Review & Giveaway: Family Magic by Patti Larsen

 

Welcome to my tour stop for Family Magic by Patti Larsen! This is a young adult paranormal that is now available for sale.

The tour runs August 3-31 with mostly reviews as well as author interviews and guest posts. Check out the tour page for more information.

Category: YA Fiction, Genre: magic, witches, demons, paranormal romance, young adult paranormal romance, vampires, family saga, covens
Publisher: Premiere
Release date:May 2015

Book Description: Her mom’s a witch, her dad’s a demon and she just wants to be ordinary. But, when an insidious evil comes after her family, Sydlynn Hayle has to choose to be the normal girl she craves or step up, embrace her magic and save her coven from disaster.

FastPencil  

REVIEW

Although Sydlynn Hayle pretends as much as she as possible that she is normal, the truth is she is a witch,  Not an ordinary witch; but the daughter of the Demon Lord and the leader of the coven.  Being born to the most powerful witch and the demon, Sydlynn has more responsibilities in the coven.  But, Syd wants nothing to do with the coven nor her powers.  She can't wait to reach the age of 18, so that her parents can take her powers and let her be normal.  She is bullied at school and things get nasty for Sydney, when Quaid shows up and her mom says she is promised to him for marriage, when she was a child.  When Syd just wants to move away from all of this, there is some danger to her coven and many of them get hurt.  Is Sydney going to accept finally who she is?

When I started this book and went on with this book, most of my thoughts were like "Sydlynn is so self-centered, ruthless and a total idiot".  All those things were connected to being a teenager.  And the problem is I can relate to it.  I know how it sounds, but don't tell me that you haven't crossed that path.  I definitely did.  And Syd has lot of faults..true, but the story is all about her finding the power to accept her true self.  The characters are very beautifully brought out, leaving no room for doubts. And I felt close to almost all the characters.

The plot is the main strength to this book.  It was so thrilling that I can't put down my Kindle.  It's quite confusing to leave the book awhile and do my regular chores.  I keep thinking about the book and want to go back to my bed, curl up and just read.  This book was just super-amazing.  Why haven't I heard about this series before now, seriously stuns me.  And the author has written like 20 books in this series.  This book is going to be on my favorite list for a very long time.

LOVE IT!

5 STARS!

About the Author:

Patti is an award-winning author with a passion for the paranormal. Now with multiple series in happy publication, she lives in Canada with her patient husband and six demanding cats.

www.pattilarsen.com | Twitter @PattiLarsen

Giveaway:

5 paperback copies of Family Magic (US/CA) and a $25 Amazon gift card (INT)

Ends Aug. 6th

Hosts are not responsible for prizing, prizing is provided by the publisher.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

Review: Miss Mabel’s School for Girls by Katie Cross

Never underestimate the power of a determined witch.

Letum Wood is a forest of fog and deadfall, home to the quietly famous Miss Mabel’s School for Girls, a place where young witches learn the art of magic.

Sixteen-year-old Bianca Monroe has inherited a deadly curse. Determined to break free before it kills her, she enrolls in the respected school to confront the cunning witch who cast the curse: Miss Mabel.

Bianca finds herself faced with dark magic she didn’t expect, with lessons more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. Will Bianca have the courage to save herself from the curse, or will Miss Mabel’s sinister plan be too powerful?

Miss Mabel’s School for Girls is the first novel in The Network Series, an exciting new fantasy collection. A gripping tale about the struggle to survive, it will take you to a new place and time, one you’ll never want to leave.

REVIEW

Bianca is a witch, who has a curse on her.  To remove the curse, she requires to meet Miss Mabel, which seems to be possible only if Bianca wins the Competition in the school.  Three different and difficult tasks are set.  Bianca faces so many struggles inside her own mind in every turn.  The result of the Competition and the things that happen later are something that you won't predict it.

I started this book with so much expectations.  When I was over 30% of the book, I was not even sure whether to like it or even continue it.  Bianca seems selfish and none of the other characters really spoke to me.  So many incidents to this extent just left me thinking about Harry Potter books.  Letum Wood = Forbidden Forest, Leda = Hermione, three enemy students, the deadly curse, the high towers, I could go on.  But, I just went on, because a good friend said this was really good.

