Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Finding Trust by Natalie Gayle: Review & Guest Post



Today I'd like to welcome Natalie Gayle to Pure Jonel.  Let's see what she has to say!


The Voices in my Head

Yep it’s true. I hear voices in my head. But before you lock me up or call the men in the white jackets – let me clarify. You see that’s how I write my novels. The characters talk and I listen.

Do they talk to me? Well not really. They don’t go “Hey Nat this is what’s going to happen.” It’s more as if I’m sitting watching things evolve through a movie. I refer to it as the “fly on the wall” phenomena.

You see, I can vividly hear and see everything that is happening and playing out in my books. Then I just describe it and write it with a bit of help from my characters.

I’ll be driving down the road listening to the radio and then next thing I know I’m watching a scene play out between my characters. The dialogue is, as if it’s happening in the car with me.

It makes me smile. It makes me laugh. My family often see this happening and walk past shaking their head.

“Mum’s head’s in her book again!” My kids say and walk off shaking theirs.

I’ve been caught with a sly smile on my face many times by my husband. For the first few times he said “What?”

After a little while I had to come clean, I think he was starting to get suspicious of something that was only a figment of my imagination.

Now he just raises his eyebrows, I smile and nod and he nods as well – very knowingly. Yep she’s up to it again.

What is totally bizarre is when the characters do something you don’t expect. It’s a bit unnerving actually. Take Rihanna for example. She did something big in Finding Trust. Something, that I just didn’t not expect. No way. No how. If you’ve read it – you’ll know what I mean. If you haven’t I won’t spoil it for you.

But when she did what she did. I kind of sat there gobsmacked. Really – she was going to do that? Apparently yes. Who am I to argue? I’m just the idiot on the keyboard!

I must say life’s never boring when you’re writing about dominant and interesting characters. They do and say the most amazing things, regularly.

I think this experience is probably very similar to all authors. I’m really interested to see if it still continues. It served me well to get “Finding Trust” written and delivered. I only hope it continues as well for all the other novels I have planned.

“Don’t fail me now – character’s!” I cry.

Not sure what I’d do if the process changed. So I’m not going to think about that. I’m a firm believer that if you start dwelling on the negative, you suddenly make it a reality. I’m going to trust that the characters want their story to be told and I’m going to do my job and write it the best I can.

So having now divulged that I hear voices in my head I hope you won’t think any worse of me. Maybe everybody does – they just don’t want to admit it?

What do the voices in your head tell you? Stop and listen – you might just be surprised.


And now, lets find out a little more about Natalie Gayle's novel!


Title:  Finding Trust
Author:  Natalie Gayle
Series:  Center Games #1
Published:  February 27th 2013 by EBS
Page Count:  376
Genre:  Romantic Suspense
Shelf: Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★★


Book Blurb:

Finding Trust – Book 1 Centre Games Series Brayden and Rihanna 

He’s hot, sexy, and leads a double life. Sometimes in the limelight, mostly in the shadows. Brayden James holds fast to a secret that’s more than his to share. She’s a singularly focused veterinarian out for a rare night of fun with friends, at a New Year’s Eve rock concert. Going home with the lead guitarist was furthest thing from Rihanna Mason’s mind when the night began. When Rihanna inadvertently becomes the target of a deadly terrorist plot using the Hendra virus as a biological weapon, Brayden is forced to reveal his other life. His job is to keep her safe and together they must stop the terrorists before it’s too late. But what happens when she becomes more to him than just the assignment? Will the secret he cannot disclose ultimately prove too much for Rihanna’s fragile trust in relationships? Or will he finally break through the double brick walls around her heart, where every other man has failed?

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:

Wow! What a cool concept. I can honestly say that I’ve never read a book like this one before. Not only was it completely and utterly unique but it was also totally captivating and unendingly entertaining. Gayle takes a phenomenal concept and runs with it, creating a world and lives that you want to immerse yourself into, regardless of the danger.

Fundamentally, this story is very well written. It has a brilliant flow, and has been very well edited. As a reader you can lose yourself in the pages for hours on end. I never once put the book down. It was brilliant. Gayle’s descriptions and narrative are beyond compare. Everything is set out in vivid clarity, allowing you to walk into the pages of the book. She also switches perspective between the two main characters to give her readers a better sense of the entire story, rather than having it become one sided. This is very tactfully and clearly done, avoiding any possible confusion.

I really appreciate that the equine information and characteristics in this novel are correct. It is such a large basis for the story that you can’t help but be drawn to it. The biochemical aspect of this novel also adds another level to the story. Not only does it compliment the storyline but the fact that a situation such as this is a real possibility in the world makes you cringe.

I like that the characters are (mostly) real with each other. They don’t feel the need to be all ‘made up’ all the time, but rather feel able to act and dress as themselves with each other. Sure, they have secrets. I mean, who doesn’t. But essentially they are true to each other right from the get-go, building a brilliant foundation for a full relationship. This goes not only for the main characters, but for the cast as a whole. They are open and friendly with one another and act the way that true friends would.

