Saturday, December 29, 2012

Review : Death Sentence

 
 
 
 
 
Death Sentence
Escape from Furnace # 3
Alexander Gordon Smith
Square Fish
 
 
Alex's second attempt to break out of Furnace Penitentiary has failed. This time his punishment will be much worse than before. Because in the hidden, bloodstained laboratories beneath the prison, he will be made into a monster. As the warden pumps something evil into his veins--a sinisterly dark nectar--Alex becomes what he most fears . . . a superhuman minion of Furnace. How can he escape when the darkness is inside him? How can he lead the way to freedom if he is lost to himself?
 
My Review:  Alex and his crew are back. This time escape does not seem possible. We have learned in the last two books what happens to prisoners. They are turned into monsters. Now it's Alex's turn.  This book is the best in the series so far. I also found this book to be the darkest and most disturbing book in the series. I think that is why I like this series so much. These books are what nightmares are made of but you can't stop reading because you need the closure for the nightmare to end. My son also enjoys these book because of the action is fast and furious. In this well written book we learn more of the history of the Furnace and where the ideas for the creation of all the creatures comes from. While Alex struggles to keep his mind clear while being turned. We are introduced to new characters and hope for the best as the story progresses. I must admit these books have me trapped I want to see how the story ends so look for the next book soon.
 
 

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Review Book : The Culling



The Culling
Steven Dos Santos
Flux Publishing
 
Lucian "Lucky" Spark has been recruited for training by the totalitarian government known as the Establishment. According to Establishment rules, if a recruit fails any level of the violent training competitions, a family member is brutally killed . . . and the recruit has to choose which one.

As the five recruits form uneasy alliances in the hellish wasteland that is the training ground, an undeniable attraction develops between Lucky and the rebellious Digory Tycho. But the rules of the training ensure that only one will survive--the strongest recruits receive accolades, wealth, and power while the weakest receive death. With Cole--Lucky's four-year-old brother--being held as "incentive," Lucky must marshal all his skills and use his wits to keep himself alive, no matter what the cost.
 





My Review: I was quite surprised by this book. I had not heard anything about it so I requested it. I started reading and found it amazingly dark , depressing and desolate. Those are also the reason I could not put this book down. Compelling, creative,and stimulating . The world in this book is amazing. The characters are compelling and well developed. As I read this enthralling tale I found my palms sweating and heart pounding, but I did not want to put it down could not tear my eyes away. I still find myself thinking about the story as I work an I pause to think wow that was a great book.
I must address one thing that I have not mentioned above. This book has a gay main character. Did that affect my enjoyment of the book? Hell No. I did not give it one thought until I read the reviews on "Goodreads" everyone seemed to make that a point to mention. To me it did not matter or affect the story at all. I loved this book and recommend it to people who liked "The Hunger Games"
 
 

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Blog Tour: Miss Fortune Cookie









Miss Fortune Cookie







Meet Erin. Smart student, great
Lauren Bjorkman’s honest and

charming portrayal of love, loyalty, and

friendship will leave readers with a sense

of having figured out Something Big

about life, while enjoying giggles along

the way. ~
Jennifer Brown, author of



Hate List


, Bitter End, and Perfect Escape     caption
daughter, better friend. Secretly
the mastermind behind the
popular advice blog Miss Fortune
Cookie. Totally unaware that her
carefully constructed life is about
to get crazy.
It all begins when her ex-best
friend sends a letter to her blog—
and then acts on her advice. Erin’s
efforts to undo the mess will plunge her into adventure, minor
felonies, and possibly her very
first romance.
What’s a likely fortune for
someone no longer completely in
control of her fate? Hopefully
nothing like:

You will become a




crispy noodle in the salad of life.

 



 




Miss Fortune Cookie



Lauren Bjorkman
Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, November 13, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8050-8951-6 / $16.99 / 288 pages / Ages 14 & up
For more information, please contact Courtney Griffin, Publicity Asst.
at 646-307-5282 or
courtney.griffin@macmillan.com


My Review: 

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Review: No Ordinary Excuse





No Ordinary Excuse
Michelle Adams
Odyssey Books
Published February 11th 2012
 
 
NetGalley gave me this book on request.
 
 
 
Meet twelve year old Gemma Martin. She wants to be an actress, but school is getting in the way. Gemma has used all of the usual excuses to avoid her homework, but this time she’s facing serious consequences and must rely on her vivid imagination to create the most extraordinary homework excuse ever. Initially, Gemma’s stolen project story skyrockets her popularity, but it isn’t long before things start to spiral out of control and Gemma is headed for disaster. No Ordinary Excuse is the story of how our biggest mistakes are often our greatest teachers.
 