If I was proved wrong about my opinion of a book, this was the first time.  I was surprised really. It took a great turn in terms of both the writing and plot around the middle of the book.  I enjoyed it, loved it, adored it.  The author has really got a great story at hand.

Bianca's character, although, seemed selfish at first, was actually brought out full of determination and courage at the end.  I loved the girl especially for the fight she gave all of them.  Camille and Leda, who are Bianca' friends, also end up being liked for all their help.  Miss Mabel is the perfect villain for the story.  The readers will literally want to push her from the top of the mountain, after her actions.

The author never gave me a dull moment in the second half of the book.  It was a page turner and a dark adventure.  Highly recommended.

4 STARS

Review & Giveaway: Restless Earth and Blessing Sky by Emily Mah

Welcome to my tour stop for Restless Earth and Blessing Sky by Emily Mah!  This is a YA/NA high fantasy series.  This is book 1 and 2 of The Sky Chariots Saga. The tour runs July 20 - 31 with reviews, author interviews, guest posts and excerpts. Check out the tour page for the full schedule.

About Restless Earth:

For over a thousand years, the Tanoa have relied on their Earth Shamen to bring rich harvests, temper stone tools and weapons, and imbue pottery with strength like metal. Now, though, the bloodline has dwindled to one Shaman, Tuwa, who is trapped high in the mountains, holding bedrock together to prevent a volcanic eruption while the rest of her people flee to safety. The only way to save the village is for her to sacrifice herself and buy them the time they need to evacuate.But her grandson, Ahote, refuses to abandon her to die. Rather than do as she asks—marry and bear daughters who might inherit her gift—he sets out to find the one person who might be able to save Tuwa’s life.Kasha is a Tanoa girl in who lives in Solace, a city of the pale-skinned Andalanos. If the Engineers Guild ever discovers her gender or race, they could order her execution—for in violation of the King’s law, Master Engineer Seamus trained Kasha as his apprentice. She is a genius in all things mechanical and earned her master certification when only fourteen years old. Since Seamus’s death, she has been discreetly working his job as the City Engineer.She knows there is no machine or technology that can save Tuwa. In order to complete this task, Kasha must invent a vehicle unlike anything the world has ever seen, and risk exposure and death in the process.

Amazon
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About Blessing Sky:

Master Engineer Kasha lives in hiding. As a Tanoa and a woman, she has no legal right to her title, and risks expulsion or even execution if the Guild discovers her identity. For over a year she has served as the City Engineer of the Andalano city of Solace, home to the Winged Riders and their pegasus mounts.Now, though, her people need her. The last of their Earth Shamen is trapped in the mountains, holding back a volcanic eruption so that the rest of her people can escape. It is a job for only the greatest of all engineers, and that happens to be Kasha.But when her kinsman, Ahote, breaks the most sacred law of the Winged Riders, an alliance with him means certain death. Kasha must work alone to solve the most difficult engineering problem of all time before the summer months are done and winter comes to claim the life of the Shaman and the hope of her people.

Amazon
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COMBINED REVIEW OF RESTLESS EARTH AND BLESSING SKY

The story starts with a volcano on the verge of erupting and Tuwa, the Earth Shaman trying to hold it together, so that the people can escape.  Tuwa's grandson, Ahote, do not like to leave her like this, but he has to find a way to save her.  At that time, a Rider comes offering to take Tuwa in her pegasus, but she refuses.  Also, in order to carry her, he also needs to carry a large amount of Earth with him which is not possible with his pegasus.  So, he says to Ahote that Engineer Kasha can help her.  Ahote journeys with his mother to find Kasha.  

Meanwhile, Kasha is a Tanoa and a girl, both of which is not accepted from an Engineer in Wingsmount.  But, that's what she is.  She is afraid that her title and job will be revoked from her any time.  It's only a matter of time, before the Riders find her true identity.  She gets a letter from a Rider saying that he needs help to save a Earth Shaman.  Kasha decides to help Tuwa and starts inventing.

The story itself is quite eccentric to use the right term.  It's simple, but not the usual type of story. The characters have great depth and I really can't find fault with any of them.  I can't think of one character, who is unnecessary to the plot.  The author brings in new revelations as the story proceeds, and the adventure of both the protagonists will keep you hooked to your book.

