Lana Axe lives in the Missouri countryside surrounded by dogs, cats, birds and reptiles. She spends most of her free time daydreaming about elves, magic, and far-away lands.
Arielle: Immortal Awakening
on Aug. 14, 2013
Arielle is your typical young woman who is worried about finding a man who will sweep her off her feet as well as getting the perfect tan. Well, not so typically actually. She is empathic and she and her friends have a flair for attracting paranormal activity. Her character is very believable, and it is easy to identify with her method of thinking. She has little experience in life and love and comes across true to life.
The structure of the story is well written. The pace is fairly quick, spanning years at first as the reader is presented with Arielle's childhood. As a teen, she and her friends have a special encounter with the spirit world, and they play a vital role in the happiness of two young lovers.
During her college years, Arielle finally meets Sebastian, the love of her life. He is an immortal who lives in a castle and his been searching for his true love for centuries. It wouldn't be fair to leave out any mention of his first wife, Annabel, who has been plaguing him since their annulment. You have to feel something for a woman so jealous she would pursue her ex for over 400 years!
I enjoyed the amount of description that was presented in this story, especially the beach scenes. I could truly feel as if I was walking right next to Arielle, soaking up the sun. There was one portion where the girls encounter the leader of a group of occult bad guys who practice human sacrifice. They were intriguing and would make a good story on their own.
There is quite a lot of story packed into this one book. There are many interesting tidbits that caught my attention, but they were not the main focus of this story. It doesn't feel overly dense, however, and the storyline is easy to follow. Fans of paranormal romance will love this one.
Stone and the Flower Dragon
on Aug. 15, 2013
This is fantastic. In a few short pages, the author manages to evoke an emotional response. Not only does it warn against the destruction of the natural world, it also warns against the apathy of mankind.This is beautifully written and leaves the reader hungry for more.
Peter: A Darkened Fairytale
on Aug. 16, 2013
Peter is an average boy until he arrives in a land of fantasy. He enters a magical world where adventure and many surprises await. This story reminds me of Alice in Wonderland, only with some darker elements. This land, however, is quite unique, and Peter's adventures kept me guessing throughout the story.
There are many unique and unexpected characters within these pages. My personal favorite was Hally, who had me laughing aloud as I read. In fact, for over half of this story, I was reading with a silly grin on my face and not caring who happened to see me. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this story and was sad but fulfilled when it came to an end.
This story is charming without being cute. There are many twists and turns that keep a reader intrigued and wanting to know more. Believe me, this is a hard book to put down! There are many fresh ideas presented within this tale, and it is a true pleasure to read. I highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys reading at all.
Memoirs of a Girl Who Loves God
on March 14, 2016
Young Krystal is only fourteen and dealing with some pretty typical teenage issues. I'm sure we can all remember how hard it was to be a teen, and young adult readers will find a character they can relate to. She is deeply emotional, and the writing to develop her character is top-notch. Every aspect of Krystal is believable, even that she resorts to self harm. This is a widely misunderstood topic, and I had wondered myself at the mindset of a person who could perform such acts. Now I have a better understanding. I would highly recommend this story to a parent whose child has begun exhibiting this behavior.
The religious aspects of the story are woven throughout, but certainly aren't mean to convert anyway to a particular faith. Rather, they illustrate the powers of faith and its profound effect on Krystal's life. It serves to otherwise lighten the load of a teen who has a lot on her plate. Well done.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
The Red Claw
on April 24, 2016
Xander is a special agent working for an organization known as Catomondo. As a Purrtector, he is called to action whenever the need arises, and his exploits are legendary. Inhibited only by the restraints of his humans and their boat, he is only able to travel where they go. That makes his job more difficult when he's summoned to investigate a catnapping in Jamaica. He has to put all his feline skills to the test to reach his destination and get to the bottom of Esmeralda's disappearance.
I loved the addition of cat lingo in the story (purrtectors, whispurring, purrsonal, etc). The author has done a fantastic job of portraying the feline mindset as well as describing his feline quirks and movements. His disdain for dogs brought amusement to the story, and his sidekick Sharkey was a great addition. Both characters have led interesting lives, and they are presented in a well-rounded fashion.
It was loads of fun to read the emails between the cats. If you've ever wondered what cats might message to each other, this is certainly the book for you! My favorite scene had to be the "fish cleaning". It had me grinning ear to ear. An excellent story, and highly recommended for anyone who would like to experience the world through the eyes of a cat.