 
My Review: I thought this book was so cute and perfectly written. I really enjoyed this book and I am buying it for my daughter to read. I would recommend this for any one who has a daughter. I liked Gemma because even all these year later I could relate to her. She was the typical twelve year old who forget homework assignments, but her imagination takes control and then she has to cover to keep the lie alive. I also loved the characters of Kel and Callum , Gemma's best friends and even Brittany. When I think back to my school days  I can remember "MY Brittany".  I also like the lessons learned in this book and how the adults in the book did not fade into the background but played a major role in Gemma's growth and understanding .  
 
 
 
4.75


Saturday, December 15, 2012

Blog Tour: The Vampire Chronicles

The Vampire Chronicles
Jodie Pierce
2nd book in the Vampire Queen Series
 
 
 
     After reuniting with her ex-lover, the Countess and Kendra journey to Venice to meet with a local coven searching for a vampire leader. The Countess gladly takes on the role and is readily accepted by most of the pure blooded vampires. After a bloody battle with a Japanese vampire who has traveled the world violating the code by creating an army of vampires, the Countess is kidnapped and taken to Japan to atone for her actions. Will she get more than she bargained for or will she learn the biggest secret of her life? Is she in over her head or will she survive and triumph over her adversaries? Will her coven be able to rescue her?
 
 
 
My Review:  The continuation of this series makes you want more. I love the fact that the author can weave such an intriguing story with such well developed characters in just a few pages. The writing is wonderful. I was drawn in from the first page and did not put it down till I was finished. Jodie Pierce creates a vivid world that leaps off the page and stays with you. As a vampire fan it is a must read for adults. I highly recommend this book and I am again glad I picked them up. Fast paced and exciting with a stunning setting and riveting characters. I am reading the third book now and can not wait to see what happens next.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Author Interview : After reading the first book I wanted to know more about a Jodie Pierce, so I asked a few questions.
 
 
Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
JP: In high school , but I didn't start writing about vampires until in college.
 
Q: How long does it take you to write a story?
JP: Depends on the story and how into it I am. Sometimes only a couple months, other times longer.
 
Q: Where do you get your ideas or inspiration from?
JP: Most of my ideas come from dream sequences I have. Also, hubby gives me a general idea that I run with.
 
Q: Are you working on anything right now?
JP: I'm working on "The Forsaken One" and a new one without a title as of yet.
 
Q: I love "The Vampire Queen" but I have to ask, are you planning a full length novel?
JP: I have a hard time writing a full length novel. They end up turning into short stories.
 
Q: Who is your favorite person in your story? And why?
JP: My Vampire Queen is my favorite. She's sassy, takes no sh** and can be arrogant.
 
Q:What are you reading now?
JP: A non published story for a friend that I'm proofreading.
 
Q:Do you have a favorite series? Or author?
JP: My favorite author is Anne Rice and Christine Feehan. Anne Rice is the reason I'm writing about vampires. Christine Feehan is the reason I've dabbled with Erotica.
 
Q: How do you prepare to write?
JP: I don't. I just write when I'm inspired.
 
Q: And one last question, what is next for you?
JP: The next great vampire novella of course.
 
 I would like to thank Jodie Pierce for taking the time to answer. I have enjoyed working with her and hope to do so again.
 
 
Also don't forget to check out the first book in the series "The Vampire Queen" and enter the giveaway. Thank you for stopping by.
 


Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Blog Tour: Flight by J. A. Huss









Flight
J. A. Huss
 


Lies and Luck, they’ll both get you in the end.

There’s a new twist on an old prophecy and this one brings the End of Days. Junco must make a choice – human or avian? Only one race will survive.

Lucan has secrets and the lies are flowing like a mountain river during spring thaw. But he needs Junco to cooperate just a little bit longer or it all falls apart.

The Siblings on Earth are waiting for the Seventh to return and pull their clutch together. But Earth has secrets too – secrets that change everything.

Junco has survived against impossible odds, but the cost of survival is higher than she ever imagined. Luck is about to catch up with Junco Coot and her debt must be paid.
 
My Review: Another great book. I love this series and will hate to see it end. Again I could not put down this book and the ending keep me wanting the next book. I will have to wait till until the next one is released. This series is wonderful. This is the first series I have read all of them with such gusto. This is a must for any action and science fiction reader. I was on the edge of my seat through most of these series. The action in this amazing book leaps off the page and makes you feel like your in the middle of it all.  WOW is all I can say I can not praise these books enough and I thank the author for the chance to read these compelling books.






