Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Dawn White

Ok so this is a twisted take on what to do with Zombies. 

This short story is a fast read not really affording the reader the opportunity to get to know the characters. 

No real back story as how it came to be is available either but I assume that this is a prequel and more answers will be forthcoming. 

One thing I am convinced about is the fact that this series will be twisted. 

Sebastian by Christoph Fischer

Release 1 May 2013

Paulette Mahurin has this to say in her Goodreads review
Paulette Mahurin rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a marvelous and well-crafted story Christoph Fischer’s Sebastian is. The story starts with a young sixteen-year-old boy, Sebastian, receiving an amputation to his leg for an infection, from a rusty nail, that went untreated, due to fear of doctors and needles. The reader is instantly drawn in to this protagonist and his mother, Vera, as well as the medical situation that lingers throughout the story that takes twists and turns along with the plots and subplots to help define a character.  What a marvelous and well-crafted story Christoph Fischer’s Sebastian is. The story starts with a young sixteen-year-old boy, Sebastian, receiving an amputation to his leg for an infection, from a rusty nail, that went untreated, due to fear of doctors and needles. The reader is instantly drawn in to this protagonist and his mother, Vera, as well as the medical situation that lingers throughout the story that takes twists and turns along with the plots and subplots to help define a character that goes from being weak to growing an inner strength and beauty. Sebastian’s story is the story of his family, the women who enter his life and the war that surrounds and defines them all.

The scenes begin with Sebastian living in a dwelling that houses the grocery store his father Franz works in, that was owned by his father, Oscar, (also Sebastian’s best friend). Also living with them is Oscar’s wife Rebecca who is mostly bed ridden with a bad back, his mother Vera who has a weakened condition. Sebastian is in and out of the hospital with complications from problematic healing leg. Because of the strain on the family workload help is needed and enters a beautiful 18-year-old Ingeborg who becomes infatuated with Franz to complicate matters and ends up with her being replaced by Eva who Sebastian has a crush on as he begins to come into maturity and is sexual hormones awaken. Eva has her own secret that unfolds in a fascinating way opening to a new hire, Margit and her mother, Peroska. When Concurrent with Sebastian becoming involved with Margit his mother, Vera, connects up with friends who play key roles in throwing twists and turns into the story, which involve mystical aspects, séances and connecting with the afterlife. A revelation and slip of communication sends all their lives into chaos and the war in the backdrop takes center stage as the story moves along poignantly and engaging the reader with great depth.

This is a time of great turmoil for people of Jewish faith, where divides are drawn with nations geography being molded and remolded, threatening to unsettle and disrupt millions of peoples. Sebastian’s story is a metaphor for lives thrown into turmoil because of war and what war does to individuals separately and as citizens. It is a story of how the human condition and stresses become heightened and exaggerated when threatened by personal and geographic political evils. This is a story of great compassion and selfishness, of jealousy and love, of loss and risking, of having material and losing it all, of families and finding out what is important, of loyalty and betrayal. It is a story that runs deep in all of us, with emotions displaying what it is to be human. It is a story of every man and every woman with themes and messages that any reader can relate to, right down to the surprise and unexpected ending, which is how we do live our lives, after all is said and done.

This intelligently and sensitively crafted story pulls the reader in, pulls at our heart strings, and keeps us glued to the page, long after the last one is closed, and the memory of Sebastian lingers, one that won’t be easily or readily forgotten. I loved Sebastian.



Christoph Fischer has this to say regarding his motivation behind writing the series and Sebastian specifically.


“Sebastian” is the second book in my Three Nations Trilogy, a series on war torn Central Europe that focuses on how lives could be changes by politics and cultural and ethnic changes. “The Luck of the Weissensteiners” was about a group of Jewish and Catholic people in Slovakia during WWII, “Sebastian” is about a family in Vienna around WWI. The stories are using similar themes but are not connected directly.
Sebastian is based on an idea I have always had of my grandfather when I was young. I unfortunately never met him because my grandfather had divorced my grandmother and lived with his new family on the other side of the Berlin Wall and we never met them until the late Eighties, by which time my grandfather sadly had already passed on. He lost his leg due to an accident, which is at the heart of “Sebastian”, a young man who has to come to terms with this loss, his responsibilities and the life in a time where great political and personal changes bring in a new era.

Amazon purchase link for the first book in his Trilogy

 http://www.amazon.com/Weissensteiners-Three-Nations-Trilogy-Volume/dp/1481130331/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367309263&sr=8-1&keywords=the+luck+of+the+weissensteiners

Birthright (Shepherd's Moon Saga, book #1)Birthright by J. Anne Fullerton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is most definitely a saga! I loved it!

Nick Buchanan is a sheep farmer, living on the outskirts of Sydney. He is a rather taciturn man, who works very hard for his living. I liked this character very much, as he is honest, a firm but fair boss, and a really likeable man. Looking for a wife, he meets Agatha, but little does he know what he is letting himself in for!

Agatha Whistleton is an American, and a werewolf called a Birthright. She is a wonderful character, who has managed to survive some terrible conditions. She has come to Australia to make a new life for herself. Marrying a stranger may be her only salvation.

