Reviews
Taken Book Review & Music Playlist + Giveaway!
class=”MsoNormal” style=”text-align: center;”>
Title: TAKEN (Breaking the Darkness, #1)Author: Felicia StarrExpected Release Date: November 11, 2013Genre: Fiction | YA | Paranormal
Opening her eyes to an imposing prison of complete darkness, Kasha is accused of possessing powers and abilities she had no previous knowledge of until the moment she comes face to face with herself while meditating. Haunted by memories strung together by lies and deceit, she soon discovers that maybe her beloved grandmother kept a few secrets she had not been aware of.
Secrets that could be her salvation… or her undoing.As she struggles to control her newfound powers, only time will tell if they will be enough to help her decipher who has imprisoned her or what they want from her. She must search for the answers and the freedom she so desperately desires. Could a handsome guy whom vows to help her get away prove to be the man of her dreams… or perhaps her worst nightmare?
NOT KNOWING WHO TO TRUST, SHE MUST FIND A WAY TO ESCAPE BEFORE SHE PAYS THE ULTIMATE PRICE AND FINDS HERSELF TAKEN BY THE DARKNESS.
You must betray your heart and walk amongst the darkness in order to find the truest light.
My Review
A Note from the Author:
I did not listen to a specific play list while I wrote Taken. Sometimes I needed to write in the dark and be with the silence or what we think of as silence. I had to really heighten my hearing and tune in to what the darkness sounded like.
When I had to write or edit during the day, I would often plug in and listen to Pandora. This is a playlist of a hand full of songs that I either found myself listening to or that resinated with time and the story.
distinguish how many nights or days had passed. The darkness was different from any I had experienced before. My eyes could not quite adjust.
prepaid a year’s rent for a studio-sized house on a small side street. Santa Fe was appealing because it was close to the last place Gram lived, La Cienega, just outside the city limits. The sad thing is, without employment and friends or family in the new city, no one would miss me.
Author Felicia Starr lives five miles from her favorite Jersey Shore destination with her amazingly supportive family. She loves to spend time creating special memories with her husband and two young boys.
Everyone expected her first publication to be a cookbook, but her love for writing has surpassed her love for cooking.
Felicia graduated magna cum laude from Kean University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a post baccalaureate in elementary education.
She is a licensed real estate sales person, a certified yoga instructor, and most importantly, a stay-at-home mom.
Dragon Fire Review + Giveaway
Dragon Fire
(Book #1)
Dina von Lowenkraft
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: August 5, 2013 (ebook)
December 15, 2013 (paperback)
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
ISBN: 978-1606192917
ASIN: B00ECNEZ6G
Pages: 353
Goodreads Rating: 4.29
My Rating: 4.5
Follow the tour HERE
Book Description:
Some choices are hard to live with.
But some choices will kill you.
When seventeen-year-old Anna first meets Rakan in her hometown north of the Arctic Circle, she is attracted to the pulsing energy that surrounds him. Unaware that he is a shapeshifting dragon, Anna is drawn into a murderous cycle of revenge that pits Rakan and his clan against her best friend June.
Torn between his forbidden relationship with Anna, punishable by death, and restoring his family’s honor by killing June, Rakan must decide what is right. And what is worth living – or dying – for.
My Take On The Book:
Wow! I really enjoyed this book, more than I expected to. To be honest, I was a bit lost at first while reading this, there is a lot of back story and I got lost in translation. I felt like there was more to the story and we as readers might have just been plopped into it. The writing style was also different, between the abrupt POV changes and the lingo you can find yourself confused if you don’t slow down.
But fear not, once you get into the swing of things, it’s easy to follow and all is answered with time and patience. And this intriguing book is worth the wait! It’s a beautiful story of love, loss and betrayal.
The Great (Pros):
- Mythology. I loved the lavish descriptions, the dragon mythology and the different types of dragons. They were woven together so perfectly and serve to place you into the beautiful a mysterious world. I also happened to love the non-dragon beings (I can’t delve into that, it would totally ruin the mystery)
- Romance. While it was there and helped to drive the story onwards, it was written in a way that wasn’t overbearing or overindulgent. I loved Anna and Rakan/Pemba! They were well matched I also loved the romance between Dvara/Dawa and T’eng Sten/Torsten there was a lot of unbridled passion there.
