Maria Ann Green

This is a wonderful anthology, with something for everyone's taste. I cannot review all of the stories, so here's three chosen (almost) at random:
Marie Skye's 'I Still Hate You'. I really wanted to like this story and in the end I did, but I have to say that at the beginning, with the complicated history between Ash and Perrie I found it hard going.
Maria Ann Green's 'Once Upon That Time He Was Stuck in the Friend Zone' is a friends-to-lovers about Colton and Emma. An interesting story, well-written with a good supporting cast. The likeable protagonists devastate one another, but in the end…There is a thing about Colt's nickname for Emma and in the end it will make you cry.
Dakota Davies' 'Falling for My Fling'. I'm a big fan of Davies and bought this book to read this story and it doesn’t disappoint - except it isn't a HEA - yet. The great outdoors is important to this author; she has written about swimming, zip-lining, rock-climbing and here it's rafting. Lori is working at a summer school while waiting to go to Stanford. She meets Caleb, who works for his family's rafting company and who is known for his frequent, short-term hook-ups. There is a lot of background angst for both protagonists which makes their feelings for one another all the more sweet.
… (mehr)

As soon as Rosabella set eyes on a lonely, dark mansion in France, she knew it was meant for her. Rosabella wastes no time moving herself and her husband, Milo halfway across the world. Rosabella immediately begins to dig into the maison, which she has deemed Maléfique , redecorating, coordinating and discovering its secrets. Immediately, Rosabella feels the pull of Maléfique itself asking to uncover buried history in its walls. Soon, Rosabella is consumed with Malefique's mysteries, finding it hard to pull away, except to spend time with her new friend, Tierney. As she spends more time in Maléfique , Rosabella begins seeing things, becoming consumed and taken over by the journals left by a former inhabitant. The more she digs into Maléfique 's history, the more she can't turn away from the truth of what is happening.

Generation of Vipers is a Gothic thriller that kept me guessing and delivered plenty of surprises. From the very beginning, I found myself as intrigued by Rosabella's maison as she was. The feeling of something being not quite right was masterfully conveyed through the writing as unexplainable events kept happening to Rosabella and the maison took on a life of its own. I felt that maison Maléfique was a character in itself as the house willed things to happen and was able to bend Rosabella to its will. Rosabella was difficult to figure out, especially since she is in the grips of the house since page one. I would have loved to know her personality a bit before moving into Maléfique, especially because a mental health issue seems to plague her, though it seems that Maléfique chose Rosabella for a specific reason. I loved finding out the history of Maléfique alongside Rosabella and its hidden secrets. I especially liked the journal entries as a peek into Maléfique's original inhabitants, I could have read even more. With a devilishly gory ending, Generation of Vipers will have you at the edge of your seat.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.… (mehr)

The main character, 23-year old Meagan, is introduced to the reader through a series of diary entries and poems. She looks back on her life in her adolescent years, where it all began.

Meagan battles problems that no parent ever wishes their daughter to go through. She feels that they are much worse and not normal. To cope, Meagan begins a pattern of self inflicted harm as her depression threatens to drown her. She starts cutting.

That one cut turns into another, and another. Like an addict, Meagan feels the instant gratification, but then has conflicting thoughts: remorse and figuring out when to cut again.

While learning to quit cutting, Meagan faces life-altering obstacles and grows up in the process.

Debut author, Maria Ann Green's takes us on a young woman's journey on growing up and the consequences of life are spot on. Through the beautifully crafted poems and the unique diary-entry style of the novel, this book really puts the reader in the shoes of Meagan. As the reader, I could feel her pain. And at times, I understood and related to the situations that Meagan found her self in.

IN THE REARVIEW is a FANTASTIC read of pain, loss, and above all, hope!!!… (mehr)