Audio/Book Review of Fragments (The Partials Sequence #2) by Dan Wells

Synopsis:

Fighting to stop a war that could destroy everyone alive…

Kira Walker nearly died searching for the RM cure, but the battle for survival is only just beginning. The genetically-engineered Partials are inextricably bound to a greater plan that could save both races and give Kira the answers she desperately seeks.

Venturing deep into the wasteland, Kira’s only allies are an unhinged drifter and two Partials who betrayed her yet saved her life – the only ones who know her secret. Back on Long Island, what’s left of humanity is gearing up for war. But their greatest enemy may be one they didn’t even know existed.

It is the eleventh hour of humanity’s time on earth; this journey may be their last.

Review:


Fragments by Dan Wells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Partials Sequence. I loved it!

I downloaded this book in audio format, as I wanted to read it but didn't have time to. Getting this book in audio allowed me to be able to listen to it whilst doing household chores, or when I was too tired from work to hold a book or my Kindle. The narrator, Julia Whelan, did another fantastic job in bringing the characters to life by giving them their own accent and voice.

Kira Walker is now seventeen years old and is still trying to find a solution to the deadly RM virus. Her search takes her on a dangerous journey through a deadly and treacherous landscape called "the Wasteland". Along the way she meets new friends, and new foes are looking for her. Will Kira and Samm be successful in their mission?

The story continues from the end of the first book, and see's Kira trying to find information on Paragen - the company that created the Partials (and her) - and travelling across the mainland to Chicago to find answers to the numerous questions that were left unanswered in the first story. This story is now told from various points of view, rather than just Kira's, and this gives the reader an insight as to what is happening to the other characters in the various locations. It was nice to have Samm's thoughts and feelings brought to life, as I had commented in my review of Partials that I would have liked to know what he thought of things. The multiple view points of Kira, Samm, Marcus and a few other characters has given me a broader picture and it made it easier to picture the scenes. In fact, I felt like I was watching a movie, as the details and descriptions were extremely vivid. There are surprising twists and turns that pepper the story, and I was completely engrossed from start to finish. There is a huge twist that shocked me, but in a way, the situation made sense. I was in tears for some of the story, as it is rather brutally sad, but there are some rather touching moments that also made me smile. There is a lot of danger and adventure that had me sitting on the edge of the seat. At one point, I found myself holding my breath as Kira explored a building, and got a little lightheaded from the lack of oxygen! The end of the story finishes on a cliffhanger, and now I can't wait to get a copy of the last book in the trilogy, Ruins.

Dan Wells has written a fast paced, action packed post-apocalyptic YA novel that kept me riveted from the first page. I loved his writing style, which kept me highly entertained and the story flowed wonderfully. I would love to see this series being made for the big screen.

I highly recommend this book (and series) if you love books like The Hunger Games and Divergent or YA, Science Fiction, Dystopian or Post-Apocalyptic genres. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of Spellbound (Vampires Realm) (Vampires Realm Romance Series #3.1) by Felicity Heaton

Synopsis:

What’s a girl to do when the two men she loves are suddenly her love slaves? 

A vampire and leader of her bloodline, Prophecy celebrates her Death Day in style with a two night ball. Everyone is there, but all she can think about is getting her mate, Valentine, to unwind for once. When Valentine asks her to leave her own party and wait for him in her room, she sees it as a chance to lure him into bed and work out his kinks.

Flicking through her magic book, she finds spell after spell about love and lust, and is surprised when she discovers one that will make someone into a love slave! Unable to resist the idea of having Valentine at her command, she casts the spell, only things don’t go as planned.

Valentine arrives and the spell is cast on him, but it hits someone else too—the other man in her heart, Venturi!

So what’s a girl to do when her only wish has just come true and she’s got both of the men she loves as her willing slaves, and it seems they’re more than happy to share her? Passion, love and lust come to the surface in this highly erotic story that will leave you spellbound.


Spellbound by Felicity Heaton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a fun short erotic romance story that continue's from the Vampire Realm Trilogy. I loved it!

Prophecy is a powerful witch and now a vampire. To celebrate her death day, a ball was organised, but now she wants a private celebration with her mate, Valentine. On a whim, she casts a spell, but it backfires and she finds herself caught in a tangled web of her own making.

