Zoe is unaware that her shadow became a separate entity during her bout of amnesia. Through a spiritual revelation with the ghost of her mates, the phenomenon behind her fire is unveiled to her. She is awestruck by the nature of her gift.

While Booker is away on business, she and Rider bond on an intense level and exchange extremely intimate bites. When Rider travels south to help his twin open the new club, Zoe is left alone overnight. She ventures into the darkness and begins utilizing her fire to avenge the death of lost souls.

Zoe doesn’t like how she feels when her shadow runs amok and pleasures her mates. Even worse, she must find her alter ego before Shadow drains her soul.

Even though the 7th book left me a little bit Meh I decided to give book 8 a try when I got the chance to read it. Sadly for me I still feel a bit meh about it. There are some very hot scenes in it so there is that the rest is just a little bit flat for me. Maybe it is because I did not start with the rest I just I don’t know this one did not click very well for me. Maybe it is because it was only about 82 pages long so short you can’t feel like your digging in. That said it is not a terrible book and there is a lot of heat.

My Gemstone Rating:

Following a momentous journey across space, two groups of Helvenans are locked in a struggle for survival on the strange, virgin planet they have named Kelanni.

Their long journey over, the exiles from the planet Helvena must now carve out a new existence. But the stain of war still blights the two factions – the hubbers with their strict caste system, now enforced by the new, fearsome keltar in their flying cloaks, and the free community of rimmers. On an alien world beset by unknown dangers and complex life forms they must find a way to come together…or be destroyed.

“This is the fifth book in Mark Whiteway’s beautifully crafted Lodestone series”

In the fifth instalment of the Lodestone series the long journey from the exiles of planet Helvena is over. What happened during war however leaves a mark that still haunts everyone. The Hubbers still must follow their strict caste system that is now enforced by the keltar.

Just when you think a series can’t get any better it comes out of left field with the next instalment and shows you that it can indeed still get better. This book is full of the excellent writing I have come to expect in this series along with the plot lines and twists that keep your brain on high alert. I simply love that in the course of reading this book you can’t take time to get passive about the story. If you get passive you may miss something and in all the action and complex plot you don’t want to miss something. Not a single moment. This is science fiction at its best

My Gemstone Rating:

Zoe—torn between worlds. Is Booker the man she loves or the enemy she fears? While suffering from Acute Stress Syndrome, she forgets everyone connected to her pain and returns to the dark world of stripping again.

Flashbacks confuse her and anxiety sets in as she struggles to discover who or what she is. Brief visions of men from her past spark her desire for revenge. Her potent craving for blood is strong, but the need for justice is stronger. She doesn’t understand why she feels the way she does, but has no desire to stop it. She likes wielding power over men—teasing them—killing them.

Will Zoe’s quest for vengeance lead her to the right man before she makes a fatal mistake

Lesson one learned from this book, not always good to start on book 7 of a series. Lesson two wow that is a short book, something like 77 pages?

Other then being fairly lost on how a Vampire can forget what they are (sounds bad) the book was okay. Zoe is an interesting character and one that I feel could be developed further. I know I am sure I missed some of her development because I came in so late in the series but I do think she has a ways to go. The premise though is solid, she is a strong and curiously interesting character. The writing is solid and flows well enough to keep me interested. While it is not my favorite Vampire book of all time, it was worth while to read it and for pure hot appeal it gets good marks. I always love a little bit of hot Vampire story to pass the time.

My Gemstone Rating:

A novel about love and support, and learning that with enduring friendships, no woman is ever alone.

Robin Sinclair is young, determined, and has a promising career at a small publishing house in Seattle. Even though she considers herself unlucky in love, Robin still dreams of eventually meeting Mr. Right and having a happily-ever-after kind of life. And at twenty-five, the world of opportunity is wide. But it’s been a difficult year filled with trials…and it’s only just begun.

While long-time friendships are finally on the mend, and things are starting to look up again, Robin is faced with her biggest challenge yet. She’s single and pregnant.

Uncertain now of her future and scared of being alone, Robin must re-examine her life and choices, and summon the courage to step up.

With the love and support of her best girlfriends from college, especially her best friend and roommate, Lara, Robin will learn that when the going gets tough, the best of friends become family. And, perhaps, with their encouragement, Robin can mature and gain the confidence needed to become a single mother. And, who knows about being unlucky in love. Things are suddenly getting interesting with Robin’s attractive co-worker, Bobby.

This is the endearing sequel to When Girlfriends Break Hearts about maturity and perseverance. It’s a story about friends coming together as family, about finding the strength within and around, and about writing your own happily-ever-after. About what happens when girlfriends step up

I didn’t read the first in the series I only found out it was a series part after I started reading it. That said it is a book that can also stand on it’s own very well.

This was a very heart warming and great book. I enjoyed the story as whole and I was very glad that our main character Robin found love but what I loved even more was the love and support between her and her girlfriends. It seems to me that in today’s society to many times women are competitive with one another and not as supportive and friend like as they should and could be. I know I myself don’t have as many female friends as I would like. So this story settled well with me and I enjoyed the story of how supportive these women were. The book itself flows very well together and makes the story all the more enjoyable. I would recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a good chic lit and a very lovely story.

My Gemstone Rating:

The discovery of an ancient artefact sends Keris of the kelanni and the human Alexander McCann spinning back into the distant past to uncover a threat more terrible than either of them could conceive.

