The Mirror Maze by Tom Brungar & Lisa Nicole Walker

In 1981 Tom Brugnar, a Norwegian Businessman, has an increasing drug problem that ultimately pulls him into an international, cocaine, trafficking operation.  He is arrested, along with his partner, at the Mexico City airport, while smuggling cocaine from Peru to California.  He then serves five years in a series of Mexicans prisons, where he quickly learns that drug use and corruption are just as rampant among the guards and officials as in the outside world. Prisoners are forced to extortion for humane living conditions. Men are beaten and starved. half of his time is spent in four prisons in Mexico City and remainder on the notorious Islas des Marias- Prison islands.



Imagine coming from a military background and knowing that in order to succeed you had to work. After complete Economic Gymnasium in Norway with his Artium degree and receiving a grant to Colorado Alpine College in the USA, being a well round skier helped Tom Brungar scholastically. He pushed himself, discovered competition was tough, and nothing was free. The end was result was a degree in business.

Now to be so young and have so much success so early. Anyone would want that right? As so Tom thought. He was working for a American Global corporate company that helped distribute vending machines and frozen foods. His eight hour days ended up being until the early morning hours but kept up with it cause he was told it was the fastest way up the corporate chain. His newly wed wife barely saw him since he was always working and led him to his first divorce.

After several years of long hours, travel and a divorce. Tom needed a break. He left his job to take a break for a year in Ibiza. This trip is where his misuse of alcohol and downward spiral all began. He ran into others who were on the same road as him but who partied with bigger cannons, cocaine

Partying adds up to debts and those debts must be paid one way or another. In the end Tom did not have much of a choice. His first time being a carrier on a flight, Tom was sicker than a dog, having the cocaine strapped by his crotch. Going through with drawls from drugs and alcohol. He made his first drop successfully. He vowed never to do this ever again.

Until that one dreaded day he received a phone call back in Ibiza while laying next to his lover. A call that told him, he was either to deliver or die himself. He told them this is the last one ever. Little did he know this was going to be the last one.

While having 2 kilos strapped to him he sees that there are about ten police men standing in various places. As he approaches the front of the line a woman walks up to him explains that she is with the federal police and asked what he is carrying? He bleeps out so quickly, "cocaine." This was all over for Tom Brungar.

This true story was a very intense read for me. When I say intense, I mean in the pain of the daily torture and brutality treatments Tom endured.  To think that human beings can be so inhumane to others, especially when the crime they committed was not rape, not murder, was nothing of violence.

I will admit full some part were hard to get through because of everything Tom lived through. Even I know I could not live through that myself with God on my side, but God kept praying. Keeping faith and God in his heart he did in endure it all. The amazing thing about it all which I love. He found love.  He has Adriana, hand in hand going on the plane back to Norway with him, which is a prize in its self and all worth it in my eyes.

So all in all. The Mirror Maze is a must read. A reminder that our judicial system is so easy on our criminals, a reminder that our lives is not as bad as we think it is, and just an uplifting read all together. I give it 3 out of 5 stars. Pick it up today.

I am a firm believer that ARC should not be sold. They are created to get advanced reviews and enjoyment for the writer. To pump up the excitement of the fans, not make money off of them. If you come across anyone trying to sell ARC please report them.

Clockwork Angel By Cassandra Clare

Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.


When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks, and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets.  Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.


Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, who are members of a secret organization call the Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person.  What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.


Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them.  She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James and whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue eyed Will , whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa.  As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.


Could you imagine leaving your home and going across seas to start a new life??? Its only you and your brother.  A fresh start, a new country, a new life. Or so that what was every intention of Tessa Gray's when she stepped off of the boat that foggy day in London.

Tessa Gray stepped off of the boat knowing who she was, where she came from, and everything she can know about her parents, until she met the Dark Sisters and that changed everything.  Soon Tessa was not who she thought she was.  She was forced by these sisters to change.  She can hold onto something of someones and change into them if they are living or past away.  She was completely unaware of this new found ability after all she was only human.

A very handsome Shadowhunter named Will comes to Tessa's rescue after weeks of her being a prisoner.  As she is a guest and kept in safety of the London's institute, Tessa learns there is a whole another world that exists beyond what she has always known.  With her new found talent and new friends, who have promised her to help her find her brother, Tessa encounters dangers beyond she ever imagined, not to mention a new love.

A new identity, a new life, a new world, and even a new love is everything and more in Cassandra's Clare new series of the Infernal Devices : Clockwork Angel.  Pick it up today and let me know what you think.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Paranormalcy By Kiersten White

Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie's always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamour, but still. Normal.


Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies.  She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.


So much for normal.


When Lisa McMann, the best selling author of the Wake trilogy said Paranormalcy is "the most refreshing paranormal debut of the year." I knew right then and there that I had to read it.  Kiersten White introduces a whole new world to us, and I have to agree with Lisa Mcmann, it was very refreshing to read something on a whole another stand point.


Evie has been working for IPCA since the age of 8 years old. After a run in with a vampire in a cemetery, which she can see straight through his glamour of the old decayed looking creature, IPCA picked her up immediately.  After all if the world was to find out about all of the paranormal creatures that do exists and ones they didn't even know about.  All hell could break lose.


Now at the age of sixteen years old, this is the only world she knows.  She has never gone to high school, been on a date let alone prom, or even have her drivers license.  She wants nothing more to be an average every day teenager but her superior Raquel thinks it would not be best for Evie.
Stuck doing everyday bag and tags of vampires, weres, and hags, can become boring after a while. The everyday teen life sounds so exciting. Just to be able to attend a school and have her own locker is the next best thing to sliced bread.  


This soon all changed.


Being awoken by a panic alarm, she heads to Raquel's office to find someone or something that looks like Raquel but she can see past it and see it is not her.  So she gets "Tasey" and knocks out this new encounter.  A boy.  A boy that can shape shift into looking like anyone. No one has seen anything like this. Not only does curiosity draw Evie into this boy, but he looks to be about her age as well. Lend, the shapeshifter becomes her interest and crush.


While the IPCA is trying to figure out what Lend is, a lot of strange killing have been going on in the world.  Who ever is doing these mass killing does not mind who or what they are, vamps, weres, fae, or even hags.  It only stays away from humans.  Evie has a lot on her hands at this point, and with a new interest in her life....its not so boring anymore.


Please pick up Paranormalcy by Kiersten White and be drawn into a new world and love interest. I know I did and really looking forward to the second book in this new series!!!  This was such a nice change in the paranormal world.  To have the main character fall for someone who isn't a vampire or a werewolf for a change was so refreshing.  Kiersten's book will draw you in to a new world that you would not want it to end.  Guarantee you will fall in love with Lend just like I did!


Give it 5 out of 5 stars!!!


Here is Kiersten's site to keep up to date on her writings, tour dates, and other books that might interest you that she also has enjoyed.  http://kierstenwrites.blogspot.com/