Scapemaker by Steve Cypert & Giveaway

Title:  Scapemaker

Author:  Steve Cypert

Series:  Scapemaker #1

Published:  November 19th 2012

Page Count:  482

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Shelf:  Contests & Giveaways

Rating: ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Matthew is the son of Mr. Nicholas Namely, a local high school teacher. But unbeknownst to Matthew, his father is a dreamscaper whose classroom is connected to the dream-world. From his classroom, his students enter the halls of Scapemaker, a dream-world high school for young dreamscapers.

Following a couple of heartfelt tragic events, Matthew is compelled to investigate the unbelievable mysteries surrounding those events and is propelled into a whole new world. Matthew and his mother, Mae, are soon coerced into moving across the country for his father's strange medical needs. While attending his new school, Matthew comes to know the secrets that Daedree, an annoying girl from his former high school, has locked away. Matthew also meets Amber, a beautiful enigmatic girl who leads him to Mr. Xoner's classroom. While there, he learns the art of dreamscaping (which has been in the Namely bloodline for thousands of years).

Matthew will come to know of Nox Celare, otherwise known as The Sandman, who is after a special element called Magineum. Neck deep in skinwalkers, sandsleepers, zombies, soul feeders, ghosts, dream-world criminals known as “night terrors” and more, Matthew learns he is in over his head. Matthew must not only solve the mysteries surrounding those tragic events, but he will also have to protect the Magineum with his life and find a way to be with the one girl of his dreams. Filled with secrecy, mystery and a forbidden tangle of young love, this new life will lead Matthew to unbelievable characters with the most extraordinary abilities he could never have imagined.

Scapemaker will keep you grounded in the real world while at the same time make the fantastical world around it that much more possible and enduring. This tale of young adult paranormal fantasy will keep you guessing and wanting more.

My Review:
You absolutely have to feel for the main character in this novel. I can’t even imagining being in his shoes, yet the author has everything laid out so clearly and vividly that I can’t imagine it not happening. I can’t actually picture myself along on this journey with him. Cypert made this all the easier because he has the ability to make the weird seem standard and everyday.

Scapemaker is so fully and vividly laid out that you feel like you’ve visited it. You can picture every room and outdoor scene that the characters go into. Even all of the rules for the realm are clearly laid out so that you would know what to do and how to act when you arrive. This story is so absolutely unique and very out of this realm without seeming over the top crazy that you can’t help but want to journey there. Not only is the world vividly put together, but the story itself is well written and fast paced.

Cypert’s cast of characters is also very intriguing. All of the major characters were quite well developed. You actually got to know them as if they were your high school friends. They also acted and spoke like characters of their own age. There were differences in dialogues based on age, and the locale where the characters grew up. This attention to detail was greatly appreciated. It was also very interesting to see the differences between some of the characters in the real world and in Scapemaker. They were the same, yet somehow different.

As a whole, this was an awesome novel. Cypert makes everything seem so very real that it doesn’t seem like a fantastical notion. It leaves you wanting more, but in a very good way.

Buy your copy online here today!

Enter below to win 1 of 3 Smashwords ecopies of the phenomenal young adult fantasy, Scapemaker. 

Winners will be announced Thursday March 14/13. Good luck!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck to everyone!!!

Continue Reading...

The Vanished by Sarah Dalton

Title:  The Vanished

Author:  Sarah Dalton

Series:  Blemished #2

Published:  January 30th 2013

Page Count:  294

Genre:  Young Adult Dystopian

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

“The Compound bustled with action and anticipation, causing my stomach to do a flip. I stopped in my tracks, realising something, something I hadn't thought of before. We were going to war, and people were going to die.”

The Vanished are the forgotten: those who live beyond law or society. Mina fought for freedom. She fought for a better life – a future. But even a free world can decay.

As Mina begins her new life in the Clans she meets people with surprising knowledge about her power, knowledge that could change everything – even her relationship with Daniel. But as she makes new friends, old friends turn against her in shocking betrayal.

Life in the Compound is tough; there are ways and traditions so strange that Mina begins to suspect foul play at the very heart of her new home. Instead of leaving corruption behind in Area 14, Mina is faced with the rotten core of human nature as a Clan warlord threatens to invade the Compound. The Clans are turning against each other and Mina is stuck in the middle.

The Vanished is the second instalment in the Blemished series and follows Mina’s story as she continues to challenge those in power and seek out new dangers. With even more rebellion, romance and betrayal, The Vanished promises to take the reader on a roller-coaster ride of adventure and emotion.

Will freedom fall?

My Review:

It’s always great when a sequel picks up right where the last instalment in a series left off. The reader isn’t left wondering or guessing what happened in the interim period. That is exactly what Dalton did with this novel. It was made all the better and much trickier by the fact that the first instalment in the series wasn’t a cliff-hanger. That said, once into this novel, it was completely different (yet somehow still the same) as its predecessor.

This novel was just as intense as the first in the series, but in a completely different way. Although genetic manipulation and mutation still plays a major role in the story, there is a great deal more fighting in this novel. The story at the core remains the same but Dalton runs with it. With this twist, she avoids the staleness that can occur in a series that never changes, evolves, or in this case, mutates. The story remains extremely well written. Dalton employs many different techniques while describing the world that her characters find themselves in. Through the symbolism found in colour and scent she very subtly, yet effectively, differentiates between individuals and locales.

Character development continues in this novel in a very efficient manner. Characters learn a great deal about themselves through their interactions with others and through situations that they find themselves immersed in. Being caught up in peer pressure causes them to fight for who they are. They also grow up quite quickly due to the lack of parental units but yet remain true to themselves. I thoroughly enjoyed that most of the characters held to their beliefs and didn't do things that made them uncomfortable. It was very nice to see them being the same individuals at the end of the novel as they were at the beginning, regardless of what they went through or how hard they had to fight to get back to themselves.

