Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Hearts in Exile by Mysti Parker

Title:  Hearts in Exile
Author:  Mysti Parker
Series:  Tallenmere #3
Published:  June 13th 2013 by Melange Books (first published June 2nd 2013)
Page Count:  274
Genre:  Fantasy
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★★

Book Blurb:

Somewhere, hidden in the waters of the Southern Sea, lies an island unlike any other. Within the amber glow of its pyrogem-laden cliffs, legend says the very heart of the dragon god Drae keeps the island, and its occupants, alive.

Loralee Munroviel, daughter of Leogard's High Priestess Arianne, had no idea what she would face when she arrived by boat ten years ago and was left alone in exile. All she knew about Draekoria's inhabitants was written in one tattered notebook. Now, her life revolves around keeping Drae's descendants happy. Never in her life did she imagine being a Dragon Keeper.

Captain Igrorio Everlyn, known as Sir Robert to his unit of Holy Paladins, has faced his share of hell, battling the evils of Emperor Sarvonn's tyranny and the dark god Tyr's abominations. But none of that compares to the ten years of hell he's been without Loralee, presumed dead.

One freak storm changes everything. Now the two of them must fight to re-establish the delicate balance of the island before the dragons take things into their own hands. Through it all, they discover the secrets that kept them, and their hearts, exiled for a decade.

Buy your copy online today

Excerpt:

After a shipwreck, Sir Robert wakes up in a strange cottage, only to find Loralee, the love of his life, whom he thought had been dead for a decade…

“I don’t understand. What is this place?”

“It’s an island. Very few know of its existence.”

I shook my head, trying to clear the fog of this confusing dream come to life. “But, why would you be here, and why would you be sorry? Unless…”

The words wouldn’t come. My racing mind pitched in to help. Unless she didn’t want to marry me after all.

Wrenching pain I’d kept tucked inside broke free, and I clambered to my feet. Loralee followed suit, backing herself into the small dining table.

I tried, but could not hide the bitter anger in my words. “How could you do this to me? Do you have any idea what I’ve been through?”

Her eyes widened. She clutched the table with one hand and her robe with the other. “What you’ve been through? I didn’t want this. I was forced here.”

“What do you mean, forced here? Where are your shackles?” My voice roared through the little cottage as I gestured around me with one arm. “Where are the bars? This looks like no prison I’ve ever seen.”

Her voice cracked the air, rivaling with my own. “I was betrayed, forced into exile. Don’t you understand? I never wanted to leave you. I never wanted anything so much as I wanted you.”

Pacing away, I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. I had to calm myself, to let the weight of this discovery, the improbability of her explanation to sink into my water-logged brain.

I couldn’t bring myself to look at her just yet, so I stared at my bare feet instead. “Why didn’t you tell me, write to me?”

“I tried. I begged the supply ship crew to bring my letters to you. They always took them, but never brought one in return. I suspect they destroyed them, but I had no way of knowing.” She sucked in a shaky breath as though trying to hold back her tears. “I never stopped loving you.”

Turning back to face her, I felt like a mindless beast. Here I was, raging against the love of my life when she’d all but been brought back from the dead.

“Loralee.” I eased toward her. She cringed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Without a word, I leaned in and pressed my forehead to hers, allowing myself to breathe in her scent for the first time in a decade. We stood suspended like that for a while, lost in time, and emerging from a purgatory neither of us had imagined ten years ago. I would have been content to stand like that forever, but Loralee burst into tears and wilted to the floor.

I followed her down and opened the quilt to wrap us both inside. I held her tight while she cried.

While I cried.

I finally got enough breath to speak again. “What did you mean by forced here? They told me you were…” I couldn’t say it, not with her warm and so very alive against me.

“I know.”

The weight of it all came crashing down on me. “This is my fault, isn’t it? You’re here because of me.”

She made no attempt to wipe her cheeks, but shook her head and stared at the rafters as though entreating the gods. “No, it’s not your fault. Not at all. There is so much to explain, I don’t know where to start.”

I couldn’t comprehend any of it, so I focused on the here and now. “You found me on the shore?”

She nodded.

“The crew, Francis…did you find anyone else out there?”

“No, I had Xax-, I mean, no, I searched but didn’t find anyone else.”

The familiar weight of grief squeezed my chest, and a few more tears escaped before I could stop them.

She pulled me close and whispered, “I’m so sorry. I know how much you loved him. We all did.”

“We all grieved for you. You’ve been here…all this time?”

“Yes.”

“By the gods, Loralee, I’ve missed you so much.” I put my wet cheek against hers and pressed my lips to her soft skin. “Part of me died the day I thought you… please…just tell me how you ended up here.”

Loralee took a few deep breaths and finally pulled away from me. She caressed my cheek and smiled weakly. “I’ll make us a pot of tea. And then, I think we should start at the beginning, back to the Great Plague and when we first met. Do you remember that?”

Smiling past the sadness, I covered her hand with mine and closed my eyes. “How could I ever forget?”

My Review:

“You’re so damn beautiful” may be the main character’s favorite sentence, but it also describes this novel brilliantly.

Parker uses the same vivid writing style that we’ve seen throughout the Tallenmere series to show her readers some of the furthest reaches of this world. She keeps you captivated as you live the story right alongside the characters. The various creatures of Tallenmere are developed much more fully in this installment of the series. Creatures that were spoken of in the first two novels become much more vivid in your mind’s eye. You also learn a great deal about the life cycles of some of the key species and races in the series, which sheds some light on their relationships with one another. In this novel Parker also tactfully writes a tale that comprises the better part of a century without leaving you feeling rushed or like something’s missing. You live the life of a High Elf.

Parker has a way of introducing characters in a previous novel and then bringing them to full form in a novel of their own. This really keeps the series interesting as each novel is its own complete story, while they’re also tied together via their relationships and the wonderful world of Tallenmere. The characters in this novel are so well developed that they become part of your family. You grow and care right alongside them. Although they are fairy tale creatures living their own fairy tale they become very real to the reader.

This was, by far, my favorite in the series so far. I cannot wait to see what Parker brings us next with this thrilling and heartwarming series.

About the author:

Mysti Parker (pseudonym) is a full time wife, mother of three, and a writer. Her first novel, A Ranger's Tale was published in January, 2011 by Melange Books, and the second in the fantasy romance series, Serenya's Song, was published in April 2012. The highly anticipated third book, Hearts in Exile, has already received some great reviews. The Tallenmere series has been likened to Terry Goodkind's 'Sword of Truth' series, but is probably closer to a spicy cross between Tolkien and Mercedes Lackey.

Mysti's other writings have appeared in the anthologies Hearts of Tomorrow, Christmas Lites, and Christmas Lites II. Her flash fiction has appeared on the online magazine EveryDayFiction. She has also served as a class mentor in Writers Village University's six week free course, F2K.