I loved the Vampire Realm Trilogy, so I was excited to find there was a short story that continues with these characters. This story, although short, was a fun read. I have read a few of the more negative reviews and I can see their point; the story is nothing short of erotica. However, I also loved the idea of the author taking a "what if" approach and making a story out of a character's fantasies. If you read the Trilogy, there is a moment when Prophecy fantasizes about a tryst with both of the men she loves. This is the author's way of fulfilling that fantasy. The story is most definitely on the steamy side, and had me giggling at some of the thoughts running through Prophecy's head. I was expecting fireworks when the spell wore off, but was surprised that wasn't the case. The end of the story made me smile, and I am looking forward to continuing the series by reading Reunion as soon as possible.

Felicity Heaton has written another fast paced, sexy paranormal romance that I thoroughly enjoyed! She is one of my favourite authors to read, and is on the top of my favourite authors list!

I do not recommend this book to younger readers due to the extremely HOT and explicit bedroom scenes. However, I highly recommend this book (and series) if you love sexy paranormal romances full of vampires. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of The NightMan by T.L. Mitchell

Synopsis:

Caitlin, a beautiful woman who is caught between the control of one ruthless vampire and her only desire for love.
Dorian, a vampire with only one desire; to devour the beautiful Caitlin. He has waited a hundred years for the chance of his immortal lifetime.
The NightMan watches and protects. His heart longs for something more, something to free him from his bonds. A reason to fight. A reason to live. A reason to love.
One mysterious night under a new moon, love blooms, passions flare and freedom is so near.
Can one night of love change the lives of three people? Who will be the one to overcome in The NightMan.

Review:


The Nightman by T.L. Mitchell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a novella that I downloaded when it was free, as the blurb sounded interesting. Unfortunately, it has taken me a while to get to read it.

Caitlin is a young woman caught between a vampire, Dorian, who desires her blood, and Adriel, The Nightman - a werewolf, who desires her body.

This is a paranormal romance with a fantastic premise. Unfortunately, the story, for me, lacked something. The story was interesting, but I was a bit disappointed that the tale felt more like an essay. The dialogue was a bit stilted and felt a bit formal. This, I felt, made the characters seem rather shallow and not as interesting as they should have been. The story is a fast read, as it is a novella, and I would have liked for the story to have been a little longer and the characters fleshed out a little more. Since I downloaded this book more than a year ago, I don't know if it had been re-edited. However, the copy I had was in dire need of a polish through a professional editor. This does not mean that the story wasn’t good. On the contrary, the story had great promise. This is a diamond in the rough, and with a little tender loving polish, could be a great paranormal romance. I really did enjoy the story and the ending left me quite happy.

T.L. Mitchell has written an intriguing paranormal romance. Her writing style is not as fast paced as some authors, though the story flowed nicely. Even though this story could have been much better, I would definitely consider reading more of this authors work in the future.

There is a scene of a sensual nature that is slightly explicit. Therefore, I do not recommend this book to younger readers. However, I recommend this book if you love paranormal romances. - Lynn Worton

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Cover Reveal: Trancending the Legacy (Piercing the Fold Series #4) by Venessa Kimball

The final book in the Piercing the Fold series releases May 13, 2014!

In Book 1, Jesca's reality was set askew. 

In Book 2, Jesca and the guardians fought to surface the rim of reality. 

In Book 3, Jesca ascended the veil of our world to bring back those she loves.

In Book 4, Jesca must transcend her legacy to salvage humankind's existence. 

The question is, will the stakes be too high and the sacrifice too great?

Amazon Best Selling Paranormal Sci-Fi series

Piercing the Fold: Book 1 

Surfacing the Rim: Book 2 

Ascending the Veil: Book 3 

Book Review of The Riddle of Prague (QuickSilver Legacy Series #1) by Laura DeBruce

Synopsis:

What would you risk to save someone you love? What price would you pay to live for centuries?

When 18-year-old Hana Silna travels to Prague, she discovers a riddle that may lead to a long-lost flask. The contents of that flask could change the fate of the world. When a ruthless enemy kidnaps her family, Hana has to find the flask to rescue them. On her quest she meets a mysterious man with a penchant for poetry, a Gypsy girl with a haunting past, and an all-American boy who's trying to save his sister from a crippling disease.

