tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311422816914031932024-03-05T12:01:07.823+02:00Tattle TaleThis is going to be fun. So stick around. We have reviews. Rants and fun info. More reviews though.Wanda Hartzenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690917386255067412noreply@blogger.comBlogger1069125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-86577398362212267162021-12-30T08:15:00.003+02:002021-12-30T08:15:21.076+02:00<p> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgF9xoAJ3FMuxtu8O-FGKszvILttgrDZ_wbBVu8SUzbyynuGRPo52pYZQBkmtlvD5r7D4y9HmklH6l-VHRoivdRIW1DIzWH9qI2FWriDE3bdsa9DZzrQASRA1idKGffuM9dkSkbtMnn6OUwYhTmI9OiMk6ROIEwgux6SvPjDYP1U0XeAiPzHZJIGWhJuQ=s266" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="177" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgF9xoAJ3FMuxtu8O-FGKszvILttgrDZ_wbBVu8SUzbyynuGRPo52pYZQBkmtlvD5r7D4y9HmklH6l-VHRoivdRIW1DIzWH9qI2FWriDE3bdsa9DZzrQASRA1idKGffuM9dkSkbtMnn6OUwYhTmI9OiMk6ROIEwgux6SvPjDYP1U0XeAiPzHZJIGWhJuQ=w242-h266" width="242" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">More about the author </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span id="freeTextauthor5351825" style="display: inline;">Mindy McGinnis
is an Edgar Award-winning novelist who writes across multiple genres,
including post-apocalyptic, historical, thriller, contemporary, mystery,
and fantasy.<br /><br />While her settings may change, you can always count
on Mindy’s books to deliver grit, truth, and an unflinching look at
humanity and the world around us.</span></span></span></p><h1 class="gr-h1 gr-h1--serif" id="bookTitle" itemprop="name"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
The Initial Insult
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a class="greyText" href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/277534-the-initial-insult">
(The Initial Insult #1)
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="stars staticStars notranslate"><span class="staticStar p10" size="12x12"></span><span class="staticStar p10" size="12x12"></span><span class="staticStar p10" size="12x12"></span><span class="staticStar p6" size="12x12"></span><span class="staticStar p0" size="12x12"></span></span></span></span>
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3.66
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span id="freeText4797650539142869025"><b>Welcome to Amontillado, Ohio, where your last name is worth more than money, and secrets can be kept… for a price.</b><br /><br />Tress
Montor knows that her family used to mean something—until she didn’t
have a family anymore. When her parents disappeared seven years ago
while driving her best friend home, Tress lost everything. She might
still be a Montor, but the entire town shuns her now that she lives with
her drunken, one-eyed grandfather at what locals refer to as the “White
Trash Zoo,” – a wild animal attraction featuring a zebra, a chimpanzee,
and a panther, among other things. <br /><br />Felicity Turnado has it all –
looks, money, and a secret that she’s kept hidden. She knows that one
misstep could send her tumbling from the top of the social ladder, and
she’s worked hard to make everyone forget that she was with the Montors
the night they disappeared. Felicity has buried what she knows so deeply
that she can’t even remember what it is… only that she can’t look at
Tress without having a panic attack.<br /><br />But she’ll have to.<br /><br />Tress
has a plan. A Halloween costume party at an abandoned house provides
the ideal situation for Tress to pry the truth from Felicity – brick by
brick – as she slowly seals her former best friend into a coal chute.
With a drunken party above them, and a loose panther on the prowl, Tress
will have her answers – or settle for revenge.<br /><br /><b>In the first
book of this duology, award-winning author Mindy McGinnis draws
inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe and masterfully delivers a dark,
propulsive mystery in alternating points of view that unravels a
friendship... forevermore.</b></span> </span></span>
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<div class="row"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span itemprop="bookFormat">Hardcover</span>, <span itemprop="numberOfPages">372 pages</span></span></span></div>
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Published
February 23rd 2021
by Katherine Tegen Books
</span></span></div></div><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgS5dcSe7gPXSSoWUeuYKlD_D0_94ZXR1hDBl5ey0HYLVW0q0OegJVMxjEV3Cdtn2FllqjPhThXfGqFjS7YnUgBFvAHlnHZoeDpfL620bWDN_dVw6oaxO-_doPsAPt-3wRJNhQ12gqic1u1vulxku5dUBCEAQ9TZu_3XgoCM8Id9-Ua5MqGgtZNiGlZ8w=s755" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="500" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgS5dcSe7gPXSSoWUeuYKlD_D0_94ZXR1hDBl5ey0HYLVW0q0OegJVMxjEV3Cdtn2FllqjPhThXfGqFjS7YnUgBFvAHlnHZoeDpfL620bWDN_dVw6oaxO-_doPsAPt-3wRJNhQ12gqic1u1vulxku5dUBCEAQ9TZu_3XgoCM8Id9-Ua5MqGgtZNiGlZ8w=w258-h347" width="258" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> A short opinion</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">An interesting story about two teenage girls that used to be best
friends but is now divided by place in high school popularity. Have and
have not and a dark, dark secret.<br /><br />I liked the book well enough but I was not crazy about it. <br /><br />Most readers will disagree with me and fawn over it and that is their prerogative. <br /><br />I do not feel as if I wasted my time on this book and that in these weird and wonderful times is a major plus. <br /><br />Not really that much aimed at a YA group but it will get the avid reader of that age a nice and new point of view.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rating *** <br /></span></span></p>Wanda Hartzenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690917386255067412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-12918303914060046282021-04-13T09:00:00.001+02:002021-04-13T09:00:00.231+02:00Book Review of Dawn of Ra (Blood of Ra Trilogy Prequel) by M Sasinowski<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4811853329697892072/6898479464076546877#"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKpkn3Cjfn4j7YP42HtT1aU3lvutfybJf6Yk4vKPLryljuYREXRyoWn3Ao22c9syykJv4WJAQW8kaK5J9ihTmb5EjUlVleMwOjnaD96JU-YbJB4l1wj5etMEKKzgwhogtBR-AGYZcociv/w400-h640/Dawn+of+Ra.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Book Title:</b> Dawn of Ra (Blood of Ra Prequel)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Genre:</b> YA Science Fiction/Thriller</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Pages:</b> 396</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Author:</b> M. Sasinowski</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Date Published:</b> 5 December 2020</div><br /><br /><b><u>Synopsis:</u></b><div><b><br /></b></div>The prequel to the best-selling Blood of Ra Trilogy<br /><br /><div>Millennia before Alyssa, Paul, and Tasha...<br /><br /></div><div>The ancient Rathadi and Pureans live side by side, sharing the island entrusted to their care. When the fragile peace between them is shattered, a young boy, exiled to a distant land, rises to become worshipped as the falcon-headed god.<br /><br /></div><div>This is his prophecy. This is his story.<br /><br /></div><div>This is how it all began.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Review:</u></b></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56035848-dawn-of-ra" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Dawn of Ra (Blood of Ra Prequel Book One)" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1606258322l/56035848._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56035848-dawn-of-ra">Dawn of Ra</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18297016.M_Sasinowski">M. Sasinowski</a><br />My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3784881531">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />Heru-Pa, being a Rathadi, is about to go through an important rite where he and his sentinel become one, and he will be given his true name (Horus). Set is destined to reign over the Purean's. However, when the island of Atlantis is attacked by a foe long thought dead, both of them will have to face challenges that would crush anyone, never mind two twelve-year-olds.<br /><br />Having read the trilogy, I was excited when I heard this book was available to pre-order. I downloaded it as soon as it became available.<br /><br />I was quickly swept up into the tale. I loved the way the two boys acted, like brothers. I also liked how they grew as the story progressed. I spent most of my time on a rollercoaster of emotion throughout. I cursed the author in my head for it. However, I also thanked him because he brought the characters to life.<br /><br />It's a stand-alone read, so even if you read the trilogy first, you will not face confusion. However, it explains the history that joins Alyssa's destiny. My only criticism is that I wish it was a little longer and showed Horus as a young man/adult and up until he came face to face with Alyssa. I know it wasn't possible as it spanned millennia. Nevertheless, I loved the journey from beginning to end.<br /><br />M. Sasinowski is a fantastic author. As Heir of Ra was his first book, I think this author is one to watch. I love his fast-paced writing style. His characters come to life on the page, and I can picture the scenes in my mind's eye with ease. I also love the story flow, which runs smoothly from scene to scene. I've added him to my favourite author's list.<br /><br />There are scenes of a sexual nature (not explicitly shown) between adult characters, and there is some violence, so I feel that parental guidance may be required. I highly recommend this book (and series) to teens and adults alike who love YA science fiction, fantasy, action, adventure, thrillers, mysteries, mythology, and romance genres. - Lynn Worton<br /><br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7917492-lynn-worton">View all my reviews</a><div><br /></div><div><b><u>About The Author:</u></b><br />Taken from Amazon.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXVFBqqYJ88KN60VnG0Y9OnaxcmGqKQoCpkXB8L5iapnaoKqCa4sRaPQHDATK7_674_pcylFe6ITZUgOhrCaZzUpH5wElbn6ob57iGHa5CvbF3MZPOm9_LuRrWnk-8ElznGweVryIOlf5/s1600/18297016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="622" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXVFBqqYJ88KN60VnG0Y9OnaxcmGqKQoCpkXB8L5iapnaoKqCa4sRaPQHDATK7_674_pcylFe6ITZUgOhrCaZzUpH5wElbn6ob57iGHa5CvbF3MZPOm9_LuRrWnk-8ElznGweVryIOlf5/s200/18297016.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />About the Author - written from the point-of-view of his 15-year old daughter (that's me! :)<br /><br />Some say that M. Sasinowski writes until 4 am... fueled by a single cup of decaf coffee. Others say this Polish-born American hyper-nerd absorbs energy from late-night TV space shows. No matter the truth... he's my dad. He will never be cool.<br /><br />He loves archaeology, Star Wars/Trek, martial arts (especially women who kick butt), and impromptu father/daughter (that's me! :) science debates or music jam-sessions. He's kind of smart, I suppose (he has a physics PhD and an MD, or whatever) and likes to build computers for fun.<br /><br />His teenage daughter (that's me! :) is occasionally a handful to deal with and also served as the inspiration for the main character in his debut young adult novel Heir of Ra.<br /><br />You may recognize him from his glorious hair or his tendency to do the "vacuum cleaner" dance to embarrass his daughter (that's me... :(.<br /><br />If you ever see this man, approach with care and greet him in a language he understands, like in Klingon or, better yet, in Wookie.<br /><br />Guurrghghgh!<br /><br /><div><b><u>Author Links:</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18297016.M_Sasinowski">Goodreads</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/M.-Sasinowski/e/B07GDV6JTQ">Amazon Author Page</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://heirofra.com/">Website</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://twitter.com/heirofra">Twitter</a></span></div></div>Lynn Wortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11014493071604066759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-83576721252852551032021-01-19T12:34:00.000+02:002021-01-19T12:34:32.405+02:00<p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61VlN9TLKl9ndsVtqPBto4ZNwCQ9gfPS7W_aEeVGNgqZOJGVWegEqcHfU4_DrSeEO3-QT7cQa7_QSUSsoFPMFMgZEF8kHe0r7WveC4Ps5CMQ0GrjiFyuDf9E9rN5LSKJ-CQ2OZbRkmsPx/s475/winter+wolf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="305" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61VlN9TLKl9ndsVtqPBto4ZNwCQ9gfPS7W_aEeVGNgqZOJGVWegEqcHfU4_DrSeEO3-QT7cQa7_QSUSsoFPMFMgZEF8kHe0r7WveC4Ps5CMQ0GrjiFyuDf9E9rN5LSKJ-CQ2OZbRkmsPx/s320/winter+wolf.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> <span> </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> A YA novel that should be read by all grownups!</span><p></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It touches on a lot of issues either directly or by implication and dealt with in a very, very good way. I listend to this via Netgalley and #Winterofthewolf#Netgalley made my day when they granted me this book to listen to. That I can tell you!</span></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">4**** </span></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Winter of the Wolf by Martha Hunt Handler and narrated by Kelly Pruner is the first book I had listened to from start to end via Netgalley. I lost the first book due to the fact that I could not find the time to listen to it in it's entirety.<br /><br />This book however had me hooked. The story is very well told. The narration is pitch perfect. The narrator made Bean herself come to life right in front of my minds eye. Her timing in reading as well as her diction added a lot to the outcome of my enjoyment of the book.<br /><br />The subject matter, which at first seems cut and dry turns on a dime and left me going --Whoaaa. What. Do not get me wrong. As teenagers we used to play this same game at parties and we were all as stupid as dirt about it. But somehow I figured this would have died out by now. After I finished the book I did a bit of light research and were shocked to see kids still playing this very dangerous "game". <br /><br />The clincher for me regarding to book is the fact that all proceeds goes towards wildlife. What more can you possibly want. <br /><br />The one negative about the book. The cover. I would strongly suggest the author invests in getting a better cover. But even with this cover, I decided to ask for the book and I was so glad to receive it. </span></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here is the Goodreads photo from the author.</span></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 40px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxwCnmSiwWCWyJfB5tlC-mdDkt9x42lblctHeORTXbkq2LbWLU05JGrhUFc7AVhyphenhyphenPmtm8swjzf_MIpUgQ6kqd2l3T47wssXR7vDKLcgAOZ8e8mrR-O9q0qf3U3Om8O4XieqRHAutgFPzF/s266/Martha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxwCnmSiwWCWyJfB5tlC-mdDkt9x42lblctHeORTXbkq2LbWLU05JGrhUFc7AVhyphenhyphenPmtm8swjzf_MIpUgQ6kqd2l3T47wssXR7vDKLcgAOZ8e8mrR-O9q0qf3U3Om8O4XieqRHAutgFPzF/s0/Martha.jpg" /></a></span></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span id="freeTextauthor19832206">Martha Hunt Handler grew up
dreaming of wolves and has always understood that her role in this
lifetime is to tell stories and be a voice for nature. She has been an
environmental consultant, a magazine columnist, an actress, and a polar
explorer, among other occupations. When she and her four children
relocated from Los Angeles to New York more than twenty years ago she
began to literally hear the howls of wolves. This marked the beginning
of her work advocating on behalf of wolves at the Wolf Conservation
Center (nywolf.org). Winter of the Wolf is Martha's debut novel.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span id="freeTextauthor19832206"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span id="freeTextauthor19832206">You can learn more about her at <a href="https://marthahunthandler.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://marthahunthandler.com/</a> or follow her on facebook at Martha Hunt Handler or on Instagram at @marthahunthandler</span></span></div><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Wanda Hartzenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690917386255067412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-746694377313153762021-01-12T10:58:00.002+02:002021-01-12T10:58:36.905+02:00Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews (Book one in a trilogy)<p> </p><h1 class="gr-h1 gr-h1--serif" id="bookTitle" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2px; width: 455px;">Red Sparrow</h1><h2 id="bookSeries" style="background-color: white; color: #382110; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; margin: 4px 0px;"><a class="greyText" href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/153050-red-sparrow-trilogy" style="color: #999999; text-decoration-line: none;">(Red Sparrow Trilogy #1)</a></h2><div class="" id="bookAuthors" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 8px;"><span class="by" style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">by</span> <span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><div class="authorName__container" style="color: #333333; display: inline-block; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><a class="authorName" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6903512.Jason_Matthews" itemprop="url" style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px; text-decoration-line: none;">Jason Matthews</a></div></span></div><div class="uitext stacked" id="bookMeta" itemprop="aggregateRating" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/AggregateRating" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; position: relative;"><span class="stars staticStars notranslate" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; color: #aaaaaa; display: inline-block; font-size: 0px; height: 15px; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap; width: 75px;"><span class="staticStar p10" size="12x12" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); 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background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span><span class="staticStar p0" size="12x12" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span></span> <span itemprop="ratingValue">3.95 </span><span class="greyText" style="color: #999999;"> · </span> <a class="actionLinkLite" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15803037-red-sparrow?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=BSr71TmT49&rank=1#" id="rating_details" style="color: #00635d; cursor: pointer; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="rating_graph" id="rating_graph" style="cursor: pointer;"><span style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 238, 221); display: inline-block; line-height: 0; margin-top: -2px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: middle;"><svg height="15" width="16"><g transform="translate(0,0)"><rect cursor="" fill-opacity="1" fill="rgb(33,86,37)" height="2" stroke-opacity="0" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="none" width="13.348241809916924" x="0" y="0"></rect><rect cursor="" fill-opacity="1" fill="rgb(33,86,37)" height="2" stroke-opacity="0" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="none" width="16" x="0" y="3"></rect><rect cursor="" fill-opacity="1" fill="rgb(33,86,37)" height="2" stroke-opacity="0" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="none" width="7.921834996603793" x="0" y="6"></rect><rect cursor="" fill-opacity="1" fill="rgb(33,86,37)" height="2" stroke-opacity="0" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="none" width="2.3090025602173574" x="0" y="9"></rect><rect cursor="" fill-opacity="1" fill="rgb(33,86,37)" height="2" stroke-opacity="0" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="none" width="0.9822874758346831" x="0" y="12"></rect></g></svg></span> </span>Rating details</a><span class="greyText" style="color: #999999;"> · </span> <a class="gr-hyperlink" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15803037-red-sparrow?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=BSr71TmT49&rank=1#other_reviews" style="color: #00635d; text-decoration-line: none;">48,519 ratings </a><span class="greyText" style="color: #999999;"> · </span> <a class="gr-hyperlink" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15803037-red-sparrow?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=BSr71TmT49&rank=1#other_reviews" style="color: #00635d; text-decoration-line: none;">4,279 reviews</a></div><div id="descriptionContainer" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;"><span id="freeText2246027595355214905">In the grand spy-tale tradition of John le Carré comes this shocking thriller written with insider detail known only to a veteran CIA officer.<br /><br />In present-day Russia, ruled by blue-eyed, unblinking President Vladimir Putin, Russian intelligence officer Dominika Egorova struggles to survive in the post-Soviet intelligence jungle. Ordered against her will to become a “Sparrow,” a trained seductress, Dominika is assigned to operate against Nathaniel Nash, a young CIA officer who handles the Agency’s most important Russian mole.<br /><br />Spies have long relied on the “honey trap,” whereby vulnerable men and women are intimately compromised. Dominika learns these techniques of “sexpionage” in Russia’s secret “Sparrow School,” hidden outside of Moscow. As the action careens between Russia, Finland, Greece, Italy, and the United States, Dominika and Nate soon collide in a duel of wills, tradecraft, and—inevitably—forbidden passion that threatens not just their lives but those of others as well. As secret allegiances are made and broken, Dominika and Nate’s game reaches a deadly crossroads. Soon one of them begins a dangerous double existence in a life-and-death operation that consumes intelligence agencies from Moscow to Washington, DC.<br /><br />Page by page, veteran CIA officer Jason Matthews’s <i>Red Sparrow</i> delights and terrifies and fascinates, all while delivering an unforgettable cast, from a sadistic Spetsnaz “mechanic” who carries out Putin’s murderous schemes to the weary CIA Station Chief who resists Washington “cake-eaters” to MARBLE, the priceless Russian mole. Packed with insider detail and written with brio, this tour-de-force novel brims with Matthews’s life experience, including his knowledge of espionage, counterintelligence, surveillance tradecraft, spy recruitment, cyber-warfare, the Russian use of “spy dust,” and covert communications. Brilliantly composed and elegantly constructed, <i>Red Sparrow</i> is a masterful spy tale lifted from the dossiers of intelligence agencies on both sides of the Atlantic. Authentic, tense, and entertaining, this novel introduces Jason Matthews as a major new American talent.</span></div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;">Thank you Goodreads for this amazing book blurb.