- Mystery and Intrigue. One of the reasons I kept turning the page was my need to know what the hell was going on.
- The Cover.It’s just so darn beautiful. It’s exactly how I pictured Anna as I read this.
- The Ending.While it falls a bit on the predictable side, it was done well and it answers most of your questions.
The Not So Great (Cons):
- The Ending. Lol I know I have this as a pro but it is also a con. While many answers were given at the end of this story…You get a whole new lot of questions and a few lingering ones. This book also ends in an open ended fashion. It’s set up with the intent of a sequel BUT nowhere does it say this is a series, a duology or a trilogy.
- Ingrid. Anna’s mom. She just rubbed me the wrong way. I hated reading about her, and more to the point I hate writing about her. I didn’t like how she treated Anna or how she revered her slimy boyfriend Ulf. She doesn’t come off as a loving mother, only an insecure woman who nags and whines. I was literally left feeling as if Anna was some sort of nuisance to her.
- Descriptions. While most of the story is beautifully and intricately woven, there are a couple of moments where that all gets muddled up.
4.5 Quills
All in all this story was beautiful and sensual and very intriguing. Chapter by chapter you’re sucked into this magical world of dragons and mythical creatures. It’s a lovely and enthralling book that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys paranormal romance, fantasy and dragons.
About The Author
Born in the US, Dina von Lowenkraft has lived on 4 continents, worked as a graphic artist for television and as a consultant in the fashion industry. Somewhere between New York and Paris she picked up an MBA and a black belt. Dina is currently the Regional Advisor for SCBWI Belgium, where she lives with her husband, two children and three horses.
http://www.dinavonlowenkraft.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dina-von-Lowenkraft/551209381555837
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7123641.Dina_von_Lowenkraft
https://twitter.com/vonlowenkraft
http://pinterest.com/vonlowenkraft/
“I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.”
Grimnirs Review + Giveaway!
Grimnirs
Runes
Book #2.5
Ednah Walters
My Take On The Book:
The Great (Pros):
The Not So Great (Cons):
- Eirik. Poor Dude! From what I gather, he never seems to catch a break and that sucks. Don’t get me wrong, I love Cora, Echo (swoon), Rainie and Torin. But this guy is the first person you read as in this book and then well, as you can tell by the book blurb, gets his heart stabbed with a rusty spoon. It’s so heartbreaking for a character that I genuinely liked… or as much as I can like having read only this book. Echo was a great love interest. He literally had me fangirling it, but to be honest, I was partially hoping that he was just another Bill Compton (Southern Vamp Series/True Blood) and worthless of my admiration. I’m pretty sure I’m over-reacting but I can’t help myself.
- Sex Scenes. Now, I’m totally down with the get down, but I felt really awkward and a tad uncomfortable reading about teenagers doing the deed. Sure I now teens, get it on, I was teen not long ago lol but I felt dirty reading about it. I had to imagine them as 20 somethings to adjust. It wasn’t super graphic or anything like that, but it was descriptive enough to kind of send me reeling.
4.5 Quills
Would I recommend this book? Yep, most definitely. But be smart and read the first 2 books lol. This book has it all, the paranormal, the romance, heartbreak, mythology, gods, magic, action, blood and lots of sizzle and steam.
by Ednah Walters
About The Author
The Awakening: Britton Book Review
The Awakening: Britton
(The Awakening #3)
Abby Niles
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: November 25, 2013
Publisher: Entangled Covet
ISBN: 978-1622663453
ASIN: B00FIL335A
Pages: 200
Goodreads Rating: 3
My Rating: 4
There’s a thin line between love and hate…
Book Description:
“I would lick that man up one side and down the other.”
