Wednesday, 7 May 2014

5 STAR #Review & #Giveaway: The Midnight Spell by Kody Boye and Rhiannon Frater

There are only some books that 'feels' special, right when you close after reading them.  This is one of those special book and I would readily recommend to anyone.


Original Title: The Midnight Spell
Author: Kody Boye and Rhiannon Frater
Publisher: Permuted Press
Release Date: February 28th, 2013
Source: From Xpress Book Blog Tours
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult
Buy: Amazon | B&N

Adam and Christy have been best friends since kindergarten. Always the perpetual outsiders in their small town in Texas, they’ve always had to deal with nasty comments from their classmates. Adam is called “gay” while Christy is called “witch.”

On both counts the bullies are right.

Their junior year in high school seems destined to be the same old same old until Christy decides to cast a love spell for Adam at the midnight hour. The next day an alluring and mysterious new boy enrolls at school and sets hearts a flutter, including Adam’s. Meanwhile, Christy’s mad crush on the handsome Ian seems to be going nowhere fast. Struggling to capture the heart of Ian while trying to come into her full witch powers is tough enough, but when a great evil arrives in town that threatens everything they hold dear, she realizes that finding a boyfriend is the least of her and Adam’s worries.

Soon Adam, Christy, their potential love interests, and their good friends Drifter and Olivia, will have to battle a force of darkness that has killed in their town before and will again.

REVIEW

What do you ever want from a fantasy novel?  Just tell me..is it vampires, warewolves, witches, ghouls, or is it plain fun?

Whatever you want, these two amazing authors are giving it.  I love you, guys!  I don't want to miss this book for the world.

Adam and Christy are two best friends since forever.  Adam is gay and Christy is a witch (literally).  There is no other gay guy in town and as Adam feels lonely, Christy does a midnight spell to find his true love.  The very next day, a very handsome guy named Mark joins as a new student in their school and he is pinging high side on the gaydar.  And this year, they just has some new friends, Olivia (the new girl) and Drifter.  Adam's friends try to bring Adam and Mark together.  Christy feels something weird about Mark.  And Christy's forever crush, Ian, is suddenly noticing her.  And there is something more bad happening in town.

This book is pure fun.  I enjoyed it to the maximum.  I know many books that portrays love, friendship, parent-child relationship and especially gay guys.  But, this is the book that made me accept and understand like reality.

Friendship: Wow.  I am just jealous of these kids.  Maybe the world is against them.  But, these two don't need much of anything other than each other's company.  I felt so happy and I remembered my happy-happy school days while reading them.  The authors did 100% justice to the plot, that has the main root to be friendship.  The four kids are all cute in their own way and the loyalty they show towards each other is hug-worthy.

Parent-Child Relationship:  This book has the most awesome relationship between a parent and a child.  Two best examples!  I just get enough of them.  There were many laugh-out loud moments during those conversations.  The BEST!  And the parental characterization is just perfect.  I can't imagine any better parents.  As much as they embarrass the kids, the love and bonding between the family is transparent.

Homosexuality: Trust me when I say I am new to this reading about homosexuals.  But, this is the first book that made me realize that it need not necessarily be a topic discussed in all seriousness in books.  It's just a plain normal subject.  They are just normal humans and they deserve respect.  Yeah, there is bullying and harrassment, just because the guy is gay, but the acceptance between friends and family is a refreshment.

The suspense element of the story shows the authors' talent in story-telling.  The authors have kept me busy and engaging throughout the read by giving one twist after another.

I highly highly recommend this book to every single human out there.

I strongly shove this book onto your faces.  You SHOULD read them.  What??  How else can I make you read, if you are not going to listen to me, after all those ramblings?


ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Rhiannon:
Rhiannon Frater is the award-winning author of over a dozen books, including the As the World Dies zombie trilogy (Tor), as well as independent works such as The Last Bastion of the Living (declared the #1 Zombie Release of 2012 by Explorations Fantasy Blog and the #1 Zombie Novel of the Decade by B&N Book Blog), and other horror novels. In 2014, her newest horror novel, The Mesmerized, will be released by Permuted Press. Dead Spots will be published in 2015 by Tor. She was born and raised a Texan and presently lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and furry children (a.k.a pets).  She loves scary movies, sci-fi and horror shows, playing video games, cooking, dyeing her hair weird colors, and shopping for Betsey Johnson purses and shoes.

You can find her online at:Website: rhiannonfrater.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/astheworlddies
Twitter:  twitter.com/rhiannonfrater
Blog:  rhianonfrater.blogspot.com
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/rhiannonfrater/
Email: rhiannonfrater at gmail.com


Kody:
Born and raised in Southeastern Idaho, Kody Boye began his writing career with the publication of his story [A] Prom Queen’s Revenge at the age of fourteen. Published nearly three-dozen times before going independent at eighteen, Boye has authored numerous works—including the short story collection Amorous Things, the novella The Diary of Dakota Hammell, the zombie novel Sunrise and the epic fantasy series The Brotherhood Saga. He is represented by Hannah Brown Gordon of the Foundry Literary + Media Agency.