I read both the books in a few hours - it's that short.  I will definitely read the next book in the series. The author has outdone herself with her books.

5 STARS!

About the Author:

Emily writes as both Emily Mah (for science fiction and fantasy) and E.M. Tippetts (for chick lit). Her short stories have appeared in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, The Black Gate, and anthologies like The Dragon and the Stars, Shanghai Steam, and The Change: Tales of Downfall and Rebirth.  Her E.M. Tippetts novels have been on the Amazon Top 100 numerous times, and her novel, Someone Else's Fairytale was semi-finalist for the Best Indie Book of the Year -  Kindle Book Review, and a runner up in Romance for the Best of the Independent Book Awards - eFestival of Words. She is a graduate of the Clarion West Writer's Workshop for Science Fiction and Fantasy and Viable Paradise Writers Workshop, and she often teaches the unit on self-publishing at the Taos Toolbox Writers Workshop.When she is not writing or chasing small children, she manages E.M. Tippetts Book Designs, her company which offers formatting, cover design, and editing services to authors and publishers.

Website | Facebook | Twitter @EmilyMah | YouTube
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Giveaway:

Three (3) winners will receive signed ebooks of Restless Earth and Blessing Sky by Emily Mah
INT
Ends Aug. 5th
prizing provided by the author, hosts are not responsible in any way.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

Review & Giveaway: Descendants of the Rose by Juliette Harper

Welcome to my tour stop for Descendants of the Rose by Juliette Harper! This is the first book in the Selby Jensen Paranormal Mysteries series and the tour runs July 20-31. Check out the tour page for more information.

About the Book:

Selby Jensen’s business card reads “Private Investigator,” but to say the least, that downplays her real occupation. Let’s hear it in her own words:

“You want to know what I do for a living? I rip souls out. Cut heads off. Put silver bullets where silver bullets need putting. You think there aren't any monsters? . . . I have some disturbing news for you. You might want to sit down. Monsters walk among us. I'm looking for one in particular. In the meantime? I'm keeping the rest of them from eating people like you.”

In this debut novel of her new paranormal mystery series, Juliette Harper, author of The Lockwood Legacy books and The Study Club Mysteries creates a cast of characters, most of whom have one thing in common; they don’t have a pulse. The dead are doing just fine by Selby, who is determined never to lose someone she loves again, but then a force of love more powerful than her grief changes that plan. Join Selby Jensen as she and her team track down a shadowy figure tied to a murder at a girls’ school. What none of them realize, however, is that in solving this case, they will enter a longer battle against a larger evil.

Goodreads | Amazon

Double Review + Giveaway: Resilient and Awakened by Patricia Vanasse

Welcome to my tour stop for Awakened by Patricia Vanasse!  The tour runs July 13-24 with reviews only. This is the second book in the series. Stop by the tour page for more information.

About the Book:

In an attempt to protect their families, Livia and Adam set out in a search for answers that would change their lives forever. While on the run, Livia and Adam crossed paths with Daniel, who had been searching for them and the five other genetically enhanced teens Daniel knew existed. But getting out from under The Agency’s radar has not been easy. After being ambushed by the leader of The Agency that created them—a desperate attempt to claim what they lost just over a decade earlier—Livia was forced to leave an injured Adam behind, barely escaping to safety with Daniel. Now under the control of The Agency, Adam is serving the purpose for which he was created. Manipulated to forget his love for Livia and his past, he lives a life crafted by fake memories that enslave him to a life of following the orders of The Agency. Adam battles with vivid “dreams” of a life he does not remember and the strong connection he feels to the girl with familiar blue eyes.The desire for vengeance propels Livia and Daniel into a dangerous race to disrupt the destructive string of events that The Agency initiated seventeen years earlier. As they travel across parts of North America in search of other teens who are just like them, Livia will face an ethical battle over genetics, loyalty, and love. The race is on, and it is up to Livia to destroy The Agency and rescue Adam, but even if she succeeds at saving him, there are no guarantees she’ll able to save the deep connection they once shared.