Mysti reviews books for SQ Magazine, an online specfic publication, and is the proud owner of Unwritten, a blog voted #3 for eCollegeFinder's Top Writing Blogs award. She resides in Buckner, KY with her husband and three children.

Connect with the author online:

Blog
Facebook Page 
Twitter
Goodreads
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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Serenya's Song by Mysti Parker

Title:  Serenya's Song
Author:  Mysti Parker
Series:  Tallenmere #2
Published:  August 2012 by Melange Books, LLC
Page Count: 286
Genre:  Fantasy
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

No one ever said love was easy...

Serenya Crowe may be a half-elf commoner, but she's no ordinary woman. With the ability to interpret dreams, and a birth defect that forces her to wear gloves, she's endured gossip and the cruelty of her husband, Sebastian, The Earl of Summerwind. All she's ever wanted is to live a quiet life and raise a family. When she meets the new stranger in town, her world and her heart, are turned upside down.

Wood-elf Jayden Ravenwing is an ex-secret agent who wants nothing more than to forget matters of the heart. He left the bustle of Leogard and his failed marriage to make a fresh start in Summerwind. He never planned to fall in love again, especially with the enchanting Serenya Crowe.

When a strange portal opens on the Crowe property, Jayden is thrown into an investigation, knowing that if he fails, Serenya and everyone in the town may die.

Together, he and Serenya must overcome an ancient evil, and their own inner demons, to save Summerwind and find the love they've always dreamed of.

My Review:

The fantastical world of Tallenmere becomes even more real with the different viewpoints and locales that we visit in this novel. It is completely unique and stands out in the world of fantasy. This story itself is more action packed than the first in the series and takes you on a wild ride. Action, adventure, and romance all play a large role in this well put together novel. That said, Parker also sticks with the same approachable writing style for this instalment. As a show not tell type of author she continues to use descriptions and narrative to form scenes that a reader can visualise.

True to form, Parker has created a fully developed, very unique cast of characters that span a variety of races and species. Some of the characters from the first novel in this series become further developed and you get to know them much better. The characters who return to us from the first Tallenmere novel mix with the new characters that we meet here. New and old characters are all completely developed and could hold their own as the main characters of a novel. That said, the man characters in this novel shine and stand out in a world full of exceptional individuals.

Overall, this novel kept me captivated throughout. I appreciate that each of the novels in this series are complete in and of themselves, yet leave you wanting more from these characters and their unique world. The stories themselves tie together perfectly and lead you on a remarkable journey.

Buy your copy online here today!

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A Ranger's Tale by Mysti Parker

Title:  A Ranger's Tale
Author: Mysti Parker
Series:  Tallenmere #1
Published:  December 18th 2010 by Melange Books, LLC
Page Count:  188
Genre: Fantasy
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In the fantasy world of Tallenmere, an elven noblewoman longed to leave her gilded cage. A half-breed former pirate wanted nothing more than to escape his guilty past. Easier said than done...

High elf Caliphany Aranea leads an enviable life as King Leopold's niece and daughter of Sirius, Leogard's most famous wizard. Yet, being forced to follow in her father's footsteps and being betrothed to a man she doesn't even like makes her want a taste of life outside the city walls.

As a young boy, half-elf Galadin Trudeaux witnessed his parents' death at the hands of pirates. After being raised by those same murderers and forced to do their bidding, he escaped and now lives an honest life as a sea merchant and ranger.

When two brutes at Leogard Harbor attempt to kidnap Caliphany while she dreams of faraway lands, Galadin comes to her rescue. Impressed by his skills, she asks him to train her as a ranger. Though he is hesitant at first to train a woman of her class, Caliphany's hefty sack of gold finally persuades him. Unfortunately, her father is not amused, and the two must escape before Caliphany faces a forced marriage and Galadin faces a noose.

From that moment on she and Galadin embark on an adventure of a lifetime. Only if they can survive the trials ahead, will they find a love that stands the test of time.

My Review:

Parker has a very approachable writing style. She takes you on the adventure of a lifetime in a manner that makes you feel like you’ve been there with the characters. Parker has created a completely new and utterly ravishing world that is fully formed and intricately crafted. She has thought of, and written about, everything, including a new calendar. You can visualise the different species and races that you encounter throughout this novel. Her descriptions are well formed and flow in such a manner that they always add to the very well formed storyline.

The way that Parker writes in the first person makes you feel closer to the main characters. It gives you insights into their characters, thoughts, and actions. You get to know their deepest feelings via their thoughts and fears. Seeing as how she also flips perspective from one main character to the other, while keeping the POV clear, you get to see all aspects of the interactions. She also does so in a manner that keeps the story flowing forward, instead of perpetually doubling back. This allows you to form a deep connection with the main characters. It is this connection, along with a myriad of other things, that allows you to feel while reading this novel. At times I was excited, nervous, happy, and this novel definitely brought tears to my eyes more than once.

And don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t just the main characters who were well developed. The entire cast was to die for. Each one was individually developed in such a manner that they could hold their own in another novel. There were a couple of characters who remained somewhat mysterious, but that was simply who they were.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this novel. I cannot wait to read more from this series and from this very talented author.

Buy your copy online here today!


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Monday, July 29, 2013

Bounty's End by A.J. Wiliams

Title:  Bounty's End
Author:  A.J. Wiliams
Series:  Bounty for Hire #2
Published:   February 26th 2013 by AJ Wiliams
Page Count:  93
Genre:  Romantic Suspense
Shelf:  Giveaways
Rating:  ★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Thomas has reached a point in his life where he is done with bounty hunting. He is finally ready to take the step in following his dream and hopefully put his family back together. However, before that happens, he has to rescue his neighbor—the woman he has been lusting after—from unsuspecting danger that lurks at every corner.

Wen has been in love with her neighbor, Thomas, for the last six months. Yet, with his schedule and her inability to welcome a new relationship, Wen is certain that her love will stay hidden. It does, until she learns that she’s being followed. Not wanting to intrude on her family, she calls Thomas. 

Can Thomas rescue Wen and his dream? Or will danger permanently keep him from both?

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:

Wiliams is a descriptive writer. She can craft scenes and settings that you can easily visualise. She can also write scenes that can get your pulse racing or have you on the edge of your seat. In this instalment of her series she sets everything up so that her readers are engaged in the storyline while feeling for the characters.

I really enjoy how all of the different stories in this series overlap with each other. They tell the same events via the experience of different couples, all tied together through family and work. This leads to a flow within the novels and the series as a whole. There were a few spots, however, where the writing got a little choppy, but this didn’t detract too much from the overall flow of the story.

