ARC Review: In the Forests of the Night

In the Forests of the Night

Kersten Hamilton

Series or Stand Alone: Goblin Wars series, book two

Release Date: November 2011

Publisher: Clarion

Pages: 288 (hardcover)

Author Site: http://home.comcast.net/~kerstenhamilton/

My Rating: 4/5

Source: Received for review from author (e-book)

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

The battle against goblinkind continues . . . but which side will Teagan be on?

Teagan, Finn, and Aiden have made it out of Mag Mell alive, but the Dark Man’s forces are hot on their heels. Back in Chicago, Tea’s goblin cousins show up at her school, sure she will come back to Mag Mell, as goblin blood is never passive once awoken. Soon she will belong to Fear Doirich and join them. In the meantime, they are happy to entertain themselves by trying to seduce, kidnap, or kill Tea’s family and friends. Tea knows she doesn’t have much time left, and she refuses to leave Finn or her family to be tortured and killed. A wild Stormrider, born to rule and reign, is growing stronger inside her. But as long as she can hold on, she’s still Teagan Wylltson, who plans to be a veterinarian and who heals the sick and hurting. The disease that’s destroying her—that’s destroying them all—has a name: Fear Doirich. And Teagan Wylltson is not going to let him win.

Review:

I loved Tyger, Tyger when I read and reviewed it earlier this year! I was sooo excited when I was approached to review the second in the Goblin Wars series. In the Forests of the Night spends most of its time in the real world instead of Mag Mell. I admit the beginning was somewhat slow for me. I think the magic of Mag Mell and the first book as a whole made me think the second book was going to be the same. While still filled with plenty of Irish folklore, the magic of Mag Mell was kept in the background. Once I really got into the story and the characters I found the magic I was looking for - it was just packaged differently.

In the Forests of the Night had such great character development!! I loved seeing Teagan branch out a little bit more. She was very independent in the first book but it seemed her confidence bloomed this time around. She's still somewhat vulnerable at times but her strength always resurfaces when she needs it.  I also got what I wished for in my review of Tyger, Tyger... more Abby!!! I was really pleased with how much time was put into each character because it really helped me connect with the book.

While it had been a little while since reading Tyger, Tyger I didn't feel lost in the second book. I think it best to read the series in order to get the best possible picture but you don't miss too much if you jump right into In the Forests of the Night.  There is a lot of real-world conflict going on in this installment that I enjoyed. The ending was fast-paced and engaging and I can't wait to get my hands book three. Fans of Tyger, Tyger must continue on with the second book. And I highly recommend the series to anyone who hasn't gotten a chance to start it!

Review: Flesh and Bones

Flesh and Bones

Paul Levine

Series or Stand Alone: Jack Lassiter series, book seven

Release Date: January 1997 (hardcover)

Publisher: William Morrow & Company (hardcover)

Pages: 320 (hardcover)

Author Site: http://www.paul-levine.com/content/index.asp

My Rating: 3.5/5

Source: Received for review from author (e-book)

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

“I was sitting at the end of the bar sipping single-malt Scotch when I spotted the tall blond woman with the large green eyes and the small gray gun.”

The next thing Jake Lassiter knows, the woman pumps three bullets into the man on the next barstool.

And Jake, the linebacker-turned-lawyer, has a new client.

She’s stunning model Chrissy Bernhardt, and the dead man is her wealthy father. The defense? Chrissy claims that she’s recently recovered repressed memories of having been sexually abused by her father. Jake wants to believe her but suspects that the memories were either implanted by a shady psychiatrist or fabricated by Chrissy herself. Complicating the situation, Jake falls for his client, clouding his judgment. Is she an anguished victim or a cold-blooded killer? And what about her brother, who stands to inherit a fortune if Chrissy goes to prison? Jake wades into a quagmire of dirty water deals, big money, and family corruption, all leading to an explosive finale.

Review:

I accepted this book as apart of a blog tour (that I failed miserably to meet) because the synopsis sounded pretty decent. I hadn't read any other book by Paul Levine and Flesh and Bones is the seventh book in a series. I'm not a huge crime/legal novel lover but I found Flesh and Bones to be very enjoyable! The beginning of the novel sets up the plot and goes through introductions which was a bit slow for my tastes. Jake is an ex-Miami Dolphin  football player who now spends his time defending the citizens of south Florida. He's sitting in a bar when a beautiful woman comes in, shoots her father, and then faints into Jake's arms. Sounds exciting but I wasn't as sucked in as I wanted to be...

Eventually I found myself immersed with the story as Jake's case goes to trial. I'm so glad I stuck with the story because I found I really liked Jake's character and I really liked the writing skill of the author. He had a very warm and caring personality that surprised me. I also loved the fact that Chrissy was obviously guilty for shooting her father and Jake had to find a way to keep her from a prison sentence. I admit I rolled my eyes when the two of them became romantically involved...but again Jake's character (and Chrissy's) surprised me and I quickly warmed up to the idea of them becoming an item. The court scenes were totally engrossing and I really appreciated all the twists in the plot. I had to keep guessing and I like that about a novel!

Flesh and Bones is number seven in the Jake Lassister series and although there were some references to some background information it can still be read as a comfortable stand alone novel. I'll be checking out the rest of the books in the series and I'm interested in reading Paul Levine's other books. I think a lot of legal thriller fans will like Flesh and Bones so I definitely recommend giving this one a go =)

 

Blog Tour Review: Warrior Reborn

Warrior Reborn

KH LeMoyne

Series or Stand Alone: The Guardians of Eden series, book two

Release Date: April 2011

Publisher: Digital Crystal Press

Pages: 290 (e-book)

Author Site: http://www.khlemoyne.com/

My Rating: 4.25/5

Source: Received for review from The Bookish Snob Promotions

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

They are the Guardians of Eden; each created with a unique supernatural talent.

Having successfully hidden her abilities from humans for two hundred years, Briet quietly applies the gifts of cellular-level vision to help patients in need. Until she meets her human soul-mate, Jason Ballard.

Jason holds the reigns to the protocol Briet’s patients’ need for recovery. But can she trust a man all too human and grounded in his world to understand hers, much less believe her? When a deadly threat targets her patients, he is the only one she trusts to help stop an evil only the two of them can fight.

Jason has a perfect success rate for delivering of new drugs from test-to-market. Used to influencing people, rules and guidelines delineate every facet of his professional and personal life. The last thing he expects is to be tempted to waiver by the new spitfire doctor on his latest test team. Especially as she starts stirring up issues. Dangerous issues. Issues flagging jeopardy for the lives of the children in the test. Issues the drug manufacturer, his employer, would prefer be ignored. An unacceptable outcome, forcing Jason to walk a dangerous line between job and conscience as he plunges with Briet to ferret out the twisted scheme in time to save her patients.

Review:

I have such a soft spot for paranormal books that involve the topic of soul mates. It was actually Christine Feehan’s Carpathian series that started my love for paranormal romance. Her Carpathian series is very big about lifemates and finding one’s other half. The Guardians of Eden series reminds me of the Carpathians but only in the soul mate aspect of the stories. KH LeMoyne’s Guardians are very different from the Carpathians. I might have even enjoyed the Guardians and their unique characteristics a little bit more than my beloved Carpathians. I’ll have to read more of the series to make a conclusive decision but I’m really looking forward to more of LeMoyen’s writing and her Guardians.

Warrior Reborn is the second in the Guardian of Eden series and is fine to start if you haven’t read the first book, even for those like me who anally like to read things in order. Briet is a very compassionate female lead. She cares so much for the children she works with as a doctor in the human world. Her unique Guardian ability to see the human body at the molecular level helps in her current work in a new drug trial in treating cancer. I knew from the very beginning when she started questioning her findings that it was going to cause trouble for her.

Jason more or less manages the drug trial for the pharmaceutical company. Briet realizes very early on that he is her mate and struggles with how to let Jason know. Jason’s past and his personality make Briet hesitate on whether he’ll be able to accept the reality of the Guardians. I thought it admirable that Briet was willing to sacrifice so much for Jason. And watching Jason slowly come to terms with his feelings towards Briet was very satisfying.

Ansgar, who is a Guardian himself, is Briet’s very overprotective brother but his actions are both understandable and sometimes warranted. Although Briet is very independent she can be forgetful and somewhat reckless at times. Ansgar is a very nice contrast to Briet’s personality and the obvious love between the two is a nice addition to Briet’s story. I’m actually really looking forward to Ansgar’s story…whenever that may come around =)

Warrior Reborn was a great surprise of a read. While the writing wasn’t always spot on for me I found the style, characters, and storyline very enjoyable. I think I’m really going to like The Guardian of Eden series. I’ll be going back to read Turen (the newly proclaimed leader of the Guardians) story and I can’t wait to read Tsu’s story which should be book 3. I can see a lot of people coming to really like the unique aspects of KH LeMoyne’s Guardians. I know I certainly do!

P.S. (cover talk)

I like that the cover depicts Briet. The cover model is gorgeous and I like that it goes well with book one’s cover.

Blog Tour Review: Solstice

Solstice

P.J. Hoover

Series or Stand Alone: Book one in a planned series

Release Date: May 2011

Publisher: Andrea Brown Literacy Agency

Pages: 189 (Smashwords edition)

Author Site: http://www.pjhoover.com/

My Rating: 4/5

Source: Received for blog tour from Pump Up Your Book

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

Where Mythology and Dystopia meet...

Piper’s world is dying. Global warming kills every living thing on Earth, and each day brings hotter temperatures and heat bubbles which threaten to destroy humanity. Amid this Global Heating Crisis, Piper lives with her mother who suffocates her more than the chaotic climate. When her mother is called away to meet the father Piper has been running from her entire life, Piper seizes an opportunity for freedom.

But when Piper discovers a world of mythology she never knew existed, she realizes her world is not the only one in crisis. While Gods battle for control of the Underworld, Piper's life spirals into turmoil, and she struggles to find answers to secrets kept from her since birth. And though she’s drawn to her classmate Shayne, he may be more than he claims. Piper has to choose whom she can trust and how she can save the people she loves even if it means the end of everything she’s ever known

Review:

I know dystopian novels are becoming a huge trend in the YA genre. But I don’t think I’ve come across any that interweave mythology into its pages. I’m a big fan of mythology related books and I have tons of dystopian novels on my TBR list so I was immediately interested in reviewing Solstice when I was asked. Solistice is a very unique, entertaining, and well written book that I think will be very successful in the YA world.

Global warming is a very real and scary thing and P.J. does a superb job detailing the effects of the Global Heating Crisis happening in Piper’s world. The heat was beyond oppressive and having something similar happening to the Earth was forefront in my mind at all times. I’m not a big fan of heat. I’m not happy with anything really over 85 degrees. With temperatures never really going below 105 in the novel I could only imagine how horrible it was to live in a world where water and a/c use was monitored and rationed and where cooling gel was sprayed on you every time you went outside. I actually don’t know how I myself would adapt to a world like Piper’s.

The mythology part is more closely entangled with the love triangle within the novel. I did have a hard time at first transitioning between Piper’s world and the Underworld when it was first introduced. My brain didn’t really come to terms with putting the dystopian and mythological parts together cohesively. However, I was quick to become engrossed in each part of the book. The love triangle between Shayne, Piper, and Reese is so much more than a typical love triangle. It isn’t just two boys fighting over a girl. There is a huge power struggle between the two boys and Piper’s feelings towards each are passionate and very intense. I loved that P.J. didn’t tip-toe around Piper and her feelings. She’s torn between Shayne and Reese and as the pieces of her past start to come together she’s left feeling confused, frustrated, and afraid.

I loved the characters and I loved how the dystopian part of the novel tied in so well with the mythological part in the end. Solstice is highly original and a really great read that combins so many great elements together. I think a lot of people are going to really enjoy the book and what it has to offer the YA genre!

P.S. (cover talk)

It’s beautiful. It depicts the global warming aspect while leaving some room for a mysterious feeling that ties in with the Greek mythology of the novel.

Review & Giveaway: Being

Being

T.R. Mousner

Series or Stand Alone: Book one in a planned series

Release Date: March 2011

Publisher: Tamara Mousner

Pages/Format: .pdf ebook

Author Site: http://www.trmousner.com/

My Rating: 3.5/5

Source: Received for review from author

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

For elite extraterrestrial pilot EBN-Reyoz-X, awaiting rescue while hiding out in a trailer park in Lancaster, California, is a grueling nightmare. She’s injured, lacks proper supplies and can’t blend in with the indigenous population because she’s seven feet tall and can’t control the trail of wildflowers blooming in the wake of her footsteps. She’s unprepared to begin sexual maturity in the alien land and when she develops feelings for Shale, the mute teenage boy next door, she’s convinced circumstances can get no worse.

Except rescue never comes and once word spreads that her touch holds miraculous healing abilities, EBN must find a way to fix her ship, evade capture by the United States Air Force and survive long enough to return home.

Review:

Although I have a lot of sci-fi books on my TBR I haven’t really had a chance to delve into the genre. Being succeeds in providing many of the reasons why I want to read sci-fi and reminds me to have an open mind when I read them. I enjoy books that are able to convey universal messages from the author with subtlety and grace. Being was mostly successful in not being too brash about environmental issues that should be important to every person living on Earth. Overall Being is a nice breathe of fresh air in the YA genre!

I also enjoyed how smooth the different POVs between EBN, Shale, and Aix went. EBN, while somewhat knowledgeable on Sent (human) life, is injured and completely alone after crash landing on Erox (Earth). After numerous unsuccessful attempts to contact her grand-Ada (grandfather) for a plan of rescue EBN copes by befriending Shale. Although she has broken many rules by getting involved with Shale and his sister, EBN begins to feel things she has never felt before. It was so easy to start to really care for EBN and her well-being as she struggled through each day.

Shale has his own issues to work through as he comes to term with his feelings for EBN. I found it fascinating how different Shale and EBN’s opinion of each other’s appearance was with the rest of the world. Both Shale and EBN were irresistibly drawn to each other and both were beautiful to the other person. The rest of the world found them weird, gawky, and too different. Their blossoming relationship was a very welcoming part of the book and one I really enjoyed.

I think my favorite character is Aix because I was more interested in his mission to finding the truth about EBN. He is brave and intelligent just like his sister and I felt his POV was more interesting. I say that because he’s back on Pharallax and his POV talks about his culture and the similarities/differences between Sent life and Adelian and Nadreen life. I love when authors are able to really step out of their comfort zones and create new worlds and ideas and still tie them in to modern life.

I’m looking forward to seeing what T.R. comes out with next regarding EBN. Being was exciting, different, and filled with loving values that will come across very easily. Love, family, and taking care of where we live is important to T.R. and her characters as it should be important to everybody. I think Being will be a real winner with YA and adult readers alike.

P.S. (cover talk)

While I’m not totally in love with it I think it goes along with the story nicely. I also know the cover has a special place in T.R.’s heart which is pretty cool.

Thanks to the lovely Tamara Mousner I have an ebook copy available for 1 winner!

To enter simply fill out this form!

Giveaway ends July 21st

Open Internationally

Good Luck!

Review: Fatal Embrace

Fatal Embrace

Aris Whittier

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: December 2004 (hardcover)

Publisher: Five Star Trade

Pages: 280

Author Site: http://awhittier.blogspot.com/

My Rating: 4/5

Source: Received for review from author

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

High-spirited horse trainer Jessica Stanson stumbles into the perfect job on one of the most elite ranches in Montana. Or at least it would be if her boss, ex-detective Michael Carven, stopped acting like he didn't want her there. Jessica has to prove herself to him on the ranch, and also try to penetrate his armor to get to the man inside.

Michael Carven is a man who has left a difficult past behind him, and now works at his dream job raising horses under the Montana sky. But he knows that the past has a way of coming back to him, and soon enough, it does. A wave of violence hits the nearby small town of Riverside, nestled deep in the mountains, as a cunning serial killer preys on the population. Against his will, Michael finds himself both drawn into the case and coming to care for his independent new trainer. And if having a killer on the loose wasn't enough, his two worlds collide when Jessica becomes the only material witness in the case. Before it is over, Michael and Jessica will put everything they know and hold dear on the line to catch a vicious, cunning killer - and to protect each other as well.

Review:

I always enjoy a good romantic suspense novel. I’m a sucker for romance and I happen to really enjoy suspenseful moments… so put them together and you have a nice little party via words. Fatal Embrace was a well-written, nicely-paced, enjoyable romantic suspense novel. It can easily be read in one sitting although it took me much longer because of little girls not letting me get my reading time in…

Jessica and Michael were very likable. Although their relationship was somewhat shoved together at times I thought they went well together. Michael has a very painful past that he’s still working on getting over. His ranch is what keeps him grounded and brings him peace in a world full of chaos. Jess enters his life as a new horse trainer and brings about a whole string of emotions that threatens to unravel the carefully constructed world Michael has created for himself. Michael does his best to keep Jess away from his heart but she pretty much wonderful in every sense of the word. Her personality, beauty, and strength make it impossible for Michael not to fall in love with her.

Even though Michael owns a very successful ranch and is no longer a detective he still likes to help out his ex-partner on cases. There is a string of murders in a nearby town and a serial killer seems to be on the loose. Michael seems to be making it his personal mission to find out who the killer is and put an end to the murders. And things really hit home when Jess becomes a key witness in the case and just may be the killer’s next victim.

I was a little troubled with the mixture of the mystery aspect and the contemporary romance on the ranch. Sometimes the transitions were a little jumbled and I had a hard time switching between mystery-suspense mode and contemporary-romance mode. There were times when they flowed nicely into each other but others…not so much. I also had love-hate feelings towards Michael and Jess’ relationship. Michael is very tough and he’s got a hard exterior. He’s obviously trying to push Jess away despite her persistence. Jess is very sweet. She’s intelligent, funny, and caring. So they actually go together nicely but there were moments when I felt things were a little forced together…like two puzzle pieces that don’t quite match. I get that Michael had a complicated and hurtful past but his mood swings were a little out there… Despite that I still really loved Michael and Jess. They are very passionate people and like I said they do go well together.

I loved how realistic things were in Fatal Embrace. It was so easy to envision things happening and I really like that about a novel. I like to be able to see things in my mind. I know a lot of people who haven’t had a chance to pick it up yet or those who haven’t heard of Fatal Embrace will like it!

P.S. (cover talk)

Although it has a suspense-like feel to it I’m not a huge fan. It’s too woodsy for me. I would have liked to see something more open and ranch-like. I think this one would be really tough to design a cover for. So I’m actually okay with it.

Review: Faustine

Faustine

Imogen Rose

Series or Stand Alone: The Bonfire Chronicles series, book one

Release Date: February 2011

Publisher: Imogen Rose

Pages: 322 (ebook)

Author Site: http://www.imogenrose.com/

My Rating: 3.75/5

Source: Received for review from The Bookish Snob Promotions

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

Who is Faustine? When Faustine Spencer was five years old, she discovered a secret that changed her life forever. At twelve, her parents sent her to Bonfire Academy in Switzerland to ensure that she received the training needed to control her increasing powers.

Three years later, Faustine returns to Manhattan. All she wants is to be a typical teenager, at least, one that’s part of the in-crowd at her Upper East Side High School. When drop-dead gorgeous Ryker, her long-time crush from the Academy, finally notices her, she couldn’t be happier.

However, her desire for a normal life is shattered when her father, a prominent sovereign, disappears after naming her as his successor. Her siblings begin to disappear, and Faustine finds herself in the midst of a power struggle. With her life in danger, Faustine must learn to follow one of Bonfire Academy’s most important rules: Trust no one.




 

Review:

I’m definitely not one for spoilers and since the synopsis leaves so much of the story out I’m afraid I won’t be able to really go into detail about Faustine. I can say that the story is absolutely packed with paranormal creatures and they are used in ways I have yet to come across. I am really amazed at the creative story Imogen Rose has created. Faustine is fifteen years old and has just returned from Bonfire Academy. She’s been there for three years learning how to harness and control her growing powers. Now that she’s back in Manhattan with her mother and best friend Neave, she’s looking forward to going to school as a normal teenage socialite.

But normalcy is definitely not an option when she learns that her father has disappeared and she’s next in line to rule in his position. Her entire world is flipped upside as she tries to figure out what to do in her position and try to keep the ones she cares about the most safe. Faustine just has to uphold the most important rule she learned at Bonfire Academy: Trust No One!

Although I couldn’t really relate to Faustine I enjoyed her sense of humor and the fact that she grew in maturity as the book went on. I must say there is an overwhelming number of characters that are introduced who are extremely interesting but almost a little too much to swallow. I love how complex the story is but sometimes things seemed forced together or a little too chaotic. Take for example Ryker and Faustine’s relationship. I love how cute they are together. There’s definitely more to Ryker’s character that I’m excited to learn about. But their relationship seemed very strained and slapped together with very little interaction. There wasn’t much time for feelings to develop or romance to grow. The two of them went to Bonfire Academy for two years together and after meeting in Manhattan they instantly became a couple. Eh, just a little too pushy, maybe…

Despite the cluttered number of characters I still loved the idea Imogen had. I wanted more of everything which was my major issue. There was so much going on that there wasn’t much time for a satisfying development in my opinion. I liked the mystery and loved all the creative paranormal aspects. But since I can’t really go into much detail I feel like my review is too vague. Simply put I really enjoyed Faustine! I will definitely be reading more in the Bonfire Chronicles and I was already planning on reading Imogen’s other YA series. Faustine is an excellent YA paranormal read that I know a lot of people will enjoy.

P.S. (cover talk)

I like it. I like the font choice and the fact that Faustine has red eyes…or eye for that matter =) (Trust me it ties into the story)

Review: 44

44

Jools Sinclair

Series or Stand Alone: 44 planned trilogy, book one

Release Date: March 2011

Publisher: You Come Too Publishing

Pages: 67

Author Site: http://joolssinclair44.blogspot.com/

My Rating: 3.75/5

Source: Received for review from The Bookish Snob Promotions

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

Last year after falling through the ice, seventeen-year-old Abby Craig woke up from death.

But she woke into a world she barely recognizes. She can’t see colors, memories have been erased, and her friends all hate her. And then there’s Jesse, who she loves, but who refuses to forgive her the one mistake she made long ago.

Just when she thinks it can’t get any worse, the visions begin. In them, she sees a faceless serial killer roaming the streets. While the police believe that there have been a lot of accidents in town lately, Abby knows differently. And she soon realizes that it’s up to her to find him.

But to stop him, she’ll have to confront more than just the killer. She’ll have to face something else that was lost in those dark waters. The truth.

In the tradition of Amanda Hocking, 44 is a thrilling paranormal romance mystery novel that keeps readers at the edge of their seats and glued to the very end. The ending will haunt you forever.

Review:

I was very taken aback at the detail 44 had since it barely came in at 67 pages. I worry with short novels and novellas because I feel like it’s never enough for me for some reason or another. But 44 was a lovely surprise! The characters were pretty much spot on. The story-telling was nicely paced and the plot was really entertaining. After Abby comes back to life after a drowning accident her entire world has changed. She’s lost the sight of color, a lot of her memories, and the friends she was once closest too. The only constants in her life are her best friend Jesse and her strong-willed sister Kate. She may be in love with Jesse but he’s crossed that bridge long ago and Abby failed to reciprocate his feelings. But despite the strained emotional tug Abby feels for Jesse he still remains to be the rock she leans on.

When terrible visions start to plague Abby she thinks everyone may be right about her: maybe she is just a freak. But then the visions turn out to be accurate and Abby knows there’s a deadly serial killer hunting the streets of her hometown and she may be the only one who can stop him…

It took a little bit of time for me to get to know and care about Abby. She’s extremely vulnerable and depressed in the beginning of the story. But it isn’t until she breaks from her shell and realizes how much courage she possesses that I really got a sense of who she was. I didn’t really understand why she was treated so horribly after she came back from her accident. I know people can be cruel for no reason but it still baffles me (both in reality and fiction) when people act cold and callous. Even after the ending I still didn’t really get why her friends (i.e. Amanda) starting acting so differently. There’s an obvious cause for Amanda’s dislike towards Abby but again, after the ending is revealed, I was still not okay with her behavior.

I was surprised at how much I liked Kate. I really loved how supportive she was for Abby. It was refreshing and I was happy Abby had someone like Kate in her life. Despite the fact that Kate can be impossibly stubborn she’s very smart. Jesse was great too although he was somewhat confusing with certain actions, but things pieced together like a frustrating puzzle at the end. It was very satisfying…well, not satisfying in the sense that the ending was what I wanted but I still liked how everything started making sense towards the end.

The serial killer part of the novel was interesting and a nice addition to the story. I can definitely see another book coming and Jools herself says she is planning on a trilogy for Abby. I’m excited to see what happens next for her. 44 is a very thrilling and enjoyable read surprised me in many ways. I definitely recommend it!

P.S. (cover talk)

I defnitely like the creepy feeling. The purple color...eh, not so much.

Robot Review: Angel Burn

Angel Burn

L.A. Weatherly

Series or Stand Alone: Angel Trilogy, book one

Series Order: Angel Fire (2011), Angel Fever (2012)

Release Date: May 2011 (US)

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Page Number: 464

Author Site: http://www.angelfever.com/

My Rating: 4.75/5

Source: Received for review from publisher for Rex Robot Reviews

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

Willow knows she’s different from other girls, and not just because she loves tinkering with cars. Willow has a gift. She can look into the future and know people’s dreams and hopes, their sorrows and regrets, just by touching them. She has no idea where this power comes from. But the assassin, Alex, does. Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows more about Willow than Willow herself does. He knows that her powers link to dark and dangerous forces, and that he's one of the few humans left who can fight them. When Alex finds himself falling in love with his sworn enemy, he discovers that nothing is as it seems, least of all good and evil. In the first book in an action-packed romantic trilogy, L. A. Weatherly sends readers on a thrill ride of a road trip — and depicts the human race at the brink of a future as catastrophic as it is deceptively beautiful.

Review:

Willow has been different her entire life and it’s not because she dresses differently or has a passion for cars.  With just a touch she can see a person’s future, their feelings, and their past… She may not know where her abilities come from but she’s come to accept them. But there is someone who knows where Willow’s powers come from. Alex is an assassin. Barely an adult himself, he’s on the hunt for Willow because he knows the damage her powers can cause. Willow isn’t just psychic; she’s half angel.  Angels may be impossibly beautiful but they are deadly. They’ve taken everything away from Alex and he won’t stop fighting until his last breath. But neither Willow nor Alex is prepared for the powerful attraction they feel towards each other. The two go on a very dangerous and action-packed road trip where they discover that things are never as they seem and human existence is in more trouble than either had previously thought.

To read the rest of my review click here!

Review: Cameo and the Highwayman

Cameo and the Highwayman

Dawn McCullough-White

Series or Stand Alone: Cameo series, book two

Series Order: Cameo the Assassin (2010), Cameo and the Vampire (TBD)

Release Date: November 2010 (ebook)

Publisher: Claypipe Press

Pages: 210 (ebook)

Author Site: http://www.dawnmccullough-white.com/

My Rating: 3.75/5

Source: Received for review from author

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

The land of Shandow is a place of arctic cold. It was the scene of the bloody revolution, and is the location of the item Cameo's master wants so badly.

In the dark of winter a vampire lies in wait...

...Opal is unable to run from his past... and Cameo must make a choice that will cost her the last shred of humanity she has left.

Review:

I really enjoy seeing the growth authors go through with their writing styles and story development. I had a few personal issues with the first book, Cameo the Assassin, and I’m very happy with the turnout of Cameo and the Highwayman. Even though it’s the second book in the series, Cameo and the Highwayman can be read without having previous knowledge of the story. It does pick up days after the first book ends though.

Cameo is on the hunt for something for her Master and Shandow is where she’s headed. There’s another vampire in Cameo’s life and even though he may not be as brutal as her Master he’s still equally as dangerous. His interference in Cameo’s life will be the first of many things that drastically change for Cameo and the friends she’s traveling with.

I’ve come to really like and care for Cameo. She’s an ex-assassin who is starting to let people into her heart and life, despite the fact that it’s extremely dangerous to get close to anybody. Her Master, Haffef, is cruel. He destroys any and everything that is important to his thralls and he does it just for the fun of it. So it was really great to see Cameo risk everything for the love of friends. And of course Black Opal remains to be a favorite character of mine. This installment of the series was quite a roller coaster ride for him with some of his past revealed. I refuse to spoil anything but it was an exceptional twist in the story. The plot was a little bit slower but it makes sense and fits into the storyline.

I enjoyed the background political scenes as well which has a lot to do with this installment. I felt I needed more information on the setting of the story in the first novel. I’m happy with Dawn provided in Cameo and the Highwayman. Overall, I felt the second book was a very good improvement for Dawn and a great addition to the series. I can’t wait to read the next book!!

P.S. (cover talk)


I love the fact that it features Opal!

 

Review: Cameo the Assassin

Cameo the Assassin

Dawn McCullough-White

Series or Stand Alone: Cameo series, book one

Series Order: Cameo and the Highwayman (2010), Cameo and the Vampire (TBD)

Release Date: June 2010 (ebook)

Publisher: Claypipe Press

Pages: 190 (ebook)

Author Site: http://www.dawnmccullough-white.com/

My Rating: 3.25/5

Source: Received for review from author

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

The Kingdom of Sieunes is rife with taverns, dirty streets, and clay pipe smoking citizens all toiling to feed their families and keep themselves in something little better than rags. With a foiled revolution just ten years prior still burning in the hearts of many, the royals enlist the aid of assassins to keep things in order. The townsfolk entertain themselves by dreaming of better times to come and regaling in stories of the undead said to walk the graveyards at night... and of Cameo the killer with corpse-like eyes...

Scarred and jaded Cameo is one of the most effective assassins in the employ of the Association, moving from one mission to the next as long as the alcohol keeps flowing. Her acceptance of the murder-for-hire lifestyle is thrown into doubt when she meets a local highwayman with a penchant for fine clothes and women, and then she begins to think about breaking with the company but no one ever breaks with the Association under good terms.

Review:

Cameo the Assassin is definitely a nice breath of fresh air in the dark fantasy/paranormal realm. Unique and entertaining, the first book looks to be a great opening into a very interesting series. I did have a few minor issues with the writing-style and technical execution. However, the characters are enjoyable, the storyline is fast-paced and engaging, and I’m looking forward to starting book two.

Cameo has a few dimensions to her character although she is very one-note throughout most of the book. I absolutely loved seeing her open up on those rare occasions with Opal and Kyrian. Not only is Cameo an assassin but she has supernatural abilities thanks to a near-death experience when she was younger. Being a vampire’s thrall and an assassin for the Association, Cameo doesn’t have much control over anything in her life. Killing is what she knows and what she does best and her personality mimics the distant and cold life of a killer. That is until she starts to care for the unruly company she has later on in the story. So even though she isn’t the most compelling character it’s really tough to rule her out as a great character.

Black Opal and Bellamy are two notorious highwaymen that Cameo comes across and actually starts to travel with despite her reluctance. The two of them really stand out when next to Cameo. Their personalities are loud and fun despite the fact that they are thieves and sometime killers. I think Opal is definitely my favorite character. He’s so full of himself and he’s incredibly weird but he’s so likeable.

My personal issue with the writing-style was nothing too major. I just found myself a bit confused during the novel. I felt there were occasions where the writing was incomplete or transitioned so abruptly that it didn’t quite fit. It wasn’t enough to deter from the actual story but it was enough to make me have to re-read certain parts. It felt as though there were passages missing and it left me a puzzled.

Overall I’m very impressed with the story Dawn has created. The pace is quick and enjoyable. There is tons of action that succeeds in not being over the top and over-detailed. And the teasing amount of romance is a great addition. I feel that Dawn’s got a lot up her sleeve concerning Cameo and I’m curious to see what she has in store for her readers.

P.S. (cover talk)

I like the details with the blood and making sure the cover model’s eye color stays true to Cameo’s.

Review: The Vampire Relationship Guide, Volume 1: Meeting and Mating

The Vampire Relationship Guide, Volume 1:

 Meeting and Mating

Evelyn LaFont

Series or Stand Alone: The Vampire Relationship Guide series, volume one

Release Date: March 2011

Publisher: Helios Media, Inc

Pages: 140 (ebook)

Author Site: http://www.evelynlafont.wordpress.com/

My Rating: 3.75/5

Source: Received for review from The Bookish Snob Promotions

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

Josie wants what she's never been able to have--sex with a vampire. When she receives an invitation to a party thrown by one of the world's richest vamps, she doesn't stop to question her luck; she just jumps into her favorite stilettos and heads out to the event of a lifetime, secretly hoping that she'll come home with a party favor in the shape of a sexy coffin dweller.

But the great undead, much to Josie's chagrin, aren't just pale sexbots with pointy teeth waiting to satisfy her carnal desires; they are dangerous--and sometimes cranky. With a single-minded focus on fulfilling her sole sexual longing, Josie unwittingly entrenches herself in the twisted and sometimes antagonistic world of vampire relationships with no one to guide her, but herself.

Review:

Even with all the hype that vampires have received over the past few years I don’t think I’ll ever truly get tired of them. I especially enjoy authors that try to re-invent vampire lore or add unique twists to spice things up. Evelyn LaFont has successfully written a funny, inventive, sexy, and addicting tale that I’m really looking forward to continuing.

Josie may be a little single-minded but she’s really funny. She has a great inner monologue and says things that would normally come out of my mouth. She even calls herself a teenage boy in one part of the book because all she wants in life right now is a date and some hot sex with a vampire. So although we don’t have that little tidbit in common I find that I really enjoyed her personality. There were times when she was somewhat ignorant and naïve but its hard to stay mad at a woman like Josie.

Her two vampire love interests are complete opposites. Gregory is tall, dark, and handsome…and when I say dark I mean it quite literally. Gregory is one of the few vampires who enjoy a good spray tan every now and then. He’s also very wealthy but still decent enough to be a kind person – or vampire. Walker is the epitome of bad boy… complete with asshole-ish tendencies with sweet moments sprinkled randomly in. He’s sort of got a bi-polar disorder where he’s semi-nice one moment and a complete jerk the next. But he’s also sort of irresistible. I feel Josie’s pain… I loved the sexual tension between Josie and both vamps. I found it yummy and completely understandable. Josie’s got a lot on her plate and it’s full of sexy vampire man trouble.

I was actually very surprised at the craziness that was the end. It had a lot of depth to it that I wasn’t really expecting to find. It added a somewhat serious undertone to an overall funny read. I refuse to give anything away because you’ll really want to read the ending for yourself. I know I’m definitely going to be reading the next volume in The Vampire Relationship Guide. Josie is sure to find herself in more trouble and I’ll be along for the ride.

P.S. (cover talk)

It’s very fun! If you hang around and stop by tomorrow on Evelyn’s blog tour you’ll see Evelyn’s cover idea. The basic concept is the same but it’s funny how the two differ! There’s also a ebook copy up for grabs so be sure to come back!

Review: The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess

The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess

Leanna Renee Hieber
 

Series or Stand Alone: A prequel to the Strangely Beautiful series

Series Order: The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker (2009), The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker (2010), “A Christmas Carroll” –in A Midwinter Fantasy (2010), Miss Violet and The Great War (TBA)

Release Date: May 2011

Publisher: Dorchester

Pages: 320 (paperback)

Author Site: http://www.leannareneehieber.com/

My Rating: 4.5/5

Source: NetGalley

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

The Goddess:
In the beginning, there were lovers: a winged deity of power and light, and a queen of grace and beauty. Phoenix was murdered, his beloved stolen away to the Whisper-world. But their passion inspired the Muses. Through great sacrifice, it could live again.

The Guard:

There are always six, mortal hosts for the divine. Battling spirits through the ages, they defy Darkness, Lord of the Dead. In 1867, a shadow rises. The tide turns against them, and all hope falls on a child of prophecy, an eerie, snow-white girl yet to be born. But her path must be cleared. A Great War is coming, and song, wind and stars whisper that the eighteen-year-old Beatrice Smith must give everything to prepare.

Review:

I have yet to come across an author who is similar in writing style to Leanna Renee Hieber. I feel repetitive when I say that her work is pure magic, but it’s true. Having read the previous books in the Strangely Beautiful series I have come to really love and enjoy the haunting beauty that she’s created. It’s so easy to become attached to each of the characters. Their fates are indeed perilous and their journeys provide a thrilling, emotional, and magical tale that continues to enthrall me.

This prequel is much bigger than just Percy’s origins, the story goes beyond Percy to the goddess she once was. Persephone, the name the goddess favors out of all given to her, and her beloved Phoenix have fought against Darkness for so long. Even the Muses fight with them and for eternal love they share. Decades before Alexi and his Guard’s time the Muses chose a group of young adults in Cairo to fight the Grand Work. Beatrice Smith (whom we meet in book two) is the Leader and this is her story as much as it is Persephone’s.

I absolutely adored getting to know the goddess more. She’s more of a myth or a past recollection in the previous books. This time around she is fully fleshed out along with the her heartbreaking separation from Phoenix, her battle with Darkness in the Whisper-world, her discovery of the young Alexi Rychman, and her ever-present love for her current and past Guard. I also mentioned that Beatrice is as much a main character as the goddess. Her fate is entwined with that of the London Guard and Percy but it was refreshing to get her back story. The love story between her and Ibrahim was filled with tension and frustration but the two are obviously made for each other. Prideful, headstrong, and impossibly stubborn I couldn’t help but want to shake the both of them!

I don’t want to spoil the story for those who have yet to read any of the books in the Strangely Beautiful saga. All of these books are to be savored and read without spoilers. It’s the discovery of the magic within Leanna’s writing that makes the books so wonderful to read. While many secrets are unveiled or further explained in The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess there is still much to be discovered as more mysteries pop up and the conclusion to the saga is started after the book is over. With the excerpt of the final book in place Percy and Alexi have an entire new battle to prepare for that involves a huge piece of their heart: their daughter!

You really must find the time to read these books if you haven’t had the chance yet. I feel the conclusion will be epic and you don’t definitely don’t want to miss out when it’s finally released.

P.S. (cover talk)

It’s my favorite out of the books so far and I’m very glad that they are continuing the theme. I can’t wait to see the last book’s cover!

Review: Two-Fisted Tweets

Two-Fisted Tweets

James Hutchings

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: February 2011

Publisher: Smashwords

Pages: 4 (eBook)

Author Blog: http://teleleli.blogspot.com/

My Rating: 3/5

Source: Received for review from author

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

Thirty mostly humorous stories, including science fiction, fantasy, horror and romance. Each story is less than 140 characters long (the length of a Twitter tweet).

Review:

I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when author James Hutchings asked me to review his latest book. Two-Fisted Tweets is comprised of extremely short (140 characters or less) stories that range in subjects. And even though I use Twitter occasionally I’m not as devoted to the networking site as others are. However, I’ve always had a passion for short quotes and lyrics. I used to spend a lot of my time in high school looking up quotes (famous, anonymous, quickly made up) and lyrics depicting powerful emotions in such a small package. It astounded me how much information and feeling one could get across with a small number of words. James Hutchings has succeeded in many of his “stories” to get across the very same thing that I found in the quotes and lyrics I came to love in high school.

Most of the “stories” made me smile and laugh. Others plucked an emotional nerve which I very much enjoyed. I love reading a passage and getting emotionally involved in it.

A couple of my favorites would be:

"Rotting hands reached from the darkness. At last, someone was attracted to her for her brains."

"They withdrew his invitation to speak at the conference on stalking. But he knew they didn’t mean it."

"She tried to dance like no one was watching, but everyone stared at her. "

Other “stories” were a little too off-the-wall for my tastes. I was left puzzled by them and a tad bit confused. But overall they were very enjoyable. I’m not too familiar with flash fiction and I’ve already come to realize I’m not a short story fan. But these “stories”, which so closely mimic tweets, remind me so much of the quotes I love. I definitely enjoyed reading Two-Fisted Tweets although the time literally flew by when I read them.

Twitter fans will definitely get a kick out of Hutchings’ “stories”. And any quote fan like me will appreciate a lot of the individual “stories” in the book.

P.S. (cover talk)

I admit it doesn’t have anything to do with the stories but it’s still a lot of fun. I like the vintage comic-book style.

Review: Rhiannon

Rhiannon

Neil Plakcy

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: February 2011

Publisher: Untreed Reads

Pages: 9 (eBook)

Author Site: http://www.mahubooks.com/

My Rating: 3/5

Source: Received for review from publisher

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

Junior is a wild and crazy construction supervisor who drinks too much, curses too frequently and never lets a woman get under his skin. Then, he meets the curvaceous Rhiannon who loves football, shoots a mean game of pool and has a little secret she's reluctant to share.

Junior keeps chasing her like a hound in heat, until he discovers there's no crying in the game she's playing. And that's when the fun REALLY begins.

A short story from our Candlelight literary romance line.

Review:

Junior is a bit down on his luck after being shunned at a recent job interview. Instead of heading to a bar he’s familiar with he decides to try a new bar right next to the construction site he was interviewing at. A bar is a bar, right? But it’s at this bar where he meets a woman that knocks his socks off. Junior normally doesn’t become so affected by women, but Rhiannon is different. She’s unlike any woman he has ever met and he can’t seem to get her out of his mind. But Junior soon finds out Rhiannon has a secret that she doesn’t seem to want to share. It’s a secret Junior is determined to find out. And that’s when things really get interesting…

Rhiannon was an interesting read. I both liked and disliked the book. Junior is kind of a one-note character. He’s a very manly-man. He likes to drink, watch sports, and cuss a lot, which is fine by me. When he meets Rhiannon he becomes a little like a love-sick puppy but again, that’s still fine by me. Junior doesn’t have many close friends and not much family so I can see how his attachment to Rhiannon happened. He did seem a bit on the desperate side but that’s understandable. He may have crossed the fine line of creepy once or twice and that was a turn off for me.

Rhiannon’s character was a fun contrast to Junior. She’s confident and comfortable in her own skin. She loves sports and can easily hang with the guys. I figured out Rhiannon's secret long before Junior did though. Even with the predictability of the end I enjoyed how accepting Junior was and how close the two characters became. I also liked how vulnerable Rhiannon’s character became towards the end. It made the two of them seem real and relatable.

I think my biggest problem with Rhiannon is the main problem I have with short stories. I just don’t think I’m a short story kind of gal because I’m too needy. Rhiannon was a quick and pretty well-written romance story with a twist.

P.S. (cover talk)

Pretty much has nothing to do with the story. I’m all for a burning candle but honestly the cover is boring.