The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis

Synopsis:

Narnia... where dwarfs are loyal and tough and strong—or are they... where you must say goodbye... and where the adventure begins again.

The Unicorn says that humans are brought to Narnia when Narnia is stirred and upset. And Narnia is in trouble now: A false Aslan roams the land. Narnia's only hope is that Eustace and Jill, old friends to Narnia, will be able to find the true Aslan and restore peace to the land. Their task is a difficult one because, as the Centaur says, "The stars never lie, but Men and Beasts do." Who is the real Aslan and who is the imposter?

In the conclusion of the saga that began with The Magician's Nephew, a false Aslan is roaming Narnia, commanding everyone to work for the cruel Calormenes. Can Eustace and Jill find the true Aslan and restore peace to the land? The last battle is the greatest of all and the final struggle between good and evil.

Review by Patrick:

I didn't wait around to read this one. I wanted to get through it to say I finally read the series. So I did. I picked this one up every chance I got and read through it.

You know the old saying, all good things must come to an end. Well, that's true here as well, except it doesn't. And I'm not going to say more than that because... spoilers.

The story in this one was pretty good. It starts out in Narnia, instead of in the human's perspective. So that was a little odd, although similar to The Horse and His Boy. Eustace and Jill are once again the main human characters, but one of the things I love about this book is that it brings everyone back in and at least mentions them. All the humans, even Diggory and Polly. All the Narnians, even my favorite, Reepicheep. And of course, new characters to this story. We even get to meet the Calamenian god, Tash.

This book was wonderful. It described beautiful things in a way I've never imagined. I enjoyed the magic and mystery of it, and the eventual conclusion of Narnia itself. I think there was a wonderful and perfect transition from the beginning story of the book to the end, because once you got there, it was obvious that that would be how you got there... in complete bliss. And even though you had arrived, and were a little sad that you had left, you knew that everything was going to be okay in the end. Better than okay... perfect.

I'm really not sure what to think about this book. It was good, and it was certainly a conclusion. I don't know if it was the conclusion I wanted, but it was wonderful. If you've read the previous six, you must finish reading the series with this one. I'm going to give it 4 stars.

The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis

Synopsis:

Narnia...where owls are wise, where some of the giants like to snack on humans (and, if carefully cooked, on Marsh-wiggles, too), where a prince is put under an evil spell...and where the adventure begins.

Eustace and Jill escape from the bullies at school through a strange door in the wall, which, for once is unlocked. It leads to the open moor...or does it? Once again Aslan has a task for the children, and Narnia needs them. Through dangers untold and caverns deep and dark, they pursue the quest that brings them face to face with the evil Witch. She must be defeated if Prince Rilian is to be saved.

Review by Patrick:

Off the bat, this was another of those books that took me forever to finish. I don't just mean from when I reviewed The Voyage of the Dawn Treader until now. I mean that every time I've tried to read this series, I get stuck and put it down during this book. And I don't exactly understand why, either. This book had plenty of action and story to carry it. But even this time, I had put this book down, and didn't finish. I looked at it, and thought to myself, "I'm going to finish that book," and then I did within a few days. Maybe there is some magic in it that doesn't want you to finish it, but if you have the willpower, you can overcome it?

Eustace Scrubb makes another appearance in this book. He and a girl from his school are brought in by Aslan to solve another problem in Narnia. This time, Aslan sends them on a quest, with quite specific instructions. Of course, things never go as they should, people forget things, mistakes were made, and the optimist, Puddleglum (a marsh-wiggle), always shone a bright ray of hope (while expressing his belief that the worst was yet to come).

Interesting story, and good read. I liked it. I don't know why it took me so long to finish, and I'm looking forward to the next and last book of the series. 3 stars from me.

Release Blitz: Love in the 80s: Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Kelly Martin

Party like it's 1989!

Today is the release day for the VERY LAST book in the Love in the 80s series: ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY (Who has the song earwormed in their brain now? You're welcome.)

“What sort of name is Johnny Slade?” My dorm mate, Amy, is laying with her face buried in her pillow, crying so much I’m fairly sure the mascara stains will never wash out. Glad it’s hers and not mine. Last time this happened, I was pillowless for a week. Not my favorite time of life.

“Then again, I guess he didn’t have much say in what his name was.” It is as compassionate as I can get. I’m trying to study. Trying being the operative word. I love Amy. I do. We’ve been dorm mates since freshman year, and we’ve had our share of ups and downs. She can be a little needy, and I’m not the coddling type.

As much as I love living with her, sometimes I’d like to be alone. This is one of those times. I have a massive chem test tomorrow that I’d like not to fail. I know I shouldn’t be mad at Amy, though. It isn’t her fault the dude she dated Saturday night dined her, wooed her, sexed her, and left her.

For the past three days, she’s been stuck by the phone, waiting for it to ring, praying it is Johnny Slade, a man I’ve never met, but I’m fairly sure—according to Amy’s description—has horns.

I wish I could help her. I take that back, I wish she’d help herself by moving on with her life. Seeing as that’s not happening anytime soon, I consider spilling the beans about my little...side business.

It’s for girls just like Amy: girls who have been used,

“Then again, I guess he didn’t have much say in what his name was.” It is as compassionate as I can get. I’m trying to study. Trying being the operative word. I love Amy. I do. We’ve been dorm mates since freshman year, and we’ve had our share of ups and downs. She can be a little needy, and I’m not the coddling type.

As much as I love living with her, sometimes I’d like to be alone. This is one of those times. I have a massive chem test tomorrow that I’d like not to fail. I know I shouldn’t be mad at Amy, though. It isn’t her fault the dude she dated Saturday night dined her, wooed her, sexed her, and left her.

For the past three days, she’s been stuck by the phone, waiting for it to ring, praying it is Johnny Slade, a man I’ve never met, but I’m fairly sure—according to Amy’s description—has horns.

I wish I could help her. I take that back, I wish she’d help herself by moving on with her life. Seeing as that’s not happening anytime soon, I consider spilling the beans about my little...side business.

It’s for girls just like Amy: girls who have been used, abused, mistreated, or downright screwed over by the men in their life.

Some people might argue that I’m taking advantage of these poor souls in their state of weakness. I say, if they want to pay me, who am I to be their moral compass? I have bills to pay, and the revenge industry pays a hell of a lot more than stripping. And, dare I say it, more fun.

Amy sits up, rivers of black cake on her red cheeks that would make Frank N Furter green with envy. She sniffs a few times and takes a deep breath, “Do you think he lost my number, Nancy?”

Oh my God.

If I had a dollar for every client who called Once Bitten asking the same thing... I wouldn’t need to go to college. I could retire on a beach with a drink and a cabana boy making my every dream come true.

I start to say this to Amy, but I can’t. She’s my friend and I don’t want to hurt her. Yes, I want her to move on; getting lectured from me isn’t the way to go. “I don’t know, Amy. Maybe?”

“You really think so?” Hope. I don’t like hope. Hope kills more than guns, in my opinion.

I smile and pray it doesn’t come off plastic. “It’s possible.”

Amy sits up on her knees straighter, a huge grin reaches from ear to ear.

I wait for it...

I think Bon Jovi sang it best with “Shot Through the Heart.”

I don’t want to hurt her. Yes, I want her to move on; getting lectured from me isn’t the way to go. “I don’t know, Amy. Maybe?”

“You really think so?” Hope. I don’t like hope. Hope kills more than guns, in my opinion.

I smile and pray it doesn’t come off plastic. “It’s possible.”

Amy sits up on her knees straighter, a huge grin reaches from ear to ear.

I wait for it...

I think Bon Jovi sang it best with “Shot Through the Heart.”

It’s like a jolt of understanding hits her right in the guts all at once. Her smile contorts into a Ronald McDonald grimace and, with a sob I’m sure they hear two floors above us, Amy falls face first into her pillow.

I shouldn’t say what is running through my mind. It is tacky and impolite. Truthfully, it does no good now. The deed, as they say, is done. Can’t put the horse back in the barn—as my Grandma Molly said with a warning glare every time she decided to have the “sex” talk with me.

Amy beats me to it. “How could I be so stupid to lose my virginity to him?”

More sobs.

I throw her a tissue box ‘cause I’m nice like that.

“I don’t know, Amy. How could you be so stupid to lose your virginity to him?” Tactful? No. But damn, it is a question I’ve wanted answered since she strolled in here Sunday night with her hair teased and distressed more than normal, her tights ripped, and her shirt pulled way, way off the shoulder even for her. I don’t think he was easy on her.

Amy shakes her head in the pillow. “Dnwo loo lear bet wiered a feing a foudee-foudee...”

Muffled pillow talk isn’t my major. “Sorry, didn’t catch that.”

She lifts her head and glares at me with through squinty, tear filled eyes. “Don’t you ever get tired of being a goody-goody, Nancy? We’re seniors in college. Don’t you ever want to throw the virginity card out the window and have some fun once in a while?”

“I don’t know, Amy. How could you be so stupid to lose your virginity to him?” Tactful? No. But damn, it is a question I’ve wanted answered since she strolled in here Sunday night with her hair teased and distressed more than normal, her tights ripped, and her shirt pulled way, way off the shoulder even for her. I don’t think he was easy on her.

Amy shakes her head in the pillow. “Dnwo loo lear bet wiered a feing a foudee-foudee...”

Muffled pillow talk isn’t my major. “Sorry, didn’t catch that.”

She lifts her head and glares at me with through squinty, tear filled eyes. “Don’t you ever get tired of being a goody-goody, Nancy? We’re seniors in college. Don’t you ever want to throw the virginity card out the window and have some fun once in a while?”

I don’t mean to laugh. I can’t stop myself. I’m a horrible person. “Yeah, ‘cause you look like you’ve been having fun the last three days.”

Honestly, if that’s what it feels like to get close to someone, to let them get close to me, then no. I’d rather stay where I am in life and do what I do to make ends meet, thank you very much. I get close. I take pictures. I turn to blackmail. I get paid for it. What is wrong with that?

“That’s not what I mean.”

“I go out.” I sigh, this chemistry test won’t study itself.

“You go to the library and study. That isn’t going out.”

If she only knew. Most of those “study” trips were dates with the exes of clients. Revenge is different for everyone. I aim to please.

Amy dries up her tears mighty quickly and looks at me like she pities me. Oh for the love of...

“I feel sorry for you. I really do.”

Funny how coherent she sounds now. “That a fact?”

“It is. You have no life. No prospects of a boyfriend, and yeah, maybe Johnny Slade did break my heart, but at least I put my heart out there. What have you done?”

Gotten paid to serve up revenge. “Nothing as worthwhile as you.” I grab my book and my bag. There is no way I’m getting any studying done here tonight.

“Where are you going?”

“Out.”

“Fine,” she huffs.

“Fine.” I head for the door when our phone rings.

She looks at me.

I look at her.

I know what she’s thinking. She’s wishing for Johnny Slade.

I know what I’m thinking... I hope it isn’t a client. So far I’ve been lucky. She’s never answered a call for me, but I know the time is coming. I need to be honest with her, but now isn’t that time.

She reaches for the phone. I throw my stuff down and dive for it.

It fumbles out of her hands and into mine. “Hello?” I say before she can grab it from my hand.

“Is it Johnny?” she whispers.

I motion for her to be quiet.

“Once Bitten?” the female voice on the other end of the line says.

Amy’s big, black stained eyes plead with me to tell me who it is. I’m pleading with her to let it go. 

“Hi, Dad. It’s good to hear your voice.” I say, causing Amy to run from the room in an outburst of epic proportions.

“Excuse me?” The young woman on the other side of the line doesn’t seem to catch on very quickly.

“Never mind. Please talk quickly. How did you get this number?”

“Friend of a friend.”

Just like they all do. “What can I help you with?”

“My name is Dana Knox.”

I nearly drop the phone. I know her! Holy cow! Dana Knox has been all over People Magazine and Teen Beat for the last six months or so for dating Senator Harris’ son: Beautiful Socialite Tames Wild Political Heir Romeo.  “Chad Harris needs to pay.”

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ABOUT KELLY MARTIN:

Kelly Martin loves paranormal books, villainous characters, and the dark... but she can't sleep without a nightlight. She has been married for over ten years and has three rowdy, angelic daughters. When Kelly's not writing, she loves taking picture of abandoned houses, watching horror gamers on YouTube-- even though she's a huge wimp-- and drinking decaf white chocolate mochas. She's a total fangirl, loves the 80s and 90s, and has a sad addiction to Netflix.

If you ever have a question or comment, feel free to email her at kelly@kellymartinbooks.com ♥ You can follow her writing adventure at http://www.kellymartinbooks.com/

Review: Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Kelly Martin

    

Synopsis:

Nancy Corbin makes a living screwing with the minds of Nashville's less than upstanding men.

As the owner of the underground business, Once Bitten, Nancy makes it her mission to give scorned women the justice they deserve. She lures in the man who has wronged her client, flatters him with her considerable charms, then strikes.

It's only business.

Until the ex-girlfriend of tabloid-proclaimed Romeo, Chad Harris, comes in. According to the ex, Chad is the worst Nancy has ever had the pleasure of manipulating. However, after their first encounter, Nancy isn't so sure.

As business becomes pleasure, will Nancy be able to finish the deal? Or will Chad prove to be more of a challenge than she ever realized?

***********
1989: ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY is part of the Love in the 80s: A New Adult Mix romance series. It is a stand-alone novella.

Don't miss the other Love in the 80s titles:
1980: You Shook Me All Night Long by Casey Bond
1981: Jessie's Girl by Lindy Zart
1982: Maneater by Cambria Hebert
1983: Cruel Summer by Amber Lynn Natusch
1984: Against All Odds by Rebecca Yarros
1985: Careless Whisper by Misty Provencher
1986: Why Can't This Be Love by R.K. Ryals
1987: (How Do I Get You) Alone by Cameo Renae
1988: Need You Tonight by Rachel Higginson

Review: Rating-5
You know the saying, nothing is ever what it seems. Nancy runs a quiet business, Once Bitten, where she gets revenge on the men who have scorned women. The business is discreet, quiet, and tame. Nancy might go on a date and set the guy up for a bit of embarrassment, or puts him in a sticky situation, nothing to raise too many eyebrows, just enough to make the scorned women happy and the man to feel a bit of regret. She uses this business to pay for college and stay afloat.

Some people might argue that I'm taking advantage of these poor souls in their state of weakness. I say, if they want to pay me, who am I to be their moral compass?

Nancy gets a call from a woman named Dana to help her get revenge on her ex. This time it's not a tame revenge the woman wants, she wants her ex to pay royally. In return Dana will pay Nancy enough money so she can finish out college.

I could retire on a beach with a drink and a cabana boy making my every dream come true.

The problem is, the man Nancy is hired to get revenge on is a celebrity playboy always in the tabloids. He's richer than sin, flaunts his money off, flaunts his good looks off.

     "Did you notice that before or after you knocked me down?" I have yet to take his hand. I have yet to figure out what he's doing here.
     "Before. I noticed your big brown eyes after I knocked you down."
     Smooth, dude. Real smooth.

The book has so many hilarious one-liners that are notorious in Kelly Martin's novels.

My hair isn't as close to Heaven as Amy's, but I'm knocking on Heaven's door.

In the end we have a college girl just trying to get by in a business that leaves her thinking love isn't real. A job with a rich play boy who is too darn good looking for his own good. And a huge decision to make that could make or break a girl full of hope.

Revenge is supposed to be easy. This isn't easy. This is torture.

In the end we're left with a funny, moral-questioning, swoon worthy read. I fell in love with these characters and I'm positive you will too. I mean, come on, Chad Harris knows how to play the ladies.

He smiles slyly. "Not in the slightest, ma'am. I promise to be on my best behavior."

Review: Reckless by Kelly Martin

    

Synopsis/Chapter 1:
JESSUP HART BLACKWELL SAVED THE WORLD.
Not that anyone will ever know.
Not that they’ll remember.
But I know.
I remember.
That’s my curse.
I don’t agree with how he did it.
I wish it had been me that died. Lord knows we would’ve all
been safer if I’d been the one instead of Hart.
But he couldn’t let that happen.
He couldn’t live with it.
How am I supposed to live with it?
The pain.
The remorse.
The pressing feeling that something inside me that I can’t
control is still there… dormant but not dead. Ready to pounce.
Ready to kill again.
Hart saved the world, that’s true.
But he couldn’t save me

Review: Rating- 5
If you haven't read this series stop reading this review, grab Heartless, and start reading! You wont regret it! I've been putting off this review for so many reasons, but mostly, writing a review means the book, this series, is really done- no, completed. Complete. This series is complete and this finale was more than I imagined because I never thought it was going to be like this... and I'm glad. 

Gracen is my rock. My constant. The one thing that keeps me even the slightest bit human.

If someone asked me to summarize this book or even this series in one word, for once I wouldn't stutter around trying to grasp a word, for once a single word comes straight to mind: Empowering.

I stand and look down on her. She's so... frail. So small. All this time I've been afraid of her, of the voice in my head telling me I'm not good enough, not worthy. And when I look at her now, I have to wonder who the hell she thinks she is.

"Yes?"

"Yes. Yes, I'm worthy."

If you haven't read this series then stop reading this review because there will be spoilers from this point on. Reckless picks up right where Breathless left off.

Jessup Hart Blackwell saved the world.

We see Gracen panicking, crying, cleaning up the blood. We get to see what life is like for her after the event. Then we get to the big problem. Gracen is still alive. Gracen being alive means there's still the Abomination.

I can never allow myself another moment of weakness.

Everyone we've come to love and hate show up in Reckless for their final move, their last effort to make the world and their lives go the way they want it to.

If you don't save her, if you don't bring her back to me, I'll rain a fire of death and destruction that you've never seen onto the world. I'm a demon, Lucien. A demon. Evil. Ruthless. Reckless. I'll do whatever I damn well please if I don't have Gracen by my side. You wont have to worry about the Abomination when I'm finished with everything. You have my word on that." My fingers dig deep into his neck. So deep I can see red droplets of blood pooling, fixing to run down my fingers.

"You'd do that? For one person."

"No." I shake my head and let his feet fall to the concrete steps. "I'd do that for her."

The book is about each of these people coming up with a way to stop the Abomination from taking over again.

As long as there is hope, I'll be okay.

If you asked me for the top 10 ways I expected this book to go I would have been completely wrong. Kelly Martin took an intense action packed series and wrapped it up in intense feelings. These college kids had to face and conquer the impossible and in doing so they had to have their hearts ripped out, but in the end they got their Hope.

He's Hart. My Hart.

This was a beautiful ending for a beautiful series!

"Stay with me." He whispers.
"Always."

Messenger by Lois Lowry

Synopsis:

Strange changes are taking place in Village. Once a utopian community that prided itself on its welcome to new strangers, Village will soon be closed to all outsiders. As one of the few people able to travel through the dangerous Forest, Matty must deliver the message of Village's closing and try to convince Seer's daughter to return with him before it's too late. But Forest has become hostile to Matty as well, and he must risk everything to fight his way through it, armed only with an emerging power he cannot yet explain or understand.

Review by Patrick:

This book is more closely related to Gathering Blue, I thought, than The Giver. Although, to be fair, it had clear links to both stories.

This one seems pretty dark from the beginning. The main character, Matty, seems to have some kind of power. And the town folk are trading things that shouldn't be traded. Well, things get worse, and democracy has it's disadvantages.

The story moves on, and the optimist in me wants everything to turn out okay, but the book just keeps giving out lashes. Note, this is not a child's bed time story. Read this as a mature adult, and think about what it is telling us about ourselves, and our society.

I don't know what to say about this one. It has mystery, tragedy, redemption, and hope. It plays on your emotions, and brings up topics that can be difficult to express. It's good, but geez. I'm giving this one 3.5 stars. Keep reading.

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

Synopsis:

In her strongest work to date, Lois Lowry once again creates a mysterious but plausible future world. It is a society ruled by savagery and deceit that shuns and discards the weak. Left orphaned and physically flawed, young Kira faces a frightening, uncertain future. Blessed with an almost magical talent that keeps her alive, she struggles with ever broadening responsibilities in her quest for truth, discovering things that will change her life forever.

As she did in The Giver, Lowry challenges readers to imagine what our world could become, how people could evolve, and what will be considered valuable. Every reader will be taken by Kira's plight and will long ponder her haunting world and the hope for the future.

Review by Patrick:

While The Giver was possibly the best book I've ever read, this book seems more in line with what I normally read. It's dystopian, where things are sometimes backwards, but sometimes way ahead of our own time. Oh, and then there is the magic, which I have no idea where it comes from or how it works. What makes the magic in this world work?

This book's setting seems to be a different community from the community in The Giver, but still in the same world. There's not much more connection than that. I think they might be more intertwined in the later books. Still, don't skip this one.

The political system in place in this one is very interesting, and the main character is kept around simply because she has a gift. It's odd, but definitely one to keep you reading. I was intrigued about how the gifts worked, and although we see them in use, we hardly ever get to see the "why" behind it. It just... is. And that's all the character's know, so it allows you to feel what they feel better, but still, I want to know.

I'm looking forward to finishing this series and finding out how they interconnect. This particular book is getting 4 stars from me.