When I first read the synopsis of this book I was intrigued. Trinity is a woman that is in a position of power. She doesn’t apologize about who or what she is. Being the youngest judge in her field is an accomplishment. However she has built such a wall around her it’s hard for anyone to see the real Trinity. Enter Callum who is the complete opposite. He is talkative, outgoing and basically an open book.
Even though he is quite younger than Trinity that doesn’t stop him from going after what he wants. One thing that kind of irked me about Trinity is that she was always on the defense. Whenever Callum tried to build a report between the two she immediately goes on the attack about being a woman in a male dominated field. A part of me wanted to tell her to calm down. I will say Callum was a bit forward to be working for her. I kinda liked that he didn’t allow her to run him.
Although I know this book is fiction you really have to suspend your belief in reality for a second. So she gets death threats through the mail from time to time. But doesn’t keep any of the evidence? What if the threats turn out to be serious now you have no evidence and nowhere to start? Oh but wait she knew exactly who it was after some thought. It could have been a little more suspense surrounding that. Both of the characters seemed very young in nature. I would have liked to see more of the legal aspect shown in this book.
I did like the relationship with Callum and Justin. But this book was missing something for me. I didn’t feel a deep attraction between the two characters most of it was on the surface. The interactions between the two felt like a running list of day to day activities. For example when they finally get alone time together it was like what will they do on the farm? When something finally did happen it was short lived. I understand this was a short story but it could have been more developed. I like the concept of this series but most of the women characters seem the same, they love rap ( surprisingly); are curvy and fall for the alpha male. I think Trinity could have been a great character with more development. Although this story wasn’t my favorite in the series. Readers check out the series for yourselves.
From New York Times bestselling author Margaret McHeyzer....
I’m the popular girl at school. The one everyone wants to be friends with. I have the best boyfriend in the world, who’s on the basketball team. My parents adore me, and I absolutely love them. My sister and I have a great relationship too. I’m a cheerleader, I have a high GPA and I’m liked even by the teachers. It was a night which promised to be filled with love and fun until…something happened which changed everything.
Dragging myself out of the gymnasium and down the hall, I try and get to the side double-doors. But with no one here to help me, it's difficult. I need to sit for a moment out on the steps leading to the back field and gather myself.
My legs become heavier as I get to the doors. The cyclone happening inside my head is growing thicker while my vision is so unclear I can barely make out any objects.
Stumbling down the first step, I barely recognize where I am.
“What’s happening?” I think I say.
There’s a cacophony of dense sounds; a combination of white noise, mumbling, and a beat which doesn’t make sense.
My eyes are now so heavy I can barely open them and my legs are completely weighted as I attempt to make my way down the stairs. I think I’m going to pass out.
Author Bio
There's something about the written word that is pure magic.
Possibly it's the fact there are 26 letters in the English alphabet, and they can create something so beautiful or so empowering they're capable to change our lives.
How important is it that we break suit and stretch our minds?
I like to think of myself as 'unique'. My stories aren't for everyone, and sometimes I may push what you believe to be 'normal'.
Normal is subjective.
I prefer to be known as a person who's never been 'bound by custom' but is 'unique by choice'.
“Lily Anderson, you get your ugly ass out here right this minute. Don’t make me come after you,” Daddy screams.
He’s so angry. I knew the moment I heard him come home from work I was in for it. I was in my bedroom, lying on the floor trying to do my math. He slammed the front door so hard the windows in my room shook.
And then I knew, I knew I was in for it.
“Lily Anderson!” he yells again.
As soon as I heard him yell I ran to my hiding spot. I’m inside the closet in the hallway, wedged as far into the corner as I can get. Mom’s old coat hangs in front of me and I can still smell a faint waft of the perfume she used to wear.
“Lily Anderson!” he shouts. I can hear the anger in his voice and I can already feel the pain he’s going to inflict on me when he opens the closet door. I know what’s coming.
I close my eyes tight, scrunching them up so no light can seep through. I put my hands over my ears so I can’t hear him.
“I swear to God; if I have to find you, you will not sit for a month.”
My knees are folded into my chest. I’m trying to make myself small, invisible, so he forgets I’m here. I’m rocking myself, trying to block out what he’s saying.
School is safe. School is safe. School is safe. I keep repeating the mantra because in a few short hours I’ll be back at school. Maybe tomorrow I can go to the library after school, stay there until it closes and then sneak in after Dad’s passed out, because he’s had too much to drink.
It was never like this before. Ever.
I’m twelve years old and I can remember when Mom, Dad, and I were all happy. But that was years ago. It’s been a long time since there’s been any happiness in this house.