I found that some of the characters in this novel are well developed. You get to know a great deal about who they are and what they stand for. That said, there are a couple who remain cardboard, regardless of the role that they play in the story. That said, I like that the trials faced by the characters are written in such a way that you can identify with them, even if the situation itself is completely foreign to you. It gives you much greater insight into the lives of these intriguing individuals.

Overall, this novel was a nice addition to the Bounty for Hire series and I quite enjoyed it.

Buy your copy online here today.


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Horse Country by Christine Meunier ~*~ Excerpt ~*~

Title:  Horse Country
Author:  Christine Meunier
Published:  2013 by Christine Meunier
Page Count:  492
Genre:  Contemporary

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Follow Lise and Wes as they work their way around North East Victoria, Australia in the seasonal world of breeding thoroughbreds. Horse Country follows the seasons of the thoroughbred industry and what the day to day of working on a stud could look like.

A few hours away, Maddie and Melanie are working hard in their parent’s metropolitan riding school, teaching others about horse riding and care of the horse. From the nervous first time rider, to the child who wants to run fast and jump high, the young women shape lessons to suit the individual.

Excerpt:

Lise walked over with Dave, catching Stuart’s comment.

“You want someone to blame for me working here, Declan? Here’s your man,” she commented with a smug smile.

“To blame? Don’t tell me you aren’t getting along with Lise, Declan? A bit more attitude than you’re used to in females?” Dave questioned in a teasing manner.

Declan refrained from responding, instead heading into the yard, calmly walking up to the nearest filly with a head collar on that hadn’t yet had her feet done. He waited patiently for Dave to finish his smoke and then join him.

“I think you’re going to have a bit of fun with that one,” Dave stated quietly, Declan hearing the amusement in his tone as he picked up the near fore and started cleaning it out.

“Doubtful. She’s already decided she doesn’t think highly of me.”

“So? Change her mind,” he stated simply, continuing in silence.

Declan frowned, patting the filly on the forehead, smoothing her forelock from her eyes. Easy as that, apparently.

The two men made short work of the small paddock of fillies and managed one paddock of colts before needing to call it quits for the day. They set up a time to meet the following week to finish off the young horses on the farm.

“Perfect. See you both then. Great to see you again Lise,” Stuart ended with a smile, waving as he headed back to his ute.

“Ye sure made an impression on him,” Declan commented, as he headed to the opposite end of the yard to open some gates so the colts could be run back out to their paddocks.

“Every now and again a good impression sticks,” Lise commented with sarcasm, missing Declan’s small smile as he continued on away from her.

The broad Irish fellow had concluded over the past two or so hours that he could indeed change his mind and more importantly, hers. He recognised that when she wanted to be, she was pleasant and not lacking in guts. Plus, she could actually handle horses, but as of yet hadn’t boasted about her capabilities. Unlike a couple of the girls here. The gates set up, Declan gestured for Lise to let the colts out of the yard as he waited patiently on the All Terrain Vehicle, ready to travel in front of the young horses and keep them at a safe trot on their way home.

Clapping and waving her arms behind the young male horses, Lise managed to guide them through a couple of gates and out into the laneway where Declan was starting to move off on his ATV. Following suit, she climbed onto the other bike and started the engine, moving slowly behind the colts, tooting the horn at any that stopped along the side of the laneway to pick at some grass.

Between them they kept the colts at a trot and led the ten into their paddock smoothly, Declan circling in the paddock and coming back out of the gate, Lise closing it after him. He brought his bike back to first gear and paused, turning his attention back to her.

“I've got to get some treatments done in the barn after lunch. If yer able to give me a hand, meet me there at half one.”

Lise opened her mouth in surprise, not having time to respond as he took off at a roaring pace on the bike. She smiled.

“Well I’ll be. Did he just ask me for help?”

***

“So how did your work experience go?” Jake queried as he brushed over his gelding with a body brush.

“Great! Funny to think that just up the road are horses worth up to a quarter of a million dollars… and mum and dad bought my boy for five hundred,” Wes stated with a smile, patting the invaluable gelding.

“So are you tired of mucking out boxes and filling up water buckets yet?” he questioned dryly, moving on to pick out his mount’s four feet.

“Nope! Was thinking Caulfield Racecourse would be perfect for my next lot of work experience. You know, just up the road they pick out all of their horse’s feet from the left hand side?” she commented, watching Jake move around to the right hand side of his gelding to do the other two feet.

“They reckon a stablehand’s time is more valuable than having to waste time moving around the horse to do his feet… the horse is just expected to lift any of the four from the left hand side.”

“Fascinating,” Jake stated with a wink, reaching for his saddle blanket, “and are you going to be insane enough to do your next lot of work experience over the school holidays, also? What about your poor horse who doesn’t see you at all during the week? And haven’t you considered a riding school? At least you’d get to sit on those horses!”

“For the record, my horse loves being obese and is put out by any sign of exercise. Weekends work perfectly for him… well, he’d probably prefer not to be worked on even them and yes, the school holidays are the perfect time to gain more horse experience! I’ve still got another bout to do after the racecourse – plenty of time for a riding school! Not that I’m sure insurance would cover me riding other people’s horses,” Wes frowned, putting Reign’s bridle on, sliding the bit into his mouth.

Doing up the throatlatch, leaving four fingers room she turned to face Jake, the reins in her hand.

“You ready?”

“Course!” Jake grinned, putting his left foot into the left stirrup and hopping up onto his horse.

“Great! Can you help me with my turn on the forehand? Reign seems a little confused about lateral movement.”

“No worries. You should see how good we’re getting at reinback, too! Captain is really responsive now.”

“Hmmm… my horse works fine forward and we’re struggling with sideward movement… think I’ll pass on encouraging him to go backwards!”

“Whatever. I’m sure if it comes up in Pony Club you’ll be the first to give it a go,” he teased, pushing his gelding out into a walk beside her.

“Probably,” Wes grinned, not disagreeing.



Horse Country – A World of Horses is available via www.horsecountrybook.com in paperback and eBook formats.
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Sunday, July 28, 2013

The Gatekeeper's Son's Audio tour with Eva Pohler

Audiobook tour button
Take a look at this awesomesauce audio book tour starting tomorrow with Eva Pohler!
Here's the tour schedule to follow:  

7/29 Review Hot Off the Shelves
7/30 Promo Chris Redding Author
7/31 Review The Book Maven
7/31 Review Words I Write Crazy
8/1 Review Readin' & Reviewin Book Blog
8/5 Review Forget About TV, Grab a Book
8/6 Review The Insane Ramblings of a Crazed Writer
8/6 Review Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books
8/7 Review Reading... Dreaming
8/8 Review Sharing Links and Wisdom
8/8 Review T B R
8/9 Interview Pure Jonel
8/9 Review Tracy Riva Books & Reviews

That's right!  Eva Pohler herself will be back here at Pure Jonel on Aug 9th for an interview to answer all my burning questions about the phenomenal Hip & Than!  Make sure you're back here for that because it's going to be awesomesauce!!!!!