I started reading this book, and struggled to put it down! This is a unique look at werewolves living in Victorian Australia. I'm not sure I believe in love at first sight, but these two characters (Nick and Agatha) have a chemistry that sparks from the first moment they meet! I loved reading their different points of view, as it gave the story a definite TV film or movie feel to it. Thanks to the very descriptive prose of the author, I could "see" Australia as it was in the Victorian era. The characters come alive in this story too. This story was completely absorbing! There are two types of werewolves, Birthright (born) and Sauvages (bitten). There is one Sauvage that is extremely dangerous. His name is Dirk; he made my skin crawl!! There is a lot of action, danger and romance in this book. I am now looking forward to reading the next book in the saga, as there is a teaser at the end of the book that had me gasping for breath!

J. Anne Fullerton has written a fascinating, exciting and absorbing read! Due to some scenes of violence, and also some scenes of a sensual nature, I do not recommend this book for younger readers. I do recommend this book if you love reading action/adventure/ paranormal romances or epic sagas about werewolves. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

Monday, April 29, 2013

Amanda DeWees

In a character driven plot like this I am usually weary.
I find that authors make 14 year old sounds like 50 year olds and I am over yesterday's hero complexes.
I think by page 15 I knew that this was no ordinary YA. Joy is a girl any girl can identify with.
She is not a w.itch nor is she a brat, she is normal girl who will do stupid things to be accepted by stupid people.

Here we move onto the main male protagonist. Tanner. Oh boy, I sure could put a face and a body to this one.
Here not overly much emphasis was placed on him which was nice and refreshing and we learned what we needed via Joy.

Aah.... our favourite person to hate in the book -- - The ever so perfect Melisande. I consider any author as accomplished the moment they can make me feel something towards their characters such as with Melisande.

The school made an terrific backdrop acting as a character all on it's own muting and amplifying the supernatural facets of the story all at once.
I know one thing, I am glad I own the rest of the series already.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Humanity's Biggest SecretsHumanity's Biggest Secrets by Drago De Silver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

I don't normally read a lot of non-fiction, as I sometimes find it a bit boring and/or text book-y. However, this book captured my attention because I am interested in aliens, ancient history and the origins of mankind.

This book explores several interesting theories. Some of them are controversial, such as God and the ancient ancestral Gods are actually aliens, and that the human race is actually genetically engineered slaves. There are also some conspiracy theories about whether there are aliens amongst us, and that the leaders of the world know that they are here. There has been a lot of research done by the author into these and other subjects that makes this book an intriguing read!
However, there was also a lot of information that I found to be a bit above my understanding, and I found myself a bit adrift. This was not the actual author's theories, but another author called Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, which Drago De Silver used as part of his research. Her theories definitely gave me food for thought, but also left me with a few questions. Unfortunately, I cannot ask them of her, as she is no longer alive to answer them.
I must admit that I believe that we are not alone in the universe. Whether we are slaves to aliens, or masters of our own destiny, I cannot say. I also believe that we, the human race, are older than what our history books and science tells us. I have no proof, but I believe that man walked with the dinosaurs over 65 million years ago up until the Middle Ages (George and the dragon, anyone?). What about Nessie (the Loch Ness Monster)? I also believe that man did not evolve on this planet, but was placed here; by whom, and why, I do not know. But, it would be interesting to find out!

Drago De Silver has written a completely intriguing, and thought provoking book that I struggled to put down! His theories, although controversial, match with some of my thoughts I've had over the years. However, I do not agree with all of them. You will have to read this book for yourself to determine whether he is right or not.

I highly recommend this book if you love ancient history, conspiracy theories about aliens and the origins of mankind. - Lynn Worton

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Saturday, April 27, 2013

Scary Stories with Twist Endings Vol 1Scary Stories with Twist Endings Vol 1 by John M.W. Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

Having previously read Wacky Stories With Twist Endings by the same author, I was looking forward to reading these scary stories.

This book contains eight short stories. Each story is well written, and contain moments of humour and/or horror. Unfortunately, I did not find them particularly scary. Yes, some of them were macabre, and there were definitely twists to the endings on all of them, but there was nothing that made me want to hide behind the sofa. I did find them to be a highly entertaining read, don't get me wrong! I have the utmost respect for this author, and do not mean any offence. I cannot put my finger on why these stories weren't scary for me. Perhaps it's because I have read some really chilling horror stories in the past, or it's because I'm not easily scared. However, as I have said, I did enjoy reading this book and I would definitely read more of this author's work in the future.

John M.W. Smith has written a fantastic anthology that thoroughly entertained me. I'm just sorry that I didn't find them scary! I do not recommend this book for younger readers due to there being some gruesome scenes, but I recommend this book if you are looking for a quick, entertaining and scary read! - Lynn Worton

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Friday, April 26, 2013

The Boy Who Said No

The Boy Who Said No
An Escape to Freedom
by Patti Sheehy
 I requested to review this book due to my love for history.
It was with shock and dismay that I discovered how very little I know about this history in particular.
This is despite me watching hours of documentaries on Fidel Castro and his brother.
How Cuba was taken by them via a revolution and how they wished to become the major Russian Communist backed country in Latin America.
This book addressed no lofty ideals, never answered the WHY but gave an excellent account of the how and the impact of this on the lives of normal Cuban citizens.