Amazon  | Goodreads
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Be sure to check out the first book, Resilient at 

Amazon | Goodreads

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DOUBLE REVIEW

RESILIENT REVIEW

Livia's family moves from New York to Whidbey Island of the Pacific Northwest.  Livia has certain powers, which only her parents and her uncle knew about.  Extreme temperatures has no effect on her.  She can the emotions of people around her.  And now, she is able to heal fast as well.  Livia keeps to herself to avoid getting caught in the emotions of others.  That's when she meets Adam.  Livia can't feel Adam's emotions.  That's something new and she wants to know more about him.  But Adam also has some secrets, which even his parents don't know about.  And there are people after this duo and both Adam and Livia need answers.

Kids with powers, running away from their family, chased by government agencies, trying to find similar kids - I know you can think of at least one book now as you are reading this, but the plot is not what made me sit with this book all night..it's the writing and the way the author presented it to the readers.  When the storyline is not unique, you should have more trust in yourself to make the book a success.  Well done, Patricia.

I loved both Livia and Adam.  They both fought their battles in life with more mature way.  They both had such a beautiful family that cares for them in their own way and when things spiral downwards, I missed those characters.

It has a cliffhanger ending, but I am not concerned much, as I also had the second book with me for review. :)

4.5 STARS!

AWAKENED REVIEW

While Resilient is all about love and adventure, Awakened is all about survival.  So, it has a more serious pace.  I am not telling you the story, because those of you who haven't read Resilient will consider them spoilers.  But, just let me say that this novel is so full of adventure and a twist in the ending.

I loved Resilient more though, for obvious reasons.  I missed the fun part of the book.  But, I guess you can't be joking or kissing around, when your life is in danger. :)

The author has introduced more new characters and interesting powers to keep you wanting to turn pages even in the middle of the night.  And we know a lot about how and why these kids were 'created' and the history behind 'The Agency'.  And there is planning, escape, surviving and rescue operations under place.  As before, the writing was good and flows beautifully.  The characters were well thought out to make the story interesting and the readers engaging.

The ending leads to better expectations of the next book and I can't wait to read them.

4 STARS!

About the Author:

Patricia Vanasse was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Now she lives on a beautiful island in the Pacific Northwest. She has been through Culinary Arts, Psychology, Law School, and now has finally found her passion in creative writing. She also loves traveling, cooking, and is an avid reader. Her strength- believes that everything is possible. Her weakness- an obsessive relationship with caffeine.

Website | Facebook | Twitter @PatriciaVanasse | Goodreads


Giveaway:

One (1) $50 Amazon Gift (INT), Two (2) signed copies of Resilient (US), One (1) e-arc of Against All Odds (INT)
Ends July 28th
Prizing is provided by the author and hosts are not responsible in any way.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

Review & Giveaway: Teresa of the New World by Sharman Apt Russell

Welcome to my tour stop for Teresa of the New World by Sharman Apt Russell.  Teresa of the New World is a middle grade/young adult/new adult book (she ages through the book, but it's clean). Check out the tour page for more information.

About the Book:

In 1528, the real-life conquistador Cabeza de Vaca shipwrecked in the New World where he lived as a slave, trader, and shaman. In this lyrical weaving of history and myth, the adventurer takes his young daughter Teresa from her home in Texas to travel to outposts in New Spain. Once there, Teresa is left behind as a servant in a Spanish household. But when an epidemic of measles devastates the area, the teenager must set off on a new journey, listening again to the voices of the desert, befriending a war-horse and were-jaguar, sinking into the earth to swim through fossil and stone, reclaiming her power to outwit the cunning figure of Plague. A story of apocalypse and hope, Teresa of the New World takes you into the dreamscape of the sixteenth-century American Southwest.

Sky Horse Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

REVIEW

This book is not your regular fiction.  Teresa is a girl who can talk to animals and Earth.  She leaves her mother to travel to Spain with her father.  But, her father leaves her in a Spanish household and travels without her.  Teresa is disappointed that her father didn't care enough for her and quits speaking and hearing.  The rest of the story is Teresa, finding her strength and peace in her own journey.

This is a tough and interesting book.  I thought this is going to be vague and slow for me.  But, it worked after some time.  The slow pace, although needs patience, suits the story.  Teresa and her father does some impossible things, but it doesn't seem like fantasy.  She finds enough strength again to help others and when she started speaking to animals and Earth again, I truly felt happy for her.

