Thursday, June 30, 2016
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Book Review of Blood Secrets (Blood series #2) by Elizabeth Morgan
Book Title: Blood Secrets (Blood Series #2)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 528
Author: Elizabeth Morgan
Date Published: 22 April 2016
Synopsis:
When your life is messed up to begin with, how much worse can it really get?
Heather Ryan's life has never been simple. The latest in a long line of descendants who have made it their mission to hunt down and slay the Ancient Vampire, Marko Pavel, she is also the first born Infected. Up until recently, the biggest downside to living with the Vampyrric Virus was simply that she craved blood, but after receiving a DVD from her deceased Grandmother Sofia and being kidnapped with friend and so called guardian Werewolf, Brendan Daniels, she quickly discovers that she is also the inspiration behind the Vampires’ attempt to create a whole new breed of super monsters—Hybrids.
The truth comes at a cost, but how much does one have to sacrifice to gain success?
Following the breadcrumbs left by her psychic Grandmother, Heather and Brendan find themselves in new territory. Venice is where Heather hopes to find Marie, the second Bloodling of Marko, along with Brendan's three taken Pack members. But an old Peace Pact between the Italian Pack and the Colony means they are left hunting blind, and due to the Italian Alpha's reluctance to believe their story of kidnap and experimentation on Loup-Garous, time is running out. So when help comes from an unlikely source, they have no choice but to accept.
All families have secrets, but blood can't lie.
Caught up in an intricate and complicated scheme spun by the one she trusts the most and the friend of her enemy, Heather soon discovers that she is the pawn in a plan she would never have been able to conceive. But how many of her new allies were in on the game, to begin with?
When your life is messed up to begin with, how much worse can it really get?
Heather Ryan's life has never been simple. The latest in a long line of descendants who have made it their mission to hunt down and slay the Ancient Vampire, Marko Pavel, she is also the first born Infected. Up until recently, the biggest downside to living with the Vampyrric Virus was simply that she craved blood, but after receiving a DVD from her deceased Grandmother Sofia and being kidnapped with friend and so called guardian Werewolf, Brendan Daniels, she quickly discovers that she is also the inspiration behind the Vampires’ attempt to create a whole new breed of super monsters—Hybrids.
The truth comes at a cost, but how much does one have to sacrifice to gain success?
Following the breadcrumbs left by her psychic Grandmother, Heather and Brendan find themselves in new territory. Venice is where Heather hopes to find Marie, the second Bloodling of Marko, along with Brendan's three taken Pack members. But an old Peace Pact between the Italian Pack and the Colony means they are left hunting blind, and due to the Italian Alpha's reluctance to believe their story of kidnap and experimentation on Loup-Garous, time is running out. So when help comes from an unlikely source, they have no choice but to accept.
All families have secrets, but blood can't lie.
Caught up in an intricate and complicated scheme spun by the one she trusts the most and the friend of her enemy, Heather soon discovers that she is the pawn in a plan she would never have been able to conceive. But how many of her new allies were in on the game, to begin with?
Review:
Blood Secrets by Elizabeth MorganMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
This is the second book in the Blood Series. I loved it!
Heather Ryan is a wonderful character. I like her very independent and determined attitude, but sometimes I wanted to shake her and tell her to stop being such a pigheaded idiot. She is a vampire slayer, and a darn good one at that. She is an infected (part vampire) herself; her mother was attacked while carrying her. She has to drink blood, diluted in cranberry juice, to keep healthy.
Brendan Daniels is also a fantastic character. He is a werewolf, sworn to help Heather after making a deal with her grandmother thirteen years previously. He has a lot of charisma and a wicked sense of humour, but he also carries a lot of pain.
The story continues from the end of Cranberry Blood, which had ended on a cliffhanger. This time, the story is told through the eyes of not only Heather and Brendan, but through the eyes of Eve (the Alpha werewolf's daughter) and a new character called Galen. Galen is an intriguing character. I wasn't sure what to make of him at first, considering he's one of Marko's first bloodlings along with Marie. However, as the story progressed and I got to know him better, his actions made better sense. I don't want to give too much away, so will leave it there.
I must admit that I found this story a little confusing at times, especially in the beginning where I wasn't sure where the story was heading (I think I should have re-read Cranberry Blood to remind myself of key plot points). However, as events unfolded my confusion lessened. The sexual tension between Heather and Brendan fairly sizzled! I kept hoping that these two would make a move at some point, but the opportunity never seemed to turn up (again!). That being said, the danger they faced kept my heart pounding! Eve doesn't do too badly either. She's one tough Loup-Garous and I admire her greatly. The story has several twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Heather's grandmother has a lot to answer for. An enemy becomes an ally, and Heather has to embrace her inner demon to help rescue her friends, but at what cost? This kept me hooked, wanting to know what would happen next. I reached the end with mixed feelings. I have a love/hate relationship with cliffhangers. However, I look forward to reading the next book in the series to see what is going to happen next!
