Tag Archives: Debra Mullins

Book Marks: Truthseers Trilogy – Book Review by Carrie Kurtz

Truthseers Trilogy by Debra MullinsProdigal Son, Heart of Stone, and Warrior of Fate by Debra Mullins

A few months ago, Kitty introduced me to a friend of hers who also happens to be an author!  That friend was Debra Mullins 🙂  This is the book review I posted on my own blog not long after.

Debra asked me if I would like to read her Truthseers Trilogy and review them on my blog!  The first two books are award winning books and the third book, Warrior of Fate, isn’t available yet but will be on October 20th.  Of course, I said yes!  She sent them right out to me and I got started reading 🙂  Let’s start with letting you know a little about each book…

Goodreads Summaries

Prodigal Son
Bounty hunter Rafe Montana is a Seer, descended from the fabled Atlanteans. He uses his inherited power to “see” criminals across the globe and track them down, and he’s just started on a new case. Danny Cangialosi is accused of disappearing with a stolen car…but for the first time in his life, when Rafe goes looking, he is unable to “see” him. Instead, his search leads him to Danny’s stubborn, meddling, and very cute stepsister, Cara McGaffigan.

Cara is looking for Danny, too, but not to turn him in. He is her brother, after all, and she’s convinced he has a good heart. If she can just find him before the cops do, she’ll figure out a way to get him out of this. But Cara didn’t count on a scorching-hot bounty hunter getting in her way.

Heart of Stone
Darius Montana is a Seer. With his gift of empathy, he can see into the hearts of others, both human and Atlantean. When his family comes into possession of one of the legendary power stones of Atlantis, Darius is sent to find the Stone Singer.

Faith Karaluros is the last Stone Singer. Manipulated all her life for her rare ability, she is widowed after her husband tried to steal her power for the Mendukati, an extremist group that hunts Seers. Faith wants nothing more than to stay out of this war when Darius comes to find her—just in time to rescue her from being kidnapped.

Warrior of Fate
Warrior Adrian Gray has dedicated his life in service to his people, and has never doubted his calling… until now. Three mystical Atlantean power stones were assumed lost for centuries, but one by one the Seers of Atlantis have tracked them down in a tireless race against the extremist Mendukati. Adrian’s mission? To ensure that the stones are acquired and protected by the right people—his people.

My Thoughts on the Books

I don’t typically read this genre but, I do have to say, I enjoyed the story lines a lot!  I liked the mystery and excitement that each book brought.  I liked how each book focused on a different set of characters while still including the past characters.  In Prodigal Son, you read the story back and forth from Rafe’s perspective and from Cara’s perspective.  In Heart of Stone, it was Darius and Faith, and then in Warrior of Fate it was Adrian and Tessa.

Now, I do have to add that these are adult romances.  I do not usually read adult romances which makes this review a little harder to write.  Like I said, the story lines were wonderful!  But, I personally couldn’t give them 5 stars because of the “romance” sections.  If you are like me and don’t read adult romances but like fantasy types books, you can always skim past those parts!

I feel so honored to have been asked to read and review these books for her. I love that I have made a new friend as well!  If you like Adult fantasy/paranormal romances then pick these up!  If you like fantasy/paranormal books but not typically adult romances then these may or may not be for you (again, you can skim past those parts if you want to!).

*Note: I received these books from Author Debra Mullins in exchange for an honest review

Carrie Kurtz

 

Carrie Kurtz is a full-time mom and wife who can’t help but make time to explore new worlds in between carpooling and laundry loads. She’s trying to encourage a similar obsession with reading in her two children, and she’s grateful her husband supports her habit. She can be found at Carrie K’s Book Reviews.

Book Marks: To Ruin the Duke by Debra Mullins

ruinthedukeOne of my favorite subgenres of romance is Regency romance. It’s almost always funny in one way or another, and that’s probably one of the reasons I love it so much. I was reading my friend Deb’s blog this month – such a fun blog! – and won a book when my comment was randomly chosen one day.

To Ruin the Duke is a smart bit of fun reading. The heroine, Miranda, is loyal and determined and smart, which makes her eminently likable. The hero, the Duke, is a strong hero without being one of those guys who you’re pretty sure you wouldn’t like in the real world. (You know the type, order everyone around, assume they’re always right. I don’t like that type, and this Duke isn’t that type. Yay!)

There’s even a baby involved, which usually makes me yawn or gag, but the baby had just the right amount of scene time so that we didn’t have to swim through melodrama. 🙂 The story was well-plotted, with characters doing unexpected things at just the right time. I have no idea if this is a series, but all the Duke’s friends are single, so it might be.

If you like Regency romances with sparkle and wit, you’ll like this book!

4 stars, Really Liked It

Are Novelists As Good As Songwriters?

I’ve been watching “The Voice” on TV since the season started, and I’m surprised to find it difficult to get up and walk away. I’m not a big reality show fan, but I’m a sucker for anything that has to do with dreams coming true. As they interview the hopefuls, I hear so many heartwarming – or heart-wrenching – stories, and I want nearly all the people to win.

Part of it is because of the songs these artists choose to sing. Songs that have made me feel something in the past – hope, joy, sacrifice, humor, a push to be someone better. Somewhere out there, a writer wrote a couple dozen lines of poetry or prose that, when coupled with the right music, pushes the buttons inside me. How did they do that?

And my bigger question – how can I do that?

Inevitably, I think, “You should’ve been a songwriter, Kitty. Those are the writers who are changing the world.”

But then I thought about the book I’m reading right now, Donovan’s Bed by my friend Debra Mullins. I bought it because the Kindle sample made me laugh several times. That’s what I often look for in a book. Then I had a really hard day and desperately wanted an escape. I read the book for an hour or two before I went to sleep and I forgot all about my problems. Even slept moderately well, which hasn’t been happening all that much the last few months.

The next day, to get ready for writing, I put on my headphones and listened to my “I Can Do This” playlist on my iPod. Songs that make me  happy like “Hollywood” by Collective Soul. Songs that make me love being in love like “Smile” by Uncle Kracker. Songs that help me stick to my dreams like “The Climb” by Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus. Songs that express what I need like “Revelation” by Third Day. I always feel better when I listen to these. Always.

Then another hard day, and a night of trying really hard not to cry myself to sleep. I’m tough. Other people have much worse circumstances. I can get through this. And still the tears made my pillow cold in the dark.

I reached for my Kindle and opened up Donovan’s Bed again. A girl who is determined to rebuild her reputation, and to have a career at a time when many women don’t. A man who recognizes that a career woman won’t fill his needs for children and homestyle cooking, but thinks she’s so cute that he can’t help but tease her. And a whole book of these adorable people making me completely forget my troubles.

At one point, I stopped reading and stared at the ceiling in surprise. I’d forgotten – this is what I wanted to do with my writing. I wanted people to forget their troubles for a little while. I wanted to entertain them, fill them with hope and joy, make them yearn to be a better person.

Exactly what music does for me.

So which one is better? Should I want to be a songwriter or a novelist? A song can cut to the heart quickly and make you feel immediately. A book can make you feel happy and sad and scared and excited for hours.

That’s what good music and good stories do. They make me want to be a better person, with a more complete, abundant life. I want to write stories that do that for other people. Maybe all artists are insecure and vulnerable in this area. It’s not like accounting – there isn’t one right answer, and you don’t hear much about whether you’re doing things “right” or even well. Just ask any of the artists who weren’t chosen to continue on “The Voice.”

You can only keep trying, keep working. And I guess that’s what life is all about for all of us.

What do you think? Do you prefer music or books? Or does it depend on the circumstance? I’m really interested in your opinion. 🙂