</div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevSidVw3wLvT6Pjpyd-EH2kP3wcBmaztZ28IcXqUAjWgwEfz2OrxDFVSiwdDtSFUiZs-FaiV2zhe5pG8RvRntOje7xgprDB5yphczs-B15JDDkeivdrxojW44nacOuMXEF8Jqtn3vel62/s475/red+sparrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevSidVw3wLvT6Pjpyd-EH2kP3wcBmaztZ28IcXqUAjWgwEfz2OrxDFVSiwdDtSFUiZs-FaiV2zhe5pG8RvRntOje7xgprDB5yphczs-B15JDDkeivdrxojW44nacOuMXEF8Jqtn3vel62/s320/red+sparrow.jpg" /></a></div>Now onto what I think of the story.<br /></div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;">Character development;</div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;">The prima ballerina is somebody the reader gets to know pretty well. Her later love interest and the CIA agent that saves her, endangers her life, and in general think she is made out of porcelain is not a bad character but he could have been developed a bit more.</div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;">As for the characters that filled the fluff. Some of them needs serious work. Still, those who did not was fascinating and I would not mind reading more about them pretty soon. </div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;">Overall 3 *</div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;">Pace of story:</div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;">The book is not a fast read but it is a compelling read if this is your genre so it reads far faster than you might have imagined at the start. I liked the pace and I liked the flow. </div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;">Overall 4*</div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;">The plot: </div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;">Well now. This is the one thing most of us can agree upon. The plot was fascinating. It has been some time since I last read an East vs West spy novel and this one did not disappoint in the least. </div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;">Overall 4*</div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;">The general feel of the book left me with a complete story and I was amazed to find out this is only the first in a trilogy. The first book ended neat enough for my taste. </div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;">So in all, it is a good but not fast read that can do with a bit of character development but still serves to entertain. A well deserved 4*.</div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;">Ab<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbjKChmVg4wtg58FjZKZb2r1E1eLuFvkIds11TdnZMf9pBnp_9pq7v8rf_vg6_s5BKKRChywESCkyYtN1cGkg9atTwvJSRs_Z9Bj2ZKpxajutBS-d0lUGdytZfmXxTS8mxBakaB0fa85j/s266/Jason.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbjKChmVg4wtg58FjZKZb2r1E1eLuFvkIds11TdnZMf9pBnp_9pq7v8rf_vg6_s5BKKRChywESCkyYtN1cGkg9atTwvJSRs_Z9Bj2ZKpxajutBS-d0lUGdytZfmXxTS8mxBakaB0fa85j/s0/Jason.jpg" /></a></div>About the author thanks to Goodreads<iframe data-google-container-id="4" data-load-complete="true" frameborder="0" height="250" id="google_ads_iframe_/4215/goodr.auth.show.bottom.300x250_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="google_ads_iframe_/4215/goodr.auth.show.bottom.300x250_0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" scrolling="no" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;" title="3rd party ad content" width="300"></iframe></div><div class="readable stacked" id="description" style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; right: 0px;"><div class="rightContainer" style="color: #181818; display: inline; float: left; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-left: 8px; padding-left: 0px; width: 625px;"><div class="js-standalone-notification" id="notificationBanner"></div><div><h1 class="authorName" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); color: #333333; float: left; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 4px 0px; top: 0px; width: 625px;"><span itemprop="name">Jason Matthews</span></h1></div><br class="clear" style="clear: both; display: block; font-size: 1px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px;" /><div class="dataTitle" style="color: black; float: left; font-weight: bold; margin: 1px 0px; width: 125px;">Genre</div><div class="dataItem" style="float: left; margin: 1px 0px; width: 468.75px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/genres/thriller" style="color: #00635d; text-decoration-line: none;">Thriller</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/genres/suspense" style="color: #00635d; text-decoration-line: none;">Suspense</a></div><br class="clear" style="clear: both; display: block; font-size: 1px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px;" /><div class="aboutAuthorInfo" style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><div style="float: right;"><a class="smallText greyText" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/edit/6903512.Jason_Matthews" rel="nofollow" style="color: #999999; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;">edit data</a></div><br class="clear" style="clear: both; display: block; font-size: 1px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px;" /><span id="freeTextauthor6903512"><i>Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.</i><br /><br />Jason Matthews is a retired officer of the CIA’s Operations Directorate. Over a thirty-three-year career he served in multiple overseas locations and engaged in clandestine collection of national security intelligence, specializing in denied-area operations. Matthews conducted recruitment operations against Soviet–East European, East Asian, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean targets. As Chief in various CIA Stations, he collaborated with foreign partners in counterproliferation and counterterrorism operations. He lives in Southern California.</span></div></div></div></div>Wanda Hartzenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690917386255067412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-70910679258752304492020-11-18T10:00:00.002+02:002020-11-18T10:00:08.568+02:00Book Review of Just Shelby by Brooklyn James<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXcOMf2Do1Ja6tTmPvM07-a18zwh8IZJwOY-P_XYJirFleTCPL5284DehyphenhyphenX18li6_qtdR8YsZ_mdDaqBhDG12W68sUAwdk3yLA_TftvNs-KpRP0fQvyaZd2kCteNw0hf1iB3cc3zUL5e5/s500/Just+Shelby.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXcOMf2Do1Ja6tTmPvM07-a18zwh8IZJwOY-P_XYJirFleTCPL5284DehyphenhyphenX18li6_qtdR8YsZ_mdDaqBhDG12W68sUAwdk3yLA_TftvNs-KpRP0fQvyaZd2kCteNw0hf1iB3cc3zUL5e5/w266-h400/Just+Shelby.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Book Title:</b> Just Shelby</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Genre:</b> YA Romance</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Pages: </b>301</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Author:</b> Brooklyn James</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Date Published:</b> 27 October 2020</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b><u>Synopsis:</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div>A secret note square found in a handmade guitar proves that small-town gossip is not only ubiquitous but occasionally true. This gossip comes with strings rivaling those on Ace Cooper’s guitar, the safest strings he will ever have around his heart.<br /><br />Ace’s father warns him to stay away from the Lynn girl. Daughter of a deceased bootlegger and a barely living addict, Shelby Lynn is no stranger to small-town contempt. She keeps her nose in the books and feet to the ground, a college scholarship the only escape from her tumultuous life.<br /><br />As Ace’s heartstrings unravel, so does his family’s role in Shelby’s broken past. Thrust into a precarious journey of their roots brimming with music and betrayal, the two have never been closer…to the truth of how Shelby’s father died. One truth transforms every facet of their lives forever.<br /><br />A dual POV friends-to-first-love story, Just Shelby is an unsuspecting mystery that depicts how growing together can sometimes hurt worse than growing apart.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><u>My Review:</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55133759-just-shelby" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Just Shelby" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1599564017l/55133759._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55133759-just-shelby">Just Shelby</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4406722.Brooklyn_James">Brooklyn James</a><br />My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3623632130">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />Just Shelby is a young adult, coming of age tale that takes the reader on an emotional journey.<br /><br />Shelby Lynn is a wonderful character. I liked her a lot. She is the daughter of a deceased bootlegger father and a drug addict mother. She faces challenges that most people struggle with - peer pressure, small-town gossip and job prospects that are rather lacking. However, she has plans, big ones, to get a running scholarship and go to college so that she can escape from the judgement of the townsfolk. Her one saving grace is her friendship with Ace.<br /><br />Ace Cooper is a fantastic character. I loved him too. He works in the mine with his father, but would much rather play music. When an opportunity to own a guitar belonging to one of the members of a band that once lived in the town appears, Ace takes it, little realising the secrets the guitar holds. <br /><br />I enjoy a story where the protagonist grows, and this story both of them do. I love the chemistry these two have. Not fiery passion, but love that grew from a shared history, including the sole incubator (which they called the box) in the hospital when they were born on the same day. It came as no surprise to me that I fell in love with these two. They are the boy and girl next door, with family issues and day to day worries. <br /><br />I knew going in that this book would take me on an emotional roller coaster, as I've previously read a few other books by this author. My only regret is that the book ended. The difficulty is trying to write a review without giving too much away, though I want to know more about what happened to Shelby and Ace, and whether they managed to find the happiness they wanted with their chosen paths. However, I can say that this story is incredibly touching, with surprising twists that had me gasping in shock, laughing and or crying, depending on the situation. The mystery surrounding the death of Shelby's father is revealed, and the culprit is a surprise.<br /><br />Brooklyn James has written a story that touched me deeply. I love her fast-paced writing style, and the flow is wonderful. I am now looking forward to reading more of her books as soon as I can.<br /><br />Due to the mention of drug abuse, I do not recommend this book to younger readers under 13, or those of a sensitive nature due to triggering. However, I highly recommend this book if you love older YA, Coming of Age and Romance genres. - Lynn Worton <br /><br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7917492-lynn-worton">View all my reviews</a><div><br /></div><div><b><u>About The Author:</u></b><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyU28aCKLrDOYJhc1lqpfFECektP_hIrT51wYyIHUWSagB2qIs0Qh0IjYHflwKz_uMXTKE6EveEG6USe5rGBp8-T0MxJh-Pybr-5AcfvtjFcBTIjvD8aPhdZIptIE4748GTgfaei_2yk/s1600/91cmY5qCT7L._US230_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyU28aCKLrDOYJhc1lqpfFECektP_hIrT51wYyIHUWSagB2qIs0Qh0IjYHflwKz_uMXTKE6EveEG6USe5rGBp8-T0MxJh-Pybr-5AcfvtjFcBTIjvD8aPhdZIptIE4748GTgfaei_2yk/s1600/91cmY5qCT7L._US230_.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">This picture was taken from her Amazon Author Page.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Brooklyn James is an author/singer-songwriter inspired by life in the Live Music Capital of Austin, Texas. Her first novel, The Boots My Mother Gave Me, has an original music soundtrack and was chosen as a Quarter-Finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards. The book provided a platform where it was her honour to serve as a guest speaker with a focus on awareness and prevention of domestic violence and suicide.<br /><br />When she is not writing books, she can be found playing live music around Austin as part of an acoustic duo. Moonlighting occasionally in voice-over and film, she played a Paramedic in a Weezer video, met Harry Connick Jr. as an extra on the set of When Angels Sing, appeared in Richard Linklater's Boyhood for all of a nanosecond and was a stand-in and stunt double for Mira Sorvino on Jerry Bruckheimer's Trooper pilot for TNT. Although reading, dancing, working out, and a good glass of kombucha get her pretty excited, she finds most thrilling the privilege of being a mother to two illuminating little souls and a wife to the one big soul from whom they get their light.<br /><br />Brooklyn holds an M.A. in Communication and a B.S. in both Nursing and Animal Science. Her nursing career has seen specialities in the areas of Intensive Care and Postpartum. With the publication of her birth memoir, she is available for speaking engagements, readings, signings, and writing workshops on how to put pen to paper composing one's own birth story.<div><br /></div><div><b><u>Author Links:</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.brooklyn-james.com/">Website</a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Brooklyn-James/e/B004RCCD7U">Amazon Author Page</a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4406722.Brooklyn_James">Goodreads</a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/BrooklynJamesAuthor">Facebook</a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://twitter.com/BrooklynJames7">Twitter</a></span></div>Lynn Wortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11014493071604066759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-67725985098064386972020-08-20T09:00:00.001+02:002020-11-17T23:59:05.588+02:00Book Review of Calistos (Guardians of Hades Romance Series Book 5) by Felicity Heaton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5upegblvZJbxeQ5Ulu4SC3mb7KET7CZOddD7b1mhyT2iWxjyDR9S6YWYbq4e8yHwFKfR-lwnySr3m39srdjNOciif1CLVrOM3yRkpDRa0TgB7eBe-e2Rs-2vTPbWcrJawAO9v6ey06DT-/s500/Calistos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5upegblvZJbxeQ5Ulu4SC3mb7KET7CZOddD7b1mhyT2iWxjyDR9S6YWYbq4e8yHwFKfR-lwnySr3m39srdjNOciif1CLVrOM3yRkpDRa0TgB7eBe-e2Rs-2vTPbWcrJawAO9v6ey06DT-/w416-h625/Calistos.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Book Title:</b> Calistos (Guardians of Hades Book 5)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><b>Genre:</b> Paranormal Romance</div><div><b>Pages: </b>425</div><div><b>Author:</b> Felicity Heaton</div><div><b>Date Published:</b> 17 July 2020</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Synopsis:</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">Prince of the Underworld and Lord of Air, Calistos was banished from his home by his father, Hades, two centuries ago and given a new duty and purpose—to keep our world and his from colliding in a calamity foreseen by the Moirai. Together with his six brothers, he fights to defend the gates to the Underworld from daemons bent on breaching them and gaining entrance to that forbidden land, striving to protect his home from their dark influence.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">Tormented by the death of his twin sister, Calistos wants nothing more than to find a way to save her soul, but the pain of continuing without her, the constant feeling that he got her killed, is slowly pulling him down into the darkness and he knows it’s only a matter of time before he succumbs to the call of the abyss.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">Until a battle sets him on a collision course with a kind-hearted and beautiful mortal, one who rouses softer emotions he had sworn he would never risk feeling again, threatening to peel away his mask of playfulness and shatter the barriers around his heart.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">Marinda is a woman on a mission—to become a great cellist and repay her father for his faith in her. But her regimented and studious life is thrown into chaos when a handsome man is carted into the ER where she works and takes her hostage, pulling her into a dark and dangerous world… one where she discovers there’s more to her than meets the eye and her entire life has been a lie.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">When the enemy makes a play for Marinda and the gates, will Calistos find the strength to let someone into his heart again and look to the future, or will the pain of his past lead him to unleash hell on this world?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"><b><u>Review:</u></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span></div></div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53425523-calistos" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Calistos (Guardians of Hades, #5)" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1589679484l/53425523._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53425523-calistos">Calistos</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1228468.Felicity_Heaton">Felicity Heaton</a><br />My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3468322229">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />Calistos is the fifth book in the Guardians of Hades series. I loved it!<br /><br />Calistos is one of six son's of Hades. He is an intriguing character, and I liked him a lot. Calistos hides behind a devil-may-care attitude and acts as if he has no worries. However, he misses his twin sister, who died long ago. Every time he tries to remember what happened that day, he suffers from blackouts. After a fight that leaves him severely wounded, Calistos wakes up in the ER, where, in an attempt to escape, he kidnaps a mortal woman.<br /><br />Marinda is a cellist, who works in the ER as a receptionist when not playing in an orchestra. I loved Marinda. She is a fantastic female protagonist who is level-headed and loyal. After seeing Calistos in the ER, Marinda feels a connection to the injured man. When he kidnaps her, Marinda finds her life will never be the same again.<br /><br />I have been looking forward to reading this book for several months, ever since I finished Marek. <br /><br />I love reading the Guardians of Hades series; I love the world the author has created - a mixture of real and imagined, with a dash of action, adventure and romance. The brothers are loveable, with flaws and insecurities, which make them more realistic and relatable, and their women are strong and feisty.<br /><br />In this story, the brothers are still trying to avoid the Morai prediction of both the human and Underworld colliding to create the Otherworld. It was a pleasure meeting the other brothers and their new loves once more. Hades and Persephone also make an appearance; they are typical parents - overprotective and loving. We also get to meet Marinda's godmother, Cassandra, who has a most unusual effect on Daimon. Marinda herself has a secret she didn't know she had, and Calistos learns what happened to his sister. There are also fast-paced fight scenes, which are this author's forte. She brings them to life with such vividness that I feel like I am there, so I always enjoy those and am now looking forward to reading Daimon and Cassandra's story soon.<br /><br />Felicity Heaton has written another fast-paced, sexy paranormal romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. I love her fast-paced writing style, which flows effortlessly from scene to scene. She is on top of my favourite author's list.<br /><br />Each book of this series could be read as a stand-alone, as this one does not end in a cliffhanger, though I would recommend reading them in order. I do not recommend this book to younger readers due to the extremely HOT and explicit sexual scenes. However, I highly recommend this book (and series) if you love sexy paranormal romances full of gods and daemons. - Lynn Worton <br /><br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7917492-lynn-worton">View all my reviews</a><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>About The Author:</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvxBG91mgbWLFbBCjAjseX_fCTFgdVi2N0hDNNI14am8LIXZd_oP_NFfYngu5Wk6JETDr4SBvLXsUrSpw5wyJ-qDz1ib7Mv5uS9gRbFfWgUWgRPqzh2l5d8t-j6kIagehcW9UdOYhQioX/s1600/felicityheaton.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="407" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvxBG91mgbWLFbBCjAjseX_fCTFgdVi2N0hDNNI14am8LIXZd_oP_NFfYngu5Wk6JETDr4SBvLXsUrSpw5wyJ-qDz1ib7Mv5uS9gRbFfWgUWgRPqzh2l5d8t-j6kIagehcW9UdOYhQioX/w205-h256/felicityheaton.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="205" /></a></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" />Felicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shapeshifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons! If you’re a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan, then you will enjoy her books too.<br /><br />If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires, then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic, then try the best-selling London Vampires series. Seven sexy and sinful Greek god brothers can be your new addiction in the Guardians of Hades series. Or how about four hot alpha shifter brothers in her Cougar Creek Mates series? Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the Eternal Mates series.<br /><br />If you want to know more about Felicity or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.felicityheaton.com/">WEBSITE</a> | <a href="http://www.felicityheaton.com/blog/">BLOG</a> | <a href="http://www.facebook.com/felicityheaton">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/felicityheaton">TWITTER</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/felicityheaton">GOODREADS</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/felicityheaton/">INSTAGRAM</a></div></div></div>Lynn Wortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11014493071604066759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-18481054274291439812020-08-07T09:00:00.001+02:002020-08-07T09:00:03.192+02:00Book Review of No Reprieve: An A.I. Thriller (No Freedom Book 2) by Inge-Lise Goss<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxUM7PKP9MWDDlS6hpWMnXP24UoMIdS7XqNRiIagGR9XgQiQgCHhjqsEVgz2PhoatZy5GMx1rYzafEsR21T9bROwNLUbfgUmcXGiAx1UVs7Ohj078JOxhNTCCqMDREzerJea3gC_fU5bV/s500/No+Reprieve.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="321" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxUM7PKP9MWDDlS6hpWMnXP24UoMIdS7XqNRiIagGR9XgQiQgCHhjqsEVgz2PhoatZy5GMx1rYzafEsR21T9bROwNLUbfgUmcXGiAx1UVs7Ohj078JOxhNTCCqMDREzerJea3gC_fU5bV/w321-h500/No+Reprieve.jpg" width="321" /></a> </p><p></p><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Book Title:</b> No Freedom: An A.I. Thriller</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Genre:</b> Crime Thriller/Horror/Suspense</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Pages:</b> 361</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Author:</b> Inge-Lise Goss</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Date Published:</b> 15 May 2020</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Synopsis:</b></div><div><br /></div>Can the rebels stop the androids' reign of terror or is the human race doomed?