You can visit him online at kodyboye.com


GIVEAWAY

The authors are giving away a e-copy of "The Midnight Spell" to one winner of the Rafflecopter.  The giveaway is open internationally and is open until May 31st, 2014!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, 6 May 2014

Review: Maggie Malone and the Mostly Magical Boots by Jenna McCarthy, Carolyn Evans

You know I love middle grade books; but this book is the one I can't recommend to everyone.. Read on!


Original Title: Maggie Malone and the Mostly Magical Boots
Author: Jenna McCarthy, Carolyn Evans
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Release Date: May 6th, 2014
Source: Review copy from the publisher
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

For Maggie Malone every day is Freaky Friday with the help of her very special new boots

When Maggie Malone's Aunt Fi gives her a pair of used, scuffed, plain brown boots for her birthday, she's less than impressed. Why couldn't her life be more like Tween pop sensation Becca Star? Instead Maggie's stuck going to a new school in ugly boots. Until she wakes up in Becca's shoes-literally. Maggie's new boots are magical. They won't make broccoli taste like macaroni and cheese, but they will let her spend a day in the life of anyone she chooses.

REVIEW

Maggie Malone is having the worst day of her life.  Her new school Pinkerton is just the real hell she don't want.  Why does her father has to change her schools all of a sudden?  How is she ever going to make new friends?  This is not getting any better when her best-presents-giving-aunt gives her a battered boots as her 12th birthday gift.

But, these boots are something special.  Wear the boots and enter into someone else's world just as that someone else.  And nobody told Maggie about that and now she is the popular Pop star, Becca Starr!  For one day!  She IS her favorite rock star, Becca!  Literally!  Oh well, things are not always what they seem...

This is a new to me author, so I didn't have any expectations.  And this is a very safe genre - middle grade..you can't go wrong very bad here.  So, when I picked it up, I was open to whatever they throw at me.  Actually, although I was not surprised big time, I really enjoyed this one.  There is no engaging message or plot.  This is a simple one day from a celebrity's life.  And I enjoyed knowing it.  I was always attracted to 'behind the scenes' activities casted on television.  So, this naturally made me enjoy.

I still felt like I still don't know enough of Maggie here.  It's a short read and as I said it's just a sheet in the life of some celebrity.  So, there is not much covered about the main character.  But, in this short span of reading time, I felt like I have known the celebrity, Becca Starr, better than Maggie.

And yeah, about the boots!  Well, it's a middle grade 'fantasy', after all.  And except for moving you to someone else's life, the boots doesn't do anything much.  So, if you expect some sparkling Tinker-Bell fantasy here, please back out.  This is more like Dorothy's shoes, just a very minor version.

The prose style is simple and easy for the kids to enjoy.  Middle graders will devour it, if they are interested in behind-the-scene information.  But, adults can just get this in a library for a short read..this is not a keeper for you.

3.5 STARS!

Praying for Men of P.O.W.E.R. by Nina Elaine Borum

praying
You didn’t learn these prayers in Sunday school. Put your armor on, and get ready to see God move!
Do you ever get sick of praying? It’s okay to admit. We all do. It is emotionally draining to beg God without ceasing. Christians often forget that under Christ’s authority, we have the power to command God’s promises to be released from heaven to earth and into our lives.
In Praying for Men of P.O.W.E.R., author Nina Elaine Borum challenges readers to stand confidently and command the promises of God for the men in your life. As someone who has struggled with prayer, Nina believes that God does not intend for his children to feel helpless in praying. His Word has instructed us in how to bring the kingdom of heaven to a world where Satan runs freely. We are all in the midst of a vicious spiritual battle, and Nina hopes this book will help you to fight on behalf of Christian men.
Buy Now @ Amazon & Tate Publishing
Genre - Christian non-fiction
Rating – G
More details about the author
Connect with Nina Elaine Borum on Facebook & Twitter

Thursday, 1 May 2014

Conspiracy of Silence by Gledé Browne Kabongo

Conspiracy_Science
#1 Amazon Bestseller in the suspense and women’s psychological fiction categories.
Boston executive Nina Kasai has been living a lie since her days as a student at Stanford University. But she’s about to learn that some secrets are too big to stay buried.
Years ago, Nina fled from her life of wealth and privilege and vowed never to look back. The horrifying truth has been locked away in her hidden diary, and in the mind of a disturbed woman who will never tell, ever. However, the perfect life she’s since created is about to come crashing down when Phillip Copeland –a ghost from her past with political ambition and secrets of his own, makes Nina an offer she can’t refuse: her silence in exchange for his.
Soon, it all goes horribly wrong when a  shocking double-cross sends Nina reeling,  and devastating loss threatens to push her over the edge. To make matters worse, her diary, the only link to her secret past has been stolen.
To reclaim her life and bring this twisted game to its stunning conclusion, Nina must confront the past she’s been running from, and find the courage to make a life-altering decision that leaves multiple casualties in its wake.
Buy Now @ Amazon
Genre – Psychological Suspense
Rating – R
More details about the author
Connect with Gledé Browne Kabongo on Facebook & Twitter
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