Not only are the relationships between the characters well developed and realistic, but the characters themselves are as well. Each and every character that plays an important role in this novel is individually developed. Everyone has their own set of characteristics and their own personality. It becomes very easy to relate to some of them. Others, not so much, but that doesn’t stem from lack of character development. Rather, it stems from the fact that the characters are so diverse that even if you can see where they are coming from you won’t necessarily agree with everyone.

Above all, this novel was intense. It has an intensity that is rarely found in a novel. This intensity comes from the storyline as whole, not just select scenes here and there. It was brilliant. I cannot wait to read more from this author (and I think I see another couple or two brewing in this novel, so here’s hoping).


Author Bio:

I recently discovered those school vocational assessments are really interesting and probably correct! Who would have thought, hey? You see, I clearly remember taking one of those in Year 11 (for my US friends, I think that equates to junior year in high school). Anyway, semantics. Well, the results came back indicating that I should pursue a career in writing and something else. What that something else was I can’t remember but the writing thing stuck in my mind. Sure, I’d always liked English and had already developed a ravenous appetite for romance novels by the age of sixteen—but who becomes a writer straight out of school? So to cut a long story short, I went to Uni and studied Business and ended up managing large-scale IT projects shortly after. I can’t complain: it’s been a great career. I’ve done some awesome projects and met some incredible people and I won’t be giving it up anytime soon. Anyway, I’ve messed around with a couple of “secret” novels over the years and I finally decided to get serious and finish one. Hence “Finding Trust” came about. And about twenty years later, I’ve finally proved a vocational assessment correct, because I love writing! As to some other stuff about me: I live on the Gold Coast, Australia. I love spending time with my family and friends. When I’m not sitting behind a screen playing with IT or writing, you might find me down the beach playing in the waves on a Jet Ski or a bogey board (both are uber cool). When the weather turns a bit cooler (doesn’t really happen on the Gold Coast), we like to head for the snow. I’ve discovered I have two kids who are kamikaze skiers—they must take after their father. He’s always at me to “release the handbrake.” Apparently I’d ski so much better. I call it a healthy understanding of self-preservation and gravity! I like to think I can fit in a few workouts and martial arts classes each week. This tends to be a figment of my imagination more than reality, unfortunately. I am trying to remedy this, but those damn characters just keep demanding to have their stories told and, well, there’s always another good book to read! I hope you enjoy mine. Please drop me a line. I’m active on Facebook, Twitter, and via email Natalie@nataliegayle.com.au. I’d love to know what you think of my books and well, let’s be truthful—I love talking about books, whether they’re mine or someone else’s. Fiction is just so much more fun than reality!!!

Happy Reading,
 Natalie Gayle

Buy your copy of this novel online here today!


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Monday, April 29, 2013

Blood Burdens by Brandy Nacole

Title:  Blood Burdens
Author:  Brandy Nacole
Series:  The Shadow World #2
Published:  December 18th 2012
Page Count:  180
Genre:  Young Adult Paranormal
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  

Synopsis from Goodreads:

As someone with four Shadow bloodlines, Racquel is uniquely unwelcome even among her fellow werewolves, shape-shifters, vampires, and witches. Growing up, she was bullied and tormented for being a “hybrid,” a condition frowned upon by Shadow society. After saving her sister and a number of other kidnapped Shadows from a diabolical plot to create a Shadow army, many have found a new respect for Racquel, but she is far from accepted in Shadow society, and the evil is far from over.

To complicate matters, Racquel now finds herself torn between two brothers. Coy is caring and has helped Racquel through her struggles, and Micah, who Racquel has only met once but who is somehow, having dream conversations with him. Racquel becomes torn between following her heart while breaking it at the same time.

In the second installment of the Shadow World series, Racquel and her sister Addie face off with the Shadow leaders against a threat that could bring the world to its knees. Power will be pushed to its limit, hearts will be broken, and some will pay the ultimate price as Racquel and her group of Shadows fight against an ancient evil that is determined to make the earth bleed and Racquel with it.

My Review:

With this installment in her series, Nacole goes further in depth with the histories of each of the races that make their way into her phenomenal story. The mythologies behind each of their belief systems are also thoroughly developed. One thing that I really appreciate about this novel (and the series so far) is that although Nacole walks the standard path with her supernatural creatures and their behaviors, etc. she gives everything just a little bit of a twist to make them her own.

Nacole continues writing in the 1st person, present tense with this novel. The congruency in the writing style makes for a smooth and easy transition between the two novels. It also continues the feeling of urgency that is prevalent throughout this novel. Not only that, but you find yourself immersed in the main character’s feelings with much more understanding of them than you would typically have. It does leave some gaps in the storyline as we can only be with the main character who is telling us the story, but Nacole does a brilliant job of remedying this. We get filled in on the missed action right along with the main character. It allows Nacole to remain fully in the 1st person without having to switch perspectives.

The characters in this novel are quite loveable. You want to see them succeed in all of their endeavours, be it the actual quest that makes up the bulk of the storyline or the smaller (but still) large problems that they encounter personally throughout their journeys. They become even more fully developed throughout this novel, allowing us a deeper look into their histories and a peek into their possible futures. Nacole also introduces us to some new characters in this novel. Because the cast was so well developed in the first installment she has much more leeway for development of these new characters without sacrificing those we’ve already come to love.

