Playing House By Donna Brown

This book was lighthearted and fun. Reading the synopsis, I wasn't quite sure if I would enjoy this book, but I was delightfully surprised. Playing House by Donna Brown can be found HERE.

The one thing I have to say right off the bat about this book is that it is short! I read the book in one day. One thing that I loved about this novella is that the main character was male, and it fits into the romance genre. You cannot often find a romance novel written from a male perspective. The book was based around a tragic story of young love falling apart in the face of adversity and pain. David and Emma lost a child in a violent attack while Emma was pregnant. The child died and Emma was seriously injured. For years, David blamed himself for the loss of their only child and slowly distanced himself from his wife. The story starts with their impending divorce. The story follows them through an adventure together to find a painting that will solidify their quiet divorce and forever separate them. Fate intervenes and reconnects these lost lovers. Overall the book was mostly lighthearted and made for a delightful read. The characters were well developed and thought out. A lot of young people would be able to relate to these particular characters in their struggles and inner demons. The book felt a bit rushed towards the end, leaving me wanted a more well rounded ending, but overall I feel the book was well written. 

Alora: The Wander-Jewel By Tamie Dearen

I just had the privilege of reading a very well written novel that sparked my imagination. Alora: The Wander-Jewel is a novel written by Tamie Dearen. It can be found HERE for purchase.

After reading the synopsis of this book, I immediately sensed it would be a book that would keep me engrossed in its delightful pages, and I have to say that I was not disappointed. The beginning of the book is well written, enticing and exciting. The author had me from the get-go and never let me escape! The main character was easy to relate to, even though she is only 15 years old. This is one of those books  you will not put down until the very last word, then you will beg for more!

This story follows 15 year old Alora as she discovers her amazing ability to transport herself and those around her to a mysterious other realm that is full of magic and conflict. She falls in love with a dashing 17 year old warrior with a heart of gold and finds out that she is his "soulmate". Once they form a soulmate bond, they cannot be away from each other for more than a day without suffering dire consequences. Alora finds herself in the middle of an age old war between clans that used to intermarry and now separate themselves and carry severe bias. Her biological father is an evil sorcerer that controls an entire clan through a blood bond he forces all of his subjects to take. Alora is the only woman alive that carries the ability to transport among other things. She is called a bearer and is valuable not only to those around her, but invaluable to her father as well. This novel focuses on her conflict with her father that turns into a devastating war that has far reaching consequences.

Overall I found this novel to flow very well and kept me within its grip for a solid 48 hours until I had it read from electronic cover to cover. I would suggest purchasing this book and look forward to the next novel by Tamie Dearen.