<br />After escaping the grip of Pellegrin, a powerful android, and joining the rebels, Paislee Hobson is far from safe. Disguised as a recently-recruited employee of the courthouse, she goes undercover at Portland's courthouse to dig up vital information.<br /><br />But she soon discovers things aren't that simple. With Pellegrin promoted to overseeing the entire west coast Institutes, Paislee must use all of her wits to avoid detection—only to find the android is one step ahead of her.<br /><br />Back in L.A., Paislee is faced with her toughest challenge yet—to gain Pellegrin's trust in order to infiltrate his high-security office and complete her mission.<br /><br />As more humans fall victim to the androids and her cover begins to slip, Paislee knows that her time is running out…</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Review:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53518255-no-reprieve" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="No Reprieve: An A.I. Thriller (No Freedom Book 2)" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1590618498l/53518255._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53518255-no-reprieve">No Reprieve: An A.I. Thriller</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7064949.Inge_Lise_Goss">Inge-Lise Goss</a><br />My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3377386813">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />This book is a fantastic dystopian thriller. I loved it!<br /><br />Paislee Hobson is a character I struggled to connect with in the first book. I found her a little annoying, though I grew to like her as the story progressed. Paislee is a paralegal living in a future world that has gone through a cataclysmic war that left the humans struggling to cope with the aftermath. Androids were developed by The Institute to help the remaining citizens rebuild the world. In this story, Paisley goes undercover for the rebels while trying to keep out of Pellegrin's way. Unfortunately, events conspire, and Paislee finds herself having to make some difficult decisions.<br /><br />I started reading this book, told through Paislee's POV. Unfortunately, due to the situation the world finds itself in at the moment, I struggled to read this book in one sitting. This situation was not the fault of the author's - I think I was in a bit of a funk, and I struggled to focus my attention on reading anything. However, I persevered and can't wait to see what happens in the next book.<br /><br />Have you ever sat watching a movie with your hands over your face because the suspense is killing you and you can't watch it, but you don't want to miss anything either? This is what I felt while reading this book. The author skillfully builds the suspense so you don't know whether you should be cheering for Paislee or not, or liking Pellegrin or not. <br /><br />Several twists kept me guessing, and I found myself waiting for the other shoe to drop. Pellegrin is a scary villain. He's a control freak, and his attitude is one of a dangerous psychopath and master manipulator, but this could also be Paislee's paranoia talking. His identity and role at The Institute is a mystery, but I had a feeling when reading this book that it's not what I think it may be. Then again, he could exactly be who I think he is. <br /><br />I love books like this. I've always been interested in robots/androids as a concept but would be completely scared if A.I. ever got this powerful. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, but it's my fear of the unknown talking, and until I learn otherwise, I'm keeping my worries alive. I guess I'll have to read the next book to find out what happens next, as the book ends on a small cliffhanger, and I can't wait.<br /><br />Inge-Lise Goss has written an intriguing dystopian thriller full of mystery and suspense. I love her writing style, which is fast-paced, and the flow's fantastic. I am curious to see what this author comes up with in the future.<br /><br />Although there is mention of sex, there are no explicit scenes and tends to fade out. I do not recommend this book to younger readers due to some violence. However, I highly recommend this book if you love science fiction, dystopian, horror, suspense, and thriller genres. - Lynn Worton <br /><br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7917492-lynn-worton">View all my reviews</a><div><br /></div><b>About The Author:</b><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_SKonImNW-3JdIV___ANuQ9CpQa7tbRY50nySBxLB1gvsEMvprpjFo2NQPG-VrHLrBO7bHaWmHALVtZKJr_77JZUXg0hcGJZuFPq7aIRIqIlRt1zIuI7kgU1IbCCPiqJmToNDqEnqNwh/s1600/7064949.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_SKonImNW-3JdIV___ANuQ9CpQa7tbRY50nySBxLB1gvsEMvprpjFo2NQPG-VrHLrBO7bHaWmHALVtZKJr_77JZUXg0hcGJZuFPq7aIRIqIlRt1zIuI7kgU1IbCCPiqJmToNDqEnqNwh/s200/7064949.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Inge-Lise Goss loves the journeys where her characters take her, and she hopes her readers do too. She was born in Denmark, raised in Utah and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Utah. She is a Certified Public Accountant and worked in that field for over twenty years. She now lives in the foothills of Red Rock Canyon with her husband and their dog, Bran, where she spends most of her time in her den writing stories. There, with her muse by her side, imagination has no boundaries and dreams come alive. When she’s not pounding away on the keyboard she can be found reading, rowing, or trying to perfect her golf game, which she fears is a lost cause.<br /><br /><b>Author Links:</b><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7064949.Inge_Lise_Goss"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Goodreads</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/IngeLiseGossAuthor?fref=ts"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Facebook</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Inge-Lise-Goss/e/B00GBBDGDU/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1432762382&sr=1-2-ent"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Amazon Author Page</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://twitter.com/IngeGoss">Twitter</a></span></div><div><br /></div>Lynn Wortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11014493071604066759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-43470473584116342752020-06-07T09:00:00.001+02:002020-06-07T09:00:22.927+02:00Book Review of Marek (Guardians of Hades Romance Series Book 4) by Felicity Heaton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyFjFR0e-IAQOzW1Gp7BRamGQtgZ1x05SMlP8Sg-Rlm3mPg6TQII_QFszP-FQZPxiKn5McrknJHVMmYy46eAZG1_DYtw0S9TGnpXm7IpTcsnqM1siws4vZJSQbH4WGxklsmi7Kc1UyO9w/s500/Marek.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyFjFR0e-IAQOzW1Gp7BRamGQtgZ1x05SMlP8Sg-Rlm3mPg6TQII_QFszP-FQZPxiKn5McrknJHVMmYy46eAZG1_DYtw0S9TGnpXm7IpTcsnqM1siws4vZJSQbH4WGxklsmi7Kc1UyO9w/w266-h400/Marek.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Book Title:</b> Marek (Guardians of Hades Book 4)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Genre:</b> Paranormal Romance</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Pages: </b>466</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Author:</b> Felicity Heaton</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Date Published:</b> 26 May 2020</div><br /><b><u>Synopsis:</u></b><br /><div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Prince of the Underworld and Lord of Earth, Marek was banished from his home by his father, Hades, two centuries ago and given a new duty and purpose—to keep our world and his from colliding in a calamity foreseen by the Moirai. Together with his six brothers, he fights to defend the gates to the Underworld from daemons bent on breaching them and gaining entrance to that forbidden land, striving to protect his home from their dark influence.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Haunted by a betrayal that shattered him and set him on a dark path of vengeance, Marek closely guards his heart, as determined to keep it safe as he is to wipe the scourge of vampires from the world.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Until a hunt lands him in the presence of a beautiful woman who threatens to steal that heart as she battles his sworn enemy, her graceful moves igniting a passion so fierce and hunger so deep it consumes him.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Caterina's sole purpose for the last decade has been freeing her brother of the curse of being turned into a vampire. When an alluring dark warrior steps in to help her battle a nest of bloodsuckers, her entire life is tipped off balance. She knows deep in her heart, the warrior can help her save her brother, but can she trust a man who is driven to slay every vampire he meets?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When Marek's enemy emerges from the shadows, and Caterina is pulled down a dark rabbit hole into a dangerous world, will they be strong enough to overcome their pride and their prejudices or will a dark turn of events shatter both their hearts?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Review 4.5 rounded up to 5*</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53425521-marek" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Marek (Guardians of Hades, #4)" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1589679477l/53425521._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53425521-marek">Marek</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1228468.Felicity_Heaton">Felicity Heaton</a><br />My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3352120005">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />Marek is the fourth book in the Guardians of Hades series. I loved it!<br /><br />Marek is one of six son's of Hades. He is an intriguing character, and I liked him a lot. When he was first introduced in the series, I thought Marek was the more studious brother since he enjoyed researching. However, he is also a fierce warrior. I found it a pleasure to get to see into his life. There is a darkness within Marek that was not immediately obvious. It's this darkness that leads him to crossing paths with Caterina.<br /><br />Caterina is a woman on a mission. I liked her spunky-ness and determination to save her brother. Family is important to her since it's just her and her brother. When a stranger helps her fight vampires, she is intrigued by him. Unfortunately, she gets pulled into the tug-of-war between Marek's family and their enemy, and her life will never return to normal.<br /><br />It's been a year since the last Guardians of Hades book, and I've been eagerly awaiting Marek's story. I started to read and was pulled back into the fantastic world built by the author.<br /><br />It was a pleasure meeting the other brothers and their new loves once more. Hades and Persephone also make an appearance; they are typical parents - overprotective and loving. Karas and Calistos are the only two brothers who haven't had their stories told yet. However, the author made mention of Calistos's twin, Calindria, who had died several years before. It made me wonder if she could still potentially be alive somewhere when someone close to her briefly made an appearance, however, back to the review.<br /><br />The brothers still have a lot to do to avoid the prediction the Morai made about the human world and Underworld's impending collision. I was glad, however, when a specific character met their fate, but now wonder if Caterina's brother will play a more prominent role at some point. There are fast-paced fight scenes, which are this author's forte. She can bring them to life, so I always enjoy those, and the romance between Marek and Caterina scorched the pages even though there weren't as many opportunities for togetherness.<br /><br />I am now looking forward to reading Calistos's story soon.<br /><br />Felicity Heaton has written another fast-paced, sexy paranormal romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. I love her fast-paced writing style, which flows effortlessly from scene to scene. She is on top of my favourite author's list.<br /><br />Each book of this series could be read as a stand-alone, as this one does not end in a cliffhanger, though I would recommend reading them in order. I do not recommend this book to younger readers due to the extremely HOT and explicit sexual scenes. However, I highly recommend this book (and series) if you love sexy paranormal romances full of gods and daemons. - Lynn Worton <br /><br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7917492-lynn-worton">View all my reviews</a><div><br /></div><div><b><u>About The Author:</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvxBG91mgbWLFbBCjAjseX_fCTFgdVi2N0hDNNI14am8LIXZd_oP_NFfYngu5Wk6JETDr4SBvLXsUrSpw5wyJ-qDz1ib7Mv5uS9gRbFfWgUWgRPqzh2l5d8t-j6kIagehcW9UdOYhQioX/s1600/felicityheaton.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="407" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvxBG91mgbWLFbBCjAjseX_fCTFgdVi2N0hDNNI14am8LIXZd_oP_NFfYngu5Wk6JETDr4SBvLXsUrSpw5wyJ-qDz1ib7Mv5uS9gRbFfWgUWgRPqzh2l5d8t-j6kIagehcW9UdOYhQioX/s320/felicityheaton.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="256" /></a></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" />Felicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shapeshifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons! If you’re a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan, then you will enjoy her books too.<br /><br />If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires, then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic, then try the best-selling London Vampires series. Seven sexy and sinful Greek god brothers can be your new addiction in the Guardians of Hades series. Or how about four hot alpha shifter brothers in her Cougar Creek Mates series? Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the Eternal Mates series.<br /><br />If you want to know more about Felicity or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.felicityheaton.com/">WEBSITE</a> | <a href="http://www.felicityheaton.com/blog/">BLOG</a> | <a href="http://www.facebook.com/felicityheaton">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/felicityheaton">TWITTER</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/felicityheaton">GOODREADS</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/felicityheaton/">INSTAGRAM</a></div></div>Lynn Wortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11014493071604066759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-30713806334103757972020-01-21T22:30:00.000+02:002020-06-06T23:25:17.751+02:00Book Review of Ascension: A Darkest Nights Novel by Lee Ferrier<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVljCiM4Q4hMxpigvJb9j-62AY80ZJ2DMlJZBZgJYrNGFlmLJbcBJe8kw93UKw3atqPKIE5tNkqDYhcG_LrH2IigZlNwi1QvDELOUc9QrD4pVO_Fib9-7C5zkmL3jgPgqVmiigqwDMwCq4/s1600/Ascension.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVljCiM4Q4hMxpigvJb9j-62AY80ZJ2DMlJZBZgJYrNGFlmLJbcBJe8kw93UKw3atqPKIE5tNkqDYhcG_LrH2IigZlNwi1QvDELOUc9QrD4pVO_Fib9-7C5zkmL3jgPgqVmiigqwDMwCq4/s400/Ascension.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<b>Book Title:</b> Ascension: A Darkest Nights Novel</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> YA Dark Urban Fantasy/Horror</div>
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<b>Pages:</b> 137</div>
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<b>Author:</b> Lee Ferrier</div>
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<b>Date Published:</b> 03 December 2019</div>
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<b><u>Synopsis:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>Lucy Beaumont is dead; but in a world of Gods and Monsters, death isn't the end. Passing over into the afterlife, Lucy soon finds out that she and her friends are part of something bigger than any of them could imagine. The legendary Crystal Wand can help Lucy in her mission to find a way back to the world of the living, but only if she can fix her incomplete soul and regain her missing memories...<br />
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Ascension -A Darkest Nights Novel- serves as an intermediary between "Darkest Nights -Awakening-" and its follow-up "Darkest Nights -Ashes to Ashes".</div>
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<b><u>Review:</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48147788-ascension" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Ascension: A Darkest Nights Novel" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1568499351l/48147788._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48147788-ascension">Ascension: A Darkest Nights Novel</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14056507.Lee_Ferrier">Lee Ferrier</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3095662578">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Ascension is a bridging novel between Darkest Nights - Awakening and the next book in the series. I guess you can call it Book 1.5 in the series.<br />
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Disclaimer: I had the great honour of being one of the first people to read this book in its raw form while editing it. This review is my own honest opinion, and I have not received remuneration for it. I pre-ordered a copy of this book as soon as I heard it was available with my own money and read it in my own time. The author did not influence me or my opinion.<br />
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Ascension follows Lucy Beaumont's journey into the afterlife. It is told through her point of view. I am glad the author decided to write this story as I was so upset with him for *spoiler alert for those who haven't read Darkest Nights - Awakening yet* killing her off. I felt Lucy was a fantastic character and her shocking death affected me badly. It felt like I had lost a friend, and my heart had shattered.<br />
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Ascension sees Lucy coming to grips with her altered reality. She discovers that she is crucial to the fight between good and evil, and is the Dark Totem in a triumvirate destined to defeat an incarnation of the devil. As she struggles with her new powers, her personal life also takes a surprising turn. The reader gets introduced to new and old characters. It was a pleasure to see how Lucy's and Peter's friendship developed, as well as her interaction with the angel, Gabriel, and her girlfriend, Jordana.<br />
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This story took me on a roller coaster ride of emotion from beginning to end, which does end in a small cliffhanger, but this just made me want to read the next book as soon as possible.<br />
Please note: This book is written in British English, so some terms and spellings may confuse American readers.<br />
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Lee Ferrier has written a fantastic YA dark fantasy/horror story. I love his fast-paced writing style, and the flow was excellent. This is an author who is not afraid to tread into dark places and kill off characters. In this respect, he is similar to George R.R. Martin (so I have heard, as I haven't read his books yet). This is one British author whose career I will follow with interest and would definitely read more books written by him in the future.<br />
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There are some scenes of violence (fighting and/or bloodshed) and, on occasion, gore that may upset sensitive readers. There is also mention of sex (F/F), implied in some scenes and explicitly shown in others. Therefore, I do not recommend this book to those who would be upset by this. However, I highly recommend this book to teens aged 15/16 upwards and those adults who love dark young adult supernatural/paranormal horror novels. - Lynn Worton<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7917492-lynn-worton">View all my reviews</a><br />
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<b><u>About The Author:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hLDdzKlNhyroM-qDlqRCe_HDKKbZ4QbejYlFjthuv0-16Q2ajNvILuhn0zWI0E8QRk2rtZ0KABulYX_VgvwQRbAPOZ8tstPvHfaOo0_m4oUKkGuRCwHhG7B9JSWn3fLh8MRSludvJ4kF/s1600/download.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hLDdzKlNhyroM-qDlqRCe_HDKKbZ4QbejYlFjthuv0-16Q2ajNvILuhn0zWI0E8QRk2rtZ0KABulYX_VgvwQRbAPOZ8tstPvHfaOo0_m4oUKkGuRCwHhG7B9JSWn3fLh8MRSludvJ4kF/s320/download.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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London based urban fantasy writer. Loves Japanese anime and blue hedgehogs. Lifelong goal: to own a husky...and a life-sized Dalek named Jeff. Currently have twenty-one stories stored away in my Mind Palace and will eventually get round to writing them all. Favourite colour: blue. Scared of circus folk. Fan of cheese and noodles. Can't live without my notebook and laptop.<br />
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<b><u>Author Links:</u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14056507.Lee_Ferrier">Goodreads</a>; <a href="https://twitter.com/leeindieauthor">Twitter</a>; <a href="http://www.leeferrier.com/">Website</a>; <a href="http://www.leeferrier.com/blog/">Blog</a></span></div>
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Lynn Wortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11014493071604066759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-82100055773833076022019-12-08T23:00:00.000+02:002019-12-08T23:00:07.278+02:00Book Review of Faking It in the Kitchen: A bully boss romantic comedy by Emily James<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOgXFICo2NlA1CSOSYxkBzLB94pL2Vo94s0Eu_9KfpvZu0GZUNcK25-Sswj1-1mSQpQZgLKoFTKDIchWnyY_pHO33eTNkB3TTcFLXJ8GESh8Q_Muk-wnVdWcv8x2IF3H1Vc3FM8qncWKs/s1600/Faking+it+in+the+Kitchen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOgXFICo2NlA1CSOSYxkBzLB94pL2Vo94s0Eu_9KfpvZu0GZUNcK25-Sswj1-1mSQpQZgLKoFTKDIchWnyY_pHO33eTNkB3TTcFLXJ8GESh8Q_Muk-wnVdWcv8x2IF3H1Vc3FM8qncWKs/s400/Faking+it+in+the+Kitchen.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<b>Book Title:</b> Faking It in the Kitchen: a bully boss romantic comedy</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Contemporary Romance/Romantic Comedy</div>
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<b>Pages:</b> 231</div>
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<b>Author:</b> Emily James</div>
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<b>Date Published:</b> 21 November 2019</div>
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<b><u>Synopsis:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b><b>She’s an accidental chef. He’s her hot-headed A**hole boss. Will they discover the recipe for love or are they heading for disaster?</b><br />
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Unemployed actress, Hannah Brooks, is applying for a waitressing job when her luck changes. Mistaken for a chef, she's offered a position at twice the pay, but there's a slight problem. She can't cook, but she can act.<br />
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Tom Hadleigh is determined to make a success of the restaurant he inherited from his father, despite attempted sabotages against it and his reputation. Tom’s a hothead and not looking for love, but when Hannah walks into his restaurant, he can’t help but turn his head. With so many problems in his life, is she the answer?<br />