Half-shifter and lead SPAC agent, Val Calhoun, has listened to women gush over the Don Juan of the precinct for the last four years. Yeah, Detective Britton Townsend is hot and has stunning blue eyes, but that foul mouth he saves only for her? What a waste of good looks. And no way does Val want that mouth anywhere near hers.
When the shifter community is threatened, Val is assigned to the case…and fails. So the High Council turns to the rogue shifter they’d sentenced to twenty years as a human–that same obnoxiously sexy Detective Townsend. And sends the two arch-enemies deep into the North Carolina Mountains-—together, and alone.
Being stuck in a tiny honeymoon cabin with Miss Castration and only one bed is definitely not Britton’s idea of a good time. But the High Council doesn’t take no for an answer. After his shifter abilities are restored, Brit is once again susceptible to the dreaded, irreversible bonding instinct, the Drall. Thankfully, all he’s ever felt for Val is intense loathing, no reason to worry. Right? All he has to do is solve this case pronto, and he can go back to his footloose Casanova ways. That is, if they don’t kill each other first. Or worse…fall in love.
My Take On The Book:
I don’t know if it’s just me, but books from Entangled are either a hit or miss. Luckily, this one was a hit hands down. I loved the blurb and the cover picture but I was reluctant to read it based on my past experiences with this publishing group. It was a last second decision and one I’m pleased I made.
The Great (Pros):
The Characters. I’m so happy that the books I’ve read recently all had well developed characters. The kind that stick around well after the story is over, that kind that keep you invested in their wellbeing. This book was no different. I couldn’t stop rehashing the events in the book.
The Romance. Well golly ::fans face:: this author sure knows how to bring the steam to paper or in this case, digital book page. The chemistry of the two main characters is off the charts. I love the progression from hate to love.
Britton. He deserves his own bullet simply on merit. He’s loyal, noble and strong and smexi. He was written and developed beautifully.
The Not So Great (Cons):
Repetitiveness. I have this thing, it really irks me. I hate when words or phrases are written or said too much. Unfortunately, this book has a bit of that. For ex. the constant use of the word Drall.
Tear Jerker. Way to take it to the extreme lol. Honestly this is really a con but I can’t very well add it to the pros list. Who likes to sob hysterically because of a book, not me. Truthfully though it ought to be in the pros simply because the author wove a tale that enthralled me from the very beginning.
4 Quills
I haven’t read the other 2 in the series but I just might, now that I’ve read this one. This book literally made me squeal and giggle. I had a constant mantra while reading it, “I love this book, I love this book, I love this author, I love this….” And then I cried for well over 20 pages and that mantra changed to “I hate this book, I hate this book, I hate this book, why? Why? Why?” In the end though, I was happy. It’s a solid shifter read. Well written and well crafted.
About The Author
Ever since Abby Niles picked up her first Sweet Valley High book in sixth grade and fell in love with Elizabeth and Todd, she’s been hooked on romance. By the time she reached high school, she was devouring meatier romances with pirates, cowboys and knights. She never imagined that those years of reading would one day lead to her becoming a published author.
In her late twenties, after having twins and becoming a stay-at-home mom, she started doodling stories to keep her sanity. Next thing she knew, she was actually submitting to publishing houses. And was immediately rejected. That didn’t stop her though. She found some kickass critique partners, honed her craft, and continued submitting.
And eventually sold.
Today, she juggles work, being a single mom, and writing. It’s not always easy, but hey, who said life was easy?
Abby is the author of the contemporary MMA romance, Extreme Love, the first book in her Love to the Extreme series. Fighting Love is scheduled to release in December of 2013 and Winning Love is scheduled for 2014. She is also the author of the dark paranormal romance series The Awakening: Aidan and The Awakening: Liam. The Awakening: Britton is scheduled to release in November 2013. Both series are with Entangled Publishing. She also has a geeky romantic comedy, Defying Convention, with Carina Press.
Website: http://www.abbynilesauthor.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/abbyniles
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbynilesauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/AbbyNiles
Newsletter: http://goo.gl/wQZyKi
Enter The Giveaway Here
1 $50 Amazon GC
Thanks for stopping by,
“I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.”
