Nancy StraightRecensioni

I definitely like the second book more than the first as the characters develop and grow. As the story evolves, so does the theme as the author adds new and intriguing complexities to the struggle between good and evil. As such, she requires us to reevaluate which characters are good and which are evil...in fact, we begin to realize that the question of who and what is evil may not even be the most important...or one with an answer.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review. This was a great fantasy novel and a refreshing change, from the vampire novels that seem to be trending at the moment. Personally, I'm getting pretty bored with them. There are so many other beings, and Blood Debt certainly has picked a good one. Camille, loses her mom to cancer and she has never known who her father was until her mother tells her his name with her last dying breath. Camille finally meets her father and finds she has five brothers. Camille soon learns her family secret, and why her mother had always said her father was magical. A truly wonderful story based on Centaur mythology, a great read!

Love...Love...Love

I never saw Drake's transformation coming. It was a total surprise. Drake and Cami's love affair is epic. They have gone through so much already. I highly recommend this book.

OMG! OMG!

I absolutely love this series! It gets better with each book! Nancy Straight has a way of making her characters come alive...you feel as if you are right there with them. You MUST read each book in order so that you understand about Cami and Drake's story has been epic so far.
That being said...I am off to read book 4!

I must say that I've never wanted to cry with a book before - but this book had my emotions all over the place!!!!!!!! Boy did I feel this one.

I read this for a challenge - team Centuar Baby - so of course I had to read a centaur book - I was looking through centaur related books and decided this one looked cool so hey, I'm going to get it!

I'm so happy that I did!!!!!!!!!! This book was spectacular (to me) and I truly enjoyed every darn second of it.

I loved all of the characters. I, of course, disliked the villains - but that's supposed to happen right?

I cannot wait to read what happens next, if I didn't have such a long TBR pile right now I'd start it immediately but I'm going to control myself and perhaps get it for February (or earlier, who am I truly kidding).

I received this book on Smashwords from the author. The overall reviews are very good, but I unfortunately did not have the same experience. Please consider this my honest take and thoughts on improvement.

The premise is that ordinary Lauren has a powerful instinct for seeing the truth in people. She points out repeatedly that she's not psychic, but essentially she is. When we meet Lauren she's just gotten a bad feeling about the guy entering the fast food joint she works at. Sure enough he pulls a gun and Lauren becomes a hero when she takes the bullet, saving a boys life. In the ambulance she just happens to meet the guy that's essentially her soul mate. When she wakes up from surgery she's intent on meeting back up with her soul mate and dumping her convenience boyfriend. It's not a bad start - lots of excitement. Unfortunately this early excitement fizzles out quickly. Up until nearly the 50% mark there is no further action, just arguing with Seth (convenience bf she's failing at seperating from) and mooning over Max (soul-mate boy) ala Twilight 2. The character introduces an interesting world in which people are protectors, antagonizers, lovers, etc. and can be different things for different people (you may be my protector, but you may be an instigator of sorts for someone else's cosmic path). It wasn't explored very deeply unfortunately but it does appeal to me.

My biggest issue is the overall narration of the book. The grammar's nearly perfect, but it's very stilted to the ear when you're trying to twist it into normal conversation and colloquialism. It makes the story very flat. As there is no distinction in speech patterns between characters it's impossible to seperate them and I couldn't form any particular attachment to anyone. On that same note - the characters simply blended together for me overall. Seth and Max might as well have been the same. They both flew off the handle over even simple things, proclaimed their love for Lauren with no real evidence for why they felt it and more than once they were close to downright condescending and ignorant toward Lauren. Dealing with them never really furthered the story at all.