It's hard to trust anyone when the stakes are this high -- especially when surrounded by experts at deception. There's only one flask, and Hana desperately needs to find it.

Review:


The Riddle of Prague (The QuickSilver Legacy Series) by Laura DeBruce
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was recommended this book by a friend and, as I love YA Thriller/Mystery/Adventure books, I thought I would give it a go. I absolutely LOVED it!

First off, I would like to say that the cover is absolutely fantastic, and captures the essence of the story quite well. This would look good on my bookshelf in print!

Hana Silna is a character I really liked. She is quite brave and determined and, although the angst is kept to a minimum, she is a typical teen. She has been sent by her mother to Prague to claim her family's house back from the Czech government.

This is a fantastic story, full of action, danger and mystery. I was completely hooked from the first page! Hana meets some very interesting characters during her visit. Some are friendly, but some are decidedly frightening and deadly. I loved meeting Simona, Michal, Alex and Thalia, as well as a few other characters. There is a really creepy bad guy that sent shivers up my back. His name is Julian - he's one scary dude! The story is told mostly from Hana's point of view, but there is a point of view from another character called The Nomad. This mysterious character is extremely dangerous. I must admit that I had a suspicion as to who the person was, but it wasn't until later in the story that I found out for sure. I loved the hint of romance between Hana and Alex; they make a cute couple. There are some amazing twists in this story that I never saw coming, and I had a jaw dropping moment when an identity of a character was revealed. Prague was described in such a way that I felt like I was there, and made me want to visit the city for real. The end of the book finishes on a slight cliffhanger, and now I can't wait to find out what happens next!

Laura DeBruce has written a fantastic debut YA Thriller that is a fast paced roller coaster ride of danger and adventure. I loved her writing style, which flowed wonderfully, and I will be following this author's work with interest.

I highly recommend this book to both older teenage boys and girls (15+) and adults who love YA, Thriller, Suspense or Mystery genres. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of Escape: Past Sins by David J. Antocci

Synopsis:

Abby and Eric’s story continues in this follow up to ESCAPE, A New Life. 

Abby has put her past in the rearview mirror and carved out a life with Eric on an isolated island; their own personal slice of paradise. But after having her new life shaken to the core, Abby comes out of hiding to get her memory back and reunite with the part of herself she left behind – though nothing can prepare her for her forgotten sins and the dangerous men awaiting her return.

Coming out of their self-imposed exile, Abby and Eric embark on a journey to the other side of the world. They have a plan to reclaim a piece of her past and forever bury the secret location of their new life, creating a peaceful future for themselves.

Stalked on their journey by guardian angels and instruments of the devil alike, their plan comes to fruition, but at the ultimate cost. While she can run, Abby cannot escape her frightful past.

Review:


Past Sins by David J Antocci
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

This is a continuation to Escape: A New Life. I loved it.

Abby is a fantastic character. She is a survivor of a grueling competition that saw her fighting for her life. I really liked her and was very happy that she survived, but her life is about to be turned upside down once again.

Eric is also a fantastic character. He has a strength of will and determination that I really liked. He has a sense of honour and duty, and even though danger threatens, he really loves Abby and will protect her with his life.

This is a fantastic continuation of Abby and Eric's story, and begins right where the first book finished. The action starts right from the start and has a lot of twists and turns that kept me hooked and turning the pages! I liked meeting Ben. He is a wonderful young boy and friend to both Abby and Eric. The story is told not only from Abby and Eric's point of view, but there are other characters that have their say. This gave the book a movie feel, as it gave the reader the chance to see what was happening outside of Abby and Eric's sight. A sinister appearance, or should I say reappearance, of Abby's husband brings danger back into their lives. A deadly cat and mouse game ensues, and the danger escalates to a gripping climax. This story had me on a roller coaster of emotion: happiness, anxiety, anger, sadness and a few other mixed emotions. However, near the end is a HUGE twist that I did not see coming and I was in complete shock and horror because of it. I am now looking forward to finding out what happens next!

David Antocci has written an exciting follow up to his debut novel. This author is definitely one to watch! I love his writing style which is fast paced and extremely fluid. I have added him to my favourite authors list!

