The Church by Celia Aaron

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages:250
Series: The Cloister Trilogy final installment
Genre: Dark, Romance
Publish: June 5th 2018
Rating: 4.5 stars

Synopsis:

Trapped.
Beaten.
Broken.
Adam destroyed himself to save me. At first, I doubt if I have the strength to go on. But with every second that passes, I see the and curse the Prophet. My time as a Maiden is over. I refuse to be a toy in his game any longer. But there’s always more ways for the Prophet to get to me, to use me, and to keep me under his influence. Will I be strong enough to break free?

Author’s Note: If you have a trigger, this book will pull it

Review:

Great end to a great trilogy. P.S. spoiler alert!

And now I intend to show them just what their devotion to a false idol is worth.

I am a bit sad to see Emily and Adam’s story end but happy it got a HEA. It just took a few scars and some people to die to get to it.

I’m so happy Noah ended up acting like Adam. My little Noah finally came to his senses.

It’s amazing to me that I believed in him for as long as I did.

The Prophet showed what happens to a man in power when everything starts to crash. I was very glad on how he met his end. So glad. Thank you Aaron on that one but could you have killed Grace it a similar fashion? She died to quick for my liking.

I’m moving on to another Aaron book after this but I need a few minutes to recuperate and get into the mind set of starting a new book. Maybe the next one will be my first five star of the year.

The Prophet by Celia Aaron

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 300
Series: The Cloister Trilogy #2
Genre: Dark, NA, Romance
Publish: May 1, 2018
Rating: 4.5 stars

Synopsis:

I can’t save myself from the Cloister, and maybe I never could. The Prophet grows more dangerous by the day. His delusions are steeped in blood, and if II’m not careful, that blood will be my own. Despite the growing risk, I still continue the search for the truth, no matter if the thorny path eventually twists back to Adam, guilt in his dark eyes. I’ve seen glimpses of his soul, and I know there is more to him than the monster, but it’s so hard to reach him. I knew when I came here that I’d have to fight, I just didn’t realize the war would be waged on so many fronts.

Author’s Note: If you have a trigger, this book will pull it. The Maiden is the first book of the Cloister Series.

Review:

Holy sheet!

We’re damned, all of us.

How do I explain what this did to me? I can’t process what happened in this book. I am on an emotional roller coaster, and I don’t think I will be getting off of it anytime soon.

Adam and Delilah had a few dark moments in this book, but I was wrong in my review on The Maiden. The dark is just about to begin.

No one quotes scripture better than the devil.

The Prophet really shows his true colors in this book. I thought he was psychotic in the first book but I was wrong yet again. And poor Noah had to keep finding out the hard way.

“He’s still a man. Still flawed. But yes, I believe he’s a prophet of the Lord. And that God and the Father of Fire are two sides of the same coin. He speaks to them.”

I hold the bottle up to him in a half-ass salute. “Well, at least you’re more fucked in the head than I am. I’ll drink to that.”

Adam tries again and again, but I am hoping that Noah sees clear after how this just ended. But sometimes, people just don’t want to see.

If my father’s taught me anything, it’s that true believers will hold onto their blind faith no matter what.

I am eating up this series. I like it more than her Acquisition series. I’m normally bias about it because it was the first series and book I ever read by Celia Aaron.

I’m going straight into The Church next. I need to know what happens from here.

The Maiden by Celia Aaron

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 328
Series: The Cloister Trilogy #1
Genre: Dark, Romance
Publish: April 3rd, 2018
Rating: 4.5 stars

Synopsis:

I joined the Cloister to find the truth. But I’ve discovered so much more, and the darkness here is seducing me, pulling me down until all I can think of is him. Adam Monroe, the Prophet’s son, a dark prince to an empire that grows by the day. He is tasked with keeping me safe from the wolves of the outside world. But the longer I stay at the Cloister, the more I realize the wolves are already inside and under the Prophet’s control. If Adam discovers the real reason I’m here, he’ll bay for my blood with the rest of them. Until then, I will be Delilah, an obedient servant of the Prophet during the day and Adam’s Maiden at night.

Author’s Note: If you have a trigger, this book will pull it. The Maiden is the first book of The Cloister Series. The Prophet will release in May, and the conclusion to the series, The Church, will release in June.

Review:

So I thought instead of sorting my kindle in A-Z with author’s last name, why not do it with my TBR instead. Now reading my TBR from A-Z this is the first book on the list. I will finish this series before moving on to the other book by Celia Aaron.

Before we start this review, I want to point out that not all Christians and Conservatives think this way.

Welcome to The Cloister. It is lead by The Prophet Leon Monroe. The Prophet has a mass of followers. Among which women who are virgin, of a young age, and can easily be brainwashed follow the Prophet to the Cloister. In the Cloister, over the next twelve months, these maidens that were recruited will be trained to be a “woman of God”.

“Shameful. All of you. Your bodies are shameful. We have twelve months to try and mold you into females that God and the Prophet can be proud of…
The Cloister was created by the Prophet to train young women, such as yourselves, to follow the Lord’s teachings and obey His will. Some things that happen here may confuse you.
They may even scare you, but be assured that everything is done in accordance with the Prophet’s plan for your life. You will understand in time

The hierarchy of the Cloister is Prophet, Protector, Spinner, then Maiden. In the Cloister we see The Prophet worship the Heavenly Father and the Father of Fire.

If I told him the real reason for the fire, he’d probably die of shock. Only my father’s inner circle knows that he serves two masters. The God above and the one below.

Told in dual POV between Adam and Delilah, the Maiden tells of Delilah infiltrating the Cloister to find the killer of her sister. Adam is the firstborn son of The Prophet, but he isn’t on favor with daddy dearest.

Evil isn’t a bad thing when it’s all you’ve ever known. It’s a comfortable blanket, a warm sun, a lover’s kiss.

Though Adam is against his father, he does what he says because he knows what the punishment is for disobedience.

After all, I’m a monster, too.

The way the Prophet views women makes me sick. Unfortunately there are men who believe women should be like in the Old Testament. Thankfully not many of them are around.

The teaching Spinner turns red, her round cheeks seeming to expand. “If you aren’t in perfect obedience to your husband, you will get cancer, you will lose your ability to bear children, you will get fat, and your children will sicken and die. Any number of horrible outcomes can be thwarted if you are in perfect obedience to your husband.” She shakes her head in an attempt at motherly disapproval. “Being in harmony with your husband and obeying him in all things are the keys to living a happy, healthy life. And, as the Prophet teaches, the only way to enter His heavenly Kingdom

Seriously… Glad my church doesn’t believe something like this. I shook my head and rolled my eyes at the spinners. These women who help “train” other women to be the “perfect” wife. Ick!

I love Aaron’s writing. The way she can make someone like the Prophet, someone who could be very real, is amazing. I couldn’t help but think of the Prophet like Jim Jones.( Don’t drink the Kool-aid.) I think that’s why The Prophet scared me. Because someone can be so charming he can get a big following. This is way more believable than The Handmaid’s Tale. I could see this happening.

But my father is a showman. And he can work a crowd like a ventriloquist with one hand up the dummy’s ass.

Now once again not all Christians and men are like the Prophet and his followers.

Now the romance that is happening between Adam and Delilah is getting my little black heart its fill. I think the next book the real darkness will come out, especially with that ending. I can’t wait to see what is in store for this couple.

The Prophet will keep you safe from the wolves, but there’s no stopping his lions from ripping you apart.

My Fair Assassin by C. J. Anaya

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 149
Series: Paranormal Misfits #1
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Publish: March 25th, 2016
Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis:

It’s not everyday a teenage girl is singled out for assassination. 

Crysta has come to accept the fact that she is freakishly different. Her shocking white hair, creepy powers, and weird eating habits have prevented her from fitting in with her various foster families. Now that she is fully emancipated and providing for herself, she hopes that life will settle down and become something halfway normal. 

Her hopes are shattered when a dangerous man with lethal intent breaks into her apartment, but this enticing stranger isn’t what he seems. Is he here to kill her or protect her from others who will? 

My Fair Assassin is a romantic short story with elements of paranormal and urban fantasy woven in for an entertaining read. It also touches on social issues involving personal self-esteem and acceptance. Adults and teens alike will enjoy getting lost in the pages of Crysta’s story as she finally comes to accept who she is…or rather what she is.

Review:

This is my second book by the author. The first book had great writing but I wasn’t a huge fan of the love triangle going on. But I still had this in my assortment so I gave the author another go.

This one I liked better than the first book I read. But I guess I’m just not in a YA mood.

This had a bit of a different take on fairies. Maybe once I get into the YA mood I might continue on with the series. As of right now it’s on hold.

The Healer by C.J. Anaya

My Edition: Kindle Owned
Pages: 265
Series: The Healer #1
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Published: May 31st, 2014 by Beau Coup LLC
Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis

A girl, a prophecy, and two warring gods equals destiny!

Hope Fairmont longs for a normal teenage life, but with a gift like hers, normal equals healing illnesses and injuries instantly. Keeping a secret like that isn’t easy, but a small town is the perfect place for her to heal those who can’t heal themselves, and an even better place for her father, James Fairmont, to hide his daughter from the rest of the world. 

Life takes an unexpected turn when two handsome strangers move into town and begin unearthing other secrets concerning Hope’s future and past, revealing to Hope that her gift for healing may be the fulfillment of an ancient, Japanese prophecy gone wrong. 

Staying away from these mysterious newcomers would be the smart thing to do, but Victor’s gentle, easy manner, and Tie’s mixed signals and strange mood swings draw her hopelessly closer to revealing the secret she and her father have been so desperate to hide. 

Hope’s life is complicated further with visions of a previous life and the arrival of a supernatural demon sent to assassinate her before she learns what she is truly capable of. 

With the support of her father, the fiery loyalty of her best friend Angie, and the child-like love of Kirby, a ten-year-old patient, Hope must fight against the forces of a relentless demon god while unwinding the tangled pieces of her past, proving to herself and those she loves that destiny isn’t determined by some cosmic reading of the stars, but by the individual choices one makes.

Review:

I don’t remember having this on my kindle. But I do. Anaya is the next author along my sorted. I have another book by her, My Fair Assassin.

The first chapter gripped me. I liked the story line already and hoped that the rest of the book goes just like the first chapter.

But upon further investigation we have a few tropes played out. Of course it’s YA fantasy so we need

1. Heroine with some kind of power
2. She has something or someone stalking her
3. She can’t tell anyone about her power
4. There’s a kid under the age of twelve who talks to old for age
5. Slut shaming best friend (Actually this isn’t a big trope but still used)
6. New guy/ guys
7. Heroine feels magnetic pull to new guys
8. love triangle
9. Hidden Princess

I do like that it follows Japanese mythology. I haven’t gotten to read anything on Japanese mythology but it does sound similar to the others. Our main bad guy seems to be lord of the land of dead. Amatsu originally looked over souls going into the heavens, but he wanted more power. His rebellion split the heavens, so his punishment was to look over souls in the land of the dead. The kami (lesser gods) that followed him turned into nekomata.

Victor and Tie are the new guys who have interest in Hope. Hope starts finding out that she is apart of a much bigger picture than what she was raised to believe.

This is a book my teen self would have ate up and wanted more. My adult self, not so much. I guess I’m over the whole YA tropes. I have moved on to NA tropes. I liked the premises but the love triangle ruins it for me. If there was no triangle I would probably move on with the series, but I’m just not that interested.

Folsom Untold: The Strange True Story of Johnny Cash’s Greatest Album by Danny Robins

My edition: Audible Owned
Time: 2h 22m
Series: Standalone
Genre: Non-fiction, Music
Publish: Audible Original Dec. 12, 2018
Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis:

This is the story of one of the greatest records ever made – Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison – and its shocking and tragic aftermath. Join award-winning journalist Danny Robins on the 50th anniversary of the album as he takes you on a road trip back to 1968, a pivotal year in US history, to investigate the dramatic and unlikely friendship between Johnny Cash, American icon, and Glen Sherley, armed robber and Folsom inmate; and how that friendship was violently torn apart. 

This five-part series features narration, interviews, and dramatic reconstruction to explore aspects of the story that have, until now, not been widely known.

Please note: contains strong language and adult content.

As an Audio Show – free for members – when you add Folsom Untold: The Strange True Story of Johnny Cash’s Greatest Album – to your library, you’ll get all five episodes, each with a runtime of about 30 minutes.

Review:

I am new to the audio book world. This year I have challenged myself to read or listen to five audio books. As the first book of the year, I thought it was an okay story.

The narrator tried to make this seem like it was such a big mystery but really it’s just a story not many know. Plus his voice reminded me of a mix between the guy who played the pharaoh in the second Night at the Museum, you know, the one with the lisp and one of the nature documentary narrators.

While I do know who Glen Sherley is, I didn’t know how or when he died. Nor did I know the story behind his and Johnny’s friendship. I wouldn’t say I’m a huge Johnny Cash fan because I didn’t know Glen Sherley lived with Johnny. Plus Johnny was best man at Sherley’s wedding. Wy sure did though. When I explained what I was listening to and what it was about, all I had to say was the guy wrote Greystone Chapel, and went to live with Johnny. Wy’s answer… Oh yeah Glen Sherley. Glad he knew.

While this was insightful, and I learned much, I really couldn’t get past the narrator’s voice. I loved the music mixed in and I loved the recordings of him and his producer interviewing everyone. He just made the story seem so big and so important to know when in reality it’s a tragic real life story of a man who helped another out of prison and into a music career. But that man couldn’t re enter into citizen life.

If you like Johnny Cash I recommend. The story goes into Johnny’s life right before the album, during the album, and after the album.

Boarded By Love by Toni Aleo

My edition: Kindle owned
Pages: 355
Series: Bellevue Bullies #1
Genre: Sports Romance, NA
Publish: Sep. 6th, 2014
Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis:

“Jude Sinclair here, hockey player for the Bellevue Bullies and lover of all ladies. Hockey’s in my blood, and not to sound full of myself, but 

I’m good at it…really good. The draft is within my reach—it’s mine to take—but that’s not the only reason people know my name. They know me because of my way with women. They know the score, and I aim to please. I just tend to stay away from repeat performances. In other words, I don’t do relationships beyond my family and friends. I’m happy with life. However, I should warn you that my story and how I see it playing out is about to change due to a certain redhead on campus.

She’s beautiful. Stunning. Breathtaking.

She’s my game changer.”




“He’s trouble from the moment I see him. I don’t know what I’m thinking, but from the moment I meet his gaze, I’m his. It’s a scary feeling.

I’ve never trusted anyone outside my aunt and uncle—and even that took months. I didn’t have it easy growing up. My mom was usually strung out, and she didn’t give me a second thought. Drugs and the men who paid her were more important to her. It was horrible, but I’m stronger today. Because of my past, security is what I need most. Money assures me that I can take care of myself today, tomorrow, and next month. I don’t want to ever be hungry or go without again, so I work hard for every penny.

Oh, by the way, I’m Claire Anderson. I’m a hard-studying sophomore at the University of Bellevue, dancer for the school dance team, and a burlesque dancer at a club, but that’s my secret.
You may think you know how our story ends, but you have no clue. It’s not easy falling in love… or living happily ever after. At first it may seem so, but when is anything worth having ever won without a fight?

Especially when you’re boarded by love.”

Review:

I really thought I wasn’t going to like this book. Turns out I was wrong. I’m glad when I’m wrong about a book. Well just the ones I think I won’t like but end up liking.

Jude Sinclair is a total ladies man. He’s captain of the hockey team, and is about to go into the draft. One day after practice he notices the finest backside he’s ever seen. Deciding he needed to see the face, he meets Claire. When Claire walks away, he follows. They have a flirting match in which Claire leaves Jude wanting more.

Claire dances burlesque at Ms. Prissy’s, goes to school, and teaches dance at her soon to be aunt’s dance studio. Claire finally decided to have a boyfriend only to find out he slept with someone else and gave that person crabs. Good thing it didn’t get far with him. The next day Claire is ripping down posters of now ex-boyfriend that previous girl (now with crabs) is putting up all over campus. While doing this she meets Jude. A man who finally ignites a spark in Claire’s heart but she’s going to make him work for it.

Super cute story. I’ve been in the mood for a sports romance and this happened to hit the spot. As previously mention in another review I sorted my kindle by author and am reading A-Z. This is the third book I’ve read in this method and I’m not disappointed.

Boarded by Love has been on my TBR list for a while now, so it feels good to finally cross it off.

Sinclair by Celia Aaron

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 49
Series: Acquisition #0.5
Genre: Dark
Publish: May 24th 2016
Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis:

Sinclair Vinemont, an impeccable parish prosecutor, conducts his duties the same way he conducts his life–every move calculated, every outcome assured. When he sees something he wants, he takes it. When he finds a hint of weakness, he capitalizes. But what happens when he sees Stella Rousseau for the very first time? 

Sinclair is a prologue to The Acquisition Series and is told entirely from Sinclair Vinemont’s point of view. It can be read in one sitting.

Review:

It’s been a couple of years since I read the Acquisition series. I remember getting this during the time I was reading the series, but I have since forgotten I had it. Well this past week I decide to make my Kindle sort by Author instead of recent. I plan on reading it from A-Z unless I read a series I want to continue and need to get the rest of the books.

So this was second on the top with a book I just DNF. I knew it would help break me out of a funk, because I have always loved Celia Aaron’s writing. Even though this is short, it would help kick my brain into gear.

Her hateful gaze scorched me like a firebrand, and I wanted the burn.

Sinclair and Stella were one of the couples that helped me accept that I love dark romances and I don’t care what people think. So to go into when Sin first saw Stella before Counsellor opens up more of the dark side.

The story fills in on when Sin first sees Stella and when he starts harassing her father which we catch the tail end in the first book.

I can’t believe I forgot how dark this went. Reading this made me remember the plot and what happened during the series. I did forget completely about the youngest brother. I also forgot how detached Sin was in the beginning before he fell for Stella. How he looked on people lower than him. But that was all his mother.

I thought for a little bit that I should reread this series, but after reading this I think I will give a reread a pass.

Closet Full of Bones by A.J. Aalto

My edition: Kindle Owned
Pages: 234
Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Thriller
Publish: May 30th 2017 by Pixiegrind Ink Publishing
Rating: DNF @ 19%

Synopsis:

Ever since they were children, Gillian Hearth has been her sister Frankie’s guardian, her sounding board, and her best friend. Together, the Hearth sisters quietly bury their secrets and form a formidable team during any crisis. Purchasing the old Blymhill house with the hopes of turning it into an artists’ retreat, the sisters are finally living their dream. But when Frankie’s stable ground is rattled by a vengeful ex-boyfriend, an unstable friend from the past shows up unannounced with delusions of intimacy, and a cold case cop starts sniffing around their door, the sisters are forced to wonder how far they will go to keep their secrets safe.

Gillian discovers that, this time, her fight is about to land her in the crosshairs of a dangerous predator who will use any means necessary to remove her from the equation. With everything she holds dear under threat, Gillian battles to keep her head above water and her skeletons in the closet.

Review:

The story follows two sisters, Gillian and Frankie, and the people around them. Frankie is dealing with a bad break-up. The man, Travis, is stalking Frankie, sending her text messages every two seconds, and making Frankie really stressed out.

Frankie hires a private investigator (instead of going to the police) to look up on Travis Freeman. To describe Travis I would say he reminds of that one redneck that has a lifted truck (the kind that signals a pencil dick/small dick), skinny from smoking/ chewing way to much or just because the dude for some reason can’t gain a pound, and he has to make everyone know that he’s Mr. Billy Badass. That is how I would describe Travis.

Frankie is quite the idiot. She is described as being so soft that when some one stubs their toe, she cries with them. No seriously that is what the books said.

If someone stubbed their toe, Frankie’s eyes would well up before their would.

Not the kind of heroine you want to read about. At least I don’t want to read about.

There were decisions both Frankie and Gillian made that I thought were bad. Like hiring a private investigator instead of going to the police. Not blocking Travis’s number. Gillian tends to make big decisions for Frankie. Frankie is more likely soft because of this. She didn’t think of dumping Travis till Gillian put it in her head to get out of the toxic relationship. I don’t know about you but that shows how stupid Frankie is to me.

The are people out there that five star rated, four star rated. Some people said the beginning was a hook then it gets unrealistic in the end. I think it’s unrealistic to the point I’m reading. The chapter before I stopped reading was Frankie stressing about Travis. Then the next chapter she’s fine and flirting with another guy on the phone. It didn’t seem believable to me when a girl is coming out of that toxic of a relationship, stressing because the guy won’t leave her alone, then she does a 180 and be flirting with another guy. But what do I know.