I loved the fact that this is based on a true story which lend Franky an edge afforded to no fictional character but which is all his own. 
I really loved this book and would recommend all history lovers to read this for themselves.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Deadly Eyes by Mike Meyer

Publication Date:March 8, 2012
SPRING SALE - only $.99. Regular price is $2.99.
Something unique: This book now has TWO alternative endings, one of which is much darker than the other.
AN AWARD-WINNING SUSPENSEFUL CARIBBEAN MURDER MYSTERY, voted #1 on Recommended Thriller/Suspense list at Goodreads

James Cuffy, better known as Cuff, is living in paradise with his girlfriend, Rosie, on the small Caribbean island of St. Croix, where the sky is as blue as Cuff's eyes, the ocean as pretty as Rosie's cheeks, where the gentle lapping of the waves is a lullaby, and the swaying of the palm trees is a dance. The sandy beaches are as white as sugar, and the horizon is a world away. St. Croix indeed is paradise, the perfect place for living, laughing, and loving.
But the sandy beaches and the turquoise sea can provide no cover from the deadly eyes of the unknown stalker pursuing Cuff. Murder leads to murder as he attempts to untangle the terrible web in which he has suddenly become entangled.

The twists and turns are many, the roads of the fast action leading in all directions. Cuff and Rosie are relentlessly pursued by a diabolical force that shows them no mercy. Do these two good people stand a chance against such sheer evil?
A NEW CONCEPT

DEADLY EYES has received great praise from some very highly respected authors and reviewers. Here is a brief sampling:

The Kindle Book Review says, "Michael Meyer has once again managed to pull me into a story that totally catches me off guard in the end. The ride is fast and furious and the outcome will leave you blindsided."

Nick Russell, the bestselling author of the Big Lake series says, "Michael Meyer has done it again, weaving a fascinating tale of murder and intrigue in the tropical paradise of St. Croix that will keep you turning the page to the very end."

At the same time, though, some readers have made it clear that they were turned off by the ending, which, indeed, is a downer. Those readers simply did not like to see bad things happen to good people. Cuff and Rosie are good people caught up in a terrible situation. They are relentlessly pursued by a diabolical force that shows them no mercy. Do these two good people stand a chance against such sheer evil? We like Cuff and Rosie as people. We identify with them. We root for them. We want good to prevail over evil, but, unfortunately, the real world does not always operate that way.

With all of this in mind, I am delighted to report that I have come up with an entirely new concept for the book: DEADLY EYES now provides TWO alternative endings in order to satisfy individual reading preference. Readers now have the opportunity to read only the upbeat ending, or they can choose to read the original, much darker ending, skipping either the first ending or the second one. They also have the option of reading both endings, if they so desire. I am excited by this new concept of offering reading preference choices to my readers.
EXCERPT

These were not naked eyes, for the distance between these eyes and the beach bar at Cathy's Fancy was too great for the naked eye to discern who was who. No, these eyes had planned meticulously. The eyes were glued to a pair of terribly expensive and unbelievably powerful Swarovski Optik binoculars. The balcony on which they now worked, taking in the scene before them, was the perfect place to see but not be seen. The powerful binoculars saw to that.

The distance, the palm trees, and the rays of the sun all helped. The position had been hand picked, after careful consideration. Every angle had been considered, and, one by one, they had all been discarded for one reason or another until this very spot, the perfect place to observe while not being observed, had been selected.

Yes, the eyes had seen it all. The eyes had seen precisely what they had hoped to see. They were like a master puppeteer. They planned, controlled, and observed, but from a safe distance. They did not miss a trick.

The eyes. The deadly eyes of St. Croix.

Purchase link 

http://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Eyes-ebook/dp/B007IO3O22/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1366786355&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=the+deadly+eyes+by+micheale+meyer

My review
I love a good murder mystery with action and a who-dunnit plot so this book was a perfect fit for me.
With Rosie and Cuff both fluffed out so that the reader could identify with them and a plot that moved at a nice and fast pace this was a book I thoroughly enjoyed. 
The story is set on an exotic island and the author did a wonderful job in taking the reader to this exotic paradise.  But like most stories in paradise this one has a snake.  The nature and form of the snake should have been apparent to me earlier but it was not which furthered my level of enjoyment of the book. 
What makes this book unique is the fact that the reader can choose between two alternate endings, one darker than the other.  Thus far I have only read the first ending.  But be sure I will read the darker one as well.  Why did I not wait until I have read both the endings? Cause I wanted to share that thrill with you guys.  The thrill of anticipation.
WaAr

Book Review of Cry of the Wolf by Dianna Hardy

Cry Of The Wolf (Eye Of The Storm, #2)Cry Of The Wolf by Dianna Hardy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Eye Of The Storm Series. I loved it!

Lydia is a fantastic character! She is adjusting to her new life within the wolf pack. Being mated to three very different men has it's challenges. I enjoyed watching Lydia grow into her new life.

Taylor is sweet and tender. I love his protectiveness and caring of Lydia, even though he's still in love with his wife, Sarah.

Ryan is fun-loving and spontaneous. He's not as involved in this story, but I loved his method of having a "man talk" with Taylor. It made me smile!

Lawrence is intense and serious. I loved getting to know this enigmatic character a bit more. His story is very emotive, and I shed a few tears as I read it.