Well, before Mom died anyway, and not a day since.
Mom died when I was nine. I don’t remember much about her, except I remember her telling me how ugly I am. How life would be better if I was taken away from them. How I’ll never be anything, because I’m stupid and ugly.
Sometimes I dream happy things. Like me, Mom, Dad and a little blond-haired boy all going for a picnic. The sun beamed down on us as we played outside and laughed. We’d eat yummy sandwiches Mom made for us, and we’d drink homemade lemonade. We’d spend hours outside, laughing and talking and just having fun. Mom would tell me how pretty I am, and how much she loved me. She would play with my hair, braid it, and then we’d go and pick bright flowers to take home and put in a vase. Dad would smile and call us “his girls”, always kissing Mom and hugging me. Dad would put the little boy on his shoulders and run around the park, trying to catch the clouds.
I love those dreams, and I hold onto them; wishing they were real. But I’ve never had a mom like that, and my dad doesn’t talk much unless it’s with his fists, or to tell me how ugly and useless I am.
I feel him walking around the house. The floorboards creak and the vibrations from his footsteps come through the floor to where my bottom is. I close my eyes tighter and try and breathe as quietly as I can.
Please go away, Daddy. Please go away.
My heart is beating so fast. My hands are shaking and I’m trying really hard not to think about what’s going to happen the minute he opens the closet door.
Shhh, it’s so quiet. The only sound is my heart thrumming in my ears. Nothing else. Not a whisper, not a rattle…nothing.
Maybe Daddy’s left. Maybe he’s gone to the pub to have a few drinks. Maybe, just maybe, he’s left...forever.
I take a deep breath and just relax for a moment. My shoulders drop and I finally stop rocking.
Slowly I take my hands down from my ears, and I’m so happy because I can’t hear him yelling at me. I can’t hear him at all.
Gradually, I begin to unscrunch my eyes from the way I’ve tightly closed them. But something’s not right. There’s light coming into the closet.
I don’t even get a chance to open them fully before a rough hand reaches in, latches onto my ponytail and yanks.
“I told you it’d be worse for you if I had to find you,” Dad says, as he drags me out of the closet by my hair.
I’m desperately trying to hold onto my head so he doesn’t rip my hair out. My feet are trying to find traction on the dirty floorboards.
“Please, Daddy. Please. You’re hurting me,” I begin sobbing as I plead with him.
“Then your ugly ass should’ve come when I called you, you stupid bitch. You’re fucking worthless, you ugly idiot,” he says. But now his voice is calm as he continues to drag me toward the family room.
That’s when he’s most scary. When his voice is low and his eyes are filled with hate.
He throws me against the side of the sofa and takes a step back to look at me.
I look up and can see he’s the angriest I’ve ever seen him. “You dumb, ugly piece of shit,” he says, as he paces back and forth in front of me.
“Sorry, Daddy. Whatever I did, I’m so sorry.” I cower into myself, trying to make myself as small as possible.
“You’re just too fucking stupid, aren’t you?” he spits toward me as he brings his hand up to scratch at his chin.
“I’m sorry,” I say again. Tears are falling hot and fast down my cheeks. My head hurts from where he was pulling my hair, but I don’t dare try to rub the spot.
“You ugly fuck.” He kicks a boot into my leg.
The pain is instant and my leg feels like it’s shattered. “Please, Daddy,” I beg again, burying my face into my hands.
But ‘please’ never seems to work.
Nothing does.
I’ve just got to take the beatings, because that’s what stupid, ugly girls do.
Author Bio
There's something about the written word that is pure magic.
Possibly it's the fact there are 26 letters in the English alphabet, and they can create something so beautiful or so empowering they're capable to change our lives.
How important is it that we break suit and stretch our minds?
I like to think of myself as 'unique'. My stories aren't for everyone, and sometimes I may push what you believe to be 'normal'.
Normal is subjective.
I prefer to be known as a person who's never been 'bound by custom' but is 'unique by choice'.
“Lily Anderson, you get your ugly ass out here right this minute. Don’t make me come after you,” Daddy screams.
He’s so angry. I knew the moment I heard him come home from work I was in for it. I was in my bedroom, lying on the floor trying to do my math. He slammed the front door so hard the windows in my room shook.
And then I knew, I knew I was in for it.
“Lily Anderson!” he yells again.
As soon as I heard him yell I ran to my hiding spot. I’m inside the closet in the hallway, wedged as far into the corner as I can get. Mom’s old coat hangs in front of me and I can still smell a faint waft of the perfume she used to wear.