I highly recommend this book if you love thrillers, suspense and/or dystopian fiction or are fans of The Hunger Games Trilogy. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of Blood and Sunlight: A Maryland Vampire Story by Jamie Wasserman

Synopsis:

Melanie would love to believe in fairytales. She’d love, in fact, to believe in anything. The twenty-three-year-old college dropout is stuck — stuck in a dead-end waitress job, stuck in her hometown of Ellicott City, Maryland, and stuck with a boyfriend who likes to play dress-up as a vampire.

Vampires. Her world and her reality are turned upside down when she encounters the real thing. Along the way, she meets Lucas, the would-be vampire slayer, his father the sheriff, and ultimately the vampire himself. Melanie learns that fairytales can come true, and evil isn't always where you expect to find it.

Review:


Blood and Sunlight: A Maryland Vampire Story by Jamie Wasserman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I downloaded this book when I first bought my Kindle as a freebie, but hadn't read it until now. I am kicking myself, because I really enjoyed it!

Melanie is a character that I really liked. She is thoughtful, artistic and bored of playing "vampires" with her boyfriend, Bryan. But, she is also a bit of a carpet where her boyfriend is concerned - she lets him walk all over her, and he takes advantage of it. However, a fateful encounter will change her life forever.

I am a huge fan of vampire romances, but the blurb on this book caught my attention and this is not a romance as such. It is a fantastic mix of romance, thriller and horror. The story is set in the small town of Ellicott City, Maryland, where nothing much ever happens. However, there are things that live in shadows. The story is a roller coaster ride of danger and adventure that kept me hooked from the first page. The characters are all very lifelike. I thought Bryan was a jerk, and deserved his fate. I liked Lucas, but there is a surprise in store for the reader about this character. There are some serious twists and turns that I did not see coming, and I had a few OMG moments. The story is told as half fairy tale and half real story, which sort of reminded me of how "The Princess Bride" was told (there is no other similarity to that book besides that fact) and is mostly told through Melanie's point of view. The reader is also introduced to Keenan, a real vampire. His story is not exactly a happy one, but I liked him; he and Melanie make a great couple. The end of the book did not have a cliffhanger, but it did have a slight twist and it left me with a happy feeling.

Jamie Wasserman has written a fast paced, exciting roller coaster ride of a story that kept me undeniably entertained. I loved her writing style, which flowed wonderfully. I would definitely consider reading more of this author's work in the future.

I do not recommend this book to younger readers, or those of a nervous disposition, due to some violence. There are scenes of a sexual nature too, but they are not as explicit as some books I have read. However, I highly recommend this book if you love paranormal romance, thriller or horror genres. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of Assassin's Curse (The Witch Stone Prophecy #1) by Debra L. Martin and David W. Small

Synopsis:

Disclaimer: This book is about assassins and contains violent scenes appropriate for the story.

When elite assassin Jeda received his assignment to kill a witch and deliver her twin daughters to the Countess of Berkshire, he had no idea it would be his last. The witch stuns him with an elemental blast, but not before he's able to throw his knife. When Jeda regains consciousness, the dying witch is performing a compelling spell between him and her twin daughters. Now bonded to the girls, Jeda's old life is forfeit. His only thought is to take the girls and run as far away as he can. He has no idea that the twins are the ones spoken of in the long-lost prophecy of The Witch Stone. Forces are gathering: the white witches want to teach them; the Countess wants her grandchildren back, and the guild has sent their best assassin to bring Jeda back, dead or alive.

Jeda must use all of his assassin skills to stay one step ahead of them all, but will it be enough to save himself and keep the children of prophecy alive?

Assassin's Curse is ~98,000 words (392 pages in print) 

Review:


Assassin's Curse by Debra L. Martin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

This is the first book in The Witch Stone Prophecy series. I loved it!

Jeda is an assassin, trained in the art of stealth and death from being a young boy. He is extremely efficient and dangerous. Sent on a mission, he doesn't realise how quickly fate will change his life forever! I really liked this character. I don't normally empathize with killers, but Jeda is a product of a harsh environment and is really a scared and lonely boy underneath his tough exterior.