I have been looking forward to reading this story since I had read the first book. I started reading this book, and struggled to put it down! We meet new characters too; Sarah (Taylor's wife) and Amil. These characters add a new dimension to an already intriguing storyline. I'm not sure where Amil will fit in, in the next book, but I'm looking forward to finding out! I loved the way the story flowed, and was shocked at a major twist that had me thinking, "Huh?, what's going on?!". As this is a paranormal romance, there are a few scenes of a sensual nature that are explicit and HOT! I am now looking forward to reading the next instalment in the series!

Dianna Hardy has written an amazing paranormal romance series that is extremely fast paced, but it doesn't feel rushed. I was disappointed when I came to the end of the story, because I wanted to find out what happens next! I HATE cliffhangers! (However, I love them too!). This author is on my favourite authors list, and I will read any book written by her.

Due to the sensual content and some bad language, I do not recommend this book for younger readers. However, I highly recommend this book if you love paranormal romances with sexy werewolves. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Tattle Tale: But hey, that is an opinion and everybody is entit...

Tattle Tale: But hey, that is an opinion and everybody is entit...: I have something to say about people I know this might not be a popular post but guess what, I do not care….   Why do I not care, bec...

But hey, that is an opinion and everybody is entitled to them.

I have something to say about people
I know this might not be a popular post but guess what, I do not care…. 
Why do I not care, because that is the topic of discussion?  People who feel that their opinion is WORTH so much that they can badger, assault, intimidate and persecute people with it.  You don’t believe me, you don’t need to, and it is only my opinion. 

You don’t believe me… let me put it to you this way.  Hitler had an opinion about the superiority of the Arian race.  Millions died because nobody shut him up.  But hey, that is an opinion and everybody is entitled to them.

A man who never lifts his hands to hit his wife but keeps badgering her telling her she is fat, stupid etc is causing scars that might never heal.  While a broken rib might.  But hey, that is an opinion and everybody is entitled to them.

Assault.  Let's see.  Now if I were to tell you that I think you are unfair.  You made the wrong choice in the choice you made and are paying for.  That this behavior makes you less of a man, woman… geez that starts to sound like mental assault.  But hey, that is an opinion and everybody is entitled to them.

Intimidate with an opinion.  Ah, here we do not need to go back to the previous century, our dear politicians the world over does it daily.  The death of the Prime Minister, Maggie Thatcher is here a brilliant example.  The website that is up, saying ding dong the witch is dead, put up by people not even born when she took milk from the preschoolers…. intimidation.  If she were alive she could have made a case against them and won it.  But hey, that is an opinion and everybody is entitled to them.
Persecution, now this one is a doozy.  Do we need to go back to Hitler...Nah.?  Do we go to the UK? Nah, do we make this international… yes we can but why not make it personal.  See, for those trolls on the internet that sends virtual high fives in discussion boards after persecuting a person, persons for their taste etc…. really.  I don’t even high five in real life.  For those that choose social media sites to say their say and in the process break down somebody else's character… that my friends remain persecution.  But hey, that is an opinion and everybody is entitled to them.

So is freedom of speech sooo important.  Yes it is.  I firmly believe that.  But my opinionated friends never forget that you have a voice to state that the manner in which this freedom is used may not be to your personal liking.  Hitler might have built a brilliant nation without ever lifting a gun or a force if he believed enough in his own mantra's and did not think might is right.  We will never know.  The husband might encourage his wife to lose some weight by making her feel desirable and switching to a new eating regime.  I can tell somebody that I disagree with their opinion and not make it into verbal assault.  I believe I am doing that right here and right now.  The people who now so strongly resist Margaret Thatcher, people aside from the bad taste to speak ill of the dead in such a manner, never ever tell me it is a good thing a person died.  You yourself are not Duncan McLeod from the clan McLeod and neither are your children but that aside, if you did not agree with her politics say that, do not relish in her death.  Persecution, I am sorry.  All it takes for evil to thrive is for good people to sit by and say nothing.  Hence forth I will be raising my own opinions. 
That is all.  But hey, that is an opinion and everybody is entitled to them.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Whispers of Dreams -- A Poetic Collection by Alexia Purdy

Whispers of Dreams
By Alexia Purdy

Like I said, I dont read poetry, I simply dont like it.

But these poems, some of them I did get.  A long time ago a woman asked me to review her poetry book.
I tried to get out of it by saying I would not know how to begin to review a poetry book.
Her response... if you are alive you will understand poetry that is about the living.
I took her advice reluctantly but now I can say forsure I do get her advice.
Poetry is an extremely personal journey.
It is not the intent of the poet but the reader that determines if a poem will or will not speak to an individual.
All in all, I am really glad I picked up this collection. 
WaAr

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Nature CallsNature Calls by Bonnie Bernard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review 7*******

This is a fantastic anthology of fourteen short paranormal stories! I loved them!

