Review: The New Kid by Temple Mathews

The New Kid

by Temple Mathews

EBook Published September 7, 2010 by BenBella Books

288 Pages

 

Digital Copy Obtained From NetGalley

Synopsis via Goodreads:

"Will Hunter is used to being the New Kid; Harrisburg High School is his fifth new school in less than three years. By now, he knows not to be fooled by the bright pep rallies, the wholesome jocks, the innocent cheerleaders. He knows the evil lurking underneath. It's the same evil that took his dad eight years ago: the same evil he battles every day. Natalie Holand's life fell apart the night her sister Emily disappeared. No one believes her when she tells them what she saw: yellow and green eyes, glowing beneath the surface of the water in which Emily supposedly drowned. And Emily isn't the only person to go missing in Harrisburg lately. The town is changing, not for the better, and Natalie doesn't know why. What she does know is that, whatever's happening, it's bad, and the New Kid is right in the middle of it. Because Will's got a secret even bigger than Harrisburg's . . . and there's more to it than even he knows."


Get Your Copy:
Amazon Kindle Edition
B&N Nook Book


About the Author:
A graduate of the University of Washington and a producer at the American Film Institute, Temple Mathews has written dozens of half-hour animation TV episodes and several animated and live action features and direct-to-DVD and video films. Mr. Mathews has sold scripts and/or worked for hire at every major studio in Hollywood. His credits include the Walt Disney animated feature films "RETURN TO NEVERLAND" and "THE LITTLE MERMAID II," and the MGM feature film "PICTURE THIS!"

Temple Mathews was Story Editor on 35 half-hour episodes of "THE JUDGE", a daytime courtroom drama and Story Editor on two seasons of "INSIDE OUT," an anthology series produced by Propaganda Films and Producer Alan Poul ("SIX FEET UNDER"). On that series Mr. Mathews worked with directors Antoine Fuqua ("TRAINING DAY"), Alexander Payne ("SIDEWAYS," "ABOUT SCHMIDT"), Richard Shepard ("THE MATADOR") and others. Additionally, he was Writer and Producer of the feature film ("OFF THE MARK") starring Terri Ferrell ("BECKER, DEEP SPACE NINE") and Barry Corbin ("ONE TREE HILL."). Mr. Mathews lives in Santa Monica with his daughter, actress Manon Mathews


Connect with the Author:
Temple's Website
Goodreads


My Review:
The New Kid took me by surprise!!! I really wasn't sure what to expect. I knew the synopsis sounded intriguing and I was looking forward to reading it but honestly didn't psych myself up about it. The first chapter down and I was hooked! I started reading at 2am this morning and finished it tonight (8:00PM).

The characters are great. I was immediately drawn to Will. His character is extremely likable - he's humble, determined, attractive, strong, smart and seriously brave. He doesn't go around thinking he's "Mr. Unbreakable" which makes him even more attractive. Natalie is a great female lead! At first I wasn't sure if she was going to end up being a lead character when she first entered the story but I was so happy that she did become the female lead. She's not an over the top female character - which is what I usually end up complaining about when it comes to female characters.

Temple did a GREAT job creating his characters and building his world.

Wow.. can I just say the story line kept me on my toes. From chapter one all the way to the last chapter, I didn't have a clue what was coming up next. The twists and turns that occur throughout this story keep your mind on high alert. I was constantly trying to catch my breath after an intense scene... just to end up breathless again a few pages later... If you're looking for an action packed read, this is definitely it. The weapons that Will creates would leave any reader at awe! Plus, Will creates a video game from his experiences killing demons! How awesome is that! Brilliant!

I've read a lot of "demon" slayer books and The New Kid was unlike any that I've read. I always LOVE being able to say that about new reads. It's great to see creative minds at work and always coming at common themes from a fresh angle.


My Overall Rating: 4.5 Stars

Cover Rating: 4 Stars
Character Rating: 5 Stars
Plot: 4 Stars
Climax: 5 Stars <- I had to hold my breath through so many pages that I'm surprised I didn't turn blue in the face!
Ending: 5 Stars

IMM #7 / STS #2

 

IMM Info @ The Story Siren

STS Info @ Tynga's Reviews

E-Books Won Via Blog Contests

 

Purchased E-Books

Received from the Author in Exchange for an Honest Review (Some part of a blog tour)

 

 NetGalley E-Books

        

 

Literally In My Mailbox!!

 

*HAPPY DANCE* ^_^

 

 

 

Short Review: Enchantment & Taken by Charlotte Abel

Enchantment
Channie Book 1
by Charlotte Abel
YA Paranormal Romance
Published June 23, 2011 by Charlotte Abel
Kindle Edition 373 Pages

Received e-book copy straight from the author in exchange for an honest review


Synopsis from Goodreads:
Sixteen year old Channie Kerns leads an idyllic life of seclusion and magic deep in the Ozark Mountains ... until her family is forced to flee for their lives.

They leave everything and everyone behind to start over in Louisville, Colorado. Magic is forbidden while they are in hiding, but Channie can't resist the temptation to enchant a group of local boys. When her overbearing parents catch her flirting with these "sex-crazed, non-magical delinquents," they slap a chastity spell on her to protect her virtue.

The spell is triggered by lust, so just navigating the halls at her new school is an ordeal. She can't even touch a boy she's attracted to without blasting him with a jolt of magical energy that feels like a taser.

When Channie falls in love with Josh Abrim, a BMX racer with dangerous secrets of his own, she rebels against her parents and turns to dark and forbidden magic to break the chastity spell ... with disastrous results"

Get Your Copy from Amazon


My Short Review:
Wow - SO I really wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading Enchantment. I LOVE this spin on mages. At first, it was a little hard to pick up the concept of the "powername," "heart of hearts," and the "powerwell" but you get into after a bit and it seems second nature. Josh - *swoon* - what can I say... he's awesome. Channie & fam's accent does make me laugh a little because I'm from Louisiana... and I know several people from Alabama who have the really big country accent... so it does make me chuckle when reading from their POV or conversations between them. Overall, I was really happy with this read. I LOVED the ending and couldn't wait to start book two.

My Overall Rating: 3.8 Stars



Taken
Channie Book 2
by Charlotte Abel
YA Paranormal Romance
Published January 27, 2012 by Charlotte Abel
Kindle Edition 266 Pages

Received e-book copy straight from the author in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis from Goodreads:
"Bound by love and magic. Betrayed by those they trust. Not everyone survives.

Gasp-out-loud action, heart-pounding romance and an OMG ending that leaves you hungry for the next book."

Get Your Copy From Amazon



My Short Review:

I LOVE the characters in this series. Charlotte Abel does a great job portraying the characters in a way that makes you connect and fall in love with them. Josh is such a FABULOUS character. Channie & Hunter are great but man, you just fall in love with Josh. There's so many twists and turns. The climax towards the end has you biting your nails all the way through. I was so nervous for everyone! You really didn't know what was going to happen next. I can't wait for the next piece of their st...moreI LOVE the characters in this series. Charlotte Abel does a great job portraying the characters in a way that makes you connect and fall in love with them. Josh is such a FABULOUS character. Channie & Hunter are great but man, you just fall in love with Josh. There's so many twists and turns. The climax towards the end has you biting your nails all the way through. I was so nervous for everyone! You really didn't know what was going to happen next. I can't wait for the next piece of their story to come together! I NEED to know what's going to happen to them!! My Overall Rating: 3.8 Stars

About the Author:

Charlotte Abel was born and raised in Oklahoma where she met her soulmate, Pete. She chased him to Boulder, Colorado and finally convinced him they were meant to be together forever. They've raised three kids, two ferrets, three dogs and countless hamsters -- and are still happily married.
She's in love with "real" life and paranormal romance. When she's not reading or writing, Charlotte enjoys hiking, bicycling and primitive archery (although she's never shot at anything other than a target!)


Connect with Charlotte:
Author's Blog
Goodreads
Twitter
Amazon Profile

"Degloved" Dog Tail... Helpful H....

So let me tell you what can happen if your toddler decides to open the house door and let the doggies in... you know... being helpful and all.... he is such a big boy after all....

 

H decided to open the door and let our dogs in the house... well... that's great and all... I really appreciate his help... BUT.... not when he decides to shut the door reallyyyyy fast when our 89 pound, 9 month old MASTIFF is running in the door....

 

This is the scene moments later at our house... except I won't show too many pictures of all the blood but let me tell you that it looked like we had murdered something in our house! There was blood almost up to the ceiling in some places...

 

Yes... this is the tip of our mastiff's tail...

 

H shut the door on her tail... she was running the house... the door jerked into the door frame... almost 2 inches of her tail is "degloved".... 

 

For those of you who don't know what "degloved" is, I don't recommend googling it unless you have the stomach for it... I'll save you the time of looking up what it means by telling you the definition according to Wikipedia...

"A degloving injury is a type of avulsion in which an extensive section of skin is completely torn off the underlying tissue, severing its blood supply. It is named by analogy to the process of removing a glove."

 

There was nothing but bone making up the tip of Bay's tail.... no skin, no muscle... nothing but bone & blood...

 

Blood on the walls... the carpet... the couch... the kitchen cabinets...the fridge...  (our carport door which is what was slammed on her tail opens into our kitchen)....

 

So of course daddy was at work with no cell reception while all of this was going on...of course blood continued to go everywhere while I gathered supplies needed to clean and bandage her tail... plus trying to keep a 3 year old little boy out of my way... all of this together = Mental Breakdown....

 

Of course I let her back out that door later after bandaging her tail so I could have a moment to continue to clean the blood off of every surface in our house, only to realize that she took her bandage off her tail while she was outside.... When I called her to come back in what's the first thing she comes in contact with....my car....Of course the bleeding hadn't stopped completely yet

 

Soooo since this was Saturday at noon, we didn't have a vet to call... to stop the bleeding I had to use flour (really good home tip for stopping bleeding right) - BUT of course I didn't HAVE any flour... Making a phone call to Mamaw was the only option at this point... "MOM HELP!!! H SHUT BAY'S TAIL IN THE DOOR AND THERE'S BLOOD EVERYWHERE!!!!!"

 

So after what seemed like 10 hours of bandaging, mopping, Clorox wiping, and scrubbing everything around the house.... we have a bandaged tail...

 

First thing Monday, Bay had a trip to the Vet... They chopped off a few inches of her tail and stitched up the end with 2 big stitches....

Can you imagine the "fun" we've had trying to keep her from tearing out her stitches.... 

 

Bay goes back to the vet on 11/5 for removal of her stitches... let's hope my mind still sort of functions by that time....

So once again... my life with a toddler gets alittle.... interesting....

Promotion: Forbidden Forest by Tenaya Jayne

The Legends of Regia: Forbidden Forest

By Tenaya Jayne

236 Pages

YA Fantasy Romance

Book Blurb

Born in shame. Cast from society. Shape Shifter/Elf hybrid, Forest must fight for any respect she can get. Targeted in her youth by a vampire noble who placed an illegal slave mark on her, she is forced to obey him, no matter what. Slipping the grip of her master and abandoning the prejudice of Regia, her native world, Forest takes a job on Earth, guarding the portal, using her skills as a warrior to enforce Regia's laws. Now, called home for a black ops mission, Forest must put aside her own prejudice to transport the vampire prince, Syrus, through enemy territory in a time of war. Prince Syrus, mage and master of the Blood Kata, wants Forest more than he's ever wanted anything. In spite of their mutual mistrust, their attraction cannot be denied. Through the danger of their mission, and the secrets they both keep, it doesn't matter what they feel. Forest is forbidden.  


Excerpt
Forest pressed her back against the cool concrete wall, wanting to remain aloof from the entity of the crowd. She chose her position in the shadows, out of the paths of the roving, multi-colored spotlights. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of the undulating human pheromones flying around on the air. At the beginning of every shift, she allowed herself a few minutes of this alien/human experience, though she didn't fully comprehend the combination of dancing, drinking, and ear-breaking sound waves. They loved it, however, and never seemed to deviate from the recipe. These were the people she was sworn to protect. She had developed a light affection for the human race and considered them a benign, if not slightly silly, bunch of creatures. Her religious passion for her job was rooted in hatred of that which harmed the humans, not a superhero tendency to protect the weak. Forest opened her eyes and focused all her senses to sniff out the illegal suckers that tried to sneak through the portal. She was in the zone tonight, and not for the first time did she feel that hers was the best job in existence. It was a shame she couldn’t legally kill suckers in her native world. Over the next two hours, Forest didn’t move from the wall. She monitored the light traffic through the portal: two shifters and one elf, each of which nodded to her respectfully as they passed. Yawn. The shifters left the club to enjoy the delights of Austin’s nightlife elsewhere. The elf would have been breaking Regia’s law had he left the club, but he dutifully seated himself at the bar and ordered a fuzzy navel. He wore a plaid, porkpie hat, pulled down over the tops of his pointed ears. Forest didn’t know him personally, but she had seen him in here before. The bartender surveyed him with narrowed eyes as the elf nervously tugged his hat down further and ordered a few more girly cocktails. Intent on making sure that not one sucker was able to sneak past her, Forest was blindsided by the drunk bubba who had been trying to catch her eye for the last twenty minutes. He had finally decided to stagger over to hit on her. “Hey babe, you’re too beautiful to look so lonely. How’s ‘bout I buy you a drink?” “How’s ‘bout I call you a cab instead?” Forest mimicked his drawl. “Only if you share it with me, Darlin.” He leaned in closer, and Forest’s throat began to sting from the noxious fume of booze mixed with his natural musk. “While I appreciate the offer, Jethro, It seems only right to inform you that I’m not actually attractive at all. If you leaned in a little closer, you’d see that you’ve fallen victim to the effect of beer goggles. A hag like me can’t take advantage of a stud like you.” As he leaned in, Forest instantly enlarged her nose, pockmarked her skin, evaporated her front teeth, and added a large black mole with a long hair sprouting from it for good measure. “You’re no hag, baby! You’re the sexiest little thing in…I…uh… ” He stumbled backward. “Good grief! Sorry, sorry…” he stammered, retreating. “I’ve gotta quit drinking,” he mumbled as he turned away. Forest chuckled to herself once he absorbed back into the crowd. Being a shape shifter sometimes had unusual perks.