The Cheesecake Queen Review and Giveaway!
Release Date: November 21, 2013
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Goodreads Rating: 4
My Rating: 4
Follow the tour HERE
Book Description:
Sugar Rule 1: Christmas is the perfect time for cheesecake.
Sugar Rule 2: Men are as useful as burnt cookies.
After losing her reporting job to layoffs at the local paper, Caeleah Turner’s pity party at the airport is interrupted by a woman claiming to know the location of the world’s best cheesecake. Intrigued, Caeleah trades plane tickets with the woman and finds herself in Chestnut, Colorado, a tiny town hiding a woman known as the Cheesecake Queen. The Cheesecake Queen not only bakes the best cheesecakes in the country, but her cheesecake is known to cure everything from infertility to baldness—one woman even loses 100 pounds on it! There is a thick batter of secrets behind The Cheesecake Queen and her two sisters, who operate all the bakeries in town.
But as the mayor’s efforts to shut down the Sugar sisters before Christmas gear up, Caeleah finds herself wanting to sample his own treats.
There’s a bigger secret than love to Cinnamon’s cheesecakes. And Caeleah is determined to find out what it is.
My Take On The Book:
I’m not sure if I should add or deduct quills based on the cover alone. The cover look so deliciously yummy that I wanted cheesecake every time I looked at the cover and writing this review is no different. I’m pretty sure I gained an extra 5 lbs. I’m going to have to diet extra hard this holiday season lol.
I absolutely adored the intro/chapter 1 of this book. It was just enough to peak my interest. I was giggling as I turned to the next chapter and I love books that hook you from the beginning.
It wasn’t too long of a read but then again I devoured this book so I might be a bit off on that calculation. Even so, it felt like the right length for this type of book.
The Great (Pros):
The Actual Story. This book was deliciously good. It reminded me of those Halmark/ABC Family Holiday Movies that I adore.
The Character. There is something gratifying about a book that has strongly developed characters. I loved each character in this book. They each had their own type of charisma that shines through on each page.
The Sugar Sisters/Names. Omg, the names of these ladies were just too perfect. Who but a baker with the last name Sugar would name their children Cinnamon, Ginger and Nutmeg.
Romance. I loved the romance woven into the grander scheme of things. Throughout the book I found myself rooting for the leading lady and her man, even if said man made me want to smash a pie in his face. It was a cute little love story that if anything ties everything together and keeps the story moving.
The Not So Great (Cons):
Inconctencies. I have a pet peeve with these alond with repeation. And while there weren’t many of these in the story, there were a few that left you scratching your head and re-reading those lines.
Ginger’s story. While her backstory was really well constructed, I just felt bad for the girl. She looked like she needed a hug. It was one of the plot points that turned me off from the story a bit.
4 Quills
This book was great. I would recommend it to anyone that loves romance. Well romance and food. It was oddly remincent of the holiday movies ‘Matchmaker Santa’ and ‘Recipe for a Perfect Christmas’. It’s got that perfect touch of holiday magic. Now to quote the book “Christmas is the perfect time for cheesecake” and I am off to find some!
About The Author
Miranda Koerner is a writer living in San Antonio, Texas, with her husband and two Chihuahuas. A former children’s magazine editor and reporter for Prime Time Newspapers and the Express-News, Miranda has written for The Current, Taste, Chicken Soup for the Soul and many other publications. Her YA novel The Butterfly Dress was published by Girl E books and is available through Amazon.com and Smashwords. She is anticipating her next novel, Blue Mermaid, with Turquoise Morning Press in April 2013.
Author Links
***ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE***
Tour organized by:
Thanks for stopping by,
A Review on Gateway by Christina Garner
Gateway
(Gateway Trilogy #1)
Christina Garner
Genre: YA Science Fiction/Fantasy
Release Date: May 17, 2011
ASIN: B0051UBSLE
Pages: 185
Goodreads Rating: 3.63
My Rating: 5
Book Description:
Everybody has their demons. Some are just a little more real than others…
Ember has always known she doesn’t belong in this world. But when she tries to correct the mistake, she wakes to find herself in a mental institution.
