FF #4

Q: Activity! Who is your to-die-for book crush? What do you think they look like? Add an image to make us all happy.

Oh gosh... really... I have to pick one???? I have lots of fictional boyfriends LoL

Okay...well...let's see.....Here's just a FEW of them.. I have lots more ^_^

Wraith from Larissa Ione's Demonica Series

Christian Grey from E.L. James Fifty Shades of Grey

 

 

 

 

Chase from Taking Chances by Molly McAdams

 

 

 

 

Daemon from The Lux Series by Jennifer Armentrout

 

 

I can't wait to go see who everyone else is crushing on.... ^_^

 

 

 

Tour Stop! Review & Giveaway: Blood to Blood by Ife Oshun

Blood to Blood

by Ife Oshun
 

Kindle Edition - 191 Pages
Young Adult Urban Fantasy
Papa Grace Publishing
 

Slated for official paperback and e-book release in December 2012, the novel’s e-version is currently in pre-release exclusively via Amazon

ARC E-book Provided by Ife Oshun & Papa Grace in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis from Goodreads:
"Angelika Brown has a killer voice. Too bad her über-conservative parents aren’t happy when she decides to quit high school to be a pop singer. What’s worse, she’s morphing into a blood-drinking immortal and her soaring vocals can now decimate everything, and everyone, within earshot. Will she learn how to control her new powers? Or will her bloodlust cause her to kill her girl group before they reach the Top 10?"

Excerpt:
“The sound of his heartbeat was the background music banging in my ears as I, in a daze, took another step forward. My fingers itched with the desire to pull through the gold-tinged hair hanging less than an inch from my face. His eyes narrowed and his head cocked to the side. He was exposing his neck…yes, as if he was offering it to me. I inhaled his scent again and my brain switched off.

Led by my watering mouth, I closed the gap between us and placed my lips on his neck."


About the Author:

Starting out as an actress, the Fine Arts and English major went on to work for over a decade as a music journalist for national magazines and major websites including serving as Editor-In-Chief for HiphopRnbSoul.com. She also produced, and wrote for, television and theater. A couple of her sci-fi/fantasy plays were produced Off-Broadway and in Los Angeles, and she did her Writers Guild of America internship with Star Trek Enterprise and Voyager.

Her work incorporates fantasy elements with some combination of the following: humor, social issues, family themes, metaphysical concepts, and pop culture. She lives in Boston with her small son and ink-black cat, and can be found online at her personal website.

Connect with the Author:

Website

Amazon Profile

Twitter

Goodreads

Google+

 

 

My Review:

 

Blood to Blood was an interesting read. It's different than any other paranormal story I've ever read. It was a little difficult to understand what type of being Angel and her family were at first but through several chapters, you finally grasp it alittle better. The story line was pretty good. It was an easy read - flowed well from moment to moment. I really don't put this read in line with vampires at all..... even though Angel and her family drink blood, it's otherwise un-relatable to vampires in my mind. I've seen where others disagree so I guess "to his their own" fits in this instance. I mean... she SEES musical notes & chords dancing in front of her in different colors and KILLS when she wants to just by singing certain notes... that's definitely unlike any vampire story I've heard of :)

 

The romance was sort of non-existent for me except where Justin was concerned. I could tell there was a romantic undertone with regards to Sawyer but it was subtle until near the end of the book. I really had no idea who Angel would end up with in the end. The twists that occur in the plot with regards to character revelations is fabulous - completely unexpected. The last few chapters were the best to me!! I loved several aspects of Ife's world - especially how Angel's mom took her to "feed" for the first time at what seems like a paranormal restaurant Ha!

 

Blood to Blood is definitely a creative read. The author Ife Oshun did a great job with that aspect for sure. It was unlike anything I'd ever read. Overall I really did enjoy this read. I'm not bouncing up and down about it but it's worth picking up.

 

Overall Rating: 3.5 Stars

 

Cover: 4 Stars

Characters: 3.5 Stars

Plot: 3.5 Stars

Climax: 5 Stars

Ending: 3.5 Stars

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giveaway!!

Enter to Win a Signed, Personalized Copy of Blood to Blood!! Good Luck Everyone!