About Tenaya Jayne Hello. My name's Tenaya and I'm an addict. I mean author. When I was growing up, writing was just something I played at from time to time. I knew I wanted to be a writer, but I was one of those people who could never finish anything. When my eldest son was diagnosed with Autism, I began to write seriously. Writing became a necessity for me in the midst of my heartbreak. It was either that or take up drinking. I 'm thankful I chose writing as my escape because I discovered it truly is my thing. I want to be swept away when I read. That's what I want my books to do for you.The main goal of my writing is to entertain you. I want to help you escape everyday life for a little while. I hope you enjoy my stories as much as I enjoy sharing them with you! I have a wonderful husband and two beautiful sons. I'm an advocate for Autism awareness, and women trapped in abusive relationships. I try to always look on the bright side and help others do so too. I've lived many places but I currently reside in Missouri. I love reading, indie and foreign films, gardening, and moody music.


Author Links Purchase on Amazon Website Book Trailer

Review: Calling the Shots (Long Shots #4) by Christine d'Abo

Calling the Shots

Long Shots #4
By Christine d'Abo

Genre - Erotia/Romance, MM, MF, MFM

Published October 8, 2012 by Carina Press

Format - ebook

180 Pages

Copy obtained from Net Galley

Synopsis via Goodreads:

 He's had a wild ride, and now sex club owner Josh Scott is looking for a change of scene. But first, he's determined to bring two friends together, and he's willing to be a third wheel to move things along...

Beth Norris is eager to be set up with hot bartender Oliver Stephenson, but she's equally attracted to matchmaker Josh. Soon she's fantasizing about both men at once—and about being the one to call the shots in the encounter...

Ready to move on with his life post-divorce, Oliver is conflicted by the realization that he's attracted to women and men. Or more specifically, to Beth and Josh. He tries to keep his distance, but it's not long before the chemistry between the trio combusts in a night of mind-blowing sex.

In the light of day, it's clear something deeper than desire is growing between Josh, Beth and Oliver. But though Josh has helped others find love in unconventional relationships, is he willing to take a chance on one himself?
 

Find Calling the Shots on Goodreads,  Barnes & Noble or Amazon

About the Author:

Multipublished author Christine d'Abo loves exploring the human condition through a romantic lens. She takes her characters on fantastical journeys that change their hearts and expand their minds. A self-professed sci-fi junkie, Christine can often be found chatting about her favorite shows and movies. When she's not writing, she can be found chasing after her children, dogs or husband.

Christine is published with Carina Press, Ellora's Cave, Samhain Publishing, Cleis Press and Berkley Heat.

 

Connect With Christine d'Abo:

Author's Website

Goodreads

Twitter

My Review:
Christine D'Abo did a wonderful thing when she wrote Calling the Shots. I haven't read a book this hot in quite a while. The characters are fabulously refreshing. The plot is hot, suspenseful, full of mystery...did I say hot? I couldn't put this book down. The twists in the plot caught me completely off guard - which is a good thing! I get alittle annoyed when I've solved the mystery entirely too early but Christine kept me on my toes.

She writes in a way where you get completely attached to the characters and want the best for them - or the worst when it comes to the characters you hate. The male leads Josh & Oliver are oh so hot, tough but sweet. Beth, the female lead, is probably one of my favorite female leads of the year. She's soft but strong and as she learns to tap into her dominant side, you begin see her as this sexy, irresistible woman. Christine writes in a way that makes you feel like you're right there with the characters - learning and experiencing new things including what they like/want to do/fantasize about... Did I say this read was hot?? Just making sure...

There's MM, MF, MFM action throughout this read and the scenes are written fabulously. I'm usually not one for a lot of MM action - simply because I'm not usually attracted to MM action - but Christine writes the scenes in a way that makes it hot for any reader. You see through Beth's eyes and since Beth thinks it's hot, you swoon right along with her.

Great read! I didn't realize this was a series until after I got started.. I'm now going to go back and read the rest of the series!



My Overall Rating: 4.5 Stars

Cover Rating:  5 Stars <--This is one of my favorite covers of the year!

Main Characters: 5 Stars <- I LOVE Josh, Beth & Oliver

Plot:  4 Stars

Climax: 4.5 Stars

Ending:  4.5 Stars

Review & Interview: Sportsman's Bet by Judy Nichols

Sportsman's Bet

by Judy Nichols

Genre - Mystery

Publication via Smashwords - May 31, 2012

Format - ebook

229 Pages

 

Copy obtained directly from Author in exchange for an honest review

 

Synopsis via Judy's Website:

 Velma Saunders, the town clerk of Tobias, North Carolina never had a kind word to say to anyone. In fact, most people were afraid of her, including her boss, Mayor Mike Ellis.

Still, the whole town is shocked when Velma's body is found in the Municipal Building's old bomb shelter. The only clue to her murderer is a copy of a cryptic message from a Nigerian Email scammer.

All the evidence points to Mayor Mike, who's charged with killing Velma. Investigator Ian Dodge, a British transplant who's never quite taken root in the Deep South,sets out to find out who else hated Velma enough to kill her.

In the course of his investigation, Ian discovers the dark secrets Velma has been hiding all these years, and exactly why she was so mean.

Sportsman’s Bet is Judy's third book and the first in the Ian Dodge detective series. Ian is a British national, living in a small town in rural North Carolina and stubbornly hanging on to every shred of his Britishness. Any resemblance to Ian Dodge and her own prickly British husband is purely intentional.

Find The Sportsman's Bet on Goodreads, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble or Amazon

About the Author:

Judy is an Ohio transplant to Wilmington, North Carolina. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Kent State University.She has been a newspaper reporter, a teacher, a temporary office worker, a customer service representative, and currently stay-at-home mom with way too much time on her hands. (And never mind the fact that her daughter is a year away from heading off to college). She started her novel Caviar Dreams while her daughter was napping one day. Five years later it was finished. The biggest challenge arrived when her daughter stopped taking napes and eventually lost interest in watching the "Toy Story" video. In April of 2012, Judy achieved her lifelong goal of appearing on the quiz show “Jeopardy!” She was a two day champion winning a total of $46,500 and the distinction of being officially named the smartest person in a room full of smart people. She's received two awards in her lifetime. Neither of them has anything to do with writing, but she is immensely proud of them nonetheless. Adia Temporary Agency presented her with the "Temp of the Month" award for March, 1987 and The Ohio Chapter of The Nature Conservancy gave her a Volunteer Appreciation Award in 1991. Her experience with The Nature Conservancy inspired her second novel Tree Huggers, about the deadly clash between an unscrupulous developer and a militant environmentalists, published in 2008.

Connect With Debbie Dee:

Author's Website

Goodreads

 

A Few Questions for Judy:

Why did you decide to write mystery novels?
Why mystery novels? I'm a big fan of mysteries and thrillers. I've always liked starting with the crime and seeing if I can come up with the solution before the author reveals it and I've found I enjoy the challenge of coming up with the crime, the suspects, the red herrings and various plot twists. It's creating chaos and then bringing order to it.


Your website indicates that this is the first book in the Ian Dodge Detective Series. How many do you anticipate being in the series? When can we expect the next in the series?
I guess there will be as many Ian Dodge books as I can write. I'm working on the second one now which is titled "Trouble And Strife," Cockney rhyming slang for wife. In this one, the wife of a prominent lawyer dies from an allergic reaction suffered in a tanning bed. Was it a tragic accident, gross negligence on the part of the tannig salon, or was it murder? Ian Dodge investigates.

 

Did you have someone in mind when you created Ian's character?
Yes. Ian is based on my British husband Nigel, who's been living in the U.S. for more than half his life but hangs on to his Britishness. (He refuses to call that sport where you kick the round ball into a goal "Soccer." That's Football.) He's also speaks his mind and has no patience with fools. I have to ask because I can't help myself - how much fun was it to be on Jeopardy?
Being on Jeopardy! was the coolest thing ever. The best moment was going into the studio and seeing the set for the first time, with the podiums and the game board and the Jeoaprdy logo. I couldn't believe I was actually there and after years of watching it on television, I was playing it for real. And winning is fantastic. You get to be officially recognized as the smartest person in the room, and the room is full of smart people.


Is there anything you'd like for fans to know or a take home message you'd like to leave with them?
 I like readers to know that I do my best to write characters and plots that could happen in the real world. I don't go in for high body counts or gory descriptions of murders and fight scenes. And I always like to include a scene where the victim is mourned. Even though I'm writing my books to entertain, I still feel there should be some kind of acknowledgement that when someone gets killed, they leave people behind.
 


My Review:
So mystery novels are not my usual genre, however, I loved this mystery. To be honest, the main reason I don't normally read mysteries is because I usually figure out "who did it" well before it's declared in the story... kinda defeats the purpose of reading the novel.... The fact that it all starts about by finding out she stole money just to help out an email scammer is intriguing. I mean, how many of those stupid emails do we get in our inbox a year - some of those stories really want to pull you in and that's what happens to poor ole Vilma.

Judy Nichols had me completely stumped!! I couldn't figure it out and it was driving me absolutely insane! At only 229, this read is relatively short but believe me when I say it didn't seem like it because you're constantly learning something new. Each chapter is pretty short but they're each almost individual key points in the mystery. You really come to care about poor Velma. The mean lady you thought she was is completely a misunderstanding. Vilma was judged as a mean ol' lady before we knew her background and what made her the way she was. Well, yes she's a little mean but you find out WHY she's the way she is and it completely changes your perception of her. The more you learn, the more you want to know who killed her and why! Of course I won't reveal the outcome but let me just say it's surprising.

The cast of main characters is fitting. I enjoyed reading from Ian Dodge's (love that name btw) point of view. He's a great lead character that you grow comfortable with. He's not an over the top detective but when he needs to be, he's a mystery solving machine. I'd love to read more stories about the detective tales of Ian.

Judy's writing style flows pretty smoothly. There's a lot of dialog that you read through - some of it gets a little boggy but I think if I read more of the mystery genre, the dialog wouldn't have bothered me as much. Lots of questioning and story telling... You learn alot of interesting new facts during the dialog and during the dialog is when you learn so much about Vilma.

Even though this isn't my normal genre, I have to recommend this read to others whether you like mystery novels or not.




My Overall Rating: 4 Stars

Cover Rating:  2.5 Stars
If I was to pass this cover on the bookshelf, I wouldn't think twice about passing it up :( BUT I do love how the email is scrunched in the person's hands - that is a neat touch for the cover.

Main Characters: 5 Stars <- I LOVE Ian's Character

Plot: 5 Stars
I mean really... if anyone figured out who the killer was early on, you're brilliant because I sure as heck didn't

Climax: 4 Stars

Ending:  4 Stars

       

 

IMM #6 / STS #1

 

 

IMM Info @ The Story Siren

STS Info @ Tynga's Reviews



  

Literally In My Mailbox:

 









 

The fabulous Justin @ Justin's Book Blog sent my ARC copy of The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann and sent me some FABULOUS Ada Adams - ReVamped Swag! Thank you Justin!!!

 

 

 

Mrs Judy sent a copy of Tree Huggers! I'm stoked to read this book!!!

Thanks Mrs Judy!

Readers: if you haven't heard of her, check out my review that'll be posted Monday on Sportsman's Bet. It was a really good mystery novel! I definitely recommend it!

 

 

Netgalley Books:

In order to get back to reading, rather than place a copy of each cover, I think I'll just list these out! Although, it's a sad thing because most of these have covers to die for!!! Check them out!