If the uniqueness of this novel doesn't grab you then the characters will draw you into their world. Dalton has an amazing way with words that connects your imagination to hers. You can’t help but love the characters and want to help them through the unimaginable yet very possible world that they live in.

Buy your copy online here today!

Continue Reading...

The Blemished by Sarah Dalton

Title:  The Blemished

Author:  Sarah Dalton

Series:  Blemished #1

Published:  August 2012 by Feed a Read

Page Count:  328

Genre:  Young Adult Dystopian

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A beautiful world comes at a price...

In a world filled with stunning clones Mina Hart is Blemished. Her genes are worthless and that takes away her rights: her right to an Education, her right to a normal life and her right to have a child.

Mina keeps a dangerous secret which she never thought she could share until she meets Angela on her first day at St Jude's School. But their friendship is soon complicated by Angela’s adoptive brother Daniel. Mina finds herself drawn to his mysterious powers and impulsive nature. Then there is the gorgeous clone Sebastian who Mina is forbidden from even speaking to…

The Blemished is a frightening take on a fractured future where the Genetic Enhancement Ministry have taken control of Britain. It will take you on a ride filled with adventure, romance and rebellion.

My Review:

This novel is extra scary simply because you can picture the events happening. Based on the storyline, it is so easy to see genetic engineering following this path that it makes you shudder. This leads to events and times that are completely heart wrenching. You can barely fathom the very real issues that these characters live with, yet they are brought to life so vividly that you feel for them. This realism combined with Dalton’s phenomenal storytelling creates a world that you feel completely immersed in yet never want to visit.

This novel was also very well written. Everything flows so seamlessly that you can immerse yourself completely in the storyline and characters. The world comes to live through Dalton’s descriptions of locales and settings. You can picture yourself walking through the various sections of the England that she has built for her story.

As unique as this novel was, the best part about it was the characters. Each and every one of the major characters is extremely well developed and loveable in their own way. You know who they are and where they came from. You can see the various trials and tribulations that they have been through to build them into the individuals that they are today. None of them have had easy lives. It is refreshing to read about something other than the upper strata of society. Yet at the same time, the author shows that they do not have carefree lives either.

This was a phenomenally well written first novel for an up and coming new author. It leads you into a world that you can get lost in while giving you something to hope for and believe in. Well done!

Buy your copy online here today!

Continue Reading...

Protector by Joanne Wadsworth

Title:  Protector

Author:  Joanne Wadsworth

Published:  January 7th 2013 by Lyrical Press, Inc

Page Count  210

Genre:  Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:



To love and protect…across worlds.

Eighteen-year-old Faith Stryker is prepared to leap out into the unknown world beyond her home shores of New Zealand to experience life. Only she never expected to encounter Magio, a planet with two warring countries, where its people reach adulthood at eighteen by coming into their strength and prophetic abilities. Only after Faith discovers she’s a Halfling--thanks to her warrior father she’s never met--does her own skill of forethought develop.

Peacio’s Prince Davio Loveria is sent to the young Faith Stryker by his grandfather, but not all goes as planned. Davio discovers Faith isn’t just a Halfling, she’s also his soul-bound mate--an intense relationship he cannot, nor will not, give up.

With two wars now waging…one of land and the other of the heart…can the young lovers find their place in the world?

My Review:
This was a very well written novel. Wadsworth writes the way that individuals in high school tend to speak. Being that the novel is written in the first person, the descriptions and narratives follow the same format. The novel is full of slang and short forms, but it flows naturally. Nothing is ever forces, nor is it shortened to the point that it is no longer comprehensible. That said, the adults in the novel also spoke like adults. They weren’t bound to the slang used by the rest of the characters. It was very refreshing.

The characters themselves also exhibit many traits common to high school students. They have the same concerns and difficulties that many teens do when preparing for university or college. There are added difficulties for these individuals being that they are placed in the middle of a situation where 3 very different cultures merge. They need to learn to (or at least attempt to learn to) accept and embrace these differences. These cultural clashes lead to some quite interesting and very comical moments throughout the story. This all makes the characters seem very real, at least until the supernatural aspects come into play.

Wadsworth also combines the concept of bonded mate pairs with the concept for soul mates for a matching that is very intense. This is played against a very Romeo & Juliet type romance between the young royals of two warring supernatural nations. The best part of this relationship? They fight for their relationship. They do not allow their nations to dictate whether or not they can be together. The main female stands by her family while the main male wants to protect his nation. They attempt to compromise day by day in order to stay together.

I was very impressed throughout the story as to the number of twists and turns in the story and how they always did flow together. No matter what happened, or how unexpected it was, the reader never ends up being confused. There is a natural progression throughout allowing for an enjoyable read that you do not have to over-analyze at every turn. By the end of the novel I was left wanting more but also with a feeling of completion.

Buy your copy online here today.

Continue Reading...

Transitions by D.A. Lascelles

Title:  Transitions

Author:  D.A. Lascelles

Published:  August 2012 by Mundania Press

Page Count:  65

Genre:  Fantasy

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Transitions takes us on a journey through time. In modern day Birmingham , a group of university students become embroiled in a love story almost 2,000 years old as the ghost of Gaius Lucius, a Roman officer tries to reclaim his lost love.

What can Helen, a driven and ambitious student with high hopes for the future, do to solve this ancient riddle? And why is Brandon making late night visits to her house with tokens of love?