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When their worlds collide, will their passion ignite, or will the heat force them out of the kitchen?<br />
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<i>FAKING IT IN THE KITCHEN is a standalone, romantic comedy, suitable for readers aged 18 or over, due to mature content and sexual themes.</i></div>
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<b><u>Review:</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48765705-faking-it-in-the-kitchen" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Faking It in the Kitchen: A bully boss romantic comedy" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1573668573l/48765705._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48765705-faking-it-in-the-kitchen">Faking It in the Kitchen: A bully boss romantic comedy</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16190219.Emily_James">Emily James</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3066206751">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Faking It in the Kitchen is a fun romantic comedy. I really enjoyed it.<br />
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Hannah Brookes is an unemployed actress looking to make it big on the West End in London, England. I liked this character a lot. She has a sunny personality and is optimistic (maybe too much at times) and desperate for work. When she hears of a potential job as a waitress at Hadleigh's, a prestigious restaurant, she heads to the interview and meets Tom Hadleigh, the boss. What she didn't expect was to be hired as a chef. And have to fake it in the kitchen as she can't cook.<br />
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Tom Hadleigh is determined to keep his late father's restaurant running after his death. Unfortunately, someone is determined to close it down. I liked him even at his most a**hole-y, especially when he did things that made me want to smack some sense into him. Tom, still grieving, is understandably upset at both his father's death and the sabotage, but when he accidentally knocks Hannah out, he hires her in the mistaken belief she's a chef. As danger stalks ever closer and his attraction to Hannah grows, Tom will have to decide what is more important.<br />
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I started to read this book, told through both Tom's and Hannah's viewpoints in alternate chapters. Faking It is a light read with humourous events mixed up with a suspenseful twist. The characters are lifelike and likeable.<br />
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I enjoyed the interaction between Hannah and Tom, which is intense, and the heat level between them sizzle on the pages. I also enjoyed Hannah's camaraderie with the other characters in the kitchen, especially Jack. She needed a friend badly, and he acted as one immediately. Tom's nemesis was a surprise twist. I had another person lined up initially, but as soon as the author introduced the character, I went 'Ah!' even though there was no hint of their involvement immediately.<br />
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I did feel the scene near the end where Hannah confronted the perpetrator was a little weak and didn't have the punch it could have. However, it resolved the mystery even if unsatisfactorily (my opinion). I do feel that the scene was a little rushed as if the author wanted to get back to the romance, which was understandable. The story ends satisfactorily, with no cliffhanger as it's a stand-alone.<br />
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Emily James is a new author to me. I have never read one of her other books before. I like her fast-paced writing style, and the story flowed well. The author's warmth and humour shone through her writing. Her characters are lifelike and likeable. I would consider reading more of her books in the future.<br />
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Due to scenes of an explicit nature, I do not recommend this book to readers under the age of 18. I do, however, recommend this book if you love contemporary romance, romantic comedy, and sassy and sexy main characters. - Lynn Worton<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7917492-lynn-worton">View all my reviews</a><br />
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<b><u>Purchase Links:</u></b><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Faking-Kitchen-bully-romantic-comedy-ebook/dp/B08153JXCP"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Amazon US</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Faking-Kitchen-bully-romantic-comedy-ebook/dp/B08153JXCP"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Amazon UK</span></a></div>
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<b><u>About The Author:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBUhzKXhJrkrTRAJ0TKXQUyn8ES30-twSQ3nDtPuY-ChBt4ceFfPxpaFihOj1z4y6pkhtp9g2EwGgjueyVh0sI90BCZRx3bK3oVx1Ngd4dcn2d9V8XLQ5f8-hciaTzVC9cUf1KYcKM3n9/s1600/91T11RblKLL._UY200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBUhzKXhJrkrTRAJ0TKXQUyn8ES30-twSQ3nDtPuY-ChBt4ceFfPxpaFihOj1z4y6pkhtp9g2EwGgjueyVh0sI90BCZRx3bK3oVx1Ngd4dcn2d9V8XLQ5f8-hciaTzVC9cUf1KYcKM3n9/s1600/91T11RblKLL._UY200_.jpg" /></a></div>
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(Taken from the back of the book)<br />
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Emily James is a British author who lives on the south coast of England. She loves to travel and enjoys nothing more than a great romance story. On the rare occasions that she hasn't got her nose in a book, Emily likes to spend time with her beautiful family and friends.<br />
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<b><u>Author Links:</u></b><br />
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You can be notified of Emily's future projects via her mailing list:<br />
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<a href="https://facebook.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe">Newsletter Signup</a><br />
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Find her on Facebook:<br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/emily.james.author">https://www.facebook.com/emily.james.author</a><br /><br />Or email her at:<br />emilyjames.author@gmail.comLynn Wortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11014493071604066759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-45270684908065329372019-11-05T08:00:00.000+02:002019-11-05T08:00:08.449+02:00Book Review of Sam The Speedy Sloth: An Inspirational Rhyming Bedtime Story about Being Unique, Acceptance and Confident Kids [Illustrated Early Reader for Toddlers, Pre K, Elementary School Children] by Matthew Ralph<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwwNrk4akxbvJ_KkZGuAeyoxYwLB_6y8TG4svoFRPF7loSincofxNOiJQXCSFw_LAgLrA2KplPKecLUv6V3H8jRZ_RvLSm-9vDb-p_AGDqiO5xds673tzn1t-uH2XFsXcHACa8A2qn0kV/s1600/Sam+the+Speedy+Sloth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="408" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwwNrk4akxbvJ_KkZGuAeyoxYwLB_6y8TG4svoFRPF7loSincofxNOiJQXCSFw_LAgLrA2KplPKecLUv6V3H8jRZ_RvLSm-9vDb-p_AGDqiO5xds673tzn1t-uH2XFsXcHACa8A2qn0kV/s320/Sam+the+Speedy+Sloth.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
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<b>Book Title:</b> Sam the Speedy Sloth</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Children's book</div>
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<b>Pages:</b> 40</div>
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<b>Author:</b> Matthew Ralph</div>
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<b>Date Published:</b> 14 September 2019</div>
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<b><u>Synopsis:</u></b></div>
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<b>Sam’s Mom hugged him and looked at her son. “There’s no one like you. You’re the only one. Comparing yourself to others, won’t get you far. Learn to love how unique you are.”</b><br />
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Packed with colorful rain forest and animal illustrations, this rhyming picture book follows Sam the speedy sloth as he goes on a jungle adventure. Challenging the other rain forest animals to a race, Sam learns some important life lessons along the way about being unique, self-confident and not comparing yourself to others. Children will also find a bunch of fun learning activities, including spot the difference, a word search and even fact files for the jungle animals in this book.<br />
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Perfect for ages 3-8, children will love listening to Sam’s adventure, which makes Sam the Speedy Sloth ideal for bedtime stories, group reading, or one-on-one with loving parents or grandparents.</div>
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<b><u>Review:</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48159632-sam-the-speedy-sloth" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Sam The Speedy Sloth: A children’s book about acceptance and self-confidence" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1568576455l/48159632._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48159632-sam-the-speedy-sloth">Sam The Speedy Sloth: A children’s book about acceptance and self-confidence</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15734356.Matthew_Ralph">Matthew Ralph</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3023477368">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Sam, the Speedy Sloth, is a super illustrated children's book. I loved it.<br />
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Sam is a sloth, but not a typical one. He likes to race around and is the fastest sloth in the forest. In this story, he challenges several different animals to race with him. I love this sloth. He is super cute and determined. <br />
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This storybook is an ideal stocking filler for Christmas if you are still looking for presents. The author has cleverly rhymed the words, so the story flows off the tongue as one reads it. It is also beautifully illustrated by Khansadk. The pictures are bright and vibrant and show the story for those who cannot read yet and need a little help from the parents, and it compliments the author's words entirely. Sam is a superb character who learns a valuable lesson as the story progresses. The child/children reading this book also learn that it is not always essential to be the fastest or the best at everything they do. However, I feel they will enjoy Sam's journey as it also encourages children to be self-confident but not arrogant, kind and humble. <br />
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At the end of the book, there are a few puzzles and activities for the children to complete. It may work better with the paper versions rather than the ebook, but they can still be lots of fun to do. Not sure I'd recommend doing this section at bedtime, but it depends on the parents, so I'll leave that decision up to you.<br />
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I highly recommend this book to children aged 3 to 8, and to adults who are looking for a fun, educational book for their little ones. - Lynn Worton
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7917492-lynn-worton">View all my reviews</a>
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<b><u>About The Author:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienUjNUyZWUW2r_I8DSEL3eO109H-UuNYa7sO5DCd6R2K2o5X6ZzqHYoFnmF7kQygQPA_LbTpTv0nNyFjlvlIxQ0WqZ5FhkJANQMAGfRiTINlnCKoMnlkcizVp_T7eZ07W0XB-AHPv1NrM/s1600/9150ooy5JqL._US230_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienUjNUyZWUW2r_I8DSEL3eO109H-UuNYa7sO5DCd6R2K2o5X6ZzqHYoFnmF7kQygQPA_LbTpTv0nNyFjlvlIxQ0WqZ5FhkJANQMAGfRiTINlnCKoMnlkcizVp_T7eZ07W0XB-AHPv1NrM/s1600/9150ooy5JqL._US230_.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture from Amazon</td></tr>
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<b><u><br /></u></b>
Matthew Ralph is a children's book author who lives in London, England.<br />
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When he is not busy writing his next book, he enjoys drinking tea, eating fish & chips and waving at The Queen.<br />
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If you would like to learn more about him, please visit his Author Profile on Amazon, or contact him on mattralphthewriter@gmail.com.<br />
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Matthew always enjoys hearing from his lovely readers as well as reading your comments. If you liked this book, please leave a review :)<br />
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<b><u>Author Links:</u></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Matthew-Ralph/e/B07VFY6RKR"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Amazon</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15734356.Matthew_Ralph"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Goodreads</span></a></div>
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Lynn Wortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11014493071604066759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-67949752762595136832019-09-25T13:00:00.000+02:002019-09-25T13:00:02.286+02:00Book Review of Bodgit and Fixit's Space Adventure by Chris Goodyear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPplrAzVp9BUcxOFVsdNm2OggJH2BXNBAAWQjKWrDVwVICrf4F1VD0kxA6SpbsvlRSULCvr-7hqetv6Aium73FvNMXWlPp7lOze32-Bc8dy5mmWHdmwD-63e3sXP1dnLsxsdSjduhyphenhyphenh3ni/s1600/Bodgit+%2526+Fixit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPplrAzVp9BUcxOFVsdNm2OggJH2BXNBAAWQjKWrDVwVICrf4F1VD0kxA6SpbsvlRSULCvr-7hqetv6Aium73FvNMXWlPp7lOze32-Bc8dy5mmWHdmwD-63e3sXP1dnLsxsdSjduhyphenhyphenh3ni/s1600/Bodgit+%2526+Fixit.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Book Title:</b> Bodgit and Fixit's Space Adventure</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Children's book</div>
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<b>Pages:</b> 14</div>
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<b>Author:</b> Chris Goodyear</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Date Published:</b> 13 March 2019</div>
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<b><u>Synopsis:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>A brightly illustrated book featuring best friends Bodgit bear and Fixit rabbit.<br />
Created and written by Chris Goodyear, these best friends share their amazing<br />
imaginary adventure to the moon and back in a rocket they build together.<br />
Also featured in this book are Bodgit and Fixit's furry facts and 5 interactive<br />
missions for the reader to complete.</div>
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<b><u>Review:</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48129864-bodgit-and-fixit-s-space-adventure" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Bodgit and Fixit's Space Adventure" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1568277767l/48129864._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48129864-bodgit-and-fixit-s-space-adventure">Bodgit and Fixit's Space Adventure</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19556128.Chris_Goodyear">Chris Goodyear</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2974446046">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Bodgit and Fixit's Space Adventure is a fantastic illustrated children's book. I loved it!<br />
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Bodgit and Fixit are the best of friends. Bodgit (5) is a teddy bear, and Fixit (6) is a rabbit. They both have a vivid imagination, and one day during the holidays they decided to ride a rocket to the moon. But first, they need to build it. Their space adventure is exciting, and they have a lot of fun. However, they have to be home in time for tea (dinner), so they return to Earth.<br />
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This book is only fourteen pages long, but there is a lot packed between those pages. I don't know if the author is also the illustrator, but if so, the author did a fantastic job. (Edited to say: the illustrator is Sam Jones). The pictures are beautifully drawn and coloured and complement the story perfectly. At the end of the book, there are five fun activities for children to do: a counting puzzle, a Word Search, a Maze puzzle, a Spot the Difference, and Trace the Line puzzle. Plus there are facts interspersed throughout about various subjects. One thing I can see is the potential for Bodgit and Fixit to become real as plush toys. They are so cute! I'd buy them, so children would love them too.<br />
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The story is engaging. I feel that children would love to read this book. It is difficult to say what age range this book would attract. The artwork would appeal to children aged 4 upwards, but the font used and the way the writing is presented would confound a new young reader. In my opinion, I feel that depending on reading ability, this book would be suitable for children aged 4 to look at with parents, but for children to read it on their own, I'd say they would have to be at least 6, 7 or 8 and above.<br />
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Chris Goodyear is a debut author and judging by this book, is well on the way to be a fantastic children's book writer. Although I am not the intended audience, I love the intricate details (though simple language) the author uses to tell a story. I will be interested to see what the author comes up with in the future.<br />
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I highly recommend this book to children and adults alike. - Lynn Worton<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7917492-lynn-worton">View all my reviews</a><br />
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<b><u>Purchase Links:</u></b><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bodgit-Fixits-Space-Adventure-Goodyear-ebook/dp/B07PRSMHZK">Amazon US</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bodgit-Fixits-Space-Adventure-Goodyear-ebook/dp/B07PRSMHZK">Amazon UK</a><br />
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<b><u>About the Author:</u></b><br />
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Unfortunately, as this is a debut author, there doesn't seem to be any information available.<br />
<br />Lynn Wortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11014493071604066759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-74084337456671664042019-07-16T13:41:00.001+02:002019-07-16T13:41:46.234+02:00It's been too long part twoSo. We were talking about me. OK, OK, I was, am talking about me. And right now the next pic is perfect to tell you guys where I am at in my life<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7O-hEcApYAqGG1BpTPpZmT3b-K3mMttW8rnkmRjZ8k9HVL8pGACbHM6kEPgUuC_wkyHtdbRcVuOzwAG51vsq_Jse9DcSk_4fD_gPtI5Bgapi_ceYN_JBZ7zF0iTlybpXtj06T-8yFc8SJ/s1600/please+push+pause.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7O-hEcApYAqGG1BpTPpZmT3b-K3mMttW8rnkmRjZ8k9HVL8pGACbHM6kEPgUuC_wkyHtdbRcVuOzwAG51vsq_Jse9DcSk_4fD_gPtI5Bgapi_ceYN_JBZ7zF0iTlybpXtj06T-8yFc8SJ/s1600/please+push+pause.jpg" /></a></div>
Not because I am stressed.<br />
Not because I am running against the clock<br />
but because I feel as if I am missing out on a lot of joy I used to have and which is not lost or misplaced but kinda hipbutted to the side to make space for other joyful things. <br />
It is not as if I want to go back to my roots. I want to make space for all the joy everything gives me. So. While every body else is Marie Kondo'ing their homes. I am doing the same but inside my head. I am making place for some extra spark of joy. <br />
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Anything you need to hit pause on/Wanda Hartzenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690917386255067412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-65865042176999449522019-07-03T08:43:00.001+02:002019-07-03T08:43:50.275+02:00It has been too long.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiUYFjY58UnijHyo99lRC8Pp9LtnS6Z7POtvdLIN5w2EPu84u29zG-1Va2jKqGlkazkWaZa5krHB8uNSg6w_o01X5BVVwdrylEIldUuEBIIg7hiMqgvsZlc1w6uobAsPM_qjgAaVnrRsL/s1600/its+been+too+long.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiUYFjY58UnijHyo99lRC8Pp9LtnS6Z7POtvdLIN5w2EPu84u29zG-1Va2jKqGlkazkWaZa5krHB8uNSg6w_o01X5BVVwdrylEIldUuEBIIg7hiMqgvsZlc1w6uobAsPM_qjgAaVnrRsL/s320/its+been+too+long.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Yes the pic above says all their is too say about this.<br />
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But...<br />
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I might have a few things I need to get off of my chest as well. So for now, I will be telling you what has happened in my life to make me ..... well get a life I guess is the best way to describe it.<br />
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When Facebook really hit everything, I joined. And had NO friends, for months. I played a game, and at that stage was still rather active on the James Patterson Blog site where, as it happens I met some amazing people. Denise Jones, Christine Bonner and so many others that still to this day brighten my day and add that little va va voom to my step. So as the Patterson site started to give problems I convinced more and more of my friends to join Facebook, only to hear that they were (some at least) were on Facebook already. <br />
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Why now, I figured I would have some friends....<br />
And I did. <br />
Soon I saw these post fly by. Free....today only..... the first book in XYZ trilogy on Amazon and I recall still replying on those posts asking if it would be alright if I shared those free books... yeah I know. It luckily did not take me long to figure out that me sharing it etc etc etc was doing the authors a world of good. But the why behind it all I did not get. <br />
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So there I was. All these free books, all these reading friends and my game on Facebook. Could life get any better? Maybe, maybe not. But for a long time I was as happy as a clam working, signing onto Facebook, going home, watching television, back then the idea of BINGING was not even born since even the DVD rental shops held at most the first two DVD's in a series.... if that. Then I would go onto Facebook and basically serve for hours with no intent and no discontent. At that stage of my life that was what I needed. And thank goodness I had it. <br />
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Then... well, you will have to wait a bit cause this is a rather long story and I will bore you to tears if I dropped it all on you in one go. And no my friend. You do not deserve to be bored. Ever.Wanda Hartzenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690917386255067412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-48086376295712641932019-04-29T14:00:00.000+02:002019-04-29T14:00:14.566+02:00Book Review of The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fDUoILhzzEWqQtzRd9Kc3Z7flM8p0du0FBWOL4mZKHptpMMHqInwawuZKtaEDSqi8DpWu-Ko45q4bkqQJSAacjYjDVSCIPeKBmWyz8sa-QIpB-SkMS7b6Mn2WqcaKSTEHeh70gbSHtua/s1600/Girl+who+chased+the+moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="326" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fDUoILhzzEWqQtzRd9Kc3Z7flM8p0du0FBWOL4mZKHptpMMHqInwawuZKtaEDSqi8DpWu-Ko45q4bkqQJSAacjYjDVSCIPeKBmWyz8sa-QIpB-SkMS7b6Mn2WqcaKSTEHeh70gbSHtua/s400/Girl+who+chased+the+moon.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