 

Entangled (Spellbound book 1) by Nikki Jefford

Gates of Rapture (The World of Ascension book 6) by Caris Roane

Bonds of Trust (Wicked Play book 1) by Lynda Aicher

Calling the Shots (Long Shots book 4) by Christine D'Abo

The New Kid (New Kid book 1) by Temple Mathews

The Time of the Wolf (Hereward book 1) by James Wilde

What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor

 

 

Sooo.... I also went a little crazy on Freebie Friday for B&N... I downloaded 41 - yes Forty One - free ebooks from B&N Friday.... I couldn't pass them up! LOL I won't even attempt to list them all... I'd be here forever and that would be time away from my book that I'm reading right now! ^_^

 

 

How did everyone else do this week?!?! I love to hear what kinds of awesome books/swag everyone gets!!

 

PS - go check out the open giveaways I have going on right now!! There's some really awesome books up for grabs!! Click on my Giveaway tab up top! ^_^

 

I hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend!!! I wish I was... ugh... that'll be a blog post for later... it's one of those about life with my toddler... Ha...

 

 

Spotlight: Affinity - Bird in a Gilded Cage

Affinity -  Bird in a Gilded Cage

Affinity Book #1

To Be Released: October 24, 2012

The crows followed Talon around everywhere. When he graduated from high school, Talon moved to Sacramento to work with his uncle, and the birds followed. He recognized the same straggly-tailed old crow that had followed him around since junior high. Iris Yorita lived in his old neighborhood in Modesto. Snakes were drawn to her as the big, black birds were drawn to him. She called their ability an AFFINITY and claimed it was a gift from God, and they should use it to help people. Talon thought she was out of her mind. How could a bunch of mangy crows or slimy snakes help anyone?

When a thief targeted the people in his uncle's neighborhood, all fingers pointed at the new kid, Talon. He decided it was time to put this strange ability to the test. Find out who was robbing their neighbors and clear his name. As Talon learned to communicate with his crows, the thievery heated up. Something more sinister than mere robbery was going on, and it would take Talon, Iris, and their new found friends, to discover what really was going on in this up-scale neighborhood.

 

About the Author

Mary E. Merrell lives in the Central Valley of California with her husband, two dogs and four cats. She has two grown sons, Everette Merrell and Richard Mickelson who is married to a great girl, Brooke. Mary has worked at various jobs, selling furniture, a meat company and a manufacturing company. It wasn’t until she started selling real estate that her Real Estate Paranormal Mystery Series came to life in that old, vacant home. She enjoys reading all types of genres and writes Paranormal Mysteries and YA Urban Fantasies. When she’s not writing, she’s working on her decorative planter business www.LivingCreations.org with her husband, gardening and playing soccer. Please visit her website to see what she’s working on next. www.maryemerrell.com, or contact her through Facebook and Twitter.

 

Connect With Mary E. Merrell

Author’s website   

Goodreads          

Twitter 

My Very First Feature & Follow (FF #1)

I'm excited to begin FF!

This week's question:
 When you step out of your USUAL genre what do you like to read? Best books in that genre? 

My preferred genres are YA & Adult romance, paranormal, fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, alittle erotica from time to time...

Stepping out of my genre doesn't happen too often but when I do, I prefer to read Stephen King (who once upon a time was my favorite author - he really got me into reading...) or Mystery/suspense novels... I don't know if I have a favorite when it comes to the Mystery novels but I have a long list of SK favorites including The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, Dragon Eyes, and Dreamcatcher :)


I'd love for everyone to follow via GFC but you can also follow by email if you'd like. Leave a comment and let me know if you're a new follower. I'll always follow back! :)





HOP AROUND :) Check out the Other FF Blogs!

H's New Do!

So if you have a toddler, you know haircuts can either be an okay experience or they're disastrous... there's no "excellent experience" (at least there hasn't been for me & H - ha). It was well past time for H to have a new do... I had to bribe him... with a new tractor, big truck, or combine... I'm not above bargaining my way to an "okay" experience..

We went last minute to a local gal who has a precious shop in our "village." Now for my hair, I only trust one person these days... with H being a boy, there's not too much that can screw up.. Right? Welllll.... wrong...

Poor H has one heck of a short do this time... I should've taken pictures close up of the front "bangs" area... it's a little lopsided... and the back is so far up his neck it's almost entertaining... ALMOST...

Needless to say, I've learned my lesson on trusting just anyone with H's hair...

So without further adieu, here's the before...

 

And here's the after....  (of course the flash on the camera makes him close his eyes EVERY time)

 He looks all grown up now *tear*... too bad he doesn't act it, LOL We're still working on the "big boy potty" >_<

Review & Giveaway: Tormented by J. Ann

Tormented 

(Immortals Saga book 1)

by J. Ann

 

 

E-Book Published on September 12, 2012 by J. Ann

117 Pages

E-Book obtained directly from the author in exchange for an honest review

 

Excerpt from Goodreads:

It's been over 200 years since Humans drove the affected into hiding. Now out of nowhere, people are dying on both sides. When one of the few female specially trained fighters; also known as an Ultorum, is added to the body count, Angelina is forced to make a decision. Now she must betray everything she knows, including her best friend Michael, and follow the one creature she doesn't trust.

Ethan watches this young Ultorum with leery eyes. He is deeply impressed with her abilities, and even more so with her determination. It's just to bad she smells so good.

Together they set out to find the one responsible for all the killings, but what they find, they are not going to like.

Available through Barnes and Noble Nook Books and Amazon Kindle books.



About the Author:

Jessica is a single mother who has been telling stories since as far back as she can remember, even to the point of telling them to her family on long car rides. She dreams of having her books someday become Best Sellers. For now though she is just happy spreading what she loves to those around her.
When she is not working or writing, she can be found playing with her daughter, listening/dancing to music, or just lounging around. She loves romance novels, especially if they are paranormal and she would love to hear from you!
Tormented is her first novel.

Connect with Jessica:

Blog
Jessica's Review Blog
Goodreads
Facebook

My Review:

 

This is such a fresh spin on the vampire genre! The actual world that Jessica Ann created is fabulous!! I really can't say enough about the creativity in this story.

 

Vampires were created by accident through basically a laboratory testing gone wrong... also created: the Ultorum - pretty much the "police" there to try and keep the vampires from killing people. The Ultorum - known by their Green eyes - are the only ones strong enough to protect the clueless humans from the vampires. There's a treaty of sorts so the vampires are supposed to stay out of the city limits and stay in their own territories.

 

The characters are absolutely fabulous! You have Angy - with her Grey eyes. She's unlike the other Ultorums not only because of her eyes but she also seems a tad faster/stronger than everyone else too. She's "special" but no one can quite explain why or how until much later in the story.

Then there's Michael - her best friend/potential boyfriend, second highest ranking Ultorum (right below Angy's father - the Chief) in their area. He's such a good guy. I LOVE his character. Then of course there's Ethan! Can you say... YUMMY! He's the first attractive vampire that Angy has seen and oh boy is he one attractive fella. The other supporting characters are really great. Samantha, the Chief, the other Ultorum...

 

I can't say enough about how creative this story is - it's completely different from any vampire book I've ever read - and trust me when I say I've read A LOT of vampire novels in my 26 years. The story has action, fighting, killing, romance, tension, suspense, compassion, mystery... It really has all the makings of a great series!

 

 I NEED to know what happens in book 2 because book 1 definitely leaves you hanging. There's so many questions that haven't been answered yet that I really want answers to.

 

Okay - so the negatives about Tormented:

The editing with regards to punctuation. Incorrect punctuation really drives me bonkers when I'm reading. I fail to use correct punctuation in day to day life but it's because I'm writing more for fun than seriously. When I need to be serious and write something more professional, my punctuation has to be correct or it drives me bonkers. When I'm writing for fun or more casual, I tend to really overuse "..." Guilty as charged. There were several places in Tormented where I wanted to take out my pen and correct the punctuation. I had to just about pause and refocus on the actual reading. LOL BUT I'm a stickler & it's just a pet peeve so other's may not notice.

 

The cover. I really wish there was more to the cover... a hot man with red eyes... an Ultorum... Angy. I'd love to see the characters all on the cover in some intense scene so it gives readers more of an idea of what type of book they're picking up. I'm sooooo glad that I was given this book to read because if I was to pass it in the bookstore or come across it on the B&N website, I would've kept scrolling = that would've been a travesty. >_<

I would definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy a good paranormal read. For the first book that J. Ann has written, it's a great read!! There's a bit of romance but definitely not as much as I would like - the potential for quite a triangle. Hence the reason I cannot wait to find out what happens in the next book!

 

 

My Overall Rating: 4 Stars

Cover Rating:  2 Stars
I liked the cover but if I was to pass this in the store, I wouldn't have stopped & picked it up

Main Characters: 5 Stars

Plot: 4 Stars

Climax: 4 Stars

Ending: 5 Stars

My ONLY complaint about Tormented is the Punctuation - that REALLY drives me bonkers.

Giveaway!!!

 

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