My Review:

This story captivates you in a way that a short story rarely can. Everything was so vivid and well laid out that you couldn't help but feel for the story. It was extremely well written and had the ability to engage the reader and keep their interest. Everything was laid out in such a manner as to entice the reader further into this world. I also appreciated the fact that the Roman legionnaires were on par with reality. Although this story itself is a fictional construct, they were not.

The characters in this short are better developed than many characters that you see in some full length novels. You may not know every tiny detail about them, but you definitely get to know who they are. They are also the type of people that you want to get to know better. By the end you feel like you really do know them well enough to go and grab a coffee and chat.

Lascelles has mastered the art of using the English word to its most effective end. He doesn't sacrifice the story line of this work to unnecessary narrative and descriptions while at the same time bringing everything, both character and setting, to life.

Buy your copy online here today!

Continue Reading...

Bleeding Hearts by Ash Krafton

Title:  Bleeding Hearts

Author:  Ash Krafton

Series:  The Demimonde #1

Published:  March 15th 2012 by Pink Narcissus Press (first published March 12th 2012)

Page Count:  370

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Sophie Galen is an advice columnist who is saving the world - one damned person at a time. Shy and sensitive Sophie has all but given up on love until she meets Marek, a mysterious stranger who seduces her with his striking good looks and his take-charge attitude. Yet the darkness she senses within him may be more than she is prepared to handle when Marek draws her into a world of vampires, werewolves, and treachery. Forced to leave behind the comfortable routines and certainties of her past, Sophie makes unbearable sacrifices and uncovers hidden truths about herself and the world around her.

My Review:

Any book that can evoke more than one intense emotion is worth reading. And I don’t mean a little giggle here, a little tug at your heart there. I mean, full blown laughing out loud at one point, bringing tears to your eyes at another, edge of your seat curiosity and suspense at yet another point. This novel provides that to the reader, and more.

The history and mythology wound through and into this story is absolutely brilliant. Not only is it wound seamlessly into the storyline, but it is also mythologically correct (before she runs with it, of course). She takes Egyptian mythology and creates a phenomenally unique creation myth for both vampires and Weres. The mythological accuracy of the beginnings of this creation myth make it all the more believable and help her create a world that you can actually visualise.

The descriptive techniques that Krafton employs bring this world to life. You can actually see each and every element of the town in which these people find themselves living their day to day lives. It is a very dark world, but it is vivid all the same. The characters are the same. They are brought to life in a manner that is fitting to their dark outlooks on life. They are also uniquely suited to their roles within the story as a whole.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was very well written. There was a while through the middle where the novel just meandered along its storyline, but as a whole it was a very cohesive unit that left you wanting the sequel.

Buy your copy online here today!

Continue Reading...

Feyland: The Dark Realm by Anthea Sharp

Title:  Feyland:  The Dark Realm

Author:  Anthea Sharp

Series: Feyland #1

Published:  April 12th 2012 by Createspace (first published December 1st 2011)

Page Count:  320

Genre:  Young Adult Fantasy

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:  

~ Book 1 in the award-winning YA Urban Fantasy trilogy ~

What if a high-tech computer game was a gateway to the dangerous Realm of Faerie?

WHEN A GAME…

Feyland is the most immersive computer game ever designed, and Jennet Carter is the first to play the prototype. But she doesn’t suspect the virtual world is close enough to touch — or that she’ll be battling for her life against the Dark Queen of the faeries.

TURNS REAL…

Tam Linn is the perfect hero — in-game. Too bad the rest of his life is seriously flawed. The last thing he needs is rich-girl Jennet prying into his secrets, insisting he’s the only one who can help her.

WINNING IS EVERYTHING…

Together, Jennet and Tam enter the Dark Realm of Feyland, only to discover that the entire human world is in danger. Pushed to the limit of their abilities, they must defeat the Dark Queen… before it’s too late.

My Review:

Holy Cow! I seriously lack hand eye coordination and any desire to become a gamer, but at the moment, I’m seriously considering it. This story was so excruciatingly real that you need to play the game with the characters. Just wow!

Sharp employs vividly exotic descriptions and locales that catch you right from the get go. This story becomes so real that it is scary. You can actually picture the events occurring and you find yourself picturing what would happen if you were in the characters’ shoes. The events in question may be out of our realm, but the way that they are written makes everything so real and thrilling that you forget that it is a fantasy.

The phenomenal characters in this novel draw you in to this world as well. They had personalities that you could relate to. There were definitely times when you wanted them to stop feeling sorry for themselves and get on with life, or wondered why in the world they had done something so irreversibly stupid, but they were real people struggling through their issues. I also enjoyed the fact that the relationship between the characters grew throughout the novel. They didn’t instantly go from strangers to madly in love in the blink of an eye. They got to know each other as people first. It made them that much more real and approachable.

This novel was amazingly exciting, invigorating, and captivating. It is so different from your typical fantasy novel that you can’t help but be intrigued. It brought a brand new world to life and kept me captivated throughout. It was brilliant as a standalone novel as well as the first novel in a series, providing you with characters that you get to know and love.

Buy your copy online here today!

Continue Reading...

The Warrior by Ty Patterson

Title:  The Warrior

Author:  Ty Patterson

Series: Zeb Carter and Booker #1

Published:  December 11th 2012

Page Count:  153

Genre:  Action/Suspense

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:  

Zeb Carter is almost your average Private Military Contractor. Almost. Which is why the perpetrators should have gone after him.

A thriller that spans Congo and New York, The Warrior is dotted with gritty action, a central character that fuels imagination, and a supporting cast of great colorful characters.