Lauren as a MC wasn't interesting to me, in part because of what I've already said, and in part because she simply wasn't built on. She's oh so perfect and sweet, the 2 gorgeous boys love her and the entire town thinks she's just the best thing ever. Where's the excitement? I like my characters a little more life like. Lauren is also very naive. At 22 she lives at home, her "bf" is essentially her male bff. She meets her soul mate and wants to have sex with him instantly, because that's what love is? At least she wants to use a condom, from her high school health class? She's going to school but that's barely mentioned except as something that takes up time. Dreams, plans? Never hit on. She would have been better as a true teenager to make this work better as a YA. Basically she and the other characters felt very flat for me. I would have liked to have seen her fail a little earlier in the book, just to build some tension. As it was, the mystery finally gets started more than 50% of the way through. She does nearly nothing to solve the mystery and the solution is literally revealed in paragraphs of dialogue - another staple throughout the story that drove me mad. Show don't tell. Having characters tell rather than the author is not the same as showing.

The ending is a cliff hanger but it feels thrown on at the end. Basically the book is 3 different stories: 1/ meet Lauren, a little action, a lot of Lauren is a hero and has found her boy. Yeah! 2/ Introduce a mystery 1/2 way in. More boy troubles. Solve mystery in fell swoop with no investigating that leads to anything or build-up that allows the reader or the MC to come to conclusions. 3/ Take character away from all action in previous portion and throw in a cliff hanger. It felt as though the author felt a cliff hanger would bring people back for book 2, and not because it had anything to do with the rest of the book.

Thanks for the opportunity to read this but it really didn't appeal to me.

a bit melodramatic but I'm willing to give it a change and read the rest of the series

Blood Debt is ,for me, an amazingly refreshing and original paranormal romance novel, heavy on the Greek mythology. I have not read a lot about Centaurs, but I am blown away by how much I ended up loving this story by the time I was done. It kept getting better and better and by the end, I was so involved with the characters, that I was screaming for more.

The shifting point of view was confusing at first, but it didn’t take me long to adjust and the story flowed better, unfolding so rapidly in front of me that I forgot about it.

Camille had wondered who her father was, but never would have chose to lose her mom to find out. On her death bed, Camille’s mother did tell her who her father was and after some phone conversations and a background check (thank goodness for the internet, lol), she is flying to meet him. It struck me as odd, that anyone, especially a female, would go so quickly and alone on top of it. But, this is fiction and I am happy to overlook that and cut right to the chase.

centaurs photo: ~Centaurs in Love~ centaur.jpg

Camille’s heritage traces back to the first Centaur touched by Zeus, but she is totally unaware of it. She does not know she is a Centaur, let alone know about their traditions and customs.

In a Centaur relationship, think the Stepford Wives in reverse. I love it. I couldn’t help but laugh. At first I thought it was creepy and funny, the woman is “queen” and the men give them no flak for it, but then I thought, someone has to be the boss. LOL The men worship the ground the women walk on and would do nothing to cross the traditional barriers, until….Cami

How far will you go for love? Cami is going to show us the way…and I am shocked by what’s happening on the page…..oops, sorry, it’s a secret. You will need to read her story for yourself. I NEVER saw anything like this coming and I am stunned by Nancy Straight’s ability to take the story to such a creative level. It just keeps getting better and better.

I guess I need to explain that a bit and you will see what I mean. Blood Debt started out as an easy 3 star novel. If it would have stayed that way, I would not have been disappointed. But, it didn’t take long and I knew I had to bump the rating. So, I thought 3 is out, it’s gotta be a 4, and that was a nice surprise. I would have been happy with that. But, it didn’t stop there. Well, I think you know where this is going.

I have a love/hate relationship with the characters. The torment and sacrifice they go through to follow the demands of their race, customs and traditions had me wondering how this could have a happy ending. At one point, my heart fell and I was devastated, but I did recover, in a very surprising fashion.

The more I read, the faster I went. A fantastic buildup to an ending that left me screaming for more, but, thankfully, I don’t have to wait for Centaur Legacy, Book II.

Laura, my sister, had a spare, signed, first edition paperback of Blood Debt by Nancy Straight and gave me the book. Thanks so very much Laura.

Now, I need the rest of the books. This is definitely one series I want to finish.

“Normal isn’t an option when you’re extraordinary.”

“Your bravery is measured by how hard you try, not by whether you actually succeed.”

See more at http://www.fundinmental.com

If V. C. Andrews wrote about Centaurs, this would be the result.

Well this was a surprise. Not that you can tell from the cover, this is a PNR, about Centaurs no less. And it's really pretty good.

Overall, I liked this a lot more than I was expecting, even if some of it is completely nuts. The heroine is likeable and a bit feisty, and although she has the occasional brush with TSTL even she admits that to herself in the aftermath. The Centaur world is entertainingly fresh, and the major plot of this book is wrapped up and instead of a cliffhanger, there's a proper setup to the next book in the series, which I will very likely read.

Full (insanely long) review @Booklikes

Nancy Straight’s Shroud of Lies is hit number three of the fabulous Brewer Brother series. In this final book of the series, Mark and Dave go on a search of their long lost family. While finding lost family is a daunting task for anyone, Mark has the added element of protecting himself from mobsters who see him as a threat.

Straight does an expert job of leading the reader on a heartfelt adventure that will appeal to anyone who has ever felt deserted by a loved one. She combines truly amazing insight into the emotional turmoil experienced by orphans with an intriguing thread of danger and romance. The brothers are remarkably well developed. Their strong sense of right and wrong elicits both respect and loyalty from friends and enemies, well most enemies. Some people, like villain Felix Watson, are too wrapped up in their own warped world to know what is good for them.

While Shroud of Lies is technically classified as a Young Adult novel, it will appeal to anyone who likes a well written story that tugs on the heartstrings. As with Fractured Karma, which is the second book of the Brewer Brother series, I had a hard time putting this book down. While I am sad to see the series wrapped up, I am anxious to dig into my next Nancy Straight novel.

I love books that have a soul mate angle, so that's why the concept of this story really intrigued me. Every soul has a purpose, or sometimes multiple purposes. A soul with a bad purpose for someone can also have a good purpose for another person and something needs to happen to trigger or unlock their purpose. There are five purposes for souls and Mates are one of the purposes. Just before finishing high school Lauren started to have a recurring dream of a guy with green eyes telling her she is his destiny and she needs to find him and unlock him.

Max and Lauren were met under devastating conditions but Lauren soon realize that things were destined to happen the way it did for them to meet. Lauren has a sixth sense about people and situations sometimes, when a soul with a evil purpose walks into to her place of business she immediately knows she has to take action. Things didn't go so well for Lauren or maybe they did because she came face to face with those green eyes that have haunted her dreams for years.

As I got to know Max I saw how much of a sweetheart he was. He was concerned for Lauren's well being. He didn't understand Lauren's and Seth's relationship so he distanced himself until she can figure out what she wanted. I think Max is kind of a push over when it comes to Lauren and she is not the gentleness person she can be a bit brash sometimes. Anytime he shows concern for her she would put him in his place and she fought being completely honest with him about her current purpose. Okay, maybe she didn't want him to get overprotective but they needed to work together as each other's destiny.

Seth is the most stubborn or determined, however you want to look a it, person ever. He and Lauren have been best friends and "a couple" for their entire lives. Lauren couldn't lose Seth from her life even if she tried, which she did, many times.

I had a "I like her, I like her not, I like her, I like her not", thing with Lauren. I like her saucy demeanor and that she stands up for what she believes in but she can sometimes be a bit cold. I liked that she stood up to her mother and Seth when they attacked her that caused her to almost lose her life. But I really didn't like it when she used her iciness with Max. He was worried for her and she just turned on him without even seeing his side. Another thing about Lauren I have a problem with was her sense of urgency. Maybe she had a lot on her plate but when the clairvoyant told her she needs to help Seth and Amanda and when the opportunity presented itself she seemed more put out with the situation. She did eventually came through for Seth but she acted like this was the most annoying situation and she has no patience for it, even though taking care of the situation would help her too. Lauren was also hypocritical, she was angry with Max for possibly having and girlfriend when she had something unexplainable going on with Seth.

Overall I really did enjoy Meeting Destiny, there was some suspense, mystery and adventure in there. The media and the police being a part of the action added interest and meat to the story. The cast of characters also had a huge effect on showing how Lauren learns about her abilities and her purpose. The book ending really surprised me, majorly surprising cliffhanger.

I really hope things get better for Lauren and Max's relationship, I've never seen a PNR couple have so much obstacles keeping them apart. I don't even think they spent an entire six months together since meeting approximately three years ago. That being said, I really enjoyed Destiny's Revenge as much as or possibly more than Meeting Destiny. The story was fast paced and there was always something taking place. Lauren and Max faced even greater roadblocks to their ultimate destiny. Can't wait for the next book.

Fractured Karma by Nancy Straight is about Mark Brewer, a foster home kid who grows up to follow a life of crime, but don’t let that mislead you. Sometimes even the bad guys have good intentions. While Mark works his way up in the crime organization, his past comes back to haunt him. Can he do what he set out to do without getting everyone he cares about killed?

Nancy Straight hits a homerun with Fractured Karma, the Brewer Brothers Book 2. Set primarily in Kansas City, this story is filled with reasons to keep reading. From the engaging viewpoint of this young man who was given away by his mom, the reader quickly learns that nothing is black and white, and even criminals have a code of honor. Mark uses common sense to gain the trust crime boss, but at the same time, he has a hard time understanding that the omission of information is often as damaging as lying. It is only through a series of unfortunate events combined with the love of a good woman that he finally learns that his true self is the man worthy of love and trust.

I highly recommend starting this book early in the day because you won’t want to put it down until you have read every last page. Straight is a creative genius when it comes to developing captivating characters. Mark’s journey through life will allow you to travel an emotional rollercoaster of discovery, joy and sometimes sadness. Her fictional crime organization feels more like a family than a group of dishonest thugs. Her plot will make you look at everyone around you just a little differently, and her romance will make you feel young again no matter your age.

This is now my second read from this author and I'm convinced she has the midas touch. A mind boggling story that just when I can't imagine another paranormal book holding too many new surprises this one has managed to prove me wrong. A unique story with it's roots in Greek mythology centers around a mystical creature not explored in any book I have read before or at least not like this. I was very entertained. I found my mind working over time trying to unravel the mystery surrounding this character and enjoying every new development in the story as I read them.

I have to say that this cover is beautiful and had me wanting to read it as soon as I saw it! I was hooked from the first page. I was expecting a young adult book but this honestly has a mature flavor to it which I found appealing. It is a unique story and I was really drawn to the heroine. She has a strong presence throughout and with so may twists and unexpected events I could not put it down.

Blood Debt by Nancy Straight

Nancy Straight has written a fantastic and unique YA Paranormal Romance novel called Blood Debt, it’s the first in her new series (Touched #1). Nancy writing is easy to read, character descriptions are well written and the story held my attention right till the end. There are times when I felt so bad for Camille that your eye’s water up. My god this was a fantastic read.

We meet Camille who has just lost her mother to cancer, her moms last words to her is her father’s name and where he lives. Camille doesn’t want to be all alone and never knowing who her father was she decides she should call him. In a instant Camille’s life is about to change, travelling to meet him she finds out not only does she have 5 brothers and a step mother but she is not entirely human.

Camille learns that she is of Centaur blood, and how extremely powerful she will be coming from very strong bloodlines. But she also learning that her mother had ran away and has been in hiding for years. When Camille learns the Centaur women need to marry and keep their blood lines growing she struggles and her defenses go up as she is not going to be told what to do. I loved this part of the story Camille stands up for herself and tries to explain to her brothers that dating can be fun. Camille wants to learn about her ancestry and her none existing powers. Camille also meets the man whom her mother was betrothed too and that there is a blood debt that she may have to pay.

Struggling with all this new information and her new family she also meets Drake, who is already betrothed or shall I say engaged to be married. But instantly these two know that there is something between them. Feeling horrible for having a crush on her new friend’s fiancé, and still trying to figure out why she has no power and her blood debt how could this story get any better. Oh yes did I mention she gets kidnapped by her grandmother…….

As I cannot say anymore without using spoilers, THIS is a MUST read, Nancy Straight has written a fantastic first novel in this new series Touched. I am now going to have to figure out how to bribe Nancy to let me know when book 2 is going to be released and maybe I should you know read it to test out the flow and make sure there are no errors. (haha)

This new series is fantastic, and as I said earlier it is a must read. Thank you Nancy for posting your book in Making Connections YA Edition for our members to read and review, I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Books & Sweet Epiphany.
booksandsweetepiphany.blogspot.com


I've read Blood Debt about a month ago but I didn't really have the time to write a review (which sucks) because I was having a lot of presentations, booths and virtual blog tour.

Even though I've read Blood Debt a month ago, the whole story is so captivating that I can't help but remember every piece of the story.

Nancy Straight really made the story different from the others, she took elements from Greek mythology and made it her own!

Centaurs in Blood Debt is ABSOLUTELY DIFFERENT from what we'd imagined. They do not have hooves and they are ABSOLUTELY Hot. Seriously.

The rules of the centaur community made the story all the more interesting because there's elements of forbidden love, the undeniable connection between the main character (Cami) and her love interest (Drake).

The centaur society is also beautifully fitted into the puzzle piece of Blood Debt.

I definitely love the suspense as it is continuously stretched in the story but you can't help but keeping wanting more of Camille.

All I can say is, Blood Debt is fantastic and it's a definite change of scenery from all the norms of vampires, werewolves, or anything supernatural in particular.

I really really want to read Book 2 because this awesome story isn't finished yet.

Sincerely,
Selina. :D

Title : Meeting Destiny

Series : Destiny #1
Pages : 291
Author : Nancy Straight
Publisher : Self-Published
Format : Paperback
Source : Got for review from the author
My Opinion:

*This counts towards my 2012 DAC!!*

Meeting Destiny is a book worth buying, reading, gushing, reviewing and loving!

Meeting Destiny is a GREAT love story, and it’s why I decided to post my review on it on the day of love, VALENTINE’S DAY!! (I was supposed to post Thursday… and post my The Sky is Everywhere review today). Anyways…

I really loved how the story was written; its unforeseen twists, its romantic (yet not so sexy) scenes, and EVERYTHING. I can’t tell you how much I love this book!
Yep, that's how I feel!

I started reading it with a medium expectation… and it was met and more!!!!

The characters are well developed (for example, some actually have backgrounds!) and the story is just breath-taking! The plot it so great and the twists great! Expect this to probably be in the ‘Best book of February 2012’


I can't wait to get the second book!!!

Come by my blog, Forever Lost in Books, for MORE reviews, giveaways, interviews and memes!


Title : Destiny's Revenge
Series : Destiny
Pages : 278
Author : Nancy Straight
Publisher : Self-Published
Format : Paperback
Source : Book to review from the author


My Opinion:


Destiny's Revenge arrived in the mail about two weeks after I had read Meeting Destiny, the first book in the (GREAT) trilogy. I couldn't wait to received my own (AWESOME) copy of the two next books! As soon as the two arrived, I began reading this book.


At first, I couldn't believe how much I liked the first one, so I dug into the second book excited AND apprehensive. But, how stupid was I! The first and second book were so good, l because the author is simply AMAZING!


I love how Lauren evolved so much during the second book. And slowly, but neatly. But I kind of hated how Max and Samael... yeah.... I don't want to included spoilers....


Destiny's Revenge is full of perilous twists, and holds a great story.



5 ROSES!

Camille thought that she and her mother where the last of her family…but her mother’s death bed confession reveals Camille’s father’s identity. Struggling to overcome the loneliness and loss of her mother, Camille contacts her father and is immediately embraced by a family she never knew. What she also never knew might be deadly for her. You see her mother left a blood debt behind and now the holder of that debt wants her to pay. Ultimately her mother ran for a reason and that reason just might destroy her.

Centaurs, WOW, what an awesome concept! What a spanking new idea! Camille faces a new culture, a new family with 5 brothers, an evil (did I mention very EVIL) grandmother and a blood debt. Great YA story, quick and easy read! I’m really looking forward to the continuation of this series. Definitely another series I will be following.

This copy of Blood Debt was given to me by Nancy Straight in exchange for an honest review.

Camille thought that she and her mother where the last of her family…but her mother’s death bed confession reveals Camille’s father’s identity. Struggling to overcome the loneliness and loss of her mother, Camille contacts her father and is immediately embraced by a family she never knew. What she also never knew might be deadly for her. You see her mother left a blood debt behind and now the holder of that debt wants her to pay. Ultimately her mother ran for a reason and that reason just might destroy her.

Centaurs, WOW, what an awesome concept! What a spanking new idea! Camille faces a new culture, a new family with 5 brothers, an evil (did I mention very EVIL) grandmother and a blood debt. Great YA story, quick and easy read! I’m really looking forward to the continuation of this series. Definitely another series I will be following.

This copy of Blood Debt was given to me by Nancy Straight in exchange for an honest review.

Reactions
I read this novel in two parts:
The first, pleasant enough and quick to read. The author places the decor and presents the characters. The reader finds itself immersed in the world of centaurs. I found a dive into mythology was a pleasant change of scenery in the supernatural world with a particular focus on creatures: half man, half horse. However, the story is a little too "fairy tale" for my taste.
Indeed, Camille lost her mother and finds herself immersed in a paternal family who have full access to private clubs, a yacht and unlimited credit cards. A wonderful family who adores her and whose only fault is not to answer any of her questions and be a little overprotective.

Then Drake enters the scene. His thunderbolt that plunges instantly Camille in a forbidden love. Personally, my curiosity was piqued before the romantic scenes but it fell with the protagonist's hearts stories. I began to find it corny and I closed my book.

A few days later, I resumed my reading. I was telling myself that I could be surprised by Nancy Straight's imagination and that's exactly what happened! The author lead me in the second part of her novel. Darker, deeper.

So, even though I was lost "en route" and I expected to receive a lot more informations (from the communication with her mother), I finished this novel wondering about the future. The seeds sown by the author made ​​me want to know Camille's adventures in Ireland even though I would have liked more rhythm, confrontations, more magic and learn more about Daniel.

A read for lovers of mythology and history lovers of complicated love.

Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr/2012/09/blood-debt-by-nancy-straight.html

Meeting Destiny is about Lauren, a young adult working at a fast food joint, stuck in a spark-less relationship with her friend Seth – and visited in her dreams by the man she knows she is meant to be with. During a failed robbery attempt at work, she meets the man in her dreams. Life takes a sudden turn, and she’s pulled in unimaginable directions.

This book started off with a bang. Right from the first few pages you’re thrown into action and soon after meet Max – the man invading her dream. There’s no doubt of the connection between them, and the confusion surrounding it, and you’re heartstrings are quickly pulled into the romance you hope blooms.

The characters were very easy to relate too, there’s not one that I didn’t enjoy, and each had their own voice. As a mystery buff, I also enjoyed the mystery aspect to this book. But I will say it threw me off a little bit, almost feeling like I had switched books somehow. The plot pace was fairly spot on throughout, except for a portion in the middle of the book that lagged a bit to me. The beginning and ending are definitely where the story shines the most.

Overall this was an enjoyable one to read (would give 3.5 stars), despite a stalling of pace. The ending was fantastic, an amazing cliffhanger! Straight created some very relatable and likeable characters, and the ending had me itching to read the next in the series.

**My review copied from Krazy Book Lady's blog

I definitely like the second book more than the first as the characters develop and grow. As the story evolves, so does the theme as the author adds new and intriguing complexities to the struggle between good and evil. As such, she requires us to reevaluate which characters are good and which are evil...in fact, we begin to realize that the question of who and what is evil may not even be the most important...or one with an answer.