 

****Sorry everyone - this is only for US & Canada Residents****

 

 

 

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Cover Reveal: Shadow of Time by Jen Minkman

Shadow of Time

Young Adult Paranormal Romance

By Jen Minkman

Cover Designed by Jen Minkman

Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours

Expected release date:  January 1, 2013

Drumroll...........

Book Description:

All Hannah needs is a nice and quiet vacation after her first year of teaching French at a high school. She joins her brother Ben for the summer in their mom’s log cabin in Arizona. There, she meets Josh again, Ben’s childhood friend from the Navajo reservation. The little boy from the rez has grown up fast, and Hannah can’t help but feeling more for him than just friendship.

But fate apparently has something else in store for her. And it’s not peace and quiet. Night after night, Hannah is plagued by strange nightmares about the past of Navajo Nation and terrifying shadows chasing her. They seem to come closer – and why is Josh always present in her dreams?

Sometimes, the past has a way of catching up with you.

About the Author:

Jen Minkman (1978) was born in Holland, in the town of Alphen aan den Rijn. When she was 19, she moved between The Hague, Salzburg (Austria), Brussels (Belgium) and Cambridge (UK) to complete her studies in intercultural communication. She is currently a teacher of English, career counsellor and teenage coach at a secondary school in Voorburg, Holland. She tries to read at least 100 books a year (and write a few, too!). She is a published author in her own country, and translates her own books from Dutch into English for self-publication.
In her spare time, she plays the piano, the guitar and the violin. For every novel she writes, she creates a soundtrack.

Jen Minkman | Facebook| Twitter

Find Shadow of Time  

Cover Reveal - Deadly to Love by Mia Hoddell

I'm excited to be a part of the cover reveal for Mia Hoddell's upcoming novel Deadly to Love!!

 

Without further ado... Drumroll Please...............................

 

Deadly to Love (The Elementals)

by Mia Hoddell

Synopsis:

There is a love that is so dangerous, so powerful, so intoxicating that it embraces your heart and smothers your mind until it leaves you defenceless.

Serena knew that but still, it didn't stop her. His name was Kai. He was the most beautiful, irresistible man she had ever encountered. Their attraction was too compelling to fight and she knew she would go to the end of the world beside him. That is love.

However behind the allure was hidden a deadly secret – a secret that threatened her fragile life... But secrets best left unsaid never remain hidden forever. When Kai reveals his true identity, she is exposed to a frightening world she had no idea existed. Controlled by powerful Elemental forces her life is placed in mortal danger.

Unbeknown to them, their lives have been entwined from the beginning and it leads her to discover an even greater secret about who she really is. As the pieces begin to unravel and death becomes a reality, Serena is forced to decide what is more important...her love or life.

The book will be released on Amazon Kindle on the 28th of November!

Genre: YA, Romance, Paranormal

About the Author

 

 

Mia Hoddell lives in the UK with her family and two cats. She spends most of her time writing or reading and her preferred genre is Young Adult, Paranormal Romance. Before 2009, Mia wouldn't even pick up a book and was more interested in sports. However she finally found some novels that captured her interest and developed a love of both reading and writing. Mia began with poems and after getting two published in separate anthologies she moved onto short stories. Although she enjoyed this, Mia found she had too much to tell with too little space, so later on she created her first series The Wanderer Trilogy and from there other ideas have emerged which she hopes to turn into novels as well. The Elementals is her second series and book two will be out soon.

For more information about Mia, her work or giveaways visit:

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

IMM#11 / STS#6

IMM Info @ The Story Siren

STS Info @ Tynga's Reviews

 

 

Purchased:

 

 

 

For Review:

 

Received As Part Of A Blog Tour

 

 

 

 

 

Received From Net Galley

 

 

 

I've had a busy week!!! Especially with Thanksgiving week & family members coming in... We had a great time! I'm really sad that I have to go back to work on Monday... Yes I'm already thinking about it and it's only... wait, what's today? The break has me all messed up... It's Friday... right, Friday... LoL So now Charlie Brown is on TV - it's the "Blanket" episode which really reminds of me of my little H... he carries his "blank'' & his "bink" around with him everywhere. Blank=a small blue blanket with satin trimming. Bink=a security blanket with a teady bear head & satin on it. It's really cute and melts my heart... Daddy doesn't like it so much hahaha :)