On the whole this was a brilliant sequel to Uniquely Unwelcome. Nacole draws you further and further into this world until you don’t want to let go. Luckily we don’t have to. Although this novel has a very solid ending, that does just that, end the story, it is also a new beginning.

Buy your copy online here today!


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Playing the Maestro by Aubrie Dionne

Title:  Playing the Maestro
Author:  Aubrie Dionne
Published:  February 11th 2013 by Entangled Publishing (Bliss) 
(first published February 10th 2013)
Page Count: 190
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Shelf: Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Melody Mires has sworn off dating musicians, but when the sexy European conductor Wolf Braun takes over her struggling symphony, her hesitation almost flies out the window with the notes of her flute—until he opens his mouth. Wolf is arrogant, haughty, and seems t have a personal vendetta against Melody. Oh, and he’s her boss. If she wants to keep her job as principal flutist, she’ll have to impress Wolf while simultaneously keeping her undeniable attraction to herself.

Wolf came to America to get as far away from his past as possible, and to recover some of the swagger he had as one of the world’s best maestros. He never imagined being forced to reassess the entire orchestra’s talent—and potentially fire anyone who doesn’t make his cut. Dating the attractive flutist is out of the question, but as their feelings reach a fever pitch, can they risk both their careers for a chance at love?

My Review:

Wow. What a heart-warming and interesting story. I barely put this novel down. To top that off, it was also quite well written and flows fluently from one section to the next.

I appreciated that this novel had a beginning, some very captivating and at times comical drama in the middle, and a definite ending. The author does not rely on erotic scenes to carry this story forward, but rather develops amazing relationships between her characters. By basing her storyline on these characters and their budding relationships she creates a very solid story that is hard to beat.

I absolutely fell in love with some of the characters in this novel. I couldn’t believe how extremely well developed they were. They were also developed in such a way that they were quite real and very approachable. Their actions are also consistent with their personalities, allowing the reader to better relate to the characters.

As a whole, this was a brilliant way to spend an afternoon. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with these characters and would definitely recommend it to others.

Buy your copy online here today!


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Blue Coyote Motel by Dianne Harman

Title: Blue Coyote Motel
Author:  Dianne Harman
Published:  October 10th 2012 by Dianne Harman
Page Count:  294
Genre:  Suspense/Mystery
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  

Synopsis from Goodreads:

“He remembered the little motel in the desert when his life turned around.”

At the heart of Blue Coyote Motel is a love story beginning in the barrios of Southern California and spanning the globe in such diverse locations as France, South America and the Himalayas. The beautiful Latina, Maria, and her husband, Jeffrey, a scientist fired from a prestigious laboratory, struggle to build a new life in a remote Southern California desert area as owners of the Blue Coyote Motel.

When Maria’s depression rises like a cloud over their happiness, Jeffrey invents a wonder drug to fix it. As Jeffrey’s condition unravels, he begins to experiment with the wonder drug. Six wayward travelers find themselves staying the night at the small roadside inn. The next morning, they wake up feeling better than ever. Has Jeffrey’s miracle drug delivered? Or is the nightmare only beginning?

My Review:

This was a well written novel with smooth transitions and detailed descriptions. At times it has a very dark and ominous feeling to the writing, which sets the reader up for the conclusion. There are also many separate storylines in this story that run parallel to each other and finally intertwine at the ending, creating suspense and mystery that propels the reader forward. The story itself is very intriguing but it jumps from person to person to allow for these multiple story lines. This allows the author to further develop the mystery that brings them all together at the end, but there were a couple of times where I began to wonder where it was going. That said the fact that the events in this story are believable and even quite probably makes the story even scarier. You can actually imagine yourself in this situation with little effort.

The character development in this novel was phenomenal. There was a very large cast of characters, yet each and every one of them was equally well developed. The individualized characteristics of these people are all so real and combine in ways to create complete individuals who are stuck in circumstances beyond their control. Their actions and reactions are also in synch with the people that they are created to be within this novel. Harman spends a great deal of time and detail on this type of thing, which solidifies the characters and therefore the storyline itself in the reader’s mind’s eye.

The realism in this novel was just as terrifying as the story itself. It makes you think and it makes you worry. This novel also brings addiction to a whole new, and utterly terrifying level. It was a pleasure to read such an utterly unique and realistic novel.

Buy your copy online here today!


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Sunday, April 28, 2013

Interview with Robin Leigh Morgan

Today I`d like to welcome Robin Leigh Murphy, author of I Kissed A Ghost.


Q ~ Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m a retired civil servant who’s married with no children, who also has two cats. My first YA novel is a YA Paranormal/Time Travel/First Kiss entitled “I Kissed a Ghost,” which got released on December 20, 2012.

Q ~ What are 5 things that you never leave home without? 
They would be my car keys, cell phone, credit cards, money and knowing what I’m going to be doing.

Q ~ Who, or what, are the biggest influences in your life? In your writing?
I can’t really say that any one thing or person has had a bigger influenced on me than another. I look at the entire package as having made me the person I am today.

Q ~ In your opinion, what makes a book YA/NA, rather than an ‘A’ book?
Since “I Kissed a Ghost” is a YA Paranormal/Time Travel/First Kiss Romance it will definitely have to be the language being used especially when writing the interaction between the main characters in the story. In an adult romance there’s a lot of heavy emotions, kissing, and the like; but in a YA/NA romance there’s more hand holding, kisses on the forehead or cheeks, and an occasional quick peck on the lips. The innocence of these characters is always maintained.

Q ~ How did you get started writing?
I actually began to write back in June 1995, where until June 2006 I wrote over 450 commentary type items for a community newspaper. Along the way I decided to see if I could write something else. I didn’t own a computer back then, but I did have access to one where I wrote my commentaries, and it was on this computer I wrote about two pages a week. Once I got my computer I began to write what I wanted to be a contemporary romance with a paranormal element running through, but I never seemed to get the sense it would be good enough to be read by someone else. Eventually, someone suggested I write for a younger audience, which how I came to write my debut novel, a YA [Young Adult] Paranormal/Time Travel/First Kiss romance entitled, “I Kissed a Ghost.”

Q ~ Do you have a writing routine? Are there things that you always need to have with you, or places you always need to be? Do you need to have something laid out before you put words on paper (or the computer screen)?
If you’re asking me whether I’m a plotter or a pantser, I’d probably say a little of both. As I said in the above, I made a skeleton of an outside, writing down the basic plot points I’d like to hit as the story unfolded; and as a sculptor starting with a wire base of what they’d like to have, I added material, then took some away, until I had the finished product I had in mind.

When I write, it’s usually when my other half is at work, and during the time I write like to have some light easy listening type music playing so as to act like white noise blocking out any other sounds which might otherwise distract me as I type my story directly on my computer into WORD. I also keep a pad and pen on the night table near my bed so in case I should wake up with an idea I can quickly write it down so I won’t forget about it.

Q ~ How did you select the title for your book? 
Selecting a title for a book had been a very challenging experience for me; but after racking my brain over it, I decided to merely summarize the premise for the entire story in as few words as possible until I had something which could be used as the title for my book. Hence, since the story is about a girl [Mary] and her kissing the ghost [George] she had living in her house; the story had to be called, “I Kissed a Ghost.”

Q ~ Can you tell us a bit about your writing?
Mary gets a new classmate named Jonathan who’s a great baseball player and to get on the team, he needs Mary’s help to improve his grades. Six months later when she learns she’s moving, she decides to give him something special--a first kiss.

Moving into her new home she soon discovers it has a ghost named George, her age, who takes her on numerous trips to the past of a hundred years ago. As she meets children her own age, everyone teases her about her house being haunted, but no one will go inside.

Mary likes his help doing her math homework, writing her reports, and taking her back in time. George and Mary’s interaction grows and she eventually gives him a quick peck on his lips while they’re in the past, which is the only place George is a real boy, for having done something special for her.

In an attempt to get her classmates/friends to be willing to come inside her house, she has a Halloween party designed to confuse them as to what is real and what is not.

Can Mary kiss George a second time, at the special date and time he needs to be kissed? What happens afterwards if she does? The answers are all in the book!

Q ~ What’s up next for you, writing wise?
As I’ve stated in the above I had started to write a contemporary romance but never completed writing it. Now with my debut YA novel self-published I’ve return to writing the romance manuscript I had started many years ago, and approaching it anew with the knowledge I’ve gained along the way in writing “I Kissed a Ghost.” The reason I’m writing it is relatively simple, I’ve always felt somewhat incomplete not having completed something I once had started out to do, and I now want to fill the void it has created in my life.

Q ~ If you could give all new authors one piece of advice, what would it be?
I’d tell them never give up living your dream of becoming a writer, as you can from reading about me, I never did. Before you start looking for a publisher or even an agent you MUST have your manuscript edited, granted the editor you select might miss a few minor points, but at least it’s now in a much more presentable condition. Publishers want manuscript which can be easily edited by their own editing staff, without them having to correct countless misspellings and grammatical errors.
Q ~ Where can we find your book and you on the internet? 
My book is available on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kissed-Ghost-Robin-Leigh-Morgan/dp/1480030031
The book is also available on Amazon.com Amazon.de Amazon.es Amazon.fr Amazon.it

If anyone is interested in reading several UNEDITED SNIPPETS from my debut novel, they can be found in the GHOSTLY WHISPERS entries on any of my blog sites:
http://www.mypennameonly.blogspot.com or http://www.mypennameonly.wordpress.com or
http://www.mypennameonly.webs.com [this is also my website]
http://www.mypennameonly.tumblr.com

I also can be found on
TWITTER = http://www.twitter.com/mypennameonly
FACEBOOK = http://www.facebook.com/mypennameonly
GOODREADS = http://www.goodreads.com/RobinLeighMorgan

Now lets find out a bit more about I Kissed a Ghost

Published:  December 20th 2012
Page Count:  250

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Mary gets a new classmate named Jonathan who’s a great baseball player and to get on the team, he needs Mary’s help to improve his grades. Six months later when she learns she’s moving, she decides to give him something special--a first kiss.

Moving into her new home she soon discovers it has a ghost named George, her age, who takes her on numerous trips to the past of a hundred years ago. As she meets children her own age, everyone teases her about her house being haunted, but no one will go inside.

Mary likes his help doing her math homework, writing her reports, and taking her back in time. George and Mary’s interaction grows and she eventually gives him a quick peck on his lips while they’re in the past, which is the only place George is a real boy, for having done something special for her.

Can Mary kiss George again at the special date and time he needs to be kissed? What happens afterwards if she does? The answers are all in the book!


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Saturday, April 27, 2013

Interview with Elle Jacklee

Today I'd like to welcome Elle Jacklee to Pure Jonel. 
Let's see what she has to say!


Q~ Are you a cat person? A dog person? Or does some other loveable little critter catch your fancy? 
Up until I got my first cat, I would have said that I'm definitely a dog person all the way. I grew up with dogs, and my parents shared with me that when I was a baby, if our dog was “standing guard” beside my crib, they weren't “allowed” near me. Having had dogs my entire childhood, when I was an adult and living on my own, the combination of wanting to have a pet and rental restrictions that didn't allow dogs, resulted in me becoming a cat owner, and about five minutes later, a cat lover. In fact, several characters in The Tree of Mindala are named after cats that I've owned (or that have owned me) through the years.

Q~ Do you have a green thumb? Do you enjoy growing things or prefer to see them where they lay in nature? 
I LOVE trees, plants, nature in general. I think that's probably no surprise to anyone who reads my book, given the setting. What might be surprising, though, is that I do not have a green thumb!

Q~ What is your favourite season? 
I'm a summer girl.

Q~ Vanilla or Chocolate? 
Definitely chocolate!

Q~ How and when did you begin writing? 
I wrote my first story when I was seven years old. I was already a book lover, and I was having so much fun reading that I knew I wanted people to enjoy that same feeling of excitement and escapism that I felt when I read. Of course, at that age, that was probably not exactly the way I articulated it ;) I just knew that I wanted other people to have as much fun as I was having with reading. That's still my goal today.

Q~ What inspired you to write The Tree of Mindala? 
The idea for the story just came to me one blustery autumn day. The wind was howling and it was near Halloween, and I thought about how much I've always loved the spookiness of Halloween. That's when Miranda Moon, the main character, was conceived. By the end of that day, I had a rough outline and several pages done.

Q~ Are any of your characters based on individuals in your life?  In general, do you tend to pull characteristics for your cast from individuals that you know or have met or do you tend to lean away from that practice? 
My characters are not based on anyone. They're complete figments of my imagination, unless you count Miranda Moon who takes after me in that she loves Halloween. And like her, I have been accused of having an overactive imagination... 

Q~ What’s coming next after The Tree of Mindala? Do you have a projected release timeframe? 
I'm currently working on the second installment of the Wunderwood Series, The Triad of the Tree. I'm shooting for late 2013.

Q~ Would you mind giving us a sneak peak? 
Not at all!

Raina stared at the spectacle in the sky with a familiar sense of dread. She glanced back at Thornton, who, after more than a year, lay still but for the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest and the occasional twitch of nose or eye. Baffled, she returned her gaze to the window.

Yesterday she had seen the first black bolt rip through the sky. That is, the first since her grandniece, Miranda Moon, had given Thornton the Essence of The Tree of Mindala, which soon after had rendered him unconscious. But yesterday, the jagged Darkning had taunted her and Skye during the flight to Silvercap Mountain from the Wunderwood Academy of Mystical Existence where Raina spent her days teaching. As they had flown toward Thornton, Raina had worried they were like moths to a flame. They had spoken no words. It was enough that thunder had boomed its ominous message. To Raina it could only mean one thing: that Thornton had awakened from his coma. The goodness in the Essence must have lost its war with the evil inside of him. He must be up to his old tricks. That could only spell terrible danger for Wunderwood. Again.

But when they had arrived at Silvercap, where Raina and her entire family had taken up residence for more than a year now, they had found Raina's father, Reed, reclined leisurely, book in hand, on a chaise beside Thornton's still prone form. Her mother, Flora, had been fixing dinner in the kitchen, humming a cheery tune. It appeared as though Thornton had nothing to do with the Darkning.

Now, Raina tore herself away from the sad sky outside the window to join the discussion that had begun yesterday when she broke the news of the Darkning to her parents.

“Could it mean that one of the Hoarders of Power is attempting to finish what Thornton started?” Flora asked.

“Well, at first I thought it had to have something to do with the HOPs, too,” Reed replied. “But have you happened to notice that your magic hasn't been the same lately?”

“What do you mean?” Flora asked, but her eyes said she already knew the answer. They all did. They just weren't quite ready to face it.

“Has it been stalling? Coming in fits and starts? As though it's... running out?” Reed pressed on.

Flora nodded slowly, not wanting to believe it.

“I thought it was just me,” Raina said. “I thought... I hoped... maybe I was sick? I was planning to visit Laurel about it. But if it's happening to all of us...”

“It can only mean one thing.” Grim certainty steeled Reed's features. “The Tree of Mindala is dying.”


Q~ Are you planning anything after The Triad of the Tree? How many installments are you planning for the Wunderwood series, or have you decided yet? 
Currently, I've planned four total installments, but that's not written in stone. I'm having so much fun with the characters that I don't really want to think about a time when they'll be “done”. 

 Q~ Do you have any words of wisdom to live by that you’d like to share with us today?
"Do what makes you happy as often as you can, whether it be in your professional life or your personal life. Now more than ever, I'm a big believer that if you make room in your life for something that is fulfilling, the happiness that you get from it will carry over into every aspect of your life. That's not just a gift to yourself, but to everyone else as well."

Connect with Elle online:
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6547901.Elle_Jacklee
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elle.jacklee
Twitter: @ellejacklee


Thanks so much for joining us here today Elle and I look forward to reading more of the Wunderwood series.


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Friday, April 26, 2013

The Tree of Mindala by Elle Jacklee

Title: The Tree of Mindala
Author:  Elle Jacklee
Published:  September 30th 2012 by Createspace
Page Count:  348
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Soon to be twelve-year-old Miranda Moon's overactive imagination has landed her in trouble again. This time, she's been suspended from school. Since her Halloween weekend just got extended, her parents decide to take her and her straight-laced younger brother, Marcus, to her late grandparents' old cabin. That suits Miranda just fine. She's always felt there was something special about the place. Besides, she has a knack for making the best of things.

But when Miranda finds a curious water globe hidden in the cabin, she and Marcus are catapulted into a world even she never imagined. A world where everybody already knows their family name and magic flows through the trees. A world called Wunderwood. But their arrival happens to coincide with the release of a sinister warlock from a forty-year imprisonment. Thornton Crow resumes his deadly agenda to find the source of Wunderwood's magical power, the Tree of Mindala, and seize it for his own.

As Miranda learns of her own connection to Thornton, she realizes that it's up to her to end his cruel and relentless cycle of death that would steal not just magic, but also hope. With only the cryptic words of a prophecy to guide her, she holds the fate of the entire realm as well as the safety of Marcus and the newly found branches of her family tree in her hands. Miranda's signature optimism is put to the ultimate test when she chooses to carry out the task that will save Wunderwood... or doom it forever.

My Review:

Exciting, adventurous, and heart-warming. That’s how I would describe this novel.

This novel very well written novel has a very nice flow. The pace changes with the action, but in a consistent wave like change. The passage of time is also well marked throughout so that you neither feel like the story is rushing to completion nor dragging on. Not only does Jacklee set the scene brilliantly through her vivid and larger than life descriptions and narrative, she also builds the world that the characters drop upside-down into. This is an amazing world, complete with its own awesome flora and fauna. Each piece of it is individually developed, as well as developed in its place in the world as a whole. There is also a brilliant history laid out for the audience in a very engaging way.

This novel is full of interestingly unique characters. Each one is individually developed to be themselves. Since some of the characters are still growing up, they do change throughout the course of the novel, as would anyone who faced these challenges, but they remain themselves through and through. I love how some of the characters have a vivid imagination that turns out to be the reality lived by others. This cast of characters and their adventures worm their way into your heart.

This is one of those stories that is suitable for and entertaining to those of all ages. There is nothing in it that would be inappropriate for a younger audience, yet it is written in such a captivating manner that I could barely put it down.

Buy your copy online here today!


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Thursday, April 25, 2013

The Dohmestics by Mohanalaksnmi Rajakumar

Title:  The Dohmestics
Author:  Mohanalaksnmi Rajakumar
Published:  December 20th 2012 by Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Page Count:  178
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★

Book Blurb:

Edna, Amira, and Noof are neighbors but that doesn't mean they know what happens behind closed doors or that they have anything in common with their hired help.

Maria, Maya, and Lillie live in the same compound as their employers but that's where the similarities begin and end.

:There's never a dull moment for anyone in this desert emirate.

The unending gossip and unrelenting competition may be business as usual for expatriate communities but the unspoken secrets threaten to destroy life as everyone knows it.

My Review:

This was a remarkably well written novel. I appreciated how the author does not waste a great deal of time on extraneous descriptions. She sets the scene remarkably well, but also leaves room for the reader to use their imagination to help build this world.

It was also quite unique with an extremely intriguing premise. It is a very different outlook on life and was very interesting to read about. The author takes the lives of many individuals in multiple classes and shows their interactions and reactions to one another in a very entertaining manner. This is extra interesting because there is a veritable melting pot of character types and nationalities within this novel that all fit together to create an unforgettable story. She also switches perspective between the characters to help illustrate this and to give the reader a great deal of detail and information that would otherwise be possible. She also did so quite smoothly and clearly.

There is a rather large cast of characters in this novel, but you get to know each and every one of them as an individual. It is also a multicultural cast of characters with interracial families that all live together in relative harmony. Rajakumar takes the time to develop each character separately. They each possess qualities that tie them directly to their cultural origin, while also being the individual who lives within this community.

I found it very refreshing to read about such a different outlook on life. It really made me think. Above all, however, this novel kept me thoroughly entertained throughout.

Buy your copy of this novel online here today!

Author Bio:

Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar is a South Asian American who has lived in Qatar since 2005. Moving to the Arabian Desert was fortuitous in many ways since this is where she met her husband, had a baby, and made the transition from writing as a hobby to a full time passion. She has since published five e-books including a mom-ior for first time mothers, Mommy But Still Me, a guide for aspiring writers, So You Want to Sell a Million Copies, a short story collection, Coloured and Other Stories, and a novel about women’s friendships, Saving Peace. Most recently, From Dunes to Dior, is a collection of essays related to her experiences as a female South Asian American living in the Arabian Gulf. After she joined the e-book revolution, she dreams in plotlines. Learn more about her work on her website at www.mohanalakshmi.com or follow her latest on Twitter: @moha_doha.

Contact the Author Online:

Website:   http://www.mohanalakshmi.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themohadoha
Twitter: @moha_doha
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3012741.Mohanalakshmi_Rajakumar
Pinterest:  www.pintrest.com/mohadoha
YouTube:  www.youtube.com/themohadoha




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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

The Lola Diaries Drama Jerk by Lulubelle Love



Today we welcome Lulubelle Love and her newest work: "The Lola Diaries: Drama Jerk"

If you have kids, you can't miss this book.

The Lola Diaries: Drama Jerk 
by Lulubelle Love.


Quick Facts
Release Date: February 28,2013.

Genre: Middle Grade Fiction.
Formats Available for Purchase: Paperback and ebook.
Rating:  



 Book Synopsis

Let’s face it turning eleven can be difficult especially when you still wear diapers to bed. This is a secret that Lola Swanson wants to keep under wraps. But secrets always have a way of coming out especially when Hannah Thompson ( A.K.A . Captain Evil) is involved.

And then there’s the little problem that Lola and Hannah are both in love with the same boy.

My Review:

This is a very well written and interesting story. It is aimed brilliantly at a pre-teen audience but is a tale that many will enjoy. The author does not try to ‘dumb down’ her writing for her audience, but rather writes things the way they are for those in grade school. She writes with love and detail. Everything is laid out clearly for her audience without ever getting wordy. Descriptions are quite vivid yet still realistic. I also appreciate how the story was written in the 1st person, allowing the characters to tell their own story. She also switched perspectives regularly, allowing the readers to see and weigh in on both sides of the conflict. This was an experience not soon to be forgotten.

I enjoyed the character development in this story. It was very fitting for the ages of the characters. They were portrayed as pre-teens who were trying to find themselves. They were quite well developed and you really got to know them as individuals and as a group. I also found the outlook on adults quite entertaining as it was so refreshingly real.

The characters in this novel deal with real world issues. No one becomes a vampire or shape shifter. They deal with school yard problems that we all encounter. This story sends a very strong message of acceptance and anti-bullying while still telling an engaging and entertaining story. This story also encourages you to be and be true to yourself. It is a rather inspiring and yet devastating story that ends quite happily. The main character overcomes a great deal, both inwardly and outwardly, and continues forward on her path. This was a very eye opening story that I quite enjoyed.





Author Guest Post - Can Anyone Write a Book

I think the answer is yes. If you really want to write don’t let anything stop you. The world of books is changing, and it’s now possible for anyone to publish their book. In fact I wish more people wrote more often and just let go of their fear. About 80% of people say they have a book in them and in the world we live in it’s possible for all 80% of those people to make their dreams come true.

Some self-published authors don’t let anything get in their way and keep publishing their books one after the other. Because of Amazon and Kindle they are making over six figures a year- no joke. The authors who publish more than one title a year and do this year after year, are finding real success in writing books, but don’t get me wrong it has to be quality. So anyone out there who wants to write get your pen out and try your turn at making hundreds or thousands of dollars a month. It’s worth a shot!

The Author

Liz Steele (Pen Name Lulubelle Love) grew up in Holden, MA. She graduated from Worcester State College with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and from Assumption College with a Master of Arts in Education. After working as a special education teacher for several years, she decided to follow her passion for writing and publishing books.

Find more about her at: www.lulubellelove.com

GIVEAWAY:

Participate for a chance to win one of the 20 Paperback Copies of "Drama Jerk" available.



