Sunday, October 30, 2016

Book Review of Mermother: An Account of What Happened in the Sea by Elizabeth Jane Wolfe




Book Title: Mermother
Genre: Literary Fiction
Pages: 191
Author:  Elizabeth Jane Wolfe
Date Published: 28 March 2013

Synopsis:

A young woman explores the ancient mysteries of the sea in an unforgettable adventure of friendship and family. Escaping from an abusive past, she finds solace in an underwater world full of beauty, wealth, and power. Discover how her life is transformed as she struggles to find true love in a world that forbids it.

This novel has been published as a fundraiser for the International Ocean Institute.

Review:


Mermother: An Account of What Happened in the SeaMermother: An Account of What Happened in the Sea by Elizabeth Jane Wolfe
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary print copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review in 2013. Unfortunately, due to my rather large reading list, I haven't been able to read it until recently.

This is an intriguing fictional novella. I enjoyed it.

Briony is an intriguing character. I really wanted to like her, but found her to be a little selfish and immature at times to say she's twenty-five years old. After an accident at sea (or was it?) she wakes up in a tide pool, where she finds herself embarking on an amazing adventure. I struggled to understand why she didn't panic at waking in a strange place. My first thought was "Was she drugged?". My second thought was "Who would lie content in a tide pool for hours/days on end without turning into a wrinkly prune?". There she meets Sylvie, a young mermaid and her life will never be the same again.

I started to read this story and quickly became intrigued with the storyline, which was completely different to a typical romance, which is what I was expecting.

I have always been fascinated by the idea of merpeople ever since watching a stop animation tale about The Little Mermaid at school. However, the mermaids in this story are not exactly all goodness and light. They are mostly all females who use their talents to lure ships onto rocks to wreck them and to gain more riches. I did say they were mostly female, but there is one male called Trayo, who is considered a "mistake" by the female mers. I would have liked to have seen more of Trayo, as I think he must be terribly lonely. He protects the females that have the potential to be "mermothers". In other words, human women who, for whatever reason (be it accidental or on purpose) find themselves living in the sea like the mers due to a change in their DNA. This is where I had trouble suspending my disbelief. Nevertheless, I was intrigued and kept reading.

I love the romance angle of this story, where Briony meets Damien and they fall in love. However, I was not so happy with the way the author had the mers forcing Briony to find someone to procreate with in order to increase the mer numbers. I can understand the biological imperative to have babies (I am a female after all), but just because you can't yourself carry a child shouldn't mean that you can force others to do so. I get their mentality, but doesn't mean I liked it. I was also slightly disappointed with the ending, so I do not think I will be continuing this series. Unfortunately, this book was not exactly my cup of tea even though I enjoyed it. Other readers may have a different opinion, so I will leave it up to you to decide for yourselves.

Elizabeth Jane Wolfe has written an intriguing tale that kept me entertained. I enjoyed her fast paced writing style and it flowed wonderfully. This is her debut novella.

There are no scenes of a sensual nature although it's intimated so teens could read it with no problem. I recommend this book to readers who love literary fiction/fantasy genres. - Lynn Worton

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About The Author:


I'm a lifelong bibliophile and love nothing more than flopping onto my bed and throwing myself inside a good book. I've read thousands of books but am yet to add them here - I'll keep working on it! I live in a very small town on Vancouver Island - it's pretty quiet here. Books have kept me entertained over the years and also lull me to sleep at night. :)

Writing my own novel has given me a lot of insight into how much work is involved and I am now in awe of the fearsome talent some authors possess. I believe that everyone has a powerful story inside them and we can never have too many books. If you'd like to hear about my experiences with writing my first novel, I'm happy to share!

Author Links:


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Thursday, October 27, 2016

Book Review of Razel Dazzle by Elizabeth Morgan



Book Title: Razel Dazzle
Genre: Erotica/Contemporary Romance
Pages: 134
Author:  Elizabeth Morgan
Date Published: 8 November 2013

Synopsis:

Razel Dazzle, a modern twist on a long haired tale....

Will she let down her hair for the man of her fantasies?

Famous for her long, golden hair and beaming smile, Razel D'Punz is the hottest model in the industry. But although most women would kill to get ahead in this profession, Razel lives an isolated life; one she has learnt to accept...until she meets Matthew Prince, a new photographer in the business.

Refusing to let her mother/agent's strict rules stop her from spending time with the man of her fantasies, Razel quickly discovers that one night with Matthew isn't enough....

And neither is the life she is chained to. Something will have to change if she is ever to get her very own Happily Ever After.


This title contains explicit language and graphic sex.

Review:

Razel DazzleRazel Dazzle by Elizabeth Morgan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a short, modern, sexy retelling of Rapunzel. Having read a few of this author's books in the past, I decided to give this novella a try. I really enjoyed it.

Razel D'Punz is a likable character. I admired her silent rebelling against a very domineering mother/agent. She is one of the top models in the world and is in high demand. Unfortunately, due to her mother's strict control, she is not able to have a life outside of modelling. When she meets Matthew Price at a photo shoot, she is deeply attracted to him.

Matthew Prince is also a likable character. He is a new up and coming photographer and when he lands one of the biggest clients in the form of Razel, he knows he's made it. However, he didn't anticipate his attraction to her.

Gabriella D'Punz, Razel's mother/agent, is a real piece of work. I have no idea if she is a witch or an actual b*tch. I would have loved to know what, in her past, made her be so coldly competitive and manipulative. However, with this being a short story, her background wasn't explored. This is a character I love to hate.

I started reading and was quickly hooked. The story is told through the eyes of both Razel and Matthew. I loved the way the story unfolded. However, I found it a little rushed, especially near the end. Razel is supposed to be quite sheltered, but I found her to be a daring rebel and more worldly than I'd expected. I enjoyed the way Razel and Matthew's relationship developed. They burn up the pages! However, being this is a novella, their relationship had to develop quickly and I'm not a huge fan of insta-love. I would have loved for this story to be extended into a full novel to show a gradual romance and to give the characters more chance of character development, and also a reunion with Razel's real parents to give it a more satisfying ending (in my opinion). Other readers may disagree, so I will leave it up to you to decide for yourself.

Elizabeth Morgan has written an intriguing novella. I love her fast paced writing style. Unfortunately, because of the rushed end, I felt the flow was a little uneven. Having said that, I am a fan of her of her contemporary and paranormal romances and am looking forward to reading more of her books in the future.

Due to scenes of an explicit sexual nature, as well as some bad language, I do not recommend this book for readers under the age of 18. I do, however, highly recommend this book if you love erotica, contemporary romance or erotic re-tellings of fairytales . - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews 
                       

About The Author:


Elizabeth Morgan is a multi-published author of urban fantasy, paranormal, erotic horror, f/f, and contemporary; all with a degree of romance, a dose of action and a hit of sarcasm, sizzle or blood, but you can be sure that no matter what the genre, Elizabeth always manages to give a unique and often humorous spin to her stories.

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.

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Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Cover Reveal: Purpose (Pleasure Pain or Purpose Book 3) by Al Daltrey

~ Cover Reveal ~ 
Title ~ Purpose
Series ~ Pleasure Pain or Purpose: Book Three
Author ~ Al Daltrey
Release Date ~ November 17, 2016
Genre ~ Erotica Romance





Life is many things, but one thing it isn’t, is predictable. At times, pain weighs heavily on the heart, and then…the sky clears, the ground shifts, and happiness and pleasure return.

Billie finally emerges from her emotional slumber. She learns that while David is gone, 
it doesn’t mean that her life can’t have restoration. Unless, secrets from 
her kinky past threaten the promise of a new future?

Jasmin decides to take a page from Billie’s book, and goes on a pilgrimage of her own.
 Lessons learned on the Camino de Santiago will help frame her outlook on life. 
Erotic encounters are never far behind.

Vicky fights the good fight against the cancer that has taken root in her body. 
Andrew, for all his past discretions, stands by her every step of the way. 
Together, the battle only makes them stronger.

Life is life, as the three best friends discover. It may not be easy…
but together they find renewed purpose.



 




By day I work in Marketing, which involves a fair amount of writing. Therefore, I never really had an interest to write for pleasure. When you do it all day, the last thing you want to do when you get home, is more writing. All the while, as my career progressed, so did my involvement in the BDSM lifestyle.
This interest in kinky sex started in my University years. Like most men, I loved meeting women, and especially the occasional one who didn't mind being tied up, or blindfolded, or spanked. All sex was great, but kinky sex was more exciting, more exhilarating, and more fulfilling.
Over the years I was lucky enough to meet my fair share of submissive women. And don't for a minute think these women were weak. Outside the bedroom they were confident, opinionated, gregarious and self-assured. However, inside the bedroom (so to speak) they wanted to feel the strong firm hand of a dominant man taking complete control.
Eventually I found the perfect partner, and am happily in a relationship.
One day, I flipped my laptop open, and to my surprise - I had an urge to write a BDSM story. Soon I had 20 pages, then 40, then 60. The novel that resulted was 'Testing the Submissive'. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and the reviews excellent - all of which motivated me to continue writing. 'A Condo with Two Views' is my second full length novel, with other projects in the works. If you decide to give any of my writing a try, I hope you enjoy it!

Al

 

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Book Review of The Rented Bride (Highland Billionaires Book 1) by KyAnn Waters & Tarah Scott @KyAnnWaters @TarahScott



Book Title: The Rented Bride (Highland Billionaires #1)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 278
Author:  KyAnn Waters & Tarah Scott
Date Published: 6 September 2016

Synopsis:

Billionaire Trent Weston dominates in the boardroom, but when it comes to the bedroom he’s discovered it’s dangerous to trust a woman. Now, with his grandfather’s health failing, Trent is determined to make the older man’s last days special…even if that means marriage.

Event planner Cassie Adams is determined to make her mark. However, the Weston party isn’t going as she’d hoped. One disaster after another is going to get her fired. So imagine her surprise when Trent Weston proposes marriage. Only he doesn’t want forever. He just wants to rent her.

Review:


The Rented Bride (Highland Billionaires Book 1)The Rented Bride by KyAnn Waters
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am a huge fan of Tarah Scott's books, so when I found out she was co-writing this series with KyAnn Waters, I became curious and decided to give this book a go. I am glad I did because I loved it!

Trent Weston is a fantastic character. He is very much an alpha male, being that he is extremely protective of his family and a savvy businessman. However, his grandfather's health is failing and in an attempt to make his final days happy, he hires Cassie Adam's company to host a party where he hopes to announce his upcoming marriage to a well known actress.

Cassie Adams is also a fantastic character. She is independent, determined and feisty. She is an event planner and her company has been hired to host a birthday party for Trent Weston's grandfather. As a series of disasters threaten to ruin not only the party but Cassie's reputation, she finds herself embroiled in a deceit that, if found out, could break an old man's heart.

This is the first book in a fantastic contemporary romance series. I started to read this book and didn't put it down until I had finished it. I fell in love with the characters, who all come alive on the page.

The story took me on a huge emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. Trent's grandfather is a wonderful character and the warmth, pride and love he has for his grandson shone through. Having watched my mother grow weaker before she passed was painful, so I felt deeply for Trent as he watched his grandfather weaken too. I loved the dialogue between the characters too, it felt realistic. I am glad that there wasn't any insta-love between Cassie and Trent as it would have felt fake. However, I love the way their relationship grew into love. They have a chemistry that set fire to the page.

There is only one thing that bothered me about this story. There is (in my opinion) an unresolved issue with regards to the rivalry between Cassie's company and their competition. But, in the grand scheme of things, it is only a minor niggle on my part. I did, however, enjoy the first scene where Cassie meets Trent (even though it's mistaken identity) and later when an iguana is running around causing havoc. These scenes had me chuckling, though others had me crying. I reached the end of the book feeling happy. I am now looking forward to reading the rest of the series as soon as possible.

KyAnn Waters and Tarah Scott has written a fantastic contemporary romance. I love their writing style which is fast paced and entertaining, and the flow is wonderful too. Since Tarah Scott is already one of my favourite authors, I will have to add KyAnn Waters onto my list too. I am looking forward to reading more of both authors' books in the future.

Due to scenes of a sexual nature that are rather on the explicit side and some bad language, I do not recommend this book to readers under the age of 16. I do, however, highly recommend this book if you love contemporary romances. - Lynn Worton

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About The Authors:


Award winning author Tarah Scott cut her teeth on authors such as Georgette Heyer, Zane Grey, and Amanda Quick. Her favorite book is a Tale of Two Cities, with Gone With the Wind as a close second. She writes modern classical romance, and paranormal and romantic suspense. Tarah grew up in Texas and currently resides in Westchester County, New York with her daughter.

Author Links:



KyAnn Waters is a multi-published, award winning author of erotic romance. She lives in Utah with her husband, two children, and two dogs. She spends her days writing and her evenings with her family. She enjoys sporting events on the television, thrillers on the big screen, and hot scenes between the pages of her books.

Author Links:

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Friday, October 21, 2016

Book Review of Necromancist (The Seven Forbidden Arts Book 6) Kindle by Charmaine Pauls @CharmainePauls



Book Title: Necromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts Book 6)
Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance
Pages: 373
Author: Charmaine Pauls
Date Published: 11 October 2016

Synopsis:

Nine years ago he took her virginity. Now he’s back for revenge.

Alice Jones has loved one man only–the man who stripped her from her clothes and defenses to leave her vulnerable and cold, the man who took her virginity and went downstairs for ‘a glass of water’ never to return. After nine years the once poor and shamed Ivan Kray is back in London, now a world-famous rock star. He is wealthy, successful, surrounded by millions of fans, and built like a machine while she is struggling, single, overweight, and has to borrow affection from her neighbor’s cat. To make matters worse, he blames her and her family for driving him away. This time round, Ivan doesn’t come to her with gentle caresses and roses. He comes with vengeance and thorns that will either purge or destroy her.

A malnourished toddler barely kept from starving by a nursing dog, Ivan Kray grows up into a hard and emotionally scarred man with a golden voice and a cursed art. Suffering from visions and voices in his head, he finds peace in Alice Jones’ heart and naked arms, only to be knocked down once again. When she chooses her upper-class family over him, he slaves for nine long years to climb to the top of the ladder with one purpose only–to take revenge. He swore he’d be her first and last, and he isn’t a man to break his promises. His plans of submitting Alice to his will are hampered when someone tries to kill him. The sinister attempts on his life are more than the actions of a fan gone fanatic. When his hunter uses Alice to achieve his ominous goal, Ivan must acknowledge his true feelings and put his skills as necromancist to the ultimate test. Will his unusual ability be enough to save Alice before it’s too late to tell her the truth?

Review:


Necromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts, #6)Necromancist by Charmaine Pauls
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the sixth book in the Seven Forbidden Arts series. I loved it!

Alice Jones is a wonderful character. I really liked her. She is an independent woman and level headed, though she has low confidence in herself from being abandoned by her parents, and Ivan when she needed him the most. She is now working in the PR office of a theatre in London. However, nine years before she'd met Ivan Kray and fallen for him. After a night of passion he disappeared from her life. Now he's back and determined to exact revenge. Will she be able to survive with her heart intact, or will she have it broken all over again?

Ivan Kray is a character with a huge chip on his shoulder. I didn't like him very much to begin with, but as I got to know and understand him, he gained my admiration. He is a Necromancist, able to talk to the spirits of the dead. However, in Alice's presence, the voices and visions that usually plague him disappear. After being thrown out of the house by Alice's father nine years previously, he was determined to make something of himself and became a huge rock star. Now he's determined to punish Alice but as danger threatens, he finds himself having to make the biggest sacrifice of his life.

Having previously read the other books of the series (although for some reason I've missed Geomancist), when I found out that Necromancist was due to be released I pre-ordered my copy. However, I was also contacted by the author to see if I would like a complementary copy to read, which I accepted.

I started to read the story and was quickly hooked. I found myself on a huge emotional roller coaster ride from start to finish. There are a few twists and turns that I didn't see coming and a shocking scene that had me in tears. Finding out who Alice's father is, was a bit of a shock too. However, as this brought the other members of the paranormal task force into the story, it made sense. I loved meeting them again. The heat level between Alice and Ivan is extremely hot and the bedroom scenes are a little on the kinky side (think spanking and anal play, though not full on BDSM). I was unsure how the author was going to end the story, but I was pleasantly surprised with how it did end. I am now looking forward to reading book seven, which will, I think, be the final book of the series when it's released. Though, I think I will read Geomancist in the meantime. Although these books are standalone, it is better to read them in order.

Charmaine Pauls has written an entertaining standalone erotic romance. Her characters are lifelike and come alive on the page. I love her fast paced writing style and the flow is wonderful. I would definitely consider reading more of her books in the future.

Due to the explicit nature of some of the scenes, as well as use of foul language, I do not recommend this book to readers under the age of 18. I do, however, recommend this book if you love science fiction, erotica, erotic romance or paranormal romance genres. – Lynn Worton

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About The Author:

Charmaine Pauls was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa. She obtained a masters degree in Communication at the University of Potchestroom, and followed a diverse career path in journalism, public relations, advertising, communications, photography, graphic design, and brand marketing. Her writing has always been an integral part of her professions.

After relocating to France with her French husband, she fulfilled her passion to write creatively full-time. Charmaine has published six novels since 2011, as well as several short stories and articles.

When she is not writing, she likes to travel, read, and rescue cats. Charmaine currently lives in Chile with her husband and children. Their household is a linguistic mélange of Afrikaans, English, French and Spanish.

Author Links:

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Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Book Review of Eumundi And Friends: Hot Air Ballooning: The Adventures Begin by Stuart Anner & Kristen Anner



Book Title: Eumundi and Friends: Hot Air Ballooning
Genre: YA Middle Grade Adventure
Pages: 34
Author: Stuart & Kristen Anner
Date Published: 5 November 2014 (E-Book)

Synopsis:

Eumundi and Friends: Hot Air Ballooning

Hot Air Ballooning is the first book in a series of children's books about the adventurous and fun-loving Eumundi Mouse and her friends.

Meet Eumundi, (You-MUN-Dee) who is no ordinary mouse. She is an adventurer! In today’s adventure, Eumundi is so excited because she will fly high into the sky in a hot air balloon. Join her as she meets new friends, Julia and Hammy and together they take the ride of their lives.

How do the friends meet?
Who is flying the balloon?
What adventures do the new friends get up to on their journey?
And how will they get down?


Ideally suited for children aged 7 to 9, however will also suit younger children when read to by an adult.

Review:


Eumundi And Friends: Hot Air Ballooning: The Adventures BeginEumundi And Friends: Hot Air Ballooning: The Adventures Begin by Stuart Anner
My 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 first book in a children's adventure series. I loved it!

Eumundi (pronounced You-MUN-Dee) is a wonderful character. She is a mouse who loves to go on adventures. I found her to be incredibly brave, impetuous and determined to have fun.

I was contacted by the author to see if I would be willing to read the book and, because I am mentoring reluctant readers at a local school, I thought I would give this a go and get their feedback too.

I really love the illustrations which accompanied the story. The pictures drawn by Cristina Birtea brought the characters and story alive. I love the detail that has gone into them.

I started to read this book with one of my students and, although she is nine, she has a younger reading age and struggled with some of the words. And, because she is a reluctant reader, she also found the going hard so became restless and bored after a few pages. I therefore stopped reading it with her. However, I decided to read this on my own later. I found it to be a fun, enjoyable story.

Eumundi is joined by two other characters on her hot ballooning adventure. They are: Julia, a very posh mouse and Hammy, a hamster who stows away in the picnic basket. The story takes the reader on an exciting adventure through the skies in a hot air balloon. I have always wanted to do one of these trips, but after my sister went up in one and didn't recommend the landing, I decided not to. However, I digress - back to the review.

Although my student struggled with the words (especially Eumundi's name pronunciation amongst other things), I am sure that young readers who are not reluctant at reading will enjoy this tale as much as I did. Being as I am an adult and not the intended age group for this book, I did find some of the things Eumundi did (like throwing out the sand bags for instance) a little counter-productive. I get that to get lift in a hot air balloon you need to get rid of weight, but you would need weight to act as ballast when wanting to return back to the ground surely? Ugh! Physics was never my strong suit at school. But, having said that, children wouldn't consider this strange. The story ends happily and I would definitely consider reading more of Eumundi's adventures in the future. I am just sorry my reluctant reader was not able to finish it as I am sure she would have enjoyed it once she got into it. I will keep trying.

Stuart Anner & Kristen Anner are father and daughter and have written an exciting adventure story for young middle grade aged children. I love their writing style, which is fast paced but not rushed, and the flow was wonderful.

I highly recommend this children's adventure books to children aged 7-10 and to adults who love reading YA middle grade adventure stories. - Lynn Worton

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About The Authors:

Stuart Anner began writing Eumundi stories after his daughter Kristen found the cutest toy mouse at Eumundi Markets in Queensland, Australia. Eumundi immediately became her favourite toy and has travelled everywhere with her ever since!

The tales of Eumundi’s adventures grew out of Stuart’s love of life, and his strong belief that a person can do anything they set their mind to. Wanting to encourage a spirit of adventure in Kristen, he wrote of all the amazing adventures Eumundi and her friends had.

In creating the Eumundi stories, Stuart uses a combination of real life adventures and holidays that he and his family have had together, while other stories have originated in the imaginations of Stuart and Kristen.

Kristen was four when Eumundi came into their lives and the adventures began. As a young child, she was fully engaged in these exciting stories and would ask many questions which have helped shape the stories. As she grew older, Kristen has helped fill in the details of the adventures and even writes her own Eumundi stories…. And she still loves a good Eumundi story to be told to her!

Stuart and Kristen know there are other children and families who would love to join Eumundi and her friends on their great adventures. So it’s with great joy that they have set about creating a series of books from the many stories they captured on paper through the years.
Come and join Stuart and Kristen as they take you on an adventure with Eumundi and Friends!!

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Monday, October 10, 2016

Book Review of The Patriots of Mars: The God That Failed by Jeff Faria



Book Title: The Patriots of Mars: The God That Failed (Patriots of Mars Book 1)
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Pages: 424
Author: Jeff Faria
Date Published: 18 August 2016 (E-Book)

Synopsis:

In 2231, twenty-five billion people walk the Earth. Few lack basic food and shelter. Energy is cheap and abundant. A vast army of 'bots serves our every need, and those who can afford to do so might live forever. To some, it is a golden age.

But Earth is devoid of resources, now harvested on or around Mars. Nations are ruled from above by governments owned by enormous transnats, and from below by powerful street gangs who have largely usurped the police.

This world is not for everyone. A fifth of the world's population has withdrawn into the drug Nirvana, while millions more have chosen Martian exile. And a phantom group called 'The Patriots of Mars' has committed an act of rebellion that shocks the world.

Josh Reynolds, a Martian-born teen with a secret, is trying to change his life when he gets caught up in the wake of the Patriots' insurrection. As he struggles to both find and save himself, Josh begins to realize that the change he had hoped for could become something more far-reaching than anyone had imagined.

Review:


The Patriots of Mars (The God that Failed #1)The Patriots of Mars by Jeff Faria
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This is the first book in a new science fiction series.

Josh Reynolds is a wonderful character. He is a young man of seventeen who was born and lives in a colony on Mars, and works in one of the mines that supplies Earth with resources that have been long depleted on that planet. He was also born with a special ability: He has visions and speaks to the Guide, who is a deity or some kind of spirit that helps him when he's in danger or in need of assistance. When a mine accident is triggered by sabotage, Josh finds himself in the midst of an uprising by The Patriots of Mars, a group of rebels determined to break ties with Earth. Or are they? Things are not all they seem and Josh is thrown into a dangerous adventure that could change the face of Mars forever.

This is a book that I struggled to get into at first. However, as the story unraveled, I found myself completely hooked. The book is set in the future, where man has conquered the colonisation of Mars and are mining it for its resources. Everything is overseen (on Earth and on Mars) by MOM, an AI system that keeps things running smoothly. As I was reading this book I kept thinking of the movie I, Robot with Will Smith. Though this book has similarities, there are some major differences too. I was also intrigued with the different characters. I liked meeting Josh's friends: Emily, who is like a sister to Josh though they are not related, Kat is Josh's best friend and John is a big softy though most people are intimidated by his size. I think my favourite character has to be Elvis though, as he is very outgoing and quirky. There are also a few other characters that are brought in, though I struggled to figure out where they fit in with the tale. However, they all came alive on the page.

The story had several different plots and I was unsure as to where it was going. There's several different themes: friendship, politics (both Earthly and Martian) and robots seeking autonomous freedom for their own identity. However, by the time I reached the end, most of the sub plots had come together and I had a bit of an "A-ha!" moment. There are several twists that I didn't see coming and enjoyed the Bazaar scene where Josh and Lowrie meets a slave trader called Ugato, as well as the Steampunk Samurai fight scene with Elvis for an upcoming and brand new TV game show. Josh's destiny is still evolving by the end of the book and his character is growing, so there are several unanswered questions which, I hope, may be revealed in the second book, Rise Of The Technorati. I was, however, intrigued with the Guide aspect of the story as it gave it a spiritual feel. I am not sure what is in store for Josh in the future, but am looking forward to finding out. Although this book doesn't end on a cliffhanger as such, it is set up to begin the second story.

This is Jeff Faria's debut novel. I really enjoyed his writing style, which is fast paced and entertaining. However, I felt that there were too many things happening plot-wise and his story didn't flow as well as it could have done. Nevertheless, I will follow his career with interest.

Although there is no sexual content or bad language, I do not recommend this to younger readers (under 16) as I am not sure if they would understand it properly. I do, however, recommend this book to older teens and adults who love YA science fiction and/or space opera genres. - Lynn Worton

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Tuesday, October 04, 2016

Book Review of Walking Wolf Road (Wolf Road Chronicles Book 1) by Brandon M. Herbert



Book Title: Walking Wolf Road (Wolf Road Chronicles Book 1)
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Pages: 368
Author: Brandon M. Herbert
Date Published: 25 December 2011 (E-Book)

Synopsis:

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.

Review:


Walking Wolf Road (The Wolf Road Chronicles, #1)Walking Wolf Road by Brandon M. Herbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I originally purchased and downloaded this book when I first bought my Kindle in 2012, as the blurb intrigued me, though only read and reviewed it in 2014 due to my large reading list. I was recently contacted by the author this year (2016) saying that this story had been re-written in certain scenes and would I be willing to re-read it? I agreed. However, the original book had been pulled so I re-purchased the newer version as I couldn't update the version I had. I loved it as much as I did the first time.

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 have a soft spot for these types of books. I'm glad the author asked me to re-read it as it captured me all over again. The story is an exciting roller coaster ride from start to finish. The story had been a bit hard to get into originally, but on the second reading I became quickly hooked; it was like I was meeting old friends.

I felt for Jimmy as his life unraveled and then was 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 (again!), 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.

Walking Wolf Road is an intriguing blend of myth and coming of age tale. Unfortunately, there are a few proofreading errors where the scenes were re-written and which were not caught before publication. I have notified the author about them but, they did not detract from my enjoyment of the tale. The end of the book has a slight twist that I hadn't expected originally, 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, on the second read through, felt more fast paced than originally, and it flowed wonderfully. I would definitely read more of this author's books in the future.
I highly recommend this book if you love YA pararnormal, shifter or urban fantasy genres. - Lynn Worton

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About The Author:


Brandon M. Herbert is an author, artist, musician, entrepreneur, and voracious biblioholic. He was born a third generation Colorado native, but his heart and soul belong to the Pacific Northwest.
He wrote his first short story in fifth grade, and hasn't stopped since. He enjoys writing Urban Fantasy, both for Young Adults (Walking Wolf Road, The Wild) and Horror fans (World of Shadows, Tales of the Underground). He is a passionate wolf supporter, and has spent most his life researching the history, mythology, and reality of werewolves, shapeshifters, and therianthropy. Brandon also plays guitar and does freelance graphic design when he’s not kayaking Puget Sound or quaffing inhuman quantities of coffee.
He currently resides in the Seattle area with his girlfriend.

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Monday, October 03, 2016

Book Review of Talon, Come Fly with Me by Gigi Sedlmayer



Book Title: Talon, Come Fly With Me
Genre: YA Fiction
Pages: 238
Author: Gigi Sedlmayer
Date Published: 16 March 2014 (E-Book)

Synopsis:

Nine year old Matica lives in a remote village on a dry plateau in the Andes of Peru. She moved to Peru when she was five with Australian missionary and schoolteacher parents. Because Matica is trapped in the body of a two year old, her growth handicap has caused her to be rejected by the local people and they would not accept her into their community or allow her to play with the children.

With patience and a sense of adventure Matica befriends a pair of condors. A strong bond and love develops between them.

Matica rescues the egg the condors, Tamo and Tima, are trying to protect from poachers and nurtures it to hatching. The egg hatches on her 10th birthday and she names the new fledging Talon.

Many adventures unfold, including her finally being accepted into the local community. And something totally unexpected...

