Monday, December 31, 2012

The Color of Grace by Linda Kage

Title:  The Color of Grace
Author:  Linda Kage
Published: August 1st 2012 by Whiskey Creek Press
Page Count: 333
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Shelf: Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:
When my mother remarried after thirteen years of being a widow, I had to move to a new town and enroll in a new school. Suddenly thrust into an entirely different kind of life, I just wanted to go home. I didn’t want to meet new people, didn’t want to leave my old friends, didn’t want to become a third wheel to my mom and her husband….and I really didn’t want to see Ryder Yates again. Ugh, I still don’t know why I turned down that too-good-to-be-true boy who flirted with me when we were attending separate schools.

But honestly, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. It was worse.

Who knew becoming lost in a new life could help a girl find her true colors?


My Review:

From the very beginning of this novel I found myself lost in the imagery that Kage so masterfully created. She used it to create a phenomenal backdrop and surreal descriptions for her story. She also brings the symbolism of color in both art and literature to the forefront of her descriptions and the story itself. These all come together seamlessly to create a story that you get completely lost in.

The characters become so real that you cannot help but giggle along with them, and your heart goes out to them time and time again when things go wrong. You cannot help but wonder what you would do if you found yourself struggling through similar situations. Everything seems so real that at times you forget that you are reading the pages of a book rather than living them yourself. 

I fully commend the author for bringing very difficult situations to the attention of readers. Unfortunately these situations are all too often present and hidden or overlooked in today’s society. Kage not only writes of the struggles of one young girl faced with these issues, but also shows how to rectify the situation, regardless of how difficult it may be. This is a huge eye-opening novel for today’s young readers that completely illustrates the point that it is not your fault. It is also a captivating read for adults and young adults alike.

When I finished this novel I found myself wanting more. It’s not that there was anything missing from the story, but rather I wanted to continue the journey through life with these characters that I had come to love.

Get your copy of this novel online here today.




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Sunday, December 30, 2012

Riley's Curse by Christina Smith

Title:  Riley's Curse
Author:  Christina Smith
Series:  Moon's Glow prequel
Published: August 14th 2012
Page Count: 115
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Shelf:  Books I Bought
Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Because of one fateful night, Nathaniel Riley loses his girl, his family, and life as he knows it. His world has been turned upside down. One day, a normal teen living in the 1890's, the next a mythical creature he didn't know existed. How can he live with himself with deadly urges he can't control?

He's a monster with a conscience who wants to make up for all the pain he's caused, but how can he do that when a fellow monster wants to take everything in his life away from him.

Nathaniel Riley has lived for a long time. Before he met Megan, he had a family, another girl he loved and a world in which he was happy. Find out how it all changed in just one moment.


My Review:

Ok, so I must say that if I weren’t already a werewolf addict this novella would push me over the top. I can only describe it as “The complete guide to becoming a Werewolf: the exciting edition.” Smith combines vivid descriptions with lots of action and real life drama to set up her series in a brilliant, well written way.  

The character development in this story goes far beyond what you find in most novellas. You really get to know the characters that will carry on throughout the series. The main character in this story also feels real emotions: loneliness, joy, guilt, remorse, sadness are all present and real within these pages. My heart goes out to him time and time again while he fights through the trials that his life puts before him. I also commend Smith on her use of period correct dialogue throughout the novella.

I have a feeling that this novella gives the reader everything that they need to know for the rest of the series while keeping the reader’s interest through every word. Oh, and can you say “Holy Cliff-hanger. “
Get your copy online here today! 
(Currently offered for FREE!!!!)
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Opening the Ball by Nathaniel Simpson

Title:  Opening the Ball
Author:  Nathaniel Simpson
Series:  The Academy Series #1
Published:  August 31st 2012
Page Count: 269
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodread:

Jonathan Chambers isn’t a vampire. He isn’t a wizard. He doesn’t have a girlfriend. His teenage life was relatively normal until a mysterious stranger recruited him to an even more mysterious paramilitary academy for gifted boys.

After years of rigorous training, he and two others are selected for an elite program that will test their mettle and their friendship by sending them back in time to alter the present. On one of the bloodiest days of battle of the Civil War, they will learn a life-altering lesson – that not everything is always as it seems.


My Review:

OMG. Picture Xmen meets GI Joe meets Back to the Future, along with a whole lot of James Bond-like gadgets and you have this book. It is the most unique concept that I have seen in a long time. It may seem like a very odd mix, but does it ever work for this author. Not only is this a very different novel but you jump right into the action of the story from the first paragraph and it rarely lets up. This book is intense and when I got to the end I found myself wanting to grab for the sequel right then.

Nathaniel Simpson uses both metaphors and similes amazingly throughout the story. They are seamlessly inserted into the story and heighten his descriptions immensely. The backdrop of this story becomes so real that it takes no effort at all to picture yourself being dropped into this world. The author’s way with words allows you do seamlessly transition from one paragraph to the next and from one chapter to its neighbour.

The characters in this novel are very well suited to their task. Some are quite well developed. You know all that you need to know about them and can guess what they might do in certain situations. Unfortunately, this does not carry over to all of the characters. Some of them are rather one sided. You never know anything about them other than what they accomplish within the storyline. One thing that I found somewhat troubling about the story actually leads back to the characters as well. I find the situations that they find themselves in very disconcerting based on their age.

All in all, however: Please hand me the sequel now!

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Friends with Benefits by Alaina Marks

Title:  Friends With Benefits
Author:  Alaina Marks
Published:  December 7th 2012
Page Count:  62
Genre:  18+ Romance
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A sexy romance short story for readers 18+.