I love fantasy novels, but I was a bit unsure of this one at first. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy a story about an assassin, but as I started to read this story, I was completely swept away. The story is told from several points of view, which is quite interesting, as each character has their own story to tell. Set over a 10 year period, the reader gets to follow the growth of the characters and experience the changes within the various lives as they occur. The two girls, Kala and Kara, grow up with a father who loves them and teaches them how to be just as skilled with the blade as he is, but they are also very powerful witches. However, they are being hunted, and the assassin that has been sent to track them is not as nice as Jeda. Mave has no conscience and is a cold and deadly killer, who will stop at nothing to get to Jeda and the girls.
The story has several twists and turns, some of which surprised me and I never saw coming! The fight scenes are described with amazing detail and are definitely intense! There is also a lot of violence, including abuse and mutilation, which may be upsetting to some readers. The ending left a bit of a chill climbing my spine, and made me wonder what is in store for Jeda, Kala and Kara in their future. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series to find out.

The authors' Debra L. Martin and David W. Small have written a fantastic fantasy novel full of danger and adventure. The story was fast paced without being rushed, and flowed beautifully from beginning to end.

Due to the violence, I do not recommend this book to younger readers. However, I highly recommend this book if you love action, adventure, thriller or fantasy genres. - Lynn Worton

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Book/Audio Review of Honor of the Tome (First book in the Dragon Keepers series) by Bruce Goldwell

Synopsis:

Book One of the Dragon Keepers Series
Reading Level: Young Readers

HONOR OF THE TOME

THE DRAGON KEEPERS for centuries were the custodians and caretakers of the most prestigious and elite species of animal in the known universe ... Dragons.

In Book I, Merlin becomes an official Dragon Keeper and is given the responsibility of caring for Dracon, a newborn and son of the mightiest dragon on the earth, Merlineld.

Merlin is also entrusted with the care of the Book of Dragons called the Draconic Tome. The Tome is a history of the dragons since he beginning of time. It is a key to time itself and a gateway to other worlds in the Universe.

Kids, teens and adults can all take part in this fantasy adventure of Merlin the Magician. Merlin is 13 years old in Book I and will continue to age and grow as the series of books unfolds.

Merlin learns wisdom and grows in character and strength so that when the day of his destiny comes, he will become the wisest and most powerful wizard to ever live. 

Review:


Honor of the Tome by Bruce Goldwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this story in audio format from the author.

This is the first book in the Dragon Keeper series for young readers aged 8 to 15. I loved it!

Merlin is a young boy with an important mission - to become a Dragon Keeper and learn to be a wizard. He has the important responsibility to train a new born Dragon called Dracon. I liked this character a lot. He is eager, inquisitive and determined to succeed.

This is a fantastic fantasy novel for children. There is adventure with Dragons and Elfins, but there is also danger in the form of Lady Oer. She is a very powerful witch, but she wants more power and is determined to get it from the dragons. She is not a very nice lady, and has become very adept at using the black arts to get what she wants.
This story is narrated by Aaron Holbrook. I found I liked the different voices used to dramatize the different characters, but felt that the narrator read the story too quickly, and this gave it a rushed feeling. I had a hard time keeping up, and felt like shouting at the narrator to take a breath! It is hard reading out loud and keeping the story exciting enough for young readers (I should know, as I have read lots of stories to my nephews over the years). However, rushing through it without taking a pause for a breath, or even for an effect, doesn't give the listener a chance to absorb the story properly. The story itself was exciting, so I would consider reading this in print format at my own pace. Luckily, the author very kindly gave me a print copy to read at my leisure too, and I will do so when I have a chance to. The ending of the story has a surprising twist that left me wanting to know what's going to happen next!

Bruce Goldwell has written a fabulous fantasy with some amazing characters, including my all time favourites - dragons. He has a vivid imagination and his writing style (narrator not withstanding) was fast paced enough to keep me engaged. I am looking forward to reading the other two books in the trilogy.

I highly recommend this book to both boys and girls between the ages of 5 to 7 as a bedtime story, 8 to 15 year old's (depending on reading ability) on their own and adults who love reading younger adult novels or fantasy stories with dragons. - Lynn Worton

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Summers Love by Stu Summers.

