Member Since: Jan. 23, 2012

Valerie McQueen

Smashwords book reviews by Valerie McQueen

  • Final Hour of the Hunter Book Three in The Midnight Hunter Trilogy on June 25, 2012

    My review of Final Hour of the Hunter by Bonnie Bernard 5*****stars This book was provided free by the author in exchange for honest literary review! So for the virginal human Donna, the last two years have been more than peaceful since distroying those pesky Underworld characters. Lucinda is now well over two and doing well. Everything is finally going Donna's way and she and her soulmate are going to live happily ever after right? WRONG AGAIN!!!! Unfortunately those pesky Underworld creatures aren't going to be defeated that easy. First there's a strange woman with white hair and a pair of hellhounds chasing her around, and no other mortal can see her but Donna. Then there's a purple eyed bird..... yeah you get my picture. This time it's all on Donna to solve the riddles and save us. Ok I rarely rant and rave about a novel but I am going all out here. This series improved by leaps and bounds with each novel....and the first one was good. The plot is action packed without being hard to follow. Theres comedy, romance, peril, heartbreak, and kick buttowski all in one. The characters are likeable. For me, i love the fact Donna acts human. She's not portrayed as a perfect goddess type on legs...she's just an average young lady who's randomly awkward, clumsy, and slow to catch on which makes her very loveable and relatable. This goes on my must read ASAP list for anyone who hasn't .....you by far won't be disappointed!!!!!!
  • Before the Moonrise on July 13, 2012

    My review of Before the Moonrise by Dawn Gray Rating 5***** This book was provided by the author in exchange for honest literary review. Meet Lily, a divorced mother of three writer who hides from people rather than venture out to restart he life. She suffers from terible nerve disorder which basically shuts her body down. Her whole world revolves around writing and her children. Kylie is Lily's gregarious best friend. She tries het best to save Lily from her depression, and proposes a two week vacation for the two. Imagine her surprise as Lily accepts! As the two arrive in New Orleans, they are drawn into a world that only exists in the shadows hidden from the untrained eye! Almost immediately the two are drawn to a wierd combination of men who seem to be dream quality. As the romance escalate so does the drama. See Lily's beau Jared has a big canine secret ....oh and she's being chased by crazy vampires who want her for themselves. Whats a girl to do??? Excellent story by Dawn Gray. Loads if action, great use of scenic imagery that puts the reader right in New Orleans with the characters. When the book started off and i read New Orleans I was a bit scared because supes there are usually the ball field of Anne Rice ....but Dawn made this her own! Nit a wanna be vampstory, but one told in her own voice her own way!!!!!! Excellent read, you wont put it down
  • Yesterday's Daughter on July 18, 2012

    Grace can't tolerate the sun. Even the slightest exposure leaves her with first degree burns on her skin. Next, her diet is way abnormal -- she prefers bagged blood to human food. Lastly, she lives in isolation in fear that if any of her secrets are ever found out she will be locked away in a mental asylum forever. Malachi has searched the earth for decades for his lifemate. Sapphira is still alive, he feels it in his bones. Finally, he finds her in New York....her sent is everywhere in the small apartment. However, when he reveals himself to her, he realizes she has no memory of him or what she even is. Grace is really Sapphira and somehow he has to convince her that she is a vampire, she's meant to be a leader for her people, and she is meant to be his. While they learn each other and unlock mysteries of the past they have to learn how to lead their nation to victory over the others who seek to end the vampire race. This is one of those sit down to read a couple chapters and i finish the book.... it's that good. While we lear Grace is truly powerful, she is also just like an other young woman. She is unsure and sometimes awkward. She seeks acceptance almost shyly. She never gets a huge ego even when her powers emerge. Sapphira remains the true role model always loving caring and just. This is a beautiful story packed with lots of action. Very well written read!!!
  • Five on Aug. 26, 2012