Every story in this anthology is entertaining, and some of them have a twist that were either surprising, or left me wanting more!
It is extremely difficult for me to say which story I enjoyed more, as I loved them all. However, I must admit that When Yeti Met The Space Alien, When Yeti Met The Demon, Transportal Potty and The Ricki Shay Effect may just be on the top of my list. All of the stories are witty, and made me giggle in varying degrees. I especially loved the Yeti meeting Howie Evil in When Yeti Met The Demon. I'm a HUGE Howie Evil fan! However, he'll just call me a "stupid human". If you haven't read Bonnie Bernard's other books, The Midnight Hunter Trilogy, then the reference will be lost on you. Therefore, I HIGHLY recommend you read those books, because then you'll know exactly what I am talking about! Howie Evil HATE'S humans! His meeting with the Yeti had me giggling like mad, because I could "see" the scene in my mind as if it was real.

Bonnie Bernard is one of my favourite authors, and I am looking forward to reading more of her books in the future. I love her sense of humour, which is somewhat macabre, but her wit is dry and highly entertaining! Her writing style is fast paced, and the flow is exceptional; Exceptional, because it takes a 90 degree turn just when you don't expect one!

I highly recommend this as a MUST READ, but due to some of the scenes being a bit dark, I do not recommend this book for younger readers. - Lynn Worton

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Saturday, April 20, 2013

Once Upon A Zombie Apocalypse - KyleeOnce Upon A Zombie Apocalypse - Kylee by K.B. Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is a fantastic read! I loved it!

Kylee Mahafferty is a character who is very business orientated. She is comfortable with the pressure and stress of rushing from book conventions to book signings, and back to conventions. However, the stress of fighting off zombies may just break her!
I liked her sarcastic and witty thoughts as she observed the world going to hell around her. She is an incredibly brave woman, and she can run in high heels! I can't even walk in them without tripping over something, even imaginary things! She has my respect for that talent!

This is a fantastic zombie novella! I'm not a huge reader of zombie novels, but this story is an extremely entertaining read! The story starts out innocently enough, but little did I realise what I was in for! This is one heck of a ride! I read this in one sitting, as the book was extremely hard to put down! The action was quite intense, and there are some scenes that could be disturbing for some readers. I am now looking forward to reading more of these novellas, as I am dying (no pun intended!) to find out what happens next! I'm also looking forward to reading Jade's point of view of the same timeline, which has been written by Jennifer Malone Wright.

This series is a collaboration between two great authors, K.B. Miller and Jennifer Malone Wright. Their writing styles are slightly different, but I have a feeling that they compliment each other beautifully. I love K.B. Miller's writing style, as the story flows effortlessly off the page. I was a bit unsure as to whether she could write horror stories, as she had previously only written YA romances, but my fears were unfounded. I am a huge fan of her work, and will read any other books she writes in the future.

Due to the violence in some of the scenes, I do not recommend this book for younger readers. However, I highly recommend this book if you love horror, or if you are looking for a change in genre. - Lynn Worton

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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Hollowland by Amanda Hocking

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Hollowland by Amanda Hocking

Meet Remy, she is a girl who knows how to survive. 

She can kick some butt.  She knows how to handle a gun and she knows how to go up against flesh eating Zombies.

But Remy is the way she is due to Max.  Her 8 year old little brother that is her only surviving relative.
He is a little boy she made a promise too.  A promise she intends to keep.

So we enter the wastelands with Remy where she meets Harlow.  A 13 year old girl going onto 30 and 3 within seconds.

They save a lion, Ripley and here my facination with the book started. This, for me was the hook. 
Ripley is not tame, but she sure does like them bones...

Next comes Lazlo and Blue, one a rock star and one an almost doctor.

But can they find Max...

The best thing about this book ending was the fact that I already own the second in this series.
I loved this dystopian world and think the author did an amazing job of merging world building and character building all into one entertaining read.
WaAr

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

The thing about the devil --- Purgatory Key by Darrell James

Purgatory Key (A Del Shannon Novel) by Darrell James
This book, an action packed mystery with the perfect touch of romance came as a pleasant surprise.

The author managed to build his main protagonist through the entirety of the book so that by the end of the book the reader knows Del and Falconet personally, it seems.  His secondary characters, Lissa, Kendra and the grandfather together with Leggett and the tigers Gigi and her brother adds a substance much like icing to a delicious cake.

The world building in the book which mainly takes place on an island in a swamp called Terrebonne Key is exceptional.  The island, a haven on the one hand and a place of death and fear on the other is constantly portrayed as one or the other with few people less in the know than the owner herself of its true nature.

As the story progresses the readers are introduced to Teddy and his brother Payton, with Teddy, a murder and rapist being the good son between the two, against their vile deeds etc is the girls, Lissa and Kendra, two teens out for adventure being caught up in an international game of hide and seek and murder.

The book is gripping and a page turner and I for one will be on the lookout for this author's first work and any subsequent work by the author. 
Learn more about the author at    
www.darelljames.com

Or purchase your copy here : 

http://www.amazon.com/Purgatory-Key-Del-Shannon-Novel/dp/0738723711/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366115848&sr=8-1&keywords=purgatory+key

Learn more about the authors other books from his Amazon page
http://www.amazon.com/Darrell-James/e/B002BMN03Y/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1366116279&sr=1-2-ent

Monday, April 15, 2013

Tutti FruttiTutti Frutti by Mike Faricy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review 6******

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is another exciting Dev Haskell novel. I absolutely LOVED it!