And don't forget to enter the tour wide giveaway!



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That First Kiss by J.C. Valentine

Title:  That First Kiss
Author:  J.C. Valentine
Series:  Night Calls #2
Published:  June 18th 2013 (first published January 1st 2013)
Page Count:  338
Genre:  Erotic Contemporary Romance
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Mercurial and charming, Tate Larson is a rising author and playboy who has a different woman on his arm every night of the week. Focused on his work, Tate has no plans to settle down any time soon. That is until he meets his pretty new assistant, Piper Donovan.

Desperate to escape the promise of backwater living, Piper ditched her Alabama hometown and never looked back. That was almost two years ago. Now that she is out of a job and her bank account is running on fumes, she’s desperate to find a job, fast. She finds the break she is searching for when she lands a position at Bookish Temptations. A little dancing and a lot of drinks with the girls seem the perfect way to celebrate. After a brief but explosive encounter with a man she was never supposed to see again turns out to be the same man she will be bending over backwards to please, her every instinct tells her to run. But when running means leaving the life she has struggled so hard to create, Piper decides her only option is to continue working for the devastatingly sexy Tate Larson...even if it kills her.

Unable to deny their growing attraction, they struggle to keep their distance in a relationship that requires anything but.

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:

This was a very captivating novel that revolves around a will they/won’t they relationship. Valentine pulled me in right from the very beginning and didn’t let me go until the fat lady sang.

Valentine is the type of writer who can pick any situation and make you see the possibilities behind it. Although a very descriptive writer, she uses each word towards a greater goal. Nothing is wasted on irrelevant details and everything combines for a seamless whole. The world that she has created with this novel is so fully developed that you feel like you’ve lived there with the characters.

The characters in this novel are phenomenal. They are real and have real hurts and fears. As a reader you find yourself loving and hating them in equal measure. And it’s not just the main characters that are well developed. Each and every person who graces these pages is someone that you get to know. I love how Valentine worked the characters from the 1st Night Calls novel into this book without overpowering the new lead characters. It adds a sense of continuity to the series.

Overall, this novel was an amazing follow-up to the 1st Night Calls novel. Valentine has me hooked and I can’t wait to read more. This is definitely one author who, no matter what genre she writes, always keeps me captivated. Each novel leaves me anxiously awaiting the next.

Buy your copy online here today!


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Saturday, July 27, 2013

Chasing Darkness by Colee Firman

Title:  Chasing Darkness
Author:  Colee Firman
Series:  Unbinding Fate #3
Published:  May 31st 2013
Page Count:  407
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Months after Tanner’s unexplained betrayal, Addy is finally able to put what was between them in the past and move on. Really she has no choice—he sent her back to Greystone alone and stayed in Tremain. He even deactivated the gate they worked so hard to repair to keep her away—if that doesn’t say extreme break up nothing does.

When a strange condition begins killing its way through Greystone, Addy is forced to leave the Palace where she’d been holed up to try to help find the cause. No one seems to have any answers and everyone is afraid they’ll be next to burn from the inside out.

The illness makes the rift between Ravensbog and Greystone widen when the Akori from the bog decide being around the people of Greystone could be hazardous. Addy is forced to pull her people together while struggling to find a way to stop the deaths.

Even after breaking his heart, Gage is still by her side no matter what. Friendship like that can’t be ignored. A night alone together changes everything and Addy’s left wondering if maybe she made the wrong choice. By the time she figures it out, his heart may already belong to someone new.

At the same time people are dying in Greystone, Ravensbog suffers its own loss. One of the club leaders is killed during a match at the Brutal Ball, sparking the beginning of a fight to the death tournament to select a new head for the fight club. The Tournament of Lost Souls begins and threatens to kill some of the people Addy loves the most.

Check out the first chapter of Twisted Memories (Unbinding Fate, #4) - Located in the back of Chasing Darkness (Unbinding Fate, #3).

My Review:

I laughed, I cried, I gasped, and I groaned. Most of all, I felt. With this novel Firman brings emotions to the forefront and does a brilliant job of passing them on to the reader. Through her unique brand of vivid writing and show-not-tell mentality Firman takes the readers that she has immersed in this world with the first 2 novels of the series, and draws them in in an irrevocable way.

The brilliant world that Firman has developed for this series continues to grow in this segment. Everything remains the same yet changes drastically. Firman’s fluid writing and impeccable storytelling smooth the transition making it all seem natural. She describes everything in such detail that you feel like you’ve walked through this world with the characters.

Firman has a fluid writing style that almost mimics how people think and feel. This, combined with her amazingly well developed characters leads to an intricate cast of individuals that you come to know and love. Firman works amazingly deceptive characters into her world to create chaos and mayhem, while balancing them with characters of amazing compassion. All the while, none of her characters are completely over the top, even if they are larger than life at times. Each and every character is individually developed in such a manner that they could stand on their own, yet they never overshadow the main characters.

The events that began in the first 2 novels of the series come to a head in this instalment, only to create the need for more time in this world. As a reader, you find yourself so invested in the lives of the characters that you cannot, nay will not, extricate yourself from them. At the end of this novel you are left with a sense of conclusion to one dilemma, yet fully needing more as you cannot leave the characters behind, especially with their latest fiasco at hand.

Buy your copy online here today!


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The Fab Life by Mercy Amare

Title:  The Fab Life
Author:  Mercy Amare
Series:  The Kihanna Saga #1
Published:  July 27th 2013
Page Count:  
Genre:  Young Adult
Shelf:  Giveaway
Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

It’s the life I was born to live: billionaire’s daughters, living amongst the rich & famous. But my mom kept me a secret from my dad. Until now.

I am so out of my league. Fancy parties, expensive cars, and a private school for the elite… It sounds like a dream. But everything is not as perfect as it seems on the outside. Here, the secrets are dirty, and the lies comes easy.

Welcome to my fab life.

My Review:

Amare has a very approachable and upbeat writing style. It flows well and meshes with the subject matter and intended audience. This novel contains descriptions that allow you to immerse yourself in the world of the rich and famous. You can’t help but feel like you’ve walked through this journey right alongside the characters. Amare emphasizes certain aspects of this world through various different means, both literary and otherwise. It’s really amazing what a little bit of formatting can do for emphasis in a scene.

The light writing style that Amare uses contrasts well with the sometimes heavy subject matter to create a very unique outlook on the life of a privileged teen. I appreciate that she didn’t just gloss over the realities of life, but rather faces them head on while showing what can happen and how one can stand up for oneself.