J. A. Huss never took a creative writing class in her life. Some would say it shows. Others might cut her some slack. She did however, get educated and graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Equine Science. She had grand dreams of getting a Ph.D. but while she loves science, she hated academia and settled for a M.S. in Forensic Toxicology from the University of Florida.
 

She went on to write science curriculum for homeschoolers and now runs a successful home business that creates and offers online science unit studies. When she’s not writing science curriculum or fiction, she works as a farm inspector, traveling the Eastern Plains of Colorado in variety of environmentally friendly vehicles that never have four-wheel drive, so when she gets stuck in the mud in said vehicles, she has to beg for assistance from anyone who will help her. She is not bitter about that at all.

She’s always packing heat and she is owned by two donkeys, five dogs, more chickens and ducks than she can count, and of course, the real filthy animals, her kids. The I Am Just Junco series was born after falling in love with the ugliest part of Colorado and the Rural Republic is based on the area of the state she currently resides in, minus the mutants, of course.

 
 

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Blog Book Tour: Black and White and Dead All Over

This book was given to me by Sage's Blog Tours.
 
 
 
Black and White and Dead All Over
Michael Bradley
166 Pages
 CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
 
 
 
When the skeleton of a teenage girl is uncovered at a construction site in Newark, journalist Brian Wilder must follow a twenty-two year old trail of deceit and lies to uncover the truth behind her death. While still struggling with his own tragic past, Brian uncovers a haunting secret of passion and anger that could threaten to destroy one of the most powerful political families in Delaware.
 
 
My Review:  This book was great. I thought for such a short book it would be missing a lot of details, but I was surprised to see no stone was left unturned. This is a fast paced and action pack book. For the length of it I was amazed at the character development and how I felt for all of them. I am looking forward to the continuation of the story and to see what happens next. I also like that it was a quick read (only about an hour and a half.) , but well worth the time. This is a book I will re-read and enjoy over and over again.
 
 
 
Now Lets Meet the Author
 
 

Michael Bradley






     Born and raised in southern New Jersey, Michael Bradley is an author and IT consultant, whose frequent travels bring him in touch with a variety of people up and down the east coast.
When he isn’t on the road, Michael hits the waterways in one of his three kayaks. Being an avid Apple fan, Michael loves to preach the benefits of Apple’s Mac OS X and iOS.
     Before working in information technology, Michael spent eight years in radio broadcasting, working for stations in New Jersey and West Virginia, including the Marconi Award winning WVAQ in Morgantown. Becoming an author has been a lifelong dream for Michael, which was finally realized with the release of his first book in 2012.
    
     Among the writers in which he finds inspiration, Michael favors P.D. James, Raymond Chandler, Leslie Charteris, Simon Brett, and Ian Fleming. He lives in Delaware with his wife, Diane, and their two furry four-legged “kids”, Simon and Brandy.Michael does all of his writing on an Apple iPad 2 with a Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover.




Contact: Michael Bradley


 

Email:

mjbradley88@mail.com

Blog:

http://mjbradley88.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mjbradley88

 



 


Saturday, December 8, 2012

Blog Tour : Vampire Queen & giveaway


The Vampire Queen
Jodie Pierce
 Eternal Press
 
This Tour was set up by the author
Next week don't miss the Q&A with the author
and Review of the next book in the Trilogy
 
 
 
 
A young woman awakes to find out not only is she an important Countess but she is also the very first or 'Ancient One' as she is called by her subjects. Her memories of being a vampire or anyone are gone so she must relearn everything (from spells to flying) from the people around her, but can they be trusted? She learns her main objective as the old Countess was purifying the vampire race and wishes to continue with that work. The 'Others', powerful and evil vampires, attempt to use her memory loss to their advantage. They had been trying to entice her to their side for centuries. Struggling to remember her past, battling the 'Others' and coping with her new life keep the Countess busy throughout this spellbinding and thrilling novel. Will she succeed in her goals or will the 'Others' win her over to their side this time around?
 
 
 
My Review: Since I started this blog. I have to say I have read things that I would have never thought of reading before. I have always stayed away from short stories. Never thinking they had enough substance to capture my attention. Even from authors I love reading. I would like to thank Jodie Pierce for opening my eyes to how naive I was being.
          This story captured me from page one and I finished it in a few hours. I did not put this book down. I loved how the story flowed and the world created. I also like how each character in the story had purpose in the story. I hate stories that introduce characters that are just filler. This is a short story but you get more than you bargain with out of the story. I will never look at short stories the same again. When I was done with this book I wanted more. What happens next? I am glad I will be reading the next two in the trilogy in the upcoming weeks, and look forward to sharing my thoughts on them too.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Blog Tour: Bitter Frost




YA Paranormal Fantasy
Title:Bitter Frost
Author: Kailin Gow
Date Published: 6/2010
 