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<b>Book Title:</b> The Girl Who Chased the Moon</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Literary Fiction</div>
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<b>Pages:</b> 272</div>
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<b>Author:</b> Sarah Addison Allen</div>
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<b>Date Published:</b> 17 February 2011</div>
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<b><u>Synopsis:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>Emily Benedict came to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the riddles surrounding her mother's life. But the moment Emily enters the house where her mother grew up and meets the grandfather she never knew, she realises that mysteries aren't solved in Mullaby, they're a way of life. Here are rooms where the wallpaper changes to suit your mood. Unexplained lights skip across the yard at midnight. And a neighbour, Julia Winterson, bakes hope in the form of cakes, offering them to satisfy the town's sweet tooth - but also in the hope of rekindling a love she fears might be lost forever. Can a hummingbird cake really bring back a lost love? Is there really a ghost dancing in Emily's backyard? The answers are never what you expect. But in this town of lovable misfits, the unexpected fits right in.</div>
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<b><u>Review:</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8720079-the-girl-who-chased-the-moon" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Girl Who Chased the Moon" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1328354796m/8720079.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8720079-the-girl-who-chased-the-moon">The Girl Who Chased the Moon</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/566874.Sarah_Addison_Allen">Sarah Addison Allen</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2801697644">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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The Girl Who Chased the Moon is a lovely tale. I enjoyed it a lot.<br />
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Emily Benedict is an interesting character. I liked her as soon as she was introduced. After her mom passes away, she arrives in Mullaby, North Carolina, to stay with her grandfather as he's now her legal guardian. Her mother never discussed her childhood, so Emily is eager to learn about it. Unfortunately, many of the residents of Mullaby blame Emily's mother for the death of one of them. As Emily delves into the mystery surrounding her mother's past, she meets the mysterious Win Coffey, whose relative died all those years ago.<br />
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This story is told through the eyes of several characters, though Emily is one of the main ones. The other characters involved are her grandfather, Vance Shelby, Julia, a young woman who owns and runs a barbecue house and bakery, Sawyer Alexander, a school mate and old fling of Julia's, and Win Coffey, a teenager with a family secret.<br />
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When I first read the synopsis in my local library, I thought that this book would be a young adult paranormal fairy tale, so I borrowed it. However, I was completely wrong - in a good way. It is a story about loss - lost love and opportunities - and love and redemption. There is magic in the pages, not just the wallpaper that changes in Emily's bedroom.<br />
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The story takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride, and once I began reading it, I didn't put it down until I'd finished it; I am finding it difficult to articulate my feelings about this book. Emily's journey to uncover her mother's possible role in the suicide of Wyn's uncle because of a family secret, and the sweet romance between the two teens, touched me deeply. I also loved the subplot of Julia and Sawyer's past, present and future. The author artfully pulled me into the story, and when it ended, I was left with mixed feelings - happy at the way it ended but sad that it had finished. *Spoiler* Though I would have liked to have seen what happened when Maddie met with Julia and Sawyer. Nevertheless, I was left with a bittersweet feeling.<br />
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Sarah Addison Allen has written a heart-rending, as well as a heart-warming tale that held me captive from beginning to end. I love her writing style but found the shift in viewpoints a little unsettling at first, though I enjoyed the pacing. The story flowed well too. I would definitely consider reading more of this author's books in the future.<br />
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Although there are no explicit scenes of a sexual nature, there is mention of it. However, I would highly recommend this book to young teens (13 up) and adults who love literary fiction, family sagas or romance novels. - Lynn Worton<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7917492-lynn-worton">View all my reviews</a><br />
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<b><u>About the Author:</u></b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-_4QTvUQzQCB8mgUNR8_2i0TtZgA6Ke886R9lFBSi5xdCHYnPcBZWlf04CslPqzQAgO6eFelkbyEyPhSNnNWw1_WctsQsyYQxqV_evercTW1ftf5SVjlBC4x1uLKLDV2fdSn9L0t2l7i/s1600/71bF5Bf5MQL._UX250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="251" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-_4QTvUQzQCB8mgUNR8_2i0TtZgA6Ke886R9lFBSi5xdCHYnPcBZWlf04CslPqzQAgO6eFelkbyEyPhSNnNWw1_WctsQsyYQxqV_evercTW1ftf5SVjlBC4x1uLKLDV2fdSn9L0t2l7i/s200/71bF5Bf5MQL._UX250_.jpg" width="146" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Author photograph credit: Melissa Markis</td></tr>
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<br />Sarah Addison Allen is the New York Times bestselling author of Garden Spells, The Sugar Queen, The Girl Who Chased the Moon and The Peach Keeper. She lives in North Carolina, where her novels are set.<br />
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<b><u>Author Links:</u></b><br /><br />You can discover more at:</div>
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<a href="http://www.sarahaddisonallen.com/">www.sarahaddisonallen.com</a></div>
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Find Sarah on Facebook at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sarahaddisonallen">www.facebook.com/sarahaddisonallen</a></div>
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Or follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/SarahAddisonAll">@SarahAddisonAll</a>.</div>
Lynn Wortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11014493071604066759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-15428535140382215192019-02-05T08:00:00.000+02:002020-08-06T22:05:05.293+02:00Book Review of No Freedom: An A.I. Thriller by Inge-Lise Goss @IngeGoss<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RI9ihCUn1HeG6OVhp2W6AYq14LtyZI2k2_1R8yePMvL3CRLVARpCmm9KXSFu8nwNA0X5CsQSF5ORCRQRybZPUfXPULXSPKoRxJXmXdHhL7IYMVKQDtYT2lL8dJKCavIT1_PBVW7zZlfS/s1600/No+Freedom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="330" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RI9ihCUn1HeG6OVhp2W6AYq14LtyZI2k2_1R8yePMvL3CRLVARpCmm9KXSFu8nwNA0X5CsQSF5ORCRQRybZPUfXPULXSPKoRxJXmXdHhL7IYMVKQDtYT2lL8dJKCavIT1_PBVW7zZlfS/s400/No+Freedom.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
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<b>Book Title:</b> No Freedom: An A.I. Thriller</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Crime Thriller/Horror/Suspense</div>
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<b>Pages:</b> 321</div>
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<b>Author:</b> Inge-Lise Goss</div>
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<b>Date Published:</b> 18 January 2019</div>
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<b><u>Synopsis:</u></b><br />
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<b>Will humans survive the android uprising?</b><br />
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Paislee Hobson is born into a world struggling after a war that killed most of the world’s population. Rebuilding has been accomplished through androids developed by and under the control of The Institute. The human population has been divided into strata.<br />
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Paislee, a legal clerk, is a member of the upper stratum. Her recent boyfriend dumped her. To avoid another heartache, she purchases a human-looking android companion, Pellegrin. No one suspects Pellegrin is not human. He arouses and satisfies all her desires and is a polished companion and conversationalist in public.<br />
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When strange things begin to happen around the courthouse, people start acting mysteriously. Some disappear and others are murdered. Pellegrin’s true identity surfaces as he slowly and methodically takes over all aspects of Paislee’s life. She is in turmoil trying to find a way out. The love of her youth appears and she longs for a life that is denied to her.<br />
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Can Paislee regain her freedom or is she doomed to a life under Pellegrin’s control?</div>
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<b><u>Review:</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43344286-no-freedom" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="No Freedom: An A.I. Thriller" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1545702190m/43344286.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43344286-no-freedom">No Freedom: An A.I. Thriller</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7064949.Inge_Lise_Goss">Inge-Lise Goss</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2696652005">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Review 4.5 rounded up to 5*<br />
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This book is a fantastic dystopian thriller. I loved it!<br />
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Paislee Hobson is a character I struggled to connect with at first, but as I read more of the story, I liked her a little more, though her paranoia began to annoy me, even though it was justified. Paislee is a paralegal living in a future world that has gone through a cataclysmic war that left the humans struggling to cope with the aftermath. Androids were developed by The Institute to help the remaining citizens rebuild the world. When Paislee's boyfriend dumps her, she purchases an android as a companion. But as Pellegrin's hold on her life tightens, an old flame reappears, and strange and deadly events threaten her life.<br />
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When I heard that this book had been released, I purchased it without reading the synopsis. The reason for this is that I've read other books by this author and knew I was in for a thrilling adventure. I wasn't wrong!<br />
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I started reading this book, told through Paislee's POV, and was immediately hooked. As the story unfolded, I found myself convulsively reading, but dreading it at the same time. Have you ever sat watching a movie with your hands over your face because the suspense is killing you and you can't watch it, but you don't want to miss anything either? This is what I felt while reading this book. The author skillfully builds the suspense so you don't know whether you should be cheering for Paislee or not, or liking Pellegrin or not. This story has the futuristic feel of Minority Report and iRobot but also reminded me slightly of one of the author's other thriller series, Tegans. There are several twists that kept me guessing, and I found myself waiting for the other shoe to drop. Pellegrin is a scary villain. He's a control freak, and his attitude is one of a dangerous psychopath and master manipulator, but this could also be Paislee's paranoia talking. His identity and role at The Institute is a mystery, but I had a feeling when reading this book that it's not what I think it may be. Then again, he could exactly be who I think he may be. I love books like this. I've always been interested in robots/androids as a concept but would be completely scared if AI ever got this powerful. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, but it's my fear of the unknown talking, and until I learn otherwise, I'm keeping my worries alive. I guess I'll have to read the next book to find out what happens next, as the book ends on a small cliffhanger, and I can't wait.<br />
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Inge-Lise Goss has written an intriguing dystopian thriller full of mystery and suspense. I love her writing style, which is fast-paced, and the flow's fantastic. I am curious to see what this author comes up with in the future.<br />
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Although there is mention of sex, there are no explicit scenes and tends to fade out. I do not recommend this book to younger readers due to some violence. However, I highly recommend this book if you love science fiction, dystopian, horror, suspense, and thriller genres. - Lynn Worton<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7917492-lynn-worton">View all my reviews</a><br />
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<b><u>About The Author:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_SKonImNW-3JdIV___ANuQ9CpQa7tbRY50nySBxLB1gvsEMvprpjFo2NQPG-VrHLrBO7bHaWmHALVtZKJr_77JZUXg0hcGJZuFPq7aIRIqIlRt1zIuI7kgU1IbCCPiqJmToNDqEnqNwh/s1600/7064949.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_SKonImNW-3JdIV___ANuQ9CpQa7tbRY50nySBxLB1gvsEMvprpjFo2NQPG-VrHLrBO7bHaWmHALVtZKJr_77JZUXg0hcGJZuFPq7aIRIqIlRt1zIuI7kgU1IbCCPiqJmToNDqEnqNwh/s200/7064949.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
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Inge-Lise Goss loves the journeys where her characters take her, and she hopes her readers do too. She was born in Denmark, raised in Utah and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Utah. She is a Certified Public Accountant and worked in that field for over twenty years. She now lives in the foothills of Red Rock Canyon with her husband and their dog, Bran, where she spends most of her time in her den writing stories. There, with her muse by her side, imagination has no boundaries and dreams come alive. When she’s not pounding away on the keyboard she can be found reading, rowing, or trying to perfect her golf game, which she fears is a lost cause.<br />
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<b><u>Author Links:</u></b><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7064949.Inge_Lise_Goss"><span style="font-size: large;">Goodreads</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/IngeLiseGossAuthor?fref=ts"><span style="font-size: large;">Facebook</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Inge-Lise-Goss/e/B00GBBDGDU/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1432762382&sr=1-2-ent"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon Author Page</span></a></div>
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Lynn Wortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11014493071604066759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-79547514385478756562019-01-31T08:00:00.000+02:002019-01-31T08:00:00.802+02:00Book Review of Blanket of Snow (After the Storm Book 1) by Dianna Hardy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Book Title:</b> Blanket of Snow<br />
(After the Storm Book 1)</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Dark Fantasy/Urban Fantasy</div>
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<b>Pages:</b> 60</div>
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<b>Author:</b> Dianna Hardy </div>
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<b>Date Published:</b> 7 January 2019<br />
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<b><u>Synopsis:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b><i>An Eye of the Storm Novelette</i><br />
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Four months have passed since the night of the fatal storm, and "peace on earth" has never felt so good despite the pack's sorrow at the loss of family and dear friends; sorrow that cut deeply over Christmas, and during last week’s wedding.<br />
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Mated to three, and now married into the Gunvald lineage, Lydia has taken comfort and security in her she-wolf, the animal's strength and wisdom taking her deep into the still-uncharted territory of Lawrence's wooded home – now her wooded home.<br />
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But storms come in many guises, and as the January snow clouds gather overhead, Lydia's finally forced to confront the secret she's been keeping from everyone, including herself.<br />
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<i><b>Publisher's Notes:</b> After the Storm is a series of novelettes that take place at relevant points in the immediate months and years after Eye of the Storm. They concentrate on the healing our characters need to go through after everything that happened. They all stand on their own and do not need to be read in any order, nor do they need to be read to understand any of the other series set in this world - they are additional reads for fans. And for anyone who doesn't wish to read them, the healing simply takes place off-stage.</i><br />
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<b><u>Review:</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43262506-blanket-of-snow" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Blanket of Snow (After the Storm Book 1)" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1545145148m/43262506.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43262506-blanket-of-snow">Blanket of Snow</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4414284.Dianna_Hardy">Dianna Hardy</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2634852653">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Blanket of Snow is a novelette in a new series called After the Storm and is an off-shoot of the Eye of the Storm series.<br />
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Lydia and her three mates, Lawrence, Ryan, and Taylor, have weathered the storm that threatened to tear them apart. In this novelette, Lydia is hiding a secret and worried about it being exposed, and what her mates would think about it. She flees into the woods and stumbles onto a mystery - a deserted house with a terrible history. As snow begins to fall, Lydia must find the courage to face the future while dealing with the tragic past.<br />
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I've been wanting to read more about the mated four, so when I heard that this novelette was in the works, I was excited. It is hard to write a review to this book without giving out spoilers, so all I will say is that I loved this story. Told through Lydia's POV, it was a pleasure meeting the four wolves once more. I was a little disappointed that this story is only a novelette but glad that the author decided to write it to show a little more closure for the characters, as the two spin-off series continues without them (much). I am looking forward to reading the next novelette in the series - I think it's from Taylor's POV and I can't wait!<br />
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Dianna Hardy is one of my favourite romance authors (she writes both paranormal/urban fantasy and contemporary romance), she has a way of expressing so much emotion through her written words - they're incredibly moving. I love her writing style, which is fast paced and exciting. The flow is fantastic too. Reading her books are a joy, and I will continue to read them for as long as she keeps writing them.<br />
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Unlike other books by this author, this book doesn't have any romantic scenes of explicit content, though what scenes there are, aren't as detailed as other series written by her. I highly recommend this book (and series) if you love contemporary or paranormal romances, dark fantasy and urban fantasy genres. - Lynn Worton<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7917492-lynn-worton">View all my reviews</a><br />
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<b><u>Purchase Links:</u></b><br />
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<b><u>About The Author:</u></b><br />
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<b><u><br /></u></b><b><u><br /></u></b>"Whether paranormal or contemporary, the one thing all my stories have in common is the fight for what you really want from life." (Dianna Hardy)<br />
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Dianna Hardy is a UK-based, international bestselling author of The Witching Pen series, and the Eye Of The Storm series. She combines a titillating mix of contemporary and paranormal romance, as well as urban and dark fantasy, into her writing, to bring you stories that are action-packed, fast-paced and not short of heat, with the focus on both character development and the plot. She writes full-length novels and short fiction. She has also written poetry (first published in 1997) and esoteric books and articles. Nowadays, she chooses to concentrate on writing fiction.<br />
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In December 2012, Releasing The Wolf hit the Kindle Paranormal Fantasy charts in both the US and the UK, where it stayed for three months, enjoying a highest ranking of #20. The first two books in the Eye of The Storm series have enjoyed success in the top 100 of Fantasy charts on Kindle US and Kindle UK, and all books in the series to date have reached the top 100 of the Fantasy iTunes charts in the Netherlands, Norway, Australia and the UK, with Heart Of The Wolf (book 3) reaching #1 in Denmark.<br />
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The Witching Pen series, 'Til Death Do Us Part and A Silver Kiss, have also hit the top 100 of Kindle and iBooks charts (Fantasy, Romance and Horror) in a number of different countries worldwide.<br />
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Although quite active online, Dianna prefers the quiet company of nature and animals to the hustle and bustle of people. She loves anything paranormal (she doesn't really consider it "para"), organic food, walking barefoot, the smell of the woods after rain, and summer days.<br />
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However, she is also sustained by coffee, chocolate and the occasional vodka.<br />
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Having graduated from Richmond Drama School (London) in '98, she spent the next few years in a multitude of jobs (both acting and non-acting), studying anything that fascinated her, searching her soul, and finally found her passion where it had always been: at the end of a pen.<br />