The Warrior is about relentless determination and a burning need to avenge and to deliver retribution against all odds. The Warrior is not just about action but also about character build up and the clash of differing values and how those clashes affect outcomes. Lastly, The Warrior is about the brotherhood of warriors.

My Review:
The premise behind this novel is very intriguing. Although following the basic model of an action story the overarching case that the characters are dealing with is unique [for a fictional story]. It leads to a very intense story.  

I found a couple of spots in the novel to be a bit choppy, but as a whole it was quite well written with a flow to the narrative. However, it does alternate between very slow and quite fast paced. I did appreciate the fact that Patterson wrote an action novel without something blowing up every few pages. There is definite substance to the storyline.  

I tend to appreciate a fair amount of character development within the novels that I read. I found that by the end of this story you don’t really know any of the characters at all. You find out bits and pieces about certain characters and their histories. Other than that, the only thing that you really learn about a character is their chosen profession.

One thing that I’m slightly perplexed with at this point is how this is the first book in the Zeb Carter and Booker series when one of those characters does not make it out of the novel. However, I assume that this will be explained in further novels in the series.

As a whole, this was a decent way to spend an afternoon. It was an easy to read novel that I enjoyed. I would love to know more about the characters and their very unique missions.

Buy your copy online here today.



Continue Reading...

Elijah's Conquest, Vol 1 by June Spears

Title:  Elijah's Conquest

Author:  June Spears

Series:  Elijah's Conquest #1

Published:  October 24th 2012 by June Spears

Page Count:  192

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

He met his fate at the young age of only seventeen. Elijah Fitzgerald, sets out to find the one person who changed his life. He finds his conquest fueled by the lust and hunger of his innermost desires, far beyond his wildest dreams.Will he ever find "The One" who will tame his ways forever?

Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.

My Review:

My first thought about this book upon completing it was that it is your stereotypical vampire meets human love story. It had some twists and changes, some of which were very unexpected, but as a whole this is what it was. It is a great lead in to the series as a whole, and hooks the reader on to the possibility of what is to come. The way that Spears managed this was brilliant.

The major characters in this novel were quite well developed. With the way that they were brought to life through the pages of the novel, you could always see where they were coming from and understand their actions and reactions. The minor characters were just there. They could have used some more development, and hopefully this will come in future novels in the series.

Spears uses some amazingly vivid descriptions that make everything seem extremely real. This includes the paranormal aspects of the novel. She manages to portray the outlandish events and aspects of a vampire in a manner that not only makes them seem possible but very plausible.

I think that my biggest issue with this story is that it jumps perspective way too often. At times, it happens from sentence to sentence and then back again. It was very frustrating because it really prevented me from immersing myself into the story.

I’m very intrigued to see where this goes with future installments. There were quite a few things that had me quite intrigued and wanting to know where they would lead. Although I was a bit iffy about this book on its own, I’m dying to see what the sequel brings (no pun intended....).

Buy your copy online here today!

Continue Reading...

Review: The Daemon Whisperer by Candice Bundy

Title:  The Daemon Whisperer

Author:  Candice Bundy

Series:  The Liminals Series #1

Published: October 1st 2012 by Lusios Publishing

Page Count:  366

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Shelf: Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

Meriwether Storm discovered the grisly remains of her parents when she was only fourteen—the result of a failed daemon summoning. Meri immediately swore vengeance on the daemon who'd killed her parents, but there was only one problem: she had no idea which one had committed the atrocity. Before their untimely deaths, her parents trained her intensively in the arts, which Meri used to follow in their footsteps, ever seeking the daemon's name. Now, despite her years of searching, she's no closer to the truth and her time is running out.

When a mysterious daemon named Azimuth offers Meri a deadly summoning in exchange for information about her parents’ murderer, she takes it immediately and without intimidation. What does worry her is her attraction to Azimuth: when he touches Meri, her pulse races and she breathlessly awaits the feel of his lips upon her skin. Meri knows she should keep him at arm's length, but her traitorous thoughts obsess over him night and day.

Blinded by her desperation for the truth and her desire for Azimuth, Meri places her trust in the creatures who are her sworn enemy, jeopardizing her need for vengeance. After Meri discovers there's more to the deal than the daemon cabal first promised, can she accept all they have to offer?

When retribution is the only thing that drives you, how much are you willing to sacrifice before you lose yourself to the cause?

Genre: Horror/Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance/Erotica, Content: Contains graphic violence and explicit sexual situations, recommended for readers 18+.

The Liminals series is set in a future dystopian Front-Range Colorado filled with daemons, god-touched, and other not quite human creatures. Liminal beings stand at the crossroads between our world and alternate dimensions and have the ability to set things back to rights, if they so choose.

My Review:

I must say, when I started to read this novel I was a bit worried. It had a bit of a slow start, but when the storyline began to pick up it exploded. It went from ‘meh’ to awesomeness in the turn of a page.

Bundy uses sentences and paragraphs to her advantage, altering her writing style slightly based on the type of action occurring at that point in time. The descriptions in this novel lay out every scene perfectly. I love how Bundy’s wording and sentence structure change between a normal human’s home and the darker demon world. It highlights the differences between the two. This also carries over into her development of characters. She uses different terminology and wording to describe and explain the various different types of characters. She also took the time to develop some awesome characters to star in this novel. None of the main characters are superficial, nor are they stock characters. Each is individually crafted to suit a specific purpose. You can’t help but get to know and love them.

The supernatural aspects of this novel are very clearly laid out and explained. This is done without distracting from the progression of the storyline itself. This is quite helpful since it varies quite widely from the stereotypical . I also found it really cool to read a story where everyone, supernatural or not, is aware of the supernatural world. For once, it’s not a hidden sect but rather the norm for the society.