Elizabeth Morgan has written a fast paced and exciting sequel to what would seem to be a fantastic series. I love her fast paced writing style, and the story flow was wonderful. I have added her to my favourite authors list.
There were no scenes of a sexual nature as such, but there is mention of harvesting of eggs and artificial insemination, as well as explicit bad language and violence, therefore, I do not recommend this book for readers under the age of 18 or those who have a nervous disposition. I do, however, highly recommend this book if you love erotic paranormal romances filled with sexy werewolves and a vampire slayer. - Lynn Worton
View all my reviews
Like her tagline says; A pick 'n' mix genre author. "I'm not greedy. I just like variety."
And that she does, so look out for more information on her upcoming releases at her website: www.e-morgan.com
Away from the computer, Elizabeth can be found in the garden trying hard not to kill her plants, dancing around her little cottage with the radio on while she cleans, watching movies or good television programmes - Dr Who? Atlantis? The Musketeers? Poldark? American Horror Story? Heck, yes! - Or curled up with her two cats reading a book.
Author Links:
Friday, June 24, 2016
Book Review of Reawakened by Colleen Houck
Book Title: Reawakened
Genre: YA Science Fiction/Mythology
Genre: YA Science Fiction/Mythology
Pages: 400
Author: Colleen Houck
Date Published: 13 August 2015 (Paperback/E-book)
Synopsis:
When seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers, who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification.
And she really can't imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe.
But fate has taken hold of Lily, and she, along with her sun prince, Amon, must travel to the Valley of the Kings, raise his brothers, and stop an evil, shape-shifting god named Seth from taking over the world.
When seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers, who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification.
And she really can't imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe.
But fate has taken hold of Lily, and she, along with her sun prince, Amon, must travel to the Valley of the Kings, raise his brothers, and stop an evil, shape-shifting god named Seth from taking over the world.
Review:
Reawakened by Colleen HouckMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first book in The Reawakened Series. I really enjoyed it.
Lilliana (Lily) Young is a character I didn't really like very much at first. She comes across as rich, shallow and more than a little selfish. However, as the story progressed, she grew on me. She still made my teeth grind at times, but I enjoyed watching her mature. Whilst visiting the Egyptian display in Metropolitan Museum of Art she comes face to face with a mysterious stranger who needs her help. Little does she know that her life will never be the same again.
Amon is a character I felt sorry for. He does comes across as arrogant and imperious at first, but this is because he was brought up to be the next pharaoh. He's young Egyptian prince who swore to protect the world from Seth, a shape-shifting god who is determined to rule the Earth. Unfortunately, he had to sacrifice himself to do it. His sacrifice and that of his two brothers (not by blood though they were brought up as brothers) has kept Seth away for a millennia. Now Seth's power is on the rise and Amon is in a race against time to find his brothers to stop him from ruling over Earth. But, he needs Lily's help to navigate the modern world he now finds himself in
I fell in love with The Tiger's Curse series, so when I heard that this author was writing another series based on Egyptian mythology (which I love) I became excited. However, due to my large reading list, I haven't been able to get to it until now.
I started reading this story and didn't put it down until I had finished it. It is mostly told through the eyes of Lily, though there is a scene near the end from Amon's point of view.
Although I enjoyed this book, it took me a while to like the two main protagonists. They felt a little flat and one dimensional at first; they didn't seem to have a spark to make them more alive. As the story unfolded, however, they felt a little more real. However, I liked both of Amon's charming brothers almost instantly when they were introduced. Asten is a total flirt and Ahmose is more serious. They have different powers and, when combined with those of Amon, they are able to close the portal that allows Seth access to Earth. There is another character introduced that I liked too. Dr. Osahar Hassan is an archaeologist who also happens to be the Grand Vizier (High Priest) who's job is to watch over the tombs of the princes'.
This story is a wild ride of danger, adventure, mystery, mythology and romance. There are several twists that I didn't see coming. However, when the 'bad guy' behind the rise of Seth was revealed I wasn't surprised. I had guessed the culprit well before the end. I did love the way the author wove the story though. I have always been interested in Egyptian gods and the myths surrounding them. I did feel a little disappointed that this story didn't seem to have the same passion mythology-wise that the Tiger's Curse series had. Nevertheless, the ending did leave me with conflicting emotions. I am in two minds whether to read Recreated when it becomes available, though I probably will, just to see what happens next.
Colleen Houck has written another fantastic YA adventure. I love her writing style, which is fast paced and exciting, without being rushed and the flow is wonderful. Her research into myths and legends seems to have been rather thorough, but well embellished with poetic licence. This made the story seem more believable in places, but also a bit far fetched in others. This is not a complaint, because I like stretching my beliefs, especially in entertainment. It keeps things interesting.
I highly recommend this book if you love YA, Mythology, Romance or Action/Adventure genres. - Lynn Worton
View all my reviews
Colleen Houck’s New York Times bestselling Tiger’s Curse series has received national praise with the fourth book, Tiger’s Destiny, debuting September 2012. Colleen is a lifelong reader whose literary interests include action, adventure, science fiction, and romance. Formerly a student at the University of Arizona, she has worked as a nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter for seventeen years. Colleen lives in Salem, Oregon, with her husband and a huge assortment of plush tigers.
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
The Price to Love -The Friessens book 2 by Lorhainne Eckhart
Lets start with a freebie (Currently, I am not sure if it is perma free)
Click on the pic to get your free copy. And no, I have not read this one but once I saw it was free I did not think twice. You'll see why in a bit.
However, look what else is free, well, for now.
Click on the pic to get them all free, for now.
NOW
This is the book I want to tell you about
Click on the pic to purchase a copy via Amazon
About this book
Candy knows that her husband wants a baby, but she can’t give him one. When Neil pays for a surrogate and moves her into their home, he tells her not to worry, but she suddenly feels as if she’s on the outside looking in.
Then, one day, she meets a little girl who steals her heart, a little girl with a damaged, scarred soul filled with the kind of despair and hopelessness that should never be in the innocent eyes of a child. But neither Neil nor his family understand her need to help.
As their marriage hangs on brink of disaster Candy is forced to make a choice between her husband and helping this child.
THE FRIESSENS: A NEW BEGINNING:
The Deadline (Andy & Laura)
The Price to Love (Neil & Candy)
A Different Kind of Love (Brad & Emily)
A Vow of Love (The Friessen Family)
Available now, The Friessens: A New Beginning, The Collection, which includes all the books in this big family romance series.
Then, one day, she meets a little girl who steals her heart, a little girl with a damaged, scarred soul filled with the kind of despair and hopelessness that should never be in the innocent eyes of a child. But neither Neil nor his family understand her need to help.
As their marriage hangs on brink of disaster Candy is forced to make a choice between her husband and helping this child.
THE FRIESSENS: A NEW BEGINNING:
The Deadline (Andy & Laura)
The Price to Love (Neil & Candy)
A Different Kind of Love (Brad & Emily)
A Vow of Love (The Friessen Family)
Available now, The Friessens: A New Beginning, The Collection, which includes all the books in this big family romance series.
My review
I am not a huge fan of romance but I am a huge fan of this authors romance writing.
With a real, plausible story as the plot the romance part, although not small is used to further the plot, it is never THE plot.
I listened to this on audible, narrated by Valerie Gilbert and I was very impresses with the narrator as well. Me Gilbert captured the main protagonist so perfectly.
With a real, plausible story as the plot the romance part, although not small is used to further the plot, it is never THE plot.
I listened to this on audible, narrated by Valerie Gilbert and I was very impresses with the narrator as well. Me Gilbert captured the main protagonist so perfectly.
A short read but one worth reading.
WaAr
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lorhainne Eckhart's books have been described as Longmire meets old-school Dallas, and she recently received the 2015 & 2013 Readers' Favorite Award for Romance & Romantic Suspense for her titles The Price to Love and Lost and Found. With over forty titles under her belt, her big family romance series are loved by fans worldwide. Books that celebrate love, family, commitment, hope, and making a relationship work. With flawed strong characters, characters you can relate to. Lorhainne writes the kind of books she wants to read.
She is frequently a Top 100 bestselling author in multiple genres, such as romance, western, military and mystery/suspense. She has written multiple series, including The Outsider, Walk the Right Road, The Wilde Brothers, Saved, The Friessens, and her two newest additions, Married in Montana, and her high-stakes suspense and sizzling, red-hot romance series, Kate and Walker, Deadly, Dangerous and Desired.
You can chat with Lorhainne on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AuthorLorhainneEckhart, Twitter @LEckhart, and her Blog at http://www.lorhainneeckhart.com/blog/)
Sign up for Lorhainne's newsletter at: http://gem.godaddy.com/signups/159490/join
Visit Lorhainne's website at: www.LorhainneEckhart.com
Follow Lorhainne on twitter at: www.twitter.com/leckhart
Join Lorhainne on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorLorhainneEckhart
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2958280.Lorhainne_Eckhart
She is frequently a Top 100 bestselling author in multiple genres, such as romance, western, military and mystery/suspense. She has written multiple series, including The Outsider, Walk the Right Road, The Wilde Brothers, Saved, The Friessens, and her two newest additions, Married in Montana, and her high-stakes suspense and sizzling, red-hot romance series, Kate and Walker, Deadly, Dangerous and Desired.
You can chat with Lorhainne on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AuthorLorhainneEckhart, Twitter @LEckhart, and her Blog at http://www.lorhainneeckhart.com/blog/)
Sign up for Lorhainne's newsletter at: http://gem.godaddy.com/signups/159490/join
Visit Lorhainne's website at: www.LorhainneEckhart.com
Follow Lorhainne on twitter at: www.twitter.com/leckhart
Join Lorhainne on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorLorhainneEckhart
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2958280.Lorhainne_Eckhart
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Book Review of The Iron Warrior (Call of the Forgotten trilogy #3, The Iron Fey, Book 7) by Julie Kagawa
Book Title: The Iron Warrior (The Iron Fey #7)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 352
Author: Julie Kagawa
Date Published: 27 October 2015
Synopsis:
The Iron Prince betrayed us all.
He killed me. Then, I woke up.
Waking after a month on the brink of death, Ethan Chase is stunned that the Veil that conceals the fey from human sight was torn away.
The human world has been cast into chaos and the Forgotten Queen is leading an uprising; a reckoning that will have cataclysmic effects on the Nevernever.
Leading the Lady's Forgotten Army is Keirran, Ethan’s nephew and the traitor son of the Iron Queen. To stop Keirran, Ethan must disobey his sister once again as he searchs for answers.
In the face of unprecedented evil and unfathomable power, Ethan's enemies must become his allies, and the world of the fey will be changed forevermore…
The Iron Prince betrayed us all.
He killed me. Then, I woke up.
Waking after a month on the brink of death, Ethan Chase is stunned that the Veil that conceals the fey from human sight was torn away.
The human world has been cast into chaos and the Forgotten Queen is leading an uprising; a reckoning that will have cataclysmic effects on the Nevernever.
Leading the Lady's Forgotten Army is Keirran, Ethan’s nephew and the traitor son of the Iron Queen. To stop Keirran, Ethan must disobey his sister once again as he searchs for answers.
In the face of unprecedented evil and unfathomable power, Ethan's enemies must become his allies, and the world of the fey will be changed forevermore…
Review:
The Iron Warrior by Julie KagawaMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the third book in The Forgotten Trilogy but the seventh book in the Iron Fey series. I loved it!
Ethan Chase is a fantastic character. I really liked him when I first met him as a frightened four year old when he was kidnapped by The Iron King and taken into Faery in the first book of the series. Now he's seventeen and he's grown up into a wonderful young man. Brought back to life after dying at the hands of his nephew, Ethan finds himself on another dangerous mission. This time, there may be no turning back. But can he stop his nephew from bringing down the veil between the worlds forever?
I have become addicted to this series. I started reading this book as soon as I had finished reading The Iron Traitor and didn't put it down until I had finished it.
The story continues from the shocking end of The Iron Traitor. I enjoyed meeting all of the previous characters again: Grimalkin, Puck, Meghan, Ash, Leanansidhe, Razor and Kenzie amongst others, as well as the Thin Man, who has a larger role in this tale and is not as bad/creepy as I'd originally thought.
This story is again full of action, adventure, danger and romance. There are a few twists that I didn't see coming and a couple of shocks too. I love the witty dialogue between the characters and the vivid storytelling brought this book to life. I could picture the scenes in my minds eye with ease. In fact, I didn't feel like I was reading at all but watching a movie. As the story unfolded I found myself on a roller coaster ride of emotion and had tears streaming down my face on more than one occasion, as well as sitting on the edge of my seat at others. Ethan' s character has grown a lot. He has become more tolerant of the Fey and less fearful of them. However, Keirran has also grown somewhat in the course of the tale. He has made some huge mistakes, but I still feel that he has a lot to learn. Hopefully his family will help him as he deals with his new responsibilities as The Forgotten King.
It's rare these days to come across a series that grips a reader as much as this one gripped me (or so I have found). I shall miss these characters as they have become my friends. I reached the end of the book with bittersweet feelings; sad that the story (and series) was over, but happy that it ended on an upbeat note. I intend to visit this world as often as I can.
Julie Kagawa has written a fantastic Young Adult series. I love her writing style, which is fast paced and exciting. The flow was also wonderful, as each scene moved effortlessly into the next. She has found a firm fan in me and I will definitely be reading more of her books in the future.
Although there is one scene of a sensual nature, it is not explicit. There are, however, scenes that are violent or a little gory. Therefore, I do not recommend this to readers under 15. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book if you love YA fantasy or paranormal romances. - Lynn Worton
View all my reviews
Julie Kagawa, the New York Times bestselling author of the Iron Fey and Blood of Eden series was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn't getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel.
When not swimming for her life, Julie immersed herself in books, often to the chagrin of her schoolteachers, who would find she hid novels behind her Math textbooks during class. Her love of reading led her to pen some very dark and gruesome stories, complete with colored illustrations, to shock her hapless teachers. The gory tales faded with time (okay, at least the illustrations did), but the passion for writing remained, long after she graduated and was supposed to get a
real job.
To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. So she turned to her other passion: training animals. She worked as a professional dog trainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full time.
Julie now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where the frequency of shark attacks are at an all time low. She lives with her husband, an obnoxious cat, an Australian Shepherd who is too smart for his own good, and a hyper-active Papillion.
Author Links:
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Book Review of Awakened (Eternal Guardians Book 8) by Elisabeth Naughton
Book Title: Awakened (Eternal Guardians Book 8)
Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance
Pages: 305
Author: Elisabeth Naughton
Date Published: 10 April 2016 (E-Book)
Synopsis:
DAMON – For twenty-five years he’s served as a plaything for the gods. With no memory of his past, he has no way of knowing if this is his ultimate fate, but he senses there has to be more to life.
Damon’s hope for more comes in the form of the Sirens’ newest recruit. Elysia is unlike any trainee he’s ever met. Not only can she remember where she came from—an ability the Sirens block—but she has an instant connection to Damon, one he’s never felt and doesn’t understand. Soon Damon is willing to do anything to have Elysia. Even risk the wrath of the gods to break her out of Olympus so he can keep her for himself.
But Damon’s past isn’t a mystery to everyone. Evil forces are at work beneath the surface, and before long, Damon realizes that the connection he shares with Elysia isn’t a random coincidence. His fate—and the darkness it brings—was cemented long ago. And when it is finally revealed, no one will be safe.
DAMON – For twenty-five years he’s served as a plaything for the gods. With no memory of his past, he has no way of knowing if this is his ultimate fate, but he senses there has to be more to life.
Damon’s hope for more comes in the form of the Sirens’ newest recruit. Elysia is unlike any trainee he’s ever met. Not only can she remember where she came from—an ability the Sirens block—but she has an instant connection to Damon, one he’s never felt and doesn’t understand. Soon Damon is willing to do anything to have Elysia. Even risk the wrath of the gods to break her out of Olympus so he can keep her for himself.
But Damon’s past isn’t a mystery to everyone. Evil forces are at work beneath the surface, and before long, Damon realizes that the connection he shares with Elysia isn’t a random coincidence. His fate—and the darkness it brings—was cemented long ago. And when it is finally revealed, no one will be safe.
Review:
Awakened by Elisabeth NaughtonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the eighth book in the Eternal Guardian's series. I loved it!
Damon is a wonderful character. I really liked him. He is a strong warrior. However, he has no memory of his life before waking up in Olympus twenty-five years previously. Not only is he Aphrodite's plaything, he also helps Athena train the Sirens. When a recruiting exercise goes awry, he finds himself intrigued with his rescuer.
Elysia is also a wonderful character. I really liked this feisty woman. She is determined to avoid the marriage her parents are planning for her. However, before she can escape into the human realm, she is kidnapped. Trapped on an island full of dangerous monsters, she will have to use her wits to survive. She didn't reckon on meeting a mysterious stranger needing help, but fate had other plans.
I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this book as I have come to love this series. I started reading this story as soon as I could, and read this in one sitting as I didn't want to put it down.
I enjoyed meeting all of the previous characters again, although the majority of them only have cameos for the most part. But, Max (who is all grown up and yummy now) has a slightly larger role. However, I think my favourite character in this tale (outside of Max) has to be Zagreus. In a way I felt sorry for him as his father, as a punishment for his actions in Twisted, sent him to live with the three fates, Lachesis, Atropos and Clotho. I giggled at his internal monologues about the Fates' and their meddling. In a way, I think this was good for not only him, but the Fates too. I would love to read his story soon.
There are several twists and turns that kept me hooked. Secrets are revealed and danger abounds as Zeus is determined to have possession of the Orb of Kronos. I love the chemistry between Elysia and Damon, which is hot enough to scorch the page. Damon's real identity wasn't really a shock to me, but it may surprise other readers.
As I have previously said in my other reviews about this series, I love the world building. It has a wonderful mixture of fantasy combined with myth and reality. The characters' are extremely lifelike and they feel like my friends. The story arc is moving along nicely, though I think that once it reaches its climax I will be very sad when it ends. Although the story doesn't end on a cliffhanger like some of the previous books, I can't wait to read next book in the series as soon as possible.
Elisabeth Naughton has written an exciting paranormal romance series. I love her fast paced writing style and the flow is wonderful. She has definitely found a fan in me!
Due to scenes of a sexual nature that are on the explicit side, I do not recommend this book for younger readers. However, I highly recommend this book if you love erotic paranormal romances with sexy heroes and strong female characters. Although this book can be read as a stand-alone, I do recommend you read the other books in the series first before reading this one. - Lynn Worton
View all my reviews
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Sunday, June 12, 2016
A Place To Call Home: Toby's Tale (The Rescue Dog Tales Book 1) Kindle Edition by G. A. Whitmore
Wanda Hartzenberg's review
I am giving this book a 3* review for a few reasons but none of them includes a bad read. The contrary really.
First of all proceeds from this book goes to no kill shelters and shelters that finds forever homes for fur babies. That alone should warrant the purchase.
The story is not an easy read. I hate abuse. And I loved to hate the first 3/4 of this book. So much in this book need not have happened. Ever. But it does.
I don't care much for most of the human character development in this book. And for that the book drops a * rating. The farmer, the father later, his spouse all seem very silly and one dimensional but the last woman, her son are quite cool and likable and does show development and at first I found this weird. Could it be that the author only learned about character development later in the book? Well I guess it is possible but I no longer think so.
I think this author simply cannot write a bad guy. A monster that would abuse puppies so she failed to round them off, to explore them more because she cannot even imagine the way these people would rationalize their actions. And so the book gains another *.
I could, had to put the book down often. It drove me nuts so one more star lost.
In the end, the story ends well and realistically but be prepared to deal with the first 3/4 of the book which ain't no light reading. But do buy a copy. The book is not expensive and the proceeds are for a good cause.
First of all proceeds from this book goes to no kill shelters and shelters that finds forever homes for fur babies. That alone should warrant the purchase.
The story is not an easy read. I hate abuse. And I loved to hate the first 3/4 of this book. So much in this book need not have happened. Ever. But it does.
I don't care much for most of the human character development in this book. And for that the book drops a * rating. The farmer, the father later, his spouse all seem very silly and one dimensional but the last woman, her son are quite cool and likable and does show development and at first I found this weird. Could it be that the author only learned about character development later in the book? Well I guess it is possible but I no longer think so.
I think this author simply cannot write a bad guy. A monster that would abuse puppies so she failed to round them off, to explore them more because she cannot even imagine the way these people would rationalize their actions. And so the book gains another *.
I could, had to put the book down often. It drove me nuts so one more star lost.
In the end, the story ends well and realistically but be prepared to deal with the first 3/4 of the book which ain't no light reading. But do buy a copy. The book is not expensive and the proceeds are for a good cause.
Wednesday, June 08, 2016
Book Review of The Iron Traitor (Call of the Forgotten trilogy #2, The Iron Fey, Book 6) by Julie Kagawa
Book Title: The Iron Traitor (The Iron Fey #6)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 352
Author: Julie Kagawa
Date Published: 29 October 2013
Synopsis:
IN THE REAL WORLD, WHEN YOU VANISH INTO THIN AIR FOR A WEEK, PEOPLE TEND TO NOTICE
After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for—his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.
But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.
IN THE REAL WORLD, WHEN YOU VANISH INTO THIN AIR FOR A WEEK, PEOPLE TEND TO NOTICE
After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for—his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.
But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.
Review:
The Iron Traitor by Julie KagawaMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the second book in the Call of the Forgotten trilogy, but the sixth book in The Iron Fey series. I absolutely loved it!
Ethan Chase is a fantastic character. I really liked him when I first met him as a frightened four year old when he was kidnapped by The Iron King and taken into Faery in the first book of the series. Now he's seventeen and he's grown up into a wonderful young man. He is determined to live a normal life but, when his nephew Keirran goes missing, Ethan finds himself being swept into another dangerous adventure.
I have become addicted to this series. I started reading this book as soon as I had finished reading The Lost Prince and didn't put it down until I had finished it.
I enjoyed meeting all of the previous characters again: Grimalkin, Puck, Meghan, Ash, Leanansidhe, Razor and Kenzie. The reader is also introduced to some new characters, one of them being the Thin Man, who is the mayor of the town of the Forgotten. He is determined to restore the balance, which was disturbed when Ash and company travelled through it when going to the end of the world to win his soul years before. The forgotten are growing stronger under the leadership of The Forgotten Queen and the outcast and half-breed fey in the human world are disappearing. Meghan is concerned and asks Ethan to investigate what's happening. What he discovers will have serious consequences for both the human world and the land of Faery if he is unable to stop a prophecy from coming true.
This story is again full of action, adventure, danger and romance. There are a few twists that I didn't see coming and a couple of shocks too. I love the witty dialogue between the characters and the vivid storytelling brought this book to life. I could picture the scenes in my minds eye with ease. In fact, I didn't feel like I was reading at all but watching a movie. As the story unfolded I found myself on a roller coaster ride of emotion and had tears streaming down my face on more than one occasion, as well as sitting on the edge of my seat at others. I reached the end of the book in a state of shock and disbelief. I have a love/hate relationship to cliffhangers but I can't wait to read the last book in the trilogy, The Iron Warrior, as soon as I can.
Julie Kagawa has written a fantastic Young Adult series. I love her writing style, which is fast paced and exciting. The flow was also wonderful, as each scene moved effortlessly into the next. She has found a firm fan in me and I will definitely be reading more of her books in the future.
Although there are no scenes of a sensual nature, there are scenes that are violent or a little gory. Therefore, I do not recommend this to readers under 15. However, I highly recommend this book if you love YA fantasy or paranormal romances. - Lynn Worton
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Julie Kagawa, the New York Times bestselling author of the Iron Fey and Blood of Eden series was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn't getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel.
When not swimming for her life, Julie immersed herself in books, often to the chagrin of her schoolteachers, who would find she hid novels behind her Math textbooks during class. Her love of reading led her to pen some very dark and gruesome stories, complete with colored illustrations, to shock her hapless teachers. The gory tales faded with time (okay, at least the illustrations did), but the passion for writing remained, long after she graduated and was supposed to get a
real job.
To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. So she turned to her other passion: training animals. She worked as a professional dog trainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full time.
Julie now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where the frequency of shark attacks are at an all time low. She lives with her husband, an obnoxious cat, an Australian Shepherd who is too smart for his own good, and a hyper-active Papillion.
