Humm...Not sure where to start with this one other than the fact that I had a lot of mixed feelings about the story and although I didn't love it I didn't hate it but, for me I just could not connect with the characters as they were like-able but, not love-able.

I thinks the bottom line is that these authors did not give you enough time to bond with these characters if you had already read some of the previous books in this series you might have already known somethings about them but, for us just coming into the series we new very few facts about them other then a few things that were mentioned in passing so this did not give a chance to get to know more about their past of present other that the facts of what clan they worked and belonged to and what they did for a living although we rationed out how this couple was already connected to one another . The other thing that did not work for me is where was the part that engaged the readers emotions because I felt that every move made just felt clinical as well as cut and dry.

For example though my eyes

Isabella is forced to go under for the CIA really being blackmailed and although they tried to give her some tools to protect her they were not enough and Isabella already knew what kind of man she would be dealing with and expected that she would have to make personal sacrifices so she wanted to have a choice in giving something like her virginity away to someone she loved without it being taken from her.The whole scene just played out and it was like no feelings were even involved at all and for me and doing the whole deed was just like they were going through the motions and it was like their was no connection between the characters at all. This should have been down right hot and scorching for this couple as she was secretly in love with Marcellus for years and even though Marcellus never admitted it he lusted after her for years so where was all the passion the fire the build up in their coming together ? Their intimate moments should have been explosive!

After everything that Isabella endured at the hands of a monster she just seems to go on with her life as if nothing tragic/sick/painful just happened to her as their is no breakdown ? no emotional pain?nothing?she showed no emotions what so ever and even after her explaining and Marcellus hearing her story that man should have been a raving lunatic out for blood and revenge and wanting vengeance "yes", he was pissed but, he should have wanted to be the one to take out anyone who hurt her and we understood that others parties involved had a stake in what was happening and not that we expected him to carry out any of these things because of the circumstances but, he sure as hell should have wanted to do these things to avenge a women who belonged to him and in there lies yet another problem when I said I felt no emotional attachment to any of these characters he was a made man in the mafia for christ sakes and then you had the fact that not once did I hear these two main characters say I love you face to face.

I know this book is fictional and sometimes as readers we have to keep reminding ourselves when reading stories like this and that their not real but, the reason we read stories with fictional mafia related characters is for the fact their filled with danger and suspense and a whole lot of hot alpha men then you have the twisted plots and the excitement and plots that engage the readers emotions to the tune you have a personal stake in their outcome an so forth and all these things just fell flat for me in this story because I felt all these things were missing from this ongoing story.

Although this story was not personally for us it was enjoyable enough to pass the time and we did like the fact the we were indeed surprised that the CIA had another fish on their hook as they say to do their dirty work for them and that was a big surprise that we didn't see coming of who that person was "so", we did indeed love that part.

Clans von Cavallon - Forester Kim

Eine wirklich außergewöhnliche Geschichte mit Protagonisten, wie man sie in dieser Zusammensetzung selten antrifft. In diesem Buch trifft der Leser nicht nur auf Menschen und Einhörner sondern auch auf Zentauren, Kelpies und Pegasus.

Der 13-jährige Sam lebt mit seinen Eltern in der friedlichen Freien Stadt, in der verschiedene Rassen im Einklang zusammen leben. Nur die Pegasus sind in dieser Stadt nicht anzutreffen, denn diese werden für den Krieg verantwortlich gemacht, der vor vielen Jahren im Land wütete. Bei einem Fest wird die Stadt jedoch plötzlich angegriffen, dabei verliert der Junge Sam sehr viel und muss sich nun durch Cavallon durchschlagen.

Die Abenteuer von Sam und den anderen Figuren haben mir sehr gut gefallen, weil sie auch für mich als erwachsener Leser sehr spannend waren. Kindern ab 10 Jahren wird diese Buchreihe bestimmt lange in Erinnerung bleiben. Vor allem Pferdenarren kommen voll auf ihre Kosten.

Der Sprachstiel hat mir sehr zugesagt, weil er so flüssig war. Ich hatte beim Lesen das Bedürfnis das Buch laut vorzulesen, weil es einfach so schön geschrieben ist. Außerdem empfand ich die Landkarte und Beschreibung der einzelnen Rassen sehr hilfreich für den Einstieg in die Welt von Cavallon.

The actual potential, some of it realized already, of science is mind boggling & dizzying, and SF and TF both provided dazzling and wondrous possibilities to people's minds, especially young people's minds. When Phil Dick was writing there was a great deal more wonderment, and a great deal less expectation, in TF. Although there is more wonderment now in one sense, in that science and technology are making the stuff of SF real almost as fast as SF or TF writers can imagine it.

If you're into stuff like this, you can read the full review.

Twolegs have been destroying the Clans' homes and they must leave.  Following the five young cats who have returned with Midnight's message they leave and head towards the mountains to find a new home.

There is a lot of action and adventure as the Clans unite to fight the Twolegs and to save some of the Clans.  There is the infighting as the Clans must decide to leave or stay.  Firestar will not leave without all the Clans going together.  Pride gets in some of the Clans' way.  I shed many a tear as the Twolegs are capturing the cats; we are losing some of the older and younger ones; and as we remember those who have gone to the StarClan.  Cloudpaw's warrior ceremony wiped me out.

I cannot wait to see what happens in their travels.

*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Frank is running late on his deliveries. At Doctor Gabriela Perez's office his military experience kicks in as the Doctor is attacked by a group called The End Society. Frank is hurt severely and Gabriela saves him. Now, the ancient artifact that functions as his heart also makes him untouchable by magic or spells. Not only is he targeted as being wanted by both societies, but he could be the only one to help Gabriela and the Whites to stop The End Society from removing magic from the world. And all Frank worries about is his mom.

I've listened to Joe before and enjoyed his work. Actually, listening to him voice this story and a few small threads with Frank remind me of the another series he voiced that I listened to. Joe gets to do a few slight accents for characters, bringing them to life as more than characters on a page. Again, the audio sounds clear and seamless as I listen.

Frank... well, he is thrown into a mess that he didn't ask to be in. How does one handle that? Sometimes with a bit of not-so-nice snark. Frank kind of comes across as a jerk in the beginning. There is something about Frank that just doesn't strike me. I don't know what it is, but he doesn't feel likeable to me. Not a bad person, but like he's missing something in how he's written or trying to hard to make him a tough guy.

There are a lot of quick toss ins that are to be jokes that reference movies and such. Frank does say he has a love for movies and music, so it fits him. But they come so fast it's easy to miss them and their reference.

Frank does worry about his mom. There's a reason and you learn it. But, Frank is all she has left in the world and she is his mother. Who wants their mother to suffer for some mess they end up in? No one.

I found my mind wondering while listening to this story. I didn't connect much with Frank in the way to care what happens to him. And the magic, though sounds neat, I didn't feel was shown and expressed to easily understand. It felt as there is a larger world that we are just stepping into, which I believe we are. But the story felt to be missing the magnet to pull me in.

I'm sure this book will be enjoyed by others, but it just didn't impress strongly on me. So please don't let my thoughts change yours if you like the sounds of the book.