This novel was definitely a great start to the Liminals series. It draws you deep into the world of benevolent daemons, making you want to help them in their quest and to know them as individuals. By the end, you are dying to continue journeying with them.

Buy your copy online here today!



Continue Reading...

Bound by J. Elizabeth Hill

Title:  Bound

Author:  J. Elizabeth Hill

Series:  The Mirrors of Bershan

Published:   November 17th 2012

Page Count:  378

Genre:  Young Adult Paranormal

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads: 



“Doesn’t she know you can’t do real magic alone?”

Freshly graduated from the Voleno Academy, Faylanna Derrion is trying to find her solitary place in a world where she and her fellow Magicia are expected to find their magical partner as soon as possible. When her mentor and his partner are taken by a terrible darkness before her eyes, her flight to find help brings Tavis into her life. Can she learn to see him as more than a simple farmer or will she accede to her father’s demands to return to her family’s home, following a path others have laid out for her? Can she choose her own course, after a lifetime of refusing to bind herself to anyone?

My Review:

This was a completely unique novel. Hill has a take on bound magic that I do not recall every having seen anywhere before. She combines history, with modernity and fantasy in such a seamless manner that you cannot help but enjoy yourself with this novel. The characters also interact in a way that is so realistic that you couldn’t ask for more.  

This novel is very well written. It never becomes jumpy or disjointed. I appreciate the fact that Hill takes the time to explain and describe those things that need an explanation but does not waste time or slow down the progression of the novel by describing those things that do not need an explanation. I also greatly enjoyed how well she brought her characters to life. In this novel, no one is perfect. But they are all perfectly suited to their purpose.

As a whole, this novel is a brilliant first book in the series. It sets up everything for the progression of the storyline. I also greatly enjoy the fact that this is an entire story on its own. It is so much more than just an intro to the series. This is definitely a series that I will be following.

Buy your copy online here today.

Continue Reading...

Rapid Water by Andrea Goodson

Title:  Rapid Water

Author: Andrea Goodson

Series:  The Riverbend Trilogy #2

Published: December 12th 2012 by Amazon Digital Services

Page Count:  196

Genre:  Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

While on an extended visit to the quiet community of Kennerdell in this second volume of The Riverbend Trilogy, Lena Woodruff continues to battle with the conflicts both around and within her. Will is recovering quickly from his injury and is unrelenting in his overwhelming attempts to win over Lena’s heart which quickly puts her on an emotional rollercoaster ride full of uncertainty and guilt. Still attempting to continue Carl Woodruff’s work and discover more information regarding the mysterious items related to the historical Penn family of Early America, Lena and Will unknowingly place themselves in jeopardy as they dive deeper into the mysterious newfound connection between William Penn and the Lenape Indians, travelling to Canada together in search for clues possibly held by the Moravian First Nation. Striving to prove that she had been followed is more difficult than Lena could have imagined and her mind begins to rapidly bend with confusion. She realizes that safety is a luxury she no longer possesses. Grief darkens her thoughts while insecurity and self-doubt cause the lines between reality and imagination to blur. Assured that being home is the cause of her pain and disbelief, she is desperate to quickly leave Kennerdell and return to her secluded life in Georgia. A small glimmer of hope arises inside of Lena which begins a conflict between her own self-doubt and the promise of something better. Where strength is weakness and vulnerability is an asset, the greatest danger that threatens Lena in Kennerdell may just be herself.


My Review:



Holy intrigue with the scumbag – and now I think I know who the scum bag is. And no, I’m not telling.

I love how the archaeological and anthropological aspect of the first story continues on to this installment. You learn more and more about the histories of these Native American peoples while on a grand adventure. This is augmented by the way that it is placed within Goodson’s very well written story. She has a way of bringing the world to life with her words that doesn’t compare to anything.

The characters come to life with a vengeance in this novel. I thought that I was getting to know them before, but now I feel like I grew up with the main characters. Goodson keeps feeding you details about the characters, building on past experiences that allow you to get to know them better and better. All the while, she continues progressing with the storyline. You also get to know some of the minor characters much better in this novel. This adds an extra element of depth to the story, drawing you further into the world that these individuals inhabit.

Goodson grabbed me with the first installment in this series and has kept me going with this one. I can’t stop thinking about the characters and their plight. Although my heart broke at the end of this novel, I still hold a great deal of hope for the characters and their future.

Buy your copy online here today!





Continue Reading...

Grasping at Eternity by Karen Amanda Hooper

Title:  Grasping at Eternity

Author:  Karen Amanda Hooper

Series:  The Kindrily Series #1

Published:  May 25th 2012 by Starry Sky Publishing (first published May 21st 2012) 

Page Count:  368

Genre:  Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

Leave it to Maryah Woodsen to break the one rule that will screw up eternity: Never erase your memories.

Before entering this life, Maryah did the unthinkable—she erased. Now, at seventeen years old, she’s clueless that her new adoptive family has known her for centuries, that they are perpetually reincarnated souls, and that they have supernatural abilities. Oh, and she's supposed to love (not despise) Nathan, the green-eyed daredevil who saved her life.

Nathan is convinced his family’s plan to spark Maryah's memory is hopeless, but his love for her is undying. After spending (and remembering) so many lifetimes together, being around an empty version of his soulmate is heart shattering. He hates acting like a stalker, but has no choice because the evil outcast who murdered Maryah in their last lifetime is still after her.

