While on vacation, I read three books. Two great ones. And, one really bad one. So I thought I’d give you the good reads first because I’m still crock-potting how to deliver the bad one for tomorrow.
First Review: Angel of Mercy, by Lisa Olsen
Product Description:
When Mercy wakes up in the hospital after a brutal stabbing, she has little recollection of the attack; only the blurred memories of a mysterious stranger with piercing blue eyes that haunts her dreams. After spotting the same man, that only she can see, Mercy follows him home, brazenly confronting him. (kids at home, never do that!) Her savior turns out to be less than human, or is it more?
Samael is a fallen angel, bound to the Earth and living out his life among humans but apart from them. Unwilling to let an innocent die, Sam bestowed some of his Grace to Mercy, healing her wounds and imbuing her with some of his angelic powers. Thrust into a world within her own where angels and demons coexist unseen by mortals, Mercy must learn to accept the fact that she is no longer strictly human; she is something new. Complicating things is Adamiel, the reckless fallen angel who is Sam's enigmatic friend. Equal parts information and aggravation, Sam and Adam help Mercy acclimate to her new life. But now Mercy's eyes are opened to a whole new world beyond the human realm... and their eyes are opened to her.
My thoughts:
Another Kudos to Ms. Olsen. She’s written another attention-getting-page-turner, folks. There was nothing about it I didn’t like. I loved the premise. Human turning into some kind of angel hybrid. She even had her main character refer to former boyfriends as ‘ass hats’. Ladies, I know we’ve all dated a few of those. Some of us even married ‘ass hats’.
Okay. I’m done. On with the review.
Mercy,a/k/a, Merceline Renault, is the well-rounded main character. She’s a bartender. Single. She’s got mother issues. Even brother ones, too. She’s got a best friend.
Her story opens with her in a hospital bed. She’s been stabbed severely and wonders if she’s in heaven. Some handsome blue-eyed guy visits her while she sleeps in recovery.
While in the hospital, she meets Detective Joe. He questions her about the stabbing. He compliments her on her beautiful blue eyes and a relationship blossoms.
But wait a minute, the handsome dude with the heavenly blue eyes.…well, he likes her, too. He’s the angel who saved her life. His name is Sameal. He follows her around after she leaves the hospital.
Oh….and, did I tell you about the ‘ass-hat’ angel she’s attracted to? Yeah, Adameal. He likes her, too, but she might die if he follows through with his feelings for her.
The question here is: Who does she really fall for?
Interested? You can buy the e-book for 2.99 or via paperback for 9.99 at Amazon.com.
It’s worth the money. This one gets Shelly’s twenty-five shiny stars. Like I say, why give five when you can give more.
Second review: Storm Chaser, by Mark Hunter
Product Description:
The black funnel of an approaching tornado makes all other troubles seem small. But when Indiana State Trooper Chance Hamlin “rescues” Allie Craine from a twister, his troubles are just beginning—Allie, a disaster photographer, rescues him when he drives into the storm’s path.
Chance doesn’t like being rescued, he doesn’t like photographers, and he definitely doesn’t like being stuck with Allie when she wants to stay in calm, peaceful Indiana. Too bad his family, friends, and even the other members of Chance’s volunteer fire department think she’s great. Suspicious of Allie’s motives, he decides to drive her away out of sheer boredom—but that’s not so easy when someone begins causing fires and other catastrophes around the area. That someone might be Allie, who has plans of her own...
My thoughts:
I fell in love with this story. Really. For one, the plot involves a small town. Hurricane, Indiana. And in small towns, everybody knows everybody's biz (I know-I grew up in one like that).
Chance Hamlin and Allie Craine are two great characters. They literally fall into each other’s paths by pure chance. And from the get go, Chance questions everything about Allie. He makes a lot of assumptions. And, you all know what that means. Right?
But, Allie has secrets which gives Chance the wrong impressions to make an ass out of himself.
Despite their clumsy beginning, these two plant seeds to a romance. Their intimate moments were interrupted either by fires and deer smashing out windows. Or Chance’s doubts and Allie’s hurt feelings. It had me wondering if these two were going to make it happen in the end.
It was hilarious, delightful, and had a nice hometown feel to it.
Shelly gives this one twenty-five shiny stars, too. Why give five when you can give more.
You can pick this up for 6.99 for your e-reader at Amazon.com.
Great reviews Shelly and welcome back!
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to reading Mark's book soon!
Thanks, Eve. You'll love Mark's book. It was an adorable romantic comedy with a real hometown feel.
ReplyDeleteAwesome :D
ReplyDeleteI'm always looking for another book to put on my list!
Your welcome, Jolene. They were both terrific reads. Real page turners.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reviews, Shelly, I'm looking forward to having time to sit down and savor Lisa's books. I absolutely LOVE her cover!I've already read and loved Mark's.
ReplyDeleteHis writing in some ways remind me of Nicholas Sparks (who, in my opinion, is better at writing about relationships than most female writers).
I grew up in a small town, too. There's no such thing as privacy!
You're quite welcome, Norma. I love both their writing voices and style. And, you're right about no privacy in a small town.
ReplyDeleteSounds like excellent books to read. Loved the reviews.
ReplyDelete