I would like to apologize to all you authors that have been patiently waiting for me to read and review your work. I had to take time off to deal with a personal issue that has taken me a while to come to terms with. I promise you all that I will get back into the swing of things here real soon.
I hope you all understand.
Jason
Monday, October 28, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013
Brethren: A Gripping Tale of Counter Espionage
Author: Leonard Leventon
Book Format: eBook (Nook)
Obtained: From author for fair and honest review
My Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 94
Published: April 1, 2013
Synopsis:
Allan Capstein agreed to traffic the package from New York to the
French Riviera. He'd agreed in exchange for free airfare, hoping to vacation
from his growing accounting firm. When he delivered the package to Mademoiselle
Marie Du Berge, a beautiful and talented Cannes film star, his memory of New
York slipped into the Mediterranean. What he hadn't agreed to was being led
hook, line and sinker into a counter espionage ring set on assassinating a
crazed Middle Eastern despot.
Review:
I was given an eBook copy by the
author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Allan Capstein owns a successful accounting
firm in New York City. One day he decides that he is going to take a vacation
to France. When he is approached to take a package with him and deliver it, in
exchange for free air fare, he thinks it’s kind of strange, but agrees to it
anyways. After all, what can it hurt, right?
Upon arriving in France, and at
the packages destination, Allan meets the beautiful Mlle. Marie Du Berge. This
chance encounter turns out to be a match set up by the heavens as they spend virtually
the rest of his vacation together. They enjoy each other’s company, and even
make plans for her to return to New York with him.
However, there is the mysterious
package that Allan was asked to deliver. When Marie seemed to be disinterested
in it, it caught Allan’s attention and made him wonder, even more, what the
package contained. Does he really want to know? Especially after he finds out that
it wasn’t by chance that he was asked to deliver it, but he was chosen? Moreover,
who exactly chose him? The answer to that question surprises even Allan.
This was a very interesting, but
quick, read. I was able to get into the story fairly quickly, and the author
had me curious as to what was going to happen from one page to the next. One of
the only problems that I had with this book was the amount of French it
contained. It really seemed to me that about every other paragraph had, at
least, a partially French sentence. It is not that I minded it too much, I
understand that the story was set in France, but it has been almost 20 years
since I studied the language and it made parts of the story a little hard to
follow.
Other than that, it was a good
story. The characters were easy to follow and distinguish. The author built
them up enough that I was able to envision each of them. There was a fair
amount of suspense, and I think that the author did a great job with who he put
in as the “Middle Eastern despot.”
If you are looking for a good,
quick read, I would suggest you giving this book a look.
Available From: Barnes & Noble,
Smashwords
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Poisoned Waters Blog Tour
Poisoned Waters is set in the 1950s on a trans-Atlantic cruise from Southampton to New York. Helen Gardener is murdered during the voyage. The novel follows the stories of seven unfortunate characters and how they are affected by the death of Helen Gardener. Was it merely an accident? Mr Phillips, the owner of the ship, and sponsor of the cruise, rules with an iron fist, in search of something or someone. Lies spiral out of control as the suspects try to survive the final days on board. Conflicted by their sense of morals, greed, and lust, they realise what kind of people they really are. Who will rise? Who will fall? Who was Helen’s murderer? This is the first chapter to, Poisoned Waters.
“I trust everyone. I just don’t trust the devil inside them.”
Troy Kennedy Martin
Chapter 1 Pearl Moon
*
Benjamin held open the galley doors as he slid inside with an empty platter. Working as a waiter for the Phillips family, the sinfully wealthy hosts of the cruise, was less than an enjoyable experience. He needed money and this was the first job he was able to achieve that paid him a reasonable salary for the week the cruise lasted. The heat of the kitchen swept over him and he frowned.
“Those honkies don’t stop eating. They’re like pigs,” Mary growled underneath her breath as she passed him by.
Ever since they had met, she had stuck to him like a fly. They shared the same dark chocolate skin and childhood discrimination, but he didn’t share her fierce hatred for the people they were serving. Growing up in London during the 40s meant that he did bear the scars of racism. Many people of both colours had provided him good experiences and subsequently snatched him away from the all-consuming hatred. Colour didn’t matter to him but it did to Mary who spat on their food. That young woman who had barely reached twenty knew a lifetime of obscenities.
Benjamin followed what his mother had told him. He had to keep his head low and try to not attract attention. He had to be grateful for what others gave him and he was trying his best to keep his job, earning his pounds. While at times he felt like reporting Mary, he couldn’t. They were connected whether it be by colour or age or something greater.
Hurriedly arranging more servings of caviar, Benjamin heard someone calling his name. The barmen needed an extra and Benjamin begrudgingly agreed, hoping he wouldn’t lose his break. While he was serving wine, spirits, and beer he noticed the mass of people congealing together. Several men were gobbling their appetisers, licking their thick fingers, and grinning with oily lips.
Benjamin tried to stay as invisible as possible. He served the customers with a soft voice and shy nods. A man in his forties arrived at the bar demanding two glasses of their finest wine.
Without hesitation, Benjamin prepared the drinks, but as he put away the wine bottle it knocked over one of the glasses. The sound of smashing glass pierced Benjamin’s ears and he cringed with the expectation of a beating. The flustered barman came over, prepared the second glass, and took it over to the middle-aged man, who, in the midst of the loud band, hadn’t heard the accident.
“How long can it take?” the man groaned, his German accent clouded his words. “You’re all pathetic. I don’t know why they bothered hiring you people.”
The German man walked off, leaving no tip, but instead a twisted smirk. Benjamin’s heart fluttered. It wasn’t the middle-aged man who had caught his attention, but the woman he was advancing towards. His eyes lit up, the weight on his heart lessened and fleetingly he smiled. She was beautiful, her snow white skin glistened and honey-gold hair cascaded down her back. He wondered how sweet she would taste.
