Mini Review: The Bright Spot (Sunrise Cove #5)

The Bright Spot (Sunrise Cove #5)

Jill Shalvis

Blurb:

Luna Wright is a lot of things, but sweet and trusting isn’t on the list. However, she’s a sucker for the underdog and a hard-luck story. Adopted at birth, with scant knowledge of her biological family, she’s created her own inner circle, a motley crew which includes her bestie Willow, to help her run the struggling but charming Apple Ridge Farm.

With a farm-to-table café as well as a menagerie of rescued animals (complete with a baby goat who keeps escaping to the pantry to eat the secret stash of decidedly not organic potato chips), it’s the best home she’s ever known. But when the owner Silas, who they secretly call The Grinch, passes away, Luna discovers the farm is now under control of his investment manager, the enigmatic Jameson Hayes….and her. And that Silas had many, many secrets.

Now Luna’s carefully controlled corner of the world is threatened and she—along with some help from her friends—has to dig deep to find true strength and the real meaning of love and family.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating:  4

Review:

More humor and romance come to us from Jill Shalvis in her amazing Sunrise Cove series as two unlikely frenemies are forced to come together to find a way to protect the only home either of them knows and the legacy of the one man, they both can honestly call a friend and father. I truly enjoy each new addition to this series, each able to be read completely independently, but that carry a connection of heart, laughter and healing for each character that reminds me why I first fell in love with Jill Shalvis’s right so long ago.  Luna Wright has found her family in the most unlikely of people, her coworkers and friends at the Apple Ridge Farm where she manages the café, but when the owner passes away suddenly, leaving her part owner of the business she never imagines that her life will change irrevocably.  Jameson Hayes now owns the other half of the, sadly, failing café and as a man of numbers he is determined to prove to Luna why they need to sell to interested parties while they still might be able to make a profit.  But a huge secret comes out for Luna and Jameson is keeping an even bigger one of his own, one that could change her world even more.  As these two continue to be at cross purposes, Luna tries to prove to Jameson that family and tradition mean more than a number on a page and Jameson soon finds himself family for the strange and enigmatic woman. I loved seeing Luna find a way to bring Jameson out of his shell, making him breathe for the first time in ages and find himself under the suit and tie he’s been hiding so he could open his heart and eyes to the love around him.  Jameson tried so hard not to succumb to the secrets that weighed him down, but the pain and fear didn’t stop him from falling in love with Luna and the world she shared with him.  The secondary love story between Luna’s bestie Willow and her estranged husband was also awesome and I just love how Shalvis continues to include that second love in all her Sunrise Cove stories.  I am looking forward to many more to come as Sunrise Cove continues to draw new folks in and broaden hearts of those already at home there.

*eBook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Mini Review: Ancient Magic (Magic For Hire #2)

Ancient Magic (Magic For Hire #2)

Alexandra Ivy

Blurb:

The Vampire Cabal meets only under the direst circumstances. But since Skye Claremont’s coven proved wild magic has returned, the cabal has gathered in New York City to decide the fate of the powerful mages.

Skye doubts her oracular powers can help. After ten years indentured to a demon gang, paying off her father’s gambling debts with visions, her freedom has come despite her weak abilities, not because of them. But when her father sends a text to demand a meeting, she doesn’t need to read the future to know trouble will follow.

The demons want her to kidnap Micha, the reclusive, fearsome leader of the New Orleans vampire cabal. As if a low-voltage witch like her could succeed. But when Skye looks into Micha’s eyes, she sees certain doom if she doesn’t take him to their stronghold after all. Spellbound more by beauty and intrigue than magic, the vampire follows her into the dark of a demon cell. When the door slams behind them, they’ll have to unravel the tangled threads of prophecy and politics that make the way forward immeasurably dangerous. But it’s desire that could undo them both . . .

Themes:  Paranormal, Witches, Vampires

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The series continues with the second witch finding her mate, but boy does she not expect everything coming her way in Alexandra Ivy’s new Ancient Magic.  I have been looking forward to his next story as I wanted to love this series, but I am definitely not feeling the investment I have in previous series.  I enjoy each book for the story and the character development, but I am not becoming devoted to the characters in the overarching series like I have in the past. Skye Claremont’s little coven has been under intense scrutiny lately and she is trying to fly under the radar, but when her powers as an Oracle lead her into trouble again, she is forced to accept help from a very unlikely source.  Micha, the New Orleans vampire cabal leader, is in NYC with other leaders in order to meet about her sister Peri’s new magic and he is instantly drawn to the sexy witch, but when he finds her outside his bedroom one night, along with several demons attempting to kidnap him, their lives are intimately entwined, and they must trust one another if they are going to survive the coming storm.  Micha and Skye are like to poles of a magnet, drawn together but neither of them understands why, and Skey knows that if she doesn’t stick to him, he could die so together they must defeat the demons out to destroy the world.  Together they can defeat the enemy, but the more they are together the harder it is to deny the attraction and chemistry that is leading to a much deeper connection and when the chips are down, they have to decide if their future is worth fighting for. Skye was a fun character to get to know with a deep and interesting past, she is courageous, clever, sassy, and sweet, and I loved her determination to protect Micha in order to keep the balance in the world. Micha was a scholar at heart, not really wanting to lead or fight, but knowing that if he didn’t others would be hurt, he is controlled, arrogant, and precise but he also knows that sometimes you have to take a chance to get what you need.  I loved the chemistry between these two and its obvious that they will be friends and lovers a long time.  I am looking forward to the conclusion of the series, but I’m hoping some of the plotline gaps and twisty plot threads are wrapped up for sure. Overall, the series is improving, but I hope there are no hanging threads at the end of book three.

*eBook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Mini Review: To Steal a Marquess (The Sisterhood of Independent Ladies #2)

To Steal a Marquess (The Sisterhood of Independent Ladies #2)

Maeve Greyson

Blurb:

She returned to England to put him in his place—not to put herself in his bed.

Alec Douglas, Duke of Lionwraith, a war hero betrayed on the home front while he was away at battle, trusts no one and prefers his solitude. But when his sister begs for help because she is ruined, he vows to make the man responsible pay. When the vile rakehell proves impossible to find, Alec isn’t swayed. He can just as easily destroy his enemy with a subtler attack. The Marquess of Ardsmere’s business provides the best wines and rarest imports to the finest houses in all the realm—but by the time Alec is finished, West Belgium International will cease to exist.

But the despicable marquess can’t be the ruination of Alec’s sister, because the man does not exist. However, Lady Francis, better known as Frannie and sometimes as the Marchioness of Ardsmere, is quite real. Born in Belgium after a terrible accident killed her father, Frannie was introduced to the world as the family’s ward rather than an Ardsmere daughter, and a fake Ardsmere son was fabricated for her to marry to keep the wealth, lands, and privileges of the title away from a heartless cousin. The ruse has served quite well, but now some quarrelsome duke threatens everything because his lightskirt sister tossed her reputation to the wind and ridiculously named the pretend marquess responsible.

Frannie is not about to lose her lucrative empire or expose herself as a fraud. There’s naught to be done but assume her usual role as the imaginary marquess’s wife and put the deplorable duke in his place. However, when she meets Alec’s sweet, trusting sister, she can’t bring herself to finish the poor girl off or take down her handsome brother. Cursing her soft-heartedness, Frannie agrees to help Alec. Not just because he’s a tempting challenge she can’t resist, but also because his sister is kindness itself.

While tracking down the real foe responsible, Alec and Frannie come together in a complicated dance that not only risks riches and reputations but also their hearts. Frannie’s life of lies has always provided everything she needs—except love. What’s she to do when the man who steals her heart despises anything that isn’t true?

What do a skillful liar and a man drowning in bitterness have in common? Loneliness and pent-up passion. An exciting combination until secrets are revealed and everything falls apart.

Themes:  Historical

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The fun trilogy of women well before their time continues as one woman takes a stand to defend another that has been caught in the snare of a predator, because really, we should all stand up for one another.  Maeve Greyson’s next book in her politically forward Sisterhood of independent Ladies series truly hits so many beautiful points and at the same time we get to see a passionate and intriguing love story as two people embark on quest bring down a villain.  Lady Francis, Marchioness of Ardsmere, has been married since she was seventeen, and promised even before then, because she was the ward of her husband’s family—but the truth is that her husband doesn’t exist, and she is the sole power behind the marquessate. Francis has a big problem though, her business empire is under attack, and she is determined to confront the man that is trying to bring her down, in person no less.  But when she travels to the country estate of Alec Douglas, Duke of Lionwraith, she is surprised to learn that he is attacking her empire because he believes her husband ruined his younger sister and left her with child.  Now Frannie is just as determined as Alec to catch the imposter, but working together puts them together and the passion between them is not easily denied and Frannie and Alec find that neither of them want to deny it and soon embark on an affair that becomes so much more.  But can Frannie let go of the lie and get Alec to see the truth of her life, and if so, can the truth really set the free or will an enemy even closer to home put Frannie’s future in jeopardy before she even has a chance at a happiness with Alec?  I LOVED this story even more than the last one and Frannie and Alec were fabulous.   Frannie was a kick butt heroine, with all the wit, sass, empathy, sweetness and wisdom I have come to love and expect from Maeve’s writing, but also with the extra passion that surprised me and made me even more of a lover.  Alec was the perfect angry, anti-hero that become a wonderful loving, passionate, spirit lover, and protector for both Frannie and his sister.  The ending was crazy sauce for sure with all the twists and turns, but I couldn’t stop reading it.  I am dying for the finale in the trilogy and to find out where Maeve might be taking us next, but all in all I feel like Frannie and Alec might just be my favorite couple.

*eBook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

ARC mini Review: Fighting for Berlin (Redemption Harbor Security #5)

Fighting for Berlin  (Redemption Harbor Security #5)

Katie Reus

Blurb:

Her instinct has always been to fix things…

Berlin is no stranger to loss. After her parents died, it was just her and her younger sisters. Now that they’re all in college she’s been focusing on her new job with Redemption Harbor Security. But when one of her online VR buddies goes uncharacteristically radio silent, she gets worried and makes it her mission to find him. And quickly finds out that things are a lot more dangerous than she ever imagined.

But this time she might be in too deep…

Chance has gone undercover with a deadly crew to find out the truth about his brother. When he’s rescued from a sticky situation by his online friend, he’s surprised that she’s a woman—and a knockout. Wanting to keep Berlin safe, he tries to keep her at arm’s length for her own good, but the stubborn hacker refuses to walk away. With her skills, the deadly crew he’s infiltrated recruits her for an upcoming job. Now he’s got to maintain his cover while worrying she might be discovered too. It’s a race against the clock to find his brother, stay alive and not fall for the smartass woman who’s gotten under his skin—before they all die.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating

Review:

Who knew that two long-time virtual gamer friends would end up having such chemistry when they finally meet IRL and learn just how much they truly have in common? Katie Reus continues her action-packed series about sexy secret agents (sort of) in this latest installment of the Redemption Harbor security series when cyber geek Berlin meets her match in a sexy ex-special forces hottie on a mission to find his brother. I never quite know what to expect from a Reus novel beyond that I will be laughing as I enjoy every sensual moment of the story I lose myself in and this story is no less than I expected. Chance is undercover with a biker club looking for his missing younger brother when he suddenly finds himself being rescued by a sexy woman that he’s never seen before, but that he’s known for years. Berlin knew that when her gamer friend went quiet she needed to track him down, but she didn’t think she’d be going in hot to save him from a shootout and then find herself in the middle of a dangerous mission filled with drugs, deadly bikers, and all kinds of other dangers. But the more time she spends with Chance the more their chemistry leads to sensual encounters until finally neither of them can deny that they are perfect for one another. But they have to outsmart their enemies and find Chance’s bother before either of them can even consider a future together, and that’s if Chance can keep Berlin from running away from him.

Honestly, could this story have been more packed with twists and turns as Berlin, Chance and their friends worked through the layers of danger and idiocy that were surrounding them as they tried to get to Chance’s brother? Chance is such a strong, sweet, and deadly character, filled with everything that makes a hero fabulous without all the unnecessary macho BS that makes some men just need to be slapped down. It’s obvious he loves his brother and is willing to do just about anything to make sure he doesn’t get himself killed, but he wants to protect and convince Berlin that they are perfect for each other too. Berlin has always been the leader of her family, the one that everyone looked to in order to fix problems, support them and provide the love and stability they needed, so when she meets Chance, a man that just wants to offer her a shoulder to lean on and a man to offer her the support she’s never had she is ready to run for the hills even as she wants to keep him forever.  The love between these two is just as obvious as the heat that burns from the beginning, but fear can be a powerful deterrent even when what you’ve always wanted and needed is right in front of you. I was so glad that Berlin and Chance found a way to look past their hangups and fears and find their happy together, because they definitely earned it. Chance truly was Fighting for Berlin; from the moment she stormed into his life and change it forever. Needlessly to say I am on pins and needles for who’s story comes next and where this series is headed next.

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was provided.

ARC Review: Just One More Temptation (The Sterling Family #4)

Just One More Temptation (The Sterling Family #4)

Carly Phillips

Blurb:

He’s a grumpy single dad who's serious and uptight.

She’s a younger free spirit who's sunshine and light.

Fallon Sterling’s one experience with a rich, older man ended in heartbreak. So, when twin nine-year-old girls wind up in her gallery, followed by their oh-so-hot dad, she refuses to notice how sexy he is. And she will not let herself fall for his broody charms. Or his adorable daughters. That was her plan. Unfortunately, planning hasn't always been her strong suit…

Noah Powers needs a reliable nanny, not a romance with a much younger artist who his girls adore. The fact that he desires Fallon and the sunshine she brings into his drab world doesn't matter. His focus needs to be on his work and his daughters. Trouble is, he can never remember that when Fallon is in his arms.

Somewhere between a matchmaking family (his) and dangerous workplace drama (hers), Fallon and Noah realize they might have more in common than they thought. But is it enough for happily ever after?

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

For long time fans of Carly Phillips, we all know she loves her Grumpy-Sunshine love stories, but every time we get a new couple falling under one another’s spell, she manages to give us a fresh twist and remind us why she remains at the top of her craft. I wasn’t positive that I would love this story, being that I’m not a huge fan of stories that revolve around children and/or single parents, but these kids were so precocious and mature that I actually enjoyed getting to know them and seeing them interacting with Fallon and Noah. If you enjoy a delightful read, filled with laughter, suspense, and romance, then Noah and Fallon will drag you right into their lives and you will not be able to set the book down until the very end. I am really looking forward to future stories because the more we get to know the Sterling family the more I fall in love with them and want happiness for them all. Carly’s imagination never ceases to amaze me and I can only wish that I had her skill and flair with the written word.

Noah Powers is overwhelmed being the primary caretaker to his precocious tree-teen twin daughters for the first time in their lives—with nannies quitting or failing left and right and the girls disappearing on him in the middle of the city. When he tracks them down to the small art gallery where they are being entertained by a beautiful young artist/employee, he doesn’t realize just how much she will come to mean to them all. Fallon Sterling has been hurt before by an older man and isn’t interested in starting anything with Noah, but he and his girls pull her right in and soon she is spending time with them and beginning to lose her heart. When Fallon and Noah finally accept that they cannot hide from their feelings anymore and decide to give their relationship a try, their love begins to blossom almost too quickly. But can too people that have such different plans for the future and trauma in their past find a way to heal and move forward together—before someone puts and end to their chances to be together finally?

Fallon is a character that I could truly see myself enjoying getting to know in real life; She is intelligent, creative, caring, and sassy and devoted to her family and all of those she takes into her heart. She has had real suffering in her past and I was afraid that she would allow it to keep her from finding happiness with Noah and the girls, but thankfully she was able to heal and move past her hurts. I also loved the way she looks out for those that she considers hers, especially the woman she considers her stand-in mom, when she begins to have problems. She faces every danger and problem that comes at her head on, refusing to let anything drag her down and instead deals with her pain in private so that others don’t see how much she is hurt. Noah was a great guy in many ways, though I definitely wanted to be able to kick him in the pants at one in the story because he almost allowed Fallon to slip through his fingers. He is sweet with his girls, loving and caring with Fallon, and strong enough to take on the problems of those around him without buckling under the pressure. I enjoyed watching the women in his life interacting with him, whether it was his mother, his girls, or Fallon, he is so respectful of women and always gives of himself to all. I would love to meet a man like him and claim him for myself for myself, but alas I think men like him only exist in the minds of my favorite authors.

Just One More Temptation truly stands up to its name, tempting readers to keep reading until the very end because we don’t want to miss a single moment. There is just so much emotion in this story as a Noah and Fallon find their way to healing one another and then deciding to put forth the effort to build a life together. Noah has so much going on but he never drops any of the most important balls in his life, mainly his girls or Fallon, and he finds a way to grow and be what they all need him to be without losing himself. Fallon has to let go of a lot of her own hangups in order to embrace a future with Noah and his girls, but once she finds love, and Noah proves he can change and grow with her, she will never allow herself to give up on him or the life they can have—even when she almost loses her life. The passion between these two is apparent as soon as their eyes meet, despite their young audience, and the more time they spend together the more obvious their love is. I loved seeing this little family form from two people that have been lost in their broken pasts for too long and two clever girls that finally get to see their dad truly completely happy with their new stepmom. I am really looking forward to whatever comes next for this series as more Sterling kids find love and drama as lives changes forever. Carly continues to always take us on a wild ride with each new story and I am never disappointed.

 

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was provided.

ARC Review: The Uncrowned King (The Bastard Duology #2)

The Uncrowned King (The Bastard Duology #2)

Donna Grant

Blurb:

I would burn the world for him…

My people have been hunted to extinction by dragons. I am the last of my kind. Forever running. Forever alone.

Then I met him. Dangerous. Carnal. Dragon And utterly magnetic. I had no defenses against the passion that claimed us. Each time his lips touched mine, each time his arms held me, I fell deeper.

And I fell hard.

My mortal enemy became my world. The very reason for my existence.

My one and only.

Until our forever was violently snatched away. Now, I’m hunted, once more.

But I’m not running this time. I’m fighting for love.

For him.

Themes:  Paranormal, Dragons, Fae

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The ending of this duology has been hanging on my mind ever since the ending of the first portion with its terror-inducing cliffhanger and I am thrilled to say that every second of the wait was worth it. Donna Grant returns with a bang as she takes us back to Zora to finally give us the HEA we needed for two characters that should never have met and fallen in love, but seem so perfect for one another in the end. Derek and Kora’s story has developed into one that I can see myself rereading many times, now that both parts of the duology are out, but I will definitely read them back-to-back since I hate cliffhangers and would read them as one long story. For those that don’t mind this kind of continuing story then the nature of the break in the story is certainly beautifully written and well handled in the plot, but I’m just to ADD and OCD to handle the split. That said I am dying for what comes next for these characters because with everything that happened in these two novels I can guarantee whatever comes next is going to be epic.

Derek has no memory his life and when he wakes in a dark mountain in his dragon form he has no idea of everything he has lost, so when he is told that his mate and children were brutally murdered his rage knowns no bounds and he will do anything to kill his enemy. Unfortunately, the truth is much different and the enemy he is set to kill is the woman that he loves and that lack of recognition might cost them both everything. Kora is determined to bring Derek’s memory back, even at the cost of her own life, so when the Kings offer their assistance in capturing him she is willing to work with her greatest feared enemies in order for them all to fight against the worse villain. Derek and Kora have to find their way back to one another because without their bond and the powers they can bring to the team, the Kings have no chance to defeating the Star People that are trying to bring their existence to an end.

I cried almost as much as I smiled while reading this story, honestly Derek and Kora’s story was so emotional. Kora never imagined that she would fall in love with a Dragon, much less the one that destroyed her family, but she learns that the greatest form of love is forgiveness and Derek is worth everything to her. She finds her bravery, strength, and a depth of love and caring that she never thought she would be able to find for another being after her family died. She’s lived such a lonely existence, always thinking she was the last of her kind and would be vilified if anyone discovered her secret, but when she finally comes out of the shadows she learns that her unique abilities are more than embraced with the family the kings have made. Derek is definitely lost for a good bit of the book, but even then we see his protective and dangerously loving nature as he tried to avenge his mate, but his unwillingness to listen to alternative views, instead only believing the first person to tell him something kinds pissed me off. Once he gets his memories back he’s the Derek we all know and love, caring, sweet, intelligent, courageous, and willing to do whatever it takes to protect those under his care. I only wish that he’d been willing to listen without the pain and trauma required to both him and Kora to knock some sense into him.

The Uncrowned King, combined with its predecessor The Bastard King, are stories of a male that has lived his long life in service to his people, even though he never knew that he was being manipulated and used, and unfortunately until the end his work was counter to that goal. Luckily when he meets a woman that challenges him to look deeper he is able to break free finally and his mission and labors are finally in line, leaving him able to move forward in life and find a balance and happiness hat has always been elusive. Derek has always been missing something, even though he could never put his finger on it, and meeting Kora shows him that what he was missing was a family and love, because his life was always just his mission before. Kora has lived her life in fear, but when she finally finds her courage and decides that she is ready to fight back, she meets the man that will truly allow her to succeed. These two lovers complete one another in more ways than they ever imagine they could be, challenging one another to think differently about everything they thought they knew and the chemistry between them is beautifully undeniable. I loved every second of their story, even though the wait between stories about killed me. Donna Grant truly out did herself in these stories of love, betrayal, and secrets and I am truly looking forward to whatever comes next,

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was provided.

Mini Review: Wild Magic (Magic For Hire #1)

Wild Magic (Magic For Hire #1)

Alexandra Ivy

Blurb:

There was a time when demons reigned. That was before they were forced to retreat to the shadows. Today, in hidden corners across the globe their evil blood still pools, and the authority of their new rulers—the Vampire Cabal—must never be challenged. Leave it to a Jersey girl to change ancient history . . .

 At sixteen, when Peri Sanguis’s wild magic first appeared, she was forced to flee her Wyoming ranch—and her suddenly murderous family—to save her own life. On the East Coast, tutored by mages who run the Witch’s Brew bookstore-cafe, Peri’s world seems magically tranquil—until her estranged mother and a coven of witches are slaughtered. Now, to solve the violent mysteries of her past, she must put her trust, body and soul, in a sensual immortal who is every woman’s darkest fantasy . . .

 The golden-eyed vampire, Valen, has never wanted more than to claim an untamed female like Peri. Lured into each other’s orbit, and working together against a resurrected evil brings them intimately closer—to danger, blood betrayals, all-consuming passion, and to sacrifices that must be made to save themselves and the world . . .

Themes:  Paranormal, Witches, Vampires

Rating: 3.5 stars

Heat Rating: 3.5

Review:

An all-new venture for Alexandra Ivy begins with the story of a woman who magic is blossoming and becoming something, she never imagined and the vampire who is drawn to her inexplicably. I have long been a fan of Alexandra Ivy, especially her paranormal works, but this newest foray into fantasy is a whole new world for me and I am reserving judgment until we get a little deeper into the series. Peri Sanguis is a witch with powers that are often hard to control or quantify, once forced to flee the commune where she was raised in order to stay alive, she has found family in the women that took her in and her mentor in NYC. When her mother and old coven are slaughtered Peri embarks on a journey to try to solve the mystery but finds herself saddled with the Vampire leader Valen as her shadow.  Valen never imagined that the mating instinct would rise for a woman like Peri, but he can’t deny that his protective and sensual needs are there from the very first moment he scents her.  The more time they’re together and the deeper their connection the less likely either of them are to ever give the other up, but the dangers around them make having a future together les likely if they can’t find a way to defeat their enemies. I enjoyed getting to know Peri and see her work through her past; she is intelligent, stubborn, impulsive, snarky and loves deeply. Valen is bossy, protective, powerful and independent but also giving and loving.  With suspense, sensuality, drama and a twisty plot, you’ll find yourself completely invested in the story until the very end.  There are a few plot holes that needed fleshing out, but I’m hoping that comes in the next books and I’m looking forward to the other ladies getting their novels. As I said, I am reserving judgment on the series overall, but I certainly think there is a lot of potential for this trilogy.

*eBook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.