I was not disappointed in Ms. Kent's latest effort!
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The Outcasts is about a newly commissioned Texas state policeman and his pursuit of an unsavory child killer across Texas and to New Orleans. We find Nate Cannon retrieving from the field his two assigned mentors, George Deerling and Dr. Tom Goddard, because a vicious outlaw named McGill has committed more murder and mayhem near Houston. When Nate finds the rangers with a prisoner, he informs them of the latest news of McGill, and the trio is in pursuit after convincing the prisoner it might be best for him to go ahead and bite down on a cyanide-filled bullet. The time is 1870, not long after "the war of Northern aggression."

Besides the pursuit of McGill, the story of Lucinda, a young woman who suffers from epilepsy or "fits" is presented. She has been working for a madam, but is now on her way to teach school in Middle Bayou, near Houston, at the behest of her partner/lover, a man we only know as Bill. They have plans for some sort of scheme that is slowly revealed as the book progresses.

Ms. Kent weaves all the characters together to form a story of deception and greed that does not end well for all. I really enjoyed her characterizations of Nate and Lucinda. Nate has been surviving on his own since a young age and tried to serve in the war at 16, but he only got as far as Arkansas. He was tasked with driving 300 horses back to Texas with some other teens. Now he is married and wants to start a farm in Oklahoma with his wife and daughter but needs some seed money. Lucinda is a math/geometry whiz, something that has kept her sane since she was institutionalized at a young age due to her seizures that her family did not understand. Besides Nate and Lucinda, the two elder rangers had their own unique stories.

Ms. Kent brought her story together expertly. She knows how to thread together stories and characters. I enjoy her writing style and cannot wait to see what she decides to write about for the next book. Of course, I enjoyed the setting being in Texas. Reading about somewhat similar cities at the time such as Galveston and New Orleans was also a treat. The Outcasts by Kathleen Kent was reading time that was very well spent.
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I enjoyed this book very much. Alison Kent is a favorite of mine. I was intrigued by the title and it didn't let me down.
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I also have been with Ms. Small since The Kadin!  I was NOT disappointed with this new series!  I also paid full price for the Kindle edition.

I thought Bianca was a great heroine.  She started out innocent, and was placed in a horrible situation.  Her strength developed because it had to - I think many women will find themselves identifying strongly with her.

**Somewhat of a Spoiler Alert**

As to her falling in love, and becoming to biddable? What???  She fell in love with her prince, and CHOSE to follow her heart.  She was well aware of what her new life would be, and accepted this so she could be with the one she loved.  I did not find her too biddable - I found her to be strong and secure in her marriage.

I also thought there was just enough of history and intrigue woven into the story to keep me reading straight through!  I also LOVE seeing some old friends from earlier works!  She does such a beautiful job doing this in all of her books; something I know many long time readers are delighted with!

Great job on the new series, and I've just purchased and started reading Francesca!
4227566
Loved it!

Ms. Kent's 'Random Acts' series gets better with each addition. I loved this story of Charlotte and Liam. It had everything...strong characters, laugh out loud moments, angst and a great ending. I cannot wait for the next installment.

While 'Random Acts of Hope' can be read as a stand-alone, I HIGHLY recommend reading the series in order, starting with 'Random Acts of Crazy'. You will not be disappointed.

**Received an ARC for an honest review.
328144
I have known Kent from the time I was about 10 or 11 yrs. old...  I hadn't seen Kent in quite some time, as I have been out of the area for a number of years!.  I moved back to our home town of Niles MI.  I knew Kent had written a book, but hadn't had the chance to read it! He sent me a friend request on Face Book, and I accepted of course, being we had basically grown up together and were always good friends.  He was kind enough to send a copy to my home. Upon reading the book I soon realized he was in for a haul.... I usually read fiction and don't read too many books about people lives! I can say this for sure.... As I read the book I was taken on a journey that was totally unexpected!  I could see the beauty of the places he seen through his eyes, I could feel every nuance of his being, and the sheer joy of the wonderful sights and sounds of his personal experiences!  I could feel his every frustration with the two Governments as well! WOW!  Talk about great resolve, and determination! This is a great book to read! I will share part of an IM on Face Book between Kent and I.