Dev Haskell is a fantastic character! He's a Private Investigator, with what I would call an unhealthy obsession with female anatomy, who likes to fly by the seat of his pants. However, I keep wondering how he manages to get himself into so much trouble without even trying! I would like to know what he may have done in a previous life to continuously be in the wrong place at the wrong time! Talk about bad karma! I do love him though!

This is a fantastic story! Once I started reading this book, I struggled to put it down! The action and danger is intense, and Dev is his usual, bumbling self. I found myself giggling at some scenes (probably inappropriately), but there are some really witty ones that tickled my funny bone! There are some interesting characters that come into Dev's life. One of them is Candi. She is an older woman, and a dominatrix in a BDSM club. I was very happy for Dev, as he seemed to settle down once he met her. There are a few BDSM scenes that are alluded to, but not actually shown in detail.
The other character that comes into Dev's life is his new client, Swindle Lawless. She is an intriguing character. She comes across as shallow and flighty, but as the story continued, it showed that there's a depth to her that was hidden.
There is mystery, danger and adventure aplenty in this novel. I loved how the story flowed, and the ending has left me wanting more! I am now looking forward to reading more of Dev's adventures in the future!

Mike Faricy has done it again! He has written a fast paced, rollercoaster ride of excitement, danger, adventure and humour that had me sitting on the edge of my seat! It's a good job I'm not a nail biter, otherwise I would have none left! I highly recommend this book (and the other Dev Haskell books) if you love detective novels that are entertaining and addictive. - Lynn Worton

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Fender Bender Blues by Niecey Roy

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B5L71YQ/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img  this is the Amazon purchase link.

Here is why I think you might like it

Fender Bender Blues
This is a nice, sweet romance with the two main protagonists attracted to each other but refusing to admit it. 
This attraction leads to confrontation, misunderstandings and witty dialogue.
This is a fun read for romance lovers.
I give it a well deserved 4 * rating.

Book Review and Giveaway of The Wishing Well Curse by Lynn Donovan

The Wishing Well CurseThe Wishing Well Curse by Lynn Donovan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an intriguing story that hooked me from the first page! I loved it!

Zeke Clay is a very likeable character, who has not had the best of luck in his life. He is a very honest and honourable man. I liked him very much!

This is a fantastic gothic Christian paranormal mystery/suspense novel! I must admit that I am not an overly religious person (although I do believe that there is a higher power "out there", watching over us), so I was a bit worried about whether this book would be "preachy". I am happy to say that it is most definitely not preachy! However, it does focus on one passage in the bible - The Jabez Prayer. I was most intrigued with the mystery of the wishing well curse, and how the Prayer was used in the story. The author blended together a mix of myth and history, along with a dash of religion, to create a suspenseful and exciting read that had me enthralled! I loved the flow of the story, and the ending made me want to believe in destiny; I love a happy ending, and the author didn't disappoint!

Lynn Donovan has written an exciting Christian paranormal mystery/suspense novel with a hint of romance that was pretty fast paced, so I never felt bored - it was an extremely enjoyable read! I highly recommend this book if you love Christian or Paranormal Romance genres. - Lynn Worton

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Friday, April 12, 2013

The Life We DreamThe Life We Dream by J.H. Glaze
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a fantastic story that touched me deeply! I LOVED IT!

Jack Bailey is a very lonely character. He has loved a girl from afar for many years. But, when he finds out that the love of his life is critically ill, he sets off to go visit her.

This is an extremely sweet love story. I was hooked from the first page! I loved the way the story flowed. I could literally "see" Jack and his memories as he remembers meeting Sarah for the first time. I was entranced as his memories of his childhood played through his mind. This story switches between present day and past memories, but I never felt confused or distracted by this contrast. Jack's love and friendship he felt for Sarah is all encompassing - it made me wish that I had someone like that in my life!
This book is well written and flowed beautifully from beginning to end. I did find myself in tears during some scenes, so keep a tissue handy! There is also a twist at the end that is bittersweet, but I think it's extremely fitting.

J.H. Glaze has written an amazing, loving and touching story that is a complete departure from his usual horror/thriller genre. I don't know if he is planning more books in this vein, but if he does decide to write more, I would love to read them! I do love his horror stories though, so I hope to read more of those books too!
I highly recommend this book if you love a fantastic, touching and sweet romance. - Lynn Worton

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Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3)Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review 6******

This is the third book in The Infernal Devices Trilogy. I LOVED IT!

Tessa Gray is a fantastic character! I loved her sass and attitude when she first met Will and Jem in the Clockwork Angel. She is now planning her wedding to Jem. However, I was a bit broken hearted that she didn't chose Will. But, as I started reading this story I realised that maybe she had made the right choice.

Jem is the most kind hearted, sweetest and loveable character. I can see why Tessa loves him. I fell in love with him myself!

Will is the quintessential tortured hero - a poet and scholar combined with a warrior heart. No wonder Tessa is torn between these two characters (Jem and Will). They are polar opposites, but somehow they balance each other. I suppose that's why they are Parabati. I also fell in love with this character! What is it about these characters that appeal to the female psyche? Is it the maternal instinct that recognises a lost little boy underneath the swagger and bravado?