Follow the Tour:

Tour Schedule 

April 17: Black Lion Tours Blog: Tour Kick-Off
April 18: 
Bunny's Reviews Blog: Promo Stop.
April 19: 
Laurie's Non Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews: Interview.
            Cheryl's Book Nook: Review.
April 20: 
I know that Book: Guest Post.
April 21: 
Melissa's Midnight Musings: Guest Post.
April 22: Kimberly Lewis: Guest Post.
April 23: 
My Devotional Thoughts: Review.
April 24: Pure Jonel Book Reviews: Review and Interview
               Ohana Day Academy: Review. 
April 26: Bookworm Lisa: Review.
April 27: Makayla's Book Reviews: Guest Post
April 28: A Novel Idea Live: Live Interview.
April 29: A Novel Idea Live: Promo.
May 1 : Black Lion Tours Blog: Wrap- Up.
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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Waking Dreams by Ashley Stoyanoff

Title:  Waking Dreams
Author:  Ashley Stoyanoff
Series:  The Soul's Mark, Novella
Published:  April 14th 2013 by Ashley Stoyanoff Books
Page Count:  94
Genre:  Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Shelf:  Books I Bought
Rating:  

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In The Soul’s Mark, Eric Carter felt a burning spark when he first laid eyes on Amelia Caldwell. There was just something about her—something familiar—that pulled him to her. The problem was acting on the spark was suicide. Amelia was marked for his father.

Eric had been around for a long time, and before Amelia, life happened. One day he was a simple rancher and then the next, he was thrust into a world that he had never known existed, and dreaming of a girl that he knew he couldn’t live without.

In this novella, Eric Carter’s history is revealed.

My Review:

Stoyanoff picks up this little novella with the same ease and flare that she writes The Soul’s Mark series. Her descriptions are fluid and vivid creating an unforgettable picture in your mind’s eye. One cannot help but be drawn in to this remarkable world, enjoying each and every minute of it. As enjoyable and light as this story was, it is also one of the most in depth novellas that I’ve ever read. By taking her characters directly from the series, Stoyanoff allows herself greater leeway for story development. She also does so with tact and class. She doesn’t ignore character development, but rather assumes that the reader knows the basics about each individual from the series as a whole, thus allowing her to tell her story.

The characters are consistently the same individuals that we’ve come to love through Stoyanoff’s work. Their emotions, actions, and reactions are true to form. As a reader, you also see how they have evolved into the characters that we see in the modern day and where they were a century ago. I also really appreciated the sneak peek into the creation and development of Willowberg into the town that Mitchell runs today.

Although this novella would be a quick, entertaining read as a standalone story, it works best as part of The Soul’s Mark series. It complements the storyline and to a large extent, explains events that preceded yet directly affect the characters and their actions in the series.

Buy your copy of this book online here today!
(Currently this book is free via the above link!!!)


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Raveled by Anne McAneny

Title:  Raveled
Author: Anne McAneny
Published: January 28th 2013 by Farrington Press 
(first published January 15th 2013)
Page Count:  332
Genre:  Mystery
Shelf: Review Copy
Rating:  

Synopsis from Goodreads:

What’s a girl to do when her imprisoned brother begs her to delve into their father’s sixteen-year-old murder conviction? How about peel back the lies, upend the fairy tales, and roil the populace of Lavitte—a sweet apple of a town with a wormy, festering core? That’s what Allison Fennimore chooses. Despite her infamous surname and people’s wilted memories, this jaded cynic of a daughter sinks her teeth in and refuses to let go. She can practically taste the bitterness of that long-ago, twisted night when two teenagers died, linked to her father by bad luck and a few strands of rope.

Ignoring the dense local atmosphere where image trumps substance and lies become legend, Allison stirs the pot. The more layers she discards, the more elusive the truth becomes. And when a key source of information turns up dead, the dark edges of resentment coil in around her like a slowly tightening noose. As revelations get ugly, Allison may wish she’d never ventured toward the forbidden fruit of truth.

My Review:

This is a very unique novel that makes you think and keeps you guessing throughout, while simultaneously drawing you into the plot. The author invokes a panorama of emotions in both the reader and in her characters to draw you through a very captivating novel that will leave a lasting impression on its audience.

This author uses a very light and flowing writing style that makes you want to keep reading. It contrasts with the content of the novel, giving the aura of greater intrigue. The very solid and well laid out storyline of this novel also melds intrigue and mystery with friendship and family to draw the reader into a very difficult and heart wrenching world that keeps you guessing and wanting more. The author also strives for accuracy in her writing. The storyline is based on events that could plausibly have happened, and the response from law enforcement and medical professionals is not made up, but rather true responses.

The author regularly switches character perspectives and time periods throughout the novel. This is a concept and technique that can be very detrimental or very instrumental in a story’s development. McAneny has nailed this technique perfectly. Not only does she differentiate between the sections by denoting the time and character at the beginning of each chapter, but she also uses various different writing techniques to further differentiate. She tactfully and subtly switches between the first and third person, as well as between the past and present tense without ever interrupting or disrupting the storyline.

The characters in this novel are quite interesting. To sum them up as a group, I’d have to say ‘holy town full of creepy people.’ This town is bound together in secrecy, based on events long past. The bulk of the character development surrounds this secrecy, aiding in the procession of the story. You begin to see how many of their actions are based on this. That said, character development does not end with this secrecy. The major characters in this novel are quite well developed. They are fully developed individuals who are dealing with real issues, even if they are events that many of us will never have to deal with. I also appreciate that the budding romance between two of the characters does not overshadow the main storyline.

It has been a very long time since I’ve read a novel with such a solidly built storyline. It draws you in and propels you forward with suspense and mystery. It was artfully done and a pleasure to read.

Buy your copy online here today!


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