"Hello Kent... Finished the book about 15 min. ago! WOW! I had a hard time getting through some parts. I have to say, I teared up heavily, couldn't talk, plain started to cry! I could feel your pain as if I were there! This shows what kind of soul you have, Very kind and caring! I can not imagine having to go through the things you endured! I know at one point you had to feel more alone than you probably ever have! I surely know that at one point you had to realize God walked with you my friend! Thank you for sharing your trials and tribulations with so many of us out there!"  Your Friend Don...

This is a book that will take you on Kent's personal journey and wake you up at the same time!  It will keep you wondering how a man of great character could survive the situations life, and corrupt Government has thrown at him!  Thanks again Kent!
3373159
Because I enjoyed the Carolina Slade series so much, I was a little hesitant about the Edisto Island series. I'm here to tell you, there was no cause for concern! The protagonist, Callie Jean Morgan, is a well-developed and complex character, flawed but resilient. She is struggling with emotional blows that would have most of us curled up in a fetal position, trying to carry on for the sake of her son. The story is layered and human, mixed well with nail-biting suspense that kept me turning pages and reading avidly to see what happened next. Callie has lost her baby girl and husband, and moves back home to try to heal. In what was once her refuge on Edisto, she's confronted with the murder of a long-time friend and mentor. Although everyone thinks Callie is too paranoid, and she even begins to doubt herself, the ending reveals that her instincts were good, even in her grief-stricken, alcohol-soaked state. I can't wait to see what happens next in this series!
1540446
Stephanie has a magical way of making history come alive in this novel without it becoming anachronistic or obtuse. It's a fine line she walks here, and she does it with grace. I won't rehash the plot, but the characters are multi-faceted and engaging, the plot moves swiftly and is deftly woven in a culminating scene at the end. The romance between the leads is compelling and nuanced, and the suspenseful subplot at times had me gasping with worry and fear for our heroes. All in all, a thrilling adult debut! I highly recommend!
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I received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

C Hope Clark did it again! Great story. And unlike with the main character from the&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Lowcountry-Bribe-A-Carolina-Slade-Mystery/dp/1611940907/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Lowcountry Bribe: A Carolina Slade Mystery</a>, I love Callie!

Once a Boston city PD detective, Callie is still dealing with the loss of her husband, a teenage son more mature than his years, and the trauma she endured in the previous months (read&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Murder-on-Edisto-The-Edisto-Island-Mysteries-Volume-1/dp/1611945410/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Murder on Edisto: The Edisto Island Mysteries (Volume 1)</a>). Meanwhile, she is having a difficult time ignoring what appear to be crimes happening in the community. It seems like the unfortunate death of a tourist is more than just an accident that should be dismissed casually. Callie trusts her gut feelings when no one else wants to even talk about it. The author Clark does a fabulous job creating such a multi-dimensional character that I could feel Callies angst and frustration.

The secondary and tertiary characters were painted just as effectively. Some of my favorites were

Seabrook, the reluctant sheriff, thinks that Callie is looking for problems. At what point will he take her seriously? If at all?
Alex is the young whipper-snapper journalist. She wants to make a name for herself in the community but will she have what it takes to step on the toes of town leaders and make some serious waves?
Sopie is the kooky, sage burning, self-proclaimed psychic and yoga instructor. She is so positive that it was almost nauseating. She believes in the spirits and cautions Callie against angering them. Can she burn enough sage to calm the spirits and bring harmony back to Edisto?

Overall, this story has the right mix of conflict between the characters as well as suspense. While I might not have liked all the characters, they were developed enough that I understood them as people. They seemed real to me. I could relate to them in the sense that I know people like them. I thought the story moved along at an even pace. Most importantly, all my questions were answered and the conclusion was satisfactory.

Should you buy? Yes! This is a great beach read with colorful characters and an engaging story line. It is the second in the series, but still a standalone book. The author does not give away much about the first book, but your interest will probably be whetted enough to want to buy Murder on Edisto too. And I am waiting for the next book to find out what else might happen in Edisto :D

This review is also posted at my blog The Opinionated Woman's Musings http://wp.me/p1P7gt-um
3100530
Another fan-tabulous book by LP Dover! I'm not even sure where to begin. First, I was privileged enough to receive this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Second, I'm being totally honest when I say that I loved this story.

