Book Review: STOLEN LUCK by Jaclyn Weist

What the book has to say for itself: 

Sixteen year old  Megan Crenshaw has everything going for her until the day a leprechaun shows up on her doorstep and steals all her luck. Not only that, he follows her around and wreaks havoc in her life. With the help of her friends, Megan must get her luck back before he manages to destroy her life and the lives of all those around her.

What I have to say about it: 

Man, there aren't many books that will make me think about them all day like this one did. I'm a mom to 5 kids and was called away a many times from my reading of this, and I couldn't wait to get back to the story. That in itself tells me it was good. Then as I was reading it, I giggled, snorted, and laughed enough that my kids kept asking me what I was reading. And it was so engaging I finished it in a day.

There are so many things that poor Megan has to deal with when Louie takes her luck, something she's had a surplus of her entire life. But Megan handles it so well. I loved the fact that Megan seemed like a real girl. Having moments of anger and frustration and all out sobbing when it got tough, but then she got up and did something about it. She didn't cave when Louie kept piling on the misfortune. And Jared? Oh man he was adorable. Hope my girls can meet someone as awesome as Jared some day. There is just a touch of romance, but done perfectly that I wasn't wishing there was more, or thinking it wasn't necessary either. There are parents who are involved in the lives of their teens and teens that made some pretty good choices overall or at least make an effort to do it right. I highly recommend this book to younger teens and adults alike. 

I'm really looking forward to book 2. 

About the author:

Jaclyn is an Idaho farm girl who grew up loving to read. She developed a love for writing as a senior in high school, when her dad jokingly said she was the next Dr. Seuss (not even close but very sweet). She met her husband, Steve at BYU and they have six happy, crazy children that encourage her writing. After owning a bookstore and running away to have adventures in Australia, they settled back down in their home in Utah. Jaclyn now spends her days herding her kids to various activities and trying to remember what she was supposed to do next.

To find on Barnes and Noble click HERE

To find on Amazon click HERE

Or if you want to try your LUCK (pun intended) then do this Rafflecopter.


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New book out to love. AWAKENING by Christy Dorrity

This looks like a fun book. And it's out now. Check it out.

About the Book

. . . because some Celtic stories won’t be contained in myth.

A little magic has always run in sixteen-year-old McKayla McCleery's family—at least that’s what she’s been told. McKayla’s eccentric Aunt Avril travels the world as a psychic for the FBI, and her mother can make amazing delicacies out of the most basic of ingredients. But McKayla doesn't think for a second that the magic is real—it’s just good storytelling. Besides, McKayla doesn’t need magic. She recently moved to beautiful Star Valley, Wyoming, and already she has a best friend, a solo in her upcoming ballet recital—and the gorgeous guy in her physics class keeps looking her way.


When an unexpected fascination with Irish dance leads McKayla to seek instruction from the mute, crippled janitor at her high school, she learns that her family is not the only one with unexplained abilities. After Aunt Avril comes to Star Valley in pursuit of a supernatural killer, people begin disappearing, and the lives of those McKayla holds most dear are threatened.

When the janitor reveals that an ancient curse, known as a geis, has awakened deadly powers that defy explanation, McKayla is forced to come to terms with what is real and what is fantasy. A thrilling debut novel based in Celtic mythology, Awakening is a gripping young adult fantasy rife with magic, romance, and mystery.

Praise for Awakening

"AWAKENING is a wonder and a delight. Christy Dorrity is a talent to watch."
~David Farland, New York Times bestselling author of Nightingale


"I thoroughly enjoyed AWAKENING, a captivating and unique debut novel that creatively integrates Irish dance."
~ CHRIS NAISH, Riverdance member and Creative Director of Fusion Fighters Irish dancers.

About the Author

Christy Dorrity lives in the mountains with her husband, five children, and a cocker spaniel. She grew up on a trout ranch in Star Valley, Wyoming, and is the author of The Geis series for young adults, and The Book Blogger’s Cookbooks. Christy is a champion Irish dancer and when she’s not reading or writing, she’s probably trying out a new recipe in the kitchen.

Purchase Awakening by Christy Dorrity:

 

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A BOOK RELEASE!