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She currently lives in South Hampshire, UK with her partner and their daughter, where she writes full-time.<br />
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Official site: <a href="http://diannahardy.com/">diannahardy.com</a><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authordiannahardy">https://www.facebook.com/authordiannahardy</a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/thewitchingpen">http://www.twitter.com/thewitchingpen</a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Google+ <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+DiannaHardy/posts">https://plus.google.com/u/0/+DiannaHardy/posts</a></span></div>
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(Profile photographs courtesy of Alastair Hay)</div>
Lynn Wortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11014493071604066759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-29800137563521541802019-01-23T08:00:00.000+02:002019-01-23T08:00:00.579+02:00Book Review of The Letter (The Chateau series Book 1) by Emma Sharp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Book Title:</b> The Letter</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Woman's Literature</div>
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<b>Pages:</b> 290</div>
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<b>Author:</b> Emma Sharp</div>
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<b>Date Published:</b> 27 December 2018</div>
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<b><u>Synopsis:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>On yet another wet morning in Yorkshire, Laura, a newly qualified nurse, orphaned at a young age and brought up by her late grandma, is struggling financially and emotionally since the death of her beloved gran. That is, until one morning, when, out of the blue she receives a mysterious letter. With life changing decisions to be made, will Laura take up the challenge of starting a new life in the French sunshine?<br />
Join her on the rollercoaster adventure, as she experiences highs and lows, opens new doors, makes new friends; and enemies along the way. Who can she trust in this unfamiliar country with the secrets that she uncovers? And, how is she going to deal with her belligerent, new neighbour?<br />
So much more than a rags to riches story.</div>
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<b><u>Review:</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43396535-the-letter" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Letter (The Chateau series Book 1)" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1546131055m/43396535.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43396535-the-letter">The Letter</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14651346.Emma_Sharp">Emma Sharp</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2679232635">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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The Letter is the first in The Chateau series written by a debut author. I really enjoyed it!<br />
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Laura Mackley is a character I struggled to connect with at first, but as I read further into the story, she grew on me. By the end of the book, I liked her, even though some of her internal monologues made me want to roll my eyes or slap her silly. She is a nurse in England, who receives a letter that changes her life. Inheriting a chateau in France, she finds herself facing many challenges and decisions. As she delves deeper into the history surrounding her inheritance, Laura uncovers a family history previously unknown to her. Will she find her answers?<br />
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I don't usually read a lot of women's fiction. However, as I am trying to broaden my reading horizons, after reading the synopsis, I decided to give this book a try.<br />
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This story is told through the eyes of Laura. There are a few interesting characters in this book. Xavier is a French farmer, and neighbour to Laura. He comes across as intense and broody. Alice is his elderly mother, who has had a recent hospital stay and required care. Then there is Gus, Xavier's young son. There are a few more characters that make an appearance, which gives the story a nice realistic feel. There's even a piano playing ghost!<br />
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I started reading this story but wasn't instantly sucked in. I found it easy to put this book down, do something else, then pick it back up. This doesn't mean that I wasn't enjoying the story. As I said above, my problem lay in liking (or in this case, disliking) the main character. As I read more of the story, I became intrigued with the history of the chateau and Laura's family connection to it. There is a mystery hidden within the pages of this book, but as this is the first book in a series, some mystery remains towards the end. Xavier and Laura seem to have some chemistry, but I'm unsure if it's love or hate. Laura certainly emotes hate, but Xavier is an unknown quantity. It will be interesting to see how their relationship develops.<br />
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The author describes the scenes quite well, and this made it easy for me to picture in my mind's eye. Some dialogue feels a little forced, but for the most part, makes the characters come alive. There are a few twists thrown in, and the one near the end completely surprised me. I definitely didn't see that scene coming! Although the story doesn't end in a climatic cliffhanger, it does end on a small one. The author has added a teaser for the second book to tempt the reader into continuing with the series. I will be doing so in the future.<br />
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Emma Sharp is a debut author who has written an intriguing story. Her writing is not particularly fast-paced, but it is enough for me to keep turning pages. The story flows well, which makes it more enjoyable too.<br />
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Although there are no scenes of violence or any of a sexual nature, I do not recommend this book to younger readers, as I feel they may struggle with it. I do, however, recommend this book to readers of women's fiction, literary humour and romance. - Lynn Worton<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7917492-lynn-worton">View all my reviews</a><br />
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<b><u>About The Author:</u></b><br />
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Unfortunately, as this author is new, I am unable to locate any information about her nor any links to share.Lynn Wortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11014493071604066759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-21380688616699524272019-01-14T18:14:00.000+02:002019-01-14T18:14:06.713+02:00Book Review of Born in the Bed You Were Made: One Family's Journey from Cesarean to Home Birth by Brooklyn James<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Book Title:</b> Born In The Bed You Were Made: One Family's Journey from Cesarean to Home Birth</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Memoir/Woman's Health</div>
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<b>Pages:</b> 255</div>
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<b>Author:</b> Brooklyn James</div>
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<b>Date Published:</b> 13 December 2018</div>
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<b><u>Synopsis:</u></b></div>
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What the hell happened?<br />
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Not exactly the question one might expect from a postpartum nurse, it echoed in my mind incessantly after birth. Induction, intervention, ultimately cesarean were nothing new to me…until I was the one atop an operating room table birthing my firstborn through an incision in my uterus.<br />
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Brooklyn James grapples with her medicalized birth as she undergoes several unexpected health issues—fallout from a medically unnecessary cesarean, secondary infertility, miscarriage. While navigating the work and pleasure of new motherhood, there is also much shock, anger, and disenchantment over birth’s betrayal for her to work through. James finally identifies the root of her struggle: she was not prepared for the birth she might have envisioned. So then begins her exploration of all that is and all that can be in birth. The process leads her to a long overdue conversation with her instinct and her body in an attempt to surrender to, trust in, and accept the inherent wisdom within.<br />
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Born in the Bed You Were Made is intimate and penetrating, candid and reflective. It reveals a deeper truth about how disconnected many modern women are from birth. Most of all, it is a celebration of self-discovery found in the most obscure yet obvious, most challenging yet gratifying, role as child bearer and mother.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43079459-born-in-the-bed-you-were-made" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Born in the Bed You Were Made: One Family's Journey from Cesarean to Home Birth" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1543758673m/43079459.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43079459-born-in-the-bed-you-were-made">Born in the Bed You Were Made: One Family's Journey from Cesarean to Home Birth</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4406722.Brooklyn_James">Brooklyn James</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2644920906">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This book is fantastic! I am not one who usually reads non-fiction or even memoirs, but having read previous fictional books written by this author, I knew that this book, being more personal, would be an emotional roller coaster ride. It didn't disappoint.<br />
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The author explores her emotions and thoughts over several events that shaped her ultimate decision of having a home birth. As I am not American, I don't know how the medical insurance companies work as such, but I believe that women have the right to decide how and where they would like to birth their babies. Unfortunately, most insurance companies are run by men. I don't mean to be sexist, but its the truth.<br />
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I am not a mother myself (and due to my advanced age, I may never have children of my own), but what struck me is how much this author's words touched something inside me that resounded within my inner being. She speaks of the instinctual, primitive brain (the part that handles breathing, and old emotional responses like fear, anger, love and knowing things, perhaps at a genetic level like birthing babies) and how she struggled through going against her instincts for a home birth in her first pregnancy because her insurance company didn't allow it. How this led to her having a Cesaerian that may or may not have been necessary, and later a miscarriage that taught her to trust her body and the genetic knowledge within.<br />
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The author also explores the role and history of a midwife. I found this aspect of the book interesting and full of words of wisdom, from the author herself, as well as those used by her midwife and the research books the author has used. I highlighted over 70 passages throughout this book that struck a chord within me. I don't usually highlight that many things in books, so that shows how much this book has affected me. Midwives have an important role for women. They act as a library of knowledge for expectant mothers. They also guide women through the hard work of labour and birthing children. They have a unique insight into the primitive brain through observation, and medical training to handle most problems that may arise. Unfortunately, these women have not had an easy ride throughout history. They were highly respected once, but they have lost their place due to vilification (being called witches, flakes and fakes in the not so distant past) and their knowledge depleted.<br />
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Hospitals and modern medicine have grown, time is short in today's society. Large pharmaceutical companies push for the use of drugs, hospitals don't have enough staff to give adequate one-on-one care for every expectant mother, and there are not enough beds for a natural birth. Hospitals have become factories - get them in and send them out as quickly as possible - and induced births, Cesareans (some necessary, but most unnecessary) have become the norm. This saddens not only me but the author too.<br />
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It has been an honour and a pleasure going on this author's journey. I wouldn't wish what happened to her happen to anyone else, but her journey is inspirational. I believe that women have the right to a support system like midwives along with obstetrics at a hospital, and the freedom to choose between a more economical home birth or an expensive hospital one. Modern medicine should work in concert with the more traditional methods to ensure a healthy birth experience for both the mother and child.<br />
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Brooklyn James has written a story that has touched me deeply. I love her writing style, and the flow was excellent. I am now looking forward to reading more of her other books as soon as I can.<br />
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I highly recommend this book, whether you are planning on having children, already have children and are considering having more, or have had children and they are starting their own families. The author references a few books that she used while pregnant, and these may help other expectant mothers too. - Lynn Worton<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7917492-lynn-worton">View all my reviews</a>
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<b><u>About The Author:</u></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture was taken from her Amazon Author Page</td></tr>
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<br /><br />Brooklyn James is an author/singer-songwriter inspired by life in the Live Music Capital of Austin, Texas. Her first novel, The Boots My Mother Gave Me, has an original music soundtrack and was chosen as a Quarter Finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards. The book provided a platform where it was her honor to serve as a guest speaker with a focus on awareness and prevention of domestic violence and suicide.<br /><br />When she is not writing books, she can be found playing live music around Austin as part of an acoustic duo. Moonlighting occasionally in voice-over and film, she played a Paramedic in a Weezer video, met Harry Connick Jr. as an extra on the set of When Angels Sing, appeared in Richard Linklater's Boyhood for all of a nanosecond, and was a stand-in and stunt double for Mira Sorvino on Jerry Bruckheimer's Trooper pilot for TNT. Although reading, dancing, working out, and a good glass of kombucha get her pretty excited, she finds most thrilling the privilege of being a mother to two illuminating little souls and a wife to the one big soul from whom they get their light.<br /><br />Brooklyn holds an M.A. in Communication, and a B.S. in both Nursing and Animal Science. Her nursing career has seen specialities in the areas of Intensive Care and Postpartum. With the publication of her birth memoir, she is available for speaking engagements, readings, signings, and writing workshops on how to put pen to paper composing one's own birth story.<div>
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<b><u>Author Links:</u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.brooklyn-james.com/">Website</a> ; <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Brooklyn-James/e/B004RCCD7U">Amazon Author Page</a> ; <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4406722.Brooklyn_James">Goodreads</a> ; <a href="http://www.facebook.com/BrooklynJamesAuthor">Facebook</a> ; <a href="https://twitter.com/BrooklynJames7">Twitter</a></span>Lynn Wortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11014493071604066759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-90680496654517404782019-01-12T19:00:00.000+02:002019-01-12T19:00:04.893+02:00Book Review of Little Astronomer: Once Upon a Sun (Kid Lit Science Book 2) by Julia Stilchen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTccScpgKVBRsA1m2eu0b6gvrNLm0qRjdF-RKJh9qlgIB2L44wSKW3Hs4Go2zC0flf1dnPH5jLd0eF_kcYaL_DEGuCm19iLah2dYAa30wpW9BU15hn61gFpnVE75pYuyPOjDjRKpVnFPwz/s1600/Once+Upon+a+Sun.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="260" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTccScpgKVBRsA1m2eu0b6gvrNLm0qRjdF-RKJh9qlgIB2L44wSKW3Hs4Go2zC0flf1dnPH5jLd0eF_kcYaL_DEGuCm19iLah2dYAa30wpW9BU15hn61gFpnVE75pYuyPOjDjRKpVnFPwz/s400/Once+Upon+a+Sun.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Book Title:</b> Little Astronomer: Once Upon a Sun</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Children's Reference</div>
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<b>Pages:</b> 32</div>
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<b>Author:</b> Julia Stilchen</div>
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<b>Date Published:</b> 7 January 2019</div>
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<b><u>Synopsis:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>Little Astronomer books aim to encourage children to learn about Astronomy and our place in the Solar System and the Universe.<br />
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From the Kid Lit Science Book series comes Once upon a Sun (book 2). The Sun, illustrated as an anthropomorphous character, shares his side of the story about his origins and his journey emerging from a Stellar Nebula to becoming the star he is today. Illustrations include kid-friendly concepts of how our Sun makes energy and takes care of our Solar System.<br />
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Kids are sure to enjoy learning about our Sun through fun facts delivered with humor throughout the colorful pages. Included is a full cast of the rocky planets, gas giants, dwarf planets and Comet from the previous book.<br />
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Celestial objects included are the rocky planets, gas giants, dwarf planets and a comet.<br />
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Kid Lit Science books approach early learning by combining kawaii (cute) versions of the celestial objects with comic-style graphics, and humor to present educational facts in a fun way. It makes a great addition to learning in the classroom and at home.</div>
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<b><u>Review:</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43525468-little-astronomer" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Little Astronomer: Once Upon a Sun (Kid Lit Science Book 2)" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1547077016m/43525468.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43525468-little-astronomer">Little Astronomer: Once Upon a Sun</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7245108.Julia_Stilchen">Julia Stilchen</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2668912776">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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<strong>Fantastic children’s solar system reference book!</strong><br />
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This book is an excellent way to teach a child about the solar system. The illustrations are well thought out and clearly show the sun and planets for those children who are not able to read yet, but also has words which explain in a fun way how the sun’s energy is produced. The author has given each sun and planet a personality, and I love DJ-ing Saturn - he knows how to p-a-r-t-y! I’m now looking forward to reading the next book in the series, even though I’m not the intended audience. This book is aimed at children aged from 0 to 9, but older children and adults will love it too.<br />
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Julia Stilchen has written and illustrated a fantastic reference book for children. I love that she has used simple words to explain how the solar system works. The illustrations are cute and fun. I have read other works by this author, and I love the way she writes.<br />
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I highly recommend this book to children of all ages, and adults looking for a fun, educational book showing how the solar system works. - Lynn Worton<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7917492-lynn-worton">View all my reviews</a><br />
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<b><u>About The Author:</u></b><br />
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Prior to the winter solstice, in the year of the fire dragon, (minutes before the stroke of midnight), Julia was born within the human realm, in a far away kingdom surrounded by the cactus-laden desert of Arizona.<br />
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She learned to harness her daydreaming skills, practicing the craft of writing to transmute imaginary worlds into prose. She is a member of magical guilds like SCBWI, CBI Clubhouse, and YARWA.<br />
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She passionately embarks storytelling quests with an enchanted wand pen at hand. Along her journey, she enjoys befriending like-minded beings. (Some of which are mermaids, pirates, and aliens! Hee-hee) She loves spending time with her family, exploring nature, and traveling.<br />
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Her favorite genres are: fantasy, sci-fi, and paranormal. She loves writing and illustrating children’s books: picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and YA fiction categories.<br />
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<b><u>Author Links:</u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Julia-Stilchen/e/B00ESEBF1W">Amazon Author Page</a> ; <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7245108.Julia_Stilchen">Goodreads</a> ; <a href="http://www.juliastilchen.com/">Website</a> ; <a href="http://juliastilchenauthor.blogspot.co.uk/">Blog</a></span></div>
Lynn Wortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11014493071604066759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-82000648340855121942018-12-12T08:00:00.000+02:002018-12-12T08:00:01.458+02:00Book Review of The Lore of Prometheus by Graham Austin-King<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FNK6v6IfcdmA29rNegrQIIq9Pk55dH5lCyTiHaFP0UFTIH4cJxVs1C0IyNJ6VORYTkZSGcXqnmmB4EpFY-v5DpPyfvalME0yUwUrNWp_5_eIzUM1If11X_6kE4eQqQUVSl8EJFgC9F_N/s1600/The+Lore+of+Prometheus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FNK6v6IfcdmA29rNegrQIIq9Pk55dH5lCyTiHaFP0UFTIH4cJxVs1C0IyNJ6VORYTkZSGcXqnmmB4EpFY-v5DpPyfvalME0yUwUrNWp_5_eIzUM1If11X_6kE4eQqQUVSl8EJFgC9F_N/s640/The+Lore+of+Prometheus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Book Title:</b> The Lore of Prometheus</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Military Thriller/Horror</div>
