of-thing but it was done with great care, precision and absolute unexpected suspense. I had no idea how the story will turn out but I was just happy where it took me. I enjoyed the ride.

Each character had a mystery to them. As the story unravels, the characters are bared out little by little. Each one has a hidden secret but you will never suspect it. Each character is introduced with mystery surrounding them but very subtle that it seems not there at all. It was definitely a surprise when that mystery was uncovered. It was just like that for me. I was astounded to find the hidden connections of one character to the other. Each character, no matter how small,  was given a scene where s/he was the center, which doesn't really happen in a lot of books. Each character was given her/his moment, although, a moment could mean not really something grand but rather a chance to be able to get a better understanding of that character. I liked that part of the book too.

Because I really enjoyed the story, I give it 4/5 bags of animal blood. I'm not trying to be disgusting but the whole story jumped off from this thing, so I feel it's just fitting. I look forward to reading the next book and the other stories from the same author. I am pleased to meet you Miss Melanie Paige and I am so thankful for you for reaching out to me in Instagram and be given the opportunity to read your book. I am all in this with Jen and the King Brothers. I want to take down the hunters too. Disband them and destroy them all. I also love the historical background of the story. How this war between hunters and the supernatural beings started is a very solid and well-thought out foundation for the story. Good job on that one! I am looking forward to get to know more of the King brothers. I am not sure yet if I liked Aidan the most or Elliot. I like brooding, responsible, and dependable guys but I also like smart IT and creative techie guys. I hope the next book will help me with that.

I have lived a very long time, seen wars begin and end throughout history, both supernatural and human. The thing is, it doesn't matter who the last one standing is, because in the end, no one truly wins a war.

- Melanie Paige, Dangerous Secrets -

Thank you again, Melanie Paige for the copy.

Wrong Side of the Grave (Mothman Mysteries) by Bryna Butler | A Book Review

Weirdly, this is the third story that has an unusual twist to the regular version of stories that I have read this week. The first one was the unusual heroine, next a taboo romance and this alien-vampire thing. I did not plan to read them one after the other but the review deadlines were a day apart, so it was all decided for me without having to think about them consciously.

Vampires are aliens. Eric Jansen is an alien too. He is the Mothman who feeds on the vampires. He keeps the vampire population in check so they will not overrun and wipe out humans. When he is not hunting vampires, he plays as a drummer in a band.

Huh? This is my first time to hear that vampires are aliens and all other mythical creatures are also aliens like the mothman. I have read of vampire stories with a Nordic mythology twist but never the alien version. This is a new story for me. I have never heard before that these night creatures are extra-terrestrials. I like this fresh new take. I like all new versions of anything, retellings and all.

The dead coming back to life is a scary thought. Yes, a lot of people will be interested in finding out how this phenomenon is possible. Surely, this would cause a lot of stir and chaos. People who have dead loved ones would definitely want to know if they could bring back their dearly departed back to the land of the living. It would be amazing and horrifying at the same time, as it is also against the natural order of things. I would prefer to be immortal than dying and coming back to life. I think there is something final about death and even if you come back from it, I think a part of you will never be the same. Let us leave the dead alone.

I enjoyed the plot and how things were done in this book. I like the Men in Black spin of the story, of the hunter becoming the hunted. Adding in the mothman to save the day and chase the vampires away. It's a good material for a movie. The sci-fi spin is so fresh and it made the story very interesting. 

I just thought the reason for all reawakening was very elementary and a bit cheesy. Well, a demented and delusional person could also set illusions of grandeur for himself. Who's to stop him? It was just so unexpected and quite a let-down to find out what his motives were for waking those resting in peace but I guess, it unbelievably worked. The ending was also surprising. Sad, in fact. But it also promises a next book which continues Eric and Bridget's adventures. The next story also introduces another alien who preys on the mothman like Eric. Hmmm, I wonder what type of creature this new predator that landed on Earth this time? This series is pregnant with characters of the alien food chain. Aliens eat aliens and the stage is the Earth. Sounds like this is fun. 

I give this 3.5/5 pairs of drumsticks. Again, the-not-the-usual take on the mythical and paranormal creatures woven into sci-fi is very unique. I guess, Twilight has ruined the-vampire-falls-in-love-with-a-human story for everyone. I am thrilled that a lot of very talented authors are creating their own vampire stories that are too far from Twilight. I am excited to discover another author who will make another tale about vampires with an altogether different flavor. I liked surprising people than the one to be surprised but if they are in stories and books, I am all for it. Come on surprise me!

He's the missing piece, the skip between the heartbeats. So, even though he's gone, he's still part of us forever.

- Bryna Butler, Wrong Side of the Grave - 

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

Rune Master (Rune Series #2) by Amelia Wilson | ARC | A Book Review

Merry Christmas everyone! How was your Christmas? We had a simple celebration at home. We had baked pork spare ribs, spaghetti, macaroni salad , fried chicken with gravy, cassava cake, chocolate cake and sparkling wine. This year my parents spent Christmas at my brother's house. We went to visit on the 25th to exchange gifts. It was a quiet and low-key celebration compared to the previous Christmases. Quiet because there were very minimal fireworks and firecrackers. Probably, because our president - Mr. Duterte, has publicly expressed his dislike for firecrackers and planned to ban it. We could use less noise and fright caused by those things, not to mention less injuries. Our neighbors compensated by renting a videoke machine and the singing started as early as 4 PM. A little quiet but not too quiet. So, that was it for me. Hope you had a good Christmas with family and friends.

The book I am reviewing today is Rune Master. This is the second book in the Rune Series. Amelia Wilson, the author, generously sent me again an ARC and I gladly reviewed it since I enjoyed the first book. Not that I would refuse if an author would ask me to review her book.

Rune Master picked up right where Rune Sword left off. I have included a link for the review of Rune Sword below. You may check it. This is a paranormal Viking romance story, specifically-vampires.

I liked this story because of the rare combination of vampire and Viking mythology. I have not come across this kind of story before so this really interested me. It gave a fresh spin on the whole vampire story. As I mentioned in my review of the first book, I thought that Twilight has ruined all vampire stories for me but thankfully, there are enough people with great imagination in the world to come up with various fascinating and awesome stories involving vampires that still pique my interest. This series is one of them. 

The story explored more how the vampire and Viking story came together. It gave me more insight into the Norse mythology and the other Gods and deities. It is a sort-of a good introduction for me to some characters and aspects of the Viking culture. I learned new things here which is what every reader wants every time we read a new story. 

This seemed like an HEA (happy ever after) story and it may seem that the series have ended but I would like to think and hope that there is still a next story. Nika Graves and Erik Thorvald did not have enough adventures and dangerous encounters with the evil vampires, tricksters, and rogue Norse Gods, yet. I think they still have a lot more experiences to go through together and their relationship too has to be tested more. I do admit, in this story, their relationship has gone through enough of their trust issues. 

I give the book 4/5 rune stones. In this story, Nika's character has grown and I love how it was done and how the story evolved. Since I am not so familiar with the Norse mythology, I did not have any expectations set for this book except for it to surprise me. I did not have any pre-conceived idea of how I wanted the story to go but it did surprise me and I liked how the story unraveled. I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to the next chapters of Nika and Erik's live and love stories.

If I have to measure my worth by the value of those around me, I'm not much of a man, am I?

- Amelia Wilson, Rune Master -

Thank you again, Amelia Wilson for the ARC.

Rune Sword (Rune Series #1)

Rune Hunter (Rune Series #3)