“Lily Anderson!” he shouts. I can hear the anger in his voice and I can already feel the pain he’s going to inflict on me when he opens the closet door. I know what’s coming.
I close my eyes tight, scrunching them up so no light can seep through. I put my hands over my ears so I can’t hear him.
“I swear to God; if I have to find you, you will not sit for a month.”
My knees are folded into my chest. I’m trying to make myself small, invisible, so he forgets I’m here. I’m rocking myself, trying to block out what he’s saying.
School is safe. School is safe. School is safe. I keep repeating the mantra because in a few short hours I’ll be back at school. Maybe tomorrow I can go to the library after school, stay there until it closes and then sneak in after Dad’s passed out, because he’s had too much to drink.
It was never like this before. Ever.
I’m twelve years old and I can remember when Mom, Dad, and I were all happy. But that was years ago. It’s been a long time since there’s been any happiness in this house.
Well, before Mom died anyway, and not a day since.
Mom died when I was nine. I don’t remember much about her, except I remember her telling me how ugly I am. How life would be better if I was taken away from them. How I’ll never be anything, because I’m stupid and ugly.
Sometimes I dream happy things. Like me, Mom, Dad and a little blond-haired boy all going for a picnic. The sun beamed down on us as we played outside and laughed. We’d eat yummy sandwiches Mom made for us, and we’d drink homemade lemonade. We’d spend hours outside, laughing and talking and just having fun. Mom would tell me how pretty I am, and how much she loved me. She would play with my hair, braid it, and then we’d go and pick bright flowers to take home and put in a vase. Dad would smile and call us “his girls”, always kissing Mom and hugging me. Dad would put the little boy on his shoulders and run around the park, trying to catch the clouds.
I love those dreams, and I hold onto them; wishing they were real. But I’ve never had a mom like that, and my dad doesn’t talk much unless it’s with his fists, or to tell me how ugly and useless I am.
I feel him walking around the house. The floorboards creak and the vibrations from his footsteps come through the floor to where my bottom is. I close my eyes tighter and try and breathe as quietly as I can.
Please go away, Daddy. Please go away.
My heart is beating so fast. My hands are shaking and I’m trying really hard not to think about what’s going to happen the minute he opens the closet door.
Shhh, it’s so quiet. The only sound is my heart thrumming in my ears. Nothing else. Not a whisper, not a rattle…nothing.
Maybe Daddy’s left. Maybe he’s gone to the pub to have a few drinks. Maybe, just maybe, he’s left...forever.
I take a deep breath and just relax for a moment. My shoulders drop and I finally stop rocking.
Slowly I take my hands down from my ears, and I’m so happy because I can’t hear him yelling at me. I can’t hear him at all.
Gradually, I begin to unscrunch my eyes from the way I’ve tightly closed them. But something’s not right. There’s light coming into the closet.
I don’t even get a chance to open them fully before a rough hand reaches in, latches onto my ponytail and yanks.
“I told you it’d be worse for you if I had to find you,” Dad says, as he drags me out of the closet by my hair.
I’m desperately trying to hold onto my head so he doesn’t rip my hair out. My feet are trying to find traction on the dirty floorboards.
“Please, Daddy. Please. You’re hurting me,” I begin sobbing as I plead with him.
“Then your ugly ass should’ve come when I called you, you stupid bitch. You’re fucking worthless, you ugly idiot,” he says. But now his voice is calm as he continues to drag me toward the family room.
That’s when he’s most scary. When his voice is low and his eyes are filled with hate.
He throws me against the side of the sofa and takes a step back to look at me.
I look up and can see he’s the angriest I’ve ever seen him. “You dumb, ugly piece of shit,” he says, as he paces back and forth in front of me.
“Sorry, Daddy. Whatever I did, I’m so sorry.” I cower into myself, trying to make myself as small as possible.
“You’re just too fucking stupid, aren’t you?” he spits toward me as he brings his hand up to scratch at his chin.
“I’m sorry,” I say again. Tears are falling hot and fast down my cheeks. My head hurts from where he was pulling my hair, but I don’t dare try to rub the spot.
“You ugly fuck.” He kicks a boot into my leg.
The pain is instant and my leg feels like it’s shattered. “Please, Daddy,” I beg again, burying my face into my hands.
But ‘please’ never seems to work.
Nothing does.
I’ve just got to take the beatings, because that’s what stupid, ugly girls do.
Author Bio
There's something about the written word that is pure magic.
Possibly it's the fact there are 26 letters in the English alphabet, and they can create something so beautiful or so empowering they're capable to change our lives.
