Book Fay

Seven-year-old Tony Bruno is an outcast among his peers. Bullied by his classmates and rejected by his father, Tony is lonely and desperate. Tired of being bullied, Tony strikes back. In one act of blind courage, he shifts the balance of power.

When Tony becomes a teenager, a new kid named Salvatore Morano transfers to his school and becomes the object of ridicule. Tony feels compelled to help the new kid. He has no idea who Salvatore is and what it means to be his friend.

Soon Tony is sought out by Salvatore’s father, Johnny Morano, the godfather of the Philadelphia Mafia, to help protect his son. Tony, who has admired the Italian mob from a distance, has always been fascinated by the Mafia’s power. He quickly learns that with power comes sacrifice. Tony will be forced to draw upon strength from deep within to survive his new, unwanted life. From the dark corners of his new world, Tony is driven to emerge from the fires of hell to find happiness.

Born Mobster is a haunting story of one bullied child who is deprived of love and taunted by corrupt individuals along his journey. Follow Tony through his rite of passage and experience the brutalities, murders, love, and honor that finally force Tony to become the man he was born to be.

*I've got this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review*

I wasn't a big fan of this book, as you can see from my rating. Actually, I forced myself to read it, just because I had to do a review.

I'm not afraid of violence in the books, and there is a lot of it in this one. But the thing is, that it seemed like those scenes were put in this book just for shock factor. This book just oozed with blood.

Another thing that bothered me was, that author decided to spoil every upcoming chapter, by telling, that Tony (the main character) didn't know how bad it will be in the future. Why? Isn't it better for the reader to find out it by reading it eventually?
I can't say a lot about the characters. They were boring, predictable, made decisions, that didn't have any sense.

After I reached the middle of this book, I started to skip pages, because I just couldn't torture myself by reading everything.

Sorry to say this, but I don't recommend it.

Powerful and dangerous highlander Dair Sinclair was once the favored son of his clan, The Sinclairs of Carraig Brigh. With Dair at the helm, Sinclair ships circled the globe bringing home incredible fortune. Until one deadly mission when Dair is captured, tortured and is unable to save his young cousin. He returns home breaking under the weight of his guilt and becomes known as the Madman of Carraig Brigh.

When a pagan healer predicts that only a virgin bride can heal his son’s body and mind, Dair’s father sets off to find the perfect wife for his son. At the castle of the fearsome McLeods, he meets lovely and kind Fia MacLeod.

Although Dair does his best to frighten Fia, she sees the man underneath the damage and uses her charm and special gifts to heal his mind and heart. Will Dair let Fia love him or is he cursed with madness forever?

* I've got this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review*

I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. At first I thought, that it will be just another stupid erotic book, but it actually was quite good. Of course, there were places were I just had to roll my eyes, but also some parts were very intriguing and I just didn't want to put this book down.

I was pleasantly surprised, that the author chose to incorporate some mystery elements and it gave the book more charm. The plot had some twists and turns, that kept me at the edge of my seat and it is not what I expect from erotic historical romance, but, don't get me wrong, it was bloody amazing choice to do so.

Some characters could have used some more development, but it wasn't a huge issue for me. It was refreshing to see a main character who was feminine, yet could stand for herself and for those who she loved, she had her opinion and wasn't afraid to defend it.

Darkness. Utter blackness. Was this why his mother had refused to let Jack unlock his father’s old trunk? It had been two years since his dad had died, and all Jack could think about was examining whatever treasures were stored inside the beloved trunk. But when he finally lifted the lid, he didn’t just fall in—he fell through it into a pit of rattlesnakes!

Trying to recall his mother’s stories about “the Breath of All Good Things”—anything to shed light on his current situation—Jack wishes he’d paid better attention rather than mock the tales as childish myths…and that he’d waited to enter the trunk with his sister, Lilly, so they could at least face this together.

*I won this book on Goodreads giveaway*

It is strange for me to say, but I think this book should have been longer, because as of right now, I'm not sure if even kids, with great imagination, would understand all that chaos that is going on in this book. Some parts of this story needs more explanation and backstory, because without it it looks like some random scenes put together.

Also even though it was full of action (to much, actually) it put me to sleep, and for adventure book I don't think that it is a good thing.

It can be a good book, but it needs more editing.

Trevor Norton is totally burnt out. He takes a simple road trip out of the city just to give himself a break and runs into a lot more than he ever wanted.

A mysterious and crazy young woman hides a tragic secret - an entire village torn apart
and pure love, brutally ended.

Only the barest embers remain. And they’re dying away fast. Can Trevor save her, and himself, in time?

* I've got this book during Goodreads giveaway, but that will not affect my opinion. *

When I read the description of this book, I thought that it will be a mysterious, spooky read about a village and its people. However it was totally different from what I expected. Instead I've got a some sort of photographer diary and a lot of description, how he took photos. Don't get me wrong, I like photography it is my hobby, but for a fiction book some parts of this book were too technical. Actually for those, who are not interested in photography it can be utterly boring.

For me there were nothing intriguing about this book, no mystery, no description and zero character development. And I mean literally NO character development. Why this girl was crazy ? For me she looked totally normal, just grieving. Who she was ? We didn't get any explanation about her or her past, we get only her name and nothing more about her. What about other villagers ? Why they are what, they are ? Nothing, zero information.

In my opinion this can be good, but it needs more editing.

1961: Born on the day that WW2 broke out, 21-year-old Fay Knox cannot remember her early childhood in London, before she moved to a Norfolk village with her mother, Kitty. Though she has seen a photograph of her father, she does not recall him either. He died, she was told, in an air raid, and their house destroyed along with all their possessions. Why then, on a visit to Paris on tour with her orchestra, does a strange series of events suggest that she spent the war there instead? There is only one clue to follow, an address on the luggage label of an old canvas satchel. But will the truth hurt or heal?

1937: Eugene Knox, a young American doctor, catches sight of 19-year-old Kitty Travers on the day she arrives in Paris, and cannot get her out of his mind. She has come to study the piano at the famed Conservatoire, and lodges at a convent near Notre Dame. Eugene and Kitty will fall in love, marry and have a daughter, but France's humiliating defeat by Germany is not far behind, and the little family must suffer life under Nazi occupation. Some Parisians keep their heads down and survive, others collaborate with the enemy while others resist. The different actions of Eugene, Kitty and their friends will have devastating consequences that echo down the generations.

* I've got this book from NetGalley in exchange of a honest review*

Well, firstly, I would like to start with a fact, that I love reading stories related with WWI or WWII. So I was eager to start reading this book. However I wasn't impressed with a writing style, because I had to force myself to read it and honestly, I felt bored most of the time and it took me ages to finish this book.

Secondly the characters were flat and boring. There were almost nothing that made me care about what will happen to them. Maybe, it was because author chose to tell what they felt instead of showing.

Of course, I can't say that it was utterly impossible to read. There were several parts, that I really enjoyed, but that wasn't enough to give a bigger rating.

Maybe it just wasn't for me so you should give it a try if you like historical fiction.

For a long time I was debating wether  I should start making videos on youtube or not. But last week my boyfriend told me, that if I want to try something I should definitely give it a try. He also told me that it will give me more confidence in myself and you know what? I believe him.

So....Last week I attempted to do some videos and here is one of them. It is a short review of The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes. I know that it is not perfect, that it is so much I have to learn, I know that I have a strong accent, but I hope that you give me a chance to improve. 

If you have time, could you please check it ? 

France, 1916. Sophie Lefevre must keep her family safe whilst her adored husband Edouard fights at the front. When she is ordered to serve the German officers who descend on her hotel each evening, her home becomes riven by fierce tensions. And from the moment the new Kommandant sets eyes on Sophie's portrait - painted by Edouard - a dangerous obsession is born, which will lead Sophie to make a dark and terrible decision.

Almost a century later, and Sophie's portrait hangs in the home of Liv Halston, a wedding gift from her young husband before he died. A chance encounter reveals the painting's true worth, and its troubled history. A history that is about to resurface and turn Liv's life upside down all over again . . .

In 'The Girl You Left Behind' two young women, separated by a century, are united in their determination to fight for what they love most - whatever the cost.

Professional baseball player Halo Todd doesn't like failure, but he can never turn down a challenge. Especially when there's a pretty woman involved. How else would he end up dressed as a rooster, helping a complete stranger compete on a wacky game show? Even when they're eliminated after the first round, Halo isn't about to lose the girl…

Alyn is stunned when gorgeous, generous Halo whisks her off for a dream vacation to the beach--she's been let down by friends and even family so many times, she's lost count. Later, he offers to lend a hand getting her vintage shop up and running. But his constant--and ridiculous--purchases are the last thing she needs. How can she convince the stubborn man that she doesn't need his help--not when all she wants is his heart…

* I've got this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review*

I didn't like this book at all. The main male character was cocky, pushy, acted like a stalker. It makes me furious when the guy decides that he knows better what a woman wants and if she says "no", that in his stupid mind this word means "later".

The main female character was unmemorable and boring, couldn't protect her opinion. She did everything what the guy pushed her to do.

The story was also ridiculous. After few weeks of hanging out they fell in love... Come on, this couple, if I can call them couple, spent just few hours together, other times they were with family members of friends and barely exchanged few sentences. I don't understand for what they loved each other. For good looks ?

Do not recommend this book.

The perfect wife. A fairytale family. Don’t believe your eyes…

Jeanie and Matthew are a happily married couple who both have teenage children from previous relationships.

No one said it would be easy to raise a blended family under one roof but Jeanie and Matthew are strong. They will make it work.

And whilst Jeanie’s step-daughter Scarlett rejects her, Jeanie will just have to try harder to win her over.

But Jeanie has a past. A terrible secret she thought she’d buried a long time ago. And now, it’s coming to the surface, threatening to destroy her new marriage.

Someone is playing a terrifying game on Jeanie and she must put a stop to it once and for all.

After all, a fairytale needs a happy ending … doesn’t it?

*I've got this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review*

I think first of all we have to clear one thing out. It is NOT a psychological thriller, it is most definitely far from that. Although it could have been a great one if it was done well. However the writing style was so juvenile, that it reminded me more of a young adult contemporary than the psychological thriller.

At some points I forget that I was reading about an adult woman with a grown up son. Because she acted like a teenager. Jeanie, the main character, was so weak-minded, didn't have her own opinion, couldn't defend herself and her family. I just couldn't stand her.

Other characters also didn't give any charm to this book. Everyone were horribly done. The sister of main character were selfish, talked about how her sister deserves the best from people, but at the same time, she just neglected her.

The plot of this book was all over the place. Also the ending and revealing of the "big secrets" that Jeanie had were so anticlimactic that it almost made me laugh out loud.

WARNING: there are some parts of this book that can be triggering for some people who have problems with suicidal thoughts, depression, some sort of medication addiction.

Do I recommend it? No

Jane Eyre meets Beauty and the Beast.

When Lucy Pickett arrives at Blackwell Manor to tend to her ailing cousin, Kate, she finds more than she bargained for. A restless ghost roams the hallways, werewolves have been reported in the area, and vampires lurk across the Scottish border. Lord Miles himself is clearly hiding a secret. He is brash and inhospitable, and does not take kindly to visitors—even one as smart and attractive as Miss Pickett. He is unsettled by the mysterious deaths of his new wife, Clara, and his sister, Marie. Working together, Miles and Lucy attempt to restore peace to Blackwell Manor. But can Lucy solve the mystery of Miles? Can she love the man—beast and all?

*I've got this book from net Galley in exchange of an honest review*

It was the first time that I read steampunk romance, so I didn't know what to expect from it. At first I was a little bit confused and didn't understand what was going on, that's why it was hard to get in to this book. But after forcing myself to read at least first 30 pages something clicked in my head and the I was hooked and I couldn't put this book down.

First and foremost, I was fascinated by how strong and confident was a female lead in this book. She was smart, could stand for herself, her family and friends, wasn't squeamish and didn't let anyone to decide her future for her.

I loved that author chose to include shape-shifter, vampires and ghost. That decision made this even more interesting. I was captivated buy all that steampunk elements and will definitely try to read more books in this series.

Do I recommend it? Of course.

Just because she can see the dead doesn’t mean Verity Long wants to spend her days hunting ghosts. Instead, she’s over the moon to land a marketing job at the local bank…until she finds her new boss dead in the vault. Even her ghost friend, Frankie, knows that's no way to start a career.

Relieved to let the police take charge, Verity steps aside, bound and determined to keep her ghost sightings to herself. But when she learns the main suspect in the murder is a very crooked, very dead mobster, Verity knows it's up to her to solve the case.

She teams up with her ghostly gangster buddy Frankie, as well as the irresistible and charming Ellis, as the three of them search haunted mob hideouts, hidden passageways, and historic cemeteries for the facts behind the heist of the century—and a modern-day motive for murder.

Too bad uncovering the truth could very well make Verity the next victim...

*I've got this book from NetGalley in exchange of a honest review*

I didn't expect to like this book, that's why I was putting off reading it. Boy, I was wrong! I really enjoyed it. Almost all the time I was grinning especially when I reached parts about a ghost Frankie.

I loved almost all of the characters, because they were so interesting and fearless.
Of course there were some parts when I question the decisions that have been made, but, still, it didn't take the joy from reading this book.

I didn't read the first two books in the series, but as of right now I'm seriously considering of reading them.

It is a great book to relax after a hard day. Definitely recommend it.

A mirror that feeds on human souls wreaks destruction on those around it in Mirror Image, the new novel from internationally bestselling author Michael Scott and Melanie Ruth Rose

In an auction house in London, there is a mirror no one will buy. Standing seven feet tall and reaching four feet across, its size makes it unusual. Its horrific powers make it extraordinary. For centuries, the mirror has fed off of the lives of humans, giving them agonizing deaths and sucking their souls into its hellish world.

When Jonathan Frazer, the wealthy owner of a furniture and antiques shop in Los Angeles, buys the mirror at an auction, he believes he is getting the bargain of a lifetime. With its age and size, it is easily worth eight times what he paid for it. At this point, the mirror has sat dormant for years. But within days of Jonathan's purchase, the deaths begin again. One employee is crushed when the mirror falls on top of him. A few days later, the corpse of another is found in front of the mirror, brutally stabbed. A third is burned beyond all recognition. All the while, an enormous man with a scarred face is following Jonathan, demanding that he give him the mirror and killing any police officer that gets in his way.

The police are becoming desperate. As the death toll rises, Jonathan himself becomes a suspect. He knows there is something wrong with the mirror. He knows it's dangerous. But he cannot bring himself to get rid of it. Everyday he becomes more captivated by the mirror.

For the mirror is awakening, and its powers are resurfacing.

*I've got this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review*

What the hell did I just read?! Oh,my God, how disappointed I was. I expected it to be a good old horror story with a haunted mirror, but it turned out to be totally different from what I anticipated.

At first when I started to read I really enjoyed what I read, at least first 20 or so pages, but then it got to the point where genre of this book slightly changed into thriller. I thought "oh well, I can deal with that, it's fine", and kept reading. Then, after few more pages it became some sort of a strange fantasy or something like that, I can't even correctly describe what genre it turned out to be. However, I still kept reading hoping that it will get better and will return to what it was in the beginning - a horror novel. But no no no...why stop at cringe worthy horrory thriller fantasy, when you can also add erotica or rather strange pornography in to this mixture. This book got to the point where in every page you could find paragraphs about masturbating, having sex in front of a mirror, ejaculating, spreading semen on the mirror and so on... Don't get me wrong sex, violence, gore in the books don't make me cringe. But this book made me do that. That's why I should warn THOSE WHO ARE TRIGGERED BY RAPE, ABUSE AND SUICIDE DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. Tell me, wouldn't you cringe just a little bit if you find a part where family members masturbate in front of one another ? No ? Then good for you...

Speaking about the characters I can't say much, because they were flat and boring, made decisions that were just plain odd and didn't make any sense. I didn't care what will happen to them. I JUST couldn't care less.

This book or rather the idea of this book had so much potential to be truly great. But, in my opinion, it was written just for a shock factor. At some parts it felt like author didn't even read what he wrote and didn't care what it will turn out to be. Well I like when there is at least a little bit of a plot and character development.

So, do I recommend this book? NO.