Author Links:
Tuesday, June 07, 2016
Give em dog a bone. C movie 2
Pooches hated this one. No nap to be had. A very good adaptation.
Give em dog a bone. C movie
We give it a two bone rating. Great for sleeping not so much for watching. Not even Kevin Bacon could save this.
Disturbing story even if we did not catch a snooze. Three dog bones and taking this off of the kiddie friendly list.
Very, very slow start but then the story gets an infusion. Worth the watch if your a foodie or feel like watching something not done to death.
Sunday, June 05, 2016
Book Review of Flotilla (The Pac Fish Series Book 1) by Daniel Haight
Book Title: Flotilla (The Pac Fish Series #1)
Genre: YA Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian
Pages: 244
Author: Daniel Haight
Date Published: 25 November 2015
Synopsis:
Flotilla is an unyielding exploration of people and technology in a perilous world. When 15-year-old Jim joins his dad on Colony D, he doesn’t see it as the new frontier in green technology and sustainability; he sees a free pass out of rehab to spend the summer on a man-made island in the Pacific. Jim thinks his troubles are marooned on the mainland, but it turns out that his dad has secrets of his own. When things stop adding up, and Jim becomes suspicious, he makes a horrible discovery.
But now, that’s the least of his problems.
The United States come under attack, and Jim’s parents go missing. Drug runners and modern-day pirates are coming to settle a score. All he and his sister have now are an old boat, limited supplies, and each other. Jim must race against time if he wants to escape the catastrophic meltdown of civilization.
Flotilla is an unyielding exploration of people and technology in a perilous world. When 15-year-old Jim joins his dad on Colony D, he doesn’t see it as the new frontier in green technology and sustainability; he sees a free pass out of rehab to spend the summer on a man-made island in the Pacific. Jim thinks his troubles are marooned on the mainland, but it turns out that his dad has secrets of his own. When things stop adding up, and Jim becomes suspicious, he makes a horrible discovery.
But now, that’s the least of his problems.
The United States come under attack, and Jim’s parents go missing. Drug runners and modern-day pirates are coming to settle a score. All he and his sister have now are an old boat, limited supplies, and each other. Jim must race against time if he wants to escape the catastrophic meltdown of civilization.
Review:
Flotilla by Daniel HaightMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Review 4.5 rounded up to 5*
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
This is an intriguing young adult coming of age, post-apocalyptic novel. I really enjoyed it.
Jim Westfield is a wonderful character. I really liked him and admired him as he dealt with situations that most adults would struggle with. I love his character growth. He has an alcohol addiction and in a bid to avoid going into rehab, he chooses to live with his father on a man-made island of boats, farming fish in the Pacific for the summer.
I started this story and struggled to get into it at first. The story is told through the eyes of Jim, who has some serious issues going on around him. He is only fourteen when he decides to live with his father, who lives on a fish farm in the ocean, after a serious drinking session sees him facing time in a rehabilitation centre for alcohol poisoning. Not having had the same issues as Jim, I struggled to relate to him though I could empathize with him. What I love about his story is the way he starts to see what a waste his life has been up until that point. His father, Rick, doesn't coddle him and expects him to work (it is a business after all). I think that it may be a bit harsh for a fourteen year old to be expected to do the work of a man. However, this appears to be exactly what Jim needed. He flourishes on the Horner C and makes some friends along the way.
I loved meeting Miguel. He is the owner of "The Range", a rifle range within the colony, which the various characters use as a club and meeting place. He is a no-nonsense character who takes Jim under his wing and treats him like a son. I also loved Riley, Jim's rather gassy friend. Their antics made me laugh. Then there a menagerie of other characters that live within the colony that gives the island an eclectic feel. Some of them are down right weird though the majority are only looking to make a living but, just like any town, they bring their own personalities to the community.
Once I got into the story, I didn't put it down until I'd finished it. Watching someone like Jim mature before my eyes had me feeling as proud as if he was one of my family. There are a few surprising twists that I didn't see coming and a few scenes that had me giggling (most of those containing Riley). The danger, both on shore from the terrorists and the colony from pirates, kept me sitting on the edge of my seat. I reached the end of the book feeling a little emotionally wrung out from it all. I found myself on a roller coaster ride of emotion and, even though I am still feeling a little angry and disappointed at Jim's father, I am looking forward to reading the next book as soon as I can.
Daniel Haight has written a wonderful coming of age tale. There are elements of hard science fiction and dystopian parts, which will appeal to readers of all ages. I love his fast paced writing style that brought the characters and situations to life. The flow felt a little choppy in the beginning but as the story went on, it got better. I would definitely consider reading more of his books in the future.
I highly recommend this book to young readers aged 15 upwards and to adults who love reading YA coming of age or dystopian novels. - Lynn Worton
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Daniel Haight is an author with an evil plan who says that his stories help him 'be the best version of me.'