Brandi Montgomery, a caseworker for an adoption agency in New York, has just been told the apartment she was about to rent was not available anymore because the landlord decided to rent it to someone else at the last minute. She has two weeks to find a place to live. On top of giving up her place, and having the threat of being homeless hanging over her head, she has just ended her dead-end relationship which has made her swear off men forever!

Neal Calhoun, successful CEO of one of the biggest architectural firms in New York, gave up on relationships years ago thanks to the betrayal of his ex. He now finds comfort in having no strings attached, “friends with benefits” type relationships; keeping his heart safe while getting his needs met. When Brandi post an ad online looking for a roommate situation, Neal answers her ad with the “perfect” arrangement: a friends with benefits type of relationship in exchange for a great place to stay in one of the most sought after addresses in Manhattan.

With only two weeks before she’s out on the streets, Brandi has to decide if she wants to take Neal up on his offer. This should be a win-win situation for both parties where everyone benefits. But what happens when one of them breaks the number one rule, do they call it quits or do they take a chance on love...again.

My review:
Wow. Who knew that you could pack so much into such a short story. This is your stereotypical boy meets girl and hooks up then end up in a relationship story all in less time than it takes to drink a glass of wine. Of course, that is also the extent of the story. The characters are real enough considering that there is very little time to develop them. They do serve their purpose in the story but they are little more than that. I will commend the author on scenery descriptions. At times I felt like I knew what the characters were looking at.

All in all, a decent way to get your daily fill of smut (as my mother would call it) quickly.

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In Your Dreams by Amy Martin

Title:  In Your Dreams
Author:  Amy Martin
Series:  In Your Dreams #1
Published: 2012 by Amy Martin
Page Count: 253
Genre:  Young Adult Romance
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

 Sixteen-year-old Zara "Zip" McKee lives for three things: basketball, books, and bailing out of tiny Titusville, Illinois, where the junior high and high school are in the same building and everyone's known everyone else since birth. But when Kieran Lanier moves to town and passes out on her desk on his first day at school, Zip's life gets complicated in a way she never dreamed.

Kieran has narcolepsy, and although he sometimes struggles to stay awake, he has no trouble capturing Zip's heart and trusting her with his most guarded secret--he sees bits and pieces of the future in his dreams.

But just when Zip thinks that maybe she can handle having a boyfriend who sees things before they happen, her budding relationship with Kieran gets a jolt when Kieran's parents reveal that his sleeping disorder is not what it seems and may be putting them in harm's way. And when Zip begins to have unsettling dreams, she must decide if she can live with knowing the future in advance when she's afraid of what might happen.

*Recommended for Young Adult readers 13 and up (mild cursing, some adult situations)


My Review:

This is a very well written novel. I never once got lost trying to figure out what the author was trying to tell me. Descriptions are very clear (and basketball related) and all of the characters have complete personalities of their own. I absolutely love the fact that this is not one of your typical alpha male stories. The main character is a sports star in the local high school and is also female.  

I must say, however, that I did find the storyline a bit slow. Nothing much happens for the bulk of the story. When the story finally begins to build it ends just as suddenly as it had started. Don’t get me wrong, I was never actually bored while reading this story, but it wasn’t something that I couldn’t put down either.  

That said, Martin does an excellent job of portraying actual families. I found it very reassuring that the characters in the story had to face actual consequences when disobeying their parents, or just simply doing things that they should not. Unfortunately, the characters spend a great deal of time lying to their parents as well. As a reader, you can see their reasons for doing so, but they put themselves in harm’s way in the process.

All in all, this novel gave me a great deal to think about while reading it. It was also reminiscent of how little there is to do on the weekend when growing up in a small town.



Get your copy of this novel online here today.




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Friday, December 28, 2012

Foxblood: A Brush with the Moon by Raquel Lyon

Title:  Foxblood:  A Brush with the Moon
Author:  Raquel Lyon
Series:  Foxblood #1
Published:  August 13th 2010
Genre:  Young Adult Fantasy
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★★


Synopsis from Goodreads:

Sophie’s finally happy. Away from home & back with her best friend, she’s doing the one thing in the world she loves, art. Life’s perfect, or is it? Something’s strange about her new home. People are dying; an old house pulls her towards its doors. Sophie’s changing too; is it the recent fox bite? All becomes clear when she meets the seductive Sebastian and learns his family’s secret.

My Review:

 Holy son of a Monkey’s Uncle. This book has everything that you could ever want in a novel. There are shifters, vamps, demons, inter-dimensional travel, a rotating love triangle, and the real life of a university student complete with trials, tribulations, and parties. Yes, this book is about werewolves and vampires, but that is where the similarity to most other books of the genre ends. Lyon takes this basic premise and runs far and fast with it, giving her audience a novel that cannot be put down.

Lyon manages to work in little bits of background information throughout the story, giving her readers the pertinent information when necessary. This means that there is no long, drawn out lull where all background information is given. This is masterfully done. She also uses vivid descriptions and backgrounds to set up her story without being long winded or confusing. Even the town names are fittingly symbolic.

And let’s not forget the cast of characters that we meet in this novel. They are very well developed and suit their lives perfectly. Their interactions with each other are uniquely realistic as well. One moment you are seeing the cattiness of social cliques colliding, followed the next by true friendships, and then again by budding romantic relationships. They are the type of people that you would want to live with in real life.

When pulled all together Lyon`s novel is written in a way that YA and adult readers alike can enjoy. She never once talks down to her audience, nor does she assume that we, as readers, will piece together backgrounds that are not provided. All in all, amazingly done.


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The SkyHorse by H.L. Carpenter

Title:  The SkyHorse
Author:  H.L. Carpenter
Published:  April 6th 2012 by Musa Publishing
Genre:  Fantasy Young Adult
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★


Synopsis from Goodreads:

 Fourteen year old Tovi thinks finding a flying horse is fabulous luck - until a mysterious stranger says finders aren’t always keepers.

When fourteen year old Tovi Taggert moves to Honeysuckle Hollow to take care of her grandmother, she has a hard time fitting in. For one thing, she’s been tagged with the hated nickname Too-Tall Tovi. For another, everyone at Honeysuckle Hollow High believes Tovi played the Choking Game with someone else’s boyfriend – and made out with him besides.

As if she doesn’t have enough problems, after the latest stand-off in the school hallway, Tovi finds a gorgeous speckled egg nestled in a feather lined nest.

She takes the egg home – and mysterious visitors begin appearing almost immediately. Even more worrisome, whatever is inside the egg starts chipping its way out.

When the egg hatches, revealing a winged horse, Tovi’s troubles multiply.

As she struggles to return the horse to the magical land where he belongs, Tovi must make a courageous decision – and accept what that decision will cost her.



My Review:

Before beginning this review I have a confession to make. I chose to read this book for one reason and one reason only. It has a horse in it. Not just an ordinary horse, however, it’s a flying horse. What girl in their right mind can turn that down? And who doesn’t want to ride a flying horse. Coolest thing ever.

That said, I was so caught up in the story by the end of the first chapter that I could barely put the book down. Carpenter takes the life of a real life teenager who is transplanted from the city into a small town during high school and gives it one heck of a twist. The author has also given the story an entire mythical backdrop all of its own. It is not based on a pre-existing cultural mythology but seems to have been developed solely for the purpose of this story. It is extremely well developed and engages your imagination.

The author uses very vivid descriptions to draw you into the pages of the book without being wordy and long winded. You get so caught up in the who’s and what’s of the story that you are pulled within the pages. The story also has the ability to make you really stop and think about reality, both the reality of the story and the reality that you are living.

I must also commend the author for writing such a strong stand alone book. Although you can tell that life went on before the story began and will continue long afterwards there are no other books that you need to read to figure out what is going on. You don’t feel like you are missing anything and you aren’t guessing to fill in the blank. This is an excellent read all on its own.

This story was so unique and intriguing that I was completely in awe by the end of the story. 


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Thursday, December 27, 2012

The Soul's Mark: Hunted by Ashley Stoyanoff

Title:  The Soul's Mark:  Hunted
Author:  Ashley Stoyanoff
Series:  The Soul's Mark #2
Published: November 22nd 2012 by Ashley Stoyanoff Books
Genre:  Paranormal Young Adult
Shelf:  Books I Bought
Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

 When Amelia Caldwell learned that she was marked by a vampire’s soul, she did what any smart, self-preserving person would have done: tried to run. But thanks to the soulmate bond that tethered her mentally and emotionally to her vampire soulmate, Mitchell Lang, running was not an option and finding out she was a witch didn’t make her life any easier.

Now, Amelia has made peace with her new supernatural life and accepted her destiny with Mitchell, one of the most powerful vampires in the world. They are finally getting along but Amelia is sure he is hiding something—something big.

Little does she know that this is just the calm before the storm. When Mitchell’s former flame resurfaces and Eric’s dreams become distorted visions of his soulmate, hostility and tension threatens to tear their world apart.

Just when Amelia thinks life couldn’t get any crazier, vampires and humans start turning up dead. The killer—something more sinister and haunting than your run of the mill psychopath —is heading straight for their front door.


My Review:

I love it when you read a novel in a series and the characters continue to grow, especially when the characters are young adults. Every single one of Stoyanoff’s characters do this with abandon. They are all obviously the same person that they were in the beginning but they continue to grow and morph to fit into their ever changing circumstances. The relationships between the characters are not static either. They change in minute and in major ways right along with the characters.

This installment of the series is much more intense than the first was. The love story is still very much a part of the story; however it does take a back-seat to the more action packed storyline. There is always something (or multiple somethings) happening to keep your attention on the page. This is also not a read that calls for complacency from its readers. I definitely did not expect a few of the twists and turns in this story.

The author’s writing is also nearly flawless. It flows eloquently from paragraph to paragraph and from page to page. The characters’ speech is realistic, sounding the way that an individual would speak.

If you liked the first book in the Soul’s Mark series you will absolutely love this one. One thing that I do have to mention with respect to this novel, however... If you don’t enjoy cliff-hangers, wait until the next installment is published before beginning to read this one. Enough said.


Get your copy of this novel here today!

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Wednesday, December 26, 2012

The Fox's Mask by Anna Frost

Title:  The Fox's Mask
Author:  Anna Frost
Series:  The Kitsune Trillogy #1
Published:  October 19th 2012 by Musa Publishing
Page Count:  238
Genre:  Gay & Lesbian Fantasy, Young Adult
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Demon hunter Akakiba keeps many secrets from his human companion. The fact he's a werefox isn't the worst one.

In feudal Japan, magic is dying. As a demon hunter, Akakiba finds this problematic. The evil he's been trained to destroy is disappearing and, along with it, the shape-shifting abilities of the clan he left behind. With his only companion, a determined young human named Yuki, Akakiba traverses the country slaying demons and performing odd jobs.

But when an army of demon possessed humans masses to exterminate his clan, Akakiba must put aside old feuds and protect his family–all while hiding an important secret from Yuki. Will they find a way to defeat the demon possessed before it's too late? With magic dwindling, will it matter either way?