This is Teresa's coming of age story.  The historical part must have required lot of research and the author has done an amazing job with that.

Definitely recommended!

4 STARS!

About the Author:

Sharman Apt Russell has lived in the beauty and magic of Southwestern deserts almost all her life and continues to be amazed by that. She has published over a dozen books translated into a dozen languages, including fiction and nonfiction. Teresa of the New World is her third middle-grade and young adult novel.
Sharman teaches graduate writing classes at Western New Mexico University in Silver City, New Mexico and Antioch University in Los Angeles, California and has thrice served as the PEN West judge for their annual children’s literature award. Her awards include a Rockefeller Fellowship, the Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award, a Pushcart Prize, and the Henry Joseph Jackson Award. Her work has been widely anthologized, with numerous starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Booklist. The San Francisco Chronicle has said “Russell’s writing is luminous” and Kirkus Reviews wrote, “A deep reverence for nature shines throughout Russell’s rich, enjoyable text.” The Seattle Times described her An Obsession with Butterflies as a “masterpiece of story-telling” and the San Diego Union Tribune called it “A singular work of art, with its smooth, ethereal prose and series after cascading series of astonishing lore.” The New York Times and Discover Magazine both described her book on hunger as “elegant.” Of her Anatomy of a Rose, the Sunday Times (London) said, “Every page holds a revelation.”

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

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Giveaway:

Four (4) signed copies of Teresa of the New World 

US only

Ends 7/28

Giveaway provided by the author, bloggers are not responsible in any way for the prizing.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

5 STAR Review: Inside Game by Collette West

Third baseman Drake Schultz is the undisputed bad boy of the New York Kings. So it's no surprise when Major League Baseball suspends him for taking performance-enhancing drugs. Furious with their superstar, the front office issues an ultimatum: either work with their sober companion or kiss the rest of his quarter-billion-dollar contract goodbye. Cocky and arrogant, Drake resists being saddled with a live-in babysitter—even one he's insanely attracted to.

Drake is Eva Sloane's first celebrity client as a substance abuse counselor, and she knows she's in trouble when he starts tempting her at every turn. The way he looks at her is as hot as sin, but she refuses to become his new drug of choice. Slowly, she helps him realize he has to face the demons from his past and heal his tortured spirit before he can even think about satisfying any craving he has for her.

REVIEW

Drake, the highly paid New York Kings baseball player, got caught for taking performance-enhancing drugs.  Just when he thinks the company is going to throw him out, he was said that he is suspended and must prove himself worthy to get back on the team.  Eva was assigned to monitor him for drugs during this period.  Even though the couple already know each other for years, it has been a secret crush until now.  Sure, they didn't meet under the best of circumstances, but the readers can see how they are the perfect medicine for one another.

Another impressive romance from Collette West!  I can't say which of the couples are my favorite.  It seems like choosing ONE favorite book from my collections.  Which is impossible!  Drake and Eva started off in a more serious way with many lies and insecurities inbetween.  I am not sure who needs the other more for their life.  Both of them have so many hurts that they have to leave behind, in order to be their original selves.  The characters were just so awesome that I had to keep saying that this is a book, to stop crying.  The Kings team feels my own friends and I am happy to see every one of them back in the book.

A solid story with amazing characters and terrific writing makes this book memorable! Definitely recommended!

Review: Logos by John Neeleman

Original Title: Logos

Author: John Neeleman

Publisher: Homebound Publications

Release Date: March 10th 2015

Source: From Novel Publicity 

Genre: Historical Fiction

Logos is a bildungsroman about the anonymous author of the original Gospel, set amid the kaleidoscopic mingling of ancient cultures. In A.D. 66, Jacob is one of Jerusalem’s privileged Greco-Roman Jews. When Roman soldiers murder his parents and his beloved sister disappears in a pogrom led by the Roman procurator, he joins Israel’s rebellion against Rome. The rebellion he helps to foment leads to more tragedy—personal and, ultimately, cosmic: Jacob’s wife and son perish in Rome’s siege of Jerusalem, and the Romans destroy Jerusalem and the Temple, and finally extinguish Israel at Masada. Jacob wanders, and in Rome, he joins other dissidents—plotting vengeance not by arms, but by the power of an idea. Paul of Tarsus, Josephus, the keepers of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the historical Jesus himself each play a role in Jacob’s tumultuous fortunes, but the women who have loved him compel the transforming and subversive climax.