While Maryah’s hunter inches closer, she and Nathan make assumptions and hide secrets that rip them further apart. Maryah has to believe in the magic within her, Nathan must have faith in the power of their love, and both need to grasp onto the truth before they lose each other forever—and discover just how lonely eternity can be.

X-MEN meets MY NAME IS MEMORY in Karen Amanda Hooper’s latest young adult release.


My Review:

I don’t think that my heart has ever been broken so many times before, nor has it ever swelled so full over a simple book. Hooper proves just how much power words have over us.

Not only does this novel have an amazing storyline but it is also phenomenally well written. Everything flows so naturally that it is very easy to forget that you are reading a book rather than living with the characters. Each scene and setting is explicitly described in a manner that transcends writing. I feel like I have walked through a picture book that illustrated everything for me. This is all done in such a subtle manner that you barely realise that it’s happening.

The characters in this novel were exquisite. Each and every one of them has a very long history. Hooper tactfully gives her readers a glimpse into their pasts so that you can get to know them, but doesn’t get bogged down in irrelevant details of inconsequential events in the distant past. While developing her characters she gives you the relevant details in a manner that allows you to know so much more about them than one would have thought possible.

Not only was this novel captivating and emotionally stimulating but it was also very unique. Hooper combines soul mates, reincarnation, and friendship to tell the tale of some extremely special individuals. These individuals become friends that you want to live and travel with throughout eternity.

Buy your copy of this phenomenal read online here today!!!



Continue Reading...

A Prescription for Delirium by Noree Cosper

Title:  A Prescription for Delirium

Author:  Noree Cosper

Series:  Van Helsing Organization #1

Published:  December 1st 2012

Page Count:  278

Genre:  Paranormal

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:





Ninety years ago, Gabriella di Luca promised to protect the family of her dying lover. She failed to keep that promise. She was too far away to stop the devil that murdered the eldest Van Helsing son. Years later, Gabby learns the devil has resurfaced. She arrives in Hampton, TX, determined to stop the devil before it can lay a bloody hand on the remaining three brothers.

However, madness is spreading through Hampton. She suspects the devil is using this madness to test a drug which has a side effect of demonic possession. Gabby rushes to end the source of the madness only to fall victim to it. For a woman cursed with eternal life, dying is no threat. However, Gabby must stop the devil's plot or risk losing her most precious possession: her mind.

Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.


My Review:

Way to take Van Helsing and run with it!!! Cosper takes this pre-existing mythology and runs with it to make something entirely new and exciting with this novel. I could barely put it down, always needing to know what was coming next.

Cosper has a very well developed plot that she works from to tell this story. The demonology behind this story is also very clear and concise. She builds the world in which the characters interact with each other with exquisite detail. You can picture where they are at each turn of events. Cosper also does not sacrifice a well written, intense story for her descriptions. She works everything together to create a well written novel that flows naturally. Nothing is forced, nothing is missing, and nothing is out of place.

I love the fact that these characters are ones that you can relate to. You get quite wrapped up in these characters and their lives but you still want to know more about them. Cosper gives you enough details and insight into the characters that you get to know them, but doesn’t tell you absolutely everything. The mystery behind the characters keeps you coming back for more just as much as the storyline does. It’s a very unique change from the norm where authors either give you all or nothing in the character department.

This novel definitely caught me by surprise. I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. It was a brilliant twist on an old concept that kept me coming back for more. I can’t wait to read the sequel!

Buy your copy online here today!



Continue Reading...

Medusa's Desire by E.B. Black

Title:  Medusa's Desire

Author: E.B. Black

Series:  Fate of Eros #1

Published:  November 22nd 2012

Page Count:  224

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

** The Fate of Eros Series: Book 1 * Exploring the Dark Side of Love **

When Medusa was beautiful, finding a man to love her was easy. Poseidon fought for glances from her heavy-lidded eyes against hundreds of suitors who proposed whenever she left her house.

Athena grew jealous. She allowed Medusa to be violated in the Parthenon and turned her into a monster for her indiscretion.

Now when she stares into the eyes of men, they scream as their skin hardens into stone. A caress against her cheek will be rewarded with the poisonous bites of the snakes that slither on her head.

No man is brave enough to approach her, until Perseus is ordered by the gods to kill her.

When they meet, desire sizzles between them. They are willing to risk it all-death, the wrath of the gods, the destruction of their families-if it means they can spend one more night together.

Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.

My Review:

Oh wow! I didn’t expect this book to be quite so heart wrenching. Black takes the story of Medusa and shows how she became the myth that she is. It was an extremely different outlook on this story, throughout which she made medusa and her problems seem quite real as she showed how Medusa was wronged at every turn of events.

The gods, goddesses, and the mythology surrounding the story itself stayed quite consistent. In fact, all details throughout the story remain consistent. Nothing takes a drastic change from one chapter to the next nor do you find yourself finding holes in the mythology or setup of the story. The descriptions that Black uses (or doesn’t use) could stand a bit of beefing up. They aren’t lacking to the extent that they detract from the story, however, they aren’t very strong either.

Although the character of Medusa was quite well developed, I found that the rest of the characters remained quite superficial. I found myself pulling directly from Greek mythology to fill in the blanks about people, which still left them quite without personalities. 

After reading this book, you won’t be able to look at Medusa or Perseus the same way. It does, however, put a bit of a hole in the theory that true love conquers all.

Buy your copy online here today!!!





Continue Reading...

Darkest Embrace by Robyn M. Pierce

Title:  Darkest Embrace

Author:  Robyn M. Pierce

Series:  The Lannister Chronicles #1

Published:  January 27th 2012

Page Count:  314

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:



While running away to escape the actions of her deceased father, Elyssa Smith is caught in the worst storm that Lanistter Isle has ever seen, forcing her to seek shelter in the only place nearby -- Lanistter Castle. Soon, however, it's made clear that the inhabitants of the castle are the ones she's running away from in the first place.