Click on the pic to get your fresh new copy from Amazon

*****

So I have a ton of stuff that makes me want to run to the hills once I see certain words in a blurb. One of them is funny, humor, hilarious etc. So when I was asked to review a romance…one more of those words where I wanna run. I figured ok. So ignore the romance and any attempts of humor for my own sanity. That makes it way better. For me that is. 
Then I started the book. And the romance kicked in really fast in the story. The romance was not bad and got me engrossed in the lives of the two main protagonists lives. Ok so I get saying that the romance got me engrossed after trying to ignore the romance might be weird… thing is….the romance was really good. It had all the expected tension and we have two very likeable main protagonists. 

But on the way to get to the romance I hit the humor. And it had me in stitches. Certain parts literally had me laughing out loud. And had me tell friends, listen to this….lol. That my friends is why the words humor etc in a blurb makes me want to run to the hills. Few authors can actually ever pull it off. This book however is not misrepresented in its blurb. 

The humor is brilliant, the world building is well done. The reference to Christian literature is never derogative and adds loads to the theme of the book which as it turns out is the true definition of love. Pure love not only romantic love. This book is a brilliant, really fast read and one that I will recommend to all that love humor, romance and Christian literature in general. 

WaAr

#WaArSummerLove

Kitty Genovese: A True ..By Catherine Pelon narrated by Dina Pearlman. An audible review

Kitty Genovese: A True ..By Catherine Pelon narrated by Dina Pearlman.

A research, crime narration of the true story of the murder of Kitty Genovese this book was fascinating even though a lot of repetition was present due to the nature of the story line. The book chronicles the Kitty Genovese case from start to finish. Detailing her life and personality to a degree. Focusing on her murder and the complete disdain people in the neighborhood showed when she was murdered in front of their eyes. 

I loved the fact that 911 was a result of this murder and how it was dealt with. The psychological research that went into to disinterested bystander etc kept me riveted. Like I said, this is not a novel. It is a chronological look at as many facets as the author could regarding Kitty's life. 

With this type of journalism repetition to prove a point etc or to go from hearsay to semi-proven fact is a given and it does get to be a bit much but I understood the reasoning behind it and if true life stories is your cup of tea then I am sure you will really enjoy this book and the look into the reasoning behind events. 

WaAr

The Rules by Mark Troy and audible review

The Rules by Mark Troy narrated by Julie Hoverson.

Ok, so the more I read or listen to books with the double tap horror / surprise endings the less I personally like it.  This is a short read at a bit over an hour and although the narrator did a very good job with the main protagonists voice and even to a degree with the second main protagonists she does not have the range to pull off more voices and a lot of the story got lost due to my irritation with the narrators inability to make the surprise guest to the house sound anything else other than a person not good at imitating voices.  Then the surprise double horror tap ending showing nothing is as it appears…the first such a surprise would have done fine.  

The second one simply annoyed.  Well it annoyed me personally.  I would have preferred if these double tap endings were replaced by a truly surprising twist.

WaAr

Audible review of Blue Ink by Nancy Fulda

Click on the pic to go to audible.

Blue Ink: A short story  by Nancy Fulda narrated by J.R Mangels

A short story with heart. 

This short story on audible was a surprise.  I did not know how well a short story would do on audible so when I started with this 20 min listen I was surprised at how well the short story is fitted to audible.

The story, of a boy who wants to make sure his clone is happy is far deeper than I expected from such a short short.  It's implication on our world view etc is quite something and the author and the narrator made every offer to make the story come to life.

WaAr

Book Review of Partials (The Partials Sequence #1) by Dan Wells

Synopsis:

The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.

Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic-in-training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws have pushed what's left of humanity to the brink of civil war, and she's not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will find that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them—connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

Review:


Partials by Dan Wells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the Partials Sequence series. I loved it!

Kira is a sixteen year old girl living in a post apocalyptic Long Island, along with the few remaining humans after a biochemical war. I liked this character a lot. She has a lot of compassion, bravery and determination. However, she finds out a secret that will change her life forever.

I was recommended this book by Amazon, since I am a fan of dystopian YA. I decided to give this book a try, and downloaded an audio book copy to listen to whilst doing chores. I loved the story so much, I also purchased a Kindle copy to read.