You get down and personal with the novel’s main character. You really get to know her hopes and fears. You feel like she’s a friend, and you can relate to and feel for her. Not only was the main character well developed, but the entire cast was. Amare keeps all of her characters true to the type of person that they are, as well as their age and station in life. It was a very well thought out and put together cast. My only issue with any of the characters was the fact that the dialogue seemed a little forced and unnatural at times.

Overall, I loved this story. It was a very fun and entertaining read. It was a brilliant introduction into Amare’s work and I cannot wait to dig in to her other series. Above all, however, this novel has left me with an overwhelming need to go buy a chandelier and to read the yet to be published sequel.

Buy your copy online here today!

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Friday, July 26, 2013

Branded by Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki

Title:  Branded
Author:  Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki
Series:  A Sinner's Series #1
Published:  June 28th 2013
Page Count:  252
Genre:  Dystopian
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Fifty years ago the Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society. He created the Hole where sinners are branded according to their sins and might survive a few years. At best.

Now LUST wraps around my neck like blue fingers strangling me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit and now the Hole is my new home.

Darkness. Death. Violence. Pain.

Now every day is a fight for survival. But I won’t die. I won’t let them win.

The Hole can’t keep me. The Hole can’t break me.
I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter.
My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.

My Review:

This novel is fast paced and exciting right from the very get go. As a reader you experience a rollercoaster of plot twists and of emotions.

These brilliant authors write seamlessly together. As a reader, you would assume that this novel is written by a single author, the flow is so genuine and intense. The descriptions that these authors use to set the scene for their well developed world are so vivid and lifelike that you can’t help but picture it in your mind’s eye. They set the scene so perfectly that you could walk into this world and join right on in with the characters.

The authors write with a flare and intensity that doesn’t let you go. The emotions that they evoke through their writing are real and very intense. You become so invested in this world and the characters that you live through them. You laugh and cry and hurt with them. I found myself trying to find ways to help them out of their situations.

Although the characters live vastly different lives from ours, you find yourself harbouring strong feelings toward each. Some you come to love, others to hate, but there are few, if any, characters that I found myself feeling indifferent towards. Each character is so fully developed that you find yourself able to see yourself in their shoes. I fell in love with some of the characters and found myself wanting to fast forward to see what happened to them, and then rewind to live with them over and over again, regardless of the situations they found themselves in.

This novel was an amazing beginning to this hard hitting series. It draws you in and doesn’t let you go. You find yourself trapped in this post-apocalyptic nightmare and enjoying every minute of it. Above all, this novel packs an emotional punch that leaves you wanting more and crying out for the sequel.

Buy your copy online here today!

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Thursday, July 25, 2013

Sanctify by Colee Firman

Title:  Sanctify
Author:  Colee Firman
Series:  Unbinding Fate #2
Published:  December 10th 2012
Page Count:  345
Genre:  Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:   ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The Overseer’s Stone is destroyed and all of the Scattered Akori are back. That’s exactly what Addy wanted. The part she didn’t bargain for was being swept away, landing in a fascinating world just under the surface of her own.

The search for a way back to Tremain proves to be a monumental task, with a roadblock at every turn. Unimaginable secrets from the past unravel, leaving Addy wondering if there’s anyone she can really trust. 

Will mistakes from Eva and Andrew’s past be the end of them all? Old enemies resurface, forcing Addy and Tanner to make impossible decisions that will change everything. 

Bonds are broken and new connections are forged in Sanctify—book two of the Unbinding Fate Series.

My Review:

This was a brilliant follow up to the first novel in the series. Firman picked up where she left off, continuing the journey that these characters found themselves on, while adding new twists and turns that you didn’t see coming.

Firman is a brilliant storyteller who weaves her words together to create a completely unique and utterly captivating world for her readers to wander through. She brings this solidly built world to life with vivid descriptions and narrative, allowing the reader to easily immerse themselves in the story. She has also created an entire race of people with a history and mythology behind them. They are uniquely one of a kind, yet easy to understand and relate to.

The extremely well developed characters that we met in the first instalment of the series return with a vengeance in this novel. The main characters become much more well-rounded. They grow as individuals as they discover more and more about who they are and who they are meant to be. they interact with each other in natural and supernatural ways that allow you to identify with them and understand who they are and how they feel. The supporting cast of characters is also quite well developed. Although you don’t spend quite as much time with them you get to know the new ones as individuals, and those that you’d previously met return as the same individuals they were when we left them in the first instalment.

As a whole, this novel took a world and a people that I fell in love with and brought me closer to them. With each instalment I fall further and further into the brilliant world created by this phenomenal author.

Buy your copy online here today.
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Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Buying Thyme by T.J. Hamilton

Title:  Buying Thyme
Author:  T.J. Hamilton
Series:  Thyme Trilogy #1
Published:  April 17th 2013 by Createspace 
(first published April 16th 2013)
Page Count:  308
Genre:  Romantic Suspense
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Miranda is a high-class escort at the most prestigious escort agency in Sydney, Australia. Her Madam, Miss Stephanie commands the highest standard from her working girls and has taught Miranda the very best in the art of seducing men. Although it was never the life Miranda imagined for herself, she makes more than a decent living from it and always seems to be in demand from the Agency’s top clients.

American-born Joe Tench is one of Sydney’s most prominent businessman, owning the majority of the nightlife in Sydney, and across the country, but there is a dark side to Joe Tench. He is a regular client of Miranda's, he is also demanding, dominating and hard to handle. Miranda finds herself falling for Joe Tench’s unfamiliar, yet enticing charm. Until she meets Tom Smythe, heir to a wealthy mining company and amongst the top ten wealthiest families in Australia. The two develop a strong friendship after a chance meeting.

Miranda is caught between her feelings for these two very different men until a personal tragedy sees Miranda embark on a journey of discovery... and into a world she finds difficult to escape from.

My Review:

This novel is well and eloquently written. Hamilton develops vivid scenes that pull the readers right into the action. I appreciate how Hamilton writes sex scenes that are captivating and alluring without crossing the line and becoming over the top raunchy. Although sexuality and the sex trade does play a large role in this story they do not overtake or detract from the story as a whole. The solidly built storyline shines through everything. It is a very unique and intriguing look at life in a way that most of us would never fathom.

Hamilton’s characters are quite well developed. I appreciate that the main character finds a way to be herself even if she isn’t always completely ok with it. She is very outgoing, and extremely realistic. You find yourself identifying with her and feeling for her. She is the outgoing person that you wish you were, even if you want a different job. The rest of the cast is also quite well developed. You get to know each and every major character. You know who they are and who they claim to be. The contrast between the different characters in this novel really makes the novel seem like a situation you could walk into.

As a whole, this was a thrilling novel that made me think and feel. Hamilton has me hooked with this novel. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

Buy your copy online here today!