Happy Birthday for this book.
I'm so excited for this book to be released. TODAY

Here's what the books about:

Five teenagers who’ve recently discovered they have magical powers and are living in the Seattle underground feel it’s their responsibility to protect unsuspecting humans from otherworldly foes.  Things are going well until Johnathan, their unofficial leader and the boy sixteen year old Paige is in love with,  is bitten by a changeling – the venomous saliva causing him to metamorphose into a ravening beast with each full moon.  Paige vows that, no matter the cost, she will find a way to cure Johnathan of the evil that has embedded itself in his soul.  

Johnathan’s monthly transformation and daily personality roller coaster isn’t the only problem they have to deal with. The Five are also gearing up to face their toughest and most dangerous enemy yet—a powerful and ruthless Warlock who will go to any means, including high school, to build his Dark Army.

Holli Anderson is a friend of mine and I was lucky enough to be in a critique group with her and some other fabulous authors. So let me introduce you to Holli.

Author Bio:

Holli Anderson has a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing—which has nothing to do with writing, except maybe by adding some pretty descriptive injury and vomit scenes to her books. She discovered her joy of writing during a very trying period in her life when escaping into make-believe saved her. She enjoys reading any book she gets her hands on, but has a particular love for anything fantasy.

Along with her husband, Steve, and their four sons, she lives in Grantsville, Utah—the same small town in which she grew up.

Do yourself a favor and go buy this book:

 It's available on Amazon for Kindle HERE:
and on Barnes and Noble for Nook HERE:

PS. you don't have to have an actual Kindle or Nook. You can download an app onto most any smart phone or tablet or ipod touch for free and start buying ebooks, or you could even get the app for your comp

Book Review: INSIGHT Beholders book 1 by Terron James

What the book says for itself.

Rumors are surging through Appernysia that a Beholder has been born, the first wielder of True Sight in over a millennium.

Seventeen-year-old Lon Marcs discovers he has been blessed—or cursed—with this gift. He cannot control the power of True Sight and feels it killing him with each passing day. He realizes that the only people who might possess the knowledge to save his life are the sworn enemies of his king. To obtain their help, Lon would have to journey into exile, leaving behind his village, family, and beloved Kaylen.

Although this is the hardest decision Lon has ever made, it is only the first of many that will test his strength and challenge his interpretation of right and wrong.

What I have to say about it.

I had already read this book in its first printing and enjoyed it then. I think it has improved a lot since the first version. Some of the extra fluff and unnecessary stuff was removed or condensed. (And I loved the prologue in this version) 

Things I liked about this book. Lon Marcs actually goes and does something about his problem. The battle and fight scenes were very engaging and kept my attention throughout. I liked the characters and how they were developed for the most part. Some characters I even hated, but I believe I was supposed to and Terron did a great job on making me feel something for many of the characters. The world and the magic system were interesting and I liked how Lon had to work hard to figure out how to survive with this magic that was taking over his body.

Some things I didn’t like. Though most of the characters were well developed and I got a pretty good feel for them, I thought they were lacking in emotion and a solid reason for them to do what they did. I didn’t see it enough. I’m not used to reading 3^rd person stories where we get to see everything everyone else sees, I prefer the kind where I get really into a characters mind and emotions so I personally didn’t feel what I had hoped to from the characters.

I also thought there were many times when things were skipped over for one character while we went to a different location and a different character. I wanted to see more of Lon’s trials and experiences in the Rayder lands instead of the stuff about his twin sister Mellai and his girlfriend/fiancé Kaylen. I’m sure they are important later on in the series, but I sort of found their little side stories kind of annoying at times since I missed out on stuff from Lon’s point of view.  

The only real fault I can find with this story is that Lon’s experience spans something like 7 months in the story and I never really felt that his rise to power in the Rayder army was truly warranted. I didn’t see him really earn it since I think a lot of the time we went to the side characters stories and missed what he did to actually earn his place. I can believe his change of loyalty and the reason for him truly joining himself to the Rayders cause. I just don’t think it really would have happened that fast with the information I saw as a reader experiencing Lon’s actions. Other than that, it was a fun read. Not quick and easy by any means, but enjoyable still.

It will be released on June 1st and you can buy it on Amazon HERE or 

Get it on Barnes and Noble HERE

Book Review: A Perfect Fit by Heather Tullis

What the book says for itself:

Cami DiCarlo doesn’t agree with her father that her life has been stuck in a rut, so she is not happy when he forces her hand into heading up guest services at his newest five-star hotel. The fact that he unveils the existence of four half-sisters at the same time, and insists that they live together while they launch the new resort, only makes things worse. When she meets Vince Talmadge, the sweet, sexy landscaper her father would never have approved of, Cami can’t say no. If only she could be sure she is on the right track—and that they will be able to stop the person who is trying to destroy everything she and her sisters are working to build.