‘Seeds Across the Sky’ is the fourth book in the best selling Lodestone Series.

Seeds Across the Sky by Mark Whiteway is the fourth book in the Lodestone series and another solidly fantastic book. With this instalment of the exciting series Keris is investigating the theft of an important artifact that takes her to Alexander the last human and from there the adventure continues when he is able to get the artifact for her. If you want a book that is once again full of adventure, fun, twists and power this is really the book for you. While it is clearly part of a series I personally feel that if you were to come along this one first there is enough information that it could be a standalone as well. Mark Whiteway clearly knows what he is doing when it comes to writing Science Fiction and has become my new favourite author in the genre.

My Gemstone Rating:

There’s an entire world that exists alongside the everyday life of mankind. There are powers, nations, monsters, wars, feuds, alliances – everything. Wizards are part of it. So are a lot of other things you’ve heard about in stories, and even more you’ve never heard of…Vampires. Werewolves. Faeries. Demons. Monsters. It’s all real.

Harry Dresden knows full well that such creatures exist. Paranormal investigations are his stock-in-trade, and Chicago is his beat as he tries to bring law and order to a world that exists on the edges of imagination. Luckily Harry’s not alone in this struggle. And though most inhabitants of the Windy City don’t believe in magic, there’s a department that’s been set up within the Chicago PD to deal with “strange” cases: the Special Investigations department.

Karrin Murphy is the head of SI and a good friend of Harry’s. So when a deadly vampire threatens to destroy Murphy’s reputation unless Harry helps her, he has no choice. The vampire wants the Word of Kemmler and all the power that comes with it – but first Harry has to determine what the Word of Kemmler is. Now Harry is in a race against time – and six necromancers – to find the Word before Chicago experiences a Halloween night to wake the dead.

Oh Harry, where have you been all of my life. This is a world of wizards for adults and I love every moment that I spend with him. Harry is blackmailed in this one to do some bidding of the woman he dislikes a Vampire of the Black court oh and the things he does.

Zombie T-Rex…ZOMBIE T-REX and her name is Sue, that is all I can really say about that.

I really enjoyed this installment and things are getting worse for Harry and the war with the Vampires. Not only that but he ticks off a guy who is almost a deity. Yeah He is going to be having a bad time after that I think. I know some people don’t like Harry but I am not one of those, nope I love Harry, bring on the next book!

My Gemstone Rating:

On a distant planet ruled by a brutal tyrant, an alien girl comes to the aid of a stranger and is plunged into the midst of a titanic struggle that will decide the fate of her world.

For the first time in a single volume, this limited edition version includes all three books of the first Lodestone story arc, including a revised and updated version of Book One, a unique cover featuring a scene from the second book, and a special chapter navigation system. The combined 360,000 word epic is available for a limited period only.

Lose yourself in the astounding world of Kelanni!

The description for this trilogy starts, “On a distant planet ruled by a brutal tyrant, an alien girl comes to the aid of a stranger and is plunged into the midst of a titanic struggle that will decide the fate of her world. “ Let me tell you it got me hooked right away and I was more than happy to dive into this trilogy. I love science fiction but I have found that a great deal of it tends to be repetitive these days, not the case at all with The Lodestone Trilogy by Mark Whiteway. The story is unique and brings you in with the amazing detail and engaging characters. There are so many levels to the story telling in this book there is never a moment where you’re bored. You get the information on a society that is not what you might think right away in a Science Fiction, you get fight scenes, Good Vs. Evil and shades of grey as well. If you are looking for an epic enjoyable Science Fiction to read I would highly recommend this trilogy. I could barely set them set down when I was reading!

My Gemstone Rating:

Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard, takes on a case as a favor to his friend Thomas-a vampire of dubious integrity-only to become the prime suspect in a series of ghastly murders.

Another solid installment in the Dresden files, the more I get into these the more I enjoy them. I know there are some editing issues and I know some people have a fit over Harry’s use of Hells Bells or whatever but you know SOD IT. I read to have fun, I read to enjoy the book and as long as the editing isn’t so bad that it interferes with my enjoyment (yes have read those) I am okay with some issues, nothing is after all perfect. I love this universe.

Thomas is perhaps my favorite character next to Harry, he can have some issues but I like him. He tries to be good and he tries to do his best by the people around him. It is not his fault that he was born a Vampire of the white court. No more then it was Harry’s fault he was born a very powerful Wizard. A little spoiler reference there I won’t give it away. Overall this has quickly become my new favorite series and I am a bit obsessed with it. Sorry Miss Blake I know I have a lot of your books left to read but I am currently loving a Wizard named Harry…who does not have a counterpart called Voldemort.

My Gemstone Rating:

Here is the third volume in George R.R. Martin’s magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings. Together, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction.

Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, victim of the sorceress who holds him in her thrall. Young Robb still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world. And as opposing forces maneuver for the final showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost limits of civilization, accompanied by a horde of mythical Others—a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords…

Action, Action and more action! That is what you get when you read this book. ACTION. Another solid installment of the series, and another re-read this year for me. It gets hard to say more about the series, but again you should give it a read if you like the show or have read the first books. I enjoy growing with the character and the action in this book really kept me riveted.

My Gemstone Rating: