Cherry Adair - Hush

Publisher: Pocket Star

ISBN-13: 978-1439153826

My rating: 3/5


A reckless adventure in a deadly paradise.
Thrill seekers Zakary and Gideon Stark travel the globe in search of extreme adventure, but a trip to Venezuela to jump off the world’s highest falls catapults them into a perilous game of life or death—where they don’t know the rules.
A one-night stand that will change his life forever.
Kidnapped with a woman Zak knows nothing about, the brothers are held prisoner deep in the jungle. A risky, deathdefying escape separates them and nearly claims Zak’s life . . . until his recovery reveals a baffling new sixth sense.
An unexpected diversion with lethal consequences.
Now, to find his missing brother, Zak and the mysterious Acadia Gray will have to out-smart, out-gun, and out-maneuver not just the brutal kidnappers but also a new player who joins the adrenaline game: a ruthless opponent who wants the Stark brothers dead—at any cost. (fromt he back of the cover)


My thoughts

Wow! This was a great read. It sucks you in from the very beginning and has you on the edge of your seat literally right through to the end.

This was my first book by Cherry Adair, and I'm really grateful to my friend for recommending it to me. It's the first book in the Lodestone trilogy, so I'm looking forward to reading the next one.

It's all about a kidnapping of brothers Zakary and Gideon Stark - plus Zak's one night stand Acadia. The romance-adventure idea really appealed to me and I couldn't put the book down. A page turner!
The two main characters are great. Zak ignorant, arrogant and macho, but learning from Acadia that life can be enjoyable again. Acadia is very likable, in fact real. She's a small town girl, who after a win in the Lotto, travels to Venezuela to step out of her comfort zone from daily life. It's a massive step outside as she's stuck with the two brothers in the jungle running from their kidnappers.She conquers big and small challenges with instinct and flair. I really liked her!

Why only 3 stars??

There's a lot, A LOT of F-words, some may say that's how people talk nowadays, that maybe so, but I find that doesn't necessarily mean a book needs to emphasise the apparent need for it. There isn't one!

Also - Acadia's jacket! Now I am aware this is a fiction and I should give a little leanway, but when she got out a tent out of her pocket I was like "No way!". That was a bit of a turn off for me because it was edging on the "ridiculous" part.

Not really a reason for the 3 stars, but readers should be aware, there are some nice and steamy sex scenes in that book. Not necessarily for everyone!

Lastly (and nothing to do with the rating) - There are a view readers who mentioned the "sixth sense" Zak acquires after his death experience. I kinda liked it. For me it was probably more believable than the "jacket scenario". It's subtle and fits into the story.

All in all - great read (except the few points above) and I'd fully recommend it. I know I will go over the bookstore and will check out a few more of Cherry Adair's books.

Sequel to Sweet Dreams, Miss England

Just as often as the readers are telling me off regarding the ending of Sweet Dreams, Miss England, do I get asked about a sequel. I've been adamant that there would be no more "Nicky", but a few ideas have been floating in my mind and I've come up with a couple of possible ideas.


Here's one idea for a start. Let me know what you think!

"Good Morning, Miss Ireland'

Nicky's eyes shot wide open. "Are you sure?”
He moved the screen so it was visible for her. “Would you like to see it for yourself?”
Staring at the screen she slowly shook her head in disbelief. Her head fell back into the tiny cushion and she focused on a small dot at the ceiling. “I can’t do this. Not on my own. How - ”
“Nicky?”

She turned to look at her doctor, eyes filling with tears.
“There are ways ...”
She shook her head from side to side. “No,” she whispered. “How long?”
“I’ve got to do proper measuring, but I’d say about 12 – 14 weeks.”
Nicky was calculating in her head. About three months. Goddamn it!

I received "The Versatile Blogger Award" ... Yeah!

Today Meg Mims of Double Crossing Website awarded me with

“The Versatile Blogger Award.”

Thank you so very much. I very much appreciate the "Trophy", especially as I consider myself a rather lazy blogger. So thanks, Meg!!!!!!

Here are the Versatile Blogger Award rules:

1. Thank the person who gave it to you and link back to them.
2. Share seven things about yourself.
3. Pass the award along to other, recently discovered blogs and let them know about it.

So .... Seven ??? .... Seriously ??? You want to know SEVEN things about me? Yikes!

1. I was born in Germany and came to Australia quite a few years back. Loving my life here!
2. I've got two beautiful, beautiful girls who make me complete! Yes I know I do whinge sometimes, but hey, c'est la vie! ... They're two little cuties!
3. Interesting Fact: Had to leave school after Year 10, as my grades in English and French weren't good enough .... Fancy that, twenty years later I write books in English.
4. I selfpublished my first book "Sweet Dreams, Miss England". Feedback and reviews have been great, yet I sometimes wish I knew then what I know now about publishing.
5. My second book "Journey to Her Dreams" will be published with Astraea Press soon .... Can't wait. AP has been a great help, guide and all of the wonderful things you can say about a publisher. I'm really proud being part of their team!
6. My favourite food is probably Spaghetti's or Fajitas. If I could choose I would probably prefer European Food over anything else.
7. I will never admit I said it, but yes I'm a "Coca Cola" addict :-(  ......  AND I DO NOT LIKE EATING LAMB!

Now, here are some of the best blogs I’ve discovered this year and I’m awarding each the

Versatile Blogger Award. Before you ask, no, they’re in no particular order:


Lynette Sofras, at Manic Scribbler

Antje, at Cresting the Words

Sheilagh, at Well Read

Lindsay, at Murders & Mysteries


Congratulations! Hope you're enjoying forwarding this "Trophy" as much as I did :-)

Breast Cancer Month ! A Funny Video on a Very Serious Issue!

Breast Cancer Month !!!

Let the guys explain to you about Breast TLC !

Funny, but seriously ladies, this is important stuff .

When young women get breast cancer it often spreads more aggressively, leading to tougher treatments and lower survival rates. Add such age-specific issues as fertility, diagnosis during pregnancy, childcare, financial security… and breast cancer becomes a triple threat to young women.
But here’s the good news: When it’s caught in its earliest stages, the five-year survival rate for women ages 20-39 is almost 90%. We think that¹s a pretty fabulous reason for every young woman to get proactive about her breast health. (www.rethinkbreastcancer.com)

"One for the Money" Movie Trailer

Am I looking forward to seeing the movie ?? You bet I am :-)
Trailer looks great, don't you think?

Details on the book - click here.

I'm sure you'll like it so why not check out Number "Explosive Eighteen" !!!

James Patterson - Kiss the Girls (Alex Cross #2)

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

ISBN: 978-0446601245

My rating: 4/5


First came the stunning number-one bestseller Along Came a Spider. Now comes the scariest, most unforgettable novel in several years. In Los Angeles, a reporter investigating a series of murders is killed. In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a beautiful medical intern suddenly disappears. Washington D.C.'s Alex Cross is back to solve the most baffling and terrifying murder case ever. Two clever pattern killers are collaborating, cooperating, competing—and they are working coast to coast. (www.jamespatterson.com)


My thoughts

Woohoo, what a page turner. Okay, it did take me a few pages to get into the story, but once I was hooked, I was really reading non-stop. I liked this one much better than "Swimsuit", which I had read recently.

It's a story about two serial killers: Casanova and The Gentleman Caller, both terrorising both US coasts at the same time. When Alex Cross' niece is taken as well, he travels south to North Carolina and investigates as well.

IMHO, this was truly well written; the characters well developed, the setting of the scene brilliantly described, though gruesome at times and explicit in details, Patterson has a skill to keep the reader  on the edge of their seat.

And the ending was a nice surprise as well!

Great Read!!

Lisa Vaughn - The Gifted Ones





Publisher: CreateSpace

ISBN: 978-1456506230

My rating: 4/5

Lisa was conservatively raised in a Catholic family in no-where middle America, where excitement is scarce and dreams are for sleeping. Little did she know, at age thirteen, she would suddenly find herself on a totally different path. Through an unlikely chance meeting of a fellow classmate, she's surprisingly mesmerized, almost consumed, to befriend a girl who is obviously from the other side of the tracks...the cool side. Lisa does whatever she has to just to be accepted into this small club of coolness. Little did she realize, she was signing up for a lot more than social status. The two best friends find themselves innocently taking their relationship to a foreign level neither had experienced or saw coming. A rollercoaster ride littered with choices and challenges Lisa never fathomed facing, especially in no-where middle America. She will find out what she is made of as she faces the consequences and struggles that come along with going against the grain. Throughout their six year relationship, you will witness a touching story of human nature at it's best...and at it's worst. Showing just how far the human spirit can be challenged and pushed to a point where your “fight or flight” instincts naturally kick in. Struggling just to survive in a world where you are not like everyone else, but at the same time you really are. The daily struggles- both internal and external- are exhausting, yet necessary in their quest for one simple human need....love. Finally breaking through all constraints that hold them back, reaching levels of one-ness that few actually obtain in a lifetime with their partner...only to find once they've reached that special place, it's not quite the right fit...for one of them, at least. This contemporary story will lead the reader through highs and lows, giving insight to the every day challenges of the socially unaccepted, which will no doubt leave them rooting for the underdog. A true story of human resilience and the power of love...plain and simple. (www.amazon.com)

My thoughts

Lisa Vaughn sent me a copy of her story for an honest opinion. I first of all, though, would like to apologies to Lisa for taking so long to read it. Life has just been busy and it had nothing to do with the content of this book!

It wasn't the first memoir I've read, but admittedly the first memoir by a person I don't know and had never heard of. So I was a bit hesitant to accept the book. For me my private life is just that, private - okay, as much as you can keep things private when you're trying to sell books. So my sincere admiration goes out to Lisa for telling the story of her first love, a gay relationship, in such raw and open emotions. A true story of a young woman not only trying to find herself in the 1970s, but also fighting for what she believes in.

We start reading about Lisa's journey at a tender age of thirteen, growing up somewhere in Indiana with under the strict eyes of her parents, especially her mother, to whom she often refers to as "The Warden". This is also the time when she meets Selina, the girl she falls in love with, the girl she fights for and the girl she feels more than love for, she feels connected to.

It was a page turner for me. Once I got started I couldn't stop reading. Lisa wrote the story interestingly that I felt every pain and every happy moment with her. I felt like I conquered every milestone with her as well as laughed with her.

I would definitely recommend this book to everyone to read. It's honest, fast paced and interesting and doesn't fall at all into the category to push any "gay" issues.

(Click here to read a great interview with Lisa Vaughn re the book)