Since this is the final book in this trilogy series, I am sad to say goodbye to these and the other characters. This book carries on from the end of Clockwork Prince. Tessa, Will, Jem and the rest of the Institutes residents are thrown into another fantastic adventure that is completely exciting and dangerous! There are some serious twists and turns in this book that surprised me, and left me breathless! There are also a few shocks in store! I was left in tears of disbelief during some of the scenes. I won't say which scenes, but I'm dying to! The whole series has captured the scenes of Victorian London so well that I felt like I was actually there! The characters also came alive and swept me into an amazing adventure! I will say that the ending was very bitter sweet and somewhat clichéd, but it gave me the warm and fuzzies. It made me wonder if a couple of these characters will turn up in either the next book of The Mortal Instruments or in the new Dark Artifices series; Only time will tell. I am now looking forward to reading the next book in The Mortal Instruments series, as well as the new Bane Chronicles (the first book of which is due for release shortly) and the Dark Artifices series.

Cassandra Clare has such a vivid imagination, and her writing style is so fluid and fast paced, that I can understand why these books are so popular. I very highly recommend this book (and series) if you love action packed YA or Paranormal genres full of vampires, werewolves, fae, angels, demons and Shadowhunters! - Lynn Worton

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Thursday, April 11, 2013

Highway to Hell by Alex Laybourne

Highway to Hell by Alex Laybourne is a horror you dont want to miss. 

At the start of the book the reader is introduced to a few characters that all seem to die a brutal and untimely death.
Here I started to fear that this might be a confusing book to follow with so many characters introduces in such a short span of time.  My fears were unfounded.
The reader is taken into hell with some of these characters, literally.  Their stomach turning torture is devised and each individual goes through torture that no living person would survive, good thing they are dead.  This part of the book is really dark and deeply disturbing and I really liked the dark edge to the story even if it got to be a bit drawn out for me at times.  Here is the first really funny irony.  Every time I got to the point where it got to be a bit much for me and too drawn out the author managed to bring me back to reality and make me see that these poor protagonists is actually physically suffering through this day after day, night after night for decades at a time.  So in this aspect the author did a brilliant job in getting some of the true tribulation through to the reader.
Then the torture is over, at least the type the protagonists and the reader have come accustomed to.  A new set of torture is introduced.  We find two of our protagonists caught up in a maze with no idea of where they are heading or why.  But go, they must, as they navigate the maze to a destination unknown they meet up with others and by the end of this section the reader is left with six main protagonists! The second irony, 6 people are saved from Hell, see where I am going with this?
These types of hidden ironies can be find everywhere in the book and really adds substance to the story. 
Then enters the Angels.  The beings of hope and love and promise of light, but they are not all they seem to be and they saved our six protagonist to go on a quest for the lines between good and evil is no longer clear, enemies once were brothers and little is as it seems. 
The cliff hanger ending to this book ensured that I will definitely read the next book, I need to know who they need to find and why….

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Cameron Part One (The Pit)Cameron Part One by Edward Tailor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is the first book in a series of short erotic novellas. I loved it!

Cameron Flint is an interesting character. He is a co-owner and Dom in a BDSM club. He acts hard, but he also has a softer side, and this appears when he meets Tilly.

Natalie (Tilly) is down on her luck; she has lost her job and home. She literally stumbles into Cam's life. She is an intriguing character. I liked meeting her. She is someone I could probably be friends with.

I have only one complaint - this book was too short! The story intrigued me. It is well written, but I wanted a bit more background information to get a bigger picture of the characters and their motivations, especially Cameron. I wanted to know what made him embrace the BDSM lifestyle. Hopefully, this will be explored during the series.
I enjoyed the scene where Cameron meets Tilly. I don't know why, but it made me smile. I suppose it's because I could actually imagine that happening in real life. (Yeah, right!) ;)

Edward Tailor has written an spicy, exciting novella, and I am looking forward to reading more of this new author's work.
As this is an erotic novella with scenes of BDSM and sex, I do not recommend this book for younger readers. However, if you love a steamy erotic read, this book is for you. - Lynn Worton

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Monday, April 08, 2013

Home for Love by Aneesa Price - Release Celebration Event Winners!!!