 

If you haven't seen this Charlie Brown, You should watch it - it's cute. At one point, Linus is about to have a nervous breakdown because his blanket was put in the washing machine... that's definitely H... ^_^

 

 

Anyways... I hope you all had a Wondeful Thanksgiving! For those of you that braved the shopping craziness today, smh, I feel for you. >_< There are things that we want at our house but we don't "need" them bad enough for me to brave the craziness that is Black Friday Shopping.

 

 

Oooh yea - have you seen the preveiw for The Hobbit!?!!?!??! I'm soooo excited!!! The Hobbit was my fave book out of the 4 making up the LOTR.

 

 

 

 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

I love putting up the Christmas Tree ^_^

 

 

Well... this is Bay's first Christmas...

 the 90 pound mastiff = 1

Christmas Tree = 0

 

Bay decided the tree needed less decorations, a few of the gifts needed to be taken out, and the tree skirt should be demolished... This was only the first day the tree was up... How many more days before Christmas?? We may not have a tree left by December 25 Ha >_<

 

Sooo.. I don't know how the rest of you feel about paper/hard copy books vs E-books.... I read both paper & e books but paper copies are my heart when it comes to books. Very fewe things can compare to the feeling you have when you put physical book in your hand for the first time and begin to read... or grab that book you haven't read in forever with the warn out spine off your shelf... *sigh*

 

I feel the pain at Christmas time... I used to LOVE getting books under the tree but giftcards just aren't that much fun, LoL...I mean, yea, I love the fact that I can take a giftcard and get any books I want... BUT I really enjoy it when others give me books that are on my wishlists instead... It seems more personal... more thought-out... if that makes sense...

 

What do you guys think?

Christmas - Be Thankful For What You Have

Alrighty everyone... this post is NOT about books but PLEASE continue reading anyway....

Each year, the hospital I work for takes part in a program called Angel Tree Ministries. Staff & Departments in our hospital "adopt" local kids that wouldn't really have a Christmas if it wasn't for programs like Angel Tree Ministries. We get their ages, first names, clothing sizes and wish lists.... My Department (7 Women in Total) like to adopt 2 kids - usually 1 boy & 1 girl - and buy gifts for both.

This year, we've been asked about "adopting" a family of 3 kids and their mom.

Please bare with me - this will hurt your heart....

The mom has cervical cancer.... the dad bailed on the family... the 12 year old daughter is taking on the role of mom to her little brothers because their mom is sick... the 8 year old son was hit by a truck and suffers from lots of medical problems including having a colostomy... the 5 year old son has a brain tumor and this will most likely be his last Christmas...

Crying yet? Join the rest of us...

So of course, we all immediately agreed to "adopting" the entire family. We want to make sure this family has the most amazing Christmas and hopefully several more to come. We want to be able to provide them a tree, decorations, plus anything else that they may need or want.

I'm telling you this because I want you all to take a step back and take a moment to be thankful to all that you have....

If any of you want to help us out and make sure this family has an amazing Christmas, let me know.

If you have families in your area that could use a blessing this year, reach out to them...

I Love My Followers!

Alrighty guys & gals! Because you are so fabulous I'm hosting a 100+ Giveaway!!!!

 

I really love blogging & meeting/networking with all of you! You're awesome & to celebrate, check out the Rafflecopter below ^_^

4 Fabulous Followers will win one of the following prizes:
$20 Amazon Giftcard
Print Copy of Easy by Tammara Webber  (one of my fave reads of 2012) + Mystery Swag
2 winners will each win a Significance Bookmark Signed by Shelly Crane
(don't forget to check out the Significance Movie FB Page!)