My Review:

 This novel was extremely well written, but I found that I had a difficult time getting engaged in the story. Once I finally got into it, it turned out to be a very intriguing story. Part of the issue that I found was that the crux of the story occurs in the last half. The first half of the story is a large amount of background information.

Frost has an amazingly well developed cast of characters. Each one is ideally suited to their purpose in life. That said, not one single character is the “perfect” person. Each one is a real individual, with real strengths and real flaws. They all find themselves in social situations that you could run into in a normal day at home, school, or the office. These situations are heightened by the supernatural backdrop of the story, but they are still realistic interactions. The familial relationships within the story had me giggling. The main characters treat each other like a real pair of siblings would, and interact with their parents like a real family.

I was also completely enthralled by the complex mythology of the kitsune that is the backdrop for this story. It is based in a fairly traditional Japanese setting. The characters also have traditional Japanese names. This all helps round out the story.

Finally, this story was complete in and of itself. Don’t get me wrong, there is definitely the potential for more to come after this story and I can’t wait for the sequel, but I loved the fact that this story had an ending. It did not end like so many other books in a series, where the characters are basically being held suspended until the sequel is published. 


Get your copy of this book here today!
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Monday, December 24, 2012

The Language of Souls by Lena Goldfinch

Title: The Language of Souls
Author: Lena Goldfinch
Published: November 9th 2012 by Lena Goldfinch, KDP (first published October 20th 2010)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Solena, a young healer with a generous heart, is desperate to heal her dying grandfather. When she ventures into hostile territory to find a rare herb, she finds out just how much she’s risked when she’s captured by the enemy and accused of being a spy.

As a soldier, Rundan has struggled all his life to please his father, a ruthless army commander, but when he’s ordered to take the beautiful trespasser to the royal courts, where she’ll be summarily tried and executed, he’s plagued by the most inconvenient desire to protect her.

Though terrified and anxious to escape, Solena is confused by the handsome young soldier who cruelly captures her and then displays uncommon kindness. When he risks his own life to save hers, she discovers she may have risked more than her life… she may have lost her heart.


My Review:

I normally don’t enjoy reading novellas as I find that they aren’t long enough to really get into, but this particular story had me engaged from the first page. This was a very Romeo and Juliet-esque romance where love triumphs across cultural and language boundaries, but at the same time, all characters live to bask in their love. The story can be likened to many societal animosities found in the world today and helps to illustrate the fact that not everyone within those societies agrees that the battle should go on against all cost. The main characters in this story also go against all of the rules and cultural stereotypes to save a loved one. One thing that I especially enjoyed in this novella was the characters’ names. They are all unique but not hard to pronounce or remember. I thoroughly lost myself in the pages for an hour or so and recommend others do the same.

Get your copy of this novella here today.



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Immortal Prophecy by Samantha Adams

Title: Immortal Prophecy
Author: Samantha Adams
Series: The Immortal Prophecy Saga #1
Published: December 13th 2011 by Little Bookworm
Genre: Paranormal YA
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The prophecy has been foretold...
Her destiny has been written...
Her fate has been sealed...

Alessandra Decosta was just your average sixteen year old girl,
until she took a fateful visit to a fortune teller. What happened that night would alter the course of her life forever...

Five years later, Alessandra, now a private investigator,
was doing what she thought was a routine stake out...It was to become anything but.

Without any real warning
only when she meets James again at a masquerade ball, does she begin to have flashbacks of her brush with Vincent and the intoxicating Immortal that saved her life.

Alessandra is the only thing that stands between the immortals, the guardians of the human race and the vampires, the destruction of all mankind.
 

My Review:
I read Adams’ Immortal Prophecy in one sitting. It is a very gripping story with romance, suspense, and supernatural beings. What more could you ask for in a YA story? The story was predictable and unexpected all at the same time. I found myself lost in the flow of a typical romance or suspense story, only to be thrown for a loop when the scene ends in a way I could never have fathomed.

All of the major characters are very strong and could stand on their own in a spin-off series. It was so refreshing to read a story without a number of place-holder characters. The main character, however, blew me away time and time again. She regularly questions herself and her situation but is strong enough to stand up and do what needs to be done. She is thrown into some of the most out-of-this-world situations and always comes out whole.

I couldn’t put this book down and found myself trying to imagine what could possibly happen next and how it will all pan out in the end. This book did, however, remind me why reading a series is not always beneficial. I absolutely hate having to wait on the sequel.... And this is one series that I will definitely be following until the very end.

Get your copy of your book here today.

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Sunday, December 23, 2012

Black Moon by Jessica McQuay

Title:  Black Moon
Author:  Jessica McQuay
Series:  Paige Tailor #1
Published:  October 2012 by Cambridge Press
Page Count:  240 pages
Genre:  Young Adult Fantasy
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★


Synopsis from Goodreads:

"Am I losing my mind?"

Paige couldn't help but question her sanity. What other explanation could there be for her hearing a conversation held barely above a whisper in the back of a classroom full of students? What about coming home to find one of those very classmates lying in wait in the darkness of her home, ready to attack her?

Confused, frustrated and feeling every ounce of her social ostracism, Paige confides in the one person she's always been able to count on: her mom. But when her mom reveals a deeply rooted, unbelievable family secret, Paige discovers her world is filled with more than she ever imagined possible. A world where fairytales live alongside nightmares and secrets are the glue that binds them together. Suddenly no one is who they seem and Paige is faced with more questions than answers. Can she survive in a world filled with creatures scarier than anything she could imagine and where deceit runs as thick as blood? Or will the truth send her over the edge?