Narrated by Julia Whelan, the story is a fantastic post-apocalyptic dystopian novel full of twists and turns. Kira is a girl facing an insurmountable challenge (capturing a Partial and trying to find the cure for RM). However, she has a host of friends that go with her on her journey. The story is told through Kira's eyes, and the reader goes through the ups and downs of being a teenager - the angst and the frustration of being old enough to work and have children, but not exactly treated as an adult either. The characters were quite interesting, but Samm was an enigma. Yes, he's a Partial, but I was dying to know what he thought of things. It would have been nice to have some of the latter part of the story from his point of view. However, that wasn't to be. There is political intrigue that threatens the populace, not to mention the RM disease. There is also hint of attraction between Kira and Samm that smoldered in the background and, even though Kira already has a boyfriend, I was secretly hoping that they would get together.
The narrator did a wonderful job in bringing the characters alive, but I was a little disappointed that she made Kira sound a bit whiny. Yes, teenagers and angst go hand in hand, but when I read the story rather than listened to it, the voice in my head didn't sound the same. I suppose it's the interpretation we, as readers, make when reading books that brings the book to life in the mind's eye. I am now wanting to read/listen to the next book in the series, Fragments and the final installment, Ruins, which has not been released yet.

Dan Wells has written a fast paced, action packed post-apocalyptic YA novel that kept me riveted from the first page. I loved his writing style, which kept me highly entertained and the story flowed wonderfully.

I highly recommend this book if you love books like The Hunger Games and Divergent or YA, Science Fiction, Dystopian or Post-Apocalyptic genres. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of Walking Wolf Road by Brandon M. Herbert

Synopsis:

—A new breed of Werewolf Urban Fantasy—

Marked by Brother Raven…
Uprooted and dumped in a small town at the edge of the Colorado mountains, Jimmy Walker is at odds with everything. He feels adrift, alienated from his classmates and even his own family. It’s hard enough just being a teenager in a new town, struggling with grades, depression, hostile classmates, and a stepfather bent on making his life hell—

Until a violent collision with fate leaves Jimmy bleeding under the light of a Full Moon.

Now, Jimmy’s entire world is transforming, and his new friends are not what they seem. Adolescence is challenging enough without a mysterious white wolf haunting his dreams, the ability to see and hear the dead, budding shamanic powers, and the soul of a wolf growing inside him. And when catastrophe shatters his world, Jimmy is pitted against the demons of his past, and must embrace his heritage and unravel the prophesies hidden in his dreams. In a race to discover and confront the menace that seeks to destroy everything he loves, Jimmy must draw on every power he has.
But will it be enough, or will Jimmy’s hidden nemesis kill him first?

Review:


Walking Wolf Road by Brandon M. Herbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I downloaded this book when I first bought my Kindle, as the blurb intrigued me. I am kicking myself for not reading this sooner, as I loved it!

Jimmy Walker is an intriguing character. I really liked him a lot. He is a teenage boy full of loneliness and angst. Bullied and overweight, he is struggling to find a place to fit in. It's not easy when his family has just moved to a new town. However, a fateful encounter will change his life forever.

I love the idea of shapeshifters - wolves, bears, big cats etc., and I was completely hooked with the blurb of this book and decided to give this book a try. I'm glad I did, because the story was an exciting roller coaster ride from start to finish. The story was a bit hard to get into at first, but as I got further into the book (the second chapter), I was hooked pretty quickly and I began to really enjoy the story. I felt for Jimmy as his life unravels and then gets re-built. He is one of the nicest characters I have met in between the pages of a book, and his bravery in embracing his heritage blew me away. This story had me in tears in places, and giggling in others. The interaction between Jimmy and the other characters, especially his younger brother, was extremely touching. Even his new friends and pack members, Fen, Loki and Geri are interesting characters. Their personalities are all different, and they each have their own problems and angst issues. The story is told from Jimmy's point of view, and takes the reader through an amazing journey full of twists and turns. I have always been interested in the spiritual beliefs of the Native American people and the author seems to have the same interest. He also seems to have done a lot of research, or has had some experience in Shamanism. His descriptions of the rituals and practices brought them to life. He made me want to find my spiritual inner animal. The end of the book has a slight twist that I didn't expect, but it made an interesting conclusion to a most intriguing urban fantasy.

Brandon M. Herbert has written an exciting urban fantasy that kept me highly entertained. I loved his writing style which, although not especially fast paced, flowed wonderfully and made me want to keep a look out for more of his work in the future.