It seemed very different to me from any of her other books. I can't pinpoint why, other than it just seemed to me that she's stepped out of her comfort zone yet again and simply amazed me! There was still the action, steamy scenes and characters from her other books, but this one just felt different and I found that very refreshing. I'd love to see more of these characters in the future!
3676565
Due to the busyness of my life recently I had to read all but seventy pages of this book in one sitting but this book was so good that I really didn't mind! As I've mentioned in other reviews, regency isn't always my cup of tea but I've found myself thoroughly enjoying both of this author's novels.
Katherine was a bit of a spoiled brat in the first book of this series which just made her transformation in this book all the more rewarding! I loved how she learned to switch her focus from herself and her social status to the plight of those around her. It was so cool to watch as she found such joy in helping those less fortunate that her!
And Jon was just an amazing hero! I loved how selfless he was, his genuine faith, and his care for everyone. I pretty much loved everything about him, especially that fact that he was willing to sacrifice his own happiness for the happiness of those he cared about, yet he was also brave enough to follow God's guiding in his life.
I loved getting to catch up with the characters from book one especially Kate and Jon's families. Katherine's aunt was definitely my least favorite character but we weren't supposed to like her so that's okay!
In short I immensely enjoyed this story and I'm looking forward to what is coming next from this talented author!

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
2942555
I knew it was a mistake to start reading Robin Reardon's new book, Waiting for Walker, at 10PM... i was up till 3AM finishing it!  As I've said on previous reviews of Robin's books, I absolutely love her as an author.  There is something about her books that I really enjoy reading.  They are not always easy books to read and she tackles some pretty heavy topics from today's society.

Waiting for Walker is the story of Micah, a 16 year old boy from Rhode Island, who falls for the rich kid who lives nearby, Walker.  What Micah doesn't know, but soon finds out, is that Walker is intersex, a chromosomal condition that leads to combined and underdeveloped sexual organs and identity. Micah identifies as gay, and Walker is trying to come to terms with his sexuality in light of his intersex status as well.  As usual, Robin had done a great deal of research into the topic of intersex and tries to bring out the issues faced by the people born with this condition and their families.  There are additional story lines surrounding Micah's brother, missing in action in Afghanistan, and Walker's adopted sister.  Robin also tackles Micah's family's divorce, his fear of sharks (well-founded!), and the issues of the Muslim faith and the story line gets pretty complicated.  As always, Robin does a great job balancing all of these story lines and brings them to a HFN (Happy for now) conclusion.

I'm not always sure how to classify Robin's books.  Because most of her characters are high school age, I would normally classify them as YA, Young Adult, but the themes she deals with and the complexity of them makes me wonder if they wouldn't be better classified as NA, New Adult.  Although there is some sexual content to this new book, I think it has less than her other most recent novels.  As a teacher, I've never been bothered by the amount of sex in her books (many other YA authors are much more graphic and have a great deal more sexual content) but there could be parents that express concerns, especially dealing with the issues of intersex and homosexuality.