Zeke Lanistter is the head of the European Lanistter branch -- and a sadist through and through. He has bloody plans for Elyssa, and will stop at nothing to get rid of her.

Reid Lanistter is known by many for his womanizing. But when Elyssa enters the castle, he does all he can to protect her from Zeke, unexpectedly morphing into a one-woman man.

In a sinister turn of events, Reid becomes the danger to Elyssa's life, and it’s Zeke who finds himself doing whatever he can to protect Elyssa...

Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.


My Review:

I normally don’t swear, but would everyone please excuse my language for the next few sentences. There’s only one way to put this.

Holy Shit! Holy Shit! Holy Shit! Holy Shit! I don’t think that I’ve ever said that so many time while reading before. Like out loud, making people around me jump, exclamations. Sometimes in awe, sometimes in wonder, a lot of the time because I just didn’t expect the latest twist of plot. And trust me, there were a great deal of those in this novel.

This novel was intense in so many different ways and on so many different levels that it was beyond stellar. It was also phenomenally written. Everything is laid out in minute detail, while helping the story progress with leaps and bounds. It takes you out of your comfort zone in a way that makes you think, and gasp. As a whole it was a very smooth read. It transitioned naturally from section to section without ever skipping, jumping, or stuttering.

The characters are all perfect for their roles in the story. At times you wonder what they were thinking or how they became the individuals that they are, but they are all perfect in their own ways. They are all excellently developed. You know all details necessary to make them who they are. The author does not waste time giving extraneous details, but does make sure that all necessary information is present. Also, although some characters do experience a “personality change” during the course of the novel, the reader can see where this change comes from and why it happens. There is no disconnect between a character at the beginning of the novel and that same character at the end, regardless of any changes they undergo.

All in all, what I have to say about this novel? Other than I’m going to read it again ASAP? And I’d like to give it about 42 stars? Please, hand me the sequel. I need to know where it goes from here.





Buy your copy online here today!!

(Honestly, do it now.  For real.  Don't wait another second.)

Continue Reading...

Roots by Kelbian Noel

Title:  Roots

Author:  Kelbian Noel

Series:  Witchbound #1

Published:  March 15th 2013 by Diverse Pages (first published July 18th 2012)

Page Count:  241

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Roots (formerly Elemental) is currently unavailable for purchase, but will be re-released (with its new name!) on Easter Weekend, followed by Book 2, Sprung, on April 1st. Stay tuned!

Seventeen-year-old Baltimore Land just wants to be normal, but magic has other plans.

I don’t consider myself a witch, that's my parents' thing. I've never really believed in magic either. Sure, I tried it a few times. Fell for the whole “magic happens” thing. But it didn’t happen to me. No amount of rhyming stopped my parents from moving me halfway across the country. Not one spell stopped me from being labeled the town freak.

And worst of all, no matter how many times I begged the Universe to bring my twin back, I was ignored. Until now.

He’s back all right. And in a magical bind of his own. Not the magic-won’t-work-for-me kind either. In fact, it’s working a little too well. Too dark. Too deep.

It turns out our entire family’s magical roots run just as deep and my brother didn’t end up where he is by accident. So I’m going to help him. But magic isn’t really on my side. Nope. Once I finally get the craft under control, I’m expected to abandon the one person in the world who’s closest to me, just to save myself.

My Review:

This novel was quite an enjoyable read. It was tactfully written in the first person without repeatedly flipping tenses or person. Noel also combines the world of Wicca with a great many unique ideas in order to create a world that you want to get to know better. The novel contains a fair amount of narrative that builds up this world. It is quite brilliant the way Noel sets this world up. The vibrant descriptions that she employs round this all out to make the whole world shine.

The characters in this novel are fairly well developed. I feel like the author is giving you a taste of who they are, making it so that you have to come back for more in order to really get to know them. I appreciate the fact that she doesn’t throw random facts about the characters at you. You get to know them gradually, like you would a real person that you met at a coffee shop. It adds another element of realism to this intriguing story.

Although this story was very interesting and quite creative, I found a few parts of the story to be a bit slow. That said, it picks up near the end and becomes very enthralling. As a whole, it seems like it’s a setup for something much bigger and I’m dying to see where it goes. I also would love a deeper look into this striking world.

Buy your  copy online March 15th!

Continue Reading...

Muse by Susie M. Hanley

Title:  Muse

Author:  Susie M. Hanley

Published:   September 12th 2012 by Pocket Kitten Productions (first published September 6th 2012)

Page Count:  338

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In a world not unlike ours, Muses and their Guardians have walked alongside humankind since the beginning of time. From birth Muses assume they are just like everyone else. Not until their twenty-fifth birthdays do they discover their talents have a special purpose, and that Guardians, with their superhuman abilities, will help them in that purpose whether they want that help or not.

Shelby has worked hard to make a life for herself. Her parents died when she was young, and her husband left her with two kids. When her ex-husband comes back to town, he has more to say than just ?I?m sorry?: he's a Guardian, and his new assignment is her. She is a Muse now, one coming into her own no matter how hard she fights it, and trouble stalks her wherever she goes. Her ex-husband can't keep up and, with their history, she doesn't want him to. To complicate matters, there?s another Guardian around when she needs help, and they are falling for each other. He has a dark past that?s trying to reclaim him, and Shelby is in the way. But she has to accept her Museness and figure out fast what being a Muse really means if she is to keep herself and her children alive.

My Review:

Ok, so this book is not listed as part of a series, but I feel that it has to be. Mostly, because this can’t be the end. I need to have more time with these characters. I need to know how their story unfolds. There is so much told yet left untold in this novel that I’m captivated beyond belief.

Although on the surface this novel is, for lack of a better term, a bunch of supernatural fluff (you know, the stuff that doesn’t happen in the real world but is super cool), it really makes you stop and think. Hanley lays the story out in such a way that you find yourself wondering what you would do if you had the abilities that the characters do. If you could make a difference, would you? Or would you try to just amass power?

Not only is this a supernatural story that makes you think, it is also quite well written. You find yourself so completely immersed in the action, via the author’s brilliant descriptions and narrative, that the story comes alive before your eyes. She combines clarity for the reader with the ability to keep you in suspense, wondering what will happen next and how it all will end. It is the perfect balance.

The characters in this novel are also quite intriguing. They are all very well developed and all extremely different. No two individuals share personal characteristics. You can always understand where a character is coming from but don’t necessarily agree with the actions or reactions that they exhibit. This is the mark of brilliant character development.

As a whole, this novel was extremely unique and very captivating. It was almost impossible to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Buy your copy online here today!

Continue Reading...

Fire by Heather James

Title:  Fire

Author:  Heather James

Series:  Elements of Power #1

Published:  January 5th 2013 by Heather James (first published January 1st 2013)           

Page Count:  202

Genre:  Young Adult Paranormal

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Is control over the elements a gift, or a curse?

Roxy thinks that she is in control of everything: with flames flaring at her fingertips and an equally fiery attitude, what more could she need? But then she meets Brae, a prince from a rival Realm, who turns her assumptions of superiority upside down.

Jasmine has none of Roxy’s confidence or intensity. But she does have a secret - and Brae - and she’s not going to give either up willingly.

My Review:

This story is based on a very unique concept. I can definitely say that I’ve never read anything even remotely like it before. It was a very refreshing and exciting read.

This story was exceptionally well written, especially considering that it is the first novel for this author. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that she has a well thought out and intriguing plot. This novel is going somewhere specific. It never wanders or loses its reader. I also appreciated the way that James didn’t leave anything at loose ends at the end of the novel, but yet left so much to be explained and discovered in future installments. Nothing is left in limbo, but there is more than enough to bring you back for more.

The main characters were quite interesting and very well developed. They were the type of people that you could see yourself being friends with. I truly wanted to see them succeed. You find your heart going out to them on multiple different occasions. They are so real that you can’t help it. I also love the mix of interesting powers that the characters possess. They aren’t your stereotypical supernatural powers, but this makes them all the more interesting. The powers are also integrated into who the characters are and into their beliefs. They aren’t superfluous to the characters but rather an integral part of who they are.

This is definitely a one of a kind story with many one of a kind characters. I was so drawn into this world of many realms and into the lives of the characters that I can’t wait to continue on this journey with them in the sequel.

Buy your copy online here today!



Continue Reading...

Growing Disenchantments by K.D. Berry

Title:  Growing Disenchantments

Author:  K.D. Berry

Published:  June 26th 2012 by Bluewood Publishing

Page Count:  372

Genre:  Fantasy

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Just when he'd been looking forward to another quiet night delving into mind-bending arcane lore and mentally wrestling with the deepest magicks, along came this mysterious thief to disturb him. Why was it nothing in Ragonnard's life ever went to plan? Rather than turn her in to the law (or into something else), the young sorcerer offers Ganfrey a deal – steal a portrait from the palace for him. But it's no ordinary portrait. For 500 years it's been a magical prison for Syranax, the most powerful sorcerer in history. His enchanted Amulet was entombed with him, and Ragonnard wants it. More than anything. In releasing the Amulet, Ragonnard unleashes a devastating sequence of sorcerous events, the like of which has not been seen for hundreds of years. And, no, things definitely don't go to plan. Ned Merrivel is a time traveller from the future. His job is to sort it out when it all goes wrong and save the world somehow. If only he can find a pair of trousers first.

My Review:

Ok, so somehow I missed the fact that K.D. Berry is actually a writing duo until I read the “about the author” section at the end. I must say that I am amazed. I generally find that there is a discrepancy in writing styles between multiple authors writing together, however, while reading this book I didn’t once guess that there was a second author. Everything flowed together so seamlessly.

This story was very unique. It had the weirdest version of time travel ever, but it was also so cool. I’d love to be able to do so, regardless of the unpredictability of it. The different disciplines of “magic” are also quite unique. Berry takes a variety of existing notions and tweaks them to create a unique world for their readers.

The writing style adopted by the authors is ideally suited to the story. Everything is given the appearance of being slightly comical and always larger than life. The writing style suits this. Everything is easy to picture. The writing also remains concise and clear through the process. There is a logical progression from the beginning to the end of the novel. It is very difficult to beat this. It was such an enjoyable, fluffy read.

The characters in this story were great. They were all off the wall and larger than life. But they were also well developed, suited to the role that they were to play. I love the fact that some of the characters actually read and tried to do things “the way they’re done in the books”. It was priceless. They even tried to look and act the part. Philosophical animated inanimate objects are also brilliant. The household fixtures were also absolutely adorable. I would love a household full of them. Everyone was quite unique, even if they did bring a Disney movie to mind. And yes, when picturing this book, I did picture everything as a cartoon.

This book is one of those novels that will be loved by readers of all ages. It is upbeat and gripping, without any extreme violence, language, or relationships. To top it off, it all takes place in such a fantastical world. You feel like you’ve stepped out of a picture and right into it.

Buy your copy online here today!





Continue Reading...