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<b>Pages:</b> 294</div>
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<b>Author:</b> Graham Austin-King</div>
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<b>Date Published:</b> 30 November 2018</div>
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<b><u>Synopsis:</u></b></div>
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John Carver has three rules: Don't drink in the daytime, don't gamble when the luck has gone, and don't talk to the dead people who come to visit.</div>
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It has been almost five years since the incident in Kabul. Since the magic stirred within him and the stories began. Fleeing the army, running from the whispers, the guilt, and the fear he was losing his mind, Carver fell into addiction, dragging himself through life one day at a time.</div>
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Desperation has pulled him back to Afghanistan, back to the heat, the dust, and the truth he worked so hard to avoid. But there are others, obsessed with power and forbidden magics, who will stop at nothing to learn the truth of his gifts. Abducted and chained, Carver must break more than his own rules if he is to harness this power and survive.</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41943371-the-lore-of-prometheus" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Lore of Prometheus" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1542300844m/41943371.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41943371-the-lore-of-prometheus">The Lore of Prometheus</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7068395.Graham_Austin_King">Graham Austin-King</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2620401556">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This story is a fantastic mix of action, danger and magic. I loved it!<br />
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John Carver is an ex-soldier and war veteran. I liked this man a lot. He's someone you want watching your back, but he's seen and done things most civilians don't experience. He's faced danger and sacrificed much to protect others. When his squad was killed in Kabul five years before, his life changed forever. Some call it PTSD, others call it crazy, but John's also known to some as The Miracle of Kabul. To find out why you'll need to read the book. In dire need of funds, he finds himself headed back to Afghanistan as a security consultant. But things are not so simple, and as danger threatens, he will have to embrace his inner power once more.<br />
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Mackenzie Cartwright is a nurse working in Kabul, kidnapped while heading home after a shift at the local hospital. I liked her a lot too. She has an inner strength that shines through, even when dealing with her capture and subsequent torture.<br />
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This story is not for the faint-hearted and told through John's and Mackenzie's point of view. I was riveted to the story from the first page and didn't put it down until I finished it. Having read Faithless in 2017, I was expecting a dark, atmospheric tale, and that's what I got, though it was a little less claustrophobic since its set in a desert rather than an underground mine. I could tell a lot of research had gone into the writing of this book, from the military-speak to the weapons used, and everything in between. None of the violence is gratuitous in any way; it only enhances the realistic feel to the story.<br />
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Both John and Mackenzie go through hell, so there's little wonder their psyche becomes fractured. I think it was Lewis Caroll, who's character, The Cheshire Cat, said (and I'm paraphrasing here), "We're all a little insane here." What is reality? What is normal? The author explores this concept and adds a twist to it. We know only a fraction of what the brain is capable of, so who's to say that there's no potential for our minds to evolve to use capabilities such as ESP, telekinesis and other paranormal activity. It would be interesting to find out. But it could be several decades, if not a few hundred years before the human mind is understood enough to know if these powers are latent within everyone. Or if it's our perception of the world around us that creates our reality. I find it intriguing.<br />
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There is a lot of action, particularly towards the middle and end of the book, that had me sitting on the edge of my seat. By the time I reached the end of the book, I felt breathless and was left wanting more. I don't know if the author intends to turn this into a series, but I would be interested to see what John and Mackenzie are capable of together in the future.<br />
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Graham Austin-King has written an exciting, dark military fiction novel that kept me turning the pages. This book is superb! I think that this book is a lot stronger than The Riven Wyrde Saga and shows this author's growth in confidence as a writer. I love his fast-paced writing style, and the story flowed wonderfully from beginning to end. The characters came alive on the page and felt remarkably lifelike.<br />
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Although there is mention of sex, it’s not explicitly shown. Nevertheless, I do not recommend this book to young children or those of a nervous disposition, as there are scenes of violence and gore (battle scenes amongst others) that could be very disturbing to some readers. However, I highly recommend this book to older teens and adults alike if you love dark thrillers, military fiction, and/or paranormal fantasy stories that have an X-Men feel to them. - Lynn Worton<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7917492-lynn-worton">View all my reviews</a><br />
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<b><u>Purchase Links:</u></b><br />
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Graham Austin-King was born in the south of England and weaned on broken swords and half-forgotten spells. A shortage of these forced him to consume fantasy novels at an ever-increasing rate, turning to computers and tabletop gaming between meals.<br />
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He experimented with writing at the beginning of an education that meandered through journalism, international relations, and law. To this day he is committed to never allowing those first efforts to reach public eyes.<br />
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After living in the north of England and Canada he settled once again in the south surrounded by a seemingly endless horde of children and a very patient wife who can arguably say her husband is away with the faeries.<br />
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Fae - The Wild Hunt is his first completed novel and draws on a foundation of literary influences ranging from David Eddings to Dean Koontz.<br />
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Visit his blog at <a href="http://grahamak.blogspot.co.uk/">http://grahamak.blogspot.co.uk</a> where you can sign up for e-mail updates and be the first to hear about new releases.<br />
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Find Graham on facebook at <a href="http://on.fb.me/1pMyWmK">http://on.fb.me/1pMyWmK</a> He loves to chat with readers.<br />
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Follow him on Twitter at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Grayaustin">www.Twitter.com/Grayaustin</a><br />
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What others are saying about Graham's books:<br />
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"Austin-King's writing is descriptive and layered, full of mystery and tension..." - Sarah Chorn, Bookworm Blues<br />
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"The action is great, the suspense is well done and the Fae are truly scary." - Leanne Ellis, Bloody Cake News<br />
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"...If you like fantasy books which you can really get stuck into then this one is for you!" - Bodicia, A Woman's Wisdom Blog<br />
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"...This is a fantastic fantasy! I loved it!" - Lynn Worton, Book Reviews by Lynn.<br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/GrahamAustinKing?ref=hl" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Facebook</a> ; <a href="https://twitter.com/GrayAustin" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Twitter</a> ; <a href="http://www.grahamaustin-king.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Website</a>; <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7068395.Graham_Austin_King" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Goodreads</a> ; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Graham-Austin-King/e/B00CL5NCXO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Amazon Author Page</a></span></span></div>
Lynn Wortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11014493071604066759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-33958162512878463942018-12-08T08:00:00.000+02:002018-12-08T08:00:14.231+02:00Audio/Book Review of Time's Convert by Deborah Harkness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Book Title:</b> Time's Convert</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Historical Urban Fantasy</div>
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<b>Pages:</b> 448</div>
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<b>Audio Book Length:</b> 15 Hours 46 Mins</div>
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<b>Author:</b> Deborah Harkness</div>
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<b><b>Narrated by:</b> </b>Saskia Maarveld<br />
<b>Date Published:</b> 18 September 2018 (E-Book & Audio)</div>
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<b><u>Synopsis:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b><b><i>From human to vampire ...</i></b><br />
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Marcus Whitmore was made a vampire in the eighteenth century. Over two hundred years later, he finds himself in love with Phoebe Taylor, a human who decides to become a vampire herself.<br />
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But her transformation will prove as challenging now as it was for Marcus when he first encountered Matthew de Clermont, his sire.<br />
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While Phoebe is secreted away, Marcus relives his own journey from the battlefields of the American Revolutionary War, through the treachery of the French Revolution to a bloody finale in New Orleans. His belief in liberty, equality and brotherhood challenged at every stage by the patriarchy of the de Clermonts.<br />
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What will he and Phoebe discover in one another when they are finally reunited at Les Revenants, beneath the watchful gaze of Matthew and his wife, Diana Bishop?</div>
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<b><u>Review:</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38223235-time-s-convert" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Time's Convert" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1535562635m/38223235.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38223235-time-s-convert">Time's Convert</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3849415.Deborah_Harkness">Deborah Harkness</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2510836411">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This story is the first book in an off-shoot of the All Souls Trilogy. I loved it!<br />
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I downloaded this book in both the Kindle and audiobook formats, as this gave me the option to either read or listen to it. Saskia Maarlveld narrates the audiobook. Her voice and pacing are excellent, and I enjoyed listening to her bring the characters to life. I would consider listening to other books read by her in the future.<br />
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This story is an addition to the All Souls world created by Deborah Harkness and follows the life, death, and rebirth of Marcus Whitmore on the eve of Phoebe's transformation into a vampire. The book, told through several points of view, mostly Marcus's, Diana's and Phoebe's, takes the reader on a journey of endings and new beginnings.<br />
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Several characters from the All Souls world make an appearance; Matthew, Diana, their twins, Phillipe and Rebecca, Isabeau, Marthe, Miriam, Phoebe, and Marcus (to name a few). I also enjoyed meeting Freya, one of Phillipe's daughters. She plays a crucial role in the tale as Phoebe's guide through her transformation from human to vampire.<br />
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While Phoebe adjusts to her new life as a vampire in today's world, Marcus takes us back in time to his life during the American Revolution and his transformation at the hands of Matthew into the vampire he is today. I became so absorbed in the tale that it felt like I walked alongside the characters, watching events unfold. Not being an American, I am fascinated by the history of that country and the people in it, as well as the country it is today. The author, being a historian, has brought the past to life for me and I am grateful to her for the peek into a bygone era. Marcus's life is not an easy one and contrasts with Phoebe's upbringing. However, these two characters have love on their side, and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop and deepen as the story unfolded.<br />
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I reached the end of the book with mixed emotions; sad that the book ended, but glad at how it ended. I am now looking forward to reading more books from the All Souls universe, as there are more than a few characters I would like to know more about next.<br />
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Deborah Harkness has written a fantastic tale in the All Souls universe. She has created a world where humans, witches, daemons and vampires all live in an uneasy alliance. I love her writing style, which is fast-paced and exciting, and the story flowed beautifully!<br />
I am looking forward to reading more of her books in the future.<br />
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I highly recommend this book if you love your stories to be full of witches, daemons and vampires, or if you love paranormal romance or urban fantasy genres. - Lynn Worton<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7917492-lynn-worton">View all my reviews</a><br />
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<b><u>About the Author:</u></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photo from Amazon</td></tr>
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Deborah Harkness is a professor of history at the University of Southern California. She has received Fullbright, Guggenheim, and National Humanities Center fellowships, and her most recent scholarly work is The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution. She also writes an award-winning wine blog.Lynn Wortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11014493071604066759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-14042783151359201572018-11-04T08:00:00.000+02:002018-11-04T08:00:15.371+02:00Book Review of Aftershock: an Eye of the Storm Companion Novel (Blood Never Lies Book 2) by Dianna Hardy @TheWitchingPen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQF6iE23DD4uv3TSbaP4g8PfbacpHjQhv6DSX7LUJSXGpN_UdyBjc8OvQVYs0mVubcIHgjcu7vDMgT-b9Nb_TiJchGGR5HVZpOzu9mQV1h8LJTuEkgLkPEgmIYllP_vFlNCAbq5VaTCjnp/s1600/Aftershock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQF6iE23DD4uv3TSbaP4g8PfbacpHjQhv6DSX7LUJSXGpN_UdyBjc8OvQVYs0mVubcIHgjcu7vDMgT-b9Nb_TiJchGGR5HVZpOzu9mQV1h8LJTuEkgLkPEgmIYllP_vFlNCAbq5VaTCjnp/s400/Aftershock.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
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<b>Book Title:</b> Aftershock: an Eye of the Storm Companion Novel<br />
(Blood Never Lies Book 2)</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Dark Fantasy/Urban Fantasy</div>
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<b>Pages:</b> 201</div>
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<b>Author:</b> Dianna Hardy </div>
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<b>Date Published:</b> 30 October 2018<br />
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<b><u>Synopsis:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b><b>Aftershock is a companion novel to the Eye of the Storm series and also acts as a PREQUEL to a brand new series to come. You don't have to read Eye of the Storm to enjoy this novel (some background is given). However, we always recommend you do in order to gain full understanding of how the characters have arrived at this point.</b><br />
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Self-sufficient and travellers at heart, Pete and Claire packed bags five years ago and headed on a journey that would change their lives forever.<br />
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After the unexpected death of her childhood best friend, Sarah, Claire has nurtured both an open wound, and Sarah's baby - a miracle born on her deathbed.<br />
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Pete has been nothing short of a father to baby Jasmine, and partner to Claire, the werewolf in him one of the few things in the world Claire connects with.<br />
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However, despite their love for their adopted daughter and each other, fate's about to test the foundation they've built. Jasmine has been having episodes - seizures - the doctors aren't sure exactly what they are, or what triggers their onset, but when a little boy is hurt by Jasmine's hand they can no longer wait for answers. They consider taking to the road once more believing a life of travel might be safer than planting roots.<br />
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But there's a Supermoon coming - the first in thirty years - and with it, a total lunar eclipse. Pete can feel the charge in the air, and it seems, so too, can Jasmine. With her terrible, secret legacy threatening to break through the shadows, Pete and Claire have a devastating reality to face.<br />
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Can you ever escape what you truly are?<br />
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Blood never lies.<br />
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<i>NOTES: This is a dark paranormal fantasy novel. Contains some explicit scenes. Written in British English.</i><br />
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<b><u>Review:</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42220939-aftershock" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Aftershock: an Eye of the Storm Companion Novel (Blood Never Lies Book 2)" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1538982580m/42220939.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42220939-aftershock">Aftershock: an Eye of the Storm Companion Novel</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4414284.Dianna_Hardy">Dianna Hardy</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2185424396">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This story is the second book in a new companion novel to the Eye of the Storm series. I loved it! You don't have to read the Eye of the Storm series to read this book, but I recommend that you do, so you have a good grasp of where Claire, Peter, and Jasmine are heading.<br />
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Claire (aka Beth from the Eye of the Storm series) now has a new identity. I loved her as Beth, but I think I love her more as Claire. She loved her best friend, Sarah. But when she died in a car accident while pregnant, Claire takes responsibility for her baby. Running for their lives from the danger of exposure from their daughter's unusual birth, Claire and Peter will do anything to protect their new family.<br />
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Jasmine is a lovely character. She is only two and a half when she's first introduced in this story, but she stole my heart. I love her innocence and curiosity. Even at that tender age, she has an unusual power. The story skips time, and we get to meet her once more when she is a five-year-old, and a Supermoon is imminent. As the event fast approaches, danger threatens, and their lives hang in the balance.<br />
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I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this book for some time. Told through the eyes of several of the characters, namely, Claire, Peter, and Jasmine, we get to see their thoughts and feelings.<br />
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I don't know how to put into words the emotions that went through me while reading this book. For someone who has written many reviews, that is not an easy thing to admit. I found myself smiling at the first scene where Jasmine appears; it was so sweet. However, as the story took me deeper and deeper into its pages, I ran a whole gamut of emotions, from happiness to anger, fear to heart-wrenching sadness. The characters came alive on the page, and I felt every emotion they did. There are some scenes in this book between Pete and Claire that are a little steamy, but amusing. They weren't particularly funny, but the situation of having a young child interrupting was. I think all parents have had to deal with this particular circumstance at one time or another.<br />
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A new character introduced into the tale never has his origins properly revealed, so he remains a mystery, though there is a twist I didn't see until I stumbled over it. I had my suspicions, of course, but even then, the reveal surprised me. One thing that did surprise me was Claire’s intuition. Was it an innately human sense, or does she had magic running through her veins? Diego is one of Jasmine’s classmates. There is one scene in this book that ripped my heart out containing him. I won't say what happened because of spoilers. Suffice it to say, keep a tissue handy, you'll need it. I reached the end of the book, and I've now got a severe case of 'book hangover' from reading this tale. Be warned!<br />
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As this series is a convergence of two other series - The Eye of the Storm, and The Witching Pen - I loved meeting Pueblo (from The Sands of Time - The Witching Pen Series) once more, as well as Jarrod. Near the end of the book, we get to meet the werewolves from the Eye of the Storm series (and their children), as well as Selena aka Jennifer aka Laura from Blood Shadow, the first book in this companion series. I now can't wait to read the two new series. One following Laura in the Blood Shadow series, and the other following Jasmine in the Aftershock one. Bring it on!<br />