*
Harold massaged his aching fingers. His British companions shared clever puns over their glasses, chuckling. The occasional spray of saliva was also shared. Harold sipped from his own drink but had not achieved the level of drunkenness his colleagues were currently at. On top of having a high tolerance for alcohol, Harold always seemed to either give up paying for expensive drinks or was unable to stomach much more than a few glasses.
The friends spoke in barely coherent babbles of what was once the reputable English language. He had studied with them at the same stuffy university; business had been their chosen area before they all diverged into specific streams. Their current usage of language suggested they hadn’t even completed their high school education. The stench of cigarettes and alcohol was suffocating him.
Taking his turn to leave, Harold moved off into a different direction. His old colleagues had barely noticed him leave. The moment he had detached himself from them he felt much more relieved. The loud noise was deafening and rather than degrade his senses he drifted to the doors that would lead him outside. A young waitress with a stony expression took his glass.
The doors were opened for him by the young boys who stood by. Harold gave them respectful nods which they returned. The wind bit at his neck and shaven face while tousling his dark blonde hair. His emerald eyes were squinted in protection against the wind. Harold moved out onto the deck of the cruise ship and touched the railing. It was so cold that he retracted as if he had touched something hot. The chilling weather outside was causing him to shiver and shake. Was there a storm coming?
He was still young, merely thirty, and yet he was acting and feeling like he was eighty. Wasn’t that the age when you left parties early, lost interest in getting intoxicated, and your muscles ached? Wasn’t eighty the age when you were meant to be widowed?
Trying to restrain the burning tears streaking his eyes he looked over the side of the ship. It was difficult to do so, the floor was slippery. He caught a glimpse of the heaving black waters that the boat sailed upon. Harold turned around, resting his sore back against the railing, catching his breath. It was hard to breathe out in this weather and the penetrating winds were only growing stronger.
A shadow scattered across his vision. As soon as he raised his gaze, tears leaked from the red rims of his eyes. “Harold,” her familiar voice cooed.
“Be gone!” he yelled, shutting his lids tightly. These phantoms that haunted him showed no mercy. They sunk their teeth into his fleshy mind when Harold least expected it. The tender caresses of his wife brushed past his cheek. Harold’s hands aggressively pushed it away, only to encounter nothing but air.
Slam! He felt the cool floor smack hard against his tailbone. The floor polished with an icy sheet had been pulled out from under him. The pain that shot through his body expressed itself through miserable groans from his chattering lips. Harold let his body lull; the back of his head hit the ground. His eyes drifted to the brightly spotted sky.
The sound of pleasurable sighs and sloppy kisses broke the silent night. A couple who thought they were alone found somewhere to hide on the abandoned deck of the cruise ship. Giggles erupted from the woman. Husky groans echoed from the man. Rather than torturing himself further, Harold closed his eyes. He didn’t want to see their sublime experience. He wallowed in his own self-pity.
Heat from the love made by the couple did little to extinguish the cold that was penetrating Harold’s suit. When Harold raised his hand to the back of his head he felt something warm and sticky. Hushed moans continued to be heard, not far from him. It was hard to see in the darkness. Darkness was encroaching on his vision.
Before he had another moment to consider his actions, a shriek pierced the night air. The scream was not one heard in the middle of making love but one that burst through a woman’s lungs in fear and pain. Harold scrambled to his feet, trying to place the location of the scream. He knew it wasn’t from the couple he had been eavesdropping on. The sound came from a different direction.
The dark, gloomy deck of the ship tilted dangerously. Harold grasped onto the railing but felt his feet gave way. Harold stumbled toward the location of the scream that had sliced his mind like a knife. The back of his head throbbed. Why couldn’t he hear the sound of footsteps? Why weren’t there lights on?
“Help! She needs help!” Harold tried to yell but only managed to whisper. His vision blurred before everything went black.
This post has been part of the Poisoned Waters Blog Tour. Poisoned Waters is a thrilling mystery set on a trans-Atlantic cruise where a murderer walks amongst passengers.
Poisoned Waters
Book Title: Poisoned
Waters
Author: Ermisenda Alvarez
Book Format: ePub (Nook)
Obtained: From author in exchange for a fair and honest review
My Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 223
Published: August 1, 2013 by Ermilia, LLC
Synopsis:
Bloody mistakes, ugly scars, and beautiful lies. A tale of corruption.
Helen Gardener is murdered on a trans-Atlantic cruise. The Diamond Royale sails from Southampton to New York with her murderer aboard. Set in the 1950s, Poisoned Waters follows the stories of seven unfortunate characters and how they are affected by her death. Was it merely an accident? Mr. Phillips, the owner of the ship, and sponsor of the cruise, rules with an iron fist, in search of something or someone.
Lies spiral out of control as the suspects try to survive the final days on board. Conflicted by their sense of morals, greed, and lust, they realise what kind of people they really are. Who will rise? Who will fall? Who was Helen's murderer?
Helen Gardener is murdered on a trans-Atlantic cruise. The Diamond Royale sails from Southampton to New York with her murderer aboard. Set in the 1950s, Poisoned Waters follows the stories of seven unfortunate characters and how they are affected by her death. Was it merely an accident? Mr. Phillips, the owner of the ship, and sponsor of the cruise, rules with an iron fist, in search of something or someone.
Lies spiral out of control as the suspects try to survive the final days on board. Conflicted by their sense of morals, greed, and lust, they realise what kind of people they really are. Who will rise? Who will fall? Who was Helen's murderer?
Review:
I was given an ePub copy of this
work by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. It was because it
is a thriller/crime/mystery novel that I had decided to accept this piece of
work as I do enjoy that genre.
As the Diamond Royale Cruise ship
makes it way from Europe to New York some unfortunate incidences occur. A woman
is stabbed on the deck; another woman comes to her aid to try to help her. A
gentleman hears the attack happen, but is unable to see who is involved as he
has his own accident. Another couple is on the deck, but they do not want to
get caught doing what they were doing, so they both run off in different
directions as they were forbidden by society to be together.