REVIEW

I am a Hindu and I know about Christianity only through my Christian friends and movies.  It's so popular that many movies are taken even in my regional language.  So, I entered this book with as much nervousness when one has on their interview day.  As far as I am concerned, this book is just plain fiction to me, but the research work and hard work of the author can be noticed.

The story follows Jacob, whose life traverses along various historic life events.  Jacob is not the usual hero type material.  He is the hero, who is common man.  So, seeing history through his eyes is definitely a story, that is commendable.  Jacob faces so much tragedy in his journey, but still comes up with confidence and heart in each instance.

Facts and fiction play side by side in the novel and the readers will be kept interested enough to get absorbed into the life of Jacob.  The real story, as said by John Neeleman, questions some major beliefs of the society.  Well, I am not good with Christianity or history, so I am not the right person for judging this part.

A new perspective on history!

4 STARS!

Review: Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid

Original Title: Never Always Sometimes

Author: Adi Alsaid

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: August 4th 2015

Source: Netgalley

Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult

Never date your best friend 

Always be original 

Sometimes rules are meant to be broken 

Best friends Dave and Julia were determined to never be cliché high school kids—the ones who sit at the same lunch table every day, dissecting the drama from homeroom and plotting their campaigns for prom king and queen. They even wrote their own Never List of everything they vowed they'd never, ever do in high school.

Some of the rules have been easy to follow, like #5, never die your hair a color of the rainbow, or #7, never hook up with a teacher. But Dave has a secret: he's broken rule #8, never pine silently after someone for the entirety of high school. It's either that or break rule #10, never date your best friend. Dave has loved Julia for as long as he can remember.

Julia is beautiful, wild and impetuous. So when she suggests they do every Never on the list, Dave is happy to play along. He even dyes his hair an unfortunate shade of green. It starts as a joke, but then a funny thing happens: Dave and Julia discover that by skipping the clichés, they've actually been missing out on high school. And maybe even on love.

REVIEW

Dave and Julia tries not to do anything cliché in their high school life.  They also make a list of 10 such activities.  Towards the end of the high school, they come across this list by accident, and decides to try those things at last.  Dave has love Julia for so long, but has no courage to come forward and say that to her.  And Julia is just plain crazy, well, crazy and fun..and good.  When they try on these clichéd things, they find that they had missed out on many things.  Dave makes new friends, sees a girl that he is interested in and even maybe love her.  But, just when things seem better for Dave, Julia finds that she is in love with Dave.  Things spiral down from there and the author has given a beautiful and realistic approach on the romance.

It's been a while since I had read such a fun book.  I was laughing through most of the book.  The snarky comments and immediate unexpected responses from Julia made the whole book so much more enjoyable.

"You realize this is insane, right?"
"You're mispronouncing 'genius.'"

Sometimes, I don't know whether the author is a sheer genius for making such statements,

"THERE WAS NO greater proof of an underlying human connection than the universal hatred of Monday mornings."

or plain crazy.

"The next morning Dave's hair not only looked like puke, but like puke that had been allowed to sit out overnight."

Seriously?  That comment about Dave's hair made me crack up for so long.

While this was the trend in the first half of the book, the second half of the book became a bit serious and then the climax realistic.

The characters, Julia and Dave, are so good and deep, that I felt like I knew them personally.  They have been so cut out from the world that they didn't even know the basic things every teenager knew for granted.  I loved how the author transformed their ignorance to something so beautiful.  Dave's brother and girlfriend are also another set of adorable characters.  And then there is Julia's mom - well, I don't want to use curse words, so I am leaving her out of this.

The climax is so realistic, no big dramas.  Just ended like real life. :)

Thanks for writing this, Adi!  I am definitely recommending this to anyone interested in fiction.

5 STARS!

Review: Summer Queen by Amber Argyle

Author: Amber Argyle

Pub. Date: June 23, 2015

Publisher: Starling Publishing

Pages: 280

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Goodreads

A fugitive from the king she refused to marry, Nelay ventures out to save her family from the invading army only to discover the fate of her entire nation rests on her shoulders. 

But in defeat after defeat, Nelay begins to realize a bigger power is at play than that wielded by mere mortals. Only she can stand between the cinders of her once-great nation and the vengeance of a goddess.

REVIEW

When I saw this book cover, I was so enthralled by it that I felt like I have to read this book.  Then I read the description and I just thought maybe it will not be as good as I expect.  By then, I accepted to review this and so, it's on my TBR list.

When I started reading, the magic that happens with all great books happened.  The real world disappeared completely and I started feeling bad to leave the book, even to eat and sleep.  And I am not even exaggerating on this.

The story begins with Nelay, a priestess, plotting to escape the King Zatal, who wants to marry her to save his land.  But, Nelay never wanted to be the Queen of Idara.  She wants to save her family and become High Priestess once she is back.  She pays the tribesman, Rycus, to get her from Idara to her family, without getting caught.  Rycus, along with his men, travels with Nelay in the hot desert lands, where anyone could be lost and dead.   What begins as a simple plan turns into much much more than that and even Gods and fairies are at play here.  Stuck in the tangled mess of the fight she cannot win, Nelay has to choose at every turn of her life, even when it comes to losing her love, ambition and life.

I didn't know that this was the second book in the series until I completed this one.  So, I assure you that you wouldn't need to read the first book to enjoy this one.

Nelay is a girl, who is ambitious, strong-willed and high-spirited.  Although at first she is just brought out a strong protagonist, her heart and spirit is known little by little as the story proceeds.  The best thing about this book is the character development.  All the characters have depth enough for the readers to really understand their mental state.  Rycus and his men are great company to the readers during the adventure..especially the stories of Rycus.  There is nothing I can predict in this book. Whatever I thought will happen, never happened.  Why I didn't read anything from this author before this is still a mystery to me. :)

Extremely well written and fast paced, this novel is one hell of a great book, that you wouldn't want to miss for anything.

5 STARS!

About the Author: 

Amber Argyle is the number-one bestselling author of the Witch Song Series and the Fairy Queen Series. Her books have been nominated for and won awards in addition to being translated into French and Indonesian.

Amber graduated cum laude from Utah State University with a degree in English and physical education, a husband, and a two-year old. Since then, she and her husband have added two more children, which they are actively trying to transform from crazy small people into less crazy larger people.

To learn more about Amber, visit her blog at amberargyle.blogspot.com

You can find Amber on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. 

GIVEAWAY

3 winners will receive the eBook bundle of The Faerie Queen Series. International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule

Week One:

6/15/2015- Curling Up With A Good Book- Review

6/16/2015- The Mad Reviewer- Review

6/17/2015- Arkham Reviews- Review

6/18/2015- In Love With Handmade- Review

6/19/2015- In Libris Veritas- Review

Week Two:

6/22/2015- Mythical Books- Review

6/23/2015- Books Are Magic- Review

6/24/2015- The Bibliophile Chronicles- Review

6/25/2015- My Bookish Empire- Review

6/26/2015- bookaholics anonymous- Review

Review & Giveaway: Rumors by A.C.Arthur

Welcome to the tour for Rumors by A.C. Arthur! Rumors is an adult murder mystery/thriller that was published by Alloy Entertainment in December 2014.

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Rumors by A.C.Arthur

 

Rumor has it…he will kill again.

Her death tore them apart. Will solving her murder bring them back together?

Best friends Landy, Tenile, Nicole, Nathan, Justin, and Kareem were the golden children of Tanner University. Their paths were set: doctors, lawyers, business moguls, they were going to light the world on fire. Then, two weeks before graduation, Landy was murdered—and Nathan was blamed. Though he was never charged, vicious rumors drove him from town, and the circle of friends broke.

Ten years later, Nathan is back in Tanner, determined to clear his name. He’s asking questions no one wants answered, and soon rumors threaten to divide the community once more. Everyone in this small town is keeping big secrets—especially Landy’s old friends—and someone is willing to kill to keep their darkest deeds buried…

Goodreads | Amazon 

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REVIEW

Landy, Tenile, Nathan, Justin and Kareem were best friends, during their college at Tanner University.  Landy-Justin and Tenile-Nathan were couples.  Everything was so beautiful and their future is all set, just when Landy was murdered.  And Nathan became the suspect.  Even after Nathan's father won him out of the case, rumors never changed.  Ten years later, Nathan goes back to Tanner to find the murderer.  But there are so many secrets and so many rumors that comes with every turn Nathan takes.  Between all this, he has to win Tenile back...from Justin.

Very well written and interesting characters!  Every character has more secrets than what we know through the first impression and the author releases one after the other giving readers enough time to appreciate or analyze everything.  The change in POV between the main characters gave more detail behind the motivation for their secrets.  I loved the romance between Tenile and Nathan and was rooting for the couple to get together from the start.  

I couldn't have asked for a better mystery novel.  This is just perfect, until the ending though.  That's just plain cruel to end a novel like that, without even a partial closure. :(  But, the only thing that has kept me from pulling my hair after that kind of ending is that the second part of this series is coming soon.  That's a big relief. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Artist C. Arthur was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland where she currently resides with her husband and three children. An active imagination and a love for reading encouraged her to begin writing in high school and she hasn’t stopped since.

Working in the legal field for more than twenty years now she’s seen lots of horrific things and longs for the safe haven reading a romance novel brings. Determined to bring a new edge to romance, Artist continues to develop intriguing plots, sensual love scenes, racy characters and fresh dialogue—thus keeping the readers on their toes!

Artist loves to hear from her readers and can be reached through her contact form or via email at acarthur22 @ yahoo.com (without spaces).

AUTHOR ONLINE: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

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GIVEAWAY

The author will be giving away $25 Amazon Gift Card to a winner of the below Rafflecopter.  The giveaway ends June 23rd.
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

Review & Giveaway: The Fine Art of Deception: Undoing Time by Alyssa Richards

Art appraiser Adeline Montgomery just wants a normal life. One where she can ignore the vicious ghosts who follow her. One where she’s free from her “gift” of touching an object and seeing the owner’s deepest secrets. And one where she can fall in love without having all of the above get in the way.

But when tall, dark, and dangerous gallery owner Blake Greenwood enters her life, normal is the last thing she’s feeling. The man has more secrets than the priceless art he sells, giving Adeline’s quest for normal no chance. That, and he may just hold the key to uncovering the truth behind her father’s unexplained disappearance.

Despite her paranormal gifts warning her to stay away, she feels an inexplicable, captivating fascination for him, something that goes deeper than attraction. There’s something between them that’s older than time, and if she can learn to give him her trust, it may just save her life.  

REVIEW

Addie has the gift of 'sight'.  She can touch any object/person and say everything about its history.  And she can also see ghosts..ones who can even threaten her life. After a very bad breakup with her boyfriend, she decides to have just a normal life, without using any of her gifts.  She takes a job in an art firm, where her grandfather has been a partner, before he disappeared mysteriously.  The firm owner, Otto, has other plans for her.  Otto introduces Addie to Blake, an art dealer.  The attraction between Addie and Blake is terrific, and Addie, who has been celibate for the past 7 years, doesn't welcome this feeling of vulnerability.  Just when Addie gets a taste of what normal life is, she gets tangled in a dangerous web of deception.

This is going to be a difficult review for me.  I can't say much details, as I may give away some important plot lines.  I will try to be make it spoiler-free, as much as possible.

The plot is unique in a way that you will keep thinking of its awesomeness for a long time after finishing this book.

There was so much positives in the book, that kept me awake with my Kindle at night, in spite of my recently sleep deprived life.  I am grazing through some things I loved here..

• The romance between Addie and Blake
• The mystery of the stolen art
• The paranormal touch to everything
• The beauty of knowing the characters' inherent feelings
• The change in POV without causing confusion, but giving more depth to the story

I could actually go on and on.

The writing was great, despite this being the author's debut.  The climax wrapped up some major subplots and ended with HEA.  There are some questions unanswered like why Addie's grandfather has given warning, why he made his presence after all this time, how did Blake come in Addie's dreams and of course, the real mystery about the art.

I wish I have the second book with me now.  This book has exceeded my expectations in every way.  You should definitely read it, if romance, suspense or paranormal genre suits you.

GIVEAWAY

The author is giving away $20 Amazon/B&N Gift Card to the winner of the below Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway