Sleeping Love by Sara Curran-Ross

I downloaded this book a long time ago when it was a free kindle book thinking it might me a Cinderella type book.  Well, definately is not a Cinderella fairy tale type book, but it was still a decent book.  I can't say that I will ever read it again, but it was a different romance book than most that I have read.

Sabrina Michaels is a historian that lost her memory 7 years ago and finds herself at the wealthy Raoul Valoire's mansion under the pretense that she is doing research on one of his famous relatives.  She soon finds out that Raoul claims that he is her husband and will not let her leave until she regains her memory.  Sabrina fights against this not knowing whether to trust him or not since she was beaten badly and raped when she lost her memory.  Raoul invites all the suspects for a weekend in order to determine who was responsible for Sabrina's dissappearance.  She must find the courage to confront her memories and decide whether to trust Raoul as her husband or go back to her life in London. 

While the overall story was decent, I was a little disappointed with the ending and how many people Sara decided to have involved in the conspiracy.  I think there were just a few too many people and a slightly unrealistic ending.  I would not suggest spending money to buy this kindle book, but if it is free again go for it.

Watched Series by Cindy Hogan

Christy is a 15 year old with incredible intellect and a photographic memory.  She wins a contest to go to New York with a youth political group in hopes of changing her life since she is bullied at her school.  She had no clue that this trip will definately change her life as she and her group witness a murder from a terrorist group.  She and her friends are followed and one girl is even kidnapped.  They get in contact with the FBI and with their help the first book "Watched" ends with all of the kids returning home believing they are safe.

In the second book "Protected" Christy and a friend are kidnapped and are luckily rescued by the FBI and put into witness protection.  Christy has a chance to become a popular cheerleader as she begins her new life as Melissa.  She is trained and continues training in self-defense in order to protect herself if any of the terrorist groups find her.  She has become the main target of power and whichever group kills her becomes the leading terrorist group.  When Melissa is found she must once again change her idendity and become a gothic, biker girl.

The third book takes Christy or Ari at this time and all of her political field trip group to Europe to a spy school as the the terrorists are finally captured.  Christy and many of her friends find themselves being trained for various spy positions.  Ari finds that she has the ability to become a great spy and even ends up on an important FBI mission to prove her abilities.  She has a choice to continue with spy training or to finally go back home.  You will have to read to see what her future is.

It may sound like a dumb series to read, but I really enjoyed reading them.  The first book is free on Kindle right now and the second two are only $3.99.  The only thing that bugged me with the series is that it is painfully obvious the author has LDS ties and she doesn't outright say that Christy is LDS but she isn't Catholic or Protestant.  She mentions Christy's strict parents with no dating until 16, no drinking, smoking, tatoos, piercings, and she mentions multiple times things her youth leaders taught her.  Yes, it is good that Christy must try to keep her values while also going through the witness protection and missions, but it detracted from the story by inserting these paragraphs of inner turmoil and religious conflicts.  You don't need to put such a strong religious perspective in it to make it a good book.  Otherwise, it was fun and I enjoyed reading something other than classic literature or fantasy.

A Darkness Forged in Fire by Chris Evans

Blake found this book in a shed when his brother moved into his new place a couple years ago.  I didn't notice it on the shelf until a couple weeks ago and decided to try it out since I was having a hard time getting though A Casual Vacancy.  I really enjoyed this book and want to get the rest for Christmas now.  I know there are at least three books in the series.  I will have to look up more information to see if there are more books to come.

This is not a young adult fantasy, but a nice adult fantasy without the language or sex that seems to accompany so many adult books.  Blake gives me a hard time for reading young adult literature and not adult or classic literature more.  Honestly, most adult literature I have a hard time reading now because I find myself focusing on the language and sexual content and not being able to just read and enjoy the book.  Classic literature is often hard and slow to read.  I read for enjoyment,  not to increase my vocabulary and intelect.  I apologize if this does not seem like a good enough reason to read, but for me it is good enough and does not need to make me think or increase my intelect.

Our main character is Konowa Swift Dragon, a former commander of the Iron Elves who were disbanded when Konowa murdered an evil Viceroy without permission from the Queen.  He was then exiled in the forest, which he hates since he is a tainted elf touched by the Dark Shadow Monarch and can not bond with an Oak like other regular elves.  He finds himself called back to command the Iron Elves under the command of the Prince however, the Iron Elves no longer include elves, but regular men and one dwarf.  They are in search of "The Star" so that the Shadow Monarch does not get it for Her power.  Unfortunately, they also learn that the Prince wants the Star and all other magical relics for a museum of education.  They fight extinct monsters and find that the Iron Elves are now cursed and when they die they become Shades forced to continue fighting with the Iron Elves.  Book 1 ends with a terrific battle and the Star is kept safe from the Shadow Monarch, however, they find that the Shadow Monarch did not necessarily want the Star but wanted the Iron Elves for herself.  Konowa must now fight his dark power along with the entire batallion in order to keep themselves from falling into Her hands.