The woman who was stabbed, Helen,
dies. The woman who came to her aid, Patricia, is detained for questioning. The
gentleman who had his own accident, Harold, turns out to be a crazy man. And
the other couple, Sylvia and Benjamin, tries to keep their secret love affair
just that…a secret.
Mr. Phillips, the owner of the
ship and banker, had requested for Michael, one of his current employees and
one that desperately wanted to be a partner in the bank, to investigate the
murder of Helen, and to retrieve something stolen from him that was very
valuable. And, he wanted the investigation completed by the time they docked in
New York.
During the investigation, other
murders and attempted murder occur and someone is detained. Michael believes
that he has caught the murder. Mr. Phillip wants the thief caught as well.
Michael catches the thief. He has completed his tasks…or has he?
I cannot lie; the start of this
book was a little difficult to follow. I had come very close to putting this
into my CNF (could not finish) pile. But, I am glad that I stuck to it. I gave
it 3 stars because of how confusing and difficult the start was, and because I
didn’t feel that “connection” that I look for when reading. Once I got past
chapter 6, though, it all seemed to flow together and was quite an enjoyable
read.
Available From: Amazon
This post has been part of the Poisoned Waters Blog Tour. Poisoned Waters is a thrilling mystery set on a trans-Atlantic cruise where a murderer walks amongst passengers.
Monday, August 5, 2013
Squirrels & Puppies: Dark Morality Tales
Author: Russell A. Mebane
Book Format: ePub (Nook)
Obtained: From author for fair and honest review
My Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 226
Published: October 18th, 2012 by Lulu.com
Synopsis:
The book is a collection of 14 short stories of speculative fiction.
Five center around cute animals who end up doing some strange things. Six
stories are basic science fiction tales set in possible futures and worlds.
Three of the stories are set in a future where Black people of all
nationalities have come to financially and politically dominate the Western
Hemisphere and influence the world. I arranged the stories so that the
lighter-toned stories are near the front and the darker stories are towards the
back. All of the stories have a moral to them.
Review:
I received an ePub copy of this
book from the author in return for a fair and honest review.
Well, typically I summarize a
book before I give my actual thoughts on it. But, since this book is a
collection of short stories I would be here forever summarizing them all. I do
not have that kind of time, and I am sure that you do not want to sit through
it all.
Now, as the synopsis says, all of
these stories have a moral to them. This is honestly one book, collection of stories,
which I would not recommend for those that have a small, closed mind. Each
story, in its own way, is very deep and deals with issues we all face today.
I really like how the author took
some of the issues and twisted them a bit to have a little fun with it. For
instance, the red squirrel that had the “affair” with the human, I took it to
be a play on interracial relationships. I could be wrong, but that is what my
take on it was. Not everyone agrees with those relationships and people tend to
look down on those that are in them. Just like the characters in the story.
Of the 14 short stories, I would
have to say that my two most favorite were “Sexual
Killing Machine” and “The Black
Section”. Sexual Killing Machine
is about a couple that does not want to conform to what society tells them to
do. They want to find lasting love and live a long happy life. In the end,
after they do live their lives the way they wanted, they decided it was time to
succumb to the natural way of life. But, it was all for nothing.
The Black Section is about how the world’s population of blacks is
no longer oppressed by whites, but, in actuality, it is now the whites that are
oppressed by blacks. It tells a story about how some want to treat the whites
badly and essentially, possibly, wipe out the entire race. However, the person
that made it possible for the blacks to be the world majority spared the white
race, and all the other races, did not want for them to be oppressed.
Like I said, the author did a
wonderful job on these stories. I am glad that I decided to give this book a
look. And, I would suggest that anyone with an open mind, and even some of the
small minded people out there, to pick this book up and give it a read. It
might open your eyes a bit.
Available From: Amazon, Barnes &Noble
Monday, July 29, 2013
Killing Matt Cooper
Author: John Cassian
Book Format: ePub (Nook)
Obtained: From author for fair and honest review
My Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 52
Published: April 15th, 2013 by Smashwords
Synopsis:
A harrowing and erotic glimpse through the eyes of a serial killer,
KILLING MATT COOPER chronicles all the things that makes a monster tick; and
the twisted form of love that he is seeking. KILLING MATT COOPER's unnamed
narrator details a swirling maelstrom of misogyny, violence, sex, and fantasy
-- all the things that he believes will lead him back to his Love. If you're a
fan of "American Psycho" and "Dexter," this is the book for
you!
Review:
I received this book from the
author in return for a fair and honest review.
A serial killer is on the loose.
He picks out his victims from a list he keeps in his head. The victims he
chooses? They are women who cheat. He picks the women who remind him of His
Love, who happened to be his first victim. Although he does not have sex with
them, he wants each of his victims to go out having the best orgasm of their
life. He is very careful with how he gets rid of the bodies, and he feels his
method is foolproof, that is until the FBI is brought in to investigate an
incident at his dump site, and bodies are found. Will he be found out? Will the
beautiful lead investigator figure out it is him? Only time will tell.
This was an interesting novella,
to say the least. As many others have said about it, it is a quick read, and
one that is difficult to put down once you start reading it. With it only being
52 pages, I was able to complete it in less than a day. However, when I was
done, I was left wanting more. I feel as if there is, or could be more to the
story.
Aside from that, if you are not
one for reading “rape” stories, then I would suggest you pass on this. The
author does get a little specific about a couple of his victims. But, at the
same time, it is not too erotic.
Available From: Barnes & Noble,
Smashwords
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Frostwalker
Author: Brandon R. Luffman
Book Format: ePub (Nook)
Obtained: From author for a fair and honest review
My Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 240
Published: May 7th, 2013 by Createspace
Synopsis:
There’s something in the woods behind Jake Marsden’s house – and
someone wants him to find it. A strange dream shatters his sleep, night after
night, and a compulsion to find the dark presence in the forest wars with his
logical and ordered nature. What’s a geek to do?