***Sorry for not mentioning sooner - this IS an international giveaway! I Love ALL of my followers :)***

 

 

 

 

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Review & Giveaway: Laced in Malice (Laced #1) by Riley Gray

Laced in Malice

(Laced #1)

by Riley Gray

Published November 1, 2012

YA Romance

(I'd say 17+ due to sexual encounters/scenes/dialog)

 

Ebook obtained directly from author in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis via Goodreads:
Behind the creepy castle like exterior of Birchtree academy is the sound of gossip, back stabbing and malice. When Zara’s dad takes on the new principle job at the elite boarding school, Zara knows she’ll be an outsider. She dreams of true love and marriage instead of possible frenemies and secrets. Definitely not Birchtree material.

In the cusp of everything are the twins. Oliver and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Nixon are renowned for their different – yet equally effective – methods of torture. And both have their eyes set on goody, goody Zara. Oliver wants to date her and Lizzie wants to befriend her?

At first, Zara is caught in the Nixons spell, but it’s not long until cracks begin to show through their dazzling façade. An anonymous email account, which targets students with their own secrets, has focused its energy on Zara using weapons only the Nixon’s could have provided. But have they turned on her? Is there a hidden agenda behind Lizzie’s interest in Zara? It’ll take four months, three warnings, two released sex tapes, and one dead body for Zara to finally learn the truth. And the truth can either destroy the boy she’s fallen for – and his twin sister – or save them both.

Get Your Copy of Laced in Malice from Amazon for $2.99

About The Author:
Riley is an author in her early twenties from the UK. She enjoys eating, reading, hanging out with animals and watching TV.  Laced in Malice is her first novel and was just released in November.

Connect with Riley:
Twitter
Blog
Goodreads

My Review:
Wow... okay... wow.... I started this novel at 8:30 pm and finished it at 12:50 am.... I could NOT put it down. My best way to describe this novel is a mixture between Gossip Girl (the tv show) & one of my all-time favorite movies Cruel Intentions...

I'm going to be completely upfront and say that there are several similarities with this novel and Cruel Intentions... I'm usually one for complete originality but I guess this is one instance that I didn't mind because it was so right. Normally I HATE, LOATHE, DESPISE moments of Deja Vu - you know the feeling you get when reading a book and you think "umm haven't I seen this before??" I normally can't stomach a book if I come across too many of those instances. But honestly, I couldn't put this book down. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Cruel Intentions is one of my favorite movies ever or maybe it was just because this is simply that great of a book. The story is written fabulously, the characters are likable, the plot flows from nail biting to hot sex to bitchy girls so you're constantly moving from one thing to the next. Some people may say "ugh, this is a ripped off version of Cruel Intentions" or "this isn't an original book - it's more like fan fiction based on a movie." I say read it and then decide what you think. I enjoyed it because it was honestly a great read!

The characters were AMAZINGLY crafted. I fell in love with Zara from the start even though her character is very similar to Reese Witherspoon in Cruel Intentions: the virginal, innocent, halo-wearing head master's daughter who does an interview - except it's for the school newspaper and not a big magazine - spilling the beans about her thoughts on waiting until you're in love to have sex. Then you have the twins - Lizzie & Oliver. They're fabulous characters that you love to hate (well Lizzie anyway - Oliver you can't get enough of in a loving way even though you should hate him, LOL). You have the bad boy & his sister like Cruel Intentions but Oli & Lizzie are twins which makes it really interesting. They aren't trying to get into each other's pants in this story so like I said, it's just similar. Of course there are several other key players but the focus is on Zara, Oli & Lizzie.

The scene is set in a boarding school that reminded me of an old castle and in a few places I thought of Hogwarts. It was easy to fall in love with the school itself because of the way that Riley portrays it... a fabulous gym, great dorms with HUGE rooms, nice bathrooms (even if they are communal - I lived in dorms and our bathrooms definitely weren't as fabulous as Birchtree Academy's >_< ).

There were a couple places that were uncomfortably close to events that were actually in Cruel Intentions - like Oliver meeting Zara at the top of the escalator (cue Ryan Phillippe in his sexy blue shirt waiting on Reese Witherspoon, *swoon*). But these scenes played out completely different so it wasn't annoying - just similar. Oliver also keeps a journal - which I LOVED even though it was another similarity with Cruel Intentions. Okay - so honestly, if you loved Cruel Intentions, you'll eat this book up! Just being honest here... :)

Ahh yes, Gossip Girl... in Laced, the school has "The Voice" which is similar to the Gossip Girl in that they squeal all kinds of secrets to the entire student body... The Voice is quite malicious though and sends emails to EVERYONE.... all the student body plus the principal (which happens to be Zara's dad).

There's drama, death, romance, casual sex, lots of sexual dialog, stressful situations & down right malice... The title fits well! I almost had a panic attack at 1 am because the next book is not out there for me to immediately pick up and start reading. I NEEEEEEDDDD the next book so I can find out what happens!!!

Okay so - if you HATED Cruel Intentions, don't get this book. If you LOVED Cruel Intentions, get this book. If you haven't seen Cruel Intentions (shame on you!), go get it now PLUS get this book!! ^_^

Overall Rating: 5 Stars

Cover Rating: eh... this is a cover I've seen on a few other books out there so I really don't want to rate it... I do love the image on the cover but as good as this book is, I'd definitely love to see a creative, original cover. Covers are very important and my first deciding factor on whether or not I'll be grabbing a book starts with the cover....




Giveaway!!!
Alright - so since I LOVED this book & want to pass it along to others, I'm going to buy & gift a copy via Amazon to one lucky winner! This is one great way to help spread the word about new authors & great reads.



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Quick Reviews: The Dark Duet Series by C.J.Roberts

Captive in the Dark
(The Dark Duet #1)
by C.J. Roberts
*I Purchased The E-book*

Goodreads     Amazon    Barnes & Noble

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Caleb is a man with a singular interest in revenge. Kidnapped as a young boy and sold into slavery by a power-hungry mobster, he has thought of nothing but vengeance. For twelve years he has immersed himself in the world of pleasure slaves searching for the one man he holds ultimately responsible. Finally, the architect of his suffering has emerged with a new identity, but not a new nature. If Caleb is to get close enough to strike, he must become the very thing he abhors and kidnap a beautiful girl to train her to be all that he once was.

Eighteen-year-old Olivia Ruiz has just woken up in a strange place. Blindfolded and bound, there is only a calm male voice to welcome her. His name is Caleb, though he demands to be called Master. Olivia is young, beautiful, naïve and willful to a fault. She has a dark sensuality that cannot be hidden or denied, though she tries to accomplish both. Although she is frightened by the strong, sadistic, and arrogant man who holds her prisoner, what keeps Olivia awake in the dark is her unwelcome attraction to him.

WARNING: This book contains very disturbing situations, dubious consent, strong language, and graphic violence.



My Quick Review Written Immediately Following Completion of Book 1:
Oh my gosh... I need to separate myself from reality for a little while after reading Captive in the Dark... I'm emotionally strung out right now. Never in a million years did I think that a book about such a horrible topic could draw me in and leave me emotionally attached/vunerable... AKA a WRECK! I LOVED this book even though it's such a dark, horrible topic.... abducting kids and training them then trading them as sex slaves... eeek... I need a drink - or two - after finishing this book... I honestly feel like I was broken down just like "Kitten" while reading...*inhale* *exhale* wow... I started this book last night and finished it today because I couldn't stand the thought of not knowing what was going to happen. I'm starting book 2 NOW!

5 Stars!

Seduced in the Dark
(The Dark Duet #2)
by C.J. Roberts
*I Purchased The E-book*

Goodreads      Amazon      Barnes & Noble

Synopsis from Goodreads:
The exciting, titillating, and action-filled conclusion to Captive in the Dark. What is the price of redemption? Rescued from sexual slavery by a mysterious Pakistani officer, Caleb carries the weight of a debt that must be paid in blood. The road has been long and fraught with uncertainty, but for Caleb and Livvie, it’s all coming to an end. Can he surrender the woman he loves for the sake of vengeance?  Or will he make the ultimate sacrifice?
Quote:
It seemed to Caleb, the nature of human beings revolved around one empirical truth: we want what we cannot have. For Eve, it was the fruit of the forbidden tree. For Caleb, it was Livvie.




My Quick Review Written Immediately Following Completion of Book 2:
At first I was alittle distraught over the change in perspective that the story takes. I felt disconnected from the story because of what you're led to believe.... I said to myself I died a little inside when I first started it - only to be brought back to life again. I think my breathing was erratic through the majority of the novel = my stomach in my throat. The rollercoaster ride that is Caleb and his history left my heart broken and tears in my eyes. C J Roberts did an AMAZING job finishing up this story... I honestly couldn't have asked for a more emotional read that left me in tears several times from start to finish = but the funny thing is, each set of tears was brought about by a completely different emotion each time. Anger, sadness, love, defeat, happiness, relief... Amazing!! Loved it!

5 Stars!

IMM #10 / STS #5

IMM Info @ The Story Siren

STS Info @ Tynga's Reviews

 

 

Purchased:

 

This series is fabulous guys & gals!! I laughed out loud like CRAZY during the first two! If you haven't checked these out, I suggest you do so if you like ADULT Romance with some humor. You'll love them!

The Undeparted is actually FREE on Amazon this Weekend! Go get it!

 

 

 

 

 

Literally In My Mailbox!

*Happy Dance*

 

 

 

A while back I had the pleasure of reading & reviewing Passion & Pain by Kathy Petrakis! I LOVED it! (See my review here if you didn't catch it) I enjoyed helping Kathy help spread the word about her great novel & Kathy was gracious enough to send me a print copy to add to my shelf!

(you all should know by now I'm still an old foagie who likes print copies of books I love....I run out and buy the paper copy if it's a book I want to read over and over... It's my security blanket, LOL)

Thank you Kathy!!!! You're really are amazing!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

On another note, I'm getting ready & stoked about posting my 100 Follower Giveaway! Be on the lookout soon!!!

 

 

Also, I'm super excited to say that I was interviewed for the first time as a blogger this week!! If you didn't catch it & want to learn a little more about me, check it out ^_^

Updated! Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite

Update: Make sure you stop by Lianne's Website for Information regarding the Christmas sale on Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite!!  http://www.liannesimon.com/christmas-sale/

 Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite 

by Lianne Simon

Publication date - September 18, 2012

Published by Faie Miss Press

E-book obtained directly from Author
in exchange for an honest review

Jamie was born with one testis, one ovary, and a pixie face. He can be like other boys after minor surgery and a few years on testosterone. At least that's what his parents always say. But he sees an elfin princes in the mirror and male hormones would only turn her into a hairy little monster. To become the man his parents expect, he must put behind him the hopes and dreams of a little girl.

At sixteen, the four-foot-eleven soprano leaves home school for a boys' dorm at college. The elfin princess can live in the books Jameson reads and nobody has to know he isn't like the other boys. But then a medical student tells Jamie that he should have been raised female. Suppressed childhood memories stir and Jamie begins a perilous journey to adulthood. The elfin princess can thrive, but will she risk losing her family and her education for a boyfriend who may leave her, and a toddler she may never be allowed to adopt?

Find this book on Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon

About the Author

Lianne Simon’s father was a dairy farmer and an engineer, her mother a nurse. She grew up in a home filled with love and good books.
Tiny and frail, Lianne struggled physically, but excelled at her studies. In 1970, she was awarded a scholarship to the University of Miami, from which she graduated in 1973. Fond memories of her time there remain with her.
Some years later, after living in several states, and spending time abroad, Lianne settled in to the suburbs north of Atlanta, where she now lives with her husband and their cat.
While seeking answers to her own genetic anomalies, Lianne met a family whose daughter was born with one testis and one ovary. As a result of that encounter, she spent more than a decade answering inquiries on behalf of a support group for the parents of such children.

Lianne hopes that writing this book will, in some small way, contribute to the welfare of children born between the sexes.

Connect With Lianne Simon:

Author's Website

Author's Facebook

Goodreads

Message from Lianne:

Kayla,

Thank you so much for accepting my book for review. Bloggers play a crucial role in spreading the word about new books, especially for debut authors.

I hope Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite leaves you with some taste of what growing up with a sexually ambiguous body feels like—the pressure from every side, and tension within, to choose male or female—the all-consuming gender ideal around which life revolves. One of my goals is to help raise awareness of these conditions, in the hopes that it will help affected children. If readers would like additional information, they can visit www.succeedclinic.org, or www.aisdsd.org, or my website at www.liannesimon.com.

Confessions is fiction, but there are thousands of people with disorders of sex development, some of whom made suggestions for the book. Jamie isn't real, but hundreds of people have Mixed Gonadal Dysgenesis—her condition. Some are very much like her.

Kind regards,

LS




My Review:

To be perfectly honest with those reading my review, I had my reservations about this read. NOT because I thought it wouldn't be worth reading BUT because of the topic at hand. Normally, reading for me is an escape from reality - I read fantasy/paranormal/etc. - things that are as far from "reality" as possible. Working in a hospital, having a family and child, plus my previous work experience with youth at a Children's Home for children with behavioral, emotional and psychological setbacks have left me with enough experience in "reality" to last my lifetime; therefore, I read to get away from it all. However, I wanted to read this story because I feel like it's not something that's openly discussed enough. Not enough people understand such a topic - including myself.
Regarding my review in "Stars" - I will refrain from using my basic review scores because this story is unlike any that I normally read. I have nothing to compare this read with. Instead, I'll describe my feelings towards aspects of the story.

When I started this read, the first few chapters were difficult to grasp because of the perspective that the story is written in - Jamie and Jameson. The same person but one is the "real" person deep down inside - Jamie - the other is the pretend male version that Jamie is forced to live as because her parents are determined to have a son - Jameson. It's a little difficult for me to describe via writing. I'll try my best though. Once you grasp and begin to understand the emotions that Jamie is constantly fighting with, you begin to see through completely different eyes. Honestly, this is one of the most emotional reads I've ever undertaken. It opens your eyes in more ways than one.

I'm not a religious individual. I completely respect individuals beliefs no matter what religion they practice and I hope other's will do the same and respect my thoughts. I'd never condemn or put down any one based upon their religion. It's one of the great things about being free to choose what you believe. I live in the "Bible Belt" and I've had my share of Christianity. After living my life and gaining understanding from life experiences, I'm more of an agnostic. This book deals with several religious individuals and you can honestly see the difference in those that are simply "religious" and those that are "true believers." Yes - there is a difference. Jamie believes that God wants the best for her and she's hoping he'll show her the way through it all. Then you have people like her parents who seem "religious" but are so focused on her being a boy that they don't see what's right in front of them - a girl. A beautiful, happy girl - Jamie. I can't really describe how angry I was when her parents continued to say that Jamie was meant to be a boy and then brought her to their pastor for "counseling." Rather than talking to Jamie about her feelings, her life, her belief, the pastor proceeded to throw scripture at Jamie describing how women shouldn't dress as men/men shouldn't dress as women and how boys couldn't date boys. He continued to tell her that she was a boy because her birth certificate indicated so even after Jamie clarified that she had both a testis and an ovary so the physicians had to put something down. I was fuming... that's really the best way for me to put it.

Thank goodness for Kaylah, Tyler, Sharon, Jamie's little sister, Lisa & Sean. I LOVED their characters.  They were PRECIOUS and make my heart happy. At first, I thought Sharon would be a problem but she surprised me. I know she was a little deceptive at first but then I feel like her heart ended up in exactly the right place.

I don't want to go into further detail with my review because I don't want to mark this review to contain spoilers that would ruin the book for others. I know I shy away from some reviews when I know for sure they'll have spoilers.

Overall, my opinion on this book is one of absolute Thanks. I'm so thankful that Lianne Simon took on this topic because it brings to light something that is normally hidden away in the dark. I would highly recommend this read to individuals who have a heart and want to understand someone else's perspective on life when dealing with such serious issues such as gender. The cover for this story is absolutely amazing. Seeing the cover is just like looking at Jamie in my mind.

The writing was beautiful. The story simply flowed once you understood the perspective being that of Jamie vs Jamie pretending to be Jameson. Jamie, Kaylah, Tyler, and Sharon touch your heart and open your mind. It's stories and characters like these that make you open your eyes and really THINK about those around you. It helps you get out of "your bubble" and know that there are individuals out there suffering in ways that we all can't see or understand.

I definitely recommend this to others who are willing to branch away from their normal genres. I don't regret it for one second.

Thank you Lianne for such a beautiful, eye opening account and thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read and share it with others.



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Rambling Guest!! Deborah Palumbo - Author of The Undeparted Series

Update!! Get your copy of the The Undeparted FREE on AMAZON this weekend!! November 17 & 18 
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Please Help Me Welcome Deborah Palumbo

Author of The Undeparted Series!

Thanks for stopping in Deborah!!

  

First of all, I want to say I'm really glad to be here!

I'm a self-pubbed fiction author now but I began as a young gal who from age 7 through 18 wrote poems for God, but I always wanted to write novels; it was something innate. That dream however, didn't happen until I was unfortunately stricken with a debilitating illness; as a result, I have 9 novels published on Amazon and many more are sitting in my file waiting to be dusted off!

I spin yarns in several genres, available as ebooks and paperback: Paranormal...laced with mystery and romance, historical, and mystery/crime...you know who dunnit with frustrated detectives who are hot on the trail of some killer. The one element they all have in common is they are all mystery based.

I also co wrote a screenplay with actor/writer Jordan Rhodes. I loved the experience immensely, but writing novels is still much preferred.

Okay so now that we've gotten my humble bio out of the way, we're ready for the meat and potatoes.

So, here we are about to discuss my vampire series The Undeparted and in particular book 3 The Banished One. Yeah, I've already finished book 3 which means you have to promise me you'll rush to Amazon and buy all 3 books and get caught up on the paranormal mystery/romance series and the characters, Quentin, the father of all vampires who is in an emotional transition, the beautiful and once mortal Cassandra, Quentin's sidekick since the 1200's the sexy and mean spirited Christian, and the vicious and evil Lucius.

If you're a prime member, my books are free to you, otherwise, the Kindle books are only $2.99, paperback are $7.95. I've gotten terrific reviews, so I hope you'll check out the series.

SYNOPSIS OF THE BANISHED ONE

For those 18+

The Banished One, a serial killer vampire also named Lucius, is still wreaking havoc on the sleepy town in Tower City, and since he's supernatural he can't be captured by normal police procedure.

A frustrated Lieutenant Welby refuses to believe that the elusive Lucius, the one responsible for those dead bodies in his town, is a vampire; that defies logic. There's got to be another explanation for those fang marks in the victims' throats.

Welby remains a staunch disbeliever in vampires until the coroner, Doc McMahon, causes him to change his mind!

Doc shows Welby his ancestral journal from the 1700's regarding Quentin Castle, the father of all vampires.

Welby ( and the reader) is whisked back in time as he reads those yellowed pages filled with encounters of beautiful women being lured to their mortal doom and transformed into vampires by the handsome and charming Quentin. But what causes Welby to finally be convinced, is a series of preternatural events and the coroner's scientific evidence!

Welby then follows the old town rumors about vampires right to Quentin and his gothic castle to enlist Quentin's supernatural aid in capturing Lucius.

But will Quentin, the only one who can stop Lucius' vampire tirades, help the Lieutenant or make him one of The Undeparted?

Will Quentin battle Lucius and send Lucius to the bowels of hell for eternity, finally ensuring that Cassandra is safe from her old beau? Will the old coal mining town be safe at last?

EXCERPT FROM THE BANISHED ONE:

Suddenly a chemical shot through Lucius while he was watching that sexy female, similar to a feeling when he was mortal and checking out a hot babe. But this desire in his vampire state was more intense, almost electrified and mingled with this lustful craving for blood. He had to drink from her neck; taste her life's essence, and he had to get laid. There was no fighting it, no self-control. He was accustomed to indulging every desire, no matter if they were spontaneous eruptions from some surging chemical, or a well-planned rendezvous.

I hope everyone enjoyed themselves as much as I did and falls in love with the series! Thanks everyone for letting me chew your ear off for a few minutes!

Deborah Palumbo

MY BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE ON MY WEBSITE

ebook and paperback

AND on:    AMAZON

FOLLOW ME AT THESE HAUNTS:
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If you like my books please remember to hit the "like" button, review them and recommend them!