Overall, this is another great novel by Robin. My biggest complaint (and I think I said the same thing in my review of her last novel, Throwing Stones) is that because she does so much research for her novels, it takes a long time until the next one comes out!
4085919
Oh, the trials and tribulations of being a Superman.  Patel is not exactly Clark Kent but he finds himself in the same boat in this latest installment where he discovers his nemesis (or alter ego?) hosting a party and seriously encroaching on his personal space.  Not cool, Silverbolt!  I really like the way the story is developing here, adding a bit of realism in with action superhero story.  This story just keeps getting better and better!.
4930121
Taming Chloe Summers by Anna Katmore
5 out of 5 stars
Taming Chloe Summers is a shiny new jewel in a sea of New Adult books that are dull in comparison.  As a spinoff / continuation of the Grover Beach series it doesnt disappoint long-time fans and also serves as a potential starting point for those new to the series.  It is insightful, sharp, and sexy in such a subtle quiet way that it will leave you breathless for more.  Every page turn will pull you farther into the story and allow you to become a part of the love story as it unfolds.
Justin is an unexpected surprise.  Katmore is a pro at crafting her male leads in a way that has the reader acknowledging their hotness but focusing more on the exciting stuff going on inside.  Justin is no exception.  I never once doubted his great looks or his amazing body, but I was more drawn to his sensitivity, his strength, his leadership, and his command of every scene he was in.  He is the perfect balance for Chloe and was everything I wanted him to be.
Ill be honest and say that, in previous books, Chloe was one of my least favorite characters.  In this addition to the series Katmore has taken a secondary character, brought her to the forefront, and given her more depth than I would have thought possible.  Chloe has so much more going on under the surface and as we are given glimpses of what makes her tick it begins to change your perspective of her actions in those previous books.  She easily becomes a heroine worth investing in and cheering for.
This book is a game-changer for the Grover Beach series.  As these characters grow, so does Katmores skills.  Most authors wouldnt have taken a risk with a tried and true format.  Instead, she recognizes the untapped potential stories that can be found as they traverse adulthood.  Her own potential as an author continues to expand and here she truly shines.  Katmore does an excellent job of making her characters smoking hot and near perfect without losing the qualities that make then authentic and real.  The true meat of the story lies in their flaws and that is what will keep you coming back for more.
Im happy to have revisited this group that has become one of my favorites.  With each new book Anna Katmore releases she seals her spot as one of my most beloved authors.  Now I cant wait to see what move Katmore makes next!
**FYI  If you haven't read the previous books in the seriesdont let that stop you.  This book can absolutely be read as a continuation of the original series OR as the first book in a spinoff series.  In case you are curious  the previous books are definitely worth the time and money!
HAPPY READING!!!
Shannon Hodges, Up To Shenanigans,[...]
117946
Town owner, Bernadine Brown, has swept onto the scene and rescued the unknown town of Henry Adams, Kansas from financial decline.  With the fortune she won in her divorce settlement, she was able to turn the town around and begin the process of revitalizing it to a new level of prestige.  In the midst of the continued physical renovations, many of the residents experience emotional transformations as well.  In addition, new challenges are introduced to the town, including her cheating ex-husband who has the nerve to ask her to consider giving him a second chance.  With all of the existing drama (caused by humans and animals alike), and a few new residents, who needs to step foot outside of Henry Adams for entertainment!

A Second Helping by Beverly Jenkins was a double blessing!  This book is the perfect sequel to continue the story of modern day Henry Adams.  With so many problems and concerns hitting Bernadine and the residents, it is amazing to see how they are able to hold everything together and maintain the will keep improving.  It also embodies the importance of humor in the midst of trouble.  With so many wholesome characters, this title highlights qualities that are important to exercise when working toward a goal for the greater good - honesty, common decency, love, forgiveness and the list goes on and on!  The next book in the series, Something Old, Something New, is next in line on my To Be Read list.  I have to find out what happens next! I strongly recommend this book to readers that have read the first installment.
797976
The long-awaited 7th book in the Body Movers series did not disappoint me. Twists & turns made me laugh out loud, and I can't wait for the next book to continue Carlotta's story. I'm usually pretty good at anticipating the plot's direction, but this story managed to surprise me a few times.  I've enjoyed nearly everything I've read by Stephanie Bond - and so has my husband!
2981057
Fix yourself up with a copy of this latest addition to the Fixer-Upper Mystery series by author Kate Carlisle!

Impeccably written by author Carlisle, DECK THE HALLWAYS was packed full of mystery and excitement, and there was no shortage of fun, and sentiment. An energizing cozy from cover to cover, I had a hard time putting this book down, and I know you will too.

I really like learning all the contracting information. Its fun to feel a part of the projects while reading the story. It gives me the confidence that I could do more projects on my own. (Not going to, but I could if I wanted.)  It really is fascinating.

I adore the characters in this series. Protagonist Shannon Hammer is a strong, feisty lead character. She has no problem holding her own with anyone! Shes a girly contractor with pink tools, but don't think that means she can be pushed around. Even during the reveal, and the battle with the killer that must certainly happen in all mysteries, Shannon wishes she had her tools, but managed to handle matters in a very girl like way. LOL I loved it!
3399311
I have recently "discovered" Alison Kent and am enjoying her stories and her series.  I confess that I read this particular book about a month ago and cannot remember specifics, but I do know that I have really enjoyed the Hope Springs novels. They are heartwarming, and I care about all of the people.  I look forward to more from this author and from this series.