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Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Shrouded in Illusion by H.D. Thomson

Title:  Shrouded in Illusion
Author:  H.D. Thomson
Published:  June 7th 2013 by Bella Media Management
Page Count:  348
Genre:  Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★★

Book Blurb:

Someone wants Skye Hunter’s son and they’re willing to kill her or anyone else to get to him. On the run for her life, she is forced to turn to the only person who can help her—a complete stranger with a shared past—David Bishop, a renowned illusionist.

David’s life is also an illusion, built of smoke and little else. He meets Skye, a woman filled with passion and conviction, and the pain he sees in her eyes is a mirror to his own soul. But when he realizes she has the same strange, telekinetic phenomenon inside her body that he does, he is forced to question his life, his childhood and the father who raised him. Can these two lost souls uncover the mystery behind their powers and save Skye’s son and themselves in the process?

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:

This novel is intense right from the very 1st page. The suspense holds up right to the very end. As a reader you become so immersed in this novel that you can’t imagine life outside of it.

Thomson’s writing is spot on with this novel. She backs up her solid and intriguing storyline with impeccable writing. She uses words to illustrate what she wants you to see, rather than telling you about it. Everything is laid out in such a manner that you are moving further and further towards a brilliant conclusion. That said, everything happens naturally. Although the romance in this novel is a bit of a whirlwind, nothing is forced. The characters are brought together in a suspenseful encounter that you can’t get out of your head.

You become completely attached to the main characters. The characters were well developed in such a natural manner that they seem like people you met and live with. You get to know the characters in such a way that you laugh with them, cry with them, and fear for them. I felt my heart actually break for the characters at one point. It was out of this world.

Thomson merges reality with the supernatural to create this phenomenal novel. It is one that you pick up and can’t put down. It was absolutely phenomenal.

Buy your copy online:


  About the Author:

H.D. Thomson moved from Ontario, Canada as a teenager to the heat of Arizona where she graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.S. in Business Administration with a major in accounting. After working in the corporate world as an accountant, H.D. changed her focus to one of her passions-books. She owned and operated an online bookstore for several years and then started Bella Media Management. The company specializes in web sites, video trailers, ebook conversion and promotional resources for authors and small businesses. When she is not heading her company, she is following her first love-writing.

Connect with the author online:

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Monday, July 22, 2013

Interview with Jacqueline Rhoades ~*~ Giveaway ~*~

Today I'd like to welcome Jacqueline Rhoades back to Pure Jonel.  Let's get to know her a bit better.


Q ~ Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

A ~ Sure, and thanks for having me Jonel. I was born on the east coast of the USA in the section of Stratford, Connecticut called Lordship which is right on Long Island Sound and next to an airport. I spent my childhood at the beach or playing in the surrounding marshes (mucky, but fun!). I've been an avid reader since I was three or four (I don't remember, but my parents used to argue over it) and have always had a fertile imagination. Once, when I was about six, I spent the afternoon with the phonebook trying to find the number for The Airport (Who knew it was Bridgeport Airport?) so they could deliver a baby brother to me by helicopter. Yes, babies come from helicopters and are not found under cabbage leaves as some would have you think and everyone else in the neighborhood was getting baby brothers, so why not me.

My Dear and Only Spouse thinks I never did get that straightened out because we had five kids over the course of six years even though my degree is in Biology. (Must have skipped that lecture because I already knew where babies came from!) Reading then became my drug of choice. I could not maintain my sanity without it. I worked in the school library and with Special Education students. Time passed (I think). Suddenly, the children were grown and I had time to think and to write and now I have a whole new career. I loved every minute of the chaos that was our family, but I love my empty nest, too.

My vegetable garden is now my pleasure instead of my chore. I have time to grow flowers, particularly snapdragons which I never thought I could (all plant, no flowers) until my grown children confessed that they regularly snapped the blossoms off to make puppets. You can make a snapdragon talk, you see. We live in a rural area of Ohio, though disappointingly it has become less so since we built our house, where I enjoy watching the wildlife as long as they're not eating my garden. I spend my free time counting the fish in the pond and watching baby birds - we have a nest box with a camera -and I sometimes think "Jack! You need to get a life!" but I like my life the way it is, so what would be the point.

Q ~ What’s something that you never leave home without?

A ~ My Garmin. I tend to daydream while I drive, not to mention a terrible sense of direction and often end up in strange places having no idea how I got there. Notebook, pen and Kindle are right up there with my Garmin.

Q ~ If you were stuck in a dingy floating in the middle of the ocean, who and what would you want with you and why?

A ~ I would like to say my best friend because we can talk and laugh (and cry) for hours and hours to pass the time, but I would have to choose my husband. I'd probably end up on a desert island or dead and either way (sorry Dear Spouse) I want him with me because I can't picture a life (or afterlife) without him. As for what I want with me? My practical side says a fishing pole with extra hooks, but the impractical says a complete set of The Black Dagger Brotherhood. (Giggles) I'm picturing myself reading J.R. Ward aloud to the Dear Spouse.

Q ~ Are you a dog person, a cat person, or does some other critter strike your fancy?


A ~ Both! We've always had cats and dogs (and every other thing that runs, hops, or slithers). There's nothing like the unconditional love you get from a dog and that happy-to-see-you tail wag always makes me smile, but there's also nothing like curling up with a good book and a cat. They may be a little aloof, but when a cat deigns to love you, you know you've accomplished something.

Q ~ How did you begin writing? Was there a single catalyst or a series of events?

A ~ I've always been a huge reader and an inveterate daydreamer. Put me in a hot shower and my mind can wander off to all kinds of places and scenarios until the water runs cold. Dear Spouse: "Hey Jack! Are you asleep in there or writing another book? Or should I call the undertaker?" He says he's glad my books are earning money. We can finally afford the water bill! So yeah, I've always had stories in my head. Now I have time to write them down.

Q ~ Who are your biggest supporters?

A ~ My best friend, Georgianna, who bugged me forever to write another book after a disastrous first attempt many years ago and who listens patiently whenever I call and blah, blah, blah about fictional characters as if they're real. (She thinks they're real, too!). My two daughters who pushed me to take the leap and publish as an indie saying I'd always encouraged them to follow their dreams, it was time I followed mine. And last, but definitely not least, my husband, also known as the Dear Spouse, who can't figure out why anyone would read a book never mind write one and yet never laughed at my aspirations and who was the first to say, "Quit the damn job and write! We'll figure the rest of it (money) out later."

Then of course, there are the readers who follow on Facebook and Goodreads and email me with praise. It's humbling and gratifying and their words mean more to me than royalty checks ever could (though we'll keep that bit a secret from the Dear Spouse)

Q ~ When you write, do you lay out a solid outline before beginning, or start writing and iron out the kinks later?

A ~ I've tried the outline route. It makes the most sense and seems to me to be more efficient, but I just can't do it for more than a chapter or two ahead. My stories are more character driven, I guess, and while I have vague ideas of where the story needs to go, my characters tend to take over and well, sh** happens and then they (and I) have to deal with it. I have scenes and whole chapters that I've written ahead of time because I can see them happening later in the story and then I can't use them when the time comes because the story has changed. I also get writer's block if I try to make my characters do something they don't want to. How weird is that? They fictional, for heaven's sake! I should be able to make them do what I want, but no, they take on lives of their own and I have no choice.

So, yeah, I do end up having to go back and add bits of conversation or clues so no one says "Where the hell did that come from?" It's inefficient, but it's what works for me.

Q ~ What inspired you to develop the Wolvers?

A ~ As I said before, I'm a huge daydreamer. I'd recently read a slew of wolf/shifter books and I started thinking about what it would be like if I moved into a perfectly normal seeming place that wasn't normal at all. I'd read about Wulvers -gentle mythical creatures found in the Shetland Isles of Scotland and many of the early settlers of the Appalachian Mountains were Scots, so… I Americanized the name to Wolvers and thought it would be fun for Elizabeth, a well-read but not very confident woman, to move there. The Alpha's Mate was born.

Q ~ With The Alpha’s Daughter now released, what should we expect from you next?


A ~ For the Wolvers? I'm planning on at least three more and then we'll have to see if I can keep the stories fresh. I don't want my readers to get bored with repetition and I don't want to get bored with the writing which is something I think can happen when a series is successful. Do I write something new or spend all my time writing the tried and true? Where do I draw the line?

To say "I write for myself" is fine up to a point, but if that was the whole truth, the books would have stayed on my laptop. I also want to write to entertain readers. I'll never be a millionaire. I'll never write the Great American Novel. No one a hundred years from now will know my name and that's okay. But in the here and now, knowing that I can give a reader a few hours of escape for a few dollars and earn my keep doing it, gives me great pleasure and satisfaction. I don't want to blow that with boredom.

Q ~ Do you have anything in the works outside of The Wolvers’ series?

A ~ Oh yeah. Right now I'm working on the fourth addition to my Guardians of the Race series, Guardian's Faith, which is a tough one because Faith is mute. Lorelei, from Preston's Mill needs her story told in Changing Times. Poor Broadbent from the Guardians needs to find his lady love and I'm (vaguely) mapping out book six for my Wolvers. Oh wait! That means I have to decide who gets to be in Wolvers 4 & 5! And so it goes.

Q ~ If you could give aspiring authors one piece of advice, what would it be?

A ~ Flesh out your secondary characters. Often, as new writers, we put so much into our hero and heroine, we forget the 'people' around them. It's those secondaries who'll give your story a sense of reality even if it takes place on another planet.

Okay, I know you asked for one, but here's another. Don't get discouraged. Why one book sells and another doesn't is a mystery I and many other writers are still trying to figure out. My Guardian series does pretty well. My Wolver series does even better. My contemporary, Preston's Mill, sells very few even though the reviews are good. Why? Who knows. Does that mean I won't write another? Nope. It's already in the works. I love that town and the people in it and their stories are already buzzing around my brain.

Write the stories you would like to read and then keep your fingers crossed that they're stories others would like to read, too. That's the best you can do.

Connect with the Author online:

Website Link: http://www.jacquelinerhoades.com/
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/JRhoadesAuthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JacquelineRhoadesAuthor
Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6453512.Jacqueline_Rhoades
Email: jackie3049@gmail.com
Book Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords

And now, enter to win 1 of 2 awesome eprizes.
1st prize ~ An ecopy set of the 3 published books in the Wolvers series (The Alpha's Mate, The Alpha's Choice, and The Alpha's Daughter)
2nd prize - an ecopy of The Alpha's Daughter

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Sunday, July 21, 2013

Next Move by Sabrina Garie

Title:  Next Move
Author:  Sabrina Garie
Published:  July 5th 2013 by Ellora's Cave
Page Count:  104
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★

Book Blurb:

Chamber of Commerce CEO and single mother Jocelyn Wade plays to win—in the boardroom, at local politics and for her daughter. With an overloaded life and a heart scarred shut, she doesn’t do relationships. Ever. Until Jared Wyatt, the hot out-of-town fling she can’t seem to forget swaggers into her life with a different agenda—making Jocelyn his own.

Surviving a shattered marriage, Jared swore off women until a night of unparalleled passion with Jocelyn reawakens needs he thought long gone. When a new job as high school athletic director lands him in Jocelyn’s town, where sports and business rule, he must stay one move ahead of her in the game to win her body and heart.

After rancorous local politics upend their game board, they both must learn to trust again or lose a second chance at love.

A Romantica® contemporary erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

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

My Review:

My first thoughts about this book? This novella reads like a movie. It has a brilliant flow and is very well put together. Garie employs fluid descriptions that bring the scenes to life. Everything is brought forward in a very vivid way, while remaining completely natural and realistic. It’s a brilliant balance. Garie has pulled everything together to create a yummy, heartening story that keeps you on your toes.

Garie has developed some intriguing and very strong characters. I appreciate that bothe the male and female leads are strong individuals. Garie proves that you can have an alpha male without having a subordinate female. I also love how the characters interact with one another. They’re real people with real world issues and it shows. No one is perfect. In fact, learning disabilities and family drama play a large role in this novella making everyone all the more human.

This novella is hot & racy. It’s a brilliant way to spend an afternoon. Above all, however, it has a real story behind it that keeps you captivated.

Buy your copy online from Amazon or Ellora's Cave.
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Saturday, July 20, 2013

MBA is not about Money, Blazer, Arrogance by Krishna Kranthi

Title:  MBA is not about Money, Blazer, Arrogance
Author: Krishna Kranthi
Published:  February 1st 2013 by Nivasini Publisher 
(first published December 1st 2012)
Page Count:  154
Genre:  Non-Fiction
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

This non-fiction works is written by a young man of India who after graduating from college in India, applied to attend SPJIMR known for its courses in MBA, sought by many Indian young people because it helped them get job placements that paid well with good benefits and a good future. Krishna, although following the path of the others, asks the question from all of his professors, “Why is it so important to have an MBA in order to succeed,” and each professor, who teaches a different class for this subject has a an answer that goes along with the philosophy of his class. Krishna does a great job of setting forth succinctly those philosophies, but the manner in which he describes his life during these times is humorous and entertaining. Now and again he becomes interested in a young woman he sees, but not understanding women and being hindered by his culture’s manner of the parents arranging marriages, he runs hither and yon confused. When the author first asked me to review this book, I hesitated, knowing very little about the Indian culture except what I had read and nothing about MBA, but I must say I enjoyed this book and recommend it for its entertaining values as much as the information he provides relative to both the MBA and then world travels he took.