This is the beginning of many incredible adventures with Talon and Matica. It is a story of hope, determination and love.

Review:


Talon, Come Fly with MeTalon, Come Fly with Me by Gigi Sedlmayer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book in 2012 from the author in return for an honest review. Unfortunately, due to my rather large reading list, I haven't been able to read it until now. Since then I think this book has been re-edited and had a new cover released. Therefore, I can only review the copy I received.

This is the first book in a children's adventure series. I enjoyed it.

Matica is a wonderful character. I really liked her tenacity. She is a nine year old girl who has a disability, she has a growth hormone problem and is trapped in the body of a toddler aged two or three. However, she doesn't let that deter her from exploring her environment and going on several adventures in a small village in Peru, where her parents are missionaries/teachers. Due to her disability, the villagers are wary of Matica and shun her, but when she befriends a pair of condors she finds herself embarking on a dangerous adventure.

This is a wonderful children's story that teaches the readers about compassion, integration, acceptance, loneliness, friendship, determination and love. I enjoyed meeting Matica's family, who have travelled to Peru to teach the villagers of a remote village called Pucara. Crayn is Matica's dad, Mira is her mother and Aikon is her four year old brother. However, I felt the characters didn't come alive on the page for me, though the condors did. But, children may not have the same issue.

I started reading but felt that some of the dialogue was a little clunky and there was not enough descriptive text for my taste. I'm all for conversation, but feel some children will be bored by all of the talking and lack of action. Yes, there are exciting parts that had me hooked, but they only happened within the last few chapters when Talon came into their lives. I also had a slight problem with Matica's size. A toddler is quite small and, although Matica is nine, her little legs would have made climbing quite challenging. Peru has several mountains and, I am sure condors live on cliffs or craggy outcroppings which would make it hard going for normal people, never mind a small girl to attain. But, setting this aspect aside for the sake of story, I found myself entertained with Talon and his relationship with his condor parents, Tamo and Timo, and his human one. Condors are pretty ugly, seeing as they are vultures, but they are highly intelligent too. They are scavengers and are necessary to clean up when animals are killed or die naturally.

Gigi Sedlmayer has written an intriguing story about Peruvian condors and how one little girl changed the preconceptions of the local population and made friends with one of the world's biggest flying birds. I found her writing style a little slow for my taste, but it could be perfect for young readers who are struggling to read books on their own. I found the flow a little jerky too, but I am hoping that due to the time since I received this book, it may have been re-edited and it may have been smoothed out.

I highly recommend this book to children aged 8-12. I also recommend this book to adults who love reading middle grade YA fiction. - Lynn Worton

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About the Author:





Gisela (Gigi) Sedlmayer was born on 19 May 1944 in Potsdam, a suburb of Berlin in Germany.
Her family escaped to the West just before the infamous wall went up. They moved around in Germany until finally settling in Munich where Gigi studied architectural drafting and met Albert in 1965, marrying in December 1967. She worked as a civil draftsperson in various private consultancies in Munich.

Since her uncle was a writer, she tried to write short animal stories herself. Nothing further came of it, but she developed a love for the written word and started to consume books.

In May 1975, Gigi and her husband moved to New Zealand. Because of language challenges, she started a handicraft business. As a specialty, she made colourful parrots of which she sold thousands in a few years.

In 1988, they decided to adopt and became adoptive parents of twin girls the year after. They lived in New Zealand for eighteen years and moved to Australia in September 1992.

Two years later Gigi was diagnosed with cancer. After operations and radiation, she withdrew, thinking that she would probably soon be dead, like her friend who died of cancer, but her two little girls gave her the courage to keep going. After a few years, still among the living, her brain started to work again, so she thought, ‘Get a grip on yourself and do something good with your life’.
She remembered the time she wrote short stories and got inspired again, seeing her husband Albert writing the story of their adoption. Her English became increasingly better so she pressed on to develop her creative writing.

Albert taught her how to use a computer and she wrote many short stories. She entered them in competitions and often got very good reports back, which gave her confidence to go on writing. One day the idea for the TALON series came to her and she spent the next several years bringing the story and the characters to life.

She now loves writing and spends most of her time at the computer, developing new story lines. She also loves traveling, 4x4 touring, swimming, gardening, handcrafting, reading, fossicking and enjoys good adventure DVD’s or going to the movies.


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