 
 
All her life, Breena had always dreamed about fairies as though she lived among them...beautiful fairies living among mortals and living in Feyland. In her dreams, he was always there the breathtakingly handsome but dangerous Winter Prince, Kian, who is her intended. When Breena turns sixteen, she begins seeing fairies and other creatures mortals don t see. Her best friend Logan, suddenly acts very protective. Then she sees Kian, who seems intent on finding her and carrying her off to Feyland. That's fine and all, but for the fact that humans rarely survive a trip to Feyland, a kiss from a fairy generally means death to the human unless that human has fairy blood in them or is very strong, and although Kian seemed to be her intended, he seems to hate her and wants her dead.

This edgy tale about beautiful and dangerous fairies, based on Dutch lore, will leave you breathless...
 
 
 
 
My Review: I enjoyed this book, not as much as I wanted too but it was still good. The plot and characters are good . I like the way Breena's dreams were so vivid that you were drawn into them. The first half of the book was wonderful the character building and world building was great. The second half of the book seemed to slow down a bit pacing seemed to be off and kind of slow. The action was good but the story just seemed predictable .

My Overview this was a fun and quick read. I enjoyed it but I hope the second book will be better. I am going to continue the series and hope for the best. Since Kailin Gow is crossing over from children to y/a books I think she will grow with the series.
 
 
 
 
 
About The Author
 
 
Kailin Gow has appeared on top national syndicated talk shows such as ABC Radio, Barbara Dooley show, Chat with Women on KKNW Seattle, Broadminded on Sirius Radio XM, and more as a leading authority on YA and women's issues including self-esteem, body image, dating and sexual relationships, abuse, and bullying. Kailin has been a published author for over 10 years with over 100 titles published under her name and under pen names.

She is the founder of the community social site, The Saving You Saving Me Project,http://www.savingyousavingme.com which helps teens, young adults, and women deal with social issues like sexual abuse, self-esteem, body image, bullying, cutting, relationships, and more in a positive community environment. The Saving You Saving Me Project is an extention of her YA-mature fiction Saving You Saving Me.
Kailin Gow began writing books for tween girls to help them with self-confidence and self-esteem. Her book, Gifted Girls Activities Guide to 365 Days of the Week, became a reference book used in girls organizations across the U.S. As her tween fans grew to become teens and young adults, Kailin began writing engaging and entertaining young adult book series for them. The results are book series like the Frost Series, PULSE Series, Wicked Woods Series, Stoker Sisters, Phantom Diaries, The Fire Wars, FADE, DESIRE, and more.

All her books are inspired by personal experiences. Saving You Saving Me was inspired by her experience as a peer counselor for young women during college and from her psychology major college roommate's experience being in a relationship similar to the one portrayed by Sam and Collins in the book. Loving Summer was inspired by Kailin's experience growing up with a family consisting of a mother, two sons, and a daughter who went through a similar experience of tragedy in the book. Aunt Sookie is based on herself and some actor friends she knows. The Frost Series, Circus of Curiosities Series, and FADE Series came about through vivid dreams. Never Say Never was inspired by Kailin's experience as a radio host and working with and interviewing bands, as well as having college friends who were in bands. Kailin also played the drums and keyboard for a band she once started. A classically-trained musician, she was once led her school orchestra, playing first chair violin. Her experience in the music world and her love of Phantom of the Opera, inspired the Phantom Diaries. PULSE was inspired when Kailin was in the hospital suffering from heavy blood loss post surgery and needed several bags of blood to survive (like a vampire). Beautiful Beings was inspired by her college encounter with a young demon exorcist. A pastor once told her she had the gift of sight and that she was destined to become a prolific author, many times over.

She began taking her writing seriously when her daughter was diagnosed as being on the spectrum and her mother was fighting three types of cancer. Four years later, her daughter was no longer on the spectrum, and her mother became cancer free. Kailin believes in hope and miracles, after having been through several struggles and experiences herself. This is why she writes.
When not busy inhaling chocolate and drinking coffee by the gallon, Kailin makes time for writing fantasy books, blogging as an expert blogger for Fast Company, volunteering as an Emergency Responder and volunteering for battered women's shelters. For fun, she plays the electric violin, and puts together a music playlist for her radio and web shows.
Her Frost Series consisting of the Bitter Frost Series, The Wolf Fey Series, and the Fairy Rose Chronicles along with her other book series are being developed into worldwide MMORPG Games by SEE GLOBAL ENTERTAINMENT, which is the world's leading game developer known for developing the top blockbuster films into games.


Contact Links
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Twitter - @kailingow
LINKS TO BUY