I absolutely love books with unique settings so when I came across this series I was completely psyched! This first book is set in Aokigahara and it's about a group of ESL teachers living in Japan that want to climb Mt. Fugi before they leave. On the day of their trip though, the weather takes a turn for the worse and their climb gets delayed. So in order to kill time, they decide it would be fun to camp for a night in Aokigahara, then hopefully climb Mt. Fugi the next day. Once they get in the forest though, a number of things start happening and their "fun" camping trip turns into their worst nightmare. 

 

I can honestly say that I never want to visit Aokigahara after reading this book but I had tons of fun reading about their trip! LoL It was creepy and intense and Bates kept me in suspense the whole time. I thought the horror element was nicely done too. It wasn't too over-the-top which I really liked and thought lent the story some added realism. 

 

The only reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars was because there were a few minor plot holes here and there that probably could have better fleshed out. For example:

 

The group's ready acceptance of two strangers, Nina & Ben, into their camping trip?;  Ethan agreeing to climb the same, exact tree with rotting branches that John Scott just fell off of?; John Scott- a hard core military guy with bags of shrooms?; The group's ability it seemed to not eat or drink hardly anything but still function normally?; Neil acquiring food poison from what food?; John Scott's ability to up and walk & run with a crutch right after a compound fracture?...

 

(spoiler show)

 

None of those things distracted from my enjoyment of the story though. It was tremendously good and I highly recommend to anyone looking for a thrill! As soon as I finished reading it, I vowed to read every other book in the series and I immediately bought the second book Catacombs online. I can't wait to start reading it and see what awaits me in Paris. : )

 

*I read this book for my 2016 Halloween Book Bingo: ~Grave or Graveyard~ square

Dare to Love Series: Do You Dare (Kindle... A masquerade that spirals out of control could end up costing a man who has it all, something more vital than possessions. I love Ms. Keniston's brand of narrative. Her surroundings are descriptive, her characters are written from the heart and her stories are full of scenarios that are enlightening but sweet. Never would I have pictured Chirs Keniston writing a story for Carly Phillips's seductive Dare to Love line but she surprised me and held her own creating a story that is as tempting as the beautiful backgrounds she used for the plot. Do You Dare is a story about discovering life's surprises and what is truly important. It reads like a fairy tale.

Dare To Love Series: A Tempting Dare (Ki... A Tempting Dare is HOT! Ms. Fox grabbed the ball from Ms. Phillips and ran with it. The electric vibes shooting off between Sebastian and Kat could easily turn ice into boiling water. Kat is a cynic when it comes to love but even a good girl needs a little wickedness sometimes. Sebastian sees Kat as a kid sister or does he? A Tempting Dare brings the spice. A short, risky but fantastic edition to the Kindle Worlds: Dare to Love Series.

Cassandra Carr’s Daring to Try is a heartwarming story with emotional depth.   This contemporary football romance takes place in Miami, Florida and is suitable to an adult audience.  The 68 page novella is a quick read that is easy to finish in one sitting.  Veteran Wide receiver Taylor Wilkinson is having difficulty dealing with a season-ending injury.  He seeks the help of sports psychologist Sherryl Stoddard.  The two are attracted to each other, but Sherryl does not want to cross the ethical line, despite Taylor’s persistence.

 

I really enjoyed this short story.  The psychological and ethical aspects were fascinating.  Both characters have a lot in common and are very likeable.  Sherryl was a former gymnast who had to sit out the Olympics due to an injury. She could truthfully empathize with Taylor, and he felt like she actually understood.  Their obstacles are interesting and understandable.  I enjoyed the characters’ interactions and situations that they faced.  I was happy with the epilogue; it was the perfect ending. 

 

Complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.