She’s soon drawn to Taren, the mysterious boy with hazel eyes. He’s not what he seems, but what is he?
When chaos erupts, they are forced to flee the institution together, and the secret that Taren has been keeping brings Ember closer to understanding her own. And leads her to… the Gateway.
My Take On The Book:
After reading the synopsis of the book I went into what my friends would call a book obsession in overdrive. I just knew I had to read it. The premise was right up my alley and I couldn’t get this book out of my head. It was haunting me. The cover though minimalistic was right on point with the story. And once I started I couldn’t really stop. It took me a couple of hours but truthfully I think it only took so long because I was forced to stop 3 times, once to sleep, the next to eat and the last because I had errands to run and you can’t very well read while driving a car. I’ll admit the. Chapter lengths threw me for a loop in the beginning as the first 3 were relatively short but understandably so. It was at chapter 5 when I realized they had lengthen dramatically. But I kinda liked it that about the story.
The Great (Pros):
- Ember. There is just something about this girl that makes you care. She’s strong even if she herself doesn’t know it and it’s refreshing. Too many times you have a strong female character that just oozes self-esteem and that can make it too hard for a reader to connect with the character. Ember was nothing like that, she had limitations and while she felt inadequate quite often it wasn’t done in a whiny way. She just pushed herself to be better.
- Taren. Right off the bat I loved his character. He was shrouded in mystery and you really don’t know where he stands but I’m a sucker for those kinds of leading me. He had his moments, or rather I had moments where he made me angry but I always held out hope. His chemistry with Ember was tangible and sweet. And his caring for Callie usury proved how multidimensional he really was.
- Kat. What’s not too love about her. She’s snarky, caring, tough as nails and loyal. She’s understanding to Ember’s situation, a real friend to Taren but from what I see, it doesn’t get in the way of her ability to do her job. Plus she’s a lesbian which is way cool because I haven’t read many books with gay female characters as they all tend to be gay males.
- Callie. So cute and innocent. And downright frightening. I really liked reading the scenes with her.
- Demons, daemons and the gateway. I loved the history and thought put into this book. The difference between demon and daemon is chilling and the gateway was crafted so perfectly I was able to envision it all with crystal clarity.
- Guardians and Keepers. While these terms have been used before and will probably continue to be used in paranormal books, I liked the variation in this story. It just serves as further proof at the attention this author gave the story while writing it.
The Not So Great (Cons):
There aren’t many to speak of. The story was left open ended but not a cliffhanger. The characters were well developed but we didn’t get too much backstory which is fine. There were some passages that I had to reread because the wording felt a bit odd but that was the only flaw I could find in my eyes. I can honestly say there aren’t any characters that I disliked.
5 stars
This way a solid read. Something I would happily recommend to readers. It had romance but nothing too severe to stifle the progression of the storyline. It had genuinely unique ideas which is hard to come by when dealing with paranormal books especially those with demons. I really enjoyed it and look forward to the next instalments! Keep your eyes peeled for my review on the next book 🙂 if you read Undertow, Scars of the Bifrost or Dark Souls after my review or you’ve read The Revealers by Amanda Marrone then this book is right up your alley. You can purchase this book via amazon or B&N for 2.99. I suggest you also take the time to sign up for the author’s newsletter for info on this series.
Author Bio 
Christina Garner began writing stories at the age of six. At eighteen, her aspirations as an actor had her loading up her Buick and setting off for Hollywood. Since then she has written and directed 10 short films, including Rewind and Reminder, both of which received acclaim on the festival circuit. In 2007 she was hired to write her first feature film. May of 2011, her debut novel, Gateway became an Amazon Bestseller, followed by Chasm, Book 2 in The Gateway Trilogy. Look for Tether in late 2013.
Thanks for stopping by,
“I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion. I was in no way compensated for this review and all opinions are expressly my own”
Come Little Children Book Review & Giveaway
Come Little Children
D. Melhoff
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Supernatural Thriller
Release Date: October 30, 2013
Publisher: Bellwoods Publishing
ISBN: 978-0992133108
Pages: 466
My Rating: 4 Stars
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/nM0QAA607yo
Follow the tour HERE
Book Description:
The Nolan morgue is more than just an ordinary funeral home.
When their newest employee uncovers a supernatural conspiracy connected to a string of child murders, she must use every shred of her intelligence to stop a new breed of serial killer and escape the morgue alive.
After graduating from the mortuary program at Mount Royal University, Camilla Carleton moves to a secluded town in the northern Yukon for her first job at a family-run funeral home. Her new employers, however, are the town’s most controversial citizens, and when strange occurrences begin happening around the morgue—including late night visits from children who were thought to be dead—she won’t stop until she uncovers the truth behind these paranormal events.
But unraveling the funeral home’s secret is just the start. When Camilla is faced with life and death decisions of her own, she must fight to undo a horrific chain of events while struggling to outsmart a serial killer, save her family, and escape the morgue alive.
My Take On The Book:
I was initially hesitant about reading this book, but after reading and re-reading the synopsis I decided what the hell and signed up for the tour. I’m really glad I did!
‘Come Little Children’ is an eerie, haunting and downright frightening book. There were parts that I found myself wanting to skim over, so it wasn’t a perfect read but it was close.
The Great (Pros):
- The Romance. While a prominent part of the story, it isn’t over the top or overpowering to the actual storyline. The characters had chemistry and at times their interactions make you or me in this case giggle like a schoolgirl lol.
- The Characters. Even the a-holes were well constructed. I didn’t have any scratch my head, what the hell moments in regards to their actions.
- The premise of the story. It was creepy and really creative so I really loved it.
- Peter. Swoon. A talented, ambidextrous, romantic artist. Loyal and passionate. What’s not to love about a man like that? He was a family man through and through. I want my own Peter 😉
- Camilla. She was an original type of character. A little on the weird side and definitely had some problems but I think that’s what I liked about her. Her differentness worked with this type of book.
- Abigail. I can’t say too much on this front except evil little Spawn of Satan. She was the perfect mixture of outward innocence and a vile child.
- The Ending. Tear jerker for sure. I really loved the ending of this book. It was different just like the rest of this story. There was just something so haunting about it. I kind of saw it coming but at the same time I didn’t. It was that will he won’t he moment and I loved it. I didn’t even mind the crying!
The Not So Great (Cons):
- Inconsistencies & Predictability. Really this is all that holds this story back from ah-maze-ing-ness. Like I said before this, was a near perfect read. Most of what I found I wanted to skim over were the bouts of information overload here and the lack of information there. The other parts were the predictable moments with the exception of the ending. It felt like the scenes in slasher flicks where you’re screaming “Don’t go in there” and they do it anyway.
4 Quills
I’d recommend this to any and all horror buffs. It pushes the boundaries of social norms. Leaving you to question your own morals and asking yourself what you would do in a similar situation. A stand up book and take notice book, worthy of your shelves.
About The Author
D. Melhoff was born in a prairie ghost town located an inch above the Canadian-American border. He credits King, Poe, Hitchcock, Harris, Raimi, and his second grade school teacher, Mrs. Lake, for turning him to horror.
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!
5 paperbacks open to US Shipping
5 ebooks open internationally
Thanks for Stopping By,
“I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.”
Untethered Review & Giveaway!
Untethered
Katie Hayoz
Genre: YA Paranormal
Release Date: April 3, 2013
ISBN: 978-0988997479
ASIN: B00C7A8YW2
Pages: 350
Word Count: 85,000
Goodreads Rating: 4.40
My Rating: 4.5/5
Book Description:
Sixteen-year-old Sylvie isn’t comfortable in her own skin. In fact, there are times she can’t even manage to stay inside it. But if there is one thing she’s sure of, it’s her love for Kevin Phillips. She’s willing to stake everything on it –her family, her friends, and possibly her soul.
Sylvie has been best friends with Cassie forever. But everything is turned around when the boy Sylvie’s loved since fifth grade falls for Cassie. Devastated, Sylvie intends to get Kevin by any means possible, even if it involves treachery, deceit, and the dark side of astral projection. She is positive her plans will give her what she wants, but she doesn’t count on it all spiraling out of control.
Finalist in the Mslexia novel competition, Untethered by Katie Hayoz explores the intoxicating and dangerous world of jealousy and obsession when coupled with paranormal ability. It is a touching, sometimes funny, sometimes heart-breaking novel that speaks to the self-doubt lurking in us all.
Amazon Paperback on Amazon Amazon.uk
My Take On The Book:
Ok so this one isn’t exactly a 5 star book but it is way too good to be a 4.5. There has got to be a better in-between option for these types of books. What more can I say except this book was/is great.
I was a little hesitant to read this when I first read the synopsis but selfishly I’ll admit it had more to do with the best friend/long time crush deal. I don’t know why most books and movies I’ve seen/read lately have that same prominent heart wrenching theme. But that’s not really the point, or at least it isn’t yet lol.
The Great (Pros):
- Nelson. Whoa, a blue haired artistic hottie. Can you say swoon ::sigh:: ❤
- Sylvie. Honestly, she seemed worse in the description and I didn’t think I would like her… but I did. She’s actually a really relatable and likable character. I’m sure everyone at some point in their life has wanted to be someone else. Sylvie just happened to take that want a tad too far, OK A LOT too far but in her defense she was coerced. She’s human and that’s exactly what I liked about her most. She had moments of complete and utter dumb-fuckery (pardon my language) but she’s a teen who gets picked on regularly and astral project without the ability to control it so those moments are pretty understandable.
- Astral Projection. I read a book years ago (like maybe 6 or 7 years ago) about a girl who astral projects and her body gets taken over by what I believe was a long lost relative. I can’t remember too much, like I said it’s been years but I think the book was Stranger with My Face by Lois Duncan. Anyway the point it, that I know I thoroughly enjoyed that book and this book reminded me of it. I really enjoyed the whole concept of astral projecting and the scariness that someone can inhabit your body and you have basically no control over it.
- Writing Style. I loved the chapter break ups and the way we saw the future and were thrown back into the present. Some parts of it were very predictable but not enough to take away from the story. It was well edited and I was able to immerse myself into the story and picture almost everything that was described.
- Sam and the whole family dynamic. I loved the whole family, broken and all. They genuinely care for each other and it shows. It gives you the warm and fuzzies even in the worst of times.
The Not So Great (Cons):
- Kevin. I’m not sure why, maybe it was my love for Nelson but I severely disliked Kevin. He seemed way too fake.
- Casey. As much as I wanted to like her, I couldn’t It’s not just that she went out with Kevin, it’s not just how mean she really gets with Sylvie but it’s the lies. Sylvie asks her very directly a few things and she outright lies. That is not best friend behavior. She was not a sympathetic character and I didn’t want Sylvie doing certain things but not because I felt bad for Casey. Sure she had some endearing qualities but they did not out weight her bad.
- Casey and Sylvie Friendship. It just didn’t feel real. If anything, it seems as if it was more of a comfort thing then an actual friendship. As I said before, friends don’t do what these girls do or try to do to each other.
4.5 Quills
If you enjoyed ‘The Wake Trilogy’ by Lisa McMann then this is definitely the book for you. It’s got the teen angst, the sweetness and cuteness of young love, the darkness of the paranormal and jealousy and it’s haunting, utterly haunting from the cover to the last page. It’s an absolutely great book and an excellent read. Kudos to author Katie Hayoz for creating such an eerie and tangible world.
About The Author
Katie Hayoz was born in Racine, WI, the youngest of six kids. Originally, she wanted to become pope (for the awesome hat and fancy robes), but quickly realized reading was her true religion. Writing was always a hobby, but she decided to go at it seriously when she ended up in Geneva, Switzerland. Now she’s constantly at her laptop in the small apartment she shares with her husband, two daughters, and two fuzzy cats. She devours YA novels like she does popcorn and black licorice: quickly and in large quantities.