My Review:

This paranormal YA book is unlike most other books of its genre. Within the Faery realm of Varulean the author tackles many difficult subjects. On the surface, it is a story about a young lady about to graduate high school who discovers that her mother has been hiding the fact that she is actually a supernatural being. This puts a strain on a very close mother-daughter relationship. Underneath the surface, however, it is about so much more. It is about the many different trials and tribulations that accompany the life of a high school student.

I loved the main character. She is not part of the popular crowd and has very few friends. She is not very confident in herself and depends on her mother as her closest friend and ally. She can be whiny and unsure of herself at times and sarcastic and gung-ho at others. She also follows through on the difficult things that she feels she must do and learns very quickly that she must stand on her own two feet, and can depend on the few people that she trusts. She manages to come to terms with the parts of her life that her mother has kept hidden. In fact, she forgives (almost) all of those who have wronged her in some way. She also discovers that revenge is not something that will help her recover. She battles against her own desire to exact revenge against those who have wronged her while also recalling her closest friend from the brink of loosing herself to revenge. All the while this main character is learning what it means to be not one, but two different types of supernatural. She is real, not just your typical supernatural hero.

There were definitely a few moments where I found myself thinking “I didn’t see that coming,” which was a welcome change from many authors. The story line is by no means predictable. You can rarely guess what is going to happen next. That type of writing comes right through to the final chapter of the novel where you see a budding relationship begin to take root. This is your typical girl falls for her savior relationship, but yet it is not. This is simply because it is a same sex relationship that is so rarely found within YA literature. I loved this twist, especially since it is something dealt with on a daily basis by many living regular human lives trying to escape into the supernatural via literature.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel.

Get a copy of this novel here today!

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Breed of Innocence by Lanie Jordan

Title:  Breed of Innocence
Author:  Lanie Jordan
Series:  The Breed Chronicles #1
Published:  July 4th 2012 by LJ Books
Genre:  Paranormal Young Adult
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★


Synopsis from Goodreads:

Six hours ago, men in dark suits and sunglasses came looking for me.
Four hours ago, they offered me training to hunt the things that killed my family: demons.
Two hours ago, I joined their secret organization—the CGE.
Now… All I have to do is survive demon-hunting school.

The classes won’t kill me, but the finals might.



My Review:

What an exciting read. Jordan takes the idea of a demon hunter to a whole new level. In this story we find ourselves in what can only be termed a Black Ops training facility for demon hunters. These teens spend years training to be able to track down and capture or eliminate demons around the world. Jordan also takes the definition of demon down a different path. Her demons encompass a much larger realm of supernaturals than just the stereotypical demon.

This action packed story has a handful of well developed characters. The main character is a magnet for trouble. No matter what she does to avoid it, sticky situations seem to just find their way into her path. She is also discovering more about herself and her family throughout her training. While she is running around getting in and out of trouble you find yourself caught up in the suspense of trying to guess what’s coming next and how the situation will pan out, followed by laughing out loud.

I thoroughly enjoyed the way that the author took a subject that has been done to death and gave it a brand new spin. This is a gripping novel that both YA and adult readers can enjoy.



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Saturday, December 22, 2012

Love's Providence by Jennifer H. Westall

Title:  Love's Providence
Author:  Jennifer H. Westall
Published: May 24th 2012 by Self Published
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:   ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Collegiate athlete Lily Brennon has always been the piece that doesn’t quite fit in the puzzle, especially in her fragmented family, and no amount of rule-following perfection seems to bring her any closer to the love and acceptance she desperately seeks. If not for Jackson Carter, her childhood best friend and the only boy she’s ever loved, she’s sure she would have run away years ago. But when Jackson loses his father and a future basketball career within months of each other, his faith is so shattered, he shuts out everyone, including Lily.

After months of heartache, Lily begins to piece together a life without Jackson, and while vacationing on a beautiful island off the Georgia coast, she begins a long-distance romance with Alex Walker, a police officer with a quick wit and a cocky grin. He revives her hope in love again, but their intense attraction and his devastating secret test Lily’s values, stretching them until they break. Through her struggles to remain true to her principles, an agonizing choice between Alex and Jackson, and a series of terrifying events that threaten all of them, Lily must endure losing everything she’s been grasping so tightly. Only then will she discover the depth of the love that already surrounds her.


My Review:

Once I was finished reading this very well written book I felt at peace. Love’s Providence is an intriguing novel full of some of the most tragic events imaginable, but they are all realistic things that could happen in a regular individual’s day. No one is supernatural, no one is a super hero, and everyone is overwhelmingly human in every thought, feeling, and action. All in all, the overarching religious experience found within the pages brings you back to yourself and helps you re-center yourself. It is not overwhelming, preaching Christian ideals at the reader, but at the same time, it is definitely a firm presence that leads the main characters through their day to day lives following those ideals.

Throughout the novel the main character is battling the loss of her first love and trying to rebuild her life while maintaining a relationship with said first love. She attempts to balance her Christian beliefs with today’s prevalent views on sex and relationships. She also has to come to terms with her actions when she does go against her long-held belief system. By bringing the topic of sexual encounters to the forefront of the story it stands out from the typical YA religious romance novel. But it does so in a way that lets you see the connection between the character’s actions and her beliefs. The addition of the suspenseful mystery aspect of the novel takes you on a journey that you generally would not expect from this type of novel.

Overall, the hope and faith found in this novel is enough to rejuvenate even the most jaded of readers while keeping them captivated by the constant twists and turns in the story. It also helps to reconcile the many tragedies that can be faced in everyday life with a God who loves those on Earth.


Buy your copy here today!



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Friday, December 21, 2012

Reflection by Jessica Roberts

Title:  Reflection
Author:  Jessica Roberts
Series:  Reflection #1
Published:  February 17th 2012 by S/P (first published February 1st 2012)
Page Count:  289 pages
Genre:  Young Adult Romance
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★


Synopsis from Goodreads:

Bright, spunky Heather Robbins has escaped her small hometown and is anxiously beginning her freshman year of college. Rising above her rocky childhood, she’s found a place where good things are finally starting to happen: her own private apartment, refreshing college classes, and an intense attachment to a mysterious and rugged classmate, Nick Richards.

But when her dreamy college life turns out to be nothing more than a wonderful dream while resting in a coma, questions threaten.

Now, Heather must press forward to unlock the real past, and find the answers buried deep in her mind. What she unlocks instead is a roller coaster ride through flashbacks, embellished memories, and a whirlwind romance.

And when it’s all over and she comes face to face with the truth, will she lose everything she’s fallen in love with?

My Review:

Roberts’ novel Reflection is one of the most unique stories that I have read in a long while. It is full of imaginative descriptions while remaining clear in all situations. All situations and medical terminology is explained throughout the novel, without detracting from the storyline or speaking down to the audience. Roberts’ writing has a way of making you smile, even during the sad moments.

Throughout the better part of the story you know that something is not right, but you do not know exactly what it is. This is coupled with a sense that one character’s reality may not necessarily be the same as the reality of the person standing next to them. As a reader you find yourself in a world full of illusions pulling you towards a discovery.

The main character is living with the heartache of a true love gone wrong while dealing with the reality of rebuilding her memories. While reading her story you feel that you are living her reality rather than listening to her tell a doctor about her memories. She knows that there is something wrong but keeps fighting, trying to piece everything together. By the end of this first edition in the series we leave the main character determined to rebuild her life and relationships when everyone else has moved in different directions with their lives.

Get your copy here today!


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Thursday, December 20, 2012

Prodigal by Rektok Ross

Title:  Prodigal
Author:  Rektok Ross
Published:  expected January 2013 by Ic13 Books
Genre:  Young Adult Romance
 Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★★


Synopsis from Goodreads:

It was supposed to be Lexy Quinn’s year.

The hard-working wallflower has finally landed the coveted spot as Editor of her school’s newspaper. Then the rug is ripped out from under her when she finds out her mom is sick, and the family is moving half-way across the country to Preston Hills, Texas. Lexy can’t think of a worse place to be than at a school full of snobby rich kids where she’ll have to start all over to get people to notice her writing, or–who is she kidding?—notice her at all.

When the most swoon-worthy boy in town, who also happens to be the jock celebrity quarterback, gives her an exclusive interview, Lexy’s life takes an unexpected turn. Ash Preston is the perfect guy and, even better, he sees Lexy as she wants to be seen. But can she trust him?

PRODIGAL is a different kind of love story, where faith, romance, and God converge . . . and it just might change the way you look at your life.



My Review:

This book was simultaneously both the most heart-warming and most heart-wrenching novel that I have ever read. It is amazingly well written. There are descriptions beyond compare. At times I felt like I was holding the flower spoken of. This story manages to combine a will-they-won’t-they first love with one of the most catastrophic losses imaginable to create a high school experience that you feel you have lived not simply read about. There is a religious undercurrent throughout the entire story. Religion comes to the forefront of the story a few times, but never once does the author preach at the audience.

Ross has an amazingly well developed cast of characters. They talk like real people, they act like real people, and they feel like real people. None of the characters are one sided. They are so real that they literally bubble from the pages. They are individuals who could all hold their own in any novel. They intermingle in an ever changing environment of relationships, while holding on to and reforging budding and growing friendships.

This amazing cast is lead by a main character who is dealing with family issues and moving to a new school during her senior year. My heart goes out to her time and time again. Throughout the novel she has to make some very difficult decisions. She also grows as an individual and ends up doing what she believes in and what is best for her, rather than following the status quo. She simultaneously tries to fit in and to be herself after being transplanted into a whole new environment. While becoming more comfortable in her new situation her family faces one of the greatest losses imaginable: the loss of a loved one. All the while she is blossoming into a fuller, more confident, self sufficient person. She also faces her first love. It is love in its purest form, but it does not come without the trials and tribulations that accompany high school relationships.

This is a love story that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys books that pick them up, make them rethink the status quo, or believe in the things that they have pushed to the side. 


Don't forget to buy your copy when it's published in 2013!!!

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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Morning Light Coven by Lisa Marie Main

Title:  Morning Light Coven
Author:  Lisa Marie Main
Series:  Old Grudged - New Wars #1
Published:  August 21st 2012 by Xlibris Corporation
Page Count:  122 pages
Genre:  Paranormal Young Adult
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★


My Review:

Story line and character wise this novel is an overwhelming 5 star. I was captivated from the very beginning, with the mischievous twins drawing me further and further into the story. This is one of those stories that is good for readers of all ages. Everyone can find something to identify with or draw from the story. Adults will remain captivated throughout the entire story, as will younger readers who will also learn a great deal from the characters found within the pages.

The well developed main characters stand together throughout many trials. They never question their loyalty to one another, all the while dealing with trust issues within their family itself or the fact that not everything that they have come to depend on is as it appears. The characters also deal with the physical manifestation of soul mates, and the fact that they are not each other’s soul mates. A few different love stories develop within the over-arching story of good versus evil; however, none of them take over the story, nor do they become too adult-rated. The characters also use magic at the most basic level. It is magic without the special effects. There are no wands, cloaks, pointy hats, or flying brooms. They draw their power through a connection with nature and the elements. This magic helps make the characters the individuals that they are.

One small issue that I had with this novel was the fact that there are some grammatical errors throughout the work. They are generally minor and do not detract greatly from the story itself. The storyline behind the words keeps you so tightly in its grip that many times, they are barely noticeable.

Overall, this book was an enjoyable, gripping read that I would dive into again. There are many times that you will find yourself wondering what really happened in the past, who is truly evil, who is truly good, who will get stuck in the middle, and what in the world will happen in the future. This developing battle of good versus evil presents you with the beginnings of an odyssey at the end of the first edition of the Grace Reborn series, and I for one say, hand me the next one please.


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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Living in the Dark by Rebekah Campbell

Title:  Living in the Dark
Author:  Rebekah Campbell
Series:  Darkness Through the Light #1
Published:  November 9th 2012 by Rebekah Campbell (first published November 1st 2012)
Page Count:  184 pages
Genre:  Paranormal Young Adult
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★



Synopsis from Goodreads:

Experiences can make us or break us and it's no different for sixteen-year-old, Emily.

Living under the roof of her abusive Uncle, Emily is brutally attacked by a gang and wakes up from a coma with no recollection of the accident.

As the amnesia starts to clear, Emily realises that her memory is not the only thing coming back to her from the accident. There's also a wild, angry power that she has to control before it destroys her and everyone else.

So the question remains: Will Experience make her or break her?


My Review:

Campbell’s book Living in the Dark is a thoroughly enjoyable read. I would really like to give the book a 3 ½ star rating, however that is not an option. It is packed full of descriptions that make you giggle while bringing you closer to the characters and the story. On top of all of the challenges faced by those present within the pages of the book, the characters in the story are dealing with the typical issues of coming of age without seeming overly childish, or veering too far into the realm of adulthood. That said, you also see the typical overreactions of a teenager who, as of yet, does not know where he or she truly belongs in the world. They typical changes accompanying maturity are highlighted by the very prominent changes taking place in the main character. The main character is quite well developed; however, at times many of the minor characters appear rather flat, as if they are simply place holders to give the main character someone to converse with.

Time and time again I felt my heart twisting while watching the main character surviving against all odds, struggling and pushing back against adversity that no one should ever have to face, regardless of their age. Unfortunately, these circumstances are all too prevalent in today’s society and the author has a remarkable social commentary playing underneath the main storyline. Bullying, on both a large and small scale, is taken to the extreme and brought right to the forefront of the story, illustrating the serious consequences that can arise. Campbell also has the main character taking on this bullying alone, refusing the help of those who want to help her while questioning those who do not help her, thus leading the reader to question the main character herself. There is also the notion that those who are well off within society can do whatever they want because their money can buy them secrecy.

The author writes using a different character’s viewpoint in each chapter. In parts there are too many characters involved, jumping back and forth quite quickly. This begins to muddy the waters as to who is doing what. I also found that at times there was a lack of explanation during situations, leading me to ask “what” or “why”, assuming that a clarification would follow later in the book, which did not always happen. Neither of these issues detracted significantly from the storyline, which flows from beginning to end.
 







Get your copy here today!


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Monday, December 17, 2012

The Star Dwellers by David Estes

Title:  The Star Dwellers
Author:  David Estes
Series:  The Dwellers #2
Published:  September 30th 2012 by David Estes (first published September 25th 2012)
Page Count:  386 pages
Genre:  Dystopian Young Adult
Shelf:  Books I Bought
Rating:  ★★★★★


Synopsis from Goodreads:

After rescuing her father and younger sister, Adele is forced to leave her family and Tristan behind to find her mother in the cruel and dangerous realm of the star dwellers.

Amidst blossoming feelings for Adele, Tristan must cast his feelings aside and let her find her own way amongst the star dwellers, while he accompanies Adele's father to meet with the leaders of the moon dwellers and decide the fate of the Tri-Realms.

Will Adele be able to rescue her mother and make it back to the Moon Realm before the President and the sun dweller soldiers destroy her family?

Can Tristan convince the moon dweller puppets of the error of their ways?

Was Adele's lost kiss with Tristan her one and only chance at love?

In her world there's only one rule: Someone must die.


My Review:

Estes’ work The Star Dwellers is no less captivating that the first book in the series. The pages are so full of flowing descriptions that they cannot help to bring the pages to life. As a reader I spent page after page with my fingers crossed, hoping for the best while expecting the worst. With the numerous twists and turns found at every corner I found myself gasping out loud at the unexpected turns of events. There are moments of utter sorrow that you don’t know how to rise above, through which the characters continue to fight leading to heartfelt reunions and heartwarming moments, and let’s not forget the laughs along the way.

The characters become more developed within this novel, literally jumping from the page to read with you. Unexpected layers appear within the personalities of individuals. They fight against all odds for what they believe in, pitting themselves against the world in which they live while attempting to bring about change and overcome the oppression of the upper class. The physical separation of the classes (by rock and by distance) within this post-apocalyptic society makes the different struggles that they face even more apparent and gripping. It also plays out within the minds of each of the characters. The characters are fighting their inner demons and personal turmoil. They become more real by the word. They are also forced to make heart wrenching decisions based on what is best for the greater good. Because of this, our star-crossed lovers spend a great deal of time apart (causing me to yet again cross my fingers, wishing them back together).

I fully recommend this work to anyone who wishes to read something captivating that causes you to think outside the box. Estes has a way of bringing the reader within the pages of his work with page one and keeping you there until the final sentence. One word of warning however.... If you don’t like cliff-hangers, be sure to pick up the next book in the series before you hit the last page.

Get your copy of this book here today!!!!