When his small hometown of Wynn falls under an ancient curse, Jake will find himself in a battle against creatures worse than any he’s faced in a game. Playing for keeps, it will be geek versus god in the fight to stop an evil force bent on destroying everything he holds dear.
The Geek Shall Inherit The Earth – If They Live Long Enough.
When his small hometown of Wynn falls under an ancient curse, Jake will find himself in a battle against creatures worse than any he’s faced in a game. Playing for keeps, it will be geek versus god in the fight to stop an evil force bent on destroying everything he holds dear.
The Geek Shall Inherit The Earth – If They Live Long Enough.
Review:
I received a copy of this book
from the author in return for a fair and honest review.
Jake is having some really
strange dreams. These dreams keep calling him out to the woods behind his house.
When he wakes, he feels that he knows exactly where this spot in the woods is
at, but when he tries to find it, he can’t. Not because he is unable to find
it, but because he is not physically able to continue on in the dark woods.
His dreams, and lack of sleep,
are starting to affect his work. But, it’s a good thing he is his own boss and
the only other person he has to worry about at work is his secretary, Nancy.
Over breakfast at the office one day, he realizes his attraction to Nancy, but
now he has to weigh the pros and cons of making a move on his employee.
Jake’s best friend Eric, and Eric’s
girlfriend Wendy, convince Jake to ask Nancy to come along with them to do some
Christmas shopping. During the trip to the mall, Jake and Nancy realize they
have a lot in common, and begin to really hit it off. Because of this trip they
start a new, romantic, relationship.
But, strange happenings begin to
occur as the weather worsens in their rural North Carolina town. As the snow flies
and unnatural beings begin to attack them they are forced to run and try to
find a way to save themselves. When they team up with a Native American, John,
and his Grandmother, they learn a familiar story about their people and a
battle that happened a long time ago. It was too familiar for Jake, as he felt
he was living the exact same story.
Will Jake’s story end the same as
the story of the tribe? Will these evil beings take over the town? The state?
The world? Is this new romantic relationship going to be able to grow, or will
something else step in the way and kill it?
This was a good, paranormal,
story. It seemed like something straight out of the X-Files. I was hooked from
the beginning and had a really hard time putting it down. I felt that the
storyline flowed along perfectly, and the editing was really good. And, the way
the story ended almost seems like the author might have a sequel in the works.
Available From: Amazon, Barnes &Noble, Smashwords
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Mariachi Murder
Author: D.R. Ransdell
Book Format: PDF
Obtained: From author in exchange for a fair and honest review
My Rating: 2 Stars
Pages: 236
Published: April 30, 2013 by Dark Oak Mysteries
Synopsis:
Andy Veracruz is content with his life as the leader of a mariachi
band, but when his lover is accused of murder, he has no choice but to defend
her. In the process he faces the loss of his strongest loyalties as well as his
entire career.
Review:
I received a PDF copy of this
book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Andy is a man in his late 30’s
enjoying his life. Although he has a “girlfriend” he is not yet ready to settle
down and give her the family she wants. At work, where he plays in a Mariachi
band late into the night, the very beautiful Yiolanda, his boss’ wife, catches
his eye more and more.
When his boss, Rolando, asks him
to keep an eye on his wife as he has to attend a family function in Mexico, Andy’s
life takes a turn he could have never seen coming. He begins following her
around, in his boss’ absence, throughout the streets of Squid Bay, CA and into
Las Vegas, NV.
In Yiolanda’s wake of travel
there are three murders and Andy is convinced that it is at her hand. She
continues to claim that she had not been in Nevada, and without actually saying
it, that it was not her that murdered those people. As Yiolanda begins to fear
for her life more and more, she turns to Andy to help save her, and tries to
seduce him as a way of saying “thanks” and to keep him helping.
Andy believes that he has solved
the murders, as all of his leads point directly back at Yiolanda. But, is he
really able to trust his gut that it was her? Or, was it really someone else?
This was really one of those
books, to me at least, that a reader could really tell it was a new author. It
was really a slow and dry beginning. It took about eight chapters for the story
to actually flow and become interesting. Usually, when it takes that long, it
is because the author is using those beginning chapters to character build.
But, that was not the case with this book.
I would have to say that this
book was “alright”. I was able to get through it, but was disappointed that it
was told in the first person. To me, it was also unbelievable that someone
would go through so much to play detective on their own, especially when
dangers presented themselves as they did in the story. Also, there were other
instances where the author changed scenes without warning. For instance, when
Andy first followed Yiolanda to Nevada, he was talking to the wife of one of
the murder victims. At the end of the conversation, the very next sentence, he
was back at his apartment in California. Then the chapter ended.
However, I did feel that, as the
book progressed, and the author caught her groove, that the book became more
interesting and showed signs of being a really good piece of work. It looks as
if this is going to become a series. If so, I am figuring that the stories will
only get better.
Available From: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
A Blood Seduction
Author: Pamela Palmer
Book Format: Nook Book
Obtained: Barnes & Noble Free Friday
My Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 232 on the Nook (384 in paperback)
Published: May 29th 2012 from Avon
Synopsis:
Quinn Lennox is searching for a missing friend when she stumbles into a
dark otherworld that only she can see—and finds herself at the mercy of Arturo
Mazza, a dangerously handsome vampire whose wicked kiss will save her, enslave
her, bewitch her, and betray her. What Arturo can't do is forget about her—any
more than Quinn can control her own feelings for him. Neither one can let
desire get in the way of their mission—his to save his people, hers to save
herself. But there is no escape from desire in a city built for seduction,
where passion flows hot and blood-red.
Review:
My wife found this book as a free
Friday offering from Barnes & Noble a while ago. After reading what it was
about, I decided to add it to my reading list. Especially since I have been
reading a lot of vampire stories lately, I figured that this would be a good
addition. I am really glad that I did.
Living in Washington, D.C., Quinn
Lennox is starting to realize that there is something different about her. She
is having strange happenings when she goes through “shimmers” on her way to and
from work. There are times that she is even able to see what appears to be
another world.
After her brother’s, Zack,
friend, Lilly, goes missing, they set out to find her. She notices a beam of
light and can see the other world inside of it. As they approach it Zack
notices Lilly’s pen on the ground and reaches for it. Seeing how close he was
to the light, Quinn tries to pull his hand away, but instead they are both
pulled into the darkness of what they soon find out is Washington, V.C.
Quinn and Zack are separated
shortly thereafter. Zack taken by one vampire, and Quinn taken by Arturo. It is
soon realized that she has some powers and is figured to be the savior of this vampire
world. But, her only concern is finding Zack and Lilly and getting the hell out
of there. But, does she have the ability to actually pull it off?
This was a really interesting
read for me. It was kind of a typical vampire story meets Fifty Shades of Grey
meets Harry Potter meets Gladiator meets Sci-Fi. The author takes a lot and
ties it all up into this nifty little story.
I rated it 4 stars because it was
actually able to pull me into the story to where I could actually picture what
all was going on. Something that makes me really enjoy reading, to be honest.
However, it was not able to catch my emotions. That would have made it a 5 star
read. I am really looking forward to reading the sequel to this, A Kiss of
Blood, when I get a chance to get my hands on it.
Available From: Barnes & Noble,
Amazon
Thursday, July 11, 2013
The Foundlings
Author: R.M. Garcia
Book Format: ePub (Nook)
Obtained: From author (through Smashwords) in exchange for a fair
and honest review.
My Rating:
Pages: 464
Published: June 23, 2011 by Createspace
Synopsis:
Donnie aimlessly drifted through the past year of his life, and often
wondered if it was worth the effort to just keep trying. The events of the past
year had left him near broken. That all changed the moment Abbie walked into
his life. She was like an angel sent to lift up his soul from the darkness it
now existed in. For a moment his future seemed brighter with her in his life,
and he started to believe he could be happy. They never expected how much their
lives would change once they are dragged into another world. A world of shadows
which within exists a society hidden in plain sight; a world wroth with danger,
where they aren’t welcomed at all. They are forced into this world of Vampires,
where then find themselves little more than orphans, nothing more than
Foundlings from the start. Donnie and Abbie now find their love and faith
tested to their very limits, while someone or something else watches, waits and
hopes.
Review:
The author provided me with a
copy of the book for a fair and honest review. Just by the synopsis the author
provided I was intrigued and looking forward to reading it. Then, he told me himself
in an email, and I quote, “Don't worry
though, my book is nothing like twilight, I know there are a lot of vampire
lovey dovey stories out there now. Mine should be different enough to stand out
in the genre.” I will agree; it does stand out!
After Donnie endured a really
rough and trying year; losing both of his parents, and all but giving up on
life himself, he meets the beautiful and elusive (when it comes to relationships)
Abbie. Although he is smart has a problem with history, and Abbie happens to tutor
the subject, so he signs up for sessions. This was the break he needed, and
soon they fell in love.
After high school, Abbie went off
to college and Donnie became a mechanic. Things were great, until Abbie went to
Florida on a vacation trip she won. It was supposed to be a weeklong “girls” trip
with her friends. However, someone had different plans for her. She was given
the choice to be turned into a vampire, or have all those that she loved be
killed. She chose to become a vampire. After doing so she went back home and hung
herself to give the impression that she was dead and there was even a funeral.
Donnie, however, did not believe
that the events were true and he set out to find the truth. This was when his
spirit guide leads him to “the spot” where he crashes his car and falls to his
impending death. As he is dying his beloved Abbie appears. She sees that he
will not live, and in a state of frenzy, she decided to feed from him.
In the aftermath of the feeding,
and to Abbie’s surprise, Donnie soon awakes. Neither of them can believe it,
and soon they find out that Donnie is not a typical vampire himself. Donnie
vows to protect Abbie once they learn that she is in danger and is being hunted
by the “bloodline” that turned her. Little did either one of them know the war
that was about to ensue.
I honestly did not know what to
expect when I was getting ready to read this novel. I think I was expecting
more of a vampire horror type novel, but I was pleasantly surprised that it
wasn’t. I truly could not, nor did I want to, put this book down. It had me
captivated from the start.
I wanted to give this book a 5
star rating, but the reason why I didn’t is because there were too many errors;
additional words in sentences and the in chapter “scene” change breaks was not
used until the later chapters in the book, which made some parts of the book a
little confusing. Some of it could have been because of formatting issues, but
some were probably editing oversights.
Aside from that, like I said
before, this book was able to draw me in and get to my emotions in multiple areas
of the story. Because of this, this book, and this author, has quickly become
one of my favorites. I cannot wait to sink my eyes into the next installment of
the series.
Available from: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Origin of the Sphinx
Author: Raye Wagner
Book Format: PDF
Obtained: From author in return for a fair and honest review
My Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 56
Published: June 6, 2013 by Studio Opolis LLC
Synopsis:
In Ancient Greece, the invocation "May the Gods watch over
you" was more than a spoken blessing. It was an entreaty for divine
benevolence.
When Damon sees a beautiful woman alone, far from civilization, he can’t help but be drawn to her. But his life–as it should have been– is altered and twisted by the immortal touch of deity.
Damon’s daughter, Phoibe, is raised to be wary and distrustful of the gods.
And so she must choose–
If Phoibe marries a mortal, she risks eternal solitude for a moment of love.
If she follows her heart, she risks spurning a god.
The gods are powerful, and their knowledge is vast.
But the gods…
The gods are far from perfect.