Connect with Katie
www.facebook.com/katiehayoz.author
Enter The Giveaway Here To Win
5 ebook copies of Untethered by Katie Hayoz
1 paperback Untethered by Katie Hayoz (US Shipping)
1 pendant (US Shipping)
1 charm (US Shipping)
Rafflecopter giveaway
“I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.”
Sleepwalker Guest Post, Review & Giveaway!!!
Sleepwalker
Tanith Davenport
Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance
Publisher: Total-e-Bound
ISBN: 978-1-78184-815-9
Number of pages: 36
Word Count: 14,000
Goodreads Rating: 5
My Rating: 4
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/yTBATkCiyVc
Book Description:
Tally Haslam has too much to deal with. An herbalist and aromatherapist, her latest creation – an aphrodisiac potion – remains in unsaleable condition as she has nobody to test it with. And, much to her annoyance, she sleepwalks.
Hoping to get away from it all for a weekend, Tally travels to nearby Madigan Hall for their yearly Paranormal Evening—but on the first night she wakes up outside the bedroom of another guest: Kyle Hunter, who has chosen to pleasure himself with the door open. Tally escapes without being seen, but is unable to get Kyle out of her head—especially when she finds herself at the same table at him the following evening.
However, Tally’s world is turned upside down when, at the paranormal dinner, she encounters the ghost of the Blue Lady, who seems determined not to leave her alone—and shows a disturbing penchant, when Tally sleepwalks again, for leading her astray…
My Take On The Book:
What can I say about this short book? Nothing more than, it was awesome. It was a surprisingly quick read, very to the point. The story picks up with our main character Tally sleep walking, a recurring theme throughout the story and jumps right into things. It literally had it all, the paranormal, the romance and the steamy scenes that we adults look for in the adult reads.
The storyline was tied together very well leaving almost no questions unanswered. The book was also well written with the exception of a few scenes. But the mistakes weren’t glaring and in no way did it leave you confused. Since this was such a short read that I was able to knock out in just about 35 minutes, (yeah I’m weird, I time myself) I’m only gonna do a quick Pros and Cons List.
The Great (Pros):
- Kyle. Sexy and funny and a complete smart ass. A great love interest.
- Ashlee. Kyle’s sister. She was way out there and definitely in a good way. She was friendly to Tally and I loved the banter between her and her brother.
- Tally. Tally had her stupid moments, ok, they were very stupid moments. She liked to over think things but she was a great main character.
- The paranormal storyline. Ok I know that is a bit vague as far as bullets go but that is really all I can say. Sure the sexy scenes where downright steamy, but it was the actual storyline that was my favorite. I also really enjoyed how the author made this storyline work in such a short book.
The Not So Great (Cons):
- Length. There weren’t very many cons other than my turning the page at the end and feeling let down that it was over.
- Inconsistencies. There were a few of these littered throughout the story. Most notably, the sex scenes. The characters weren’t doing any weird acrobatic or almost physically impossible moves that I couldn’t envision, it was just the minor details that the author overlooked that I as a reader could not. For example in one of the scenes it is mentioned that she’s not wearing underwear under her nightgown but later in the morning she’s looking for them and a few more sentences with said underwear commence.
- Grammatical errors. Once again nothing to big, but I did do my little weirdo twitch in a few parts when I noticed them. For example, the word a instead of an and so on. Like I said nothing too drastic.
- Lack of Kyle info. Off the bat, other than what he looks like nude then dressed and the smart ass comments, you’ve got next to no info of the loveable oaf. You don’t know much about him. Sure you know he’s a skeptic and that he’s only at this convention for his sister but as a love interest for the main character, short story of not, I would like to know a little basic knowledge about him. Where does he work? Things like that.
4 Quills
A short read, but a great read. I would definitely recommend this one to basically anyone that enjoys these short paranormal reads with steamy scenes. Enjoy the Guest Post and Excerpt Below.
- ← Previous
- 1
- …
- 4
- 5