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Sunday, December 16, 2012

The Moon Dwellers by David Estes

Title:  The Moon Dwellers
Author:  David Estes
Series:  The Dwellers #1
Published:  June 30th 2012 by David Estes (first published June 27th 2012)
Page Count:  262 pages
Genre:  Dystopian Young Adult
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★★


Synopsis from Goodreads:

In a desperate attempt to escape destruction decades earlier, humankind was forced underground, into the depths of the earth, creating a new society called the Tri-Realms.

After her parents and sister are abducted by the Enforcers, seventeen-year-old Adele, a member of the middle-class moon dwellers, is unjustly sentenced to life in prison for her parents' crimes of treason.

Against all odds, Adele must escape from the Pen and find her family, while being hunted by a deranged, killing machine named Rivet, who works for the President. She is helped by two other inmates, Tawni and Cole, each of whom have dark secrets that are better left undiscovered. Other than her friends, the only thing she has going for her is a wicked roundhouse kick and two fists that have been well-trained for combat by her father.

At the other end of the social spectrum is Tristan, the son of the President and a sun dweller. His mother is gone. He hates his father. Backed by only his servant and best friend, Roc, he leaves his lavish lifestyle in the Sun Realm, seeking to make something good out of his troubled life.

When a war breaks out within the Tri-Realms, Tristan is thrust into the middle of a conflict that seems to mysteriously follow Adele as she seeks to find her family and uncover her parents true past.

In their world, someone must die.

My Review:

Ok, so I finished this book about 10 minutes ago and have already purchased 2 sequels. I must say, I was captivated from page one to the final word. This is the first time in a very long time that I have read every word on every page of a book, not skimming a single sentence. Estes makes the weird seem real and very possible while intermingling moments of sheer comedic delight with suspense and heart warming personal moments.

Estes’ action packed story keeps you riveted page after page while he takes the pyramidal caste system found in every society throughout history and makes the differences and trials of each class poignantly clear. He helps demonstrate the differences between the classes by switching the speaker in each paragraph between the 2 main characters. As I am normally not a fan of this style of writing I was a bit leery at the beginning but the author keeps the different perspectives very clear and it greatly helps the progression of the story.

Within Estes’ work you feel like you are reading about real people and living every moment with them. The lack of “cardboard cut-out” characters coupled with the progression of real relationships between individuals draws you further and further into this post-apocalyptic world. You also see the beginnings of a forbidden love story makes your heart twist, hoping for the best but expecting the worst in the suspenseful, war torn era in which the characters find themselves. By the end of the novel I found myself dying to get my hands on the next volume in the series, needing to know what happened next and if everyone would be alright.

Get your copy of this book here today!!!!! 

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Saturday, December 15, 2012

Weight Loss Terrorists by Redd Kaiman

Title:  Weight Loss Terrorists
Author:  Redd Kaiman
Published:  March 6th 2012
Genre:  Young Adult
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★


Synopsis from Goodreads:

A psychopath threatens Anne Kitts, an obese caring mom, to lose weight over six months or her husband will be executed.


My Review:

This is a short story about a battle with weight loss that has a serious twist. The protagonist’s husband is abducted and the ransom is not the usual money, but rather that she loses an unspecified amount of weight in a 6 month period of time. The main character’s battle with herself had me feeling like I should get off the couch and do something. I could connect with her and the difficulties that she was facing, but couldn’t understand her reluctance to do so based on what was on the line. All in all, I truly enjoyed reading this short story, however, there are some grammatical errors that could use some fine tuning.

Get your copy of this novella here today.

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The Soul's Mark: Found by Ashley Stoyanoff

Title: The Soul's Mark: Found
Author: Ashley Stoyanoff
Series: The Soul's Mark #1
Published: July 20th 2012 by Ashley Stoyanoff Books
Page Count: 278 pages
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Shelf: Books I Bought
Rating: ★★★★★

Summary from Goodreads:

Anxious to leave her destructive past behind, Amelia Caldwell moves to Willowberg, excited for a fresh start. Once there, she discovers that her birthmark is more than it seems. She has been marked by a vampire’s soul. Not only does she hold his soul, but Amelia is also his soulmate.

After almost a century of searching for his soulmate, Mitchell Lang fears the worst—he is going to lose Amelia to another man. His heart takes over, and his impulsive decision to take away her free will and to intensify their bond quickly turns her growing love into hate.

When they become trapped in the emotional rollercoaster of their souls' bond, open conflict erupts. Amelia has no intentions of belonging to anyone, not even her soulmate, and Mitchell refuses to let her go.

While she frantically searches for a way to escape his grasp, Amelia unlocks the painful memories of her past and uncovers a powerful secret. But before she has a chance to explore her newfound edge, she finds herself caught in the middle of a deadly game of revenge and is forced to realize that YOU CANNOT RUN FROM DESTINY

My Review:

Finally, a new take on vampirism. No one sparkles, no one is indestructible, and no one fights a werewolf. And don't get me wrong, I do love my werewolves too, generally more than vampires, but this book has me rethinking that.

I picked this book up this morning and couldn’t put it down until I was finished. I was enthralled by Amelia’s character and couldn’t believe the changes that Mitchell went through in just one book. Not one single character in the book is a cardboard cut-out place holder, but rather, all characters are well developed and can hold their own as real people. As a reader, you come to identify with many characters on a personal level, not just the main characters. They all talk like real people as well. It was refreshing not to have sentences full of colloquialisms or characters who speak like they are defending a thesis at an Ivy League college.

The concept of a soul mate is also taken to a whole new level in this novel. I can’t wait to see how it progresses in the upcoming (or recently published) sequels. I also just cannot wait to read the sequel. Maybe tomorrow....

Get your copy of this book here today.
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