His story credits include the Flotilla series and many published short stories. As a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, he refers to himself as a 'blue collar geek' who is passionate about writing, working with his hands and being a dad.
Dan brings his love of sci-fi, geeky topics and media together when he appears on radio shows, podcasts, and at conventions like Wizard World. He works in IT during the day, cares for his family, and writes at night.
Author Links:
Amazon Author Page ; Goodreads ; Website ; Facebook ; Tw
Wednesday, June 01, 2016
Book Review of Awakened by a Demoness (Eternal Mates Paranormal Romance Series Book 10) by Felicity Heaton
Book Title: Awakened by a Demoness (Eternal Mates #10)
Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance
Pages: 114
Author: Felicity Heaton
Date Published: 7 May 2016
Synopsis:
Asteria of the Second Legion of demons has messed up. Royally. With a capital everything. Certain that her dark lord is about to end her in the most painful way imaginable, she’s stunned when the fallen angel offers her an uncharacteristic shot at redemption—and determined not to fail him again. With her life on the line, she sets out on a mission that sounds easy but proves to be far from it when a hot slice of angelic eye candy comes storming into her life, stirring dangerous desires and tempting her more than any male before him.
Fifth Commander of the Echelon, the highest order of angels in Heaven and those responsible for hunting demons, he will allow nothing to stand in the way of fulfilling the mission he began close to a century ago so he can finally return to his home. On the verge of securing the half-breed he has been hunting, he can almost taste victory—until a sassy demoness struts into his life, awakening wicked needs and forbidden hungers that will test him to his limit.
When their mission brings them on a collision course, can they fight the fierce heat of the passion that blazes between them to claim a victory for their side or will it burn their resistance to ashes and set their hearts on fire with a love both forbidden and eternal?
Asteria of the Second Legion of demons has messed up. Royally. With a capital everything. Certain that her dark lord is about to end her in the most painful way imaginable, she’s stunned when the fallen angel offers her an uncharacteristic shot at redemption—and determined not to fail him again. With her life on the line, she sets out on a mission that sounds easy but proves to be far from it when a hot slice of angelic eye candy comes storming into her life, stirring dangerous desires and tempting her more than any male before him.
Fifth Commander of the Echelon, the highest order of angels in Heaven and those responsible for hunting demons, he will allow nothing to stand in the way of fulfilling the mission he began close to a century ago so he can finally return to his home. On the verge of securing the half-breed he has been hunting, he can almost taste victory—until a sassy demoness struts into his life, awakening wicked needs and forbidden hungers that will test him to his limit.
When their mission brings them on a collision course, can they fight the fierce heat of the passion that blazes between them to claim a victory for their side or will it burn their resistance to ashes and set their hearts on fire with a love both forbidden and eternal?
Review:
Awakened by a Demoness by Felicity HeatonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the tenth book in the Eternal Mates series. I loved it!
Asteria is a wonderful character. I liked her very much. She is one of the few demonesses living in Hell. Having made a serious mistake, she is terrified when she has to face her lord and master, the Devil. Instead of punishing her as she'd expected, he sends her on a mission - to find a half-breed and bring them back to Hell. Unfortunately, she didn't count on meeting an angel from the ranks of the Echelon (highest warrior class) nor being attracted to him.
Fifth Commander of the Echelon (or Rey as Asteria names him) is a wonderful alpha character. I liked him a lot too. He is protective, though he can be arrogant and condescending when he wants to be. Sent on a mission to retrieve a half-breed for Heaven, he didn't count on meeting a stubborn, sexy demoness who won't leave him alone.
I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this book as I am a huge fan of the Eternal Mates series. I love the world the author has created for the characters to live in. I started reading this book and didn't put it down until I finished it. The author usually introduces new characters in earlier books as cameos. This time, these characters are a complete surprise. I really enjoyed getting to know these two better.
The story is told from both Asteria's and Rey's points of view and this gives the reader an insight into their thoughts and feelings. They say opposites attract and Asteria and Rey are the epitome of this saying. They come from different backgrounds (Heaven and Hell) but their attraction is magnetic and instantaneous. I loved Asteria's teasing of Rey, but sometimes wondered if he would cause her serious bodily harm with his righteous indignation and arrogance in the beginning. Luckily, this didn't happen. What did happen left me reeling. There are a few surprises that I never saw coming and, although there wasn't a huge battle scene (I must admit I love those), the action was as intense as always. I must also admit that I felt a little upset that this book wasn't a little longer; it felt like I'd only just started it when I finished. However, the ending had me wondering what will happen next in this series. The story arc seems to be heading towards something cataclysmic, but I guess I shall just have to wait and see. Luckily, there is a small preview of the next book in the series, which has whet my appetite, called Haunted by the King of Death. This is due out in July 2016 and I can't wait to get my hands on it.
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.
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 vampires, elves, werewolves, cat shifters, succubi, incubi, angels, dragons and demons (and demonesses). - Lynn Worton
View all my reviews
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 shape-shifters 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.
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 Vampire Erotic Theatre 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 new Eternal Mates series.
If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:
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