What I had to say about the book.

I sort of struggled with this book and I couldn’t decide at first why it was I didn’t immediately like it. I could have been that the story is about one couple, but ALL the sisters are involved in this book as the set up to the series begins. The names of the girls were all about flowers but I couldn’t really remember what each girl was supposed to be in charge of in the running of the Hotel their father forced them into working in. They are all sisters, but only 2 share the same mother and the other 3 have different mothers. They struggle to come to terms with their relationships as sisters, and their feelings for their cheating father. And though I did like that part of the story where I could see the inner turmoil and how they interacted with each other and eventually learned to get along. It was still difficult to grasp the love story I wanted to read about because of all the extra family involved in the plot.

I totally guessed the “bad guys”. One right from the start and the other pretty quickly afterward so it was kind of predictable, but there were still fun twists and surprises I didn’t see at first. The whole issue the “Bad guy” had was a little cheesy and overblown, but desperate people do desperate things.

The love story should have had me riveted, but it kinda happened really fast, then they started sleeping together (though nothing is given in detail so it could still be considered basically a clean romance) and I was really annoyed. Their kissing started to get boring for me since there was no “sexual tension” because they were already a couple, just afraid to commit to the long term relationship at first.  I’m sure I’ll read the others that come out for the series (the teaser for book 2 at the end of this book 1 was interesting), but I’m not dying for them right away. 

DOUBLE Book Review Shatter Me and Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

     
                                                                                  


What Shatter Me says for itself:

I have a curse.
I have a gift.

I'm a monster.
I'm more than human.

My touch is lethal.
My touch is power.

I am their weapon.
I will fight back.

No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon. But Juliette has plans of her own. After a lifetime without freedom, she's finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time—and to find a future with the one boy she thought she'd lost forever.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a riveting dystopian world, a thrilling superhero story, and an unforgettable heroine.

What Unravel Me says for itself:

tick
tick
tick
tick
tick
it's almost
time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

What I have to say about both of them:

These books are awesome and you tear right through them. I read the first book when it was online for the promotion of book 2. I read it in one afternoon. Then book 2 was done in 5 hours. Such a fast read, but not a small book. (Either of them)

The style is unusual and not what I’m used to reading, but these books didn’t slow me down on that at all. The only thing I didn’t like is that in book 2 I read it in the actual book form, not an e-book, and they had the edges of the pages roughed up. (probably to give you a feel for a dystopian world with books being banned) but I found it annoying.

Shatter Me starts out with Juliette in a mental institution and she’s been writing in a journal about her issues. As we read her thoughts, I love how some of them are crossed out like she’s trying to be honest, then changes her mind to show she’s not completely lost her senses. The thing about Juliette is that she has a superpower that makes it so people can’t touch her skin. She will drain them of all lifeforce and it hurts them as she touches them. She loves the way it feels, but is so sickened and horrified that what her touch does is kill another person.

Adam is sent to observe her, and we come to discover that he can touch her through some weird  trick of fate. They knew each other in school before she accidentally killed a child through touch and is sent from doctor to doctor and hospital to hospital to eventually end up all alone in an institution. Through the comments in her notes and a few conversations with some other people, we see the world has been changed because of the way the humans treated it. Grass is not green. Birds can’t fly. Martial Law rules.

Warner wants to use her as a powerful weapon to reorder and start the world anew with him in control, but she refuses to be used as a weapon. Adam helps her escape and they find themselves at the end of the book with a group of people I can only relate to the X-men.  Ari thinks she’ll finally have something of a normal life.

Unravel Me picks up a couple weeks after book 1 ended. Ari is having a hard time adjusting to this new prison. She still feels trapped and wonders if her power will be used for this side of the war and how being used by one group would be any different than being used by a different group.

The interactions between the characters and how they try to make the best of the really crappy situations they find themselves in is wonderful. I’d have to say Kenji is my favorite character in this book. (He was a supporting one in book 1, but here we get to see all the awesome stuff he can do.)

Adam, we discover has some kind of mutation as well, thus the reason he can touch Julliette without injury, but there of course has to be a twist. And I loved how there would still be some tension and hardness for the characters, though I was still really sad for Juliette that she couldn’t find any happily ever after.