Synopsis
Like many, Revant has dreamt of getting that fancy and highly regarded MBA degree. After working hard, finally he gets an admission to one of the top Indian B-schools. His excitement is short lived as the overwhelming pressure and the vague defin­itions of management boggle him down. He gets frustrated with the people around him who see MBA as a purpose of earning higher salary and getting superior designations and indulging in unneeded arrogance. He thinks this is not what he wanted to learn out of his MBA. But then, something changes and Revant experiences the true purpose of pursuing an MBA. An inside story of MBA graduates, the book helps one realize that real purpose of a MBA degree is not confined to money, blazer, arrogance but it is more than that.

My Review:

Although this is a true story, it flows like fiction. It’s written in a manner that really draws you in. The author doesn’t just tell you what happens. You’re shown. The story is told in a vividly enlightening manner. I feel like I’ve travelled to the places spoken of in this novel.

Although the author does you a great deal of acronyms and technological terms, they are all defined or spelled out the first time that they are used. This allows for greater comprehension on the part of the readership as well as allowing the author to continue writing using terms properly and the way that they would be spoken.

The characters are quite well developed in this novel. You get to know them like those who lived down the hall from you in college. They are enjoyable to read about and you want to get to know more about them and their lives. This allows you to really immerse yourself in the novel. It creates a perfect situation for this intriguing tale.

Buy your copy online here today!


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The Boomerang Effect by Lindy Spencer

Title:  The Boomerang Effect
Author:  Lindy Spencer
Published:  July 7th 2012
Page Count:  179
Genre:  Suspense
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can end your life - or worse, postpone it indefinitely.

In Aspen Grove, Oklahoma, fifteen-year-old Katy had everything going for her, until an innocent decision to walk home from school set the karmic wheels in motion. Katy suffered a brutal attack, leaving her comatose. The legal system failed to convict the men responsible for this heinous crime - instead found them not guilty.

They’ve gotten away with it, or so it seems. Darnell and Jerome, then boys, now men, continue on with their lives; Bruce Hanson, the attorney tasked with convicting the two attackers, brushes off his loss and continues his climb up the legal ladder; Office Webster, the policeman who responded to the call for help, the man who destroyed evidence, forgets all about his part in the crime and moves forward in his lazy life; all of this while Katy lies in a hospital bed, still comatose, her life postponed, her loved ones outside of that room hoping and waiting.

Several years go by, bringing us to now. Something, or someone, has found a way to bring these individuals to justice; the perfect murder has been created and is being unleashed on the individuals responsible for Katy's situation.

Are they accidents? Could it be coincidence? Perhaps long-awaited payback in the form of the perfect murder? Revenge is a dish best served cold... and karma is a well-thrown boomerang.

My Review:

Wow. Just wow. I’m speechless at the moment.

With this novel, Spencer takes the realities of life, those we don’t want to face, and bring them to life in a very insightful and hard hitting manner. She tackles these topics with tack and flare, working her storytelling magic to create scenes and events that you live through with the characters. She also melds karma with reality to create a much more in depth storyline.

Spencer has created lots of characters with overlapping and intertwining stories that combine to create a captivating whole that flows like real life. These stories are intricately melded together to form a phenomenal whole. As a reader, you become very emotionally invested in this story. Spencer uses flashbacks to keep you in the loop while still keeping you intrigued in the story. These flashbacks, as well as flips to other perspectives are set aside and kept clear via formatting. They also add a great deal of mystery and depth to the story.

As a reader you get to know the main characters of this novel quite well. They are the type of people that you want to know, and help, and love. Overall, however, character development is not a major part of this story, but it works very well with the storyline. Many of the characters remain mysterious and partially developed. This minimalistic trend in character development actually works to the benefit of the story as a whole as it adds to the mystique of karmic interactions.

This is not a light fluffy read, but it is brilliant none the less. It is eloquently written and very well edited. Above all, this is a novel that will impact your life and leave you thinking.

Buy your copy online here today!


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Friday, July 19, 2013

Martyr's Moon by J.E. Lowder

Title:  Martyr's Moon
Author:  J.E. Lowder
Series:  War of Whispers #2
Published:  February 19th 2013 by WordCrafts Press
Page Count:  464
Genre: Fantasy
Shelf:  Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The War of Whispers continues...

Five Stars for Martyr's Moon!
"J.E. Lowder has created an intricate fantasy world full of despair and darkness as well as hope and luminous beauty." Examiner.com

"Lowder's second book in The War of Whispers series is a great success and a must read. I found myself engrossed in the journey and dreaming about my own adventure." Amazon review

"Never was there a stale time in the read and the invention of new place, people and cultures not only inspired my imagination but intrigued my mind to totally engross myself into the possibility of being a character myself in the midst of the town of Hetherlinn." Amazon review

The story...
The Council of Ebon encircle the Cauldron, their grotesque features shrouded in shadows. With voices like ice shards scraping against stone, they disclosed their dark prophesy...

Mothers, guard babes: Fathers, draw steel,
Thunder approaches, soon blood on the fields.
Tempest of war, so black and so vile,
Spreads o'er Allsbruth; lament suckling child.

War between the dark nation of Ebon and rebel forces is imminent.
The Martyr's Moon rises. The blood of a storyteller is spilled.
Hope vanishes.
Yet in night, the King of Claire whispers.

My Review:

With this novel, Lowder jumps right in where the last one left off without missing a beat and without causing any confusion. His intricately built world and characters comes back to life from the very beginning of the novel.

Literature is always magical, but here, the magic of literature literally comes to life. With this novel you find yourself walking through a fantasy world beyond compare. It’s astounding. Lowder is a show, not tell, type of author. You don’t read this story, but rather watch the story unfold before you. He paints a brilliant picture of his scenery.

The different storylines wend their way further and further apart as each character is on his/her own mission. At the same time, they still remain connected and clear. Because of this the story has more sadness and more happiness than the 1st story. You can feel the story building and can begin to see the light shining at the end of the tunnel. The ending of this segment leaves you simultaneously in suspense and with a sense of completion.

You get to know Lowder’s well-developed characters even better in this instalment. The characters grow naturally as individuals through their many experiences and challenges. I love the various characters and races that you encounter as a reader. They are so well developed that you can picture each and every one of them.

With this novel Lowder brings you moments of suspense, of worry, of freedom, of laughter, and above all, of escape from reality. This is above all, a very fun and enjoyable novel. One note of warning, however, this is definitely one of those series where you need to start at the beginning and work your way through, but trust me, it will definitely be well worth your while.

Buy your copy online here today!


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