Origin of the Sphinx is a novella detailing the story leading up to the creation of the mythological creature, the Sphinx. It is the beginning of the Sphinx series.
When Damon sees a beautiful woman alone, far from civilization, he can’t help but be drawn to her. But his life–as it should have been– is altered and twisted by the immortal touch of deity.
Damon’s daughter, Phoibe, is raised to be wary and distrustful of the gods.
And so she must choose–
If Phoibe marries a mortal, she risks eternal solitude for a moment of love.
If she follows her heart, she risks spurning a god.
The gods are powerful, and their knowledge is vast.
But the gods…
The gods are far from perfect.
Origin of the Sphinx is a novella detailing the story leading up to the creation of the mythological creature, the Sphinx. It is the beginning of the Sphinx series.
Review:
The author contacted me and
requested a review of this novella. I do not know much about Greek Mythology,
so I decided that I would give it a look.
Damon is a mortal that happened
upon Hera – Queen of the heavens and goddess of marriage, women, childbirth,
heirs, kings, and empires – one night and they ended up spending the summer
together. The following year Hera returns, after leaving without a word at the
end of the previous summer, and hands him a child, Phoibe. The child turns out
to be his, but is a demigod.
When Damon falls for another
woman, and decided to take her as his wife, Hera returns and lets her know that
as long as they have Phoibe they will never be able to have children of their
own. So, they send her to live with a local weaver, Priska, to be raised.
When Phoibe reaches womanhood she
has to decide between a mortal, Isaak, who she absolutely adores and if very
much in love with. Or, Apollo – God of light, music, arts, knowledge, healing,
plague and darkness, prophecy, poetry, athleticism, manly beauty, and
enlightenment – who she also found herself falling for.
After some thinking Phoibe
finally makes her choice…little did she know that her choice was going to have
dire consequences.
To me, this is a nice, refreshing
novella. The author did a good job in developing the characters and story line.
I feel that this story could be enhanced and turned into a really good novel as
well. I rated it 4 stars because it was able to draw me in and keep my
attention all the way through.
Available from: Amazon
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Money for Blood
Book Title: Money
for Blood
Author: Darry Fraser
Book Format: ePub (Nook)
Obtained: From Publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review
My Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 209
Published: May 19, 2013 by Steam eReads
Synopsis:
When Joseph McInerney returns with his millions to his childhood home
on Australis Island, he hopes to capture something of the simple days of his
youth. What he doesn’t bank on is his dysfunctional family, his friendly
grocer, the publican or the hostile population of his hometown having their say
when he finds the love of his life, the fearless but prickly Cloudy Bannon. The
island is then hit by a series of murders and Joseph is about to find out that
all the money in the world can’t always get you what you want, especially not
the woman you love.
Review:
I was contacted by the publisher
to see if I was interested in reviewing a romance novel. Since I never really
read a romance, other than the paranormal/vampire romance, I wasn’t really sure
what to expect. I decided on Money for
Blood because the synopsis caught my attention and seemed to be one that I
could really get in to.
Joseph returns to his home town
after winning $15 million and being away for a few years. His return is not
very well accepted by the rest of the town, and not even his own family. They
all believe that he has alternative motives.
One of the local women, Cloudy,
catches his eye and he tries everything in his power to get her to be
interested in him. However, due to previous disastrous relationships, Cloudy
has pretty much written off all men. Joseph does not know what he has to do to
make her realize that he is just interested in her.
When tragedy begins to strike
everyone in Joseph’s life, including Cloudy, he is beside himself and is trying
to cope the best he can. Realizing that he is going to have to deal with these
situations on his own, he decides to just walk away…or is he really going to be
alone?
I wasn’t really sure what to
expect with this book. In the beginning it was a little difficult to read as
the author had a lot of thoughts and happening smashed together. However, once
the story really got going it was really a good read, and one that I did not
want to put down. I was expecting a little more “romance” throughout the story,
but was pleased with it being more of a suspense novel.
I rated it 3 stars because I felt
that it could have had more, or been focused more, on either the suspense or
romance side of the genre. I felt that the author wanted it to be a really hot
and steamy romance novel, but feel that she really did not know how to get it
there, or was afraid to go into more detail with the romance sections. But, she
is a really good suspense story teller.
Available at: Amazon
Sunday, June 30, 2013
A Tale of the Fisherman's Daughter
Author: Paul K. B. Mercer
Book Format: ePub (Nook)
Obtained: From Publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
My Rating: 2 stars
Pages: 338 on my Nook (662 according to Goodreads)
Published: November 19th 2012 by Itoh Press
Synopsis:
A young Italian woman will go to any lengths to achieve her goals, even
if that means committing cold-blooded murder from the unknown and powerless to
the highest levels of government. Is there anyone who will dare stop her reign
of terror and bloodshed? How many will be found dead before they discover who
she is? Will the power she has amassed grant her freedom?
Review:
I chose this book from a list
offered by the publisher for review. Based solely on the synopsis, I felt that
this book was going to be exciting and full of action and adventure. In the
end, I was right, but then again, I was wrong.
The main character, Angelina,
left home at 19. She was tired of living as a peasant, working on an olive farm
and living in a small fishing village in Italy. She felt that there was a
better life for her out there somewhere, so she told her father goodbye and
left, without saying a word to her mother. Soon thereafter, she was in the
wrong place at the right time and ended up joining a Mafia family. After
proving her worth, and proving that she would do “anything” to get ahead, she
was soon one of the top members of the “family” and the Mafia Boss’s lover.
When disaster strikes the
“family,” when the top henchman suddenly remembers what happened to him and his
real family years ago, all of the “family” is murdered, except for Angelina.
After escaping the tragedy, she goes and has her face surgically altered, and
successfully changes her identity and becomes Victoria. In order to test her
new look she revisits her home village and shows up at her father door. She
learns that her mother died years ago, and that she has a little brother.