We had an absolute blast this past Friday! I was part of an amazing team of ladies, Wanda Hartzenberg, Ronda Lynch, Sherry Boroto Cain and Claire Taylor helped me keep the swarm of attendees entertained. The prizes were hot! The ebooks were donated by some of my favorite authors! And I had event specific swag made - yes, there was a Home for Love tote up for grabs too! The games included everything from our old favorite caption contests and the 'post a pic of a hot guy activity', which are favorites for a reason... but there were some fantastic trivia questions, Home for Love trivia and even tasks requesting attendees to spill about date and break-up disasters! 
If you'd like to see what was happening, feel free to check it out at this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/342427265857042
Thank you to the amazing ladies who made up one of the best teams I've ever worked with! I must say thanks to the amazing volunteers on Facebook and Twitter who form my street team - it is the most rocking one (in my humble opinion) on Facebook! Thank you! Thank you to all the attendees too - the buzz was electrifying! Last but not least, thank you to everyone for their amazing support. Home for Love has been exceptionally well received and I'm most grateful for the reviews and feedback. As I prepare to relocate to a different country, I found the concern I had about my absence fade away and promised myself and readers that I'll deliver many books once I'm settled in my new home. 
Now, enough rambling... here is what you've been dying to know... the winners of the Home for Love Release Event are... *huge drum roll*... 
(Winners ~ please send a Facebook Private Message to Aneesa Price to arrange for the delivery of your prizes.) 
1. Grand Prize Winner: Carmen Sanchez RamirezWins - The Big, Bad Wolf compilation (entire series by NY Times bestselling author, Heather Killough-Walden), Home for Love tote bag and an Amazon $25 GC 
2. Share The Book Link Prize Winner: Krista Pruitt-wallaceWins - Morgan's Kearn's Lucky 13 ebook, a 'save the rhino' beaded bracelet, Aneesa Price romance postcards and bookmarks
3. Tweet The Book Link Prize Winner: Alisa JenkinsWins - Three of the King series novels by Heather Killough-Walden, a Rose Pressey ebook and Home for Love notepad
4. Bad Break Up Story Winner: Marleina Fein (Wins a $10 Amazon GC)
5. 'Story Share' activity: Jacque Brant (Wins a $10 Amazon GC)
5. Perfect Date Story Winner: L Warren (Wins a $10 Amazon GC)
6. Overall Winner of the 'story share' activities: Jacque Brant (Wins a $10 Amazon GC)
7. Caption Contest 1 Winner: Melissa Williams Brown (Wins an ebook of The Descendant by Kelley Grealis)
8. Caption Contest 2 Winner: Jennifer Bombard (Wins an ebook of The Descendant by Kelley Grealis as well as an Aneesa Price novels postcard)
9. Caption Contest 3 Winner: Lou Ann Warren (Wins an ebook of The Descendant by Kelley Grealis, a bookmark and a postcard)
10. Trivia Contest 1 Winner: Kelley Grealis (Wins an ebook of Rosanna Leo's Sunburn
11. Trivia Contest 2 Winner: Ronda Lynch (Wins a Coffin Girls T-shirt, postcard and bookmark) 
12. Marlena Fein wins an ebook by Zrinka Jelic
13. Jacque Brant wins an ebook, Grade A Stupid, by AJ Lape 
14. Diana Barrios and Jodi Murphy each win an ecopy of a novel from P.T. Macias' "Hot" Series
15. Samantha Atkin wins a romance-themed magnetic bookmark set
16. Angelique Miller wins a notebook and pen set made from recycled material
17. Heather Heslip Alexander wins postcards and a bookmark
18. Jennifer Blaney wins an ebook of Literary Chocolate, A Second Helping by Rhonda Plumhoff, a pen, postcard and bookmark
19. Tiffany Riach wins an ebook of Love, Carry My Bags by CR Everett, postcard and bookmark
20. Lagina Reese wins an ebook, A Special Love, by Jennifer Blaney, a postcard and bookmark

* Please will the winners send a Facebook private message to Aneesa Price with their email addresses and / or shipping addresses so that it can be arranged for the provision of their prizes! 

Tattle Tale: Home for Love by Aneesa Price

Tattle Tale: Home for Love by Aneesa Price: Home for love by Aneesa Price Bree fled, thinking she had all the answers, Todd stayed, feeling betrayed! This is a fun romantic read,...

Home for Love by Aneesa Price

Home for love by Aneesa Price

Bree fled, thinking she had all the answers, Todd stayed, feeling betrayed!

This is a fun romantic read, my only complaint is as to how easily Bree lets Todd off at the start of the book!

Seriously if a guy stops talking to me for 3 months he would be in a world of pain! It is in all a fun, easy romance with a few hot moments in the middle!

Quite a few steamy moments!

WaAr!
Dhampyr HeritageDhampyr Heritage by E.G. Gaddess
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

Wow! This is a fantastic book! I loved it!

Gideon Harrington is a very fascinating character. He is only 15, turning 16, which shocked me somewhat, as he is extremely mature in his attitude. I would have thought him several years older. Maybe it's because of his experiences and the death/turning of his friend, Christian at such an early age, which made him grow up quickly. Then again, it could be the times in which he lived. I don't know if you would be considered an adult at the age of 16 in 1909, as I always thought it was 18. Nevertheless, I liked his character very much. He is the youngest son of Lord Reginald Harrington, but is not pretentious. In fact, he is very down to earth.

Zola is an extremely interesting character in her own right. She is also only 15, but she has had an extremely difficult childhood. She is very resourceful and extremely stubborn, but I liked her very much too.

This is a vampyr story that is extremely dark. There are no sparkly ones to be found at all here! Vamprys in this story are bloodthirsty creatures that coax and cajole their prey into offering their blood. If they cannot get their prey to give it up willingly, they will attack. I wouldn't like to meet these vampyrs! They made my skin crawl!
I was totally fascinated with the author's interpretation of these creatures, and struggled to put the book down once I started reading it! The story takes us from Portugal back to England, and the descriptions of the scenes on the journey are extremely well written. I felt like I was on board the ship with Gideon and Zola, and later at the Harrington's home. I liked all the other characters in the book, including Christian; He made a mistake, and is now paying the price. There are some twists and turns that tantalise the reader, and kept me guessing. All in all, a very enjoyable read!

E.G. Gaddess has written an exciting, fast paced story that got my heart pumping because of the danger! I highly recommend this book if you love paranormal or vampire stories. - Lynn Worton

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