    My Review of Five by Christie Rich Rating 4**** This book was provided free from the author in exchange for honest literary review. Rayla had just done the impossible! Not only did she graduate from high school and get accepted into college; she is going AWAY TO COLLEGE!!!! Despite the incessant nagging of a slave driving aunt she was sent away to, she is finally free to start her own life. No more babysitting or answering to her aunts back and call. Rayla has been Aunt Grace's maid ever since her mom vanished years ago. What makes it even better is that her best friend Cassie gets to go with and is her dormmate. Life at college is not what it turns out to be. Darkness, which has always terrified Rayla, surrounds her at every turn. Also, apparently she is destined to be chased by some not so nice but very steamy Fae Lords wherever she goes. Finding out what they want from her could end up killing her..... This book is a great new series. Plot is original and keeps you wanting more. I enjoyed watching Rayla get more powerful and confident as the story unravelled. She's definitely not a helpless character looking for someone else to save her. At the end I was really mad! I just didnt want it to be over yet because I have so many more questions. Good thing I have book 2! Great read!
  • Dark Matter on Aug. 26, 2012

    My review of Dark Matter by Christie Rich RATING 5***** This book was provided free from the author in exchange for honest literary review. Ok so Rayla has managed to get herself taken. Instead of one fairy Lord calling for hervand her powers, there are five. Zach and Luke have disappeared on her trying to retrieve her family off of an island in the mortal realm. Her best friend Cassie seems to have taken to life in the fairy realm with a new passion. She has fallen head over heels for the Lord of the fire realm. To beat it all it turns out she just may be Elemental like Rayla. The fire realm may just be in the hands of a new lord, a deliciously yummy and dangerous Heath. Heath is the one who swears he doesn't want Rayla. He's infuriating, wise-cracking, and down right rude. Heath is also calling to Rayla in a dangerous way. Now not only does Rayla have the bonding choice to make she also has to find a way to stop a seriously power hungry delusional princess and a crazy man fueling a secret Order. Book one was very good, but this one was OMG over the top crazy!!! I read the entire thing in one sitting and went on to book 3!!!! Rayla draws you into her journey she's so adorable. Her inner strength is growing in this book and shining through in a crazy way. Kudos to to author for placing the reader right in the middle of all the action! I loved it can you tell yet? I do have to say I was definitely team Zach at the beginning because I seriously love Styx, but now I feel a warmness coming for the new man in the equation.....go grab this one for sure, a must have!!!!
  • Betrayals of Spring (Forever Fae, #2) on Feb. 28, 2013

    Betrayal of Spring by L. P. Dover Rating 5***** This book was provided from the author in exchange for honest literary review. I am really torn as I write this. I can't decide if I Luke Calista' s story or Meliantha's story better. I love them both. This book picks up as the other one left off. Meliantha is apparently spurned by Kelan. It seems that he refuses to give up his promiscuous ways in order to address the possibility of a bond between the two of them. From that point, Mel locks herself away and goes on a trek to become a female warrior. After reinventing herself, the time has come to revisit the Winter Court and face Kelan once and for all. Nothing is how it seems or even how it was. Could it be that these two have both been wrong and veered off fates path? This is a love story for the ages with a dash of murder, evil sorcerer, and several fey creature thrown in. I can't say how much I adored this one. The story itself is well developed and has depth. The characters are done exceptionally and the pace is off the chain throughout the whole entire novel. I never really likes Mel in the first one, she was so whiny at times. But here, she really turns into a serious kick buttowski female lead who I was really admiring. It's a novel once you read the first chapter, you just can't stop. You have to finish it. This is a recommended read for ages 18+ due to content and sex. It is such an awesome book, wait till u read it. I can't wait for book 3
  • Summer of Frost on July 19, 2013

    Summer of Frost by L. P. Dover Eating 5,000***** This book was provided from the author ion exchange for honest literary review. I fell in love with this series from the first pages of Forever Fae. Each time I read the newest installment, it becomes my new favorite. This one blew me away. Sor is a kick butt female. She has it al. She's beautiful but deadly in a fight. Fearless but has a heart that is endless. Simply amazing. Drake is on every way her bipolar opposite. He is sexy and swoonworthy with a fierce edge. He goes all out for anything and everything her believes in. These two are a delicious combination. This book is a great blend of action, romance, suspense and betrayal. I absolutely could not put it down. I read it straight through neglecting the entire world around me. It is that good. The characters are so deep and real they become friends you feel like u have known for life. The plot is jam packed from page one, and doesn't stop even at the end. I want to read Ari's story right now. Even the grammar is perfect. This is one of those books you would be a fool not to read. I recommend it for ages 18+ because some of the scenes will leave you flushed.....in a good way. Michelle McQueen