How important is it that we break suit and stretch our minds?
I like to think of myself as 'unique'. My stories aren't for everyone, and sometimes I may push what you believe to be 'normal'.
Normal is subjective.
I prefer to be known as a person who's never been 'bound by custom' but is 'unique by choice'.
Can life change between heartbeats? Diana awakens on her seventeenth birthday in a joyful mood. But at breakfast she is told, during a heated argument with her mother, that the man she has loved as her father is not her father at all. Diana decides to unravel the mystery of her childhood and the reason for their secrets, and travels across the country to visit her step-father. And so, Diana begins a journey where she discovers shocking truths hidden just beneath the surface. To further complicate her summer, she meets Kevin Wright, a college junior. When Kevin vanishes without a trace, Diana learns family is more than shared DNA and discovers who will help her when it appears all hope is gone. In Donelle Knudsen’s Young Adult novel, Between Heartbeats, a young woman’s quest to find her roots enables her to discover love and the power of forgiveness.
Donelle Knudsen was born in Portland, Oregon, the beautiful City of Roses, but has lived in Eastern Washington since 1988. She also writes short stories, poetry, and memoir, and owes her love of books and the craft of writing to her late father, who was never too busy to read to her or to make visits to the “big” library every Saturday. She then earned a B.S. in Arts & Letters from Portland State University and is a four-time finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association’s literary contest in the memoir category. Her first book, “Through the Tunnel of Love, A Mother’s and Daughter’s Journey with Anorexia” was published in 2011.
This is my first time ever
reading anything by author Bianca Dean. I was pleasantly surprised at this
short spicy read. Readers if you are looking for something that will warm you
up one-click this book.
Galynn is having the worst
possible day. It’s cold, rainy and her keys got jammed in her car. On top of
that she is miles away from her dorm room. Could her day get any worse?
Alceo: Quaterback and draft
pick is bored with his pick of women. They all have no personality and want him
for the title of being his girlfriend. People only see him as just this dumb
jock. But still waters run deep. Alceo is a bio-chem major and is not as
shallow as he pretends to be.
Stumbling upon Galynn, Alceo
life is about to be anything but boring.
Ever much so the gentlemen Alceo
invites poor Galynn back to his dorm to dry off well more like heat up. These
two have some sort of magnetic charge between the two of them because they can’t
stay away from each other. Galynn is his polar opposite she is not as social,
and is a cute full figured woman. She can’t see what he sees in her. Her insecurities
play a factor in their budding relationship but Alceo is the man to wash away
all fears she will ever have.
Like any good thing there
will be haters and these two have their fair share. Can Galynn look past her
own insecurities or will she let a good thing pass her by?
I thoroughly enjoyed this
read. It was simple, straightforward and a whole lot of spice. As a reader I do
wish we got to see more of how their relationship developed. This is an
insta-love/insta-lust type book. If you want something to past the time and
whet the appetite check this book out. Please
judge this book for yourselves and not based on this one review.
About the Author
Bianca Dean author of Quarterback Sneak and Wanna Play? is a native of New Jersey now living in NYC. Working on her PhD, Bianca loves good food, great movies and stimulating conversation. She's a huge sports fan, and can be found, during the appropriate season, screaming at the television, beer in hand, trying to make people that can't hear her run faster. In the off-season she can be spotted walking her dog or grabbing dinner with friends.
Connect with Bianca Dean on twitter @BiancaDeanInk
Primo Galante lived for his
wife and kids until one day it all went up in smoke. You hit they hit back. The
Barasantis started it and the Galante’s were determined to finish it. You know
how the saying goes, “an eye for an eye.”
An all-out mafia war ensued between the two
once friends until one day everything changed. What happens when your sworn
enemy becomes the love of your life?
Genna Galante is a
wild-child. Her need to be free and independent has landed her in a bit of
trouble with the law. Her father is one of the Kings of New York and with that
comes certain privileges. Because every action has an opposite reaction Genna
has to face some tough love. Having what she thought was the worse day of her
life changed into a life changing experience. Fate intervened on Genna’s
behalf. Stuck in an elevator with the most hypnotic man she has ever seen. She
is drawn to him and he fits her father’s criteria: Italian.
“Matty” Barasanti the one that got away. He is
a myth in the streets of New York. Leaving the family business behind to attend
college. He is forced to return home and face his demons. Matty never wanted
the life that is imposed upon him. Loosing so much as a child has shaped who is
as a man.
He meets her in an elevator
a friendly wager over a game of pool is made. You can have whatever you like
and Matty choose Genna. She is unlike anyone he has ever meet. Although, their
story is one of insta-love can their love overcome a long standing family feud
written in blood?
J.M. Darhower’s new series By Any Other Name is a spin on Romeo
& Juliet, The Hatfields and McCoys with a mob element thrown in.
Genna came off as very
annoying and entitled. She had no accountability for any of her actions.
Granted she was very young in this story but being who her family was you would
think she would be more cautious. It was as if nothing else mattered besides
her relationship with Matty. For instance, in one scene her brother gets into a
full blown fight with their enemy. They are in enemy territory and instead of
trying to stay to see if her brother is ok she leaves with Matty. It has been
mentioned more than once in this story that loyalty and family is everything.
Genna’s brother Dante is her protector and best friend but to just leave him
was a betrayal. Does she not get that her father is the mob and her boyfriend
is a mob boss son? Were the risks worth the rewards? People paid for their
lives in blood due to the war and their love affair. Did this not affect the
relationship? It was never mentioned in the story. It was a few inconsistences
in this book. The characters actions mainly Genna didn’t add up with what
readers were lead to believe about this mob family.
This book dragged a bit in
certain areas. It was a few editing issues at some points I didn’t know who was
speaking. The fathers were the mob connection for this book. I wish we would
have gotten more of that because for a good portion of the story it felt like a
warped version of a young adult Romeo and Juliet book. I know the author does
use a few quotes from the Shakespearean book but the execution just wasn’t there.
After all the pain and drama
I was looking for more of an emotional reaction. Genna and Matty lost so much
but it just felt like the emotions were swept under the rug and we were reading
the next scene. The parents were more emotionally charged then the kids. I understand
that they didn’t choose this life but they acted as if their actions didn’t add
fuel to the fire. It was no self-reflection i.e. did Matty or Genna have any
doubt about continuing on with their relationship. It was just we are in love
so who cares? It wasn’t much relationship development given. The cat and mouse
game between the two in the beginning was a good chunk of the story. Towards
the end of this story it really turned around and I wanted to know more about
what was going to happen. This author writes really good mob stories that are
gritty and emotionally charged but this story lacked much of that mob element.
I hope the next book in this story focuses more on that versus the teenaged
love affair. I enjoy this author’s work and honestly look forward to the next
book in this series this story just fell a little flat for me. Please judge
this book for yourselves and not based on this one review.
Luke: A man with a few demons of his own and a recurring
past relationship has been living his life in limbo for a few years. A mounting
debt and a brother who considers himself the next big director, Luke finds
himself in a situation that just may change his life.
Luke strikes out asking woman after woman this one not
so simple question until he meets Lissette. Broken, alone and just tired she
say yes much to Luke’s surprise. Fast forward because this is a very long story
they get married. The actual wedding was comical and both families dealt with
this quickie wedding in their own way. I will say that Lissette family was very
involved in her life so much that she seeks their approval a little too much. This
story struck me as Y.A. (young adult) both characters just seemed very young
and made foolish mistakes. But fools do rush in!
As a reader I thought too much attention was given to
Luke and his ex. Cat versus the building relationship with him and his wife. Lissette
shared everything with him painful details about her past and condition yet he withheld
much from her like his relationship with his ex. Luke seemed very indecisive and
a bit weak at times. The hospital scene for me was a deal breaker he constantly
put his wife last until she gave him no choice but to put her first. This book
was a little slow moving and had too many unnecessary details. Some things
should have been explored more than others. For instance the situation between
Lissette and Cat could have been explored more instead Lissette draws within
herself and the scene is dismissed.
Because of her past Lissette is a little insecure. She
ignored a lot of stuff with Luke with the reasoning of, “He’s mine.” She just wanted to be happy. But you can be
happy with someone and still not have joy. This book although slow at times is
packed with emotional drama. Everything does eventually become full circle.
When the truth finally came out Lissette mentions that she felt like an outsider
I would have thought she would have felt betrayed. After all her husband has
shared her private details with the very woman who has caused her trauma and
untold pain and his only reasoning is that Cat lost so much. I was waiting for
Luke to show his love for Lissette and stand up for her. The back and forth with Cat was a little annoying
it took up too much of the story but I suppose she plays a major part in this
story as the antagonist. I do like that the story is told from dual p.o.v.’s
that way the reader gets to see how decisions made in this relationship effect
both parties. One of the things I loved about this story was the epilogue. I
liked that this story explored the topics of what if’s. I await Matt and
Brooklyn’s story next. Please judge this book for yourself and not based on
this one review.
Approaching the Bench by Chantal Fernando