After confirming that her new
identity is good, she sets off for the United States, which is where her new
identity is from. Upon arriving in America, she seeks out one of the Senators
that is running for President (he was also a target of the Mafia earlier in the
book) and weasels her way onto his campaign staff. During this time she has a
fling with the sitting President, who happens to be a bachelor, and finds out
that he will run for a second term if there was no other choice. Upon hearing
this information, she kills the Senator and kind of forces the President’s hand
in running for the second term. Where, soon after, he takes her as his wife.
Being the First Lady is not
enough for her. However, she finds that her further goals and want of power
will be hard to come by for her secret is trying to reveal itself. And, soon
she realizes that all the power has her about to crack up.
I gave this book 2 stars, but I
honestly believe that it could have been 4 stars, easily. I liked the plot, the
action was good, and the author was able to keep my interest for the most part.
However, what made me give it a lower rating is because of a few mistakes I
felt the author made in writing this book.
One: He dedicated an entire
chapter to building up a character whose only purpose was to be killed off the
next time he was mentioned.
Two: He did another deep
character buildup for a character that was only in the book to eventually
support one of the candidates running for president.
Three: Although I know this is a
work of fiction, some events should be researched more and be portrayed a
little more accurately. The author was claiming that America’s Presidential
inauguration happened right after the vote in November when it isn’t held until
January of the following year.
Four: The pacing of the book was
off, I felt. There were some chapters that were too long, uncomfortably long.
And there were some that I felt were rushed. I actually felt that the final
8-10 chapters were a little rushed.
With that being said, I feel
that, with a little more editing and condensing, this book could have been an
extremely good bit of fiction. When the pacing was good, it was a page turner
that I did not want to put down.
Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Q&A With Nikki Rae
Q: The main character in your
story, Sophie, suffers from a very rare condition, an allergy to the sun. Why did
you choose solar urticaria? Do you know anyone who really has it, or anything
similar?
A:
Sophie
had always been allergic to the sun. No one really knows what it is, but Solar
Urticaria is the closest they can come to an actual diagnosis. I thought I was
really brilliant, making up something so complex, then a friend of mine read
Sunshine, and asked how I knew about her condition. Haha. She had this disorder
all along and I didn’t even know about it.
Q: It is believed, by some, that
authors incorporate some personal experiences into their writings; are any of
the situations with Sophie based on anything that you personally went through?
A:
Yes.
I’m one of those people that just can’t help it. Parts of my life, my past, my character, always
seep into my stories. Some of it is
intentional. I use it to heal from things that have happened to me, or to
better understand a situation. But most of it isn’t done on purpose. I’m sure
if I gave the series to a therapist, they’d have some interesting comparisons
between the books and my life to tell me about. ; )
Q: In Sunshine, Sophie gets physically ill whenever a male figure come in
contact with her, with the exception of those that she is really close to, but
in Sun Poisoned she does not. How do
you explain the change in character of her character?
A:
In
book one, Sophie gets physically ill when men she doesn’t know invade her
personal space. During the course of Sunshine, she tries to get past that,
especially with Myles. In Sun Poisoned, she still gets a little uncomfortable
with male strangers, but she’s trying to move forward and not be that person
anymore.
Q: Sophie obviously loves music,
and can play anything on her piano by ear; are you a musician? If so, what
instrument? If not, what made you decide to give this unique talent to Sophie?
A:
No.
I can’t play anything. Not for lack of trying (I’ve tried guitar and piano
NUMEROUS times and failed). I’ve always admired musicians. Sophie’s talent was
inspired by one of my idols, Amanda Palmer. I gave Sophie this talent because
she is so closed off. She needed something to express herself, a space where
she felt secure and not afraid to feel. Music was the perfect choice for her.
Q: Through previous discussions,
you have told me that there is going to be a third book to this series; are you
finally going to reveal what really happened to Stevie? I felt this was a very
important part of the Sun Poisoned
storyline, and that there is more significance to it.
A:
Yes.
Many things are going to be revealed in book three: what happened to Stevie,
why Sophie’s past comes into her life again, and a lot more. There’s also going
to be more questions because of how book two leaves off. Of course, no question
is going to go un-answered, but Sophie’s going to face a lot more
complications. Not just in her personal life, with everything.
Q: What can you tell us about the
new book? Are you going to introduce new characters, or are they going to stay
the same?
A:
I’ve
started a little bit of the new book. I can say that it’s already more intense
than the other two. It’s a little more urgent. There are strange new things
happening while Sophie’s trying to figure out the stuff that has already been
going on. Sophie is changing, and more than in just one way. Myles is also
changing. We find out a lot about him, and some of it shocked even me.
Though I
still don’t know a lot about it, I can say that it’s probably going to be my
favorite yet. Myles also has a few chapters in his point of view, which is
interesting and revealing many things he’s been hiding, to say the least.
So yes. Book three is going to be intense.
Q: How many more books do you see
in this series?
A:
I’m
actually not sure. Usually, by the time I’m half way through a rough draft,
I’ll have an idea of whether I can wrap up the story in one more book or if
I’ll need more time. Right now there’s only three, but there may be four. I’d
like to say that I can’t see it running for more than four books, but you never
know.
Q: Is there anything else that
you are working on?
A:
Always!
I’ve been working on short stories a lot in school.
I’m working on a long-short-story that’s set in the same world as Sunshine,
called The Donor, and I’m really in love with it and can’t wait to share that
too.
In addition to that, I’m working on a spin off book.
Two characters we meet in Sun Poisoned, Evan and Ava, are getting their own story
that takes place before anything in The Sunshine Series happens. It’s going to
have more horror elements, and it’s probably going to be for a slightly more
mature crowd. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way about a story. There are
times that I have to stop writing to take a breather. I’m excited to share it.
: )
Q: Are you planning to release
these books in paperback, and, if so, do you have any idea as to when it might
be?
A:
Yes,
yes, yes. I have been dreaming about paperbacks FOREVER.
Sunshine is going to be out in paperback by October
(hopefully sooner!), and I'm aiming for Sun Poisoned to be in paperback by
Christmas, but nothing's set in stone yet.
Sun Poisoned
**WARNING: SPOILERS WITHIN THIS REVIEW**
Author: Nikki Rae
Book Format: ePub (Nook)
Obtained: from author as Beta & for review
My Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 250
Published: June 28, 2013 by Nikki Rae
Synopsis:
“Sophie’s life has changed. She’s moved to New York, she’s playing
music for new people, and she’s making new friends. Then there’s Myles, and the
fact that he is now her boyfriend—and everyone knows it. There are a lot of new
things to take in, but Sophie has no problem adjusting.
She’s not exactly normal, living in a half-human, half-vampire world,
but she’s finally, truly happy. But some parts of Sophie and Myles’ old life
still hide in the dark, waiting for the right opportunity to strike.
Sophie’s having nightmares again, but they aren’t about her; Myles is
hiding something that she’s not sure she wants to know.
And one lie will change everything.
No matter how hard she tries to cover up the marks her monsters have
left behind, they never truly go away, and Myles’ monsters are no different.
Once again, Sophie’s caught between life and death, but this time, only
she can save herself.”
Review:
Coming into this book, I did not
really know what to expect. I knew that Sophie was moving to New York to pursue
her dream in music. And, that she and Myles were going to be a couple. But, I
really was not anticipating the slight twists and turns that their relationship
was going to take.
Getting the full-time gig at Club
Midnight proved to be a blessing and a curse for Sophie. She got to play music
with her friends, Boo and Trei, and also got an invite to play with club
favorite headliner Honus. But then, after spending a little time with club
owner Evan’s girlfriend Ava, she learned some secrets that would begin to
change her life, and her relationship with Myles.
When Sophie spends a little time
with Ava, she learns that she was attacked by Michael as well, but that she is
infected with his blood. This infection causes excruciating pain, and there is
no way for her to be cured, and she will eventually die. This is what Michael
tried doing to Sophie at the end of Sunshine.
She also learns that where she lives, the club, and many of the area
establishments are “protected” areas. Places where Michael cannot go.
After learning this information,
and realizing this is the reason why she is where she is now, is enough to
damage a lot of the trust she had in Myles. She now knows that Michael is still
alive, after she was made to believe he wasn’t, she begins to worry about her
safety, and the safety of her family and friends. When tragedy strikes, and
Stevie, her brother Jade’s boyfriend, is killed in a car accident, she believes
it is her fault. That because he couldn’t get to her, Michael got to Stevie
instead.
It is because of this tragedy,
however, that the defenses are weakened, and an opportunity is made for Michael
to get Sophie out of the “safe” zone and away from Myles. When he gets her
alone he attacks her again. This time it is believed that he will be
successful. Now that she is infected with his blood she has to choose between
being turned in order to live, or allow the infected blood to kill her. But,
she is not willing to make this decision until she gets a chance to talk to
Jade one last time.
I must say that Nikki did a better
job on this one. There was a couple times, to me, where the story seemed to go
a little off topic, like when Jack shows up. What was the significance of that?
But she was able to pull it right back together. Once again the storyline was
able to keep me interested, but it was not “gripping” like I feel she is
capable of making it. There are a few unanswered questions, that made me feel a
bit jaded when the book ended, in which I hope will be answered in a third book
of the series, if there is one. We will have to wait and see.
Available from: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Naero's Run
Author: Mason Elliott
Book Format: Epub, Nook
Obtained: From author as random give away
My Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 422
Published: 2012
Synopsis:
“2595. Ten years after the Fourth Spacer War with the rival Gigacorps.
Naero Amashin Maeris works in her Clan's merchant fleet, dreaming of owning her
own ship and developing psyonic powers without going nuts. After tragedy
strikes her Clan in the Unknown Regions, agents from the Corps stalk her. They
believe she holds the key to something priceless anddeadly: Lost tek secrets
from an ancient, godlike alien race. Soon Naero's over her head in a white hot
intrigue of raiders, assassins, and warring interstellar fleets. Even worse,
the greatest dangers might yet lurk deep within herself. And Naero's run has
only just begun to heat up. Go on the run with Naero.”
Review:
I was a little hesitant at first
to even start this book. I have never been a big fan of sci-fi whether it is a
movie or a book. However, since the author was kind enough to award it to me
through a random give away (I honestly did not know he was going to give away
copies of this book until he contacted me). So, I figured that I would give it
a look-see and I am glad that I did!
It all starts out where Naero is
a Leftenant on her Aunts fleet while her parents are off exploring the outer
edges of their galaxy. She is about to come of age, 20 years old for her
people, and has yet to develop her powers and is afraid of being a “nub” – one of
her kind without powers. She decides to use pills, injections, even a
stimulator helmet, during a training session to attempt to bring out her
powers. But doing so seems to have brought on an adverse reaction, and still no
powers.
Shortly thereafter she, and her
brother Janner, learn that their parents exploration fleet was destroyed by
enemy forces. They soon learn that the reason was because their parents found a
highly powerful weapon created by an ancient, extinct, race. But, nobody could
figure out if they actually did find it, and if they did, where did they put
it?
It was soon found that the code
for this powerful weapon what somehow split and engrained in the DNA of both
Naero and Janner, and their enemies would stop at nothing to get the code,
including starting another all-out war. Now it was up do Naero to find a way to
keep herself and Janner safe and alive until her people could figure out how to
combine the two strands of code to see what it actually possessed. But, she
would soon find that it wasn’t just her enemies that she had to watch out for.
This was a very intriguing book
for me. As I said, I do not typically read sci-fi, but the writer was able to
keep me wanting more. It had the right amount of action, romance, and horror.
It kept me guessing what was going to happen next, and most of the time I was
wrong! I had a hard time putting it down.
Available From: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords
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