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Dianna Hardy is one of my favourite romance authors (she writes both paranormal/urban fantasy and contemporary romance), she has a way of expressing so much emotion through her written words. Ripping your heart out with them, but will also fill you up with them too. I love her writing style, which is fast paced and exciting. The flow is fantastic too. Reading her books are a joy, and I will continue to read them for as long as she keeps writing them.<br />
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Unlike other books by this author, this book doesn't have many romantic scenes of explicit content, though what scenes there are, aren't as detailed as other series written by her. However, some scenes contain bad language and violence that may offend or upset some readers, so I do not recommend this book for younger readers or those of a nervous disposition. I highly recommend this book (and series) if you love contemporary or paranormal romances, dark fantasy and urban fantasy genres. - Lynn Worton<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7917492-lynn-worton">View all my reviews</a><br />
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<b><u>Purchase Links:</u></b><br />
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<b><u>About The Author:</u></b><br />
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<b><u><br /></u></b><b><u><br /></u></b>"Whether paranormal or contemporary, the one thing all my stories have in common is the fight for what you really want from life." (Dianna Hardy)<br />
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Dianna Hardy is a UK-based, international bestselling author of The Witching Pen series, and the Eye Of The Storm series. She combines a titillating mix of contemporary and paranormal romance, as well as urban and dark fantasy, into her writing, to bring you stories that are action-packed, fast-paced and not short of heat, with the focus on both character development and the plot. She writes full-length novels and short fiction. She has also written poetry (first published in 1997) and esoteric books and articles. Nowadays, she chooses to concentrate on writing fiction.<br />
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In December 2012, Releasing The Wolf hit the Kindle Paranormal Fantasy charts in both the US and the UK, where it stayed for three months, enjoying a highest ranking of #20. The first two books in the Eye of The Storm series have enjoyed success in the top 100 of Fantasy charts on Kindle US and Kindle UK, and all books in the series to date have reached the top 100 of the Fantasy iTunes charts in Netherlands, Norway, Australia and the UK, with Heart Of The Wolf (book 3) reaching #1 in Denmark.<br />
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The Witching Pen series, 'Til Death Do Us Part and A Silver Kiss, have also hit the top 100 of Kindle and iBooks charts (Fantasy, Romance and Horror) in a number of different countries worldwide.<br />
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Although quite active online, Dianna prefers the quiet company of nature and animals to the hustle and bustle of people. She loves anything paranormal (she doesn't really consider it "para"), organic food, walking barefoot, the smell of the woods after rain, and summer days.<br />
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However, she is also sustained by coffee, chocolate and the occasional vodka.<br />
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Having graduated from Richmond Drama School (London) in '98, she spent the next few years in a multitude of jobs (both acting and non-acting), studying anything that fascinated her, searching her soul, and finally found her passion where it had always been: at the end of a pen.<br />
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She currently lives in South Hampshire, UK with her partner and their daughter, where she writes full-time.<br />
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Official site: <a href="http://diannahardy.com/">diannahardy.com</a><br />
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(Profile photographs courtesy of Alastair Hay)</div>
Lynn Wortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11014493071604066759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-38496991279470306142018-10-21T08:00:00.000+02:002018-10-21T08:00:09.347+02:00Book Review of Craved by her Cougar (Cougar Creek Mates Shifter Romance Series Book 4) by Felicity Heaton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Book Title:</b> Craved by her Cougar (Cougar Creek Mates Shifter Romance Series #4)</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Erotic Paranormal Romance</div>
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<b>Pages:</b> 170</div>
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<b>Author:</b> Felicity Heaton</div>
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<b>Date Published:</b> 29 September 2018<br />
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<b><u>Synopsis:</u></b><br />
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For the last twenty years, Cobalt has burned with a need of one female, a beautiful raven-haired cougar who captured his heart the moment he set eyes on her. His position as pride protector has been a blessing at past mating gatherings, keeping females away, but this time it feels like the worst of curses, because the female who has bewitched him so thoroughly is taking part for the first time and all he can do is watch as males battle for her.<br />
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As much as she hates the way her mother controls everything in her life, Ember is thankful for it as she constantly turns away suitors, unaware of the pain she’s sparing Ember from with every male she rejects. Every male who isn’t the gorgeous blond with darkness in his eyes and an easy smile she burns for with an intensity that scares her, awakens feelings in her that have her verging on doing something reckless. Damaged goods he might be, dangerous and unpredictable, but with every contest over her that pulls her closer to her doom, she grows more determined to follow her heart, no matter the consequences.<br />
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With every fight over the right to Ember, the tethers on Cobalt’s feelings twist and threaten to snap, a torment he cannot bear and one that has him willing to risk it all, because a single kiss would make even the harshest punishment worth it. He would die for one moment with her… his fated mate.<br />
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Discover four sexy cougar shifter brothers guaranteed to become your next book boyfriends in this hot new shapeshifter romance series from New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author Felicity Heaton, set in the same rich and addictive world as her Eternal Mates paranormal romance series.<br />
Book 1: Claimed by her Cougar<br />
Book 2: Captured by her Cougar<br />
Book 3: Courted by her Cougar<br />
Book 4: Craved by her Cougar</div>
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<b><u>Review:</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40254128-craved-by-her-cougar" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Craved by her Cougar (Cougar Creek Mates, #4)" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1531560490m/40254128.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40254128-craved-by-her-cougar">Craved by her Cougar</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1228468.Felicity_Heaton">Felicity Heaton</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2552772441">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This story is the fourth (and final) book in a new shifter series called Cougar Creek Mates Shifter Romance Series, which is an offshoot of the Eternal Mates series (which I love) and based in the same world.<br />
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Cobalt is a wonderful character. I liked this shifter a lot, even though he's full of angst and tends to mope around. However, he has reason to sulk. He has loved Ember from afar for more than twenty years after he realised she was his destined mate. He didn't expect her to attend the Gathering, but when he sees her there, he’s torn between his instincts and duty. Will he claim his mate?<br />
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Ember is also a wonderful character. I like this feisty female shifter. She has known that Cobalt is her fated mate for many years and she only agreed to go to the Gathering to claim him. Unfortunately, she realised her mistake too late - he couldn't join in the Gathering due to his duty to the pride as a protector. Now she faces a dark future if her mother chooses her mate for her from the males vying for her attention. But can she win the man who holds her heart?<br />
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I began reading this story, told through both Cobalt's and Ember's points of view and quickly became hooked. The action is intense from the start. Cobalt's angst has been hinted at through the previous books in the series, so finally getting to read his and Ember's story is a relief in a way. This story goes to the opposite ends of insta-love. These two characters have loved each other for several decades, but due to Ember's immaturity and not reaching 'adulthood' for that period, it has been a slow-burning fuse. Now Ember has reached mating age, the fuse ignites and becomes a conflagration. The story takes the reader through a roller coaster ride of emotions.<br />
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The reader also gets to meet the other characters from the previous books: Rath and Ivy, and Flint and Yasmin. Storm and Gabi are on honeymoon, so don't make an appearance. Nevertheless, they have a presence in the book too.<br />
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There is another fantastic fight scene or two that gripped me from beginning to end. Of course, I knew who would win; there was no doubt. This author has a fantastic way of describing fight scenes that come alive. I am feeling a little sad that this side series has come to an end, but I am hopeful that we will meet these characters again in the Eternal Mates universe in the not too distant future. There is the connection to Archangel to investigate after all.<br />
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I reached the end of the book with mixed feelings. I love the shifter world the author has created but feel let down by the rushed feel to the series. I don't know if the author is putting on too much pressure onto herself to get these books out quickly, or not. I prefer quality over quantity, and this book is decidedly below her best work, even though I still loved it. I am now looking forward to reading the next book in the Eternal Mates series to see what happens next.<br />
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Felicity Heaton has written another fast-paced, sexy paranormal romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. I love her fast-paced writing style, which flows effortlessly from scene to scene. She is still on top of my favourite author's list.<br />
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I do not recommend this book to younger readers due to the extremely HOT and explicit sexual scenes. However, I highly recommend this book (and series) if you love sexy paranormal romances full of cat shifters and other paranormal species. - Lynn Worton<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7917492-lynn-worton">View all my reviews</a><br />
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<b><u>Purchase Links:</u></b><br />
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">About The Author:</u><br />
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<img alt="Felicity Heaton" height="200" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1366369715p5/1228468.jpg" width="160" /></div>
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Felicity Heaton is a NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY and International Best-Selling Author writing passionate paranormal romance books and series for adults.</div>
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In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons!</div>
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If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, her best-selling Her Angel romance series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm romance series or any of her stand alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try her Vampire Erotic Theatre romance series. Or if you like hot-blooded alpha heroes who will let nothing stand in the way of them claiming their destined woman then try her Eternal Mates series. It’s packed with sexy heroes in a world populated by elves, vampires, fae, demons, shifters, and more. If sexy Greek gods with incredible powers battling to save our world and their home in the Underworld are more your thing, then be sure to step into the world of Guardians of Hades.</div>
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Fans of paranormal romance books by authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter, Larissa Ione, Kresley Cole and Christine Feehan will love Felicity's books too.</div>
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<b><u>Author Links:</u></b></div>
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If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:</div>
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<a href="http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/">Website</a> ; <a href="http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/blog/">Blog</a> ; <a href="http://www.facebook.com/felicityheaton">Facebook</a> ; <a href="http://twitter.com/felicityheaton">Twitter</a> ; <a href="http://www.tsu.co/felicityheaton">Tsu</a> ; <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/felicityheaton/">Pinterest</a> ; <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/felicityheaton">GoodReads</a> ; <a href="http://amzn.com/e/B0039E3HOU">Amazon</a></div>
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Lynn Wortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11014493071604066759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431142281691403193.post-87092666409658422792018-10-08T08:00:00.000+02:002018-10-08T08:00:05.990+02:00Audio/Book Review of The Servants of the Storm (The Pillars of Reality Book 5) by Jack Campbell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Book Title:</b> The Servants of the Storm (Pillars of Reality #5)</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Epic Fantasy/Dark Fantasy</div>
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<b>Pages:</b> 348</div>
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<b>Audio Book Length:</b> 12 Hours 23 Mins</div>
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<b>Author:</b> Jack Campbell</div>
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<b><b>Narrated by:</b> </b>MacLeod Andrews<br />
<b>Date Published:</b> 1 November 2016 (E-Book)<br />
1 July 2016 (Audio)</div>
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<b><u>Synopsis:</u></b><br />
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A Storm that will wreck a world threatens Dematr. Only Mari, one of the Mechanics who control all technology through their Guild, has a chance to stop it. She and Mage Alain have survived numerous attempts to kill them and have gained many more followers, but the Storm of chaos, born of centuries of enslavement, grows ever closer.<br />
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Mari leads an army now. She and Alain must fight together to bind back the Broken Kingdom and build a force strong enough to defeat the might of the Great Guilds. But the Storm has many Servants who seek to preserve or gain personal power or wealth, or fear the New Day that Mari seeks to bring to the world.<br />
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And Mari knows that victory will mean nothing if the precious knowledge brought long ago to their world is destroyed. In order to save it, Alain and Mari will have to pierce through the heart of their enemies' power and confront once more a place of ancient nightmare.</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28179851-the-servants-of-the-storm" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Servants Of The Storm (The Pillars of Reality, #5)" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1461810601m/28179851.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28179851-the-servants-of-the-storm">The Servants Of The Storm</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/55547.Jack_Campbell">Jack Campbell</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2495218441">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This story is the fifth book in a fantastic epic fantasy series called The Pillars of Reality. I absolutely loved it!<br />
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Mari is a fantastic character. I liked her immediately when I met her in the first book. I love her determination to do the right thing, even at the cost of her own life. A Master Mechanic, Mari has faced many threats to her life from the Guild Masters on the world of Dematr and survived. Foreseen by Mages to be 'The Daughter of Jules' and fated to free the world of Dematr from the tyranny of both the Guilds - Mechanics and Mages - and to unite the Mechanics, Mages and Commons against said Guilds, Mari finds herself fighting for their freedom.<br />
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Mage Alain is also a fantastic character. I liked him a lot from the start. He was one of the youngest Acolytes to achieve Mage status at the age of seventeen. He has been taught from a young age not to show or feel any emotions and that the world he lives in is an illusion, where nothing is real. I love how this character has grown as the series has progressed. He tries to show more emotion, even though his Guild had virtually beaten it out of him. He hides a dry wit under that emotionless mask.<br />
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I listened to this story in audio format, rather than read it. MacLeod Andrews once again narrates the story. He does a fantastic job of bringing the story to life. Even Alain, who's voice is meant to be flat and emotionless comes across with subtle hints. You would think that Alain's voice would be monotonous, but it's not so. I love the way he brings all the characters to life with different accents, inflexions and tones. He even makes the women's voices sound perfect for each character. As for his narration, he read the story clearly and concisely, and his pacing was perfect. I would listen to more books read by this narrator.<br />
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The story continues six months from the end of The Pirates of Pacta Servanda and sees Mari and Alain heading a mixed army of Mages, Mechanics and Commons as the action heats up. Mechanic Caylou (not sure of spelling as I listened to the story so have no reference and have spelt it phonetically - it could be Kayloo or another variation) makes another appearance. He is one of Mari's friends from the Mechanics Guild, along with his girlfriend, Ally, who also makes an appearance. I love her constant use of 'Your Daughterness' when speaking to Mari just because it annoys her. Mage Asha also makes another appearance, as does Mage Dov, who is Asha's uncle, and Mechanic Dov (no relation) whose relative had once lived in Marandur. Cien, a princess of Tae, plays a significant role in this story, too. There are a few more characters added, but it would take me too long to mention them all.<br />
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I love the world building in this series. It is familiar though strange at the same time. It has a mix of steampunk and modern day technology, but this is due to the way the Guilds restricted people from creating new things. The story is full of action, adventure, and danger and I found myself an emotional wreck at times. In this story, the characters are gathering together for a showdown with the Great Guilds. They also make a dangerous journey back into the Imperial territory of Marandur to retrieve the mechanical texts left at the University. The action is ramping up further as the storyline reaches towards the climax, and I found myself holding my breath more than once as they faced several tricky challenges. Have you ever read or listened to a story and felt utterly emersed in it? It happened to me as I listened to this book. These characters have come to life for me and have become my friends. This book ends with a slight cliffhanger, which had me eager to listen to the next story in the series, The Wrath of the Great Guilds, as soon as possible.<br />
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Jack Campbell has written a fantastic science fiction series. I have added him to my favourite author's list, as he's found a fan in me. I love his writing style, which is fast-paced and descriptive, and the flow of the story is good too.<br />
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Although there is now some mention of scenes of a sexual nature, it’s not shown. I do not, however, recommend this book to younger readers under the age of 15 due to some violence. I do, however, highly recommend this book if you love dark or epic fantasy, steampunk or action/adventure and supernatural/paranormal romance genres. - Lynn Worton<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7917492-lynn-worton">View all my reviews</a><br />
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<b><u>About The Author:</u></b><br />
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<b><u><br /></u></b>"Jack Campbell" is the pseudonym for John G. Hemry, a retired Naval officer (and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis). As Jack Campbell, he writes The Lost Fleet series of military science fiction novels, as well as the Beyond the Frontier continuation of The Lost Fleet, and The Lost Stars series (a spin-off of The Lost Fleet). He has also written the Stark's War series and the Sinclair/"JAG in space" series, and has written many shorter stories featuring space opera, fantasy, time travel, and alternate history. Many of these stories can be found in the three Jack Campbell ebook anthologies. He lives with his wife (the Indomitable S) and three children (two of whom are autistic) in Maryland.<br />
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<b><u>Author Links:</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jack-Campbell/e/B001H6W4PU">Amazon Author Page</a> ; <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/55547.Jack_Campbell">Goodreads</a> ; <a href="http://www.jack-campbell.com/">Website</a></div>
</span>Lynn Wortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11014493071604066759noreply@blogger.com0