{Review} A Silent Prayer(A Prayer Series #1) by Samreen Ahsan

Title:  A Silent Prayer(A Prayer Series #1)

Author:  Samreen Ahsan

Pages:  330

Publisher:  iUniverse.com

First Published:  May 2013

Synopsis:

Adam Gibson is a young and powerful Toronto millionaire. Despite his many blessings, he is an atheist, though he has an altruistic soul. He denies there is a God—until he meets a beautiful stranger in a place that does not exist for anyone but him. 

Rania Ahmed strongly believes in God, but has lost hope she will ever find her soul mate. Endowed with hypnotic beauty and cursed by a brutal past, Rania has no idea she has cast a spell on Adam, who has never received more from a woman than physical pleasure. As Adam slowly discovers the true meaning of love from Rania, he begins to face his demons and reconsider his beliefs. He learns to love, forgive and repent. But as Adam grows closer to Rania, a series of strange, unexplained events threatens to drive them apart. To keep her from being destroyed by her past, he must persuade her to trust him with her deepest secrets.

In this spiritual romance, an atheist embarks on a path of enlightenment with a tormented soul who may just have the power to change everything he has ever believed to be true.

My Thoughts:

I try to go into new books with an open mind.  This one, however, I had my reservations about.  I'm not much of a religious person and I was worried that this book would be all about Christianity and religion in general.  I was wrong!

I didn't "get" Rania right away, and wasn't sure how I was going to feel about her.  As I read further, though, I began to understand her and why she said and did the things she did.  I got the feeling that the people around her took her for granted, but not Adam!

I fell in love with Adam right away pretty much.  As other's would see him stalking Rania, I thought it was sweet and he just wanted to protect her.  The way he would look at Rania, and the way both their pulses quickened when they were near each other was swoon worthy!

There were just a couple of parts that I, personally, didn't get.  I figured all would be revealed at the end of the book.  Nope!  I am still in the dark about things until I pick up and read A Prayer Heeded, book 2.  I don't want to give anything away, that's why I'm being so vague.

Ms. Ahsan definitely did a good thing by leaving the book so open ended, so you would go out and read the next book!  She really went out of her way to get in contact with me, as my "Contact Me" link was broken at my blog.  She finally found me on Goodreads!  Thank you for not giving up easily as I would have never read this book and missed out on a treasure!

A Definite 4 Stars

****

REVIEW: Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson

Strands of Bronze and Gold 

by

Jane Nickerson 

Published by:  Random House Children's Books

Released:  March 12, 2013

Source:  Publisher via Netgalley

Goodreads Summary:

When seventeen-year-old Sophia Petheram’s beloved father dies, she receives an unexpected letter. An invitation—on fine ivory paper, in bold black handwriting—from the mysterious Monsieur Bernard de Cressac, her godfather. With no money and fewer options, Sophie accepts, leaving her humble childhood home for the astonishingly lavish Wyndriven Abbey, in the heart of Mississippi.

Sophie has always longed for a comfortable life, and she finds herself both attracted to and shocked by the charm and easy manners of her overgenerous guardian. But as she begins to piece together the mystery of his past, it’s as if, thread by thread, a silken net is tightening around her. And as she gathers stories and catches whispers of his former wives—all with hair as red as her own—in the forgotten corners of the abbey, Sophie knows she’s trapped in the passion and danger of de Cressac’s intoxicating world.

Glowing strands of romance, mystery, and suspense are woven into this breathtaking debut—a thrilling retelling of the “Bluebeard” fairy tale.

My thoughts:

This book was wonderfully written.  Kudos to Jane Nickerson on her debut!

Strands of Bronze and Gold was both creepy and intriguing. Bernard scared the crap out of me and gave me the heebie jeebies.  He was a very strong character.  Probably the strongest I've ever read.  But I felt like he had nothing but hate inside him.  Sophia, on the other hand, was full of emotion, maybe to a fault?  She was very weak and there were times I just wanted to smack some sense into her.  I know the slavery bit is somewhat controversial, but that's the way it was.  That's not to say that it wasn't hard reading about it.

The ending of this book was great.  I don't know how else it should have ended.  Like I said before, the whole book was beautifully written.

REVIEW: Black Swan Rising by Lee Carroll

By:  Lee Carroll

Publisher:  Random House

Format:  Ebook

Pages:  400

Source:  Netgalley

Published:  2010

Goodreads Summary:

When New York City jewelry designer Garet James stumbles into a strange antiques shop in her neighborhood, her life is about to be turned upside down. John Dee, the enigmatic shopkeeper, commissions her to open a vintage silver box for a generous sum of money. Oddly, the symbol of a swan on the box exactly matches the ring given to her by her deceased mother. Garet can’t believe her luck and this eerie coincidence until she opens the box and otherworldly things start happening. . . .

That evening, the precious silver box is stolen. When Garet begins to investigate, she learns that she has been pulled into a prophecy that is hundreds of years old, and opening the box has unleashed an evil force onto the streets of Manhattan and the world at large. Gradually, Garet pieces together her true identity—one that her deceased mother desperately tried to protect her from. Generations of women in Garet’s family, including her beloved mother, suffered and died at the hands of this prevailing evil. Does Garet possess the power to reclaim the box and defeat this devastating force?

On her journey, she will meet the fey folk who walk unnoticed among humans and a sexy vampire who also happens to be a hedge fund manager that she can’t stop thinking about. But the fairies reveal a desire to overpower mere humans and the seductive vampire has the power to steal the life from her body. Whom can Garet trust to guide her? Using her newfound powers and sharp wit, Garet will muster everything she’s got to shut down the evil taking over her friends, family, New York City, and the world. 

My Thoughts:

This book had so much in it that I liked, I really can't name them all.  I'm going to keep this review simple because I'm on a lot of medication and don't remember a lot of details. LOL  Only really how I felt throughout the book.  I read this while part in the hospital and part when I came home.

I really don't remember any slow parts in this book.  There was always something going on, even if it was behind the scenes.  There were times when it felt like I was so anxious that I was holding my breath.  Then there were times where I was angry at the heroine, Garet.  There is a vampire, fey, demons, and elementals.  I thought it was so interesting how Garet learns about her powers.  I absolutely recommend this book for anyone who likes any type of supernatural.

A BIG 4 STARS!!!