I highly recommend this book if you love pararnormal, shifter or urban fantasy genres. - Lynn Worton

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His Substitue Wife...My Sister by Sylvia Hubbard and Fabulosity Reads.

Presented by me and

 

 

Life has never been worth living for Charisse before her father died. After three attempts to kill herself were unsuccessful, she makes a deal for release from hell on earth, with one of the people who made her life what it was.

It wasn't until Chyna finds out that her husband, Parker Mills, was having an affair with her twin sister, Cheyenne, that she realizes she's losing the best thing she's ever had. Feeling the ultimate betrayal by her own sibling, Chyna knows she has to do whatever it takes to keep her husband and give him what he longs for - a baby. Knowing that she's unable to have children and Cheyenne is afflicted with the same condition, she decides to go to the only person that can help her save her marriage - her younger sister, Charisse.

In the end, one sister will die, another will lose everything and one will get everything that she wants.

“Spending fifty thousand dollars to produce off spring is crazy. Do you know what I could have done with that money? By this time, I’d have hundred college funds set up for you to donate to some third world child you could have adopted.”

Frustrated, Parker sunk down in the chair in front of Jaelen’s desk. “Yeah, but it’s not the same and you know it, Jae. Look at you. Five kids. Five damn kids.”

“Two are from my wife’s first dead husband.”

“But you’re still a family. You have off spring. You have someone to carry on your bloodline and you’re sharing these moments with the woman you first fell in love with and married. I want that. I want to be you… well not all ornery and mean, but you know what I mean. I’ve been married ten years to Chyna and you weren’t even married to Kim before you were bopping out twins.”

“Well, she raped me to get mine.”

“Let’s not even go into that. I think you just harbor that over her just so you can take advantage of her.”

Jaelen smirked wickedly. “It does make the mundane marriage very exciting when you can tie up your wife and make her beg for you. You should try it sometime.”

“Chyna says it might mess up her hair and hands.”

“If you can spend fifty on a baby, you can spend a couple of hundred– “

“Let’s not go into this.” Parker really didn’t want to expand upon his wife’s shallow behavior.

Jaelen took the hint, understanding in advance this was a sore subject for Parker. “So, this crazy sister-in-law, what’s her story?”

“Nothing I haven’t already told you. Chyna says her sister is so pathetic she can’t even kill herself.”

“How many times has she tried?”

“This last time makes three.”

Jaelen stopped what he was doing and frowned. “I’m not religious and all that, but she ever thought that it just wasn’t her time, and that she had a purpose in life.”

“You ever thought you’re just saying that shit because you’re an ass and you’re trying to find some hilarity out of a bad situation?” He stood up.

“So I take it you haven’t told Chyna about the boat?”

Parker didn’t answer because he knew Jaelen already knew the answer. He was saving it for the moment when Chyna announced that they were going to have a baby. Knowing that they were going to dedicate eighteen more years together deserved an award and “the boat” was the key.

Yet that moment hadn’t come and he was starting to think it never would. The majority of Parker’s friends were married and those that were had children, vibrant healthy off spring. Their blood running through small versions of themselves.

 

Sylvia Hubbard knew she’d wanted to be a writer of romance long before she knew there were black writers in the world. Weaving stories magically as a summer past time to writing stories to get through the humdrum of school, she was able to create something from nothing.

Today, she has independently published over 28 books, is the founder of Motown Writers Network and The AA Electronic Literary Network, CEO of HubBooks Literary Services, runs over five blogs on a variety of subjects, host The Michigan Literary Network Radio Show and is a happily divorced mother of three children in Detroit, Michigan.

“I’m no superwoman,” she states with a smile that seems infinite on her lips. “I’m just being an asset in the world instead of a liability.”

 

Considered an addicted blogger by HoneyTechblog.com, nominated and recognized for her literary work in the Metro Detroit area, referred to as “A Literary Diva” by Detroit City Council and donned “Cliffhanger Queen” by her readers, she finds solace in speaking and educating on a variety of topics.

Author’s Website: www.sylviahubbard.com

Author’s Blog: www.sylviahubbard.com/blog

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sylviahubbard

Twitter: www.twitter.com/sylviahubbard1

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/sylviahubbard

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