Warner comes into play in this book, and it’s even better than book 1. We get to see that Warner isn’t just a bad guy. (he is a bad guy), but he does have a reason for what he’s doing and getting into his mind through the interactions with Juliette was awesome. Plus there is kissing and a whole lot of confusion, and guilt, and action, and fighting and on and on.

I CANT WAIT for book 3. 

Buy Shatter Me on Amazon HERE

Buy Shatter Me on Barnes and Nobel HERE

BUY Unravel Me on Amazon HERE

Buy Unravel Me on Barnes and Nobel HERE

Book Review: FEUDLINGS by Wendy Knight

Hey, I might actually be able to post this. Been having difficulty with blogger lately, but it seems like it may be fixed.

So I've not been reading as much since I've done tons of writing and editing over the last month. Finished book # 3 the middle of April. So fun to be able to create something from just an idea.

And its also amazing to read someone else's ideas. In the form of a book. And speaking of reading other books, let me tell you about one that kept me up way into the night it was so good.

FEUDLINGS by Wendy Knight.



First off, can I just say I love this cover! And those boots! If I could stand to wear heels, I'd totally have a pair like that.
Here's what the book has to say for itself:

Nothing makes a new school suck worse than discovering the guy you’re in love with is your prophesied nemesis.

Ari is the most powerful flame-throwing sorceress ever, and her people’s last hope in an ancient war. But she’s also a seventeen-year-old girl, and in her free, not-hunting-nemesis times, she jumps from school to school, trying to figure out regular people her own age and pretending she’ll get the chance to graduate.

Shane lives a double life. He goes to school and masters the art of popularity, hiding the fact that he has a fate with a slim chance of his survival. He’s destined to end a 300 year-old war by killing or being killed. He knows he’s hunted by a powerful enemy who’s not afraid to die. Only problem? He has no idea who that enemy is. 

When Ari shows up at Shane’s school, angry and sullen and determined to keep him at arm’s reach, neither of them realize they are supposed to be killing each other, not fall-ing in love. Until Ari does realize it, and she almost dies – by Shane’s hand.

Here's what I have to say about it:

This was such a fun book. Very much a Romeo and Juliet without the tragedy. Two kids from feuding family's fall in love and try to stop the whole war. Romance without being inappropriate. Battle scenes without being horrible and bloody and gory. A teenage assassin who has to fight her family's ancient battles, and does her best to be merciful, giving them the chance to run yet protects her family and her mother especially. Ari has a brother who is supposed to be her protector, (fighting assistant, right hand man, guardian, and so forth) but since he has a conscience and didn't want to continue fighting in the war, he is now an outcast and can't ever return home, but that doesn't stop him from still being her guard and doing what he can. The magic in the story was believable (as far as magic goes) there were rules to it, they had to do it right, no one could do all the things and there were limitations.
The humanity and relationship development was right on. Ari wasn't used to having friends and had always shut herself off from people, but as her classmates begin to break down her walls and she lets her guard down she starts to realize she can be human and actually enjoy life, even to the point of falling for a guy. Shane at first seemed like the egotistical popular guy that had to have a girlfriend all the time, but we soon get to see how Shane is so much different than the image he projects as a way to keep himself hidden in the open. The supporting characters were awesome and I even loved to hate the room mate.
Wendy did a wonderful job on this story and it has a sequel coming before long.

Here is Wendy's BLOG

It's a great price as well.
Here's the link to buy it on AMAZON

Here's the link for Barnes and Noble

And if you have a preference for Smashwords, it's right HERE

Book Review: Seeking Persephone by Sarah Eden

Here's what the book says for itself:

When Persephone Lancaster receives a marriage proposal from the ill-tempered Duke of Kielder, she refuses, and then reconsiders. The obscene sum of money he's offering Persephone would save her family from ruin. With her characteristic optimism, she travels to the far reaches of Northumberland to wed a greatly feared stranger. Lodged deep in a thick forest infested with wild dogs, the Duke's castle is as cold and forbidding as the Duke himself, a man with terrible scars on his body and his soul. But the Duke's steely determination to protect his heart at all costs is challenged by his growing attachment to his lovely and gentle bride. With caring persistence, Persephone attempts to pierce the Duke's armor and reach the man beneath. Yet he cannot tolerate such exposure, and his repeated rejections take their toll. But when grave danger arises, the Duke realizes he must face the risk of revealing his true feelings or lose the woman he cannot live without.

Here's what I have to say about it:

I LOVE it when a romance is clean and sweet and you are left wishing it wasn’t clean, but so relieved when it really is clean. Sarah Eden is a masterful writer and none of her plots are the same or feel forced.  This was such a cute book, and I wondered how on earth people back then did what they did, and why they would possibly consider marrying someone they had never met to save their family from ruin. It would never happen today, but by Sarah's wonderful storytelling, you can see how the characters would do just that. And still believe it was all logical.  The only thing I didn't really love in this story is the villain and the harm he caused seemed slightly odd. His retaliation seemed a little too mean for the offense given to him. But of course, he was a jerk, so they do those things right?

Persephone went through a lot, but held up really well. She was such a positive thinker and tried so hard that I was getting really irritated at Adam for not realizing how fortunate he really was sooner. I loved how Adam was a mean bear, but still had a soft spot, and his friend Harry is so awesome. (He's featured as the Hero in a follow-up book "Courting Miss Lancaster" and I absolutely recommend it too since Persephone and Adam are in it as well) See my review on it coming soon.

Wonderful book all around. Get it. You won't be disappointed.

Find it on Amazon HERE

Find it on Barnes and Noble Here

BOOK REVIEW: Reasons I fell for the funny fat friend. By Becca Ann

Book review  REASONS I FELL FOR THE FUNNY FAT FRIEND  By Becca Ann

What the book says about itself:

It's stupid to fall for your brother's ex. It's even worse to enlist another's help to win the ex over. But Brody is desperate and Hayley, his partner in American Sign Language, is more than willing to lend him a few tips. She’s the school’s ‘matchmaker’, and with her bizarre and positive personality, Brody finds her easy to talk too, even about the most awkward situations. Hayley’s tips seem to be working, but as Brody learns more about his matchmaker, he starts finding reasons to spend time with her, and not the girl he thought he was in love with. But Hayley isn’t ready to fall for anyone. Labeled the “Funny Fat Friend” within her group, her self image makes it impossible for Brody to share his feelings without Hayley shrugging it off as a joke. Convincing her Brody can, and did, fall for the “Funny Fat Friend” turns out to be a lot harder than simply falling in love.

What I have to say about it:

This was a cute book overall, but it was sort of offensive in places. Maybe it was because it was told from a teenage boys point of view. He was sort of crude in places, and I was very relieved when he changed his language because Hayley didn’t like the way he talked. There was also a lot of sexuality and reference to sex in it. I know that’s the “norm” for kids these days. (makes me sound like an old prude, but I guess I am) I don’t think it needed all the reference to sex and that the kids in it seemed to treat a sexual relationship as so casual and as something not important.

The things I liked about this were how Brody could see all the good qualities in Hayley. How Hayley was struggling with her own self image and that Brody could see past the whole “you have to be model perfect” image so many girls struggle with. I liked the set up in the book, the Chapter headings cracked me up a lot of the time. I liked how it came gradually for Brody to realize why he was falling for Hayley, and how even though he was trying to prove he liked her, he still screwed up and made mistakes along the way. It seemed like a very real portrayal of a true to life situation.

 

Check it out on Amazon HERE

Check it out on Barnes and Noble HERE

Book Review: Gentleman of her Dreams by Jen Turano

 

A book review:

Gentleman of her Dreams by Jen Turano

 

 

What the book says about itself:

When Miss Charlotte Wilson asks God for a husband, she decides He must want her to pursue Mr. Hamilton Beckett, the catch of the season. The only problem? She's never actually met Hamilton. Fortunately, one of her oldest and dearest friends, Mr. Henry St. James--who has returned to New York after a two-year absence--does know Hamilton. Much to Henry's chagrin, Charlotte immediately ropes him into helping her meet Hamilton. However, none of her plans to catch Hamilton's eye go as she expected, and she is even more confused when her old feelings for Henry begin to resurrect themselves. In the midst of the mayhem Charlotte always seems to cause, she wonders if the gentleman of her dreams might be an entirely different man than she thought.This novella is a companion to A Change of Fortune, Jen Turano's full-length debut novel, available fall 2012!

 What I have to say about it:

This was so cute. Charlotte is a riot and that she wanted to catch Mr. Hamilton Beckett and the way she tried were hilarious to me. I loved how Henry tried to help her and put aside his own feelings for her to try to help out, but that Charlotte’s family and even the servants knew Henry was more suited to her and were rooting for him. I rooted for him too. Such a nice guy and it was wonderful that they figured it out eventually.

It was so fun and I know it was a prep or a teaser for the Change of Fortune coming out soon I loved her style of writing I’m definitely going to get it soon.

This was free or really cheap at the time of this review. Maybe it still is, but its worth paying for either way.

Check it out on Barnes and Noble HERE
Check it out on Amazon HERE

Book Review Turning Pages by Tristi Pinkston

BOOK REVIEW:  Turning Pages by Tristi Pinkston

What the book has to say for itself:

With his pride and her prejudice, what could possibly go wrong?

When the arrogant Blake Hansen steals Addie Preston's promotion at the library, he pretty much rubs her nose in it. But Addie, who dreams of being a full-fledged librarian, decides to stick it out. She loves surrounding herself with books and keeping her father's memory alive in the building where they spent so much time together.

Soon, Addie learns that her beloved library will be torn down to make room for a larger facility, and she has to make a choice. Fight, or let go?

To complicate things, she finds herself attracted to Blake, who is engaged to someone else. Will Blake and Addie ever resolve their differences?

What I have to say about it:

What a cute story. This was a fun retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.  Addie has had a pretty rough couple months in this story. Her dad died in a car accident and the families financial situation gets pretty rough, she doesn’t get the promotion she’d been expecting at the library that was basically promised her earlier, and the guy who did get it seems to be a pretty arrogant boss type guy. Her attempts to change the citiy leaders minds about tearing down the building don’t work. She has problems with her best friends brother who she’s been crushing on for years, and then her best friend even gives her some stress. But through it all, Addie is a character you can really love and get behind. She has some down moments, but it’s so refreshing to read about a girl who has values, morals, and goals and will stick to them no matter what. Her upbeat personality shines through and you find yourself rooting for her.  It’s a very quit and easy read. A clean romance just like the Jane Austen version.

 

Check it out on Amazon HERE

Check it out on Barnes and Noble HERE

Book Review TIDE EVER RISING by Mandi Tucker Slack

BOOK REVIEW of TIDE EVER RISING by Mandi Tucker Slack



What the book says about itself:

Kadence Reynold’s favorite pastime is exploring old ghost towns, but when she and her sister, Maysha, stumble across an old journal and cheap pendant hidden in the depths of a crumbling foundation near Eureka, Utah, their world is suddenly turned upside down. Immediately, strange dreams and premonitions begin to haunt “Kadie” as she learns more about the author of the journal, Charlotte Clark. Kadie sets out on a journey to learn more about Charlotte and her family, and she and Maysha travel to Bremerton, Washington, where they discover Charlotte's still living twin sister, Adelaide and her family.

Kadie and Maysha, upon arriving in Washington, are immediately immersed in Adelaide and Charlotte’s story. Kadie soon learns that Charlotte disappeared the night of a tragic fire that took the lives of Adelaide’s entire family. With the help of Logan Mathews, Adelaide’s handsome grandson, and Charlotte’s ever disconcerting presence, Kadie delves into the past. Hoping to solve the mystery of Charlotte’s disappearance, Kadie immediately discovers the secrets contained in the journal will toss her and Adelaide’s family into a world filled with mystery, past regrets, and dark unknowns.

  

What I have to say about it:

This was a good book with a great plot and fun storyline. The little hints of supernatural elements like a ghost were well done and something that even I could accept. I liked the characters and felt I was really getting to know them. (Little sister Maysha was one of my favorites) I even developed an understanding for the bad guy. The motivations of the bad guy seemed a little strange at first, but people want to keep their secrets buried deep and not ever admit to wrong doing. The only thing I didn’t buy in this story was how fast the relationship developed between the love interests. Through their experiences together, it was natural and evolved in a way I could accept, but it was just way fast for me. Mandi’s other story THE ALIAS was a quickly developed relationship too, but for some reason I accepted it better.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and finished it quickly. It’s a clean romance with hints of religion, but nothing preachy.

Find it on AMAZON HERE

Find it on Barnes and Noble HERE

The Serpent in the Glass by D. M. Andrews

The Serpent in the Glass.

What the book has to say about itself.

On his eleventh birthday Thomas Farrell is informed that the deceased father he never knew has provided for his education at Darkledun Manor, a school for gifted children. Thomas, however, feels he's just an ordinary boy, but Darkledun Manor proves to be anything but an ordinary school...

In this work of fiction the reader is transported into a world of myth as the young protagonist, Thomas Farrell, seeks to understand who his mysterious father was, and why he left him a strange glass orb containing a serpent. As the story progresses, Thomas and his friends become increasing caught up in a world they never knew existed - a world beyond the standing stones.

 

What I have to say about it.

This was a very fun and pretty quick read. But it very much reminded me of Harry Potter. Almost to the point where lots of things seemed a bit of a knock off. The further I got into the story, the more original it became but that knock off feeling is the reason I didn't give it 5 stars.

Thomas is an orphan, raised by some uptight "English" parents. They do have a daughter Jessica that loves Thomas as if he were her real brother and they have a fun and kind relationship. When Thomas gets enrolled in Darkledun Manor he makes sure Jessica can come with. Thomas was given a glass marble type thing with a serpent that looks like a dragon suspended in it. This turns out to be a magical object that gives Thomas powers that belong to him as the heir to something special. (Trying not to give spoilers here)

I did enjoy this. I think it would be a great read for those who loved the Harry Potter series. I think young boys and girls too would like this book.

 

Check it out on AMAZON HERE

 

Check it out on Barnes and Noble HERE

 

Book Review: Adversarious by M. L. Chesley

ADVERSARIUS


            By:  M. L. Chesley

M. L. Chesley is an Alaska based author, online blogger and MMORPG junkie. She has been writing fantasy for several years. Between writing, work and family she barely has time for much gaming, but some days, raids take precedence over all. If you would like to learn more about her world, created in this book, go to www.mlchesley.webs.com. You can also follow her blog at www.caledonialass.blogspot.com.

 

What the book has to say about itself: 

Two kingdoms, two goals.
The king of Relavia is determined to wipe out his warring neighbors in Paridzule, a worthy adversary for over five hundred years. News of an arranged marriage between his son and the daughter of his lifelong enemy has fueled the temper of Relavia's tyrannical king. What he doesn't realize is the true measure of his son's honor and how far he is willing to go to gain peace.

What I have to say about it:

I didn't really know what to expect from this book. I'd heard hints about it, but I purposely didn't look up anything about it because I wanted to come at it fresh with no previous prejudice. I do wonder if that approach is what made me unsure which character was the Main Character. (I'm still not exactly sure, but I'm thinking its two of them.)

Things I really liked.  The story gets off to a start with a battle scene on a ship being attacked by Pirates. (she spelled it weird, but I can't remember exactly how it was) The world building was wonderful. The variety of characters was fun. And usually when you have that many characters in a story, you begin to lose some of them, or they become 2 dimentional, but all her characters felt pretty developed to me. I even remembered who most of them were even the ones who only showed up in passing. Something I thought was well done. Not even their weird names could throw me off.
There wasn't really any romance per se, but it was still a romantic type book. The two characters who love each other, don't even interact really except in a flashback, but I was still rooting for them. 
There are also side stories, and supporting characters who have wonderful interactions with each other, and there is always excitment and adventure and even more fight scenes. (including assassins.)

Things I didn't like so much, and some of this might be a bit of a spoiler, but I'll try to be careful.  This book seemed to stop too soon for me. I know it is the first in a series, and it wasn't like I was left with a cliff hanger or anything, but I really wish she would have been able to keep going. I want to know what happens to those people right away.
I kind of know what the plot is, but there are a variety of side plots that enhance the story, but also make it so this book couldn't complete a full circle without becomming too large. I didn't like it that the two I was rooting for didn't end up together, but I'm pretty sure it will happen in another book. (It better!)
There were a few spots where I stopped believing in the magic because I couldn't help feeling the same way about it as the characters did when they found out the limitations of magic, but later on it was explained in a way I could accept.

Overall, this is a fun book. Pretty hefty, and not a light or a short read, but it is enjoyable. I really am looking forward to the next book because I have to see what happens next.


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Book review. THE ALIAS by Mandi Tucker Slack

 Book Review:  THE ALIAS by Mandi Tucker Slack




What the book says about itself:

Jacey Grayson is an average, young, divorced mother struggling to build a new life for her son, Blaze. But when the FBI discloses some disturbing information about her ex-husband, Jacey's life becomes anything but average. At the risk of losing her identity, her future, and her heart, Jacey and Blaze flee to Utah, hoping to hide and start over once again. But no matter how far she runs or who she pretends to be, her past is always lurking nearby, bringing old fears with it. Thrilling action and a suspenseful plot make this novel an edge-of-your-seat-read. 



What I have to say about it:

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed. The story seemed to flow very well without making me feel like there were things happening just to move the story forward. I loved how though Jacey was going under a different name, I never got confused when they used the other name. The romance in this was just perfect for me. Nothing blushworthy ever, and it developed in a way I could accept without making it feel like it was forced. But it was still very sweet and romantic and I couldn't help rooting for the couple.
Jacey stayed in an abusive relationship for many years and when she eventually got out of it, she works hard at making a new life for herself. I loved how the author made us aware of how women from abusive relationships are all different, but may have similar reasons for sticking with it. But I also loved how Jacey changed and made a person for herself that wasn't going to ever allow herself to be abused again.
The only problem I had with this story was Jacey's ex, John. Of course he was a creep, and I did get his motivations for why he did what he did, but there were a couple places where when he was talking to his partner in crime he sounded a little too "tough guy". Besides that one little thing that's hardly worth mentioning, I really loved this book. It was a fast read and I never once wanted to put it down and go look for something else to do.




Check out her website HERE
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Book Review The Time Hunters by Carl Ashmore

The Time Hunters.

Here is what the book has to say about itself. 

Becky is a typical thirteen year old girl. She likes Facebook, gossiping and plenty of sleep. So when she and her brother, Joe, are invited to stay with their 'loony' Uncle Percy at his stately home, she thinks it’ll be the worst summer ever. What she doesn't realise is that Bowen Hall is also home to a baby Triceratops, two Sabre-tooth tigers and the mythic hero, Will Scarlet...

'The Time Hunters' is a thrilling adventure that takes Becky, Joe, Uncle Percy and Will on a quest through time to find the legendary Golden Fleece.

The Clock is ticking....

 

Here's what I have to say about it.

This was fun. It was a time travel book, and I don't usually read those, but I'm glad I did this one. The two kids, a brother and sister reminded me a bit of the relationship that the siblings in Fablehaven have. Loving, but still a little combative at times. The great uncle they go to live with during the summer seems a bit odd and eccentric, and the kids aren't all that excited about going to stay with him, but when they get there, they have a good time and discover he's got a couple time machines and they get to go with him on a couple trips.

Bad guys chase them through time while they are looking for the legendary "Golden Fleece", there are twists to common history where we find out the "REAL" story of things including Jason and the Argonauts, and Hercules. It's a fun interpretation of history. (though that's just a fun side story) Lots of quirky things and very fun.

The story is very British, and it took me a bit to understand their lingo and some of the phrases they used, but pretty soon I was totally into their world.

 

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Book Review. Fair Maiden by Cheri Schmidt

Fair Maiden by Cheri Schmidt

 

This was a fun read. Magical and seemingly paranormal, but with a twist I didn't expect. The characters were well developed. I loved them. Christian Sparks, an Earl moves into an old Castle. When his presence wakes up the "ghost" who's been trapped for centuries in a hidden room. She can't remember who she is, or where she came from, or how she died. He can see her but no one else can, unless she chooses for them to. She's transparent though so she can't be passed as anything but a ghost. 

Christian can't get his inheritance from his father to maintain this castle and grounds until he gets married. (Silly parents) but he doesn't have any prospects for marriage and he's of course fallen for this ghost. 

The ghost (who we eventually learn her name is Tessa) knows she can't have him, but is still connected to him. She can't leave the castle grounds because of the spell around it, but when Christian goes to a ball to meet some ladies his mother is insisting he pick a bride from, Tessa calls his name and is transported there. And that makes things fun because sometimes she flits back and forth from being ghost like to being flesh and blood. But no one knows when it's gonna happen. Through the workings of a spell and with the help of a witch, they figure things out and learn who Tessa really is, but that's just the beginning of what they need to do. They've got to end the spell that's on her, and save her from the threat that caused her to be under that spell in the first place. 

This book was fast paced, engaging, romantic without getting blushworthy, and like I mentioned, not what I expected when I first started it. Nice twist. The only thing I didn't like was the epilogue where I'm not sure if they were leaving things open for